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Hi Ron,
One thing I've always liked about cruising is that I can come up with a realistic budget. I like having my tips already in envelopes before we even set foot on board. We cruise because we establish the fee up front and no more money talk until we return. If the service is adequate we'll distribute the envelopes. If we're receiving exceptional service at any point in time we'll prefer to tip at that time. If we have to wait the feeling's gone.

My husband and I only give the suggested gratuity amount. Just knowing we have to tip everybody (some of which we have little contact with) is enough.

My Uncle who cruises 2-3 times a year says he stop tipping all together and he makes a very good living. His take is similar to yours that good service/pampering/good food/good entertainment is the cruise lines sales pitch. So our cruise price should already reflect compensating for these services. If he receives exceptional service (over and above their advertised job expectancies) then he'll tip. Other than that he feels the cruiselines should pay their employees better and stop milking their passengers. He felt the crew viewed the suggested gratuities as an given rather than a reward for exceptional service.

We don't agree completely but we do when it comes to regular advertised service. We agree that room service is not going over and above the job duties. If everyone does their job we'll give the tips. No More. This is our vacation. And you're right no one tips us for doing our jobs.

Just our view on this topic.

<blockquote data-quote="MMeeks" data-source="post: 714958">Hi Ron,One thing I've always liked about cruising is that I can come up with a realistic budget.&nbsp; I like having my tips already in envelopes before we even set foot on board.&nbsp; We cruise because we establish the fee up front and no more money talk until we return.&nbsp; If the service is adequate we'll distribute the envelopes.&nbsp; If we're receiving exceptional service at any point in time we'll prefer to tip at that time.&nbsp; If we have to wait the feeling's gone.My husband and I only give the suggested gratuity amount. Just knowing we have to tip everybody (some of which we have little contact with) is enough.&nbsp; My Uncle who cruises 2-3 times a year says he stop tipping all together and he makes a very good living.&nbsp; His take is similar to yours that good service/pampering/good food/good entertainment is the cruise lines sales pitch.&nbsp; So our cruise price should already reflect compensating for these services.&nbsp; If he receives exceptional service (over and above their advertised job expectancies) then he'll tip.&nbsp; Other than that he feels the cruiselines should pay their employees better and stop milking their passengers.&nbsp; He felt the crew viewed the suggested gratuities as an given rather than a reward for exceptional service.&nbsp; We don't agree completely but we do when it comes to regular advertised service.&nbsp; We agree that room service is not going over and above the job duties.&nbsp; If everyone does their job we'll give the tips.&nbsp; No More.&nbsp; This is our vacation.&nbsp; And you're right no one tips us for doing our jobs.Just our view on this topic.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="MMeeks, post: 714958"] Hi Ron, One thing I've always liked about cruising is that I can come up with a realistic budget. I like having my tips already in envelopes before we even set foot on board. We cruise because we establish the fee up front and no more money talk until we return. If the service is adequate we'll distribute the envelopes. If we're receiving exceptional service at any point in time we'll prefer to tip at that time. If we have to wait the feeling's gone. My husband and I only give the suggested gratuity amount. Just knowing we have to tip everybody (some of which we have little contact with) is enough. My Uncle who cruises 2-3 times a year says he stop tipping all together and he makes a very good living. His take is similar to yours that good service/pampering/good food/good entertainment is the cruise lines sales pitch. So our cruise price should already reflect compensating for these services. If he receives exceptional service (over and above their advertised job expectancies) then he'll tip. Other than that he feels the cruiselines should pay their employees better and stop milking their passengers. He felt the crew viewed the suggested gratuities as an given rather than a reward for exceptional service. We don't agree completely but we do when it comes to regular advertised service. We agree that room service is not going over and above the job duties. If everyone does their job we'll give the tips. No More. This is our vacation. And you're right no one tips us for doing our jobs. Just our view on this topic. [/QUOTE]