03 December 2009

P&O tips tipping overboard

SYDNEY - P&O Cruises has become the first cruise company sailing from Australia to remove automatic passenger tipping.

Jenny Lourey, senior vice president of Carnival Australia, which operates P&O Cruises, said the removal of automatic tipping followed passenger feedback.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœTipping is a personal decision for Australians, so we have decided to update our policy in response to both passenger feedback and community expectations,Ã¢â¬~ Ms Lourey said.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœAs cruising becomes increasingly popular in Australia, weÃ¢â¬â¢re continuing to develop our onboard product to reflect AustraliansÃ¢â¬â¢ expectations, whether thatÃ¢â¬â¢s using Australian currency onboard or updating our menus to recognise local tastes.

"The changes to our tipping policy are part of that evolution.Ã¢â¬~

Passengers will now reward onboard crew for exceptional service at their own discretion.

The current recommended daily gratuity is $7.50 per passenger, unless the passenger requests it be removed from their onboard account.

The new policy, which would require changes to administrative processes, would apply to all passengers travelling on P&O CruisesÃ¢â¬â¢ departures from October 2010.