Normal
This all seems to be rumour and speculation. The claim is that the "recommended" gratuities are pooled, but the individual gets to keep any cash as long as the individual tip is left on the ship board charge. This doesn't make much sense to me (not to say that a large corporation wouldn't implement it anyway). Servers are going to get stiffed because:(1) Cheap passengers(2) Lousy serviceIn case #1, servers are likely to get stiffed about equally. In case #2, it is a good thing. Bad servers will make less and get better or quit. Of course, pooled tips would allow some other people who aren't customer facing but support those people to participate. Honestly though, I half supect that this is just another sob story that the servers have come up with to try to get larger tips. They do have you write your cabin number on the envelop for any additional tips (at least on Princess), which would suggest the pooling is actually happening. I don't think we'll ever know though: you can't 100% trust the person who stands to gain an extra tip, and corporate will never disclose their internal policies. Mike
This all seems to be rumour and speculation. The claim is that the "recommended" gratuities are pooled, but the individual gets to keep any cash as long as the individual tip is left on the ship board charge.
This doesn't make much sense to me (not to say that a large corporation wouldn't implement it anyway). Servers are going to get stiffed because:
(1) Cheap passengers
(2) Lousy service
In case #1, servers are likely to get stiffed about equally.
In case #2, it is a good thing. Bad servers will make less and get better or quit.
Of course, pooled tips would allow some other people who aren't customer facing but support those people to participate.
Honestly though, I half supect that this is just another sob story that the servers have come up with to try to get larger tips. They do have you write your cabin number on the envelop for any additional tips (at least on Princess), which would suggest the pooling is actually happening. I don't think we'll ever know though: you can't 100% trust the person who stands to gain an extra tip, and corporate will never disclose their internal policies.
Mike
