haven restaurant, courtyard service and bar tipping

1000 threads on butlers and concierge

but what do you do for the 3 things mentioned in the title of this thread. just wait until the end like the other services? we will definitely be using the restaurant heavily for bfast and some lunches

in the courtyard do they bring drinks with your UBP? i did find out there's a smaller menu to bring food out there but would they bring stuff that is on the normal haven menu at the appropriate B/L/D time?

also if you run out, where's appropriate to get change for bigger bills?

I'm curious on the above too.

I leave $5 each breakfast and lunch and $1 each drink.

I take env of these small bills in my carryon.

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Tip as you go for food and drink. you may not have the same servers all week. The casino has a bill breaker machine that is open 24 hours.

I only tip at meals if the service is above average.

I toss out a dollar when ordering drinks pretty regularly (but not necessarily each time). If I find a bartender that I really like I will tip larger amount that seems appropriate to me, especially toward the end of the cruise.

If you run out of smaller bills you can get change at the reception desk.

Yes, the drinks you order in the courtyard are covered under the UBP.

They used to have tables set up to have meals in the courtyard and we had breakfast and lunch there...not sure if this is still the case on the BA.

1000 threads on butlers and concierge

 

but what do you do for the 3 things mentioned in the title of this thread. just wait until the end like the other services? we will definitely be using the restaurant heavily for bfast and some lunches

 

in the courtyard do they bring drinks with your UBP? i did find out there's a smaller menu to bring food out there but would they bring stuff that is on the normal haven menu at the appropriate B/L/D time?

 

also if you run out, where's appropriate to get change for bigger bills?

I agree with waiting until the end of the week for tipping additional in the restaurant...but here is the catch...the Haven restaurant is open i think from 7am to 930am on the day you are going home...BUT...the service that morning is absolutely crazy cause everyone in the Haven is trying to get that one last great meal for breakfast before exiting the ship...so the staff is running around crazy and cleaning..and vacuuming...and they sometimes have servers there that we were not familiar with from the entire week...cause everyone is doing multiple jobs...so i would say if you want to give cash tips do it on the NEXT to last day on the boat that way your wishes are carried out.

Also, if you want to tip any drink servers or bartenders in the bar area tip big the first day and the service will reflect that...

happy sailing and ENJOY the Haven...

Best,

Mark

Also if you put large bills in a slot machine you may get more back than expected..lol..not very likely...but it could happen.

We always board the ship with a bunch of $1..$5...and $10 dollar bills...

Tipping is traditionally done on the LAST EVENING... We don't carry cash around the ship with us. If we sign for drinks, there's a line for "additional tip"...sometimes we write in extra...sometimes, not. I think 18% is ample for opening a beer or mixing a simple drink!

Tipping is traditionally done on the LAST EVENING... We don't carry cash around the ship with us. If we sign for drinks, there's a line for "additional tip"...sometimes we write in extra...sometimes, not. I think 18% is ample for opening a beer or mixing a simple drink!

I agree that most tipping is done on the last evening....but i was shedding light on how in the Haven the last "morning" tends to get a bit crazy...trying to prepare one LAST meal for those on board and then trying to prepare and clean for those anxious to board and start their vacation.

I guess its a good problem to have...lol

Tipping is traditionally done on the LAST EVENING... We don't carry cash around the ship with us. If we sign for drinks, there's a line for "additional tip"...sometimes we write in extra...sometimes, not. I think 18% is ample for opening a beer or mixing a simple drink!

Just want to clarify for the OP that with the UBP you will not be signing for drinks except while you are in the embarkation port (due to sales tax). I always just stick some $1s in my pocket to use for tips for drinks.

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interesting point about last morning. is it poor etiquette to request bfast in your room from the butler the last day? sounds like insanity out in the restaurant.

is it poor etiquette to request bfast in your room from the butler the last day?

Not at all. It's fairly common for people to eat breakfast in the stateroom then head to the haven lounge before exiting the ship for the last time.

Just want to clarify for the OP that with the UBP you will not be signing for drinks except while you are in the embarkation port (due to sales tax). I always just stick some $1s in my pocket to use for tips for drinks.

 

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Yes it's true that you no longer need to sign for drinks if you have the UBP, but if you ask them, they will print the slip so you can add a tip. We did that when we didn't have cash on us and felt service deserved a little extra.

They charge a fair bit in tips as it is, so no need to tip extra if you don't want to.

The casino bill breaker or cage will exchange small amounts of money.

You still pay a daily service charge that covers dining room and stewards, and other behind the scenes crew. You don't have to tip extra if you don't want to.

Of course you can if you want too.

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You still pay a daily service charge that covers dining room and stewards, and other behind the scenes crew. You don't have to tip extra if you don't want to.

Of course you can if you want too.

 

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But don't forget to tip your butler and concierge who are not covered. And consider tipping your room steward who has to take care of your extra large room with extra amenities.

We keep an envelope at home for $1 dollar bills just for cruising tips.

I tip Daily the same as any land hotel.

A little stick-um note on the pillow with a few dollars for maid / steward. :)

A buck or two for the bartenders. ;)

A few bucks for breakfast, lunch and dinner servers Etc.

If I do run out the front desk does break larger bills or the casino.

Always leaving the dsc on .

J.M.H.O.

.

You'll get tons of answers on this one as people view tipping very differently. My wife and I were on the 9/18 BA cruise. My wife was in the restaurant industry for 44 years so we understand their jobs, notice good service and tip better than most. During our cruise we ate at the Haven restaurant for most meals, the whole team became our family as we spoke with them and got to know them. We tipped the hostess $25, Matre d' $50 and $5 to the server for each meal. We tipped the courtyard attendant $50 as he was always around serving us drinks, snacks and even came around with a cool down spray bottle on hot days (and yes he serves drinks under the UBP plan). We hung out before dinner and after the show at Maltings, tipping the bartender $10 each night as his service was outstanding. We also tipped the server in Fat Cats a few dollars for each round. All tips were in cash.

You could order anything from the Haven restaurant at the courtyard tables for breakfast and lunch. Didn't see them being used for dinner.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your cruise!

I bring singles and fives when we cruise. I was in the service industry for many years and tend to "over-tip". Our last cruise I gave our server at the pool $10 and he was there every time we needed anything for the rest of the cruise. Not kidding - every time we needed something he was there. :) You are not required to tip by any means, and they are getting 18% but I feel tipping is a part of getting good service. Again, just MHO. I tip at meals as well, but not like I do for drinks. And we rarely use the steward, but when we do s/he gets tipped as well.

All this makes me realize I better start hoarding singles for my cruise in December. :p

FYI the wait staff in the haven restaurant and courtyard are included in the tipping pool, so you are already tipping them with the tip that is charged to your account daily. Of course, extra special service deserves an extra tip, but that is a personal choice.

1000 threads on butlers and concierge

 

but what do you do for the 3 things mentioned in the title of this thread. just wait until the end like the other services? we will definitely be using the restaurant heavily for bfast and some lunches

 

in the courtyard do they bring drinks with your UBP? i did find out there's a smaller menu to bring food out there but would they bring stuff that is on the normal haven menu at the appropriate B/L/D time?

 

also if you run out, where's appropriate to get change for bigger bills?

Just stayed in The Haven on the Breakaway.

My suggestion is just to tip as you go, and if you feel it's deserved.

As for The Haven restaurant...he restaurant, the bar area, and the courtyard are pretty much all connected. If you want a drink from the bar, you can just walk through the sliding doors and have a drink within a minute. Or you can wait for one of the Haven waiters to get it for you, when they're around...which is pretty much all of the time. You can get breakfast or lunch from the restaurant the same way. Sit in the restaurant, or have a waiter bring it to you in the courtyard.

The tipping thing is a little tricky. On the Gem, there aren't that many Haven rooms, the Haven is smaller, and there are less staff to help you, so you get the same few people the whole week.

On the Breakaway, there are so many more Haven rooms. The Haven is a lot bigger, and there are a lot more staff. So what happens is...you may see the same waiters every day, you can be served by 5-6 different ones in the course of the week. So tipping on the last day would be a little difficult. That's why I suggest tipping on a meal by meal basis.

The bartenders rotate at the Haven bar too. I think one before 1 PM and a different one after. Hard to keep track when you're having fun.

Just so you know, if you have the unlimited beverage package, once you leave port, there is no tax or service charge on the drinks. So tipping the waiter maybe a buck per drink is probably appropriate. That's what I did.

Feel free to ask any other questions and I'll do my best to answer them.

FYI the wait staff in the haven restaurant and courtyard are included in the tipping pool, so you are already tipping them with the tip that is charged to your account daily. Of course, extra special service deserves an extra tip, but that is a personal choice.

I've read so many articles, and been told by certain "not-so-tight-lipped" employees, that they get a very meager part of that "service charge" and/or "tipping pool" that Norwegian charges. Norwegian keeps most of it for themselves.

If it's earned, I tip everyone at every meal. Not over-the-top tipping, but a little extra. Usually 5 for breakfast and lunch...and 10 for dinner. This past trip on the Breakaway, I had the unlimited dining plan. So I was a little more generous at dinner to the tune of 20. Shared the wealth a little.

i appreciate all the suggestions. someday after my cruise i will be back and update all the threads that i've asked questions so that other newbies can hear the stories :)

it will be weird enough getting up and leaving without paying any bills much less not leaving any tips. but i guess ill get used to it.

i wonder if anyone ever gets home and walks out of a restaurant because they forgot where they were :)

i wonder if anyone ever gets home and walks out of a restaurant because they forgot where they were :)

Not after a cruise but in Las Vegas at the end of a Tauck tour, which is all inclusive, we were changing hotels -- my mom and another woman on the tour said they would pay the cab while I handled the luggage with the bell staff. After 14 days of all inclusive, they just walked into the hotel and the cab driver started yelling; totally oblivious, they just kept walking and talking. I paid him and tipped generously-- I'm still unsure if he believed that they were spoiled by the tour.

Have a wonderful cruise. The BA Haven staff are wonderful.