Tipping with pre-paid gratuity package

So, my husband and I are getting ready to take our first cruise on Celebrity in August to Alaska. Included in our suite package is pre-paid gratuity, and I've read on other threads about how and when to tip our butler, but I'm wondering how to use gratuities in other places, such as bars, restaurants, the spa, casino, etc. If I go to a speciality restaurant or a bar on board, are they going to know that I have pre-paid? I don't want people to think that I'm stiffing them, but at the same time, I don't necessarily want to continue to pay a whole lot extra - I would certainly like to pay it where it's due, but not go overboard (no pun intended).

Any suggestions? Thank you!

Tips in the spa are expected. You may want to tip in the speciality restaurants. We never tip in the bars.

Personally, I consider these daily gratuity charge to be a “service charge” rather than a traditional gratuity for good performance. The staff is well aware of the guests daily gratuity charge system. But no other gratuity is expected on board, except perhaps in the spa, which I have never used so I will defer to the comment from the earlier poster about the spa.

Having said that, We tend to tip extra in cash to bartenders, waiters at the end of the cruise, and especially to our cabin steward, assuming they have taken good care of us. But this is entirely optional. If you decide to not leave a cash tip none of the staff will think you are shortchanging them, but they do appreciate a little extra consideration if you are so moved.

Tips in the spa are expected. You may want to tip in the speciality restaurants. We never tip in the bars.

A service charge is automatically added in the spa so if you tip them too you are giving extra. Same with bars. The cover charge in the Specialties includes service.

Bottom line. If you have prepaid your tips there is no requirement to do more, but if you want to give extra to those deserving you can.

Phil

The pre-paid gratuities go to your cabin attendant, butler, dining servers & a small portion go to other housekeeping staff.

Bartenders do not get any of the pre-paid gratuity however if you have a beverage package (either purchased or as a booking perk) the gratuities for the bartenders are covered in the package. If you purchase a drink without a package you are automatically charged a 18% gratututy.

The spa staff, salon staff, fitness class instructors, are also not covered by the pre-paid gratuities so if you use there services a 18% gratututy will be added to the charge for the service.

The Michaels Club Concierge isn’t covered by the prepaid gratuities and I’m not sure about the bartenders or staff in Michaels, we always tip them at the end of the cruise depending upon how much or little we have used Michaels and the Conciegre’s services.

The pre-paid gratuities go to your cabin attendant, butler, dining servers & a small portion go to other housekeeping staff.

 

Bartenders do not get any of the pre-paid gratuity however if you have a beverage package (either purchased or as a booking perk) the gratuities for the bartenders are covered in the package. If you purchase a drink without a package you are automatically charged a 18% gratututy.

 

The spa staff, salon staff, fitness class instructors, are also not covered by the pre-paid gratuities so if you use there services a 18% gratututy will be added to the charge for the service.

 

The Michaels Club Concierge isn’t covered by the prepaid gratuities and I’m not sure about the bartenders or staff in Michaels, we always tip them at the end of the cruise depending upon how much or little we have used Michaels and the Conciegre’s services.

We have never opted for a beverage package since we are moderate drinkers and we have the free elite happy hour. It was my understanding that when the Plus pricing program started that included the beverage package that if you opted for that Plus price, you paid no gratuities on the beverage package. I know you have to pay when you buy separately.

Is this not still true?

You do not pay the beverage package gratuities if you receive it as a perk; you do pay them added to the price of the package if you purchase a beverage package. So that’s that.

We have often wondered how the gratuities really work if you received the package as a perk. Your drink price is zero...but does the individual bartender get 18% of what your drink would have cost?

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You do not pay the beverage package gratuities if you receive it as a perk; you do pay them added to the price of the package if you purchase a beverage package. So that’s that.

 

We have often wondered how the gratuities really work if you received the package as a perk. Your drink price is zero...but does the individual bartender get 18% of what your drink would have cost?

 

 

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Exactly, if you have the beverage package and get a drink you don't have to pay a tip. With that said sometime you get someone who takes special care of you in a lounge your may hang out in, so choice is yours.

If you buy a drink the 18% will be added to your purchase as a tip except on some cruises out of England where the price is included.

We have the premium beverage package as one of our perks, so it sounds like that covers the gratuities for the bartenders, for the most part.

If I'm reading this right, even those services not covered under the pre-paid gratuity package are still charged an 18% gratuity, or "service charge", so we're ultimately covered. But it sounds like carrying a couple extra hundred in cash for exceptional service is the way to go...?

While the bartenders get an automatic gratuity, I've found that if I'm in either the Captains Club event or one of the other lounges early in the cruisr and if I include a two-dollar bill with my cruise card/seapass on the first order of the evening, I get a better pour and a better quality Scotch in my glass. The server also takes better care of my table and if he/she sticks with us for the entire cruise, he/she gets a 20 dollar bill with my cruise card/sea pass on the last evening.

It's not a life-changing amount of money for us, but it does result in a little more attention in a discrete manner and works better than a demanding pax with a sense of entitlement.

We usually tip our cabin steward extra the 1st day or 2 and then at the end of the cruise if all has been good. I took a look at the breakdown of the amount of the daily gratuity charge and while the cabin stewards/housekeeping does some of the hardest work, they are tipped the least. I also think that it sets up a good relationship if we give something extra on the start of the cruise - make sure we have ice, extra hangers, etc.

We also periodically tip the bartenders - especially if we get good service. Not every drink but usually a few extra dollars here and there. Same for wait staff.

We usually get some small bills before we boards - $1, $5 and $10 - and give them out as we go along. We also tip Specialty Dining restaurants - at least $20 or more.

Tips in the spa are expected. You may want to tip in the speciality restaurants. We never tip in the bars.

We were just on the Eclipse in October for 25 days and were waiting to talk with our Concierge, but there was a lady there who had a concern about her spa bill. There was the spa charge itself + a service charge + a blank line for a tip. I guess the spa service provider was pushing for a tip and the lady thought the service charge was the tip.

She wound up not adding a tip, but was asking the concierge what the service charge was for if it wasn't a built-in tip, much like the 18% you pay when you buy a drink. The concierge told her the service charge was a tip and she shouldn't feel obligated to give an extra tip.

So, was the concierge correct, as we never use the spa, or is the service charge something else?

We were just on the Eclipse in October for 25 days and were waiting to talk with our Concierge, but there was a lady there who had a concern about her spa bill. There was the spa charge itself + a service charge + a blank line for a tip. I guess the spa service provider was pushing for a tip and the lady thought the service charge was the tip.

 

She wound up not adding a tip, but was asking the concierge what the service charge was for if it wasn't a built-in tip, much like the 18% you pay when you buy a drink. The concierge told her the service charge was a tip and she shouldn't feel obligated to give an extra tip.

 

So, was the concierge correct, as we never use the spa, or is the service charge something else?

Yes, the concierge was correct. It's always been like that. My bill has always had the breakdown with the service charge and a line with the wording "additional gratuity". It hasn't just said "tip".

Phil

Need some clarification please for my first Celebrity cruise:

Premium drink package as a perk (not a purchase) does not include gratuities?

Michael's Club does not include gratuities?

Yes, I do give an extra tip on RCL. This is my first drink package as a perk but I thought tips were automatically included on RCL packages. That's the only comparison I have.

Need some clarification please for my first Celebrity cruise:

 

Premium drink package as a perk (not a purchase) does not include gratuities?

 

Michael's Club does not include gratuities?

 

Yes, I do give an extra tip on RCL. This is my first drink package as a perk but I thought tips were automatically included on RCL packages. That's the only comparison I have.

Premium drink package as a perk INCLUDES the gratuity.

Michaels Club does not, I just gave a tip at the end of the cruise.

Premium drink package as a perk INCLUDES the gratuity.

 

Michaels Club does not, I just gave a tip at the end of the cruise.

Thank you.

You do not pay the beverage package gratuities if you receive it as a perk; you do pay them added to the price of the package if you purchase a beverage package. So that’s that.

 

We have often wondered how the gratuities really work if you received the package as a perk. Your drink price is zero...but does the individual bartender get 18% of what your drink would have cost?

 

 

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Regarding the second part, I am assuming they do get that, as they still have to scan your card regardless of whether you have a package or not. I hope I am right! We often give a couple dollars extra here or there to the bartenders as well for great service, but don't feel obligated to do so

I BELIVE I read somewhere on CRUISE CRITIC that you can get 35% discount when switching from a Classic Pkg. to a PREIMUM drink package while on board. My question is what day do they offer the discount? We will be on the EQUINOX in May 2018 for a 10 day cruise & who do we see to get the discount??

george35

I think what I read was on the first day when bar staff were pushing upgrades a discount was given...but my recollection is that the passenger asked about a discount and then one was offered. Try it; it can’t hurt.

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We typically leave an extra $20 or so to our cabin attendant on the first day, and a bit more at the middle and end. These folks work hard, and we want to let them know we appreciate it. I would not expect "bad service" if we did not leave a tip, but we have always received great service, and we know that it was appreciated. We also try to sit in the same areas of various bars, and always leave random tips to those who serve us frequently. The money we leave doesn't amount to much for us, but for the crew, I know it goes a long way...