Wow, I was really surprised by how many of our readers don’t like the tipping policies of most cruise lines. Nearly half of our poll responders specified that they think tipping should be included in the cruise price. For those cruisers who don’t mind tipping 20% do it in cash. Our auto tipping readers are split with 11% preferring the “opt-in” method and “13%” preferring the option to “opt-out” if they wish to decrease or delete tipping due to poor service levels. Here is a snap shot of the survey results as of the afternoon of March 15, 2009:
Cruise Talk Poll
What is your preferred tipping method?
- No tipping required, its included in the cruise price (46.0%, 59 Votes)
- Cash (20.0%, 26 Votes)
- Auto-tipping to on board account with option to delete (13.0%, 17 Votes)
- Auto-tipping to on board account upon request (11.0%, 14 Votes)
- Prepaid (10.0%, 13 Votes)
Total Voters: 129
Because so many of our readers responded with the “No tipping require, its included in your cruise price” response, I have created another poll that will allow our readers to express, hopefully in more detail, how they feel the issues of service, incentives, and employee compensation should be handled in the cruise industry. Currently, nearly all the mainstream cruise lines have some sort of strongly encouraged to nearly mandatory tipping policy. Even Holland America, who for year always advertised “No Tipping Required”, now has a tipping policy that includes the words “Hotel Service Charge” which implies that unless the employees are grievously neglecting their service responsibilities, passengers are expected to tip them. Only a few of the ultra luxury very expesive lines like Regent and Silver Sea specify that tipping is neither required nor expected.
Please respond to our poll or leave your comments about tipping in our comments section or on our cruise forums.
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It’s unfortunate that ‘tipping’ has come to be what it is. The intention was ‘To Insure Prompt Service’, and help out the people whose position had no salary, just tips. It is now completely out of control. I should decide whether or not an individual deserves a tip, and how much; not be told. It’s getting bad when I go to a SELF SERVE restaurant and they have a TIPS jar at the cash. Give me a break.
Roger, thank you for sharing your comments with us.
I have always felt pretty comfortable with the “cruise tipping” issue probably because I have cruised since I was a child and my family always tipped. I always did wonder weather or not I was tipping fairly, so I found it helpful when the cruise lines started publishing guidelines. Then I found the ability to charge the tips to a sea pass account rather than have to worry about cash and envelopes to make the proces even easier.
However, I don’t like it when the account is charge automatically, with-out my OK. The lines say, “Oh, you can delete it if you must”, but I have heard of them giving passengers a hard time about doing this. I feel that tipping should be completely voluntary and never coerced or forced upon passengers. I appreciate good service and have no problem tipping when I receive it. In fact I’ve always had what I deemed to be excellent service, above and beyond my expectations. But should I ever receive poor service I think that I should be able to delete a tip or reduce it to my discretion.
Interesting, sounds like a marketing opportunity? Seems likely related to current trends towards consumers looking for all-inclusive, so they have a better handle on total expenses and budget for trip.
Cash tipping works best. Once a tip was added to my bill. My Wife and kids left the table and I was going to pay. I did not see the tip was added in and I paid on top of it.
Ryan, I think you are right! It might be interesting to see if any of the lines move in this direction. For years and years they have been moving more and more to auto tipping way of doing things. It would be interesting to see if some of the mainstream lines or perhaps a new line might try this as a marketing technique. They would probably at least peak the attention of many cruisers who are frustrated with the the nearly mandatory tipping policies.
I would wonder if taking away the incentive of tipping would effect service levels. I have heard that in cultures or countries where tipping is not part of the culture that service can be lacking. For years tipping and high levels of service have gone hand in hand with each other on cruise ships. I also worry that auto tipping would also a negative effect on service levels.
Tim, I agree that no one wants to tip twice. I wonder if everyone scrutinizes their on board account? Some people may just be oblivious or apathetic when the tips are added automatically. Where as if they tip in cash they are personally giving a thank you to the person who provided the good service.
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