Australians are not exactly known for throwing money around, except at a game of two-up, so it can be jarring when sneaky charges appear on your onboard account like uninvited guests at a barbeque. Many cruise lines dodge this awkward situation by including gratuities in fares. This is how your cabin attendant, waiters and behind-the-scenes crew get paid an unofficial part of their wage.
Hidden tips on Australian cruises are as tiny as the vegetables you hide in your kids' food. What you don't see won't hurt you.
When cruising overseas, you may find a "daily service charge" added to your account - from US$12 ($18) to US$25 per person, per day - on NCL, Carnival, Cunard, Celebrity, Princess, MSC, Royal Caribbean or Holland America Line. This amount can be adjusted or removed at the ship's guest services desk on the first day. There's no need for a lecture, just politely request the change.
The irony is that some people will happily fork out for a drink that lasts five minutes, but recoil at the idea of tipping the person who just spent eight hours cleaning toilets.
Luxury lines such as Silversea, Seabourn, Regent, Ponant and Crystal Cruises also bundle gratuities into the fare. No envelopes, no maths, no fuss.
Pay-as-you-go is another option, if someone has been exceptional or you'd like stronger drinks from the bartender.
Although tipping isn't part of our culture, a ship is an international workplace, so I respect that subculture in the same way I respect the local customs in another country. I don't like tipping for every little thing in America, but I do appreciate the efforts of cruise crew. They work long days, often without a day off in five or six months, yet keep on smiling. They're far from home, on modest base pay, trying to support their families. However, I have resented how some companies handled it. On a polar expedition, passengers were gathered for a meeting to hand over our credit cards in front of each other. It was a weird and uncomfortable end to an amazing journey.
On an Amazon cruise, I found a letter on my bed instructing how to pay an unexpected $US500 gratuity for a three-night trip. Sorry, but it's not compulsory, it's discretionary. A non-monetary way to show your appreciation is to mention crewmembers' names in the post-cruise survey. This can help them get rehired on another contract, which is worth more than your loose change.
MYTHBUSTER: Crew life is a big party
Watched too many episodes of Below Deck? Cruise ship crew don't have the same lifestyle as deckhands and stewardesses on superyachts. While they do sail around the world, most crewmembers rarely get to enjoy the destinations. The work schedule is often 10 to 12 hours per day, seven days a week. When they do get shore leave, it's typically too brief to explore or have fun. The reality is that crewmembers spend most of their downtime sleeping, relaxing or calling their family, and they may not even get free phone calls or Wi-Fi.
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The Echidna
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