Question about S suites room service tipping?

[wendyparmer]

This is our first HAL cruise but our 20th cruise.This will be the first time we have stayed in a suite. I know on other cruises you would tip for room service. The suite ammenities include high tea, appetizers before dinner served in your room, etc. Do you usually tip the person that brings each of these services, too? If you have breakfast, lunch or dinner brought to your room, do you tip?

[AlexandNessa]

Yes, we always tip room service as well as whoever delivers our laundry, if it is not our room steward.

We also tip whoever takes care of our minibar (again if it's not our room steward), as we leave instructions to empty the minibar and to fill it only with the items that we drink regularly. We usually tip about $3-10 depending upon the order or request we've made.

We take care of our room steward at the end of the cruise.

Enjoy the suite life! It really doesn't get much better. :)

[sail7seas]

Yes. We always tip the steward who brings us room service. We tip at the time of the service as you do not know if it will be the same person the next time you call.

Sometimes, the first morning that a steward brings us breakfast, he will tell us that he will be our room service steward for the whole cruise but we still tip him each time he comes.....:) just in case he gets reassigned.

They are always soooo very pleasant and cheerful and eager to please. It's impossible for us to not tip them.

[QuitMyDayJob]

How much do you tip every morning for breakfast?

[WindyCity]

We always tip for room service also. For breakfast $2.00 - 3.00 depending on whether we have a lot of breakfast items or not.

[Bill S]

We usually tip our room service steward $3.00 each morning he brings breakfast. We have not used room service for anything other than breakfast . . . . . . so far!

[cruisecrasy]

I am presuming that if things are brought by your room steward(ess) u do not tip till the end of the cruise and if yes - how much do u recommend the tip be then? I am aware that each person has $10 pppd already added to their onboard account. I am also presuming that if anyone else provides a service they are then tipped on each and every occasion - correct? Thanks for taking the time to reply - really appreciate the info. Happy cruisin' all - as if it cld be anything but hmmm??

[artvlay]

Question

In the s cabin, what is a no-host mini-bar?

[Cruise Fanatic]

Question

In the s cabin, what is a no-host mini-bar?
No-Host means that you PAY for everything that you use in the Bar. It will be stocked with various beverages. Every day a steward will check the bar and replace anything that you have consummed and you will be charged.
.

[Cruise Fanatic]

Whenever I use room service or whatever...I usually tip between $2-4. As one of the other posters said, The stewards are so gracious and always smile I would feel bad not tipping...

[sail7seas]

I am presuming that if things are brought by your room steward(ess) u do not tip till the end of the cruise and if yes - how much do u recommend the tip be then? I am aware that each person has $10 pppd already added to their onboard account. I am also presuming that if anyone else provides a service they are then tipped on each and every occasion - correct? Thanks for taking the time to reply - really appreciate the info. Happy cruisin' all - as if it cld be anything but hmmm??


HAL has separate Room Service Stewards and your regular cabin steward would not be bringing it.

Each and every time the Room Service Steward delivers our breakfast, we tip him. Very often he tells us he will be our Room Service Steward for the entire cruise but we still tip him every day in case his assignment changes and we do not see him again.

We tip our cabin steward and our dining stewards (and bartenders and concierges etc) at the end of the cruise an amount over and above the $10 pp per day....assuming they have earned it and they always have in our opinion.

[artvlay]

Question

In the s cabin, what is a no-host mini-bar?

[peaches from georgia]

A no-host bar means that there is no host 'giving' you refreshments from the mini-bar in your suite. You pay for whatever you consume from the bar.

The bar/refrig is inventoried once a day and anything you took out is replaced and your account is charged.

[Vic The Parrot]

HAL has separate Room Service Stewards and your regular cabin steward would not be bringing it.
Each and every time the Room Service Steward delivers our breakfast, we tip him. Very often he tells us he will be our Room Service Steward for the entire cruise but we still tip him every day in case his assignment changes and we do not see him againWe tip our cabin steward and our dining stewards (and bartenders and concierges etc) at the end of the cruise an amount over and above the $10 pp per day....assuming they have earned it and they always have in our opinion.[/font]


On my recent Oosterdam cruise, I used room service three times in the evenings (had a minor bug due to my sinus problem)

I had 3 different night stewards who brought my dinner...
Was ready to give each a gratuity, but they left in a flash before I had a chance to give them something.

Could'nt track them down, even thru housekeeping....

The greeting was always pleasant, and never condescending.. they are always cheerful, and going the extra mile. If you happen to nail them in the cabin... good, they deserve it.

If not, think of it as the special HAL touch that we're used to.

[Vic The Parrot]

[QUOTE]Very often he tells us he will be our Room Service Steward for the entire cruise but we still tip him every day in case his assignment changes and we do not see him again.

[QUOTE]


Never had any of them say that ....

[Greenwhite]

There is a very good article on the CruiseCritic home page. It's titled "An Insiders Guide to Cruise Tipping". We thought it was very informative and answered all of our questions.

[sail7seas]

We had the same Room Service Steward our full ten days on Rotterdam last March; our whole Maadam cruise in July; same for Zuiderdam in October and again, on Veendam, for twelve days in January on Veendam.
Each of them told us on the first morning they would bring our breakfast every time we ordered it.

We have Room Service breakfast every morning and unfailingly, we have always had a delightful young man bring it to us. They are WONDERFUL in my opinion.

We always have money ready to give to them. When they arrive to deliver our order, we have the money 'in hand' because you are correct, they never linger. They do not want it to appear they expect the tip. But, they always appreciate it (as would we all.) If you have the money out and ready, it is easy to 'thank' them.

[artvlay]

Georgia Peach

Thanks for the info, I never saw it referred to that way.

[Vic The Parrot]

We always have money ready to give to them. When they arrive to deliver our order, we have the money 'in hand' because you are correct, they never linger. They do not want it to appear they expect the tip. But, they always appreciate it (as would we all.) If you have the money out and ready, it is easy to 'thank' them.


Then for next time, I'll have a butterfly net handy.


:)

[lauderdalebob]

Was in a suite on the Zuiderdam April 2004 and coming up again in Oct. this year. With regard to tipping the person who delivers room service, we only ordered breakfast in every day (no other meals in) and from past postings I had read over the years it also seemed the amount to tip went by how much you are ordering and to take that into consideration when tipping. I always gave the room service person $5 in the a.m. for delivering breakfast for 2 but we ordered just about everything on the menu it seemed so they had a lot to bring. They always seemed very grateful. Whether what you are tipping over the required $10/day pp is too much/too little, it's really a personal thing. Just do what you feel is right and fair. Happy sailing!

[lknick]

Technically, under the new $10 a day/passenger service charge, room service tips are included. But technically, dress code is 'suggested' as many tell us.

Heck yes...$2 tip per visit seems right to this guy.

[cruisecrasy]

Technically, under the new $10 a day/passenger service charge, room service tips are included. But technically, dress code is 'suggested' as many tell us.

Heck yes...$2 tip per visit seems right to this guy.

think that is correct. If a person orders 4 x day and another orders once every 2 days how cld the standard amt daily of $10 pppd cover the extra service the one person is getting - it can't - so, I believe, room service is tipped separately every time u use it..Got to agree it is 'suggested' and u aren't 'stoned' if u don't tip BUT the later service cld get very slow and maybe-just consider - well - who knows whats in your food - drink when u do get it if u aren't a 'tipper'??? Horrible to contemplate but it happens - ask any server in any restaurant..I have and the stories wld 'shock' u! Just something to consider!

[cruisecrasy]

This is our first HAL cruise but our 20th cruise.This will be the first time we have stayed in a suite. I know on other cruises you would tip for room service. The suite ammenities include high tea, appetizers before dinner served in your room, etc. Do you usually tip the person that brings each of these services, too? If you have breakfast, lunch or dinner brought to your room, do you tip?
your question although regrettably a bit late. The cabin steward(ess) serves the afternoon tea & appetizers before dinner and doesn't need to be tipped each day - u can give him/her and the Neptune Lounge staff something extra at the end of the cruise if u wish (the cabin steward(ess) is also included in that $10 pppd added to your account). Only those who provide other services - if not your cabin steward(ess) - room service, laundry delivery, mini bar server, etc. are tipped when they perform the service 'cause they can change daily if not sometimes hrly it seems to me..The only people u do not tip are those sent to fix something in the cabin, the front desk/excursion staff & 'folks' serving in the onboard shops.
Happy cruisin' & I do hope u have (had) a great time in the suite..

[SANDY BEACH]

I have never tipped mini bar server or laundry delivery. Mini bar server never even entered my mind and our laundry is usually delivered while we are out. It is hung on a hook in our suite. Is the person delivering the laundry also the person who has cleaned it? It is very unusual that we use much from the mini bar. I never noticed if they receive the standard tip on these pruchases or not. Help, I need a little guidance in these two areas. Your opinions will be appreciated.

[Grumpy1]

The usual 15% is added to all mini bar purchases.