Do you want your room cleaning daily?

Do you want your room cleaning daily?

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Discussion

snuffy

9,784 posts

285 months

Monday 27th January 2020
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paulguitar said:
I assume from your comments you have not done any cruises?

I don’t want to derail the thread, but briefly to answer your question… Tipping in the cruise industry is a rather contentious business, especially for Brits who do not have a tipping culture. On American ships, such as the ones I usually work on, passengers are automatically charged a daily tipping rate. Some choose to remove this, meaning their waiters and room stewards are working for them without pay.
I've done 5 cruises and I agree that tipping certainly is contentious, of that there is no doubt, and even more so between people from the UK and US (as indeed you say). And indeed the ones I have been on have a daily charge, which I leave in place (I don't agree with it, but that's a different matter). Some people say they remove the daily charge and tip various staff separately (they may well, they way well not) But I think you'll find, even if people remove the daily charge, the waiters/stewards still get paid.


Edited by snuffy on Monday 27th January 15:46

paulguitar

23,492 posts

114 months

Monday 27th January 2020
quotequote all
snuffy said:
paulguitar said:
I assume from your comments you have not done any cruises?

I don’t want to derail the thread, but briefly to answer your question… Tipping in the cruise industry is a rather contentious business, especially for Brits who do not have a tipping culture. On American ships, such as the ones I usually work on, passengers are automatically charged a daily tipping rate. Some choose to remove this, meaning their waiters and room stewards are working for them without pay.
I've done 4 cruises. It certainly is contentious, of that there is no doubt, and even more so between people from the UK and US (as indeed you say). And indeed the one I have been on have a daily charge, which I leave in place. Some people say they remove the daily charge and tip various staff separately. But I think you'll find, even if people remove the daily charge, the waiters/stewards still get paid.
I have discussed this a lot with my steward. I am sorry to say when the tips are removed, he pretty much doesn't get paid more than a few cents.

Kudos to you for paying yours. As said, it is certainly a cause for a lot of debate and frustration in this industry.


snuffy

9,784 posts

285 months

Monday 27th January 2020
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paulguitar said:
As said, it is certainly a cause for a lot of debate and frustration in this industry.
And of course it could be solved in an instant, but then cruise industry chooses not to. Obviously, the answer is to simply increase the fare accordingly. I think the problem is that American's can't grasp the idea of not tipping - it's hardwired wired into their brains !

But back to the subject, on cruises, your room is serviced twice a day (at least on the ones we have been on). It's always very efficient; normally done in the morning when at breakfast and then again in the evening when your are having your evening meal. I can't remember if the towels and sheets were changed every day, I think maybe the towels were, but not the sheets, but I could be wrong on both things.

paulguitar

23,492 posts

114 months

Monday 27th January 2020
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snuffy said:
And of course it could be solved in an instant, but then cruise industry chooses not to. Obviously, the answer is to simply increase the fare accordingly. I think the problem is that American's can't grasp the idea of not tipping - it's hardwired wired into their brains !

But back to the subject, on cruises, your room is serviced twice a day (at least on the ones we have been on). It's always very efficient; normally done in the morning when at breakfast and then again in the evening when your are having your evening meal. I can't remember if the towels and sheets were changed every day, I think maybe the towels were, but not the sheets, but I could be wrong on both things.
Yes, the Americans indeed have a tipping culture, it is very different to the UK. I must say I don’t mind at all, since I am a beneficiary of tips to the degree that I am able to fully live off of them day to day and send my whole salary straight home.

Yep, you’re correct, the rooms are done morning and evening. Towels are changed on the same basis as in a hotel, IE when placed on the floor. Bed linen is done only as requested or on home port day, of course.

I am a crew member but on this particular ship in a guest cabin. My room gets done only in the evening.

alpertonian

153 posts

84 months

Sunday 2nd February 2020
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Stayed in Berlin last autumn. Hotel offered a free drink each from the bar if we informed them the night before, that we didn't want a room service the next day. First time I'd ever seen this, but the hotel bar was nice so seemed a no brainer to me