BennyandBo

39 minutes ago, Phd1003 said:

If you are on this board - now - months before you cruise, how do you know the service won't live up to your expectations? Your talking about it knowing that your not paying the minimum guidelines set forth for a satisfactory cruise. 

First, if your going to quote me, copy the entire text. You left out the entire second half of what I said in that posting. How very convenient for you.

Anyone who doesn't go back and read the original won't know the context of what was said or ultimately the point. 

QUOTE:

"In the unlikely event that a guest onboard being charged the daily automatic gratuity does not receive satisfactory service, the guest may request to modify the daily amount at their discretion by visiting Guest Services onboard and will be able to do so until the morning of their departure."

Directly from Royals website. 

So I guess the list of who is opting out updated daily, really is to say make more effort with these folks to get a cash tip. However, since removal can be put off till morning of departure, I don't really see the point in the list.

UNQUOTE:

The point of that was to explore what the purpose of the list does or doesn't do.

And I hope you are talking about the removal quote in general and not addressing me specifically. I was mearly on a quest for my own edification to find out how it works and how it could pertain to this list and the ultimate purpose it serves.

I believe you are wrong in staff doing bare minimum for people they think are stiffing them. Especially early on. It's purpose has to be a motivating tool. The tip dollars while not online are still there to be achieved. In cash. Daily or in envelopes on last night. To stop trying to please on day two because you know someone is off the auto list is shooting yourself in the foot. I believe the list has to be to motivate them to go the extra mile and get some cash out by weeks end. Not to encourage vengeance and mediocre service. Everyone one of the 7 days in a week's cruise is a chance to achieve a tip, why not keep trying.

This is what seems to me to be the most productive theory for the use of the "list". Based on information provided here and common sense. All I was doing was striving to find the motivation behind that "list". I've yet to see another theory that isn't self-destructive to the crew member. Each day is a chance to win over a punter. Never write off someone who still has cash in their pocket.  

"In the unlikely event that a guest onboard being charged the daily automatic gratuity does not receive satisfactory service, the guest may request to modify the daily amount at their discretion by visiting Guest Services onboard and will be able to do so until the morning of their departure."

Directly from Royals website. 

So I guess the list of who is opting out updated daily, really is to say make more effort with these folks to get a cash tip. However, since removal can be put off till morning of departure, I don't really see the point in the list.

14 minutes ago, ScottD said:

Don't know..but as mentioned in another comment above..it does happen

Are we talking people who pre paid before boarding vs people who get charged daily?

Also, can they be removed towards the end of the trip? This would make lists meaningless. Up to what point can they be removed? I assume if you had rotten waitstaff all week, removing at end would be an option? Is adjusting amount an option?

My assumption is that a list would show who you have to try harder to please to ensure a cash tip, since any tip is no longer a guarantee?

18 minutes ago, Phd1003 said:

I think Isreal and the Palestinians have a better chance at seeing eye to eye than the opposing sides of this argument. 

I've always wanted to try and fix that too. LOL.

Again, I've said in past. Arguing a point is part of who I was before my health brought on early retirement. Can't help it. LOL.

And when I see comments like if you can't pay it, don't go. Well.....I don't like seeing people picked on. So I've taken the side with the fewer voices to defend. I don't believe all who remove these do so with intent to just save money. And I do see the argument for why should I make up the wages of those who didn't wait on me as a valid and just argument. Just because you don't like it, doesn't mean they don't have a point. 

15 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

You make some correct points but not all judgement is negative. I didn't want to use the term side-eye because most people don't understand it; but that is actually closer to what I meant. It's more of a questioning as to why remove something that is there to make your life easier. I also hate to say it, but it doesn't seem to be people of a certain age that do it the most. 

Yes. The unfortunate thing is the crew see this as a part of their salary, not a supplement, the extra tipping could be considered a supplement. So put yourself in their shoes, that is part of their pay structure. 

But the person removing it doesn't see it that way. They don't see as part of pay structure and often don't feel it should be. Also, they are legally given the option to not participate in something they feel they have no responsibility for, as they are not the employer. Put yourself in their shoes. 

For my own edification. Does the removal of automatic gratuities come on day one, last day, or anytime?

(Yes, I don't know everything. Happy. Lol)

14 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

I don't agree that it is all or nothing. Nor do I agree with the idea if you cannot do x, y, and z, you can't do A.

It's your money, do with it as you please.

I just don't agree that gratuities should be removed if you are basing it on "I only want to tip those I see." I see it as a punishment to those working hard. I also believe that many of the cruise lines implemented daily grats to make it easier on the pax. A flat rate, without having to figure out what is fair. 

 

"A punishment"? For those who feal they should only be tipping direct service and not supplementing the crews salary, there point is just. The real person causing a punishment is the cruise lines for making customers responsible for making up the short fall in salary. Then also giving an opt out option. 

15 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

The question of whether crew can see if guest have removed the daily gratuity was brought up several times in C&A events. I was told they will get a list, that list is updated daily, I am sure. So, whether it's the first day, fifth or last, the crew see it. That does not mean the crew stop doing whatever they were, will and continue to do. It just means that they can see who opts out.  

I think tipping has gotten out of hand. I don't think baristas and cashiers need to be tipped. I have worked waitressing jobs well into my thirties to supplement corporate jobs. I lump in my extra tips with what I save for vacations. It is 100% guilt for me. As at home I cook my food, wash my dishes/clothes/linens, and clean up behind myself. On a ship all of that is done for me so I tip extra. If I could not afford to I won't, I don't judge anyone who doesn't tip extra, I do judge people who remove the gratuity. 

I would encourage thought before judgment. Many of a certain age are use to tipping one on one with the individual who servers them. Some cannot begin to understand any other way of doing this. Some just believe they should only be responsible for tipping those who directly serve and deal with them. Individual choice that has no deliberate negative agenda shouldn't be judged negatively. At least think about it I hope.

Now, as far as people being rewarded in their careers and passing it on. 

Well...some people work paycheck to paycheck and have never been rewarded for anything. So if you have extra to give great. But thats you. Others may not.

And to those who say if you cannot tip like a freaking Rockefeller, then don't go in the first place. Who the hell are you!

I'll defend free of charge to the death anyone who speaks like that. People who work hard and save and only take maybe one nice trip in a lifetime should stay home because they remove something the cruise lines allows them too. Maybe to tip in cash. (Older folks), maybe to tip more, maybe less. But it sure as he'll isn't your place to say. 

This topic brings out the worst in people. But if you go there, I won't stand by and see people told do it my way or just stay home. 

13 minutes ago, Xaa said:

So you think it's like a coin flip to you over whether people are lying about having a service background?  For what purpose would they lie?  

I actually do have more proof.  I have the words of those who made the claim.  You refute that with the fact that people lie on the internet.  Really odd point of contention, but you feel however you feel those assertions.

Do you ever wonder if any of these people are even really going on cruises?

You personally seem genuine. We have great debates. Please don't take personally. But again lol I do feel the BS is as real here as on any other site. I don't think this place is special enough that the BS artist avoid it. I actually never gave lying about having ever been on a cruise at all any thought. But if you could think of it, then someone else has.

5 hours ago, ChessE4 said:

When I tip extra it is either for outstanding service or for uncompensated service (Diamond vouchers). Other than that I may round up. Why? I was rewarded for excellence in my career, and I believe in investing in human capital. It makes life better for everyone. At my age, I realize life is short so I want my discretionary expenses to make a difference. I can't take my bank account with me, so why not treat others as I was treated? Now 40 years ago life was different, money tight, and cruising not a factor. Cruising is a cultural experience, and an extra 15 per day on cash tips isn't worth worrying about.

Not everyone has been rewarded for their job in any way at all ever. Some just work paycheck to paycheck. They don't have extra to give. If you do, good for you. But that is just you.

4 hours ago, Xaa said:

I don't think so, these people seem mostly fine to me.  Implying that they are lying is unfriendly at best.

 

I don't really think anyone is racked with guilt, but something motivated him to have disbelief that people would tip beyond the auto gratuity.  It comes from some point of view shaped by circumstances in life.  It is also only apparently about tipping that he believes these people are lying

 

I don't think.  Many people wait tables as a method to put themselves through college or when just starting out on their career path.  It's quite common.  I haven't waited tables in more than 30 years, but I certainly remember it and it has informed how I tip and view tipping.  Why would you think people here would make that up?

 

On this we agree.  I never told anyone to do anything with regard to tipping.  I stated in this thread what I do and was portrayed as a liar.  Very odd.

I have no more proof of who here wasn't in the service industry, then you do of who was. But I stand by a major level of online BS being as real here as on any other site.

4 hours ago, Matt said:

You can remove auto gratuity as a way to give gratuities out in cash. It's not a cost-savings mechanism.

Again, as I said several post back. Saying in the 3rd post down that this was to help save customers money was sarcasm. Because the original poster only seemed to bringing it up to cause trouble.

3 hours ago, Xaa said:

Got it, it's to show off for strangers on the message board.  That makes more sense.   

Not saying that everything on here is 100% true, but it's more likely that non-tippers would sooth their own guilt with that notion than it is that people, especially coming from service backgrounds, would lie about tipping for the benefit of strangers.

No Wheeler825 has a really good point. It's more likely people here are full of **** then not. 

I also don't think people who don't tip at all have any guilt to "sooth".

However, just because someone doesn't like auto gratuity, doesn't mean they don't tip anything. People here are way to quick to condemn.

Gratuities should be just that. A tip for good service. Not a supplement to a low wage. 

By the way, it's amazing how many people here have "service backgrounds" when it comes to this subject, don't you think? Think about it. LOL.

Bottom line (and this is why I was sarcastic in my first post, thanking the person who brought this up in the first place). It's a personal choice. Everyone should tip what and how they want. And no amount of but this or but that is going to change people's minds. Nor frankly should it. I don't believe in living other people's lives for them. 

Again, everyone do your own thing. 

You do you. That says everything.

OK, so Royals excursion use to say it included beach chairs and umbrella. Now the description says they are available to rent???

Thought I would save and do my own for this. However, the taxi rate is now $15 pp each way. So that's $30 in transportation. Plus $5 in admission. Your at $35 with no chair or umbrella.

So I revisited Royal's excursion, but now it no longer says includes chair and umbrella. Not sure what the deal is 100% because the website has been known on the rarest of occasions to be wrong. Lol.

So I have 2 problems. Would doing on my own really be a savings. (Want at least one chair for the 2 of us to camp out at). But the hassle of finding your own way there and back.

Or doing the excursion now possibly without chair and umbrella in price. Not so great a deal as it use to be.

Plus, big concern. We don't dock till 1pm. Not much time to get there, enjoy, and get back. If chairs are no longer included, how long will the line be to rent one? Excursion only gives 2 hours there. Hate to spend it on a rental line. That's another reason I was leaning back towards official excursion. Chair included, no waiting in a line. But now I'm not sure which way to go???

Yes, we should all do this. It's Royal Caribbeans way to help it's customers save some money. Now you know. Thank you so very much for asking.

(Sarcasm for starting this in the first place) I wasn't serious.

So service my way as the paying customer, or bad review and no tip. I like it. Just cut straight to the punch. It's helpful to new server's. They learn the difference between how the employer says to do things vs what gets the tips and keeps the customers happy. That's what eventually makes great waiters. And ultimately is the line you must walk when dealing with customers. Lean to them, not some stupid training policy.

3 hours ago, Zacharius said:

 

The damage looks widespread and definitely something that will effect every aspect of life in the country for a considerable time. I wouldn't count on it not effecting things for awhile.

That said. After looking at videos of the death and damage, a last minute port change is getting off easy. Don't you think? 

Most events have 2 times to accommodate those coming from early and late seatings. Tell your waitstaff the minute you sit down if you have a showtime you need to make, this helps move things along. Also, as Ampurp85 said, there is always the buffet in the WindJammer if time is a concern.

I only do inside because I too see it only as a place to shower and sleep. I've had gty assigned upper and lower decks, as well as surprise upgrades to ocean view (always lower decks). I've never noticed anything like engine noise etc being a problem. I also find the waves enjoyable to watch. But no two people have the same experience. You however with inside cabins and gty's sound easy going and easy to please, so I wouldn't worry too much. It's just a place to shower and sleep right. Lol.

There have been reports of people waiting over an hour for my time. With a 7 year old I would just go ahead with the 5-530 early dinning time. That way you walk right in to your table and get right to it. 

I'll kind of split the difference. If on a Royal Caribbean excursion I would just leave passport on ship. They won't leave 50 to 100 to 150 passengers behind, so no need to worry on that front. We've waited 4 extra hours to depart because of late excursions still not back. Now traveling on your own, I would take it. That's what it's for.