BIG TIPS ON OCEAN LINERS.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3376, 2 March 1920, Page 3

BIG TIPS ON OCEAN LINERS.

. + Tte tip or not to tip ? That it the question which is agitating the minds, at the present time, of tourists between Europe and America. And it would certainly seem that travellers have just cause for complaint, judging by tho tins which are expected of th /i. rpon an Atlantic liner one pays at least £2 in tips after a seven da, s' i/urney. This is made up as follows : Bedroom steward, 10s. ; table stewaid, 10s. ; deck steward, ss. ; boots, ss. ; library steward, ss. ; smo'.iiK-room steward, ss. Thrst is the average man's scale. Passengers occupying expensive suites of rooms often give five times as much. Indeed, there is no limit to the amount of money which a steward who has a knack of making himsell useful to passengers can annex. Forty or fifty pounds a voyage is often made by first-class stewards, and one of them did so well that he not only purchased a big house out of his savings, but sent his eons to one of the leading Colleges. There was a story told in a Liverpool court some time ago of an American passenger on one of the liners who distributed over £7 in tips, and then took it hack, because he said he was badgered for more. There is certainly no compulsion to tip, and the rule with most companies is that the steward who solicits fees renders himself liable to instant dismissal. A judicious tip, however, adds much to the pleasure of a voyage, and the bedroom stewards are usually very lucky. Each has about twelve passengers to look after, most of whom tip with sums ranging from 15s. to 30s.