Tipping Early/Often, What's the Reward for You?

[GAcruiser417]

Okay, no haters please! I always tip the recommended amount at the end of the cruise. But for those of you that say you tip your room steward early & often...what type of special treatment/care have have you received from that? Just wondering about trying that on my upcoming cruise.

[Havingfun2010]

I have always received special treatment by not tipping early. Some will say, they will by tipping early. So to really come to an answer, you might guess that the staff on board will do everything possible to make good tips, because, that is their job, and what they are trained to do and it is their income. I would like to see them work for it, and not just get it.....

[SouthernCaribbean]

Okay, no haters please! I always tip the recommended amount at the end of the cruise. But for those of you that say you tip your room steward early & often...what type of special treatment/care have have you received from that? Just wondering about trying that on my upcoming cruise.

I tip at the end, to me if they are a good steward they will work the same regardless of getting something the first day or not. Its worked for me thus far

[GAcruiser417]

I agree, pay for work done...not bribed up front...I'm just intrigued by the people that say they always do it and how well it works for them. In all our cruises, we've always had excellent room stewards. Also, I can't imagine what extra I might need that I can't get without tipping up front.

[salty dingo]

I have heard first-hand accounts that the steward was taken aback by an early tip. The idea of a tip s a reward for a job well done.

 

Extending a "tip" early is a bribe... and a decent person is not going to like it... but a gracious steward would probably accept it... and think you were a strange person, indeed.

[SouthernCaribbean]

I have heard first-hand accounts that the steward was taken aback by an early tip. The idea of a tip s a reward for a job well done.

 

Extending a "tip" early is a bribe... and a decent person is not going to like it... but a gracious steward would probably accept it... and think you were a strange person, indeed.

Anyone in the service industry taken aback with a tip at anytime, must be relatively new in their position.

[OCruisers]

:D Come on folks! Think beyond your room steward! Think of where it would be a benefit to YOU to tip Early&Often!

[7x57]

:D Come on folks! Think beyond your room steward! Think of where it would be a benefit to YOU to tip Early&Often!

 

You mean, like at the SPA?:eek:

[gogetter]

Never worked for me early and you will never seen them again after the end....so guess what...Mininumum.....

[kujobie]

On more than one occasion, I have tried to tip a steward ahead of time and have had them refuse it. Seriously. They wouldn't take it.

[Scott_F]

Last cruise, I slipped my guy a 20 first day and asked for a 2nd ice bucket and both be full at all times. I go thru a lot of ice and in cruises past, I had to go hunting the steward down for more sometimes. It worked. I had two full ice buckets at all times and gave him an excellent tip at the end.

 

It felt right, it worked out.

[Koval]

Last cruise, I slipped my guy a 20 first day and asked for a 2nd ice bucket and both be full at all times. I go thru a lot of ice and in cruises past, I had to go hunting the steward down for more sometimes. It worked. I had two full ice buckets at all times and gave him an excellent tip at the end.

 

It felt right, it worked out.

But that is fine,

as you were asking him to do something a bit more than normal...

Not a Bribe...

Just payment for an extra service.

Handing him a 20 and saying nothing

assuming they well treat you better than the next Cabin is the problem...

Any good Steward, or person of service, does their best for all...

and the tip at the end shows how much YOU appreciated their efforts.

The tip at the end reflects on you and their work.

Granted you might get bad service, but for the most part, they are there to make you happy, in turn, a better tip is the bonus.

[joebat1]

Okay, no haters please! I always tip the recommended amount at the end of the cruise. But for those of you that say you tip your room steward early & often...what type of special treatment/care have have you received from that? Just wondering about trying that on my upcoming cruise.

 

PAST GUEST PINS, P.G.PINS,& MORE P.G. PINS by the hands full every evening ~~!!~~

[mrpayroll]

Last cruise, I slipped my guy a 20 first day and asked for a 2nd ice bucket and both be full at all times. I go thru a lot of ice and in cruises past, I had to go hunting the steward down for more sometimes. It worked. I had two full ice buckets at all times and gave him an excellent tip at the end.

 

It felt right, it worked out.

 

Asked for the same as above and received it, no money exchanged...Tipped extra at the end because request was honored...

[globe9]

I've tipped bartenders in cash OVER the included 15% on almost every cruise. I drink beer during the day on deck and have almost always have had an extra one or two served to me at no charge during the day. Plus the deck server is always VERY attentive to me and my companions. They say their drinks are stronger(keep in mind my friends and I don't usually drink DOD's or "frou frou" drinks, but traditional cocktails such as gin and tonic, scotch and water, etc, where being stronger is more noticeable.)

 

At night, I'll have a few scotch and soda's and yes, they are stronger in the lounges we frequent. The bartenders in the disco lounge and the servers in the piano bar also are much more attentive. I've witnessed other passengers waiting much longer than us to get served in these venues.

 

So, yes, in some instances I don't see anything wrong with tipping in cash, up front, and with every round as I appreciate the service I'm receiving and sometimes get little, extra perks, such as a complimentary drink here and there.

 

I would tip extra however even if I didn't receive anything complimentary. I was a bartender in college and it's just ingrained in me to tip more than 15%. 15% for me, is for MINIMAL service...meaning, I order, and the server brings it. I always tip more.

[jpg1747]

I never tip early/in advance. I do always smile and say please and thank you whenever I have a request. I save my extra tips (and written comments) for the end of the cruise.

[MrPete]

I tried tipping the bartender up front.

 

Still got the same lousy drink.

[okgirl]

I tip extra to the bartenders and bar waiters that have been taking care of me the most. I usually wait until I'm a couple of days in. By that time I have gotten to know them well enough to know what port day they are going ashore and I'll give them something extra the night before.

 

Then the last night if I've done particularly well in the Casino I'll tip all of the Casino bar people again.

[capndinghy]

To all of you 'cheapskates' . . remember these folks work for tips. A little extra means a LOT to them. I always slip the room steward an extra $20 on the first day. They are always appreciative. Yes, you will get good service without going the extra buck...but what the hell...be a sport! :)

[gogetter]

To all of you 'cheapskates' . . remember these folks work for tips. A little extra means a LOT to them. I always slip the room steward an extra $20 on the first day. They are always appreciative. Yes, you will get good service without going the extra buck...but what the hell...be a sport! :)

 

 

Yes and i worked for the money to purchase the cruise and spending money on the cruise. Maybe the staff take your advice and provide a little extra service because it goes a long way in the customers eyes and the result? A bigger tip. Maybe the staff should take your advice again and just be a sport about it, provide the extras without asking. Come on, they should know by now what extras people want. They should provide them without asking or the extra tip in the early going.

[SouthernCaribbean]

To all of you 'cheapskates' . . remember these folks work for tips. A little extra means a LOT to them. I always slip the room steward an extra $20 on the first day. They are always appreciative. Yes, you will get good service without going the extra buck...but what the hell...be a sport! :)

So tipping the same amount, but doing it at the end of the cruise makes you a cheapskate?:confused:

[MrPete]

To all of you 'cheapskates' . . remember these folks work for tips. A little extra means a LOT to them. I always slip the room steward an extra $20 on the first day. They are always appreciative. Yes, you will get good service without going the extra buck...but what the hell...be a sport! :)

 

Why not give it to them after you see how they perform? Why give it before? Why namecall? Net is the same.

[bankerbabe]

I can see a little extra tip here and there if you ask for something out of the ordinary. But we always tip a little extra at the end, along with a thank you note that they can show their supervisors (I've heard that they go in their personnel file and are helpful for promotions, etc.). We've always had fantastic service.

 

I would find it odd or uncomfortable to just hand them an extra tip at the beginning - it's like prepaying for a service that you haven't yet received.

[golfadj]

My tip is based on the service we get. Do not think there is any reason to bribe them to get good service.

 

We tend to be neat and do not make any extra work for them other than platinum wash and fold and to make sure we always have wine glasses and have always gotten good service and give them at least the recommended tip AT THE END OF THE CRUISE.

[pnjkeith]

I always slip the room steward an extra $20 on the first day.

 

 

 

Nothing but a bribe!