Tips are now being charged automatically on the Magic

[njDizFan]

I could see this used as a marketing ploy. Charge the extra money upfront for the cost of the stateroom and advertise as a cruise ship where tipping is not required.

Some upscales restaurants have been doing this a while, the meal is fixe prix and service is included.

 

[mickeysshoes]

I could see this used as a marketing ploy. Charge the extra money upfront for the cost of the stateroom and advertise as a cruise ship where tipping is not required.

Some upscales restaurants have been doing this a while, the meal is fixe prix and service is included.

Regent Lines does this....Drinks, tips all included in the cabin price. Much smaller ships and does not have food at all times like you see on the other lines. You eat when they tell you and you cant get service after 6pm on the ship if our not DRESSED. :hurl:

 

[Ralphlaw]

I thought the purpose of tips was to keep staff members on their toes to provide outstanding service and thus to justify a grand "thank you" in the form of voluntary money. Won't automatically deducting give the impression that the staff isn't really earning it anymore.

I understand doing it on the Mediterrainean cruise where Europeans customarily do not tip. That's a problem (and perhaps an indication that Europeans are accustomed to having wages handed out regardless of quality and expertise as opposed to being earned for extraordinary service, thus leading to overall mediocrity), but I digress. Automatic tipping, for the alarmist in me, takes discretion away from the customer which I do not like, and takes away one valuable incentive for staff members to provide truly excellent service. If you're just going to get paid the same anyway, why put forth the extra effort? After all, few guests will actually take the time to modify the automatic charge unless a staff member was really bad.

And I also wonder how many guests will tip anyway even if it's automatically charged. Some will forget the deduction and tip anyway, and some may still tip out of habit and/or as a "Wow" reward for great service. Sounds like a win/win for most of the staff, one less thing to worry about for the guests, BUT one reason that truly great service might erode. Personally, I don't like it, not when tipping Americans are the majority of guests. And I also, in general, dislike a one size fits all tip charge benefitting the great and the medicore alike. Few things are more discouraging than working twice as hard as the next guy while getting paid the same. Yeah, it happens, but I don't like it, and I certainly wouldn't work for an employer who has such a one size fits all mentality.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I thought the purpose of tips was to keep staff members on their toes to provide outstanding service and thus to justify a grand "thank you" in the form of voluntary money. Won't automatically deducting give the impression that the staff isn't really earning it anymore.

I understand doing it on the Mediterrainean cruise where Europeans customarily do not tip. That's a problem (and perhaps an indication that Europeans are accustomed to having wages handed out regardless of quality and expertise as opposed to being earned for extraordinary service, thus leading to overall mediocrity), but I digress. Automatic tipping, for the alarmist in me, takes discretion away from the customer which I do not like, and takes away one valuable incentive for staff members to provide truly excellent service. If you're just going to get paid the same anyway, why put forth the extra effort? After all, few guests will actually take the time to modify the automatic charge unless a staff member was really bad.

And I also wonder how many guests will tip anyway even if it's automatically charged. Some will forget the deduction and tip anyway, and some may still tip out of habit and/or as a "Wow" reward for great service. Sounds like a win/win for most of the staff, one less thing to worry about for the guests, BUT one reason that truly great service might erode. Personally, I don't like it, not when tipping Americans are the majority of guests. And I also, in general, dislike a one size fits all tip charge benefitting the great and the medicore alike. Few things are more discouraging than working twice as hard as the next guy while getting paid the same. Yeah, it happens, but I don't like it, and I certainly wouldn't work for an employer who has such a one size fits all mentality.

It could. Although guests have had the option of prepaying them for years. There was a big stink with another cruise line a few years ago when it was discovered the crew members kept a list posted of who had already paid their tips. The idea being that they would getting different service from guests who hadn't.

In addition to the letter at the beginning of the cruise, Disney always leaves your tip envelopes on your bed the second to the last night. If you've prepaid, they leave you receipts to put in your envelopes. So if someone did forget they paid, they should remember then!

 

[zulemara]

When cast members sail on already deeply discounted space available rates, they receive tip receipts to put in envelopes, but that never stopped me from giving more than the norm or caused a decrease in service.

I can see how if people wanted to decrease the standard tip, that would be difficult. I have to receive really bad service to not tip a standard 20% when I go out to eat. Since I'm a CM, tips are automatically included in dining and I've never asked to reduce the automatic tip. Even if I came close to thinking I should, I would feel almost guilty asking a manager for that, and that's not a good thing.

It all depends on how management handles it with the cast. If they continue to encourage going above and beyond no matter the tip situation, it'll be fine. If they don't, then maybe things will decline a bit.

 

[bradandsarabr]

I bet they still have the envelops. Without the envelops, it would also be harder for the Cms to receive over & above the standard amount.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I bet they still have the envelops. Without the envelops, it would also be harder for the Cms to receive over & above the standard amount.

The definitely still have the envelopes. Now you just put your paid receipts in the envelopes.

And more if you'd like of course.