Holand America - Volendam - Tipping Outrage!
in [Cruise Ship]
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From: Brian K on 31 May 2007 02:06 On 5/31/2007 2:14 AM skipfromla exclaimed: > On Wed, 30 May 2007 18:03:09 -0500, "Jean O'Boyle" > <j.oboyle(a)removefudged.sbcglobal.net> wrote: > > >> "skipfromla" <skipfromla(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message >> news:s0fr53tlplel7ecbtaht4ncs3a6jgscmb7(a)4ax.com... >> >>> Friend of mine just got back from a combo cruise/land tour and spent 7 >>> days of a 12 day Alaskan cruise on Holland America's Volendam. Tips >>> were supposed to have been included in the price of the cruise at the >>> rate of $10 per day per person on the cruise. >>> >>> Once aboard they were told that 70% of the tips included in the price >>> of the cruise went to people who worked in the background, not to the >>> people they were in contact with, cabin stewards, waiters, bus boys, >>> etc. The ship recommended that these people be tipped in addition to >>> the tips already charged in the bill for their cruise.. >>> >>> It appears Holland America has involved itself in some deceptive >>> business practices by telling people all the tips are included in the >>> price and then changing the rules once the cruise starts. >>> >>> Doubtful my friends will be cruising on any Holland America ship >>> again. >>> >> I think that your friends misunderstood...The tips on all the HAL cruises >> that we have taken were $10 a day and never were included in the price of >> the cruise; but posted on our shipboard account in the amount of $10. pp. >> per day.. Only the bar staff got tipped 15% on any drinks that were >> purchased...I do not believe the ship recommended that the cabin stewards, >> waiters, asst. waiters, etc. be tipped again...We usually tip over the >> amount if someone deserves it because of exceptional service. >> Something just does not sound right here and I can't help but believe that >> it was a misunderstanding. >> >> --Jean >> >> > > I made an error when I said that the $10 per day per person were > included in the price of the cruse. They were automatically added to > their shipboard account, of which, they were told 70% goes to the > behind he scenes people and then recommended that the personal servers > and room stewards be tipped in addition. No misunderstanding. > > Because something was in effect a couple of years ago, a year ago or 6 > months ago, it doesn't mean it will stay that way forever. If you > can't believe it, believe what you like instead. > > > I have sailed HAL fairly frequently. The policy is that a $10.00 per day per person tip is automatically charged to the on board account(s). If you desire to tip an individual for excellent service or for whatever reason, you may do so. If you don't want to have the automatic tips added to your on board account, approach the purser's office after the ship has embarked. The auto tip will be removed from your account and you can tip as you see fit. Bar personnel and spa employees are not included in the auto tip. There are other arrangements where gratuities are added to your bar or spa tab. I have never been told by any HAL employee in reservations, or on the ship that additional tips are expected or will be billed. It seems to me, as others have stated, that this was a gross misunderstanding. -- ________ To email me, Edit "blog" from my email address. Brian M. Kochera "Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once!" View My Web Page: http://home.earthlink.net/~brian1951
From: Charles on 31 May 2007 05:04 In article <5ops5357u291k0bjjvjqma0nk63opfahv0(a)4ax.com>, skipfromla <skipfromla(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > Because something was in effect a couple of years ago, a year ago or 6 > months ago, it doesn't mean it will stay that way forever. If you > can't believe it, believe what you like instead. You are telling a second hand story and you weren't even there! And you admit you were in error about the $10 being included........ Talk about believing what you like!!! -- Charles
From: Warren on 31 May 2007 08:46 On May 31, 2:10 am, skipfromla <skipfro...(a)yahoo.com> wrote > >They were automatically > added to their shipboard account, of which, they were told 70% goes to > the behind he scenes people and then recommended that the personal > servers and room stewards be tipped in addition Was aboard Noordam this winter and this was not the case. A breakdown was given of how much went to Cabin Steward and dining room staff (consistent with what other lines suggest for them), with "the remainder" going toward other service crew such as the serving staff behind the lido buffet. The only time I heard any recommendation for tipping extra was for service above and beyond. Some deserved it, some did not. Warren
From: Sue and Kevin Mullen on 31 May 2007 10:33 skipfromla wrote: > On Wed, 30 May 2007 18:03:09 -0500, "Jean O'Boyle" > <j.oboyle(a)removefudged.sbcglobal.net> wrote: > >> "skipfromla" <skipfromla(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message >> news:s0fr53tlplel7ecbtaht4ncs3a6jgscmb7(a)4ax.com... >>> Friend of mine just got back from a combo cruise/land tour and spent 7 >>> days of a 12 day Alaskan cruise on Holland America's Volendam. Tips >>> were supposed to have been included in the price of the cruise at the >>> rate of $10 per day per person on the cruise. >>> >>> Once aboard they were told that 70% of the tips included in the price >>> of the cruise went to people who worked in the background, not to the >>> people they were in contact with, cabin stewards, waiters, bus boys, >>> etc. The ship recommended that these people be tipped in addition to >>> the tips already charged in the bill for their cruise.. >>> >>> It appears Holland America has involved itself in some deceptive >>> business practices by telling people all the tips are included in the >>> price and then changing the rules once the cruise starts. >>> >>> Doubtful my friends will be cruising on any Holland America ship >>> again. >> I think that your friends misunderstood...The tips on all the HAL cruises >> that we have taken were $10 a day and never were included in the price of >> the cruise; but posted on our shipboard account in the amount of $10. pp. >> per day.. Only the bar staff got tipped 15% on any drinks that were >> purchased...I do not believe the ship recommended that the cabin stewards, >> waiters, asst. waiters, etc. be tipped again...We usually tip over the >> amount if someone deserves it because of exceptional service. >> Something just does not sound right here and I can't help but believe that >> it was a misunderstanding. >> >> --Jean >> > > I made an error when I said that the $10 per day per person were > included in the price of the cruse. They were automatically added to > their shipboard account, of which, they were told 70% goes to the > behind he scenes people and then recommended that the personal servers > and room stewards be tipped in addition. No misunderstanding. > > Because something was in effect a couple of years ago, a year ago or 6 > months ago, it doesn't mean it will stay that way forever. If you > can't believe it, believe what you like instead. Maybe you should of gotten your facts together before posting about a "Tipping Outrage". $10/day/person put on your shipboard account is the normal way nowadays and if you don't like it, you can go to the pursers desk and have it removed. Jean O'Boyle and I were on the Volendam in January and if there had been a major change in the tipping policy since then, we would of read about it here on R.T.C. and elsewhere. sue
From: clint on 31 May 2007 11:24
Good website! "Jean O'Boyle" <j.oboyle(a)removefudged.sbcglobal.net> wrote in message news:Nyt7i.23623$YL5.7129(a)newssvr29.news.prodigy.net... > > "skipfromla" <skipfromla(a)yahoo.com> wrote in message > news:5ops5357u291k0bjjvjqma0nk63opfahv0(a)4ax.com... > . >> I made an error when I said that the $10 per day per person were >> included in the price of the cruse. They were automatically added to >> their shipboard account, of which, they were told 70% goes to the >> behind he scenes people and then recommended that the personal servers >> and room stewards be tipped in addition. No misunderstanding. >> >> Because something was in effect a couple of years ago, a year ago or 6 >> months ago, it doesn't mean it will stay that way forever. If you >> can't believe it, believe what you like instead. > > > LOL! Too funny! You come on here denouncing the Volendam and accusing it > of a tipping outrage. You stated that $10. a day was already included in > your friend's cruise fare and then you come back and say you made an error > and that is was automatically added to their shipboard account instead > (which is the way it is now done unless you request differently) and now > you say they were told that 70% goes to the behind scenes people..WHO told > them such a thing? It's a well known fact that the cabin steward and the > waiter get $3-3.50 a day, the asst.waiter gets $1.50-2.00 a day; so THEY > are the ones who get 70% of the tips and the rest goes to the people > behind the scenes. I still say that your friends were misinformed or they > misunderstood. Most all the cruise lines pretty much follow these tip > amounts...sometimes more...On the 12 day Celebrity Constellation last > month, we paid $12.50 a day pp. for our tips. No problem... they work hard > for those tips and deserve every cent. > Maybe you should do some research of your own before you make accusations > here...there are many seasoned cruisers who post regularly here; so it is > not easy to pull the wool over their eyes! ;) > You might start with this link: > > http://www.vacationstogo.com/cruise_tipping.cfm > > > |