Well Kept Secrete about Tips

[Crusin6]

Wrong cruise line

 

On CCL they are still considered gratuities/tips for services rendered.

 

If it was a DSC I had agreed to when I booked the cruise, I would not change it.

When we do NCL next year and are charged $12 pp/pd....I plan on leaving it that way...and tipping $20 or $30 to the steward and the waiter. Maybe $10 or $15 to the assistants. That's it....because it really doesn't matter what NCL calls it....

[CorvetteLady]

Wrong cruise line

 

On CCL they are still considered gratuities/tips for services rendered.

 

If it was a DSC I had agreed to when I booked the cruise, I would not change it.

 

Isn't that just semantics? They both do the same thing. So on NCL you don't mind the waiter who didn't wait on you getting a tip because they call it a service charge? Or is it because on NCL they give you a really hard time when you try to remove the DSC?

[halos]

I agree with what you are saying...what I am saying is that when someone making $50,000 with bills to pay and can't pay them, insists on overtipping....that is pitiful. .

 

I would agree, only I'm of the belief that the people who make $50,000 are the ones that may be doing less tipping, and more smuggling. :p

 

I do agree that financial irresponsibility is pathetic...look what came of it over the past couple years. You might be able to get away with it for a while, but when it catches up with you, on a personal level or a national one, it's NOT pretty.

 

Cruisin, there once was a time I couldn't even afford to cruise. (look at my sig...notice the 12 year gap??) Being responsible is what got my DH and I to the point where we don't have to worry as much about money anymore. I used to feel some guilt to be honest. When you come from nothing and then have something...even if it was hard earned, it's an adjustment. I no longer have guilt, but I will never allow myself to stop feeling appreciative for it and being generous seems to naturally go along with being thankful.

 

Isn't that just semantics? They both do the same thing. So on NCL you don't mind the waiter who didn't wait on you getting a tip because they call it a service charge?

 

 

 

I agree!

[CorvetteLady]

I agree with what you are saying...what I am saying is that when someone making $50,000 with bills to pay and can't pay them, insists on overtipping....that is pitiful. If you can give it and want to fine...but if you can't give it...but want to look as though you can give it...that is another story.

 

I believe some of those here...some, not all....that like to say they give big tips...are probably ones that should rethink their methods. Not talking about Halos or anyone else who gives large than usual tips. Just talking about those who shouldn't be doing it but do anyway. When I say shouldn't....I am talking about those who may be facing debt collectors or are past due with mortgages.

 

For us, while $20 will not bankrupt us.....it will go to pay for one of the kids class trips...which I will never deny them...if I had to tell the kids they can't go on the trip, but still throw excess tips around...then I am the fool...no one else.

 

You make an excellent point, tip what you can afford. The auto tip is all that is required. When you go to a land based restaurant you know that 18% to 20% is the going rate for good service. If you can't afford the tip you should go to a fast food restaurant. We can afford to give an extra $20 to those who we feel earn it. I have never had service so bad that I didn't feel they earned the minimum but have had times when I didn't feel they earned more. I don't understand the over tippers, they will never see that person again and unless they make such a big show of it no one else will know either.

 

I give the tip to the person for one reason, I am not going to waste my vacation time standing in the purser line to add a tip when it only takes about 30 seconds to hand it to them.

[Crusin6]

I would agree, only I'm of the belief that the people who make $50,000 are the ones that may be doing less tipping, and more smuggling. :p

 

I do agree that financial irresponsibility is pathetic...look what came of it over the past couple years. You might be able to get away with it for a while, but when it catches up with you, on a personal level or a national one, it's NOT pretty.

 

Cruisin, there once was a time I couldn't even afford to cruise. (look at my sig...notice the 12 year gap??) Being responsible is what got my DH and I to the point where we don't have to worry as much about money anymore. I used to feel some guilt to be honest. When you come from nothing and then have something...even if it was hard earned, it's an adjustment. I no longer have guilt, but I will never allow myself to stop feeling appreciative for it and being generous seems to naturally go along with being thankful.

 

 

 

 

 

I agree!

we only started taking the big vacations again back in 2004...prior to that it was DW and Cape Cod. We will do whatever it takes to get the kids on vacations...because they learn so much. When we just did Boston/Concord/Salem this last Easter. hey couldn't get enough of the history!! Money very well spent. One of the main draws of our next cruise is the call in Canaveral...so we can go to the Space Center.

 

This summer they got me to agree to a day trip up to Boston from The Cape...because we didn't get to the JFK Library or the Mapparium last time. Go figure...they love the beach...they love the museums....just like me:)

[halos]

This summer they got me to agree to a day trip up to Boston from The Cape...because we didn't get to the JFK Library or the Mapparium last time. Go figure...they love the beach...they love the museums....just like me:)

 

Did you ever take them to DC??? SO much to see and do there!! It's awesome this time of year too.

[ava_girl_123]

You make an excellent point, tip what you can afford. The auto tip is all that is required. When you go to a land based restaurant you know that 18% to 20% is the going rate for good service. If you can't afford the tip you should go to a fast food restaurant. We can afford to give an extra $20 to those who we feel earn it. I have never had service so bad that I didn't feel they earned the minimum but have had times when I didn't feel they earned more. I don't understand the over tippers, they will never see that person again and unless they make such a big show of it no one else will know either.

 

I give the tip to the person for one reason, I am not going to waste my vacation time standing in the purser line to add a tip when it only takes about 30 seconds to hand it to them.

 

 

I am I guess what some may consider to be an "over tipper". Again, because I have worked as a waitress while in school. My Mother while we were growing up was a single Mom and did some bartending on the side while cleaning homes. So when I tip, it is not to be a show off, but because I know what it is like to be in the service industry.. ;)

[Crusin6]

Did you ever take them to DC??? SO much to see and do there!! It's awesome this time of year too.

yes back in 2006 when dd the first did a leadership thing a Gtown. We went down early and had a 2 day trip with the younger 3 kids. The oldest had plenty of DC with the program she was in.

 

We were seriously thinking about DC again next Easter but opted for the cruise instead. It is very difficult to arrange trips these days because of school, work (thekids) and whatnot. I am going with #3 to Philly next Monday on her middle school graduation trip.

 

Right now, DC is on the schedule for Easter break 2012.

[Grumpy100]

We always leave the tips on. I would never think about taking the tips off because they work so hard.

It has been suggested on other threads concerning this subject that the countries that do not usually tip take them off and pay in cash, ie. Australia, England.

Some do not take them off but on our last cruise to Australia the last night of the cruise there was 200 people in line at the desk to take their tips off. They don't like to be told that they have to tip since it is not their culture. Some did tip extra as we always do. We always give extra to our two waiters and the cabin steward always gets $25 extra.

I am going to get bashed for this one:confused::confused::confused:

[halos]

. So when I tip, it is not to be a show off, but because I know what it is like to be in the service industry.. ;)

 

That holds true for me as well.

 

I am going with #3 to Philly next Monday on her middle school graduation trip.

 

.

FUN city! (although I am a bit prejudiced due to the fact that I was born and raised in the NE section of the city)

I hope the Franklin Institute is on the agenda for the day while you are there. :)

[CorvetteLady]

I am I guess what some may consider to be an "over tipper". Again, because I have worked as a waitress while in school. My Mother while we were growing up was a single Mom and did some bartending on the side while cleaning homes. So when I tip, it is not to be a show off, but because I know what it is like to be in the service industry.. ;)

 

I was a waitress once, not one of my favorite jobs, so I know how important a tip is. I just don't feel the need to go above 20% in a land based restaurant. Maybe it all depends on how much you over tip? So on a 7 day cruise I give the cabin steward $20, the two times we took a cooler we tipped a little extra for them keeping it full of ice. There's just the two of us but if there were 3 or 4 in a cabin I would increase the tip.

 

If you can't pay the monthly bills when you get home from a cruise because you gave out so many tips, then you have over tipped, IMHO. Tip what feels comfortable to you.

[pkellyc]

Hi everyone, Taking my first cruise in June and I have pre paid my tips. I am planning on tipping extra for any outstanding service. But after reading everyones posts I am now just a little confused.

Could someone tell me what my pre paid tips pay for and what should I expect to tip extra for?

[Grumpy100]

:)I also do not understand what pre-paid tips are? Do you just pay for them as part of the cruise package and they just add them in as part of the costs of the cruise?

What is the big deal about paying them at the end on your credit card.

Do you save money paying in advance?

:(

[ava_girl_123]

I was a waitress once, not one of my favorite jobs, so I know how important a tip is. I just don't feel the need to go above 20% in a land based restaurant. Maybe it all depends on how much you over tip? So on a 7 day cruise I give the cabin steward $20, the two times we took a cooler we tipped a little extra for them keeping it full of ice. There's just the two of us but if there were 3 or 4 in a cabin I would increase the tip.

 

If you can't pay the monthly bills when you get home from a cruise because you gave out so many tips, then you have over tipped, IMHO. Tip what feels comfortable to you.

 

 

 

I agree, and that 20% is a good tip considering, in my own waitressing days, the average tip was below 10%.. I had a few conversations with people whom I would serve, and they assumed servers made a nice hourly rate.. Most were shocked to hear that it was way, way, way below minimum wage.. 20% is a nice tip.. ;)

[S.S.Oceanlover]

:)I also do not understand what pre-paid tips are? Do you just pay for them as part of the cruise package and they just add them in as part of the costs of the cruise?

What is the big deal about paying them at the end on your credit card.

Do you save money paying in advance?

:(

 

Yes prepaid tips are just that, prepaid. You pay them at the time of final payment.

 

No you don't save anything but some people like to have it paid in advance so it's not added to their credit card.

 

Bill

[Grumpy100]

OK I understand. I think I will just keep it the normal way and pay at the end and NEVER, NEVER, NEVER take off the auto-tips because they work harder than anyone posting on CC board.

LEAVE THE TIPS ON THEY DESERVE IT. IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE TIPS THEN DON'T CRUISE.

BOY AM I GOING TO GET BASHED ON THIS ONE.

[Crusin6]

That holds true for me as well.

 

 

FUN city! (although I am a bit prejudiced due to the fact that I was born and raised in the NE section of the city)

I hope the Franklin Institute is on the agenda for the day while you are there. :)

yes it is

[Crusin6]

OK I understand. I think I will just keep it the normal way and pay at the end and NEVER, NEVER, NEVER take off the auto-tips because they work harder than anyone posting on CC board.

LEAVE THE TIPS ON THEY DESERVE IT. IF YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY THE TIPS THEN DON'T CRUISE.

BOY AM I GOING TO GET BASHED ON THIS ONE.

I agree with you... they do work hard but it is not the worst job in the world by far!:D

[Crusin6]

Hi everyone, Taking my first cruise in June and I have pre paid my tips. I am planning on tipping extra for any outstanding service. But after reading everyones posts I am now just a little confused.

Could someone tell me what my pre paid tips pay for and what should I expect to tip extra for?

to recap one more time...tips..be they prepaid or not..are a tip for the crew...all of them...broken up one way or another...enough about that. Carnival automatically charges you for them. Some people for some reason are terrified about having it go on their credit card at the end of the cruise so they pay them up front...aka prepaying them...this would be done at the time you make your final cruise payment.

 

So, the other stuff is as follows:

 

1. If you order a bar drink...15% will be added to your bill..no need to tip more

 

2. If you go to the specilty restaurant...the surcharge is your tip...has been documented here on the boards, so we do not have to address that issue.

 

3. If you order room service some people like to tip a buck or 2 to thank the guy for bringing it to your room.

 

4. Now here is where it gets tricky...:D...at the end of the cruise some pax like to tip their room steward and wait staff extra.....$20 or $30 maybe? This is not required...but we feel that we must do this. FWIW, I tip a little extra to these folks...but no way more than $20 or $30.

[springfire]

Carnival sets guidelines about how much and to whom you should tip while on a cruise. They also give you an option of having tips taken out each day from your credit card so you don't have to worry about the tipping process. This is a nice option for many people but for me, I will always have the auto tips removed and do cash tips on my own. Tipping is something I do after service has been received. The best part about the tipping discussion is everyone gets to tip the way they feel works best for them.

[Grumpy100]

I hope in the future all cruise lines remove the option to removing the auto-tips. I think there are one or two out there that do not allow you to remove them. I say ALL CRUISE LINES SHOULD NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO REMOVE THE AUTO-TIPS. END OF STORY. DISCUSSION ENDED......:eek::eek::eek::p:p:p

[Zambini]

Isn't that just semantics? They both do the same thing. So on NCL you don't mind the waiter who didn't wait on you getting a tip because they call it a service charge? Or is it because on NCL they give you a really hard time when you try to remove the DSC?

 

No, I believe in the truth and being honest enough to hold a contract.

 

If it is a daily service charge and presented as such, so be it.

 

If it is considered a gratuity for services rendered and I don't receive the service, so be it.

 

In other words, don't tell me it's raining when...

[techmom]

$5.50 per day goes to MDR staff, $3.50 per day to your cabin steward and $1.00 per day to Lido staff. If you take off the auto tip (and this should NEVER be done, unless you had horrid service, which never occurs) then no tips are placed on your S&S card. If you have someone that gives you extra special service, tip them extra.

 

But the Your Time Dining Staff-the tip is all pooled and they share will everyone involved in Your Time Dining so your waiter/waitress shares in a pool of money. That 3.50 for cabin steward is shared with their assistant. I just got off the Spirit and went to GSA and took it off-don't bash me!-I told them I prefer to hand tips out and it has nothing to do with the service. We gave tips to Room Service and a nice tip to our Waitress and her 2 assistants and the cabin steward and his assistant. The only ones I did not tip is bar as there is 15% already added. We gave above and beyond what they would have gotten if we kept it on and wanted to ensure they got the money.

[scperk]

to recap one more time...tips..be they prepaid or not..are a tip for the crew...all of them...broken up one way or another...enough about that. Carnival automatically charges you for them. Some people for some reason are terrified about having it go on their credit card at the end of the cruise so they pay them up front...aka prepaying them...this would be done at the time you make your final cruise payment.

 

So, the other stuff is as follows:

 

1. If you order a bar drink...15% will be added to your bill..no need to tip more

 

2. If you go to the specilty restaurant...the surcharge is your tip...has been documented here on the boards, so we do not have to address that issue.

 

3. If you order room service some people like to tip a buck or 2 to thank the guy for bringing it to your room.

 

4. Now here is where it gets tricky...:D...at the end of the cruise some pax like to tip their room steward and wait staff extra.....$20 or $30 maybe? This is not required...but we feel that we must do this. FWIW, I tip a little extra to these folks...but no way more than $20 or $30.

I alway tip my room steward extra for taking care of my platinum laundry..I also find a nice waiter in the casino and tip them a buck a couple times a day for their service, that means they are looking for me and I'm never without a drink...I also find a waiter in the past guest party and the farewell party that will bring me drinks that I like other than the foo-foo drinks they serve and tip them well because I'm not paying for those drinks and they will bring me two at a time :).........Dennis

[Zambini]

I alway tip my room steward extra for taking care of my platinum laundry..I also find a nice waiter in the casino and tip them a buck a couple times a day for their service, that means they are looking for me and I'm never without a drink...I also find a waiter in the past guest party and the farewell party that will bring me drinks that I like other than the foo-foo drinks they serve and tip them well because I'm not paying for those drinks and they will bring me two at a time :).........Dennis

 

Oh yes, crawl in a bottle and get the laundry done, I. Would certainly tip extra for that!