Holland America's ACTUAL new tipping policy

The recent post from our resident 'spend all day posting cruise line
PR FLACK press releases' travel agent suggested that HAL's new
tipping policy would be more in line with mainstream cruise lines.
Ray even went so far as to state that HAL's new policy would
automatically add tips to the customers portfolio billing. Ray also
stated that the new tipping policy was already in effect.

After I spoke with HAL's corporate office and having them flatly deny
this change had happened yet, even when told of this Ray continued to
spew HIS take on the changes.

Well, we're currently onboard Ryndam (posting this from my personal
laptop while sitting in one of the bars using the wireless network),
and this morning at the 'suite' passengers get together in the
Neptune lounge, I spoke with Captain Consen and Hotel manager Dirk
Verhey on the new policy (and the rest of the changes planned for
this ship). Dirk said that new policy would not go into effect until
after the ship is drydocked late in 2004. When it does happen, the
ONLY actual change is that passengers will be "allowed" to add tips
to their portfolio account. The passenger will have to "REQUEST"
these charges, they will not be automatically added. In addition,
HAL will begin to publish "suggestions" as to tipping amounts, but
will continue to leave ALL tipping options "up to the passenger".
Or, as the hotel manager put it, "we trust that our customers are
intelligent enough to make their own decisions when it comes to
rewarding the staff for a job well done".

So, rather than believing the pablum given out to every travel agent,
newspaper and magazine by a generic PR FLACK press release, wait
until someone has actually been onboard to experience what REALLY
happens and reports back on it. Hell, if some these rtc travel
agents got out of their home offices (where they spend every waking
moment posting anything they can to rtc in order to drum up a sale)
and onboard a cruise ship, we might actually get some FACTUAL
information.


Chuck

For a great deal on your next cruise, check out:
www.cruisequick.com

Chuck.K wrote in
s.com:


So, rather than believing the pablum given out to every travel agent,
newspaper and magazine by a generic PR FLACK press release, wait
until someone has actually been onboard to experience what REALLY
happens and reports back on it. Hell, if some these rtc travel
agents got out of their home offices (where they spend every waking
moment posting anything they can to rtc in order to drum up a sale)
and onboard a cruise ship, we might actually get some FACTUAL
information.


I believe that I already mentioned this in my notes on the Oosterdam.
The policy on drinks is something that you have not adressed it will be
automatically added but can be taken off by those same intelligent
cruisers who know that a 15% less add on means every 7th drink is free.
I think that it will improve bar service and that is a good thing.

What is HAL's tipping policy now. Their website says no tipping. Is this
correct? We're on the Maasdam next July - do we tip or not? BTW - we've
never minded tipping on cruises, wouldn't mind doing it in July, but we did
take the no tipping policy on the website seriously. Need advice....



"Chuck.K" wrote in message
s.com...

The recent post from our resident 'spend all day posting cruise line
PR FLACK press releases' travel agent suggested that HAL's new
tipping policy would be more in line with mainstream cruise lines.
Ray even went so far as to state that HAL's new policy would
automatically add tips to the customers portfolio billing. Ray also
stated that the new tipping policy was already in effect.

After I spoke with HAL's corporate office and having them flatly deny
this change had happened yet, even when told of this Ray continued to
spew HIS take on the changes.

Well, we're currently onboard Ryndam (posting this from my personal
laptop while sitting in one of the bars using the wireless network),
and this morning at the 'suite' passengers get together in the
Neptune lounge, I spoke with Captain Consen and Hotel manager Dirk
Verhey on the new policy (and the rest of the changes planned for
this ship). Dirk said that new policy would not go into effect until
after the ship is drydocked late in 2004. When it does happen, the
ONLY actual change is that passengers will be "allowed" to add tips
to their portfolio account. The passenger will have to "REQUEST"
these charges, they will not be automatically added. In addition,
HAL will begin to publish "suggestions" as to tipping amounts, but
will continue to leave ALL tipping options "up to the passenger".
Or, as the hotel manager put it, "we trust that our customers are
intelligent enough to make their own decisions when it comes to
rewarding the staff for a job well done".

So, rather than believing the pablum given out to every travel agent,
newspaper and magazine by a generic PR FLACK press release, wait
until someone has actually been onboard to experience what REALLY
happens and reports back on it. Hell, if some these rtc travel
agents got out of their home offices (where they spend every waking
moment posting anything they can to rtc in order to drum up a sale)
and onboard a cruise ship, we might actually get some FACTUAL
information.


Chuck

For a great deal on your next cruise, check out:
www.cruisequick.com

The policy was never NO TIPPING, it was No Tipping REQUIRED which is a very
different thing.

The people on the ship are still low paid service personnel, and should
by any measure, be tipped if they provide good service, which they will.

However, the policy means HAL will not hound you about it, include it in a
talk that is broadcast everywhere, and put it in all the literature. It
should be instigated by you.

But yes, tip.

Julie

Al G. wrote:
What is HAL's tipping policy now. Their website says no tipping. Is this
correct? We're on the Maasdam next July - do we tip or not? BTW - we've
never minded tipping on cruises, wouldn't mind doing it in July, but we did
take the no tipping policy on the website seriously. Need advice....



"Chuck.K" wrote in message
s.com...

The recent post from our resident 'spend all day posting cruise line
PR FLACK press releases' travel agent suggested that HAL's new
tipping policy would be more in line with mainstream cruise lines.
Ray even went so far as to state that HAL's new policy would
automatically add tips to the customers portfolio billing. Ray also
stated that the new tipping policy was already in effect.

After I spoke with HAL's corporate office and having them flatly deny
this change had happened yet, even when told of this Ray continued to
spew HIS take on the changes.

Well, we're currently onboard Ryndam (posting this from my personal
laptop while sitting in one of the bars using the wireless network),
and this morning at the 'suite' passengers get together in the
Neptune lounge, I spoke with Captain Consen and Hotel manager Dirk
Verhey on the new policy (and the rest of the changes planned for
this ship). Dirk said that new policy would not go into effect until
after the ship is drydocked late in 2004. When it does happen, the
ONLY actual change is that passengers will be "allowed" to add tips
to their portfolio account. The passenger will have to "REQUEST"
these charges, they will not be automatically added. In addition,
HAL will begin to publish "suggestions" as to tipping amounts, but
will continue to leave ALL tipping options "up to the passenger".
Or, as the hotel manager put it, "we trust that our customers are
intelligent enough to make their own decisions when it comes to
rewarding the staff for a job well done".

So, rather than believing the pablum given out to every travel agent,
newspaper and magazine by a generic PR FLACK press release, wait
until someone has actually been onboard to experience what REALLY
happens and reports back on it. Hell, if some these rtc travel
agents got out of their home offices (where they spend every waking
moment posting anything they can to rtc in order to drum up a sale)
and onboard a cruise ship, we might actually get some FACTUAL
information.


Chuck

For a great deal on your next cruise, check out:
www.cruisequick.com



--
Julie
**********
Check out my Travel Pages (non-commercial) at
http://www.dragonsholm.org/travel.htm

On Tue, 9 Dec 2003 10:27:36 -0500, "Al G."
wrote:

What is HAL's tipping policy now. Their website says no tipping. Is this
correct? We're on the Maasdam next July - do we tip or not? BTW - we've
never minded tipping on cruises, wouldn't mind doing it in July, but we did
take the no tipping policy on the website seriously. Need advice....

Hi Al,

HAL does not have a "no tipping" policy. They have had a "no tipping
required" policy. The new policy as outlined in their press release
of 11/9/03 says this about their new policy, "other service
enhancements include a convenient folio posting of nominal, optional
gratuities, as well as automatic service charge postings to bar-bills,
thus simplifying the sometimes confusing cruise tipping system."
The OP confused the new policy with something he was told by onboard
crew. We have found that the crew is usually ill-informed of new
company policies. IOW, they seem to be the last to get the official
word. We had an expression for this in the Marine Corp that I would
find appropriate in this case, but since this is a family news group,
I will refrain from writing it. vbg BTW, if you would like to read
the entire press release, it can be found in the "News" section of my
web site for Nov. 10 under the heading, "Signature of Excellence"
Initiative.



Best regards,
Ray
LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL
800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
http://www.lighthousetravel.com

We received an email from HAL (as we've sailed them many times) and they
mentioned some new policies. They are now going to (unfortunately)
follow the other lines. Tips will be added to the bar bills and
"nominal" tips will be added to your shipboard account - which you can
remove or change as you please. So their "tipping not required" policy
is going by the wayside.

--
Barbara
http://www.bapcentral.com

Al G. wrote:

What is HAL's tipping policy now. Their website says no tipping. Is this
correct? We're on the Maasdam next July - do we tip or not? BTW - we've
never minded tipping on cruises, wouldn't mind doing it in July, but we did
take the no tipping policy on the website seriously. Need advice....

Juliana L Holm wrote in
:

The policy was never NO TIPPING, it was No Tipping REQUIRED which is a
very different thing.

The people on the ship are still low paid service personnel, and
should by any measure, be tipped if they provide good service, which
they will.

However, the policy means HAL will not hound you about it, include it
in a talk that is broadcast everywhere, and put it in all the
literature. It should be instigated by you.

But yes, tip.

Julie

IIRC from discussions on Oosterdam last week, HAL employees will be able
to suggest proper tips as well once the policy goes into effect. There
are some of us who were just confused by the silence on this matter from
on high.

I am very happy with the new tip rule. --the rule has been " tipping not
necessary" and always causes questions.

We were on the Zuiderdam Nov.22-29.
We went to the front desk and requested envelopes to use for tips.
There were no envelopes left in the cabin.
We tipped our waiter, asst.waiter, head waiter and cabin steward.
Although we did not eat in the dining room every night when we did our
wait staff was outstanding and they were tipped accordingly

SUNNY..........prefers the method of tips being added automatically.

S'nd I.

The policy is not "no tipping allowed" but "no tipping necessary". Tipping
is never required anywhere but the crew on HAL do expect tips and it is
proper to tip them. The main difference you will find is that they do not
automatically add tips to your bar drinks.
Jim


"Al G." wrote in message
...
What is HAL's tipping policy now. Their website says no tipping. Is this
correct? We're on the Maasdam next July - do we tip or not? BTW - we've
never minded tipping on cruises, wouldn't mind doing it in July, but we
did
take the no tipping policy on the website seriously. Need advice....



"Chuck.K" wrote in message
s.com...

The recent post from our resident 'spend all day posting cruise line
PR FLACK press releases' travel agent suggested that HAL's new
tipping policy would be more in line with mainstream cruise lines.
Ray even went so far as to state that HAL's new policy would
automatically add tips to the customers portfolio billing. Ray also
stated that the new tipping policy was already in effect.

After I spoke with HAL's corporate office and having them flatly deny
this change had happened yet, even when told of this Ray continued to
spew HIS take on the changes.

Well, we're currently onboard Ryndam (posting this from my personal
laptop while sitting in one of the bars using the wireless network),
and this morning at the 'suite' passengers get together in the
Neptune lounge, I spoke with Captain Consen and Hotel manager Dirk
Verhey on the new policy (and the rest of the changes planned for
this ship). Dirk said that new policy would not go into effect until
after the ship is drydocked late in 2004. When it does happen, the
ONLY actual change is that passengers will be "allowed" to add tips
to their portfolio account. The passenger will have to "REQUEST"
these charges, they will not be automatically added. In addition,
HAL will begin to publish "suggestions" as to tipping amounts, but
will continue to leave ALL tipping options "up to the passenger".
Or, as the hotel manager put it, "we trust that our customers are
intelligent enough to make their own decisions when it comes to
rewarding the staff for a job well done".

So, rather than believing the pablum given out to every travel agent,
newspaper and magazine by a generic PR FLACK press release, wait
until someone has actually been onboard to experience what REALLY
happens and reports back on it. Hell, if some these rtc travel
agents got out of their home offices (where they spend every waking
moment posting anything they can to rtc in order to drum up a sale)
and onboard a cruise ship, we might actually get some FACTUAL
information.


Chuck

For a great deal on your next cruise, check out:
www.cruisequick.com