Tipping.

So as a first time cruiser, I’ve done an extensive research on about everything to prepare myself. With tipping though, what is your guys opinion on when to tip & such? I know tipping is included already in our fare, but tipping my cabin steward?? Should I tip every time or tip a lump sum at the end of the cruise? I’m not sure how to go about this.

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Suggested gratuities are either automatically paid in advance or at the end of the cruise. You can request an envelope at the end of the cruise as well if you'd like to leave an additional tip and/or can modify the suggested amount up or down of each department. That being said, the staff on board is absolutely amazing and will go out of your way to make sure that your stateroom is impeccable, restaurant service is excellent, etc. Also, if I remember correctly, the daycare team may not automatically be included in the standard gratuities, so if you'll have children using those facilities you may want to double check.

You really don't have to tip anything other than what is already being tipped to begin with but if you decide to

For the steward I generally tip one lump sum at the end unless they do something extra special for me then I will tip them after what ever special thing they did for me - For instance one time I tipped a guy on my first night because we blew our fan out on a wrong converter in Europe and he went and dug up a fan for me to use while on my trip so he got an extremely good tip at 2 am in the morning LOL

For people I visit often like i go to get my milkshake every day and generally its the same person there so i will slip them something at the end of the trip

Same with bartenders if I have some faves I will slip them something at the end

The piano bar we slip a few bucks each night we go

We always pre pay our gratuities before the cruise and will tip staff members in a lump sum at the end of the cruise. Mostly this includes the cabin stewards and dining room staff.

Tip the room steward the VERY FIRST time you see him. Let him know who you are and in what cabin. You'll get better cabin attention then waiting until the end ....... We always do this and they are very appreciative. Cash on top of prepaid grats.

We always tip bartenders and cocktail servers, because we want to, every service.

We generally stick to the prepaid tips unless someone goes above & beyond. You don't have to tip your steward up front to bribe them to do a good job. They are awesome no matter what. If we give additional, we give it at the end.

You really don't have to tip anymore than the pre-paid gratuities or the auto-gratuities on bar purchases. It's also not a tip pressured environment, employees don't have their hands out waiting for cash. I do find myself tipping extra for awesome service from a waiter or bartender (this will usually lead to better service as well). Or if I had some extra requests for my cabin steward.

I tip for room service delivery

My suggestions:

Do the prepaid gratuities and forget about tipping the cabin steward or wait staff.

Forget about tips for drinks or specialty dining, as they are included in the price you pay.

Tip room service a buck or two each delivery, depending on how much stuff the attendant had to carry.

Tip porters a buck a bag for their help at the pier.

Tip your excursion guide 15% of the price if you enjoyed their service.

Tip casino staff as you would at any casino.

There are other tips possible for other services, like those for children's programs, or the spa, but I have never used those.

There are people MUCH more generous than I am (probably richer too) but I believe these are fair amounts... and they do add up!

You are going to get a ton of different responses, so I will simply share what we do. We usually tip a $1-2 extra for drinks - especially in Alchemy. If the room stewards service was great, we will leave $20 + per room - depending on how messy our kids were. We use YTD, but if we find a set of staff that we like and stick with them - that means we got exceptional service and they get an additional $20+. None of these are necessary but are obviously much appreciated.

Tip the room steward the VERY FIRST time you see him. Let him know who you are and in what cabin. You'll get better cabin attention then waiting until the end ....... We always do this and they are very appreciative. Cash on top of prepaid grats.

How much would you tip for a 5 day cruise?

I always tip my room steward $5.00 extra when he/she brings back my free laundry.

I know tipping is included already in our fare

 

 

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Im not really sure what this means as tips are not included in your fare. I forget how much a day will be charged unless you prepay (I never prepay).

a large amt goes to your cabin steward wages and then the next amt goes to your waiter and his asst in the dining room. Around $1 goes to the workers in the buffet etc. This is per day.

You can tip a special bartender or extra to your cabin steward if you ask for something special.

Depends on you if you want to tip extra, but you will be charged daily tips once you are onboard, unless you asked to be charged ahead of time.

There was a post above with some extras I tip. Excursions, they make it impossible not to tip, even if you have a awful one (rarely), so plan on a tip.

Room service yes. extra tip

Special bartender so they pour heavier

Everyone is different, but my habits are as follows:

$5/bag to the port guys. Yes, this is probably overkill, but I do it anyway.

$1/drink, plus an extra $10-20ish to my favorite batender(s) on the last night.

$5 to the piano man, plus extra on the last night. (I loooove the piano bar and visit every night or close to it.)

$3-5 for room service.

$5 for random requests from room steward (extra hangers, corkscrew, whatever).

Prepaid autotips plus extra on the last night for dining team and room steward. This has varied from zero (a room steward who did an acceptable job, but I literally never met him/her) to $50.

Various and sundry other people who brighten my day but aren't in tipped jobs, get written compliments at Guest Services.

How much would you tip for a 5 day cruise?

Everyone is different, but my habits are as follows:

 

$5/bag to the port guys. Yes, this is probably overkill, but I do it anyway.

 

$1/drink, plus an extra $10-20ish to my favorite batender(s) on the last night.

 

$5 to the piano man, plus extra on the last night. (I loooove the piano bar and visit every night or close to it.)

 

$3-5 for room service.

 

$5 for random requests from room steward (extra hangers, corkscrew, whatever).

 

Prepaid autotips plus extra on the last night for dining team and room steward. This has varied from zero (a room steward who did an acceptable job, but I literally never met him/her) to $50.

 

Various and sundry other people who brighten my day but aren't in tipped jobs, get written compliments at Guest Services.

Oh yea i forgot about tipping for luggage. both at the port and if you fly in at the airport.

i actually go to the bank and get a envelope with at least 30 one dollar bills and a few fives ... and Im cruising solo.

Tip the room steward the VERY FIRST time you see him. Let him know who you are and in what cabin. You'll get better cabin attention then waiting until the end ....... We always do this and they are very appreciative. Cash on top of prepaid grats.

How much do you usually tip them?

Tip the room steward the VERY FIRST time you see him. Let him know who you are and in what cabin. You'll get better cabin attention then waiting until the end ....... We always do this and they are very appreciative. Cash on top of prepaid grats.

I have never had to tip a room steward for fabulous service - my room stewards have always been awesome

"Tipping: it's not just for cows anymore!" :D

I/we tip:

$1 or $2 per bag at the pier. Yes, the porters already make good money, but we tip anyway. If the porter sees the FTTF/Priority logo on the luggage tags and puts the orange "priority" tag on the bags without being prompted, I'll tip extra.

$20 to the porter if he/she introduces him/herself on the first day; we ask for an additional ice-bucket and refreshed ice.

$1 per drink at the bar, with Cheers. You get noticed and you get faster service and better pours. I also tip $.50 per soda with Cheers/Bottomless Bubbles at bars, because watching the bartender's face light up is fun to watch.

$2 for room-service, $5 if it's a big order. This service is not included in the auto grats.

If we receive really special service in the MDR (we get YTD), we ask for that crew on future visits and tip them cash at the end of the cruise, $20 or more.

Last cruise we also tipped the guitar soloist in the Red Frog Pub because he was really good, and he introduced himself on our Roll Call before the cruise. That was a first for a performer, though.

So as a first time cruiser, I’ve done an extensive research on about everything to prepare myself. With tipping though, what is your guys opinion on when to tip & such? I know tipping is included already in our fare, but tipping my cabin steward?? Should I tip every time or tip a lump sum at the end of the cruise? I’m not sure how to go about this.

 

 

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You don't have to tip extra , but if you get very good service then you can.

You don't have to tip extra , but if you get very good service then you can.

Bingo! It's as simple as that! ;)

Bingo! It's as simple as that! ;)

Yep, totally. If you are loaded and like to spread the wealth, go for it, but if you don't, you still get good service (because if they don't give good service I report them to management!)

You don't always have to bribe people to deliver when it is their job to do so.

yep, totally. If you are loaded and like to spread the wealth, go for it, but if you don't, you still get good service (because if they don't give good service i report them to management!)

 

you don't always have to bribe people to deliver when it is their job to do so.

yes!

We usually tip the wait staff $2 each person everytime we dine in the MDR ($6 total), the room steward $5 per day, and if there's a person we see constantly in the Lido buffet who clean our table we usually tip $1. We also tip the coffee bar staff $1 or $2 and the room service folks $2-$3.