So P&O have recently announced that they, like many others will now add gratuities onto your on board account (across their whole fleet). However their gratuities are still far lower than some of their American counterparts at just a mere £3.10 per person per day. I think tipping has to be one of the biggest gripes we get with cruising with opinion on tipping coming from across the board. We have those who pay them religiously to those who get them removed religiously! Managing Director of P&O Carol Marlow said:
“The new policy will see a recommended tipping rate added to a passenger’s onboard account on a daily basis. The recommended daily rate per person will be the same as has been in place for several years, namely £3.10, which is less than other cruise companies recommend as a daily rate.”
So where do I stand? Well I think we should all tip, it’s part of cruising and that’s how the ships operate. I don’t buy into this argument that people can’t afford to tip but can afford to spend thousands on a cruise!? I understand the British culture to tipping is different to the Americans but when it boils down to it the cruise lines barely pay their staff a wage so it is not in fact ‘just a tip’ but is the main bread line.
It would be easier if the cruise lines just incorporated the tips in with the cruise price, this way everyone pays the same and none of the staff lose out. If you are on a week’s cruise that costs £749 per person and are charged £770 I’m sure most people wouldn’t complain to their travel agents. And if customers were told tips were included up front, not only would they feel like they were getting a better deal it takes all the hassle of tipping out of the equation.
What are your thoughts………
4 comments:
I also feel the same that tips should now be incorporated into the cruise price,or added on as an extra at the time of booking.
Iwould also like to see P&O allow you to pay for trips and tours as you book them prior to you cruise,this means on a long cruise you do not end up with a large bill at the end of your holiday.
In any case if you can afford to cruise you can afford the cost
I always go to the Customer Service Desk and ask the clerk to remove the tips.
We always do this so that we can tip the Waiter, his assistant and the Cabin Steward.
If any other member of staff is worthy of a tip, we handle that too.
Take my advice, the staff are not paid enough and that is the problem.
I think you should be free to tip what you like and to who you like. It is not the passengers fault that the staff do not get paid enough and rely on these tips.
Shirley
The tipping added to your bill is a con anyway as the staff, in both Queen's Grill and Brittania nake it very clear that you're expected to tip on the last night of the voyage, and I don't see why I should pay twice. If I go to a hotel, I don't tip the boiler engineer or the gardener, or anyone who doesn't give me personal service. I now go to he Purser's Office on boarding and opt out of the scheme. I fear it will soon be compulsory, and very much doubt if it's all shared out, and who gets what is fair.
Post a Comment