Tipping for the Cruise

[PegIra]

The only times we have cruised have been on Disney. We had the choice of having them add the tips to our bill or we had envelopes for the different people that served us. There was usually your room steward, your waiter, his assistant and the maitre de. There were set fees, but of course you could add more or less depending on your service. Is this how is works on HAL? Also, if we have anytime dining and don't have the same waiters all the time, how do we work in tips for them? What could we expect the average we will spend on tips (not counting room service) for a 10 day cruise?

Thanks,

Peg

[Krazy Kruizers]

HAL has what is called the "Hotel Service Charge" -- which is $11 per person per day -- automatically added onto your shipboard account. This covered your 2 room stewards, your dining room waiter and his assistant and all the "Behind the Scenes" staff like the kitchen staff, the laundry people, those you see cleaning the brass, etc. So if you have the open seating, this tip/charge is taken carre of for them.

Some people who have had open seating for dinner have had the same waitstaff and if they are good, they will tip them extra on the last evening of the cruise.

For all bar bills -- drinks, bottled water, sodas -- a 15% gratuity is automatically added on.

We have leave the Hotel Service Charge in place and tip extra to those who have made our cruise an enjoyable one. We just hand them the extra tip via a handshake.

[RuthC]

A service charge, which represents your tipping, of $11 per person, per day, is added to your on-board account. That $11 is distributed to your cabin steward team, dining room steward team, additional behind the scenes workers.
In lounges, a service charge of 15% is added to your bill.

You have the option of increasing, decreasing, or removing the $11 per person, per day service charge. If you increase it, the additional funds are distributed among the same people as in the original pool. You also have the option of giving additional cash funds to whomever, in whatever amounts, you choose. As long as you left the $11 per person, per day intact, they may keep all the additional cash you give them.

If you reduce or remove the service charge, and distribute cash tips instead, that money must be turned in by the recipients.

[cb at sea]

I agree! Cash is king, can't be "traced" and will be kept by those who receive it!

[RuthC]

Sure, they are going to return it. LOL


I agree! Cash is king, can't be "traced" and will be kept by those who receive it!
Although I am not naive, perhaps I have a little more faith in my fellow man than you do. Or, perhaps I understand the other forces at work here.
The stewards are under a contract which spells out those terms. They receive a list of those who have removed/reduced the service charge, and know they are under obligation to turn in any cash they receive.

Does every one of them do so every time? Probably not. However, if one of them were to do so too often, it would be noticed by their colleagues. They live in close quarters, and they all have a stake in keeping the system honest. It would not take long for others to see that one had more $$$ to send home, or was spending more freely than the rest of them.
Not long at all.

[Krazy Kruizers]

When this new system went into effect a few years ago we personally witnessed several ocassions when area captains had to step in and explain the new system to people who had removed the Hotel Service Charges and gave their dining room servers personal tips. The servers turned over the money to these supervisors apologizing that there were not allowed to keep those personal tips.

Yes -- a contract ahas been signed by the crew. And you can bet that the majority of them are honest as they do not want to lose their jobs.

The lists arre passed out to all supervisors!!! And they in turn inform the crew working under them.

[Randyk47]

We leave the hotel service charge in place and tip extra to people who have, at least to and for us, gone out of their way to make our cruise special. Lately that has meant our cabin stewards and bar staff in the Crow's Nest.

[ziggypup]

When this new system went into effect a few years ago we personally witnessed several ocassions when area captains had to step in and explain the new system to people who had removed the Hotel Service Charges and gave their dining room servers personal tips. The servers turned over the money to these supervisors apologizing that there were not allowed to keep those personal tips.

Yes -- a contract ahas been signed by the crew. And you can bet that the majority of them are honest as they do not want to lose their jobs.

The lists arre passed out to all supervisors!!! And they in turn inform the crew working under them.

The dining room staff most likely turns in the cash because they are out in the open when they get tipped. Like one of the other posters mentioned, the room service people are behind closed doors. So they are probably turning in something, but I doubt it is 100%. Guess we will never know exactly what transpires and life goes on.

Let's Go Jets !!!

[LADYLAYLA]

Sure, they are going to return it. LOL

You think the room service person that you gave a few bucks to on day one is going to conduct a investigation at the end of the cruise as to whether or not you reduced or removed the service charge?

I can tell you that he does not have a little book in his pocket keeping a record of every cash tip that was given during a cruise. That cash will never be seen again.

LMAO


Considering the fact taht the room service person is not getting a piece of the $11 per day grat as a room service server, they are not obligated to report these tips The room server personnel do get $ as part of their main duties -- the room service portion is not the main job of any of these people. It is the Room Stewards and DR staff that will have to return the $ if you remove the tips -- and all mgmt and staff will know you did remove the tips and why the reason for it.

[Typhoon1]

Exceptional service deserves some additional compensation. Start at $20.00 and work upwards.

[PegIra]

Thank you all for your help, now I understand how it works. Now if the next 2 1/2 months would only hurry up, I would be happy. Can't wait for this trip.

Thanks again,

Peg

[SusieKay]

We have cruised multiple times on several different ships on HAL since the automatic tipping went into effect. We have always left the charges on our account, but have consistently noticed only average, basic service, nothing that in our opinion was "outstanding". I believe the service was much better before the automatic tipping policy was begun. I do not consider a friendly greeting from a bar server or our cabin steward as a service that requires an additional tip. We are undemanding, and seldom make extra requests. However, we do enjoy morning room service, and always tip those individuals appropriately.