One of the most hotly-debated topics on the internet is about to get even more contentious thanks to an unexpected move being made by Carnival Cruise Line: They are now placing stickers on Sail & Sign cards which acknowledge those who have prepaid their gratuities.
What’s Behind Carnival’s Gratuity Stickers?
The stickers, attatched to the Sail & Sign cards issued upon boarding, read “Crew love” followed by the phrase “I pre-paid my gratuities.” Additionally, a note is left in the stateroom of guests, also thanking them for having done so.
With rumors circulating about the stickers, Cruise Radio reached out to Carnival, who offered not only confirmation but a statement regarding the update.
“The Carnival gratuity program is an important way guests recognize our hard-working team members and ensure that gratuities are shared among both guest-facing and behind-the-scenes crew who make great vacations possible,” said Carnival.
“Our team members provide great service to every guest,” the statement continued. “The ‘Crew Love’ stickers and thank-you notes are simply a way to let our crew know that a guest has pre-paid their gratuities, while giving those guests a little recognition for their generosity. This is one component of a broader pilot, and we’re listening to feedback as we evaluate it.”
So far, there’s been no word as to what else the pilot program might entail. While the stickers and thank-you notes have so far only appeared on select ships, it is assumed that should the pilot program prove successful, it will be rolled out across the fleet.
How Much Are Carnival Gratuities
Of course, not all guests pre-pay their gratuities, choosing to instead pay them on a daily basis once on board. And there’s absolutely nothing to stop those who have pre-paid from visiting guest services at any point during the cruise and having them removed.
Currently, Carnival’s daily gratuity charge is $17 per person, per day for guests in standard staterooms, while suite passengers are charged $19 per person, per day.
‘Tacky As Hell’
If Carnival is, as they say, listening to guest feedback, they might want to brace themselves while doing so. Across various social media platforms, guests are expressing both their opinions and concerns.
While Brand Ambassador John Heald has not, as of this writing, publicly addressed the program, his page has seen an influx of questions and comments regarding the stickers.
Toni Porter Karrer dubbed the move “tacky as hell,” adding that “just because I don’t prepay grauities does not mean I am not paying it. In 25 crruises, I have prepaid a couple of times, but I like to adjust mine up for excellent service. Carnival is quickly becoming a dumpster fire.”
Darren Sharper mused that the stickers could lead to unforseen problems. “Prepaying gratuities or not is a hotly contested topic online,” he wrote, “and I can see this leading to more issues onboard if someone feels that a server is favoring someone that [prepaid or didn’t].”
Only time will tell if Carnival opts to roll the stickers out across the entire fleet. In the meantime, however, Cruise Critic member mikayla 73 offered the ultimate good advice: “If you want to let the crew know you appreciate them, give them cash, be kind, smile, ask them about their day, their home, their family or simply say ‘thank you,’” they suggested.
