Tipping on Carnival--Again! Sorry!

First, I must confess that I've not cruised since the days that all
purchases (drinks, merchandise) were paid for directly (no Sign & Sail
cards), and tipping of wait staff and stewards was done by cash in the
envelopes at the end of the cruise. That said....

I'm still a bit confused about the auto-tipping methods on Carnival. I
DO understand that they automatically add the 15% charge to all drink &
extra food charges, and I THINK I understand that they add the
"suggested" regular dinner and room steward tip to your Sign & Sail
account.

What I don't understand: I have read a number of reviews on cruisecritic
and cruisemates in which the reviewer said they canceled the preset
tipping AT THE START OF THE CRUISE--sounds as if they did it as they
obtained their S&S card. In the "tipping" threads in this news group,
some have said that they went to the Purser to have the auto-tipping
removed after the cruise is underway. Still others said that they
adjusted the 15% auto-tip up or down on individual drink/extra food
charges. (Is this possible, or permitted?)

My concern is that those who serve me well receive appropriate thanks,
but those that don't, know that I am displeased. Having a wife and 2
daughters who have owned and operated various restaurants over the
years, I am VERY conscious of proper tipping; and, I tend to tip 25% and
more when the service warrants. I want to be able to make that choice
myself. Will I be able to do that on Carnival, and how?

I am very familiar with the 15% auto-tipping practice from 20+ years of
traveling overseas. I could leave extra tips when the service was
exemplary, but I could not remove that darned 15% from an indifferent
server's tab.

HELP!! AND, many thanks!

Stranger

The last two Carnival Cruises we took, the suggested daily tip amount for
waiter staff(dinner and alternative) and room steward were added to our sail
and sign account, I believe either the first or second day. I am not a big
fan of this method and always go to the pursers office and have the tips
removed. The last day of the cruise I go back to the pursers office and add
what I feel is the proper amount to the account. We have had some great
service where I tip more and some really poor service where I tip less.

I have never really adjusted the 15% tip on a bar bill. I did not know you
could lower it. I think maybe once we had a great server at the pool bar
who remembered what we were drinking all cruise long and gave him a little
extra on a few bar tabs.

Hope you have a great trip!

Lori

--
www.inharmonytravel.globaltravel.com
wrote in message ...
First, I must confess that I've not cruised since the days that all
purchases (drinks, merchandise) were paid for directly (no Sign & Sail
cards), and tipping of wait staff and stewards was done by cash in the
envelopes at the end of the cruise. That said....

I'm still a bit confused about the auto-tipping methods on Carnival. I
DO understand that they automatically add the 15% charge to all drink &
extra food charges, and I THINK I understand that they add the
"suggested" regular dinner and room steward tip to your Sign & Sail
account.

What I don't understand: I have read a number of reviews on cruisecritic
and cruisemates in which the reviewer said they canceled the preset
tipping AT THE START OF THE CRUISE--sounds as if they did it as they
obtained their S&S card. In the "tipping" threads in this news group,
some have said that they went to the Purser to have the auto-tipping
removed after the cruise is underway. Still others said that they
adjusted the 15% auto-tip up or down on individual drink/extra food
charges. (Is this possible, or permitted?)

My concern is that those who serve me well receive appropriate thanks,
but those that don't, know that I am displeased. Having a wife and 2
daughters who have owned and operated various restaurants over the
years, I am VERY conscious of proper tipping; and, I tend to tip 25% and
more when the service warrants. I want to be able to make that choice
myself. Will I be able to do that on Carnival, and how?

I am very familiar with the 15% auto-tipping practice from 20+ years of
traveling overseas. I could leave extra tips when the service was
exemplary, but I could not remove that darned 15% from an indifferent
server's tab.

HELP!! AND, many thanks!

Stranger