Tipping bartenders....

[NurseMarla]

We will be going on our second cruise in November. I have read on here that people tip the bartenders. Isn't their tip already added to the drink price? What is the reason you tip them again? How much more do you tip, if you are one that does this?

[Dare2Believe]

I've never given more than the automatically added gratuity, and have never seen cash change hands at the bar in my cruises with Carnival..though I suppose people who have a faithful (or heavy handed LOL ) bartender may feel like they should tip more...

[Tithonus]

The tip will be included on your invoice. You may sign, add, subtract, or remove altogether.

 

Some tip additional to command priority in service over others, or a stronger drink.

[Lovefuninthesun]

I will sometimes add an extra $1 for great service and drinks.

Example: bartender remembers me, remembers what I ordered last time, etc.

[irishnyc]

We will be going on our second cruise in November. I have read on here that people tip the bartenders. Isn't their tip already added to the drink price? What is the reason you tip them again? How much more do you tip, if you are one that does this?

 

People are going to tell you because they get better service or whatever with a tip. DH and I cruised in July, had Cheers, never tipped extra, and when we visited the same bar over and over again, service was always outstanding. Every morning I got a coke and a bloody mary from the same Lido bar, and he always had them in the works as soon as he saw me put my breakfast down and make my way towards him. The bartender at the lobby bar always gave me a glass of OJ for DD for free while we hung out there before dinner. Never an extra tip.

[cathyz]

We don't add any extra tip per drink over the automatic amount, but when/if we find a great bartender or 2 that we get to know, we will tip them in cash ($10-20) part way thru the cruise and then maybe again at the end.

[NurseMarla]

We never tipped extra on our last cruise, but after seeing so many that do, it made me wonder if we should have! I don't feel any need to add extra to what's already being charged. We had great service last time & hopefully will again. Thanks for your replies!

[Kato27]

I just tip the Female waiters:)

[cruisescouter]

I usually do tip extra for bartenders that I am familiar with, so it depends on the service. One bartender in the dining room knew what drinks we wanted and would have them waiting for us. He even hide us some Kendal Jackson when they ran out on the ship. Then at the casino one waitress knew our names and would be ready for an order since I was glued to roulette.

 

But for random bartenders and wait staff... no. I just leave it as is.

[golfadj]

Not a big drinker but think the 15% they get is enough.

 

I am on vacation dont think I need to worry about how fast my drink will come.

[Sailin Gal]

We tipped our dining room bartender extra on the last night because he always brought our sodas of choice as soon as he saw us. We didn't order many drinks, but if we had and had a 'regular' bartender that had taken good care of us, we would have done likewise for them.

[lola61]

Find a server when we first board on the Lido deck and give them $20 and ask if they will "take" care of us during the cruise. Have always gotten amazing service, in fact last cruise they ran low on Miller Lite and the server stashed some for my hubby ;) for the last day. They work hard for what they get, what's a few extra bucks?

[backnine05]

My wife and I were on a cruise last month and felt the need to tip a bar server a bit extra. From the moment we walked onto the ship, he came up to me and asked my name and introduced himself on the Lido. By this time, we had just each grabbed a drink and were walking around the deck. He told me to have a wonderful day, shook my hand and told me that if there was anything that I needed, to let him know. We saw him about a half hour later. He noticed our empty hands and asked what he could get us. I placed my order and handed over my S&S card. From this point forward, I did not need to keep bringing out my S&S card when ordering a drink from him. He simply wrote down my number the first time with my name and took care of us the rest of the trip, always smiling and greeting us by name. Although it is not necessary to throw money around to every smiling face on a cruise ship(or you would be broke) I felt like this service was above and beyond and deserved some reward.

[topguy]

When I get through drinking all of the drinks that I want at a bar, I give the bartender a few extra bucks. I know that the tip is already included, but I really think that they deserve more.

[bobandalice]

Find a server when we first board on the Lido deck and give them $20 and ask if they will "take" care of us during the cruise. Have always gotten amazing service, in fact last cruise they ran low on Miller Lite and the server stashed some for my hubby ;) for the last day. They work hard for what they get, what's a few extra bucks?

 

 

We have done this on every cruise, except one...our first. Since then, like you, we have had over and above service from that server....AND the bartender we usually decide is "ours" on day 2...after getting a feel for who is working where.

 

And, always tip them a bit more on the last day.

 

It makes them happy...and for that matter, us, too!

[jimdalva]

I do all of my drinking by the pool during the day. I find a server that I click with, and stick with them the entire cruise. I tip $5 each day at some point in the day, its less then the price of one beer. They remember my name and number, and I can order a fresh beer from across the pool deck with a simple 'thumbs up'. Im sure I can get all that without a tip, but they work hard ALL day EVERY day, and Im happy to do it.

[Kato27]

My wife and I were on a cruise last month and felt the need to tip a bar server a bit extra. From the moment we walked onto the ship, he came up to me and asked my name and introduced himself on the Lido. By this time, we had just each grabbed a drink and were walking around the deck. He told me to have a wonderful day, shook my hand and told me that if there was anything that I needed, to let him know. We saw him about a half hour later. He noticed our empty hands and asked what he could get us. I placed my order and handed over my S&S card. From this point forward, I did not need to keep bringing out my S&S card when ordering a drink from him. He simply wrote down my number the first time with my name and took care of us the rest of the trip, always smiling and greeting us by name. Although it is not necessary to throw money around to every smiling face on a cruise ship(or you would be broke) I felt like this service was above and beyond and deserved some reward.

Of course he did, that's what they are trained to do.

They can spot the tippers....

[coachpete]

The bartenders are the one group I tip full amount and extra every time. You'd be surprised at what they can do for you.

[tncap]

I tend to tip $1 extra per drink at Alchemy since they put more effort into making drinks.

[NurseMarla]

I agree, they do work hard. BUT... I work hard for my money too.