Tight-fisted British holidaymakers force cruise line to rethink tipping policy

A U.S.-based cruise line could end onboard tipping after admitting that British passengers cruise dislike paying gratuities.

Royal Caribbean said staff onboard its cruises got far fewer tips from British passengers than from Americans.

Whereas Americans are used to tipping for service, British passengers are not. Though tipping has become accepted practice on cruises, the Brits still don't like it.

Royal Caribbean UK managing director Robin Shaw said Britons were so averse to tipping that it even put them off cruising. Apparently, we like to know what are costs will be upfront and don't like paying extra onboard.

Royal Caribbean will operate several cruises from the UK next year. Celebrity Eclipse will sail out of Southampton during the summer and Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas will operate year-round from the UK from the end of next year.

Meanwhile rival cruise giant Carnival has denied that cut-price cruises have led to declining standards and loutish behaviour onboard its ships.

Speaking after six of its passengers ended up in a quayside brawl with a taxi driver in Antigua, Carnival CEO Micky Arison denied low prices had led to cruises attracting riff-raff.

Carnival owns six cruise lines, including P&O Cruises and the prestigious Cunard. Prices on its ships, as well as on rival cruise lines, have fallen in recent years to try to attract more passengers.

In the UK, more than 1.5m people will take a cruise this year and this number is expected to increase by 10% in 2010.

Digg    Reddit    Facebook    Tweet This