MSC Are Not Taking the TIPS Anymore!!!

It’s just been announced that MSC have scrapped their daily service charge from all of their cruises sailing from the 25th June 2019.  Antonio Paradiso, MSC‘s Managing Director UK & Ireland, stated: “The decision has been made in order to simplify the booking process and ensure the best possible on-board experience for our guests.”  It comes on the back with P&O Cruises also announced the decision to scrap gratuities altogether last year which was valid from May 2019.

Understandably tipping has been and always will be a contentious issue among cruise goers. Personally I think this tipping business is getting out of hand, and what’s more annoying is how gratuities vary enormously between cruise lines. For example Royal Caribbean & Celebrity cruises charge approximately £11 per person per day. So a 14 night cruise holiday for a family of 4 will set you back £616, compared to P&O before they scrap gratuity fees altogether, although before they only charged a moderate £5 per person per night, with no charge for children under 12 which works out at £140 in total. That’s Over FOUR times as much. Are you telling me that you get four times better service on Royal Caribbean compared to P&O?

I believe that tips should be included on all cruises. Okay the price might increase slightly to pay the staff better wages but then there would be none of these arguments of people suspecting the cruise lines are pocketing the extra cash rather than giving it to the crew. This idea of pre-paying gratuities up front is that you are no longer giving a gratuity in return for good service but on the assumption of good service. Then if you feel you haven’t received adequate service getting a refund from these cruise companies will not be easy.

What’s your view on MSC scrapping gratuities? Would your prefer to tip staff individually or do you prefer to pay up front?

Please send me your comments…..