Cruise ship passenger gets tired of every single employee asking for a tip for just doing their job: ‘I was so exhausted about being asked to leave extra money everywhere’

Author image for María Cetra
María Cetra • Writer
Oct 11, 2026 10:30 AM EDT

Tipping culture has reached a new high.

It is a new level of crazy what has happened with tipping culture. Nowadays, you don't just pay for a service or culture; you also pay for the effort that the employee puts into doing their job. This may be a biased way of explaining tipping, but I find it hard to say something positive about it. Of course that if you receive outstanding service, it's expected for you to thank the employee with a monetary tip. It's expected, but not required. You can opt out of paying that "extra fee"; at least in some cases you can. 

Some people feel ashamed about not leaving a tip, even when the employee does not deserve it. It feels as if they were failing to make an optimal purchase because they refused to pay that expected extra fee. Tipping can be very different depending on the store. It can be an autogratuity of the 20% that you cannot deny, it can be an option that you choose to do or not after the service, or it can be just a tip jar where you can leave, or not, money. In this case, it was a formal question asked after every purchase; this woman was hearing the question repeatedly: "Do you want to leave a tip?" She could say no, but she was still constantly asked about it all the time. 

In my opinion, and again, this is MY opinion; you can fully disagree. Tipping should always remain a choice. I can choose to leave extra money or choose not to; that is completely up to the customer, not the employee. If the service was excellent, then of course I'll tip as a way of thanking the worker. But if it was horrible, then I shouldn't be obliged to leave any money for the employee; they didn't do their job correctly. Why would I reward them for that? Which takes me to my second point: a tip is a reward, not an obligation. You win a tip, you deserve a tip; you don't own a tip for your mere existence. But what do you think? Do you always leave tips? What are your thoughts on tipping culture?

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  • Arrived home safely from a cruise recently. It was a nice time but the amoint of times we ran into requests for a tip was absolutely ridiculous. So, first off everyone knows about adding gratuities to your cruise. On top of that, we got tip envelopes the penultimate day to tip the room cleaner if we wanted. Plus, the waiters and bar attendants. More justifiable since they knew our names and habits,
    via Pondering28
  • A woman enjoying her cruise ship vacation. Models pictured are not representative.
    via ben o'bro

    A woman enjoying her cruise ship vacation. 

    Models pictured are not representative. 

  • and worked for several days on end. When we arrived at the port to board, we stopped and I was gonna wait with our belongings to avoid hauling them over from the parking. A man rushed up and took the bags. When my husband was out of earshot, he said he would welcome any tips. I just kept on and happened to notice the big signs that said tipping was not required. When I
    via Pondering28
  • was leaving to go sit and wait, he said it a 2nd time. Ok, getting asked for money before we're even on the ship. Great. The eyebrow raising part was how many people expected a tip when we stopped at ports. Taxi? They already charge per person not per mile. Asked for a tip on top. Rent a car? Ask for a tip bc ??? No idea.
    via Pondering28
  • Went to see some ruins and stopped at a bathroom on the way out. There was a lady standing by the sink and when I went to wash my hands, made some small talk. When I was turning to leave, she said if I liked the condition of the bathroom tips are welcome. Did an excursion. On the ride over, there was a big sign saying tips are not shared between the drivers/guides/activity leaders. So
    via Pondering28
  • the driver wanted a tip, the guide wanted a tip, and the 3 people leading the activity wanted a tip. On top of the cost of the excursion which was not cheap. I'm not opposed to leaving some if service was exceptional. But so many people asked for a tip for literally doing the job they were paid to do and in the case of the bathroom attendant, it felt like a tip for just existing.
    via Pondering28
  • Coming home, I was so exhausted about being asked to leave extra money everywhere. Almost makes me glad the only place I'm asked at home on a regular basis is at a restaurant (sorry dunkin donuts, you're still not getting one from me).
    via Pondering28
  • A cruise ship seen from the outside.
    via Alonso Reyes

    A cruise ship seen from the outside. 

  • Fickle-Event7104 fun fact, most cruise lines (with the exception of disney) do an auto gratuity you have to fill a form to opt out of BUT no on the ship actually recieves tips, they make a set wage every year, the cruiseline is pooling together that gratuity to use to pay those set salaries and because of that it is not taxed. Tipping culture is exhausting everywhere you go but it's gotta be the most predetory on a cruise.
    via Fickle-Event7104
  • TruckWorking3129 I took a cruise to Europe, and at the end of it, I was presented with a list of ship staff to tip. ! Staff I had never encountered on the cruise! I declined to offer them financial assistance.
    via TruckWorking3129
  • FamousPoet What country? I love traveling, but this is definitely a source for stress for me as well. In some countries, it feels totally out of control like you've described. And the stressful part is that I don't know if I'm being hustled, or if these people really aren't being paid a living wage by their employers.
    via FamousPoet
  • Jaereth Did an excursion. On the ride over, there was a big sign saying tips are not shared between the drivers/guides/activity leaders. "That sounds like a dumb way to set up the system for you guys!" as I swig my margarita and walk off.
    via Jaereth
  • FirmIcebergLettuce This is how it expands. Companies offer jobs to people and say you are paid via tips. People take those jobs and understandably don't want to work for free. Now it's up to the customer to pay them or take a stand. Employer only wins if you pay them, but employee loses if you don't. Forced awkward situations and most people pay up, keeping the cycle going
    via FirmIcebergLettuce
  • Sure_Acanthaceae_348 No way I am tipping outside of the USA, much less in it. I'm even less likely to tip if I am asked. That's not how tipping culture works.
    via Sure_Acanthaceae_348
  • Claimed Beauty I went to a concert recently and got a drink, which was already expensive enough. The guy making the drink saw me skip the tip screen and said we take tips in cash too. Sir, you're a bartender. I'm getting a drink and going back into the show, I'm not requiring any service of you outside of the one thing you're paid
    via Claimed Beauty
  • to do here. Which is pour a drink and hand it to me. And of course the tips were percentage based with the default set to the highest percentage so assuming someone isn't paying attention they're tipping eight dollars on an overpriced drink to begin with. Almost $40 for one drink is absolutely out of control.
    via Claimed Beauty
  • Amazing-Wave4704 2d ago I've never understood tipping the maid. in this situation or in a hotel. A clean hotel room is part of the cost of the room. Why on earth is there an expectation to tip for the clean room you've already paid for??
    via Amazing-Wave4704

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