Topic: NCL -Gem ... do they know if you don't pay?

Dear all
sorry to start a new threas on a very well discussed topic but i couldn't find a specific answer to my question... gratuities. Not if i'm paying automatically or not (this is well covered!) but my question is if i decide to "opt out" of the automatic pay and tip "locally" do the crew know? i read an old thread about recieving a sub standard level of service as the crew could tell? do you wear a wristband ?? this is our 1st cruise and we are going in a couple of weeks to the med so any other NCL Gem tips would be useful.
also, we usually go to the states so this is unknown territory for us .. are there minature shampoo, conditioner etc in the room? if so what brand and quality are they? (we usually use them and only take a small supply of our own emergency stuff .. more room for clothes!:p

The advantage of auto-tips is that the tips are shared between all of the staff that serve you, including chefs etc. who you never see. Bear in mind that their wages are minimal, so your tips are their wages! The crew are not suppose to know, but I was said to have been made common knowledge on one cruise.

I recall that they provide shampoo and shower gel - but low quality ones. NCL are a 'mass market' operation, they are NOT 'premium'.

Just don't mention 'The List'! :o

We seem to remember that there was a bottle of liquid soap on the washbasin, and a bottle of soap/shampoo in the shower. That was on sister ship, Jade.
Jo.

Toileties provided are by Elamis [sp]a top quality brand.

Toiletries have always been good on the 2 NCL trips we did and we've never found NCL a 'budget' ship.

If you remove gratuities, do it on the last night and tell them you are giving money to the ones you want to give it to

Personally we do both, pay the gratuities and still tip a few people

Each time we cruised on the Gem we were told that people couldn't just opt out. If you go to Reception and tell them that you don't want the DSC you have to give a reason. They have forms where you state what part of the service disappointed you. They say it is so that they are given the chance to remedy things. If things are still not to your satisfaction then they will remove the DSC.
In other words , basically, you will be reporting a member of the crew saying he/she had not performed his duties well.
I'm sure you'll love the Gem. We enjoyed the Great Outdoors - an extension of the buffet where you can eat al fresco.
To get more info about the Gem, check out the Reviews . Also go to the Roll Call and the info/chat forums about the individual cruise lines