Newfangled tipping policies

Allen Kopekin, in his alphabetic character "Prefers To Tip The Old-Fashioned Way" (Cruise Travel, February 2006) expresse the same frustration I have felt for a lengthy time. I'm afraid, though, that there's a "gotcha" in his plan to tip crew-members individually. My understanding is that in of that kind an event the employee is obliged, below pain of dismissal, to bring that tip into the "pool" If the cruise lines are thus convinced that they know better than the passengers in what manner much to tip and to whom, wherefore not simply increase the fare with a "no tipping" policy and be done with it?

E C O'Meally, Westminster, MD

COPYRIGHT 2006 World Publishing, Co (Illinois)

COPYRIGHT 2006 Gale Group