Charging gratuities convenient for us - Letters - Letter to the Editor

Cruise Travel, March-April, 2003 by Conni Weare, Norm Weare

We always begin our reading of Cruise Travel in the Letters section. We were amused by the recent complaints about adding the gratuities to the ship charges. We have sailed on numerous cruises over the past couple of decades, and were introduced to the addition of gratuities only over the past year or so. We find this convenient, as we always provide gratuities for onboard service.

The first time that we found that gratuities would be added to the onboard charges, we went to the purser and asked for some information. First, the charges were added to the account because many cruisers do not provide gratuities at the end of the cruise. Second, we learned that the monies would be distributed to the cabin steward, the dining-room waiters and assistants, and to the room-service waiters. Third, if we wanted to have the charges removed and pay the gratuities directly to the dining-room and cabin staff, it would be arranged. Fourth, if we wanted to increase the amount, we could do that as well by adding some cash to the gratuity for excellent service, the option we chose.

We like the fact that gratuities can be paid by the shipboard account; it's just that much less cash we need to carry. You can argue that the cruise lines should increase the wages and eliminate tipping, but one way or another we will pay for it. Gratuities are one way of rewarding better service.

Conni & Norm Weare, Yarmouthport, MA