New deletions are imminent. However no one has mentioned Ward Cleaver today.
Travelcat2 wrote:I "sort of" understand what their motivation might have been. Despite how many of us feel, there are passengers that insist on tipping (this happens on all luxury cruise lines .... I've reading tipping threads on other luxury boards). I think that Regent may have felt that doing a gift certificate might have been easier for the passenger but 99.9% of us did not think that this was a good idea. If someone wants to tip, they are going to do it and cash is better than a gift certificate.
The bottom line is that I have no reason to believe that Regent will stop including tips. What really puzzles me is that many(?) of us are "Seven Seas Society Council" members and they have yet to ask our opinions prior to implementing a new policy (not that they would have to listen to us -- just give us the courtesy of checking)
Dolebludger wrote:TC2,
Asking members of the SS Society first would have been the way to go on a potentially controversial proposal like this one. We all know what would have happened had it not been cancelled. Visible crew members would be doting the last night, just like on the mass market lines before “auto tipping”. And many of us who are sensitive (never been accused of that) would feel “pressure” to do the “expected thing” and tip (again) with these worthless certificates of little if any benefit to the crew member.
If what Regent’s fares for a cruise can’t allow for decent wages for the crew without tipping, I think I will find a better managed alternative, or just stay home in my mountain resort town. I tip service personnel very here in the US, because their employers aren’t required to pay them well, and they don’t. But, those places don’t subject me to a five figure “cover charge” like Regent does. With Regent’s fares, there should be no tipping, expressed, implied, or pressured.
ccpm wrote:I am just a little surprised that an initiative was begun after minimal guest feedback on customer surveys with little or no information to regular Regent cruisers with the rationale and explanation of what the scheme aimed to achieve. Then after relatively few customer expressions of dissatisfaction on CC there is a response from 'Jason' followed very quickly by the above post where the initiative has already been "killed". So how do we explain why so many other items of feedback or items that garner strong opposition on CC are not similarly dealt with at lightening speed. Sorry may be it is a 'verified' email but seems very odd and out of sync to me.
papaflamingo wrote:I agree wholeheartedly about your feelings around extra tips. However I love cruising. Unfortunately there is no cruiseline to my knowledge that forbids tipping. In fact, other luxury cruiselines do say that "gratuities are neither required or expected," but offer no alternative to further reward the crew. Regent goes one step further and says "If guests feel strongly about expressing their gratitude to the crew, they should be encouraged to make a donation to the Crew Welfare Fund at the Purser Office." If everyone simply honored Regent's suggestion, this would not be an issue.
alidor wrote:I’ve been following this conversation and have to add my 2 cents. We just got off our first Seabourn cruise about a month ago and they, too, have no tipping but they mean it! We never heard any reference to a “crews fund,” been provided extra envelopes - nothing. Not a word was said about it.
One thing we noticed the first day we were on the ship is that the crew seems happy. Like I said, we noticed this the first day. Talking to one of the managers in the dining room, he said the staff is very well paid and it does show. ALL of their dining room staff were very highly educated and they were from everywhere.
It was a good cruise and we definitely will sail Seabourn again.
hypercafe wrote:Don't forget all this tipping business is mostly a US thing and there are lots of Europeans on these trips. I was on Silversea's and our Butler refused a tip.
cwn wrote:I agree with you. We have sailed on Seabourn for years, starting with the 3 little girls. Love, love the line and especially the three big sisters...they are the prefect in size and design, 450 passengers, comfortable standard suites and great public areas. The service and food is excellent as is Regent's, but you are not paying for tours you don't want to take and we think the itineraries are more varied.
Seabourn does have a crew fund that benefits all the crew. We have given to it, but it is not advertised....just to go to Seabourn Square and tell them if you want to donate. In the past you could charge it to your shipbroad account.
slidebite wrote:What an odd program, seems like a bizarre way to come up with a new revenue generator and somewhat glad to see it was killed. I don't know what goes on behind the scenes on the ships, but I truly hope that the crew and staff have ready access to internet connections at no cost (or minimal at worst) to keep in contact with their family and friends.
Travelcat2 wrote:Unless things have changed recently, the crew does not receive free internet. Of course, in case of an emergency, I have no doubt that they would be able to use the internet at no cost.
Note: Hope that it is okay to link a thread on another board. This is very much on point - a tipping thread (current) on the Crystal board
forgap wrote:How in the world would you know this? If you are speculating, please indicate this!
Travelcat2 wrote:Not speculating so no need to indicate anything. Regent has done it before and would do it again. Regent did the same thing for passengers when internet was not included and there was an emergency. Surprised that you are not aware of this as it is certainly not a secret.
forgap wrote:Respectfully, how would you know this? I understand that you could comment if YOU experienced an emergency and Regent accommodated YOU. How would you know that this is the case for crew? AND, even if the crew is accommodated in an emergency, why can’t the crew connect with family as part of their employment benefits?
Once again, you speak for Regent as if they employ you! Let either Jason O’Keefe of Jason Montegue speak for Regent!
Wendy The Wanderer wrote:It's also my understanding that this is just not the way it works--they have to pay for internet. I can't remember how or when I heard about this, but it was onboard ship. I guess with limited bandwidth they don't want the staff or crew to hog it. That's why you see those folks heading for internet cafes when the ship is docked.
Michael@ssrp wrote:Lighten up please...
gnomie1 wrote:I have been away from CC for months - that sometimes annoying time consuming activity referred to as "work" has taken precedence over everything else. However, two different people sent me emails about this new program which I am happy to see that Regent put the kibosh on sooner than later. The only thing I can say is "What were they thinking"? Having worked in the corporate world, I find it almost impossible that the suggestion of one passenger could make such a significant change without the approval of more than one individual in the C suite.
I do not want to turn this thread into an argument on "tipping", I am only providing a suggestion as to what I do with my extra non-refundable OBC. At this point, there is very little that I find worth purchasing from the boutiques (this is for another thread, but who are the buyers for the boutiques - whenever I first enter the shoppes I am amazed at the items for sale and wondering if the buyers are aware of the demographics of the average passenger), but do not want the funds to go to waste. The only time I have ever seen crew members in the boutiques is to purchase one of two items, either snack foods or a bag to pack the extra items they accumulated during their time on the ship. I bring small gift bags with me (and use the tissue paper that the laundry fairy graciously brings to my suite) and over the course of the cruise, buy various snack items and make gifts bags for the crew. I hand the gift bags to various crew members, not just the ones I interact with on a regular basis. I know that the crew share the items with their friends and/or roommates and is greatly appreciated.
I also seem to accumulate folding luggage (i.e., LeSportsac knock offs) either from travel focus groups, trade shows, various travels, etc. I bring them with me on cruises and make sure that they get to crew members who may need an extra bag when getting ready to end a contract.
While "Cash is King", and I know some of the crew members use their tips to send the money home to their family, there are other simple ways to show appreciation to the crew. I know that if we are in port and see crew members eating at a restaurant, we will anonymously pick up the tab.
cruiseluv wrote:Some here should take a chill pill
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Anchorbuoy wrote:Much of this thread was deleted over the weekend. I have no idea why, as most was on-topic, and not derogatory.
Previously, I posted the following, just before Jason killed the new tipping certificate program:
I concur that "shooting the messenger" is never correct. However the "message" of this new tipping program just does not feel right. I don't like the introduction of corporate-sponsored tips/gratuities/gifts. And I don't like the publication to push the program. Personally, I would like to see Regent abandon the program, or cease printing it for everyone to see. The Crew Welfare program is subtle and NOT an in-your-face notice in the daily program. The Crew Welfare is a better program, endorsed by Regent
We love Regent because it has historically avoided cheapening the product like the big-box mega cruise lines. This program does not pass the "smell test" and we are fearful that Regent will become an overpriced NCL product.
Regent advertises: "AN UNRIVALED EXPERIENCE™ We aspire to give you more than just the most luxurious ships, exquisite meals, refined service or exhilarating shore excursions. We aspire to give you more than any one of those things because a truly all-inclusive travel experience is about having every luxury included, just the way you like it.
Free Pre-paid Gratuities: Our onboard staff is happy to deliver a flawless experience at every turn with never an additional gratuity expected, it’s already included in your cruise fare."
CBWIR wrote:I thought that the Seven Seas Council was a travel agent designation -not individual passengers. Is this in addition to Commodore, Diamond, Titanium,etc. designations?
As to this thread. Regent did something that they quickly recognized was not a great policy (understatement?) and changed it. The thread would have died quickly if the usual suspects (habitual critics and cheerleaders) didn't have to have the last word.