Hi 'Roberts' When we began cruising with Fred Olsen we were anxious about the 'tipping' business - but in practice there is absolutely nothing to worry about. Collect some plain envelopes from reception, put in as much money as want, and either hand them to the relevant staff or leave them at reception - simple. We do not view tipping as a surcharge (as some seem to) but recognition of good, friendly service and we set the amounts accordingly. Many cruise lines ask you to pay gratuities in advance - ridiculous, and totally contrary to the concept of tipping good service! Having said all that, it's unlikely we'll give as much per day on the world voyage as for shorter trips because we went for the best cabin we can afford. At the risk of bemusing Neil and others, we haven't chosen to drop a deck in order to afford larger tips (how selfish!). However, we're planning to do lots of excursions and drink lots of expensive cocktails so perhaps that'll help keep the price of future cruises down for other people (how unselfish!!).

I have just this day returned fron an Alaska cruise on the Millennium, where I felt the whole time we were being told what to tip. Then receiving 5 named envelopes in our room towards the end of the trip, made my blood boil. Then on the last morning the cabin attendant actually ran down the corridor shouting "you haven't left an envelope",which I had but in my own envelope. This was about the 4th time we had seen him the enter cruise!! IF the Americans stopped tipping, their cruise lines would have to pay a proper wage and and charge us more. We would then all have a less stressfull holiday and tip who and what we liked for what we considered good service. If the price of the holiday went up so much we couldn't afford it then, we wouldn't go and be made to feel guilty at having a good time at somebody elses expense

This tipping question NEVER goes away. If you are going on a world cruise for 90 days approx at approx £80 per day for goodness sake pay the poor waiters etc. What is an extra 1% or 2% although I agree tippng is a problem. I drive customers 200+ miles to Heathrow airport to go on £3000 14 day holidays and the poshest people NEVER tip. It is the working man who appreciates a fellow worker who does. !

Your involvement in this question is a breath of fresh air and I am sure that it has been appreciated by many. To answer one of the points that you made: "Don't you not think it would better if cruise companies just paid the staff a decent wage in the first place and adjusted the cruise price accordingly" I believe, as do many others, that this is the most acceptable solution, the problem that then arises is, how do we get the cruise lines to do just that? In my view it should not be done by not paying those who benefit from gratuities because that would penalise them unfairly but somehow promote the views held by so many in an open forum to convince the people who make the rules about payment that a change is thought necessary. It might even be by using a petition of some kind but it would need to be signed by peoples of all nationalities. If someone can effect this we would all be saved a great deal of discussion, argument and soul searching. Once more thank you for your involvement, "Roberts of St, Helens" ( sorry that's so impersonal) .... Neil

As I have found on Fred. Olsen world cruises the (normally very well-deserved) tips are merely an element of the cost of the whole cruise. You also have to add on bar bills and the expense of going ashore (either solo or on organised trips). I do not consider £2 per day fro the cabin stewardess and the same for the dining room staff excessive. Remember that on Fred. Olsen it is all Sterling.