Saga £8 per day to tip staff and a so called “spit-list”

I read recently that passengers were unhappy on a Saga Cruise of having to pay as much as £8 per person per day for tips. Surely this is quite expensive? Or is it? When you look at what other Ocean liners charge I think it’s pretty much the going rate. OK P&O just £3.95 per person per day so yeah ok that’s half price.

These Saga passengers felt like they were actually paying the staff wages. I think we should tip but the whole structure needs a look at and it needs to be done fairly. Apparently staff dread to come and work on a Cruise that is leaving the UK as we are the worst tippers. American’s being in a tipping nation tip so much better than what we do. Why is that? Are us Brits just so tight with our money we don’t like to give it away?

Let’s not forget in the USA the minimum wage is less than ours so a lot of staff rely on tips to top their salary up just to get by and make ends meet. These cruise ships really need to look at the staff on board and think let’s pay them a decent salary to do the excellent job they do and if they get a tip then fair play to them and let it be extra. I would hate to go on a Cruise out of the UK and dread the service just may not be the same as we’re known to be lousy when it comes to giving a good tip. I was also horrified and couldn’t believe that some staff on board in the staff communal areas actually keep what they call is a “spit-list” of those who aren’t pre-paying their gratuities. That’s’ terrible surely that can’t be allowed by management on board. Saga have been accused of basically having the passengers pay the staff wages. I watched this video before that seems a little leading you to think you won’t be asked to pay extra for tipping the staff, all part of the service. Are you over 50? Have you travelled on a Saga ship before and if so what is your opinion on this?