A row has erupted over the levels of pay for foreign crew on Southampton cruise ships, amidst claims some seafarers can earn as little as “just 75p an hour''.

The controversy centres on the traditionally contentious subject of the amount of tips crew members receive and the way in which this supplements their wages.

P&O Cruises, which operates seven vessels in and out of Southampton, introduced a new system of collecting tips by adding, automatically, daily amounts to passengers' on board accounts instead of the traditional “cash in an envelope method''.

As all the company's ships are registered in Bermuda the rules covering payment of Britain's minimum wages do not apply to these vessels.

Using the same system as many other major cruise companies, the electronically collected tips are then distributed to staff at the end of a voyage.

However, it has now emerged crew members who do not meet the company's passenger satisfaction targets will not receive tips collected from passengers' bills.

According to some reports lowest paid crew members, mostly from India and the Philippines, take home a salary of just £250 a month, or 75p an hour, and rely on tips, which can amount to an extra £150, to top-up their wages.

It is now claimed tips could be denied crew members if their “score'' on passenger questionnaires, filled in by guests on the last day of the cruise, falls below the company's expected levels.

One posting by a passenger on the P&O Cruises' website said when details of the tipping system was announced to crew on board the ship, Oriana, “grown men were crying at the news''.

Another listing said: “Let's have one price for the whole cruise experience and know exactly what we are paying.

“P&O will then be responsible for the complete remuneration package for their staff, instead of trying to off load it onto us and make us feel guilty.''

P&O Cruises' managing director, Carol Marlow, said the new system of gathering gratuities means crew members “receive a fairer and more consistent level of tips''.

“Tipping has always been an integral part of the cruise experience but sometimes our passengers tell us they've been confused over whether or when to leave a cash tip for their waiters and cabin stewards,'' said Ms Marlow.

“The new tipping policy aims to remove this confusion in much the same way as most restaurants these days add a suggested gratuity to the bill.

“Our people are always encouraged to 'go the extra mile' and are permitted to accept extra tips, over and above the recommended daily rate for truly exceptional service, if passengers wish to do so.”