Is to Pre-Pay the way?

Gratuities. Yes, again this subject has come up. I’ve had some very interesting conversations with customers and colleagues in recent times regarding gratuities and if we should pre-pay them.

I do appreciate that the cruise lines like to add them to our bill and all cruise lines kind of expect them. The American’s have to be the worst for it as they’re a typically tipping nation and a lot of their workers in the service industry rely on tips to make up their salary. However, is that fair? Should the pressure be put on us to pay their salary? Do the cruise line snot earn enough that they can’t afford to pay their workers a reasonable and fair income to not to have to rely on a top up from us.

I’m all up for rewarding good service if I think someone has gone over and beyond my expectations and offered outstanding service. That said, if I din’t pay a gratuity will my service received be any less? What standard of service should I expect to receive if I don’t pay my gratuities in advance? I mean I can go to McDonald’s and expect a service with a smile and my food delivered but I don’t tip them. They’re a big American company. I wouldn’t ring a local restaurant and book a table and expect the receptionist to ask me if i’d like to add my gratuity to my bill in advance. I’ve not had any service yet. Why should cruise lines ask you to pay up front a gratuity for service that you haven’t even received yet? I believe a gratuity should be optional and on discretion for the service you’ve received. You don’t get the cruise lines promising you that if you pre-pay in advance that the service will be any better. Surely when paying my fare that there should be a minimal service level expectation anyway. I think that my fare should be covering all aspects of my holiday. It’s not my fault that the cruise lines pay poorly and that the workers are expected to work long days and for not much money. I don’t believe that should be on our shoulders to burden. Some say that they’re worried that if they don’t pre-pay them there stateroom attendant wont be as friendly or do as a good a job. Well, let’s just think about that for a minute. You pre-pay the gratuities and this money is shared equally amongst the staff, even the behind the scenes staff like those doing laundry. You feel good, done your bit. Then aren’t you expected to tip your waiter and stateroom attendant a little more? Feel guilty that you haven’t done so even tho already pre-paid.  Where does it stop? Now, let’s imagine that you haven’t pre-paid and you opt to pay as you go along. Your stateroom attendant knows you haven’t pre-paid but at the end of the cruise you tip them and it’s actually more than they would have got if equally shared out if pre-paid. So, is the stateroom attendant better off when you don’t pre-pay because their tip from you will be more than a cut from an equal share? Waiters too. However those like laundry workers will get less.

I think I have a suggestion that cruise lines should think about. Why not pay those behind the scenes a better wage as they have no opportunity to be rewarded with guests due to the fact they just may not see them with their work duties. And why not for those who have an opportunity to impress like bar staff and waiters and stateroom attendants, why not pay them less as they have more of an opportunity to be rewarded. Abolish this pay in advance for service you don’t even know if will be up to your expectations. Let customers decide on board who they want to tip. What are your thoughts? Do let me now as it’s a very interesting subject that I get lots of questions on.


About Me

I'm Steve, I've spent nearly Sixteen years in travel. Working for a big high street travel agent before moving to be a Cruise specialist homeworker. I've visited some amazing places through out the world. My personal favourite place has to be the United States of America. Having been no fewer…

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