Tipping and Gratuities

[Redneck]

What are your thoughts on Tipping and Gratuities.

In Australia tipping is a rarety usually only given in Restaurants for good service and occasionally to cab drivers

Anyway the reason I ask is I am going on a 10 day cruise out of Singapore next march and the cruise company includes "Optional Gratuities" of $406 for the two of us to be added daily as $40.60. Apart from that 18% gratuity is automatically added to your drinks at the bar.

Now being a tight arsed Aussie I plan to tell them to get stuffed as I will tip who I think deserves it for giving us very good service as I have done in the past.

Am I being a prick as usual?

[Redneck]

Mmmmm.....Cat got your tongues ?

[Black Orchid]

Well I have never been on a cruise so I have no clue.

How much should I tip?

Most cruise lines suggest tipping $10 to $12 per day per passenger (not per couple), regardless of age. For a seven-day cruise, this means each cruiser should budget at least $70 for gratuities, or $140 per cabin for two people.



How do I pay the gratuities?

For the past decade or so, the trend has been for tips to be automatically added to a passenger's onboard account, which can be settled at the end of the cruise via credit card or cash.

https://www.frommers.com/tips/cruise/a- ... overboard

This is not your first cruise so surely you have come across it before?

[Redneck]

Well I have never been on a cruise so I have no clue.

How much should I tip?

Most cruise lines suggest tipping $10 to $12 per day per passenger (not per couple), regardless of age. For a seven-day cruise, this means each cruiser should budget at least $70 for gratuities, or $140 per cabin for two people.



How do I pay the gratuities?

For the past decade or so, the trend has been for tips to be automatically added to a passenger's onboard account, which can be settled at the end of the cruise via credit card or cash.

https://www.frommers.com/tips/cruise/a- ... overboard

This is not your first cruise so surely you have come across it before?

Thanks BO

No they dont have it on cruises by Princess/P&O out of Australia, this ship I think is part of the british fleet , maybe it caters for US clients as it sails of of Singapore

[Neferti]

What are your thoughts on Tipping and Gratuities.

In Australia tipping is a rarety usually only given in Restaurants for good service and occasionally to cab drivers

Anyway the reason I ask is I am going on a 10 day cruise out of Singapore next march and the cruise company includes "Optional Gratuities" of $406 for the two of us to be added daily as $40.60. Apart from that 18% gratuity is automatically added to your drinks at the bar.

Now being a tight arsed Aussie I plan to tell them to get stuffed as I will tip who I think deserves it for giving us very good service as I have done in the past.

Am I being a prick as usual?

I haven't been on a cruise, but it does state "optional gratuities", would you get a "mark" by your name if you didn't pay it? Does the $40.60 a day go to ALL "staff"? I'd be inclined to just tip those who give you excellent service, the rest are just doing their job. Nothing wrong with being the "last of the big spenders".

[Redneck]

What are your thoughts on Tipping and Gratuities.

In Australia tipping is a rarety usually only given in Restaurants for good service and occasionally to cab drivers

Anyway the reason I ask is I am going on a 10 day cruise out of Singapore next march and the cruise company includes "Optional Gratuities" of $406 for the two of us to be added daily as $40.60. Apart from that 18% gratuity is automatically added to your drinks at the bar.

Now being a tight arsed Aussie I plan to tell them to get stuffed as I will tip who I think deserves it for giving us very good service as I have done in the past.

Am I being a prick as usual?

I haven't been on a cruise, but it does state "optional gratuities", would you get a "mark" by your name if you didn't pay it? Does the $40.60 a day go to ALL "staff"? I'd be inclined to just tip those who give you excellent service, the rest are just doing their job. Nothing wrong with being the "last of the big spenders".

My thoughts exactly!

I will stick with doing my tipping to the ones I deal with directly who I have had good service from.

I dont think I would get an mark against my name as bookings can be made from lots of sources.

[Black Orchid]

I wouldn't like it being automatically charged to my account and I would balk at that myself. I would prefer to tip the people of my choosing.