“I think the biggest problem is the confusion” – cruisers call for transparency over gratuities

Cruise Passenger readers always have plenty to say about what’s going on in Australian cruise, and in the broader cruise community. In Your Say, Cruise Passenger looks at the issues our readers are writing to us about on our blogs, posts and newsletters. 

It’s an eternal question for cruise passengers: “Just where do my gratuities go?”

It appears that Carnival has cleared up this mystery for some of their cruisers, with a popular cruise blogger sharing a breakdown from Carnival of their gratuities.

Cruise blogger Alex Roberson paid USD$240 ($336) in gratuities, of which USD$113.40 ($158), or just under 50 per cent, went to team dining services. Another USD$70 ($98), or about 30 per cent, went to the Stateroom Steward, while the remaining USD$56.40 ($78), about 23 per cent, went to alternative services. 

Alternative services generally refers to the crew members who you don’t see or interact with as much, such as those working behind the scenes in laundry, cleaning, those working below deck and more.

This is interesting information for lots of cruisers, and for Carnival cruisers at least, it reveals a breakdown of where their gratuities go.

However, the truth is, as many cruisers pointed out, this reveals little as to the actual salaries of these crew members, and whether the Carnival gratuities are given on top of a base salary, or used to supplement existing salaries. 

For Aussie cruisers, this clears nothing up, as gratuities aren’t applied in Australia, raising questions over how this can work in relation to crew member salaries in Australia when compared to Carnival.

What are people saying

Jaime Giles said: “My question has never been if it goes to them or not, but how cruise lines utilize it. From my understanding, they receive a set amount of pay, and the lines use this to supplement them. 

“It is not in addition to their base pay. So, even if gratuity is not paid, cruise lines make sure they hit that guaranteed pay, but not extra. I don’t know what to believe.”

Cruiser Kelly McNiven is similarly secptical: “So my question, if they get the same pay even when people cancel their gratuities. How does it benefit Carnival to use the paid gratuities towards their pay. Is it just they save $$ on wages or is there more of a benefit to the company?”

Other cruisers shared different questions.

Robin McKee Pollock said: “I wonder if when I give my room steward a cash gratuity if he/she gets to keep all of it or if they have to turn it into a tipping pool!”

Many other cruisers, like Judy Wyke-Manning shared their theories on where the money goes, although the reality is largely unknown.

“The cruise line uses those gratuities to put towards their actual pay check. They don’t get anything above and beyond. The only extra money they receive is what you give them in cash.”

Alan Baines summed up how many feel: “Should be part of the fare. It only makes sense to give over and above if you want to reward someone directly.”

Other cruisers shared their stories of being onboard and trying to get more transparency on where money goes but not being successful.

“I am leaving on Sunday on the Dream and I have made three separate calls to ask “who gets what”. Not one person would tell me. 

“The answer was “we are not told of the break up of tips” Thank you for sharing this. I feel MUCH better about the pre-paid when I see this. I’m not sure what the “alternative services” means, but I like what I see for the steward and dining team.”

Al Mather shared their strategy for paying gratuities.

“When I get on the ship I go to guest services and have them remove it. I only tip who takes care of me like my room steward, waiters and bartenders.”

Jill Ann Rambo highlights the main problem of gratuities, the confusion.

“I love cruising and I don’t mind tipping our servers. I think the biggest problem is the confusion Carnival has created. I don’t want to tip the charged gratuities if in fact… I am just helping to pay salaries.

“If that is the case and people think that they don’t need to tip… the servers are really missing out on income the need.”

The need for transparency 

For Aussies and USA cruisers alike, what’s really wanted is transparency. Everyone wants to know their crew members are being paid fairly, and wants to have the information to know whether they should tip extra.

For example, Aussies are told there’s no need to tip extra, but aren’t told how this system works, for example if crew members are paid less than in the USA due to not receiving gratuities. 

Then those in the USA want to know if gratuities are simply used to supplement existing salaries, or a fair chunk added on top. As if it’s simply a supplement, most cruisers would probably prefer to just have gratuities included like in Australia and the crew get a fair wage from that. Whereas if tips are really a bonus on top, then plenty of cruisers would be happy and willing to offer more on top when they experience good services. 

These questions have plagued cruisers for years, and it’s time that cruise lines offer more transparency, not just who the gratuities go to, but how are they applied and what the payment structure for crew is like. 

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