Tipping in the YC lounge?

I know we're being charged daily rate for tipping. My concern is for additional tipping. I know some people don't, we do.

From what I've read here, it sounds like there are multiple butlers waiting on people in the YC lounge and other areas. Thinking back to other cruises with dedicated suite lounges, we've always tipped our servers nightly. Do people do this in the YC lounge with the butlers, or would you wait until the end and tip those who helped you the most during your week?

This will be our first time sailing with MSC. Thanks in advance.

I know we're being charged daily rate for tipping. My concern is for additional tipping. I know some people don't, we do.

 

From what I've read here, it sounds like there are multiple butlers waiting on people in the YC lounge and other areas. Thinking back to other cruises with dedicated suite lounges, we've always tipped our servers nightly. Do people do this in the YC lounge with the butlers, or would you wait until the end and tip those who helped you the most during your week?

 

This will be our first time sailing with MSC. Thanks in advance.

We wait until the end and make a list of those who served us constantly. If we ask for something special, like a special set up of snacks and drinks in our cabin, then we tip for that as it is done. Butlers, servers, and pool attendants are the main ones and the concierge if they have helped with lots of requests. Hope this helps.

We do the same as Cruisergal. We tip our butler, room attendant, and several of our servers who have gone above and beyond at the end of the cruise.

I agree with the other responses. Over the course of the cruise you will interact with pretty much all of the butlers at some point, whether it be in the lounge, leaving for or arriving back from excursions, or out by the pool. I NEVER felt like they were looking for a tip--it's all part of the service that comes along with the higher price you paid to be in the YC. I would imagine most people give their personal butler an extra tip at the end of the cruise. We also tipped our waiter and the sommelier for their outstanding service.

Agreed, at the end of the cruise you will have a pretty good idea of who went above and beyond. For example, and I forget his name, the amazing pool young man and of course Arthur in the dining area, plus one server in the bar area in particular. We also tipped our butler and his assistant extra, both great.

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We wait until the end and make a list of those who served us constantly. If we ask for something special, like a special set up of snacks and drinks in our cabin, then we tip for that as it is done. Butlers, servers, and pool attendants are the main ones and the concierge if they have helped with lots of requests. Hope this helps.

I do the same: waiting til the end of the cruise and tipping all those who did their best!

Anyone care to share how much they tip a) Butler, b) his/her assistant, c) waiter, d) YC restaurant asst m'D, e) sommelier, f) barman and g) a helpful pool attendant?

As a point of interest last year on YC Divina we started off not tipping, and saw some people tip a few dollars after breakfast in the outdoor area. Also when drinks were offered at the pool.

Needless to say once we adopted that policy and tipped 2-3 dollars each time service and attentiveness improved --

I suppose if we add $50.00 to the week it is not the end of the world and it makes everyone happy..

That is in addition to tipping at the end to your butler and cabin attendant

Thanks all for the insight. On NCL in Haven I left $5 after each meal. I think I will do that on MSC when I dine in the YC restaurant.

I also tipped $1-2 per drink at the time.

I always tipped butler, concierge, steward at end.

Is MSC different?

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We tipped at the end.

I know we're being charged daily rate for tipping. My concern is for additional tipping. I know some people don't, we do.

 

From what I've read here, it sounds like there are multiple butlers waiting on people in the YC lounge and other areas. Thinking back to other cruises with dedicated suite lounges, we've always tipped our servers nightly. Do people do this in the YC lounge with the butlers, or would you wait until the end and tip those who helped you the most during your week?

 

This will be our first time sailing with MSC. Thanks in advance.

That is entirely up to you.

I took the logic that all the butlers rotate through the lounge and pool deck. So my end-of-the-cruise tip went just to my butler. I know this is making an assumption that other passengers in the YC are taking care of their butler.

All the other staff not directly assigned to serve us received individual tips at the end of the cruise.

Dennis

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Tipping is a personal decision. The traditional method is to tip at the end of the cruise. This is to say...tip at the end of the week if the cruise goes for two weeks or more. It is also proper to put the tip in a small envelope with the name of the server written on it. If the service rendered has been outstanding then you might want to enclose a written note of thanks along with the money. The amount you give is entirely up to you. As you can see by the responses, the amounts vary. I believe in rewarding excellence so I will increase the amount of the tip for excellent service. If the service is really bad...I don’t bother to tip that particular server. Bad service should never be rewarded.

I passed out envelopes, with written notes of thanks, on the final night to our butler, his assistant, our two waiters, the Maitre D’ and the hostess in the restaurant as well as my favorite bartender. All of them added immensely to our YC experience and they were sincerely appreciative.

We tipped our butler at the end of the cruise, no one else. I never saw anyone tip in the YC lounge or pool area.

Tipped our bulter, asst butler, waiter (the awesome Arthur), asst waiter (Jovi), Pepe, both bartenders (on seaside they worked in shifts) as we spent so much time in top sail lounge, the 4 butlers that were serving us every day in top sail and both concierges. We tipped at the end of each week for a 14 night cruise. This was on top of the standard gratuities which were about 60% of what royal charges for suite guests ($12.50 vs $17.50). Have never felt so spoiled in all of our cruises. It was truly a relaxing experience and very addicting. Tip what you feel like and if they made your experience memorable.

We did tip $1 per drink or item outside of the yacht club. Have to admit after that the service was pretty good in champagne bar and the bar on deck 7. Never did get good service in the seaview lounge in two weeks.

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As you can see by the responses, the amounts vary.

All I can see is the amount per drink that's tipped ... nobody's prepared to say how much they tipped individuals at the end of the cruise - though everyone's quick to say that they do!

Butler $100, asst butler $80, waiter $100, asst waiter $80, maitre d $40, bartender $50 each, four butlers working lounge $20 each, concierges $20 each. That is what we tipped the staff each week but tip what you feel confortable with. Way more than i have tipped sailing in suites on royal. The service is that much more attentive and pampering in yacht club.

All I can see is the amount per drink that's tipped ... nobody's prepared to say how much they tipped individuals at the end of the cruise - though everyone's quick to say that they do!

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Thank you, Frank!

We usually tip extra at the end of the cruise, too, though not to so many. As it varies from cruise to cruise, I can't say what we generally do, but we've tipped our butler €50 on some cruises and nothing on others (when we felt we didn't get great service), asst m'D and sommelier €30 - €50 and maybe a stand-out butler in TSL; we've also tipped the concierge - again, not always - and our butler's assistant €30.

Yes, i wont tip beyond the daily grats if the service has not been great. We dont ask much of the concierges but they did go out of their way a couple times. Example we where heading out late onto an island and it was projected to rain. Concierge said here are some ponchos in case it rains.

Our butler was excellent. He asked on every stop if we were getting off and if we needed to leave early. If we did, he would make sure we had an escort down. Our butler heard my son asking me to go with him to get gelato. I told my son i would go with him a little later. Butler asked him what flavor he wanted and then went to get it for him. These are some of the examples of the level of service we received over the weeks and butler definitely deserved the tips. Now i know not all butlers will be as service oriented and tips will vary.

Asst butler was a ninja. We did not leave the room at the same time every day. But when we came back, room was done and everything spotless. I notice that they change sheets, bed coverings, pillow covers every other day. On royal it is changed once mid cruise. She also kept our mini bar stocked with what we drank and ate twice a day.

Dining room service with Arthur was amazing and sense of humor was so entertaining. Never steered you wrong on what to order. Couldnt believe the energy he has during breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Go to admit MSC YC has spoiled us. Now i know i will miss my butler in the suite lounge come oct on allure. But we have to suffer and cruise on royal :) Tough job for sure.

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Thanks all for the insight. On NCL in Haven I left $5 after each meal. I think I will do that on MSC when I dine in the YC restaurant.

 

I also tipped $1-2 per drink at the time.

 

I always tipped butler, concierge, steward at end.

 

Is MSC different?

 

 

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Before we sailed last year I kept reading that YC staff was included in DSC and even on MSC site it said so.

Tipping extra threads - not too many at the time. I "THINK" from MSC having more of a presence in N/A and people from other lines sailing MSC out of Miami that the tipping has probably expanded to those working in the YC.

At the end of the day, we tipped those who we interacted with the most. There are so many you can interact with so ultimately you have to decide.

We will be cruising MSC for the first time in October. Previously on Celebrity we tipped our room steward, sommeliers and waiters at the end of our cruise, but not as much as Frank 808! We tipped our room steward whom we saw twice a day everyday, $100. I think we gave everyone else $20 or $30 each. I imagine we will do the same this time.

On the MSC website it states they do not encourage additional tipping. I imagine they do not want to end up like all-inclusive resorts where you see people tipping each and every time they get a drink or any service . Although we did this I have to one of the things I enjoyed about cruising is that the pressure to tip all the time was gone. I liked tipping at the end - it felt more meaningful and personal.

Like I said...the amounts vary. As you can see...some pax only tip the butler and others tip all who they have interacted with. I have seen some pax tip 100’s of dollars and others tip nothing. It is a personal matter and is up to the pax.

Bea, I think a good butler is easily worth tipping $100 per week. If his assistant has done well then they get half or more depending. Waiters vary because a lot of times you end up dining elsewhere...but anywhere from $100 down to $50 depending and the assistant gets at least half that or more depending on service rendered. Maitre D’s $20 and up...remember they usually get tipped from a lot of pax. Bartenders...anywhere from $20 and a lot higher depending. Well...you get the idea...these figures are probably average. I am reluctant to reveal amounts because some pax will think negative thoughts and then announce them.

Before we sailed last year I kept reading that YC staff was included in DSC and even on MSC site it said so.

 

 

 

Tipping extra threads - not too many at the time. I "THINK" from MSC having more of a presence in N/A and people from other lines sailing MSC out of Miami that the tipping has probably expanded to those working in the YC.

 

 

 

At the end of the day, we tipped those who we interacted with the most. There are so many you can interact with so ultimately you have to decide.

Thank you so much for the info.

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Hi Liz,

Yes MSC says that tips are discouraged. In other words...they do not want the staff hinting or suggesting in any way. You will note that MSC does not say that tipping is prohibited...just discouraged. I tip very discretely on the last night and the staff have shown me that they are extremely appreciative.

You can always tell how well your tips were received when you go to the final breakfast before leaving the ship. The staff will show their appreciation.

Like I said...the amounts vary. As you can see...some pax only tip the butler and others tip all who they have interacted with. I have seen some pax tip 100’s of dollars and others tip nothing. It is a personal matter and is up to the pax.

 

Bea, I think a good butler is easily worth tipping $100 per week. If his assistant has done well then they get half or more depending. Waiters vary because a lot of times you end up dining elsewhere...but anywhere from $100 down to $50 depending and the assistant gets at least half that or more depending on service rendered. Maitre D’s $20 and up...remember they usually get tipped from a lot of pax. Bartenders...anywhere from $20 and a lot higher depending. Well...you get the idea...these figures are probably average. I am reluctant to reveal amounts because some pax will think negative thoughts and then announce them.

That's so very true! I also understand that not everyone can afford to tip the amounts that others do - we all have different budgets (and income levels!) It's all relative! I've just often wondered if the amounts we were tipping were within what the crew are used to getting - as I say: just curious.