"-hh" wrote
> The way that this exploitation problem will be reduced will be by
> consumers becoming more aware to it and then by creating the market
> demand for a less exploitive employer, ie, more people voting with
> their wallet. Your conscience knows what's morally right .. the only
> question is for how long you'll let your wallet have the bigger
> vote.
Every once in a while the tipping subject gets beaten to death on r.t.c. and
I make this post. This is the 4th or 5th time... the first was in 2000...
with revisions. Funny how things seldom change.
Fact - Tipping on most cruise ships is a way of life. You should know before
you go that although tipping is not mandatory, it is expected and you should
account for this money as a part of your cruise cost.
Yes... it would be nice if tips were included in the fare and it would be
nice if the workers got a decent wage so they would not have to depend on
tips for their living, but that is not the way real life is. The system is
in place and if you go on a cruise you are expected to be an adult and
understand this.
How does this translate into real life... when real people go on a cruise.
Average person - Mr. and Mrs. Joe Average know how things work and allocate
the "recommended" amount of money for tips before they leave home. If they
receive adequate service, they pay the recommended amount. For exceptional
service, they may add more. If they receive poor service, first they inform
the supervisor of whatever department they are unhappy with and give them a
chance to fix the problem. If the problem is not fixed, they lower the
amount of the tip.... to $0 if appropriate. They don't spend any time
worrying about whether tipping is right or wrong and they don't sit down
with a calculator trying to figure out how much their waiter will make this
year. They would rather spend their time enjoying themselves.
The Crusader - This person rails against the injustices foisted upon poor,
unsuspecting third world workers and refuses to perpetuate a system that is
unfair to his fellow man. During the week he will call all the waitstaff by
their first names and instruct them to do the same with him. He will take
their pictures and get to know them and be their friend. He won't tip but
will instead hug his waiter and cabin steward the last night of the cruise.
After getting home, he will send a nasty letter to the cruise line
complaining that the service on the last morning of the cruise had
noticeably deteriorated and he will demand a 10% discount on a future
cruise.
Another version of the Crusader is the person who decides that paying the
wait-staff is the job of the cruise line and tipping should not be
necessary. Sure, they knew ahead of time that the system of tipping is in
place but they judge the system by their own standards and decide not to
take part. In the back of their mind they may think that they are striking a
blow for change in the cruise industry, but in reality they are just hurting
the very people that have provided them with the service they have come to
expect.
The Cheap Bastard - They come in a number of varieties. The one easiest to
spot is the guy who eats every meal (two entrees and three desserts) in the
dining room... except for the last night. That night he is content to eat
BLT sandwiches in his cabin, along with any food he scarffed up from the
lunch buffet. These will hold him over until the late night buffet. In
another version, the Cheap Bastard actually gives the waiter an empty
envelope with the hopes that the waiter will put them with the others and
not know who gave it to him. CAUTION: If you are going to try this, give the
waiter the envelope AFTER the last dinner. A little known version of the
Cheap Bastard tells the waiter on the last night that he forgot the tip
envelopes in his cabin and will "take care of you in the morning". Sure.
This person rationalizes that the servers are getting free room and board
and if the job doesn't pay enough then they should quit and get another job
doing something else.... after all, no one is forcing them to work on a
cruise ship.
A couple of fairly new Cheap Bastard rationales have evolved in the past few
years. With the introductions of 24 hour dining, expanded buffets and
specialty restaurants like pizza counters, this Cheap Bastard figures that
if he doesn't eat all his meals in the dining room he doesn't have to tip
the expected amount. "They didn't do anything for me" he says in righteous
indignation.... "Why should I pay them." Of course, this Cheap Bastard knew
before getting on the ship that tips were expected but that is for the
suckers... not someone like him.
Now that some cruise lines with Personal Choice or Freestyle dining are
adding tips to the passengers on-board accounts, another new breed of Cheap
Bastard has emerged. This Cheap Bastard goes to the Purser's desk and has
the tips removed from his account. Since he will not have the same waiter
through out the week, it is easy to not have to tip anyone. So what if he
was served at every meal whether in the dining room, buffet or anywhere
else. He can't very well walk around with a pocket full of dollars tipping
these people during the week so he doesn't bother to tip anyone. Besides,
the cruise line should be paying these people, not him and if they don't
like their job, they are free to quit and go home, aren't they? (He borrows
this from the Crusaders... kind of a Cheap Bastard/Crusader Double Dipper)
I suggest that if you are a Crusader or a Cheap Bastard, you should be
honest with the service personnel on the ship. On the first day of the
cruise, TELL these people that you will not be tipping them. Explain that it
is against your principles or religion and that in spite of the fact that
you won't be paying them, you have respect for them and the job that they
do. After all, you don't have anything against them, you are just protesting
the system. I'm sure they will appreciate it.
BTW - I think Lee L. owns the copywrite to the phrase "Cheap Bastard"
and I have used it without his knowledge or permission. I don't think Lee
has ever used this phrase in the contest of people avoiding tipping so maybe
I'm forging new territory. Lee will probably sue me but knowing him, I
think we can settle this issue in the Horizon Court over a couple of Diet
Cokes. Lee isn't cheap... but he is easy.
--
George Leppla http://www.countryside-travel.com
April 29, 2007 GGC2007 http://cruisemaster.com/pride.htm
October 14, 2007 MOAGC 3 - http://www.moagc-3.com
January 20, 2008 - Adventure - http://cruisemaster.com/adventure.htm
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