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Don't Rock The Boat Survey:Online poll shows tipping pattern for shipboard staffAlthough three quarters of travelers polled understand that tips are a significant source of income for a ship's onboard employees, about a third of these travelers say, "a tip should only be given to reward exceptional service," according to a new Travelers Advantage® online survey. Travelers Advantage launched the Don't Rock the Boat online poll so that travelers could weigh in on how much passengers should tip shipboard staff. "Travelers can use our survey to guide how much they tip the shipboard staff who serve the meals, clean the cabins and mix the drinks," Travelers Advantage Vice President Julia Ryan said. "Three quarters of those taking our Don't Rock the Boat online poll realize that tips are a significant source of income for shipboard personnel," Ms. Ryan said. "Yet between 10 and 60 percent of those responding said they never tipped a specific group of shipboard staff. In terms of being likely to get a tip, waiters fared best in our survey, followed by bartenders and then housekeepers. The shipboard maitre d' and housekeeping manager were least likely to be tipped. According to the Don't Rock the Boat online poll: * More than half (55 percent) of those responding tipped their waiter or waitress between $3 and $4 a day, less than a quarter tipped $2 a day, and only 7 percent tipped $1 a day. More than 10 percent reported they did not tip their waiter. * Half of those responding tipped their housekeeper between $3 and $4 a day, almost 20 percent tipped $2 a day, and 11 percent tipped $1 a day. More than a quarter did not tip their housekeeper. * More than half of those responding tipped the bartender between $1 and $2 a drink, but 30 percent did not tip their bartender * Almost 40 percent of those responding tipped their maitre d' between $2 and $4 a day, almost a quarter tipped between $1 and $1.50 a day, and 38 percent did not tip their maitre d'. * More than 60 percent of those responding did not tip their housekeeping manager and those who did were likely to leave between $1 and $4 per person per day. More than 300 surveys were completed at the www.travelersadvantgage.com survey. Members of Travelers Advantage (www.travelersadvantage.com or >1-877-841-1335) can save money on air travel, cruises, car rentals and accommodations, as well as earn 5 percent cash back on eligible travel booked through the service with preferred providers. A three-month trial Travelers Advantage membership can be enjoyed for only $1. The trial membership can be canceled at any time during the three-month trial period by calling toll free and owing nothing further. Unless the member calls to cancel, the membership will be extended automatically for an entire year at the $89.99 annual fee and automatically renewed annually upon expiration at the then-current annual fee, billed to a credit card account, without the member having to do anything further. Additionally, members may call toll free to cancel at any time and receive a pro-rata refund of their current membership fee. Trilegiant Corporation (www.trilegiant.com) is a leader in the membership services and loyalty businesses, providing products and services that touch the lives of millions of Americans. Trilegiant's membership business offers services such as Netmarket®, Shoppers Advantage®, AutoVantage Gold® and PrivacyGuard®. Based in Norwalk, Connecticut, Trilegiant is the successor to Cendant Membership Services, Inc. and Cendant Incentives. Edited by Dave Shultz |
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