CCS - Cruise Gratuities

At cruise.co.uk, we are constantly asked about the gratuities, who gets paid what etc, so s promised, I have brought to you some additional information regarding the tipping policy of different cruise lines, today I have been looking into P&O, Cunard and Princess:
Cunards official line from their website states that: Gratuities are charged at a discretionary charge which is added to your on board account. If you wish to amend this you can do so by contacting the Purser's Desk once on board. Queens and Princess Grill guests are initially charged US$13 per person per day; Britannia guests are initially charged US$11 per person per day. Gratuities can not be pre purchased and will be added to your on board account during the voyage. You may pre purchase on board credit to cover these costs if you so wish.

P&O Cruise lines say that tipping SAY - Who, when and how much you tip is entirely up to you. Tips are usually given in cash at the end of the holiday to your Stateroom Steward, Restaurant Stewards in the Club dining restaurants and to any other staff you feel you wish to reward. As a guide, the amount we would recommend is £3.10 per person (aged 12 and over) per day, which covers all staff who have looked after you during your holiday.


The only exception to this is for passengers who have opted to enjoy the flexibility of Freedom Dining as, with this style of dining, they may be seated at a different table and served by a different waiter on each occasion. We will therefore add an automatic service charge of £1.60 per passenger (aged 12 and over) per day to their shipboard account for the Restaurant Stewards. This amount of course, can be increased or decreased at the passenger's discretion by visiting Reception at any point during the cruise. Passengers may also tip any other staff, including their Stateroom Steward as they feel appropriate. Further details of who and when passengers should tip can be found in staterooms.


Princess Cruise line: During your cruise, you will meet staff throughout the ship who provide you with excellent service. Many more crew support those who serve you directly. A discretionary Hotel and Dining charge of $11 per person for mini-suites and suites, and $10.50 per passenger in all other staterooms per day (including children) will be added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. This charge will be shared amongst those staff who help provide and support your cruise experience, including the waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, galley staff, laundry staff and others.


A 15% gratuity is added to bar charges and dining room wine accounts. This is shared amongst the beverage staff and their support staff, including cleaners and utility staff. We know you will find these services onboard exemplary. Casino dealers and Lotus Spa® personnel do not share in the Hotel and Dining charge, as not all passengers utilize these services.

What do you think, do you prefer to do t your own way - by guided amounts or are you happy pre paying and forgetting about it?