Spa Automatic Gratuity

[ladyleslie]

I understamd there are some people who would not "get " what the big deal is...

I guess there are alot of people out there that don't like being TOLD what to do with their money!!

And yes some people did tip the 20% anyway because its not an obligation, it's a gratuity, it's given on the basis that this person has provided me a service in a way that deserved some recognition -and by giving the 20% tip I had been given I am saying "I appreciate the service you've done and thank you" -- But by demanding a 18% gratuity before you've even had the service takes that away.... my "thank you" has turned into a "service fee" and it feels less than a gratuity... It feels like an obligation and again ... that obligation takes away from my expereince....

and I guess someone can argue don't use the spa service then .. well people on this board and the other one have already said .... they aren't going to now...

 

[DLgal]

Wow. So much anger over this.

My take on it is this. I usually tip 20-25% on spa, salon, restaurant bills.

Any place that includes an auto gratuity (usually18%) will be losing out on the additional 2-7% as I won't leave extra if the gratuity is forced. Saves me money.

But to get so angry that I cancel a reservation that I was really looking forward to, over an amount of money that I was going to leave anyway? That's silly.

As for the hard sell? Just IGNORE them. Say absolutely NOTHING. That shuts them up immediately. Smile and shake your head "no" as soon as they start. Keep your mouth shut though.

 

[tajz90]

Wow. So much anger over this.

My take on it is this. I usually tip 20-25% on spa, salon, restaurant bills.

Any place that includes an auto gratuity (usually18%) will be losing out on the additional 2-7% as I won't leave extra if the gratuity is forced. Saves me money.

But to get so angry that I cancel a reservation that I was really looking forward to, over an amount of money that I was going to leave anyway? That's silly.

As for the hard sell? Just IGNORE them. Say absolutely NOTHING. That shuts them up immediately. Smile and shake your head "no" as soon as they start. Keep your mouth shut though.

I agree. I don't like the new policy but it will save me money And I have no plans to cancel my massage.

 

[pearlieq]

If the hard sell bothers you, people should be speaking to spa management and DCL and having the tip adjusted if the service/attitude was subpar.

I agree in theory, but getting the hard sell, asking for a manager, and the arguing to have the gratuity removed will pretty effectively negate any relaxation/stress relief I might have gotten from the spa treatment.

Knowing the situation, I just don't bother using the spa.

 

[pearlieq]

But to get so angry that I cancel a reservation that I was really looking forward to, over an amount of money that I was going to leave anyway? That's silly.

If the spa is a big huge deal to you and the highlight of your trip, I can see how you would be prepared to follow whatever policy and put up with any situation regardless of how you felt about it. That's your prerogative.

If you were already on the fence about it and aren't really wrapped up in the idea of having to get a massage while onboard, this might be enough to nudge someone into canceling.

Either way, I'd hesitate to call anyone silly for their reaction.

 

[tinkerone]

Wow. So much anger over this.

My take on it is this. I usually tip 20-25% on spa, salon, restaurant bills.

Any place that includes an auto gratuity (usually18%) will be losing out on the additional 2-7% as I won't leave extra if the gratuity is forced. Saves me money.

But to get so angry that I cancel a reservation that I was really looking forward to, over an amount of money that I was going to leave anyway? That's silly.

As for the hard sell? Just IGNORE them. Say absolutely NOTHING. That shuts them up immediately. Smile and shake your head "no" as soon as they start. Keep your mouth shut though.

well i agree with every word.

also, no one is being TOLD how to spend their money. they are SAYING if you care to use our services this is the policy going forward. i stand behind my thought that for everyone who cares to boycott the spa and cancel their appt. there are two people waiting in the wings for these cancelations and they say thank you.
don't get stressed over this, its not worth it. if you want it changed i hope you can do it. if not, just enjoy your vacation. they don't come often.

 

[mrsmith9]

So what does the base $118 get me for my 50 minutes?

• partial payment of receptionist salary who checks me in
• Use of a locker room
• Use of a robe and slippers
• Cleaning of the robe and slippers (I hope)
• partial payment of attendant who cleans locker rooms and restocks towels
• Use of a treatment room
• partial payment of therapists salary who performs treatment

Than on top of that the therapists gets an additional $21.24 for the hour.

Must be one of the better paying jobs on the ship?

 

[lbgraves]

I asked my TA if she had heard anything about this yet to confirm if the RF would be increased with a tip of any kind. She hadn't heard about it so called DCL. They told her effective June 28, 2013, all spa and spa services will now include an automatic 18% gratuity. This does not apply to the Rainforest room passes and does include salon and fitness charges.

 

[sunryzez]

well i agree with every word.

also, no one is being TOLD how to spend their money. they are SAYING if you care to use our services this is the policy going forward. i stand behind my thought that for everyone who cares to boycott the spa and cancel their appt. there are two people waiting in the wings for these cancelations and they say thank you.
don't get stressed over this, its not worth it. if you want it changed i hope you can do it. if not, just enjoy your vacation. they don't come often.

I TOTALLY agree! Plus, I dont understand this whole tip according to service. A standard tip is 15-20%. That means 15%-20% for them doing their job! If you you go to a place that tips then you go into it knowing you SHOULD be tipping at least 15% unless the service is horrible! You go to work and get your base paycheck and you get that by doing your job NOT by this "exceptional" standard that people are talking about. If you do an "exceptional" job then you get a bonus on top of your paycheck. If a tipped position does an "exceptional" job then they should get an "exceptional" tip which is over the standard amount. I'm sorry if I am offending anyone but a tip is NOT an option, everyone knows where and what they are suppose to tip and if you dont want to tip then dont go to places where tips are given...its as simple as that!

 

[LemonPie]

another one here that doesn't see the big issue. to me its easier for them to add the tip cause then I don't have to figure out what to leave, its done. yahoo! if I want to add more I can, just like at the bars. if I want to leave less I will talk to a manager and give them the reason I feel I received sub par service and have them change it. just because its auto grat doesn't mean it has to stay but you better have a good reason to remove it.
as for all the people who are canceling there appointments, there are many right now who are booking in on the time slots you are leaving. lots of people are always waiting to pick them up because there aren't that many. your loss, their gain.
trust me, dcl or who ever owns the spa will not lose any money over this. there business people, they have crunched the numbers. there was a big out cry over auto grats for crew members when it first came out and its still there......just sayin, no flames please.

I agree. I am not bothered at all. And having lived throughout Europe, it is hard for us Americans to understand that a lot (most other) countries do not tip. People actually get paid real wages and don't have to make it on tips. There are so many non-Americans traveling DCL now that I think it is a good policy for the staff. I would hate to see DCL loose good staff ie: servers, spa staff, housekeeping ect. due to lack people tipping when other cruise lines have tips included with the price of the cruise. But I also agree with no flames please

 

[over50visits]

another one here that doesn't see the big issue. to me its easier for them to add the tip cause then I don't have to figure out what to leave, its done.

This is a BIG issue to us. We tip based on level of service, and the few times we used the spa the service was variable, the prices were sky high, and the hard sell was constant.

Yes, this is a big issue. Service industries underpay their employees because we've come to accept that we should tip those who give us good service. Okay. All they have really done is raise the charge another 18%. Why not raise their already high price 18% and say "gratuity is included?" You know why...

 

[lbgraves]

I TOTALLY agree! Plus, I dont understand this whole tip according to service. A standard tip is 15-20%. That means 15%-20% for them doing their job! ...

I waitressed many years, along with bartending. I disagree that anyone who is in a tipped position needs to receive 15-20% just for showing up. That is not the way tipping works. You have to do a good job, not just go through the motions, show up to work, and call it a day whatever you feel like doing. I consider if what went wrong was due to something outside of the person's control, and if so then I don't hold it against them. However, if it was due to that person's own actions, lack of consideration of what was asked for, or poor attitude they are not going to get a top tip. Why reward that and let them think it is acceptable? In those cases I tip 10%.

 

[sunryzez]

I waitressed many years, along with bartending. I disagree that anyone who is in a tipped position needs to receive 15-20% just for showing up. That is not the way tipping works. You have to do a good job, not just go through the motions, show up to work, and call it a day whatever you feel like doing. I consider if what went wrong was due to something outside of the person's control, and if so then I don't hold it against them. However, if it was due to that person's own actions, lack of consideration of what was asked for, or poor attitude they are not going to get a top tip. Why reward that and let them think it is acceptable? In those cases I tip 10%.

I didn't say they needed to just show up, they need to do their job and if they do their job then they should get the 15-20%. Plus everyone has an off day, does your boss cut your pay if you have a bad day? Everyone is entitled to one...and Im sure you would not be too happy if you had a cut paycheck for a bad day. If anyone in the service business does their job, they should be tipped accordingly. I am not saying you have to over tip, but the standard tip. Personally, I would never not leave a tip and I have had terrible service before, however, I am not saying that everyone should do that. If you clearly have horrible service then tip how you feel is appropriate but if any service is given properly and with a smile then they deserve their tip, they shouldn't have to jump through hoops to get it!

 

[ThePicketts]

I personally would hate any automatic tipping scheme as a worker. If my wages depend on tips, the better I am, the better my tips. I like the idea of excelling and being rewarded accordingly.

 

[Aggiegrl]

Count me in the "I was on the fence but now I won't do a spa treatment" column.

 

[tinkerone]

I personally would hate any automatic tipping scheme as a worker. If my wages depend on tips, the better I am, the better my tips. I like the idea of excelling and being rewarded accordingly.

there in lies part of the problem. what if you weren't? what if you excelled, however because of cultural differences you received nothing. what if you did an excellent job and the people who say they leave huge tips were only saying that to sound good and you only got 5%, hey, maybe nothing. what if you excelled and you weren't being rewarded accordingly? as a worker would that make a difference in your thought on automatic tipping?
i'm just curious because as long as I know going in then they haven't pulled the wool over my eyes and it seems like dcl is letting everyone know in advance. its now auto tipping, i'll deal with it.

 

[lbgraves]

I worked for tips MANY years and I don't agree with the automatic tipping in this case. Honestly, that is something you accept when you take a job that relies on tips. I seriously doubt that the spa employees get $1.65 an hour, as I did when waiting tables. I knew that there would be people who stiffed for no reason, as well as those who tipped above. I worked hard and didn't let the bad apples ruin my day because that would have affected the rest of my interactions with customers and therefore my income for that day. It all came with the territory.

 

[anna08]

Anyone who succumbs to the sales pressure and buys products needs to look carefully at your bill - I'll bet you will be charged 18% on your products too. After trying many different spa while traveling over the years, I have found prices are way over-inflated and never worth the extra money - (worst case was Vegas!). Find your best spa at home, find your best local therapist/service provider and get your nails, massage whatever done before you leave town and start your vacation off feeling great. Support your local economy.

 

[DLgal]

Anyone who succumbs to the sales pressure and buys products needs to look carefully at your bill - I'll bet you will be charged 18% on your products too. After trying many different spa while traveling over the years, I have found prices are way over-inflated and never worth the extra money - (worst case was Vegas!). Find your best spa at home, find your best local therapist/service provider and get your nails, massage whatever done before you leave town and start your vacation off feeling great. Support your local economy.

This is totally true.

I joined massage envy and have an amazing masseuse who I see for an hour every month for $59. I hand her a $20 bill after every massage. It is one of the best things I've ever done for myself. My DH goes too, for $49/month. It is nice to not feel like I NEED to have a spa treatment on vacation. I get a massage the day before we leave!

 

[tajz90]

A massage where I live is almost as much as one on DCL.

Now, pedicure is almost 1/2.