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Friday 9th October 2009
By Steve Read
Do you tip on a cruise?
TOWARDS the end of every cruise I've been on, the conversation always gets around to the biggest bugbear of all ... tipping.
We Brits aren't used to it - unlike in America, where many people's livelihoods depends on tips.
Now Royal Caribbean are considering changing their tipping policy because when Brits are onboard, we don't leave as much money for the crew as they're expecting.
UK managing director Robin Shaw says the "huge cultural difference" between American and British passengers has become "a significant issue".
He told a conference in Barcelona: "We are evaluating what our options can be in the UK. This is certainly a challenge for us, and one we have to address."
It's especially relevant for cruisers on INDEPENDENCE OF THE SEAS which will be based in Southampton all year round from next year.
Mr Shaw said the crew receive far less tips when Brits are onboard.
At present, Royal Caribbean and Disney are the only major American cruise lines which do not have compulsory tipping - sometimes described as a service charge.
Royal Caribbean recommend you tip a total of $9.75 per passenger per day - made up of $3.50 for the cabin steward, $3.50 for the waiter, $2 for the assistant waiter and $0.75 for the head waiter. Disney recommend $12 per day.
Envelopes are left in your cabin on the last night of the cruise, so you can hand them to the appropriate people.
On most of the other American lines, the tips are automatically added to your onboard account.
You can go to the purser's desk and ask for them to reduced or removed but it's embarrassing - often they will suggest that if (for example) your waiter doesn't deserve a tip, he'll be in trouble and may lose his job!
Carnival and Holland America Line add $10 per day, Princess and Cunard $11, Celebrity $11.50 and NCL $12 per day.
Most British-run lines do not expect you to tip the crew. P&O Cruises, although part of the American-owned Carnival Corporation, only make a compulsory charge of £1.60 per day if you are on Freedom Dining. Otherwise, they recommend £3.10 per day but it's not compulsory.
Other major British lines, like Thomson, Ocean Village, Saga and Fred Olsen, include tips in their fares.
Digby welcomes Balmoral
A SMALL town in Nova Scotia is so excited about a visit by a British cruise ship that they have spent a YEAR getting ready for it.
Fred Olsen's BALMORAL will only be in Digby for eight hours, next Thursday.
She will be the first cruise ship to visit the town - population 2,600 - in a decade.
Local official Joy O'Neil says: "It's great for the community because it's bringing money into the community."
If 1,000 people come ashore and spend $100 each, the town could see up to $100,000 in revenue, she said.
A committee including the Town of Digby, Digby Harbour Port Authority and the Mounties (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) started to prepare for the cruise ship's arrival over a year ago.
Joy says: "This is hopefully just the beginning for Digby as a cruise ship destination.
"There will probably another ship or two coming in next year, and 2011/12 is when we really hope to see more of an impact."
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Steve's off to...
I'M now on my way to New York, to join the SAGA RUBY for her week-long voyage back across the Atlantic.
I'll be sending back video diaries every day next week - as long as there's an internet signal.
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