A recent incident aboard a Carnival Cruise Line ship has sparked debate among travelers regarding appropriate tipping practices. A passenger expressed gratitude to a cabin steward by arranging cash on the bed to spell out “Thanx Ketut.” This gesture, intended as a creative thank-you, has been met with mixed reactions.
John Heald, Carnival Cruise Lines’ Brand Ambassador, shared a photo of the display on Facebook and conducted a poll to gauge public opinion. The results revealed that while 30% of respondents saw no issue with this method, viewing it as a nice extra tip, 4% criticized it as demeaning to the crew. Heald himself expressed agreement with the latter sentiment. citeturn0news12
Critics argue that such displays are self-serving and create unnecessary work for the stewards, suggesting that direct handovers or placing tips in envelopes accompanied by personal notes are more respectful methods. Supporters, however, believe that passengers should have the freedom to express gratitude in their own way, emphasizing the importance of the additional tip itself.
This incident underscores the ongoing conversation about the most appropriate and respectful ways to show appreciation to service staff in the hospitality industry.