Should we tip our cabin steward on the first day

[Australian family]

Just wondering if we should tip our cabin steward on the first day of our cruise on the Volendam, or not?

Tipping is not something that us Aussies are used to! I realise that you have to do a tip per person per day through the onboard account.

[Boytjie]

American here, and I don't do it. The stewards we have had had all been excellent so I don't see a need to 'bribe' them. HAL service is usually always good. We leave our auto tips in place and usually tip them in cash at the end of the cruise. Special requests have always been carried out.

[Doonan]

Australia Here ... The tip is an extra for the service above the daily amount ... Tip on the last evening of the cruise if you are happy with the steward and the waiters on the dinning room.

HAL crews are great and the service seond to none.

Have a great cruise

Neil

[LVSue]

I would only tip early if you have really special requests. Once on the Carnival, I tipped the steward on the first day, telling him that my grandson (booked in my room) would be sleeping next door with his brothers. My DIL was ecstatic to find their room made up for three when we came back from dinner (me, too).

[jtl513]

Just to save a lot of repetition of what has been said before, here is a recent thread on this subject that ran to 61 posts: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1080364