Gratuities on the rise again !

So last week two cruiselines have announced they are going to be increasing their gratuities charge – P&O and Fred Olsen. P&O will be increasing from £6 per person per day to be £7 from the 23rd March for anyone over the age of 12, and Fred Olsen who will still remain one of the lowest from £4 per person per day to be £5 and they haven’t had an increase for many years. But is it not time though that the charge should be now just be included in the cost of the holiday?

P&O increased their gratuities last year to be £6 and is on the rise again this year and whilst is still lower than some of the American Cruise lines who charge approx $14.50 per person per day it does seem a hike. Will this increase see more people head to the guest relations desk and ask for the auto charge to be removed from their account – which in turn might see the staff losing out anyway? or has the increase come in because people have the right to remove them and choose to do so which then sees staff now receieving any gratuities?

But if cruise lines such as Marella (was Thomson), NCL if you book on the All Inclusive option,  and the more luxury cruise lines such as Regent and Silverseas do not have the gratuity charge as they have incorporated that into the cost of the trip – so why can’t the other cruise lines do the same and then the staff won’t lose out and you then don’t have to queue up during the cruise and ask for them to be removed.  Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Princess and Carnival all give you the option if you would like to prepay them with the balance of the cruise.

So now on a P&O cruise for a couple on a 7 night cruise the charge is £98, for 14 nights its £196. A family of 4 (with children over 12) would be £196 for 7 nights and £392 for 14 nights. When you go on a beach holiday to somewhere like Spain or Greece you aren’t produced with a bil from the hotel for a gratuity charge so why should the cruise lines still charge you?  In a hotel you still have waiters, room stewards, maitre D’s, entertainment staff and chefs just like you do on a cruise ship.

Waht are your thoughts on the new price hikes?

Have a great couple of weeks

Kerry

xx