Do you ever remove the standard tips and add them later?

[squirk]

Exactly!

Me too! Maybe we will even be on the same side.

I think we usually have been. That's why I enjoyed the discussion - because I knew you weren't some loon.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Gratuities....my problem is that they're not really gratuities. You're not paying an extra fee/tip because you're greatful for service received. You're paying the sole wages of an employee. An employee who works exceptionally hard and exceptionally long hours. Cruise companies including Disney are taking advantage of the outdated cruising custom of gratuities to pay their staff. Customers are guilt tripped into paying upfront because it is the "done thing" on cruises and because staff rely on their goodwill.

As much as I love Disney I'm also surprised that they are not more forward thinking and pay their frontline staff a decent basic salary for their hours worked, and leave the guests to reward their staff with additional tips at their discretion based on the guests opinion of service received. I'd like to think Walt Disney would have been more 21st century in the way he treated staff and customers, regardless of what is the "done thing" in the cruising industry.

Well, it's not the "sole wages" of the CM. They do get some monetary reimbursement from DCL. Plus, room, board, laundry services for their costumes (I believe that's true). Do tips cover a large portion of their "wages", sure.

But, historically, that's the way it's always been on cruise lines and ocean voyages. I doubt that Walt did any differently when he cruised.

 

[wombat_5606]

I think we usually have been.

@squirk, I'm really confused by that. Maybe just like I missed that you were a repeat cruiser, I missed where we were agreeing.

My cold medication must be really messing with me.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Gratuities....my problem is that they're not really gratuities. You're not paying an extra fee/tip because you're greatful for service received. You're paying the sole wages of an employee. An employee who works exceptionally hard and exceptionally long hours. Cruise companies including Disney are taking advantage of the outdated cruising custom of gratuities to pay their staff. Customers are guilt tripped into paying upfront because it is the "done thing" on cruises and because staff rely on their goodwill.

As much as I love Disney I'm also surprised that they are not more forward thinking and pay their frontline staff a decent basic salary for their hours worked, and leave the guests to reward their staff with additional tips at their discretion based on the guests opinion of service received. I'd like to think Walt Disney would have been more 21st century in the way he treated staff and customers, regardless of what is the "done thing" in the cruising industry.

I agree. Staff should be paid properly and then, if I leave a tip, it truly is a reward for good service. Otherwise, it's rather like begging.

 

[wombat_5606]

I agree. Staff should be paid properly and then, if I leave a tip, it truly is a reward for good service. Otherwise, it's rather like begging.

You guys think your Disney cruise is expensive now, no one could afford them then.

 

[squirk]

@squirk, I'm really confused by that. Maybe just like I missed that you were a repeat cruiser, I missed where we were agreeing.

My cold medication must be really messing with me.

I just meant that in other threads that you and I have participated in, it seemed like we were like-minded on the issue at hand.

 

[wombat_5606]

I just meant that in other threads that you and I have participated in, it seemed like we were like-minded on the issue at hand.

Gotcha.

Well, I'm pretty opinionated, so it stands to reason, there is someone out there with me.

 

[squirk]

laundry services for their costumes (I believe that's true).

I hope that's true. Otherwise, gross.

 

[MeeskaMooskaMickey]

I agree. Staff should be paid properly and then, if I leave a tip, it truly is a reward for good service. Otherwise, it's rather like begging.

True. I've not had a reason to not give my gratuities because I truly felt the Disney cruise service was exceptional. However I would have preferred the amount I paid as a gratuity to be at my discretion and not as an obligation.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

True. I've not had a reason to not give my gratuities because I truly felt the Disney cruise service was exceptional. However I would have preferred the amount I paid as a gratuity to be at my discretion and not as an obligation.

On DCL, unlike other cruise lines, it is at your discretion. DCL just adds the gratuity as a service to you, the guest. You can remove said gratuities and tip as you see fit. Or change the amount DCL charges every day. Or remove them entirely and not tip - up to you.

 

[mammacaryn]

I have never stiffed a CM on a cruise. I have always tipped at least the recommended amount, and I usually give our server and assistant server something extra on top.

However, I always bristle at DCL adding the recommended tip amount to my folio "for my convenience". It feels presumptuous, and puts the onus on the guest to take away something from the CM for poor service vs. giving something to the CM for exceptional service. It makes the process a punitive one instead of a rewarding one.

I have a cruise coming up soon, and I have been contemplating going straight to GS as soon as I board and removing the auto-gratuity - not because I won't tip, but more of a "protest vote" on this policy - and then adding the tips back at the end of the cruise, after I've concluded that the service merits tipping.

Anyone ever do this? Just curious.

I didn't read everyone else reply but just giving our experience. We are cruising this July, the first cruise since 2013. We have NEVER prepaid tips. I have always had this arranged before getting on the ship as well-not sure if something has changed regarding that. I liked to budget the standard amount in CASH for my own piece of mind and it be one less thing on the credit card. We always brought more than needed and giving a little extra here and there, but not to everyone, and not on every cruise . This cruise we might prepay, but I am still not sure.

 

[gotomu212]

You guys think your Disney cruise is expensive now, no one could afford them then.

I agree with this. If they were paid a higher salary than your cruise fare would go up PLUS you'd still feel the need to tip so really you'd be paying more overall.

I think you can liken it to pizza delivery. A lot of places now add on a delivery charge to cover the increased costs of having to hire delivery drives, you're still suppose to tip those guys so now you're paying a tip like you historically did, plus you have the added service charge--the end result is it's now more for me to get a pizza delivered.

In places where auto tips are added (like the spa and bar) I also feel super cheap if I don't add on even more of a tip--that personally annoys me and I try to remind myself 18% for delivering me a drink is enough don't get guilted into tipping 40% for this.

 

[wombat_5606]

In places where auto tips are added (like the spa and bar) I also feel super cheap if I don't add on even more of a tip--that personally annoys me and I try to remind myself 18% for delivering me a drink is enough don't get guilted into tipping 40% for this.

I so agree with your entire post, but I love this statement!

 

[squirk]

In places where auto tips are added (like the spa and bar) I also feel super cheap if I don't add on even more of a tip--that personally annoys me and I try to remind myself 18% for delivering me a drink is enough don't get guilted into tipping 40% for this.

Could not agree more. See, @wombat_5606?!?

 

[MeeskaMooskaMickey]

On DCL, unlike other cruise lines, it is at your discretion. DCL just adds the gratuity as a service to you, the guest. You can remove said gratuities and tip as you see fit. Or change the amount DCL charges every day. Or remove them entirely and not tip - up to you.

The facts are that you can remove your gratuity as you wish. Free choice. But from reading these boards the impression I get is that you'd be committing a moral crime to do so!

 

[Dug720]

In places where auto tips are added (like the spa and bar) I also feel super cheap if I don't add on even more of a tip--that personally annoys me and I try to remind myself 18% for delivering me a drink is enough don't get guilted into tipping 40% for this.

Definitely agree with this! My favorite is the 18% added on to the Rainforest Room where you are getting NO personal service! I'd love to see how that heated tile lounger spends the 18% fee.

I did have to remind myself to add something to my drinks on fathom over Christmas because they don't auto-add a gratuity. I probably overtipped them just because I was afraid so many people are used to the 15 or 18% being automatically added on they didn't add anything.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

The facts are that you can remove your gratuity as you wish. Free choice. But from reading these boards the impression I get is that you'd be committing a moral crime to do so!

Yes, there are some who feel that's true. Mostly, I think, because they think "removing" the auto gratuity = no gratuity.

There may be many reasons why someone will remove the auto gratuity.

 

[squirk]

Definitely agree with this! My favorite is the 18% added on to the Rainforest Room where you are getting NO personal service! I'd love to see how that heated tile lounger spends the 18% fee.

QFE.

I wonder if that's DCL or if it's Steiner?

 

[Dug720]

The facts are that you can remove your gratuity as you wish. Free choice. But from reading these boards the impression I get is that you'd be committing a moral crime to do so!

Not necessarily a mortal crime - BUT if you are removing them for a reason I would HOPE that you have addressed the issue with the appropriate person and given them a chance to make corrections before removing it. And if you have not, that you are prepared to have the individual if not their supervisor check in with you to find out what is wrong and what improvements need to be made (yes, they DO get a list of people who have removed them - and the supervisor will go to the crew member to see if there have been any complaints to them from you about the service, then either that person or the supervisor will make every attempt to find out what they're doing wrong so it can be fixed). IMHO to remove them because of what you see as an issue without giving them the opportunity to make it right IS wrong.

 

[MunFam]

I don't remember the tips showing up in the onboard account until when they give you the sheets. I always pick up a sheet at the beginning with my current standing to see if my OBC is there's as expected. But it usually has only the port adventures on it, no gratuities.

I agree with this and your reasoning @squirk. It is a bit presumptuous for DCL to automatically assume that their service was to my standards (as far as tipping goes). It irritates me that it is an assumed tip. It also annoyed me that when our room host was HORRIBLE, I had to go to guest services and "reduce" a tip that was never earned in the first place. I guess, if they made it so the general population added tips at their discretion, I have a feeling a lot more people would opt out or just leave less and then DCL would have to figure out how to compensate their employees to keep them working there, so its just easier to assume tips and force guests to reduce (if they know they can do that) tips at the end.