Is Tipping Getting Out Of Hand?

Gratuities on cruise ships is a very controversial subject, especially amongst British passengers so the news that Royal Caribbean and Celebrity cruises have increased their daily service charge to $ 14.50 per person per day, an increase of $ 1 , will have caused outrage amongst many passengers.

According to Royal`s press statement  “Royal Caribbean is constantly reviewing our competitive environment and this adjustment positions us in-line with our competitors. The additional gratuity collected will be disbursed to our onboard crew”.

According to my understanding a gratuity,or tip, is  a payment to a person, for example a waiter or waitress, who has performed a service. A way of saying thank you if you like. So how can you be expected to tip for something you haven`t had ? I tip my hairdresser because he`s good and does what I ask him, if he didn`t I certainly wouldn’t be tipping him. The same applies to the taxi driver who turns up on time, and the waiter or waitress who provides excellent service, but at the end of the day it is my choice, not something forced on me.

Of course we have to remember that Royal Caribbean and Celebrity are American cruise lines.  Americans tip whether the service is good or bad, which seems pretty pointless to me, but of course their tips are actually paying that person`s salary. The same applies to most cruise ship staff who are paid very little.

$14.50 per person per day means a 14 night cruise I will cost an extra £ 160 or so, and for a family of four that means £ 640 on top of the cost of the cruise. Talking to many of my customers, even if they prepay their gratuities, they still feel they should tip individual members of staff who have given excellent service when they are on board. In most cases the cabin steward or their waiter.

So is the answer to include them on the price, as do the likes of Regent, Silversea and Seabourn? I would say yes as the thought of tips being included would very quickly be forgotten.

Rant over, but I do think the cruise lines should stop assuming we will all bow to the US way and tip no matter what.