There are a lot of threads about tipping, including the one described in the link:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=509463&highlight=tipping
We just came back from a Eastern Caribbean cruise yesterday. Most of the people whom we talked to, believed that the "recommended" tipping amounts (for the 4 people - server, assistant server, head server, stateroom host/hostess) was a fairly hefty amount, but most paid the recommended amount (including us).
The tipping fee would seem more palatable, if was included as part of the basic cruise ticket price, rather described as "recommended" - which almost makes one feel that it is mandatatory.
Another issue I could not figure out - why not pay these 4 people a basic salary, like all other crew members, rather than relying on the tips (from the passengers) to constitute the main part of their salary?
Putting the 2 issues together - I would recommend that passengers can then offer a ship wide tip, for all of the services provided, to all of the crew serving the individual passengers - the total tip can then be divided between the different crew members by the cruise line.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=509463&highlight=tipping
We just came back from a Eastern Caribbean cruise yesterday. Most of the people whom we talked to, believed that the "recommended" tipping amounts (for the 4 people - server, assistant server, head server, stateroom host/hostess) was a fairly hefty amount, but most paid the recommended amount (including us).
The tipping fee would seem more palatable, if was included as part of the basic cruise ticket price, rather described as "recommended" - which almost makes one feel that it is mandatatory.
Another issue I could not figure out - why not pay these 4 people a basic salary, like all other crew members, rather than relying on the tips (from the passengers) to constitute the main part of their salary?
Putting the 2 issues together - I would recommend that passengers can then offer a ship wide tip, for all of the services provided, to all of the crew serving the individual passengers - the total tip can then be divided between the different crew members by the cruise line.