From the 21st of March next year P&O Cruises will also succumb to the new trend of adding a tipping charge to your account. The company says it will do this to eliminate confusion over tipping.

From that day on the cruise line will automatically add the “recommended” rate of £3.10 to every passenger’s account per day. All gratuities raised in this way will then be shared among accommodation and restaurant staff.

In a statement issued on the 24th November the company says that P&O Cruises has always been a cruise line that is dedicated to and proud of giving its passengers the best possible in customer service. Their reputation demanded it, and every staff member was passionate about providing it to the company’s guests.

Recently, the statement continues, they have been informed by many passengers that onboard tipping could end up being a source of embarrassment and confusion, often very much so for first-time passengers. For crew members this meant unreliable take-home earnings that varied widely from day to day.

The company further says “We have looked at how we can make it easier and fairer for both our passengers and crew and, as a result, have developed a new arrangement for tipping that will apply to all P&O Cruises holidays sailing from April 2012 onwards.”

The new scheme will be implemented from the following dates:

21 March: Oceana

23 March: Ventura

30 March: Azura

9 April: Adonia

10 April: Oriana

12 April: Aurora

27 April: Arcadia