Complaint Review: Carnival Cruise Line - Internet

First of all, you got the money back for your "tip" because it is NOT manditory. I don't know where this word manditory was brought in to all this but it is not! It is taken up front, if you feel it should be changed, chage it. Which is exactly what you did. I do not see where the issue is with that. However, you should have left it that way. All the "free drinks" you had.... guess what, someone had to pay for and prepare those. All the "free food" you ate.... again, someone had to pay for it and someone had to cook it. Just because you do not personally see them helping you doesn't mean they are not. The tipping information is on the webite and you are supossed to read through and agree to all that before you even finish booking! Trust me on this because I just did this yeaterday! As far as the phone calls go, did you even bother to find out the price per minute before hand? I think that would have been the smart thing to do. You have to pay for parking almost everywhere anymore, why would think that was free too, it's not part of the cruise. Your baggage didn't get to your room till late because there are 1500 other people whos baggae had to go through the same person. It's not a process that works reall quick. For all we know, someone in front of you had illegal or harmful items in their bags and that had to be handled for YOUR saftey.

To everyone else on here who seems to have an issue with tipping, please let me break down the facts for you.... I am and have been a server for 10 years at several different places. My actual rate of pay has only increased a whopping $2 in those 10 years! Would you still work for your job if you have only received $2 in raises in 10 years? NO! That is why it is STANDARD to leave 20%, not 10%! I would get taxed on money I didn't even make if all I got was 10% because it is mandatory for us to claim 15% of our sales whether that is 100% of our tips or not. By law, we have to claim 100% of what we make and trust that 90% of us (including myself) do so. But if we claim all of our tips and still haven't reached that 15% then guess what, we have to claim money we did not make! So NO, you are not leaving extra for a job we are already getting paid for, you are paying us to do that job! Keep in mind that working 40 hours a week only makes a whole $80 every 2 weeks on a servers paycheck! If you have bad service I can totally understand leaving 10% or less, but at least have the decency of speaking to a supervisor so that whatever was wrong can be corrected with that server. I am in NO way condoning bad service. There is NO excuse for it. That is why some people are cut out for the service industry and some are not. And believe when I say it is NOT an easy job and if you think it is and you have never served, I would love to invite you to join in the day in the shoes of a server. I am so tired of people complaining about having to tip. Go eat at mcdonald's if you don't want to tip, or order take out somewhere. But do NOT go sit down, expect your drink to stay full, your food to be hot or as you ordered it and run that server to death with all the little things you forgot to ask for when he/she was just at your table while you pretend that you are the only one of his/her 7 tables that matters at all and even consider leaving less than 20%! That server WILL remember you, I promise! You can't always see your food before it gets to your table and most servers are really good friends with the cooks!

My husband and I got married on the Carnival Legend. 6/6/03. Other then being rushed it was nice. We were surprised as well when we turned on our TV to see how the guides worked and found they we were charged $80 each person before the ship even sailed away. Carnival did not explain this to us. Nor our travel agent. Just like everyone else we thought we paid for everything and all that we needed to pay for was excursions and drinks. When we went to the main desk to find out what was going on they explained to us that we can remove the $160 and tip later at the end of the trip. That's what we did and we tipped at the end of the trip. As for parking, we as well found out parking was $20 a day. We drove around and found cheaper parking right down the block and just walked down back to the ship with our luggage. We enjoyed our Cruise and went back on the same ship the following year for our anniversary. This time we brought our own beverages such as Red bulls, water and soda. The second time around we spoke to some of the people who work on the ship and yes alot of them work hard for their money. I personally would cruise anytime, especially if its FREE!!! I think its well worth the money even if i have to pay the $80 for tips. There is nothing better then going to 3 or more different islands, eat all you can, Entertainment and Relaxing. Whoever has Free tickets and is not sure about going..Send it my way!!!!!

I read this entire thread, watching you make a buffoon of yourself. You assumed that this couple should have had experience aboard a cruise ship, never having been a passenger before. You also assumed that they should not have been surprised that the meaning of "all expenses paid" meant "except for mandatory tips." While I agree that, in the old days, tips were paid in advance to assure good service (not to thank it), this custom has never been practiced aboard cruise ships, restaurants, or any other venue, by the general public. My cruise ship experience tells me that, like the poster claims, tips are voluntary. They are paid at the sole discretion, and in an amount commensurate to that discretion, AFTER service has been rendered. Requiring service fees prior to service is kin to the IRS removing taxes prior to paying your wages. Cruise ship lines are forums for amusement (which literally means freedom from thinking) and while I can understand why they might want to gouge in advance, to assure a negative experience during the cruise cannot dampen their "tip", the choice to gouge, I mean charge, in advance, is pretty sad... and indicative of a cruise line that I do not need to revisit. My thanks to the original poster for their account. And thanks to you, Mr. Whoooh!, for your silliness and absence of mind for both customer fairness and honesty in business has been a nice chuckle. Happy new year to all.

$2,400 for 3 people comes to $800 per person for a 7-day cruise. Where else could you get all the food you could chow down, never making your bed, someone else washing dishes after meals, lounging around/in the pool, some activity non-stop, etc., for that price? I'd consider that pretty good living. However, rather than try to tell Carnival how to run their business along with complaints about their prices and tipping policies, perhaps a 'single mom' should be teaching her sons responsibility. This would be in the form of more wisely spending $2,400 in a week. Stick closer to home and pay your mortgage.

I paid equivalent of 5 months mortgage for a 7 day cruise. This was for myself and my 2 sons, ages 14 & 11. This is a very large sum of money for me as I'm a single mother. I wondered about the tipping fees then wondered more about what the $2,400+ was going to...I mean, paying this amount for 7 days that could pay my mortgage for 5 months I felt I should get EXTRAordinary service...not have to pay even MORE on top of that for "Service" that would be normally expected at such a high rate as it was. I think the whole point is, if Carnival <---lowlifes paid their Employees decently there would be no need for this thread whatsoever and WHY are WE arguing over this when it should sit squarely on Carnivals shoulders? That's EXACTLY what Carnival wants us to do, after all, it smokescreens THEIR problem and shifts the blame offa them, yes?

I'm way late in joining this site and reading the postings but I hope at least two of the previous posters here still read this thread...they are: Kristi: You said you were pregnant while on the cruise; how far along were you at the time? Glenda: I loved your suggestion as to which cruise lines should be used in the future in lieu of Carnival. However, I do believe the irony was probably lost on most here. As stated previously, Holland America did lift their "no tipping" policy.

How is "pre-tipping" any different than "tipping?" If you want to pre-tip, why not give the person some CASH - if they want a phone card that won't work on a ship in the middle of the ocean, they can use the CASH to buy one. C'mon, common sense here lady..

Peter Pony, You didn't get what I was saying. I pre-tip with phone cards, and this is always a welcome gesture. The employment contracts on the ship are usually 6 months or more. To have a chance to call home is a blessed event for someone missing their family. I ALWAYS tip with CASH at the end of the cruise. I am not tightwad. As I said, "These people work hard so that I can have a good time, why wouldn't I want to be nice to them." when I leave the ship, I have more than compensated anyone serving me. Usually over the suggested rate. So there!

To the person who tips the stewards and other staff with phone cards ... what an asinine thing to do. Why not give them the money that they so much deserve, and let them decide how to spend it? If they want a phone card, they can buy it themselves; most likely they need their tip money to pay for basic necessities like food and shelter. Ever think that these people do not earn a whole lot and most everything they make goes to support their every existence? They can certainly use the cash more than anything else. I find it humorous when people think they can give something other than cash as a "tip." Some idiot on another post on this site actually gave someone an old rusty refrigerator and believed that should count as their "tip." Hellooooo people, is anybody home???

Traditional phone calls made at-sea are subject to high costs, since they are passed via sattelite communications. Most at sea phone users, cruise lines, US Navy, Coast Guard all use this, it's called INMARSAT-B and is very expense to operate. There are cheaper ways to communicate, including Internet. Don't beat on the cruise lines, they are paying the amounts dictated by the phone providers/sattelite providers. I hope you don't expect them to pay for the phone calls, as they'd be out of business real quick. Phone calls are a luxury at-sea, and if you want them, you pay for them. Do you expect airlines to pay for your calls you make from their Airphones?

we cruise often, and on several cruise lines, Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Celebrity. What you are talking about, tipping, is common practice. Your travel agent should have told you about tipping, and if they failed, then you would have seen it in the ticket pack, the web-site, or travel brochure. There really is no excuse for not knowing about this practice. I feel very strongly about tipping, in fact I usually pre-tip. I usually take 4 to 6 pre-paid calling cards and gift our servers, stewards and anyone else that stands out with exceptional service. A phone card is very welcome, and gives them a chance to call home when they have a day in port. these employees work long hours and long contracts, they are there so we can live without a worry for awhile ... why wouldn't you be nice to them? If you have to complain about $10.00 per person, per day ... paid to someone caring for you ... then I agree with the other respondent, "your perfect vacation would include sitting by the pool at the Motel 6 eating a bag of chips." Do some research, be an educated consumer about things. Don't be a ninny, I don't even make a phone call from a Hotel without knowing if I will be charged for it, AND how much .. what did you think the "nominal fee" was going to be, .50? Oh, and Carnival doesn't advertise as "all expenses included" or "all inclusive" .. where did you EVER get that? Thank You,

we cruise often, and on several cruise lines, Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Celebrity. What you are talking about, tipping, is common practice. Your travel agent should have told you about tipping, and if they failed, then you would have seen it in the ticket pack, the web-site, or travel brochure. There really is no excuse for not knowing about this practice. I feel very strongly about tipping, in fact I usually pre-tip. I usually take 4 to 6 pre-paid calling cards and gift our servers, stewards and anyone else that stands out with exceptional service. A phone card is very welcome, and gives them a chance to call home when they have a day in port. these employees work long hours and long contracts, they are there so we can live without a worry for awhile ... why wouldn't you be nice to them? If you have to complain about $10.00 per person, per day ... paid to someone caring for you ... then I agree with the other respondent, "your perfect vacation would include sitting by the pool at the Motel 6 eating a bag of chips." Do some research, be an educated consumer about things. Don't be a ninny, I don't even make a phone call from a Hotel without knowing if I will be charged for it, AND how much .. what did you think the "nominal fee" was going to be, .50? Oh, and Carnival doesn't advertise as "all expenses included" or "all inclusive" .. where did you EVER get that? Thank You,

we cruise often, and on several cruise lines, Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Celebrity. What you are talking about, tipping, is common practice. Your travel agent should have told you about tipping, and if they failed, then you would have seen it in the ticket pack, the web-site, or travel brochure. There really is no excuse for not knowing about this practice. I feel very strongly about tipping, in fact I usually pre-tip. I usually take 4 to 6 pre-paid calling cards and gift our servers, stewards and anyone else that stands out with exceptional service. A phone card is very welcome, and gives them a chance to call home when they have a day in port. these employees work long hours and long contracts, they are there so we can live without a worry for awhile ... why wouldn't you be nice to them? If you have to complain about $10.00 per person, per day ... paid to someone caring for you ... then I agree with the other respondent, "your perfect vacation would include sitting by the pool at the Motel 6 eating a bag of chips." Do some research, be an educated consumer about things. Don't be a ninny, I don't even make a phone call from a Hotel without knowing if I will be charged for it, AND how much .. what did you think the "nominal fee" was going to be, .50? Oh, and Carnival doesn't advertise as "all expenses included" or "all inclusive" .. where did you EVER get that? Thank You,

we cruise often, and on several cruise lines, Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Celebrity. What you are talking about, tipping, is common practice. Your travel agent should have told you about tipping, and if they failed, then you would have seen it in the ticket pack, the web-site, or travel brochure. There really is no excuse for not knowing about this practice. I feel very strongly about tipping, in fact I usually pre-tip. I usually take 4 to 6 pre-paid calling cards and gift our servers, stewards and anyone else that stands out with exceptional service. A phone card is very welcome, and gives them a chance to call home when they have a day in port. these employees work long hours and long contracts, they are there so we can live without a worry for awhile ... why wouldn't you be nice to them? If you have to complain about $10.00 per person, per day ... paid to someone caring for you ... then I agree with the other respondent, "your perfect vacation would include sitting by the pool at the Motel 6 eating a bag of chips." Do some research, be an educated consumer about things. Don't be a ninny, I don't even make a phone call from a Hotel without knowing if I will be charged for it, AND how much .. what did you think the "nominal fee" was going to be, .50? Oh, and Carnival doesn't advertise as "all expenses included" or "all inclusive" .. where did you EVER get that? Thank You,

We had the option to pay the gratuities ahead of time when we actually booked the cruise online. It was nice because we did not have to worry about tips, or additional fees because we took care of them in advance. Also, you can purchase a beverage card, so that your sodas a free. Basically, what you pay for the cruise only covers your food and water/juice. Cruises are not that expensive anymore, and I don't think it is unreasonable to tip. Also, you don't want to open the packages of water or soda in your room - they are NOT complimentary. Your basket of samples ARE free, though. If you notice, Carnival mainly hires people from other countries because they can do so for lower salaries that most Americans would sneer at. Taking this into consideration, I don't think it is uncalled for to make tips mandatory for these people. If you have a problem with tipping someone who has given you poor service, you can complain about the service provided. My brother complained and they gave him a free bottle of champaign. They do try and make good if there is a problem. But, I can also understand as a first time cruiser, how aggrevating the experience would be if no one told you about the mandatory gratuities in advance.

If you read all of the information from the cruise lines (it isn't that long) it tells you the costs of tipping that is standard and also outlines the cost for ship to shore calls. I have cruised Carnival as well as other cruise lines and they all have extra costs. Take some resposibility for yourself and quit blaming others for you not educating yourself before cruising.

I am planning on taking a cruise this Aug. I do not have any problem in tipping if it is deserved! My question is: If you pay the in advance option. Do you have to pay additional tips when you go to eat or order a drink at the bar???? Or do you get a little card to flash at the waiter or Bartender saying that you already have paid the tips?????? What is the deal here because I would like to know what to expect when I get there and what is a better way to go????

I am so SICK of thos people who act like a TIP is required. A tip is a EXTRA GRATITUTITY for GOOD SERVICE. It is not a requirement or anything else. I have stiffed many a waiter or waitress for poor service & such. I have also tipped 20% & 25% for better than expected service. But it is MY CHOICE if I tip NOTHING or anything. If a service charge is required, dont call it a TIP, call it waht it is A SERVICE CHARGE. And if a waiter or service person want to argue this, just remember the GOLDEN RULE, the one with the Gold Rules. And I have the $$$ you are wanting !!!!

I have been working as a waitress many year ago and regardless of tips we had to provide customers with a good service. The service is included in the price of meal. Period. Tipping is at your discretion and always at your discretion. The truth is that half of the restaurant customers do not tip at all, and the other half tips whenever and whatever they feel like it. The same is on a cruise. The service is included in the price of a cruise. A person who pays $1000/per sailing or the one who pays last minute price of $300/per sailing have to receive the same quality of service. Tipping is again at your discretion. So, don't worry if you don't tip, take the cruise anyway and if you are not receiving a good service, sue! However, a $1 tip is always better than nothing. The service people on the cruise like to receive tips but not always tip themselves when they receive service. Americans are always being intimidated into tipping but no one ever includes the service charge in the bill. There is a reason why is that, but remember if it's not on your bill you don't have to pay anything to anyone. And please do visit restaurants and cruises from time to time because without you they'll simply dissapear and the jobs will dissapear with them.

Just a quick note on why so many cruise lines changed their tipping policies.... BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE NOT TIPPING!!!!!! The cruise lines have modified many of their tipping policies in the last few years because people were not tipping at the end of the cruise. Also, they thought that it would be easier for the guest if it was added on at the start of the voyage. The majority of cruises charge $10.00 per person per day. So for a 7 day cruise and a party of two it costs you $140.00 for all of the tips. This is such a small fee for all of the people that help make your cruise enjoyable. It goes to the steward, bus boy, waiter and maid service. These people make up your room twice a day, feed you meals 4 or 5 times a day and are at your beck and call for the duration of your stay. It saddens me to know that there are people in this world that think that it is okay not to tip. The people that work in these fields live off of their tips. They spend 6-8 months of the year working on these ships and sending money to their families. But you probably think, "what a life to get to live on a cruise ship". Stop and think about all of the different places on the ship that they are working. They don;t work a 9-5 job like we do, the same girl that served your breakfast is also serving your dinner and setting up the midnight buffet. HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT THEY DON'T DESERVE A TIP!!! Lastly, being a travel agent I can confirm that in every set of cruise documents the tipping policies are clearly outlined. Not only does it give the guidelines, but if it an automatic tip the amount is listed as well. If you cannot afford to tip the people that contribute to helping to make great memories, you should stay home and eat places where no tip is needed.

I have read these posts and cannot believe that people who are receiving free cruises have the odasity to complain about some extra costs. Have you never gone out in the real world? Most things that you do, you can pay for a package but there are always extras that are not thrown in, hence the word EXTRA, extra cost - extra activity A Few Points: A 3 year old makes a mess no matter how much you clean up after them others still have to clean your table - not always a bus person, hmmm I have been a server and can tell you that I have bussed many of my own tables and still have to tip share with the bus staff no matter Complaining about having to pay a tip to someone who you did not receive services from, if the trip is free quit whining many of the other people on that ship paid for a cruise so they put out a lot more then you have! And anyways in a restaurant you may not see the bartender who fixes your drink, or only seated by one host but your tip partly goes to those people also in the tip share that a server pays at the end of the night, so in reality you tip people that never did a service for you. Thinking that the % of a tip should not change with the growing increase of prices is ludicrous. For one the salary of a server has not changed in over 10 years but the salaries for minimum wage workers have. If you cannot afford to tip then stay home and wait on yourself. This just shows your cheap side to a wait staff and when they see you coming for a repeat visit you are the one that they are going to blow off and take less care of and give the poorer service to. Why waiste their time when the standard tip % is 20 not 10 or 15. As for one of the smoking comments, I am sure you have habits that annoy or bother other people. Take care of all your faults and habits and make sure they are not annoying to anyone else around before you complain about someone elses. Simple trivia avoid places with smokers and you should be okay. And not all people who ignore no smoking signs are drunkards!!!!!! For those complaining about the opportunity to advance tip before the cruise, dont opt for that and you wont have to complain about it. Like it was stated before you can adjust your tip amount up or down. If you have a problem with tipping then you really should never leave your home and go somewhere tipping is considered. Keep your cheap @sses at home Someone mentioned Holland America has a no tipping policy so you should travel with them and not Carnival. Hate to be the one to burst your bubble, but Holland America is a part of Carnival! and they do have the $10 per person per day. HMMMM Hidden Fee's - Well next time you book a cruise tell them to send you a confirmation of the quote that you have asked for with a break down of the prices. If you fail to see the port and tax fees ask what those are and do the math yourself. If you do not have proof of your conversation stating the total then it can be changed and they do not have to honor the price first quoted. Always get things in writing. All this bickering about tipping is so hillarious. It shows who is who when it comes to understanding the reality of workers in the service industry. Most people in restaurants are college students or young people trying to make a way in the world and usually make no more then $2-$3 per hour and they work even when the restaurant is closed for the same low pay. Its the people who complain about tipping who get the worst service cause you get the service you pay for. If you are a repeat customer and someone knows your tipping style and it sucks then they are not going to waiste time and energy in caring if you are given prompt and good service. $10 a day pp tip is not bad when you think about the fact that you are getting your room cleaned, and all the food you want on the cruise. I have ordered 4 appetizers for a party of 2 along with the main courses. If I were in a restaurant I would have to have left a lot larger of a tip then $10 for that one meal not to mention the other 2 meals and snacks I had all that one day. Wow $10 is not much. Don't be so cheap. And just for the record, those of you who do not tip 20% in a restaurant, do you go to bars and buy a drink or beer for $2 and leave a buck as a tip? Cause if you do you are paying 50% gratuity. Or do you give the bartender $0.20 as a tip to stay on course with your %10 tip?

I have read these posts and cannot believe that people who are receiving free cruises have the odasity to complain about some extra costs. Have you never gone out in the real world? Most things that you do, you can pay for a package but there are always extras that are not thrown in, hence the word EXTRA, extra cost - extra activity A Few Points: A 3 year old makes a mess no matter how much you clean up after them others still have to clean your table - not always a bus person, hmmm I have been a server and can tell you that I have bussed many of my own tables and still have to tip share with the bus staff no matter Complaining about having to pay a tip to someone who you did not receive services from, if the trip is free quit whining many of the other people on that ship paid for a cruise so they put out a lot more then you have! And anyways in a restaurant you may not see the bartender who fixes your drink, or only seated by one host but your tip partly goes to those people also in the tip share that a server pays at the end of the night, so in reality you tip people that never did a service for you. Thinking that the % of a tip should not change with the growing increase of prices is ludicrous. For one the salary of a server has not changed in over 10 years but the salaries for minimum wage workers have. If you cannot afford to tip then stay home and wait on yourself. This just shows your cheap side to a wait staff and when they see you coming for a repeat visit you are the one that they are going to blow off and take less care of and give the poorer service to. Why waiste their time when the standard tip % is 20 not 10 or 15. As for one of the smoking comments, I am sure you have habits that annoy or bother other people. Take care of all your faults and habits and make sure they are not annoying to anyone else around before you complain about someone elses. Simple trivia avoid places with smokers and you should be okay. And not all people who ignore no smoking signs are drunkards!!!!!! For those complaining about the opportunity to advance tip before the cruise, dont opt for that and you wont have to complain about it. Like it was stated before you can adjust your tip amount up or down. If you have a problem with tipping then you really should never leave your home and go somewhere tipping is considered. Keep your cheap @sses at home Someone mentioned Holland America has a no tipping policy so you should travel with them and not Carnival. Hate to be the one to burst your bubble, but Holland America is a part of Carnival! and they do have the $10 per person per day. HMMMM Hidden Fee's - Well next time you book a cruise tell them to send you a confirmation of the quote that you have asked for with a break down of the prices. If you fail to see the port and tax fees ask what those are and do the math yourself. If you do not have proof of your conversation stating the total then it can be changed and they do not have to honor the price first quoted. Always get things in writing. All this bickering about tipping is so hillarious. It shows who is who when it comes to understanding the reality of workers in the service industry. Most people in restaurants are college students or young people trying to make a way in the world and usually make no more then $2-$3 per hour and they work even when the restaurant is closed for the same low pay. Its the people who complain about tipping who get the worst service cause you get the service you pay for. If you are a repeat customer and someone knows your tipping style and it sucks then they are not going to waiste time and energy in caring if you are given prompt and good service. $10 a day pp tip is not bad when you think about the fact that you are getting your room cleaned, and all the food you want on the cruise. I have ordered 4 appetizers for a party of 2 along with the main courses. If I were in a restaurant I would have to have left a lot larger of a tip then $10 for that one meal not to mention the other 2 meals and snacks I had all that one day. Wow $10 is not much. Don't be so cheap. And just for the record, those of you who do not tip 20% in a restaurant, do you go to bars and buy a drink or beer for $2 and leave a buck as a tip? Cause if you do you are paying 50% gratuity. Or do you give the bartender $0.20 as a tip to stay on course with your %10 tip?

I have read these posts and cannot believe that people who are receiving free cruises have the odasity to complain about some extra costs. Have you never gone out in the real world? Most things that you do, you can pay for a package but there are always extras that are not thrown in, hence the word EXTRA, extra cost - extra activity A Few Points: A 3 year old makes a mess no matter how much you clean up after them others still have to clean your table - not always a bus person, hmmm I have been a server and can tell you that I have bussed many of my own tables and still have to tip share with the bus staff no matter Complaining about having to pay a tip to someone who you did not receive services from, if the trip is free quit whining many of the other people on that ship paid for a cruise so they put out a lot more then you have! And anyways in a restaurant you may not see the bartender who fixes your drink, or only seated by one host but your tip partly goes to those people also in the tip share that a server pays at the end of the night, so in reality you tip people that never did a service for you. Thinking that the % of a tip should not change with the growing increase of prices is ludicrous. For one the salary of a server has not changed in over 10 years but the salaries for minimum wage workers have. If you cannot afford to tip then stay home and wait on yourself. This just shows your cheap side to a wait staff and when they see you coming for a repeat visit you are the one that they are going to blow off and take less care of and give the poorer service to. Why waiste their time when the standard tip % is 20 not 10 or 15. As for one of the smoking comments, I am sure you have habits that annoy or bother other people. Take care of all your faults and habits and make sure they are not annoying to anyone else around before you complain about someone elses. Simple trivia avoid places with smokers and you should be okay. And not all people who ignore no smoking signs are drunkards!!!!!! For those complaining about the opportunity to advance tip before the cruise, dont opt for that and you wont have to complain about it. Like it was stated before you can adjust your tip amount up or down. If you have a problem with tipping then you really should never leave your home and go somewhere tipping is considered. Keep your cheap @sses at home Someone mentioned Holland America has a no tipping policy so you should travel with them and not Carnival. Hate to be the one to burst your bubble, but Holland America is a part of Carnival! and they do have the $10 per person per day. HMMMM Hidden Fee's - Well next time you book a cruise tell them to send you a confirmation of the quote that you have asked for with a break down of the prices. If you fail to see the port and tax fees ask what those are and do the math yourself. If you do not have proof of your conversation stating the total then it can be changed and they do not have to honor the price first quoted. Always get things in writing. All this bickering about tipping is so hillarious. It shows who is who when it comes to understanding the reality of workers in the service industry. Most people in restaurants are college students or young people trying to make a way in the world and usually make no more then $2-$3 per hour and they work even when the restaurant is closed for the same low pay. Its the people who complain about tipping who get the worst service cause you get the service you pay for. If you are a repeat customer and someone knows your tipping style and it sucks then they are not going to waiste time and energy in caring if you are given prompt and good service. $10 a day pp tip is not bad when you think about the fact that you are getting your room cleaned, and all the food you want on the cruise. I have ordered 4 appetizers for a party of 2 along with the main courses. If I were in a restaurant I would have to have left a lot larger of a tip then $10 for that one meal not to mention the other 2 meals and snacks I had all that one day. Wow $10 is not much. Don't be so cheap. And just for the record, those of you who do not tip 20% in a restaurant, do you go to bars and buy a drink or beer for $2 and leave a buck as a tip? Cause if you do you are paying 50% gratuity. Or do you give the bartender $0.20 as a tip to stay on course with your %10 tip?

I have read these posts and cannot believe that people who are receiving free cruises have the odasity to complain about some extra costs. Have you never gone out in the real world? Most things that you do, you can pay for a package but there are always extras that are not thrown in, hence the word EXTRA, extra cost - extra activity A Few Points: A 3 year old makes a mess no matter how much you clean up after them others still have to clean your table - not always a bus person, hmmm I have been a server and can tell you that I have bussed many of my own tables and still have to tip share with the bus staff no matter Complaining about having to pay a tip to someone who you did not receive services from, if the trip is free quit whining many of the other people on that ship paid for a cruise so they put out a lot more then you have! And anyways in a restaurant you may not see the bartender who fixes your drink, or only seated by one host but your tip partly goes to those people also in the tip share that a server pays at the end of the night, so in reality you tip people that never did a service for you. Thinking that the % of a tip should not change with the growing increase of prices is ludicrous. For one the salary of a server has not changed in over 10 years but the salaries for minimum wage workers have. If you cannot afford to tip then stay home and wait on yourself. This just shows your cheap side to a wait staff and when they see you coming for a repeat visit you are the one that they are going to blow off and take less care of and give the poorer service to. Why waiste their time when the standard tip % is 20 not 10 or 15. As for one of the smoking comments, I am sure you have habits that annoy or bother other people. Take care of all your faults and habits and make sure they are not annoying to anyone else around before you complain about someone elses. Simple trivia avoid places with smokers and you should be okay. And not all people who ignore no smoking signs are drunkards!!!!!! For those complaining about the opportunity to advance tip before the cruise, dont opt for that and you wont have to complain about it. Like it was stated before you can adjust your tip amount up or down. If you have a problem with tipping then you really should never leave your home and go somewhere tipping is considered. Keep your cheap @sses at home Someone mentioned Holland America has a no tipping policy so you should travel with them and not Carnival. Hate to be the one to burst your bubble, but Holland America is a part of Carnival! and they do have the $10 per person per day. HMMMM Hidden Fee's - Well next time you book a cruise tell them to send you a confirmation of the quote that you have asked for with a break down of the prices. If you fail to see the port and tax fees ask what those are and do the math yourself. If you do not have proof of your conversation stating the total then it can be changed and they do not have to honor the price first quoted. Always get things in writing. All this bickering about tipping is so hillarious. It shows who is who when it comes to understanding the reality of workers in the service industry. Most people in restaurants are college students or young people trying to make a way in the world and usually make no more then $2-$3 per hour and they work even when the restaurant is closed for the same low pay. Its the people who complain about tipping who get the worst service cause you get the service you pay for. If you are a repeat customer and someone knows your tipping style and it sucks then they are not going to waiste time and energy in caring if you are given prompt and good service. $10 a day pp tip is not bad when you think about the fact that you are getting your room cleaned, and all the food you want on the cruise. I have ordered 4 appetizers for a party of 2 along with the main courses. If I were in a restaurant I would have to have left a lot larger of a tip then $10 for that one meal not to mention the other 2 meals and snacks I had all that one day. Wow $10 is not much. Don't be so cheap. And just for the record, those of you who do not tip 20% in a restaurant, do you go to bars and buy a drink or beer for $2 and leave a buck as a tip? Cause if you do you are paying 50% gratuity. Or do you give the bartender $0.20 as a tip to stay on course with your %10 tip?

This is tipping is total bullS**T. I think people are forgetting what tip means, and anymore just expect it for doing a job they already are being paid to do, without considering or even caring if they service they are providing is acceptable or not. A tip, or gratuity, is a small amount of money given voluntarily as a token of appreciation for a service rendered. According to Webster's Dictionary, the word "tip" is also considered by many to be an acronym: T.I.P. - "To Insure Promptness" or "To Insure Prompt" service. We tip our servers as a way of thanking them for good service. We might also leave a very low tip, or no tip at all, as a signal that the service was terrible. Lets face it, if walk into a bar, restaurant, ect. and stand there while the little girly behind the counter talks to her boyfriend on the phone. or the waitress plainly and clearly see me ready to order and still continues to vistit like shes in church then Ive already made up my mind she will not get a tip. If the food is unsatifactory to me and they act like they dont care when told about it, they will not get a tip and I will not be back. This expecting a tip for simply doing a job you are paid to do is total bulls**t. Whether or not we tip depends a lot on the service received, as well as whether or not we think we'll be returning to the same establishment. Sometimes we leave tips simply because it is expected -- that and the fact that we don't want to appear to be cheap to our dining companions by "stiffing" the server. Believe it or not, a lot of research has gone into why we tip and what makes us tip more or less for similar service. Tipping is not always simply a sign of a job well done. The most prominent reason for tipping appears to be more of a guilt issue than a gratitude issue. We know that tipping, at least in the United States, is expected, and if we don't tip we stand the chance of angering the server, and then who knows what our next visit to that restaurant, airport or garage will be like! Also, our assumption that tipping is designed to encourage good service for our next visit may or may not be accurate. What if we are at a restaurant that we know we won't be back to? What then is our motivation to tip? Some argue that it is a way of making ourselves feel better about being served because we know the waiter works hard and isn't paid well. Guilt issues aside, research has shown that the quality of the service we receive isn't always reflected in the tip we leave. Many who have studied the practice have discovered that excellent service only draws a marginally higher tip than average service. Bottom line is, everyone has their hand out anymore for doing a job they are being paid to do, from the Cashier at the convienence store to the Maid at the Motel and its just getting ridiculous anymore. And I for one am saying NO!

David, sorry but I do not consider 20% standard. In fact, I will not go above 15% and that is the defacto standard. Even places that automatically add the tip, (a lot of places do for large parties), use 15%. Furthermore, I feel we're all getting rooked at 15%. When I was growing up and even in early adulthood, 10% was the norm. I've heard all the whiners say, yes but costs of things have gone up, that's why they should get more. To that, I say BS! The frickin' cost of the meal has also gone up. So 10% of more money is still more money to the waiter/waitress. For me, if I recieve average service I usually tip at a fraction over 10%, usually just round to the next convenient demonination. Slightly below average service and I will only give exactly 10%, not a penny more, and perhaps even less, depending on exactly what was poor. For excellent service I will go ahead and tip 15%, in appreciation of the outstanding service.

To respond to all of the rudeness of a few people with regards to the initial complaint, is pointless. As everyone has a right to their own oppinion. The complaint was not about tipping for services rendered, or to rip off employess of the cruise ship. The reason we would go to the bar is the waiters would stand around talking???? Also, do the waiters and porters receive all the tip????? Then there is the case of waiters taking an order and 20 minutes later they are still not back with it??? Carnival employees are over worked and virtual prisoners for up to 8 months(per their contracts) At restaurants 20% is standard with more for excellent service. There has to be limits to exploitation and being overcharged. We told everyone what a great trip it was, but be prepared for additional cost they would not expect. There are some who are planning to go and will be prepared for the extra costs. I personally think it was a waste of time as there was not much to do, my wife loved it.

Kim, You do make a valid point and that is Carnival is bottom feeder of cruise lines compared to others. It's kind of the greyhound bus of the cruise ship's. And with that being said I'm sure that is the reason that they put the tip policy into place. They are the low price leader in cruises and I'm sure a large portion of the passengers either tip very little or nothing at all and because of this they threw up this policy. Now if you want a non tipping cruise, go pay double or tripple the price and you can have it. My point and I stand by it, is if you can't afford to tip for services then you should not be on a cruise. This is not saying anything is wrong with someone, but some people are just really really cheap in life.

Paul, like I stated before cruise's are not for me. I wasn't upset with tipping someone for their service, but when people don't serve you, you still have to tip them. I'm in no way cheap, I buy my child a plate. Obiviously you don't have kids, because you'd know that a 3 yr old always wants to eat your food even if they have a plate. About the waiter running the dishes back, no he doesn't that's a busboy, cleaning with disinfectant...uh where is a restaurant like that? Because all I every see is a cloth that magically appears and who know's if it's clean. Btw the some of the service people did ignore me, because I wasn't ordering a keg of beer like the rest. Btw I own a restaurant and have been in the restaurant business for over 10 yrs, I know about tipping and I never said I didn't want to tip someone for there service if they actually gave me service! Steve, did you not drink on the boat? Because we went ahead and bought one of those cards for the soft drinks all you can drink kinda thing, for 18.95 and they charged a tip for that. I wasn't talking about alcoholic drinks, I'm pregnant, besides they charged about $6.95 a drink! A coke was $2.00, everytime, a drink in your room $2.75, water in your room $3.95. I tried to drink the apple juice (free), the lemonade (free), and the tea(free)...it was horrible! I couldn't bare it. The reason I even took the drinks in the room, is because of my sea sickness and we were on the 4th level,and any kind of drink was on the 10th...imagine a pregnant woman how tries to alternate between the steps and the elevator...because the elevator made her even more sick but the steps made here feel like she was gonna die from lack of oxygen! Bradley, I really agree with your statement!

Please educate yourselves on the tipping policy with Carnival and with other cruiselines. I believe you don't really have to tip on Carnival if you don't want and I think that is with all of the cruiselines. But it is customery to tip. Yes, Carnival add it to your sail and sign account but you can request to have it removed. And as far as the guy that want everyone to boycott Carnival is just being mean-spirited. Just because you don't do your homework and didn't have a good time on your cruise, you shouldn't blame Carnival. Nevertheless, if you must boycott Carnival...make sure you cruise either with Holland America, Princess, Cunard, Costa, Windstar or Seabourn. That'll teach Carnival a lesson!

Carnival has pissed alot of people off with this "you're too dumb to do simple math so we'll tip for you" and more and more people agree that Carnival is the least nicest of all the cruise lines. Carnival is an ok cruise line until you cruise on another line, then they suck. I agree that a person's children should not be required to tip, per person that is a rip off. These waiters and waitresses go to these jobs knowing it is tips only and if they want to make 50k then they should consider changing jobs. Just a thought. Tips should never be calculated for you, if that is the case then it should be a "service fee." Maybe they should change the wording.

You have 3 meals a day plus, extra if you desire and we will include the room cleaning fee. If you figure 4.00 to clean your room per day that only leaves 2.00 per meal on tips. On avg i tip 20% so that would make my meals $10.00 each. Well if you are on vacation and not at your local resturant then $10.00 is getting by cheap. Now for the drinks and excursions and picture taking. First the pictures you don't have to buy that's a way for them to make money. I'm sure you have your own camera. Then for all the excursions, don't take them! The ship stops in port, get off in each port and enjoy that city for what it's worth, that's free and does not cost you a penny. As for the drinks and more drinks. Who say's you have to have a ton a drinks?? my point is, there are a ton of things on board that does not require any extra $$, enjoy the cruise for what it is.....

In response to "Kristi," I understand that you won a FREE cruise and are now complaining because you felt it was unfair that you were expected to tip the staff. Let me ask you this ... how would you have felt if the staff ignored you the entire time you were on the ship and did not serve you AT ALL? This is what would happen if there were a CHOICE as to whether or not to tip, and you chose not to tip or to leave very poor tips. Employees working on cruise ships, in restaurants, and other places do not do so out of the goodness of their hearts. They are not a charity or a non-profit cause. They are there to earn money, and it is through TIPS that they earn this money. It is unappreciative, self-centered, rude people who do not leave tips yet expect full-service that makes their jobs so much more difficult. It is wonderful that you find it appropriate to save money by having your three-year old "eat off your plate" in a fine dining setting. After all, why should you tip? Well missy, your "three-year old" is taking up space that a regular paying customer could otherwise occupy. If you are too cheap to pay for your little one's own meal, why not at the very least do the right thing and tip the waiter for his trouble. I understand that you do absolutely EVERYTHING when your little one is dining with you, including cleaning up his mess and cleaning the table. Do you run the dishes back to the kitchen yourself? Do you carry a bottle of disinfectant and a cloth to wipe down the area? No? Color me surprised! It is only appropriate for you to leave a tip in support of those who are serving you! It is pretty clear that tipping is not your thing, yet you do like to receive service. May I suggest that perhaps cruise vacations are NOT suitable for you. There are many other "famiy fun activities" that you might find enjoyable, are cheap, and do not require tipping -- such as camping, swimming in a lake, and going to a petting zoo.

Tipping is something that is not needed these days and is counterproductive. Just look at all the hassle and dialogue it has brought out here. If the business would pay the worker a fair fee, instead of trying to "cheat the system" the slave boy wouldnt need the tip anyways. All this "should I tip", "how much do I tip", "will they spit in my food if I dont tip" nonsense could and should be avoided. I even went in a bathroom once where I found all the paper towels removed from the dispenser with instead a guy in a tux eagerly awaiting to give me one. I accepted- and quickly handed him...the used paper towel...gee what a service!

First of all, I had the $10, but I won the cruise..and with the excursions, the drinks, the constant tipping on those drinks, picture taking (wanting to charge you a arm,leg,and your head) and other things (not in anyway even including gifts), I pretty much had nothing left. We still had to make sure we had that $12 a day car storage fee. So I felt I wasn't getting anything for free. Which of course is the saying "nothing for free". You said "Think about the breakdown I tip more then this just going out to dinner"...so you tip double then? You tip not only for yourself but for you whole family (unless under the age 2)? I'm sorry but we tip good but not that good. $5.50 per person, if you had a family of 4 that's $22.00, your telling us you really pay the waiter that? If I'd have brought my 5 & 3yr old they would have had to pay $5.50, well I need to start charging them a fee for cleaning, cooking, and bathing them. That's crazy. I didn't know that they charge everyone unless under the age of 2. Most the time my 3 yr old eat's off our plates, why does she need to pay a tip to someone that isn't going to feed her, clean her up after-ward, or clean her area off(because that's one thing I always do). Geez I'm doing more work them him.

It'll be a long time, if ever, before I ever sail on Carnival. As I said in my earlier post, the last time I cruised on Carnival, (and the previous time on Premier), they used the envelope system. I prefer the envelope system. You can put in as little or as much as you want, and it's a private transaction until the person receives the tip. Now, with this pre-pay, (where you can't even change the amount), or the Reverse Gratuity (where you have to go through the hassle of making changes at the Information Desk), well these systems really suck. Next time I cruise I will go with another line, if at all possible, and if they have different tipping policies.

Do some reading.. At a rate of $10.00 per person per day, if you can't afford to pay this for a tip then you should not be on a cruise! Think about the breakdown I tip more then this just going out to dinner, hell if they would come clean even my bedroom every day I'd pay it again. It also say's you have the right to adjust what you don't feel is correct. I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but come on. think about what you are getting for your $$'s What is the tipping policy on board? Gratuity Guideline Guests can pay their shipboard gratuities in one of two ways: 1. Reverse Gratuity Policy - For our guest's convenience, we automatically add the recommended gratuities to the on board Sail & Sign account on embarkation day. The guest will have the discretion to adjust these gratuities based upon the level of service received during the cruise. This includes the option to adjust gratuities (up or down) for any individual on the Dining or Housekeeping staff. In order to do so, the guest will need to visit the Information Desk on board. 2. Pre-paid Gratuity Policy - Gratuities are pre-arranged and paid at the time of booking or any time up to two weeks prior to the sail date. All guests on each booking must prepay the gratuities with the exception of children under two. The pre-paid gratuities can not be removed once the booking has been ticketed. The guest will not have the option to adjust the gratuities (up or down) based on the level of service received during the cruise. The dollar amount of the gratuities will appear in the Miscellaneous Charge field on the booking. The guest copy of the cruise ticket will indicate if gratuities have been paid. The total amount will be $10 per guest, per day, which breaks down as follows: $5.50 pp/pd for Dining Team Service (Headwaiter & Waiter) $1.00 pp/pd for Bistro Service (Waiter/Cooks) $3.50 pp/pd for Cabin Services (Cabin Steward) Tipping the Maitre d' is strictly at the guest's discretion, based upon services rendered. For guests who wish to extend this gratuity in cash, an envelope will be available on the last evening of the cruise. Tipping still applies regardless of the dining options selected, such as eating at the casual dining restaurant or utilizing room service. Bar Waiters, Deck Stewards and Bellboys Certain personnel, as noted above, may be tipped as service is rendered. A 15% gratuity is automatically added to beverage purchases which the guest may adjust appropriate to the service received. Note: Guests under two years of age are not required to extend gratuities.

I won a cruise on the Carnival Cruise Line the "Holiday" it was to Cozumel, Mex. Great! I couldn't believe I won. Travel Agent told me it was a non-smoking boat(which it was not), my husband has asthma..only around smoke though. I didn't bring his inhaler for that simple reason. Yea I know, my fault. But luckily he didn't have an attack. We only had to stay away from the casino, hallways, elevator, and uh..pretty much any where that the drunkards didn't care to obey the no-smoking areas. The sea was rough those days. I got sick. But that is besides the point. I knew about the charges but didn't realize really how much. It was $40 a person. That included tips for everybody, from the Stewart to the bar people. Ok..and what if you didn't use certain things, do you still have to pay..why yes! Ok there are drinks in your room that cost $2.50 plus tips..ok..if I've already paid a tip (in the $40) to my steward for his services..why must I then pay a tip on a drink that I feel he'd already been tipped for? The excursion we had already got info on and picked one out. So we were to arrive in Mexico at 8am and be there till 4pm, same as the excursion paper says. When we went to get our tickets for this, we were told they didn't offer it this time. Uh why? They said we will not have enough time. *uh ok* So why didn't anyone give us a list of what we could actually do, instead of what we could only dream of doing? Anyways, we picked one, snorkling. It was good except for snorkling at the shore, were all the disel washed up and I gaged several times when the water would go in the snorkel (which I don't think was "new" like they said) and thought I was gonna be sick! So I ended up with a lot more going out of my purse then I felt was necessary. We talked with a lot of the stewards & helps. I think maybe there was a total of 2 people actually from the U.S.. They stated that almost $4 dollars of the $40 goes to 4 different people (including our steward). I said man that sure isn't a lot, then found out the total of people on board 1,700...uh that is $1,700 that we made off that trip..WOW! They were going right back out...man he had to make some big bucks. But that was about the best thing of the ship, our steward was really nice! The majority of the people were really nice. So I guess a few things were good. I will not be doing it again though.

FYI: I am not an employee of Carnival (or any cruise line), never have been, and have nothing to gain by writing the following. I have been on several cruises (most of them Carnival) and know the drill. Tipping is and always has been a ritual of pleasure-cruising. If you have never been on a cruise before, you should have done your homework to find out everything about cruising before you left home. There is a lot to know, from where/how to check-in, shipboard purchasing, dining arrangements, shore excursions, activities, lifeboat drills, disembarkation procedures, and yes, tipping the staff. Claiming to not know about tipping the staff is like saying that you didn't know you were supposed to tip waiters/waitresses in a regular restaurant. Ludicrous! As a former waiter, I can say that tips are where service personnel make their money. Thus it is in their best interest to render great service. As a former cruise passenger, I know that most of the ships crew do try their best to make you feel welcome. Most of these people work long hours for little pay, and deal with thousands of people each day. A little something extra to show your appreciation is always in good taste. I don't know how the automatic gratuity thing works these days (more than what has already been posted) but if it is an option to have it automatically taken from your credit card, then: 1.) You gave them a card to use 2.) You signed-up for or otherwise authorized it (whether through action or inaction) On every cruise I've taken this was never done, and we always put cash in envelopes for the service personnel we came in contact with. Also as has been posted, "All Inclusive" never means tips included unless specifically stated. Going on a cruise is like going to Walt Disney World-- You're going to spend lots of money. There is no getting around it. Thus you either accept it and have a good time, or you stay home. Don't be so cheap next time!

Katie, If you ever decide to go on a cruise try Holland America Cruise Lines. They have a no tipping policy. You can tip if you please but you don't have to. Best of all company policy says no crew member can tell you how to give if you decide to. Join me and others and Boycott Carnival Cruise Lines. They don't know how to treat their customers. Thanks and God Bless!!!

I just won a 7 day cruise for myself and my husband. After reading all of the comments about tipping and hidden fees, I will have to turn the trip down. We live on Social Security and could not tip in the class that weould be expected from the comments listed here. This was a dream trip, now it will just become a missed opportunity. Thank you for the information, you saved us a great deal of embarrassment.

I agree with Peter. No, you don't have to tip but it would be wise if you do. Tipping is a nice gesture. You have these stewards come in your room and tidy up everytime you leave. Wouldn't you feel bad if you didn't leave them a tip? Smiling and saying thank you won't put food on the tables for their family. And just because you don't use the formal dining areas, doesn't excuse you from tipping. I used to think that too when I first cruised. If you eat from the buffet line all the time, those folks deserve tips too. When I first cruised, I did my homework. I searched cruise websites and message boards and learned all the details I needed regarding tipping and everything. And I did my research on the cruise line I chose. Like I said, you don't have to tip but if you saw all the hard work those people do on cruise ships, you wouldn't mind at all. It is worth it! Happy cruising everyone!

Ignore any responses from him. He posts under several fake names on this board. I just got back from a Carnival Cruise, my first one. My boyfriend won it from his job. It was the Catalina/Ensenada. It included airfare and the cruise but unless it says Tips included, Tips are rarely included in the cruise. Dinner however, even formal, and all food is usually included. There is formal night for dinner and that of course is usually included all you have to do is wear appropriate attire, and you do not even have to go if you do not want too. I am confused on why you are charged extra for dinner? There should have been other places for you to park besides an expensive garage. $10/a day is high and that is what we were stuck paying too. we were unfamiliar with the area though and didn't know where else to go. also yes the phone calls are a complete ripoff never call from the ship, use their internet service instead to check in if you can. Carnival should refund your money if none of the calls went through. Call their customer service as much as possible and demand credit, speak to a manager if you have too. There is no excuse though for charging $9.50 a minute. On another note, I thought the cruise was okay, for not paying for it. The ports of call were not that great, the people on that particular cruise not the classiest.

If I recall correctly, when I went on a cruise a few years ago, the tips were done using envelopes that you gave at the end of the cruise. Last dinner for the Dining Room staff, and left in your Cabin for your Room Attendant. Also, although they listed guidelines, or normal tip amounts, you were free to leave as much or as little as you wanted. So I don't see how they were automatic or how you'd be requesting a credit. And not taking advantage of the Dinners, is kinda like cutting off your nose to spite your face. I mean if you had to pay it anyway, you might of well gotten the most out of it. I do remember they tried to give me a hard time about bringing a small cooler with canned soda onboard, (and this was pre-9/11). But I finally was able to after pointing out I had no alcohol. I did this several years prior to that on Premier Cruise Lines and got no hassle at all.

Joe, may you join the ranks of David in "Sugarland" with your boarish comments. First of all, you are right in that it is the "right" of people as to whether to tip or not. But, do you know it is also the "right" of the cruise operators to refuse service? How would you like that -- after repeated instances of non-tipping, the cruiseship starts refusing service to you and your family, and all the other cruise passengers find out that you too are suffering from cheapskate syndrome. Do you know what TIPS stand for? To Insure Prompt Service. If you do not tip, then you do not deserve good service. It is as simple as that. Tips are NEVER included in the standard price of a cruise, UNLESS you opt for that as part of the package. For an additional flat rate up front, you can enjoy anything you want on the cruise and not have to tip anything. Don't be so cheap next time, and go that route. People like you do not belong on cruises. Perhaps you should try a different form of vacationing in the future, one in which you will not intentionally be ripping off hard-working people.

Peter, You are nothing more than a Carnival Employee trying to make this person look bad. This person has a right to tip or not. It's the job of the ship's staff to render services for the passengers regardless if they tip or don't tip. Another thing David is right we pay high ticket prices to go on the ship. All expenses minus beer and wine should be included in the price of the tickets including tips. As for the phone calls it doesn't cost all that money to place a call. About 90% of the money that Carnival charges to make phone calls is for their pockets.

Shame on you! You cannot use your "first cruise ever" excuse to make amends for your behaviour. First cruise or not, you need to recognize the concept of tipping and learn some common ettiquette. Of course you need to leave a tip upon receiving a service. This INCLUDES bartenders, waiters, porters, anyone who renders a service to you. "All expenses paid" does not mean you do not have to tip. When it comes to a cruise, "all expenses paid" simply means that your stay aboard the ship and meals are included in the amount that you paid. As for the $114 phone call ... that is something you should have verified with the ship staff before making. It is NOT 5 cents a minute when calling aboard a ship in the middle of the ocean. What did you expect by the term "nominal fee?" Best wishes in your next cruise adventure. Hopefully the concept of tipping and extra fees will be cleared up for you by then. 'Later!