No More Service Charge

[Gill W]

I haven't a clue whether or not you tipped under the old scheme but if you didn't then above more than likely won't apply to you or Stephen


......or Barney

I've always fully complied with the P&O standard of gratuities, but I'm doubly chuffed that they have conceded to public demand.
The straw that broke the camel's back was the rises in very quick succession, in my opinion.

I was looking at an advert for 99 night Arcadia worldie and worked out that the tips would have come to nearly fourteen hundred quid.

If P&O marketing get it right, dropping the tips could give them a major advantage over others.

When we did two legs of a world cruise, the tips came to about £540 (or something like that), but we had a similar amount of OBC, so it was just paid for by the OBC. In 2 weeks time, we have no OBC on our Aurora cruise so the £336 tips will have to be paid for in real money!

[barney]

I haven't a clue whether or not you tipped under the old scheme but if you didn't then above more than likely won't apply to you or Stephen


......or Barney

I've always fully complied with the P&O standard of gratuities, but I'm doubly chuffed that they have conceded to public demand.
The straw that broke the camel's back was the rises in very quick succession, in my opinion.

I was looking at an advert for 99 night Arcadia worldie and worked out that the tips would have come to nearly fourteen hundred quid.

If P&O marketing get it right, dropping the tips could give them a major advantage over others.

When we did two legs of a world cruise, the tips came to about £540 (or something like that), but we had a similar amount of OBC, so it was just paid for by the OBC. In 2 weeks time, we have no OBC on our Aurora cruise so the £336 tips will have to be paid for in real money!

I always sorted of begrudged the OBC being offset against the tips.
It's like they are giving you free money and then immediately clawing it back again.
As I said, we'll give the Steward the full seven quid a day but don't feel inclined to tip the food waiters.
It may start another controvesy but I always thought the service level in Freedom Dining is patchy at best and sometimes pretty bad.
The wine waiters are even worse.
I've had to virtually wrestle a bottle away from the Wine Waiter as I don't want them having control over topping up when not reqiured and being nowhere to be seen when I want a top up.
I'm an adult. I can decide when i want more wine.

£336 in tips on top of the holiday price is pretty steep in my opinion.

When we have land holidays, I usually give £20 to the Room Maid at the end of the week and certainly don't tip in the dining room or bar staff.

The cruise industry set it as a given and most are so happy to comply so as to not rock the boat.
If you actually sit down and think about it, it's quite outrageous.
To expect the customer to subsidise the employer not paying the correct wage is very American
20% is quite normal in the States.

What swung my change of heart was when I worked out that is every adult gave the £7 a day, the amount the company took was incredible on the larger ships.

We went out last night to see the Illegal Eagles in Barnstaple. (excellent by the way and highly recommended)
We went for a quick pre-theatre meal in town.
The bill was £32. I give the waitress £35 and said keep the change. She seemed ok with that.

[Onelife]

What swung my change of heart was when they sacked 30+ cabin stewards and waiters for daring to question P&O's wage structure.

[colin parry]

I’m booked on R907, which is the first Aurora cruise (Baltic) after the service charge has disappeared. It has just had a significant price increase. I think this is the way it’s going to be from now on. I will be on Oriana next month but I think it will be river cruising after next May.

[barney]

I’m booked on R907, which is the first Aurora cruise (Baltic) after the service charge has disappeared. It has just had a significant price increase. I think this is the way it’s going to be from now on. I will be on Oriana next month but I think it will be river cruising after next May.

It could just be the bizarre fluid pricing that they do.

To give an example, we have a cruise booked for early November this year. N833.
I booked when they had a 'royal wedding' promotion and we have paid £591 per person for the lowest grade outside cabin.
That was select fare with £110 OBC
Last week, the very same grade was being advertised at £1,149 per person.
I've just checked today and it's £979 pp.

So, at one stage it was priced at nearly double what Mrs Barney has paid.

I'm sure that they will claw a bit back with increased prices, but it will all be done stealthily.
A bit here.
A nip there.
A tuck somewhere else.

[colin parry]

Barney, I was referring to cruises departing after May next year. I appreciate the fluid pricing taking place this year as my October cruise had already increased significantly. I wouldn’t be surprised to see reducing levels of obc as it is a comparatively recent addition. When we first started cruising you got £50 as a newcomer and if you were on an anniversary cruise you also got £50 if you were in a qualifying group.

[barney]

I think that you are right Colin.
Like most, I can remember good OBC with free parking and many more bells and whistles.
Those days are long gone now, except in certain circumstances.
I've just checked our May 2019 holiday price
Wow !
I see what you mean.
We paid £1,650 each for our grade of balcony on C deck.
It's now £2,330 for the same.

[daib GC]

I think that you are right Colin.
Like most, I can remember good OBC with free parking and many more bells and whistles.
Those days are long gone now, except in certain circumstances.
I've just checked our May 2019 holiday price
Wow !
I see what you mean.
We paid £1,650 each for our grade of balcony on C deck.
It's now £2,330 for the same.

You are in danger of not comparing like with like 2019 cruises have been on sale for a year now and selling well. Therefore the prices now are high. You need to look at launch price for a cruise as that is the only one which can be related to another the following year.

Many people are saying that the launch price on most cruises for 2020 is little different to 18 or 19.

As cruising is becoming more and more popular so the fluid pricing cuts in and has a dramatic effect.

It is simply supply and demand.

[colin parry]

As I thought and suggested in #81above, many of 2019 cruises now have no obc, or certainly those I am interested in have had it removed.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I've not had any OBC other than the option when booking a Select Fare, for a long time. But if that is the price to pay, so be it. At least we'll all be paying the same and I won't be subsidising those who knock off their auto tips on day one with no intention of handing anything over personally.

[Kendhni]

I suspect that most of those arguing against this on Facecloth actually mean "Damn, that means I'll have to pay now".

BTW David, I think it's May 2019 it comes in. The first Azura cruise is the one we're on.

I do agree with your comment, I am loving them squirming. There are other hints around that P&O are going further with staff welfare and improving wages and conditions. No details and I expect we will never know.

I would not be surprised if P&O do not make a big thing about “tips not required” in their advertising in the near future.

Coming to this late, but on Oceana a comment was made about personnel being on board to manage staff welfare

[david63]

on Oceana a comment was made about personnel being on board to manage staff welfare

Not sure if it is the same but all P&O ships for some time now have had an HR Manager onboard

[Mervyn and Trish]

Makes sense when you have a workforce of 1000 and upwards. I doubt it's tip related. There are plenty of other potential HR issues.