IT is long past the time we were rid of this ‘tipping’ system of ‘compulsory’ gratuities as used across what appears to be the whole of the cruise operators!

With things as they are, the cruise companies can plug the ‘cheapness’ of their cruise offers when, in reality, you can add another £300+ to the cost just to pay the gratuities.

The cost of cruising is huge when compared with package holidays ... and there doesn’t appear to be any form of package holiday where tipping is not only expected but compulsory.

Try opting out of on-board gratuities and you will find this a very tricky process on most ships. It’s time this wages ‘top up’ operated by the companies was done away with and guests were given the choice to tip/not to tip, who to tip and how much!

This practice originated in the USA where the ‘extended hand’ seems to be their way of life. It is not the norm in UK where we tip or don’t tip according to our own wishes, we choose when to tip,we tip those we think deserve it .... and we aren’t told by anyone that we must pay gratuities.

Our government should step in to enforce a pricing policy situation where the advertised cost of cruising doesn’t hide a surcharge that goes to improve the rubbish wage levels for staff the company can get away with under this gratuity system.

I know someone may say ‘If you don’t like it ...don’t go!’ That will put many out of a job! What I would like to see is the honesty of on-line pricing and in travel agents windows where the cost of the cruise is accurate as shown to potential customers.

Let’s start a movement be rid of this greedy ‘Americanism’ which amounts to nothing but a surcharge on the cost of your cruise and which feeds a low wages structure to the detriment of all who work under this regime.

MARGARET GIRVAN

Fontmell Road, Broadstone

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