RE: The impact of automatic tipping - Linked To Service Quality Declines?
Responding to "VIET630" - you said "but what can you do". Answer - DO NOT CRUISE! You absolutely have that control and there are many options for your vacation $.
My husband and I will not patronize cruise lines that have "auto tips" period. If all cruise lines go this way (I usually cruise Celebrity or Crystal), then cruising will be eliminated from my life. Auto tips are a form of socialism as noted by a previous poster and smack of "unions" where everyone is paid the same irregardless of effort or quality = decline in incentives to achieve.
I am not particularly impressed with the direction cruising is taking (informal, cell phones, "free range kids" out of control, declining food quality/presentation etc), so 50% of my cruise budget has been removed from cruising and reassigned to golf based resort vacations.
There are many posts on the various cruise boards about service quality declines on Holland America in particular.
Frankly the cruise lines are becoming arrogant - BECAUSE WE LET THEM, WE CONTINUE TO FLOCK TO CRUISES which continue to provide a declining product offering and increased "nickle and diming". No one forces us to cruise - if it bugs you. Don't give them your business.
When people stop taking cruises, the cruise lines will adjust.
Rember what Ann Landers said "no one abuses you without your permission
ABoatNerd
