To Tip, or not to Tip….

The one topic of discussion that never ceases to amaze me, is…..tipping…..so why?

Because so many people have such different views on the topic; some people believe in tipping, but only face-to-face, some people are happy to let the cruise line allocate the tips as they see fit, and some people don’t believe in tipping at all.  I’m very respectful of all positions on the topic, as I appreciate people have different perceptions and experiences, along with cultural differences too.

As a general rule, most of the (American-owned) cruise lines will at least try to add the recommended tipping amount to your onboard account, and it is down to you to decide if you wish to amend this, or even remove it completely, but do bear in mind that the Guest Service Desk will probably be keen to ask you if there is any particular reason, or service issue behind your request.  Some cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, give you the option to ‘pre-pay’ tips, so that it’s all taken care of, and in your ‘home’ currency, to avoid exchange rate issues, although a lot of people resent tipping in advance of actually receiving the service, which is of course understandable.  Some luxury cruise lines, such as Regent, Oceania, Silversea etc, will always include tips in the cruise fare, as will some of the UK/Europe-based brands, such as MSC, P+O and Marella (formerly Thomson).

So what’s my take on the subject?  Well, I’ve spent a lot of time in North America and the Caribbean, so I’m familiar with the U.S. tipping culture, and would always defend the right of crew members to receive tips, but I do like the idea that these ‘service charges’ are included as part of the cruise fare, as there’s then nothing to stop you tipping a bit more for exceptional service, even though there’s no expectation.  If you let the cruise line allocate the tips, then the money will go to all people who work behind the scenes, not just the front-line waiters and cabin attendants, which is fair for all.

To those who don’t believe in tipping at all on cruises, I say ‘fair enough-it’s your right’, but I would always say that with all the meals you are being served, particularly in the dining room, over the course of the cruise, you would probably tip in a restaurant on land, so why not reward good service in the same way on a ship?

Over and out for now….