Auto-tipping?? do you like it?

[George C]

What are your thoughts on auto-tipping?? Seems most/some of the lines now take 11 or 12 a day from your account for tips that will go into some kind of pool, I have been cruising a long time and always prefer the old way of handing out the envelope and the end of the cruise to waiter , cabin stewards etc. I want my tip to go to my room steward etc , not to a pool that is controlled by the cruise line. ( this is my gripe for the day)

[Beryl]

I love the auto tip! It saves me hunting out people to tip on the last night of the cruise and I know everyone gets their fair share. If my waiters or room stewards have gone above and beyond it is easy to go ahead and give them some extra...and I do so knowing that they will get to keep that "extra" for themselves. For me it's a win win situation. All of the people who help to make my cruise extra special know they will get their share of the auto tip and I know that if I want to contribute more for very special service that I am free to do so. How can this possibly be bad???

[Cruizer]

I like the auto tip. That way I don't have to bring so much money with me, as I can charge the auto tips to my on board account. However, I doubt that the tips go to a pool. I've been on eighteen cruises and at the end of each cruise I check all the pools, and I haven't found any tips yet. Nonetheless, on the chance I might get lucky, I'll keep checking.

[fla jack]

Cruiser-Last cruise I also checked all the pools.
I found all the tips in the hot tubs--LOL
Jack

[bob]

have you checked the gene pool..............................

We love it, takes one more burden off the table, especially because we do a lot of personal choice dining, but I will always give the cabin steward extra cash, which since auto tipping started I have only failed to do once but it was because their service was not even mediocre at best, but they still wound up getting their auto tip which was way too much.
My only complaint with the auto tip is that some, like table captains or maitre d that I never see or in reality do squat for me for the entire cruise get a cut of what I feel should be going to the ones that really bust their butts to take care of the passengers.
The good side of it is that now the waiters in the Lido get a few bucks that they didn't get before.

[randy]

I still prefer to hand the cash tip to the person and thank them. I like the idea that the people are trying to please and can be rewarded appropriate to their level of effort. Once everyone gets the same "tip," everyone will eventually provide the same level of service. I can increase or decrease the amount as appropriate--and yes, it's a hassle to have to save, change and dole out the dollars on the last night, but then so are the studs on my formal shirt--just part of the whole adventure!

[BSeabob]

Yes.. If I do not like what I am getting I fix it right away if possible and then would deal with eliminating auto tips if it wasn't possible. (Which I haven't had to do yet)
It's just too easy....

[Funnel]

Hmmm... is this a new system?
I have always pre-paid my tips when booking a cruise. The last day I get a couple of envelopes and coupons to put in the envelopes. I also have the possibility to add tips (cash or via the front desk) and I have to personally hand over the envelopes. Works fine for me.

bOB, reagrding Maitre'd, during my first cruise he (yup, I finally learned it was a he) never showed up but on all other cruises they have been at the table every night to check that everything is OK and rather often they help the waiters.

/Erik

[Goguinness]

Auto tips are OK, but we still use envelopes for service that we consider above and beyond. When we give them the envelopes we always thank them, stressing that this does not replace the regular auto tip.

[KathyC]

Guess I'm old school here as I like to hand out to each of the individuals. Sometimes I put a personal note in letting them know how pleased I was & what a great job they did. And I don't know how long it takes after the cruise for the pre-paid gratuities to make it into the hands of those that earned it.