More Cruisers Than Ever Are Removing Gratuities. Here's Why

Editorial Summary

The creator discusses the growing trend of cruise passengers removing automatic daily gratuities and explores the various motivations behind this decision. Key issues raised include a lack of transparency regarding whether these funds directly benefit the crew on a specific ship or are distributed more broadly. The video addresses rumors that crew members receive a guaranteed salary regardless of passenger tips and notes that some crew members suggest passengers provide cash directly to have a greater impact. The creator highlights a shift in the industry, specifically noting that Virgin Voyages has reversed its policy of including gratuities in the fare to instead list them as a separate line item. This change has sparked debate among travelers who prefer the simplicity of inclusive pricing. To conclude, the creator shares her personal tipping strategy, which involves maintaining automatic daily gratuities while providing additional cash tips to specific staff members like cabin attendants and bartenders to ensure they receive the benefit directly.

Written by TripBacon from this video's transcript.