“This is great news” and “about time” were among the positive responses on TTG’s Facebook page to P&O’s announcement, with one commenter on the TTG website stating: “Let’s hope some of your [P&O’s] competitors follow suit.”
With some lines recommending a gratuity of as much as $17.50 per day (albeit in a higher-end cabin), a couple could see a discretionary service charge bill after a two-week cruise totalling around £380.
For P&O, the “service reward” currently appears on guests’ account statements, but they can change the amount by contacting reception.
P&O’s announcement that it would ditch its £7pp daily discretionary service charge across its whole fleet from next May followed the line actually upping the charge from £6pp in March. Senior vice-president Paul Ludlow said: “By removing the charge, P&O Cruises will make enjoying a cruise holiday an effortless experience, knowing that great service comes as standard.”
The line confirmed that the cost of its holidays would not increase “as a direct result of this change” and that while tipping staff “is neither required nor expected” guests would still be able to choose to do so.
TTG contacted a range of other cruise lines currently operating a discretionary service charge system to see whether they would also be reassessing their policies for UK guests.
A Princess Cruises spokesperson said its guests appreciated that gratuities were “a way of rewarding excellent service”. “Feedback indicates that guests are comfortable with this approach and as such we will continue to offer it on all of our ships,” they said.
A Cunard spokesman echoed this sentiment: “We think it’s important to offer our guests a convenient way to recognise service.”
A Celebrity Cruises spokesperson stated almost all guests choose to “reward” the service they receive, while Mike Rodwell, managing director of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, said the line had no plans to vary its recommended charge, but confirmed it was “reviewed constantly”.
Royal Caribbean International and MSC Cruises declined to comment.
