The Great Big Tip Off

It is one of those grey areas that seems to raise it’s ugly head time and time again. If you are a regular cruiser you know that a few of the cruise companies give you the option to pre pay your gratuities, and sometimes this can prove quote a lot in cost. In my experience many of you are removing them and tipping who you want to on board and don’t like to be told how much to tip. For the likes of P&O they don’t give you the option of pre paying but instead charge them automatically to your on board account. I think this is wrong especially if you are not savvy and don’t get them removed. I personally like to tip who someone who I feel; deserves it. I understand that the staff aren’t on mega money so it is nice to see who your actual tip goes to rather than the cruise line splitting it between staff. I have often wondered how this actually works, do you receive more if you work in a certain department?? Or if you have been with the company longer? If you are a dancer, or does it just go to the waiters and stewards. It would be interesting to find out. Where do you draw the line at tipping? When we dine out at home it is sort of habit that you leave a tip with the bill. If you visit your hairdresser you also leave them a tip. It could go on and on. in some ways I think it is their choice of career so why should we tip? When I worked in a high street travel agents we were always getting customers coming in for advice and not booking, and I use to think If you go to a solicitors they would expect to bill you for the advise they give- so how is this different.

I think the talk of gratuities will come around again and agian and I think the answer is to automatically add it to all cruise prices so the cost you see is the final cost you pay. They shouldn’t have to show a breakdown as long as the cruise is a good deal it wouldn’t really matter. So if they all did it it would be easier.