Staying in the Haven - How much cash to bring??

[acharris1]

There's four of us (two adults, two children) staying in the Haven two-bedroom suite. I'm wondering how much cash to bring with us... I always seem to underestimate. We have a lot of onboard credit, so I'll be using that in the casino, so we won't need cash for that. Also, I've already booked all of our excursions and shows, so I doubt we'll be using the concierge for much of anything, but we do plan on using the butler. So tip for butler, tip for room service (or is that the same as the butler tip), anything else I'll need cash for on the ship?

[CasinoCruzGirl]

You may want to bring some singles for tips for drinks. Not sure of your thoughts but I'm staying in a suite and plan on giving my room steward cash in addition to the DSC. As for room service that's most likely your butler. I'm in the camp where I tip everyone even at the MDRs I leave cash tips. I know they are included in the DSC but I leave a few bucks on the table. But to each there own.

[acharris1]

We have the UBP. Do you have to sign something each time you get a drink? And if so, can you leave $1 tip on whatever you sign?

[Fishbait17]

Tips for the butler, Haven butler, concierge, room steward can be placed on your onboard account if you wish - just get their complete names and go to Guest Services to do this. This is also a great way to use OBC (I'm never 100% sure all kinds of OBC can be used in the casino). Room service is generally delivered by the butler, so no need to tip each time for that (although we tip cash upon delivery when it's delivered by the night butler). PS- you may find you use the concierge more than you think, especially if on the Epic, Breakaway, Getaway (if you use suite escort and seating for shows, ports, Haven tour, etc) - plus there is much they do automatically (cocktail party, priority embarkation and disembarkation, delivery of priority luggage tags, tender tickets, etc, etc etc).

 

For cash tips, we usually bring singles for drinks (for the waiters), some for the Haven butler if we have drinks/sodas delivered there (hardly ever for us), fives and tens for leaving at the Haven restaurant when we dine there (not often -$5 per person), and for the Specialties if we have nothing to sign for (free or UDP dining-$5 per person). None of this is necessary, but we feel it's justified for the great service we usually receive. A couple of twenties for porters. Plus lots of small bills, for port purchases like a soda or a trinket, etc. I think in general we bring about $100-150 per person for all these little things - all in small bills from our bank, as it's difficult to get small change on board (the casino will usually only give you $5-10 in singles at a time). If you planto tip butler, concierge, steward in cash also, you will likely need more than that.

 

Robin

Edited May 2, 2014 by Fishbait17

[acharris1]

I didn't realize we could tip the butler or room stewards from our onboard account. Great info!!

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Good point about the singles. I brought $60 singles on my last cruise in addition to $5s, and $10s and $20 (not mentioning my 100s for casino) I got off the ship with zero dollar bills and zero 5s They come in very handy.

[SouthernBelle_N_Louisiana]

Ok so if we have $300 in OBC plus I bring about $500 cash/travelers chqs for the week ...we should be good right??

 

We might buy a few of less than $40/bottles of wine and some fun frozen cocktails and some light shopping plus cash tips but that's about it.

 

Are we good??

[TifffanyD]

I have 400 OBC and am bringing around $200 (20x$5 and 100x$1). I actually have a little bit more in 5's and 2's.

 

General tips will go on shipboard account

We'll tip porters a little in cash

We'll tip at howl at the moon in cash

Tips for butler and concierge will go on shipboard account

Tips for paid dining will go on shipboard account

I guess we don't need to tip room service at the time since it will be the butler and rolled into that tip?

 

Not really planning to tip extra on drinks. Probably won't carry cash. Might tip a little if we have the same bartender a lot and have cash.

 

Bought the casino vouchers and don't really plan to gamble more than that.

 

So I am thinking we'll have some cash leftover but probably still spend more than out OBC. Not sure if that helps!

[acharris1]

I forgot about Howl at the Moon. Cash can go quickly at dueling pianos!! :)

[TifffanyD]

I forgot about Howl at the Moon. Cash can go quickly at dueling pianos!! :)

 

Especially if you're drinking. I once spent $30 just to stop the Michigan fight song. LOL

 

So I plan on only bringing so much each time I go there so I don't blow it all at once - HAH!

[LrgPizza]

Especially if you're drinking. I once spent $30 just to stop the Michigan fight song. LOL

Thank you on behalf of the rest of the Big Ten. You're a good woman.

[TifffanyD]

Thank you on behalf of the rest of the Big Ten. You're a good woman.

 

LOL - I didn't go to OSU but I'm still originally from Ohio ;)

 

And there was actually more money than that put up to stop it - people gave me money as I ran by. hahaha

[lovetrauma]

Someone mentioned tipping the Night Butler that is on top of the Room Service Charge of like $3.95? know when I didn't stay in a Suite I would but not sure if I should do it as a lump tip at end or each time.

[Linda the Book Lover]

We usually carry lots of fives and ones and replenish if needed. We also carry a short stack of tens for purchasing items from street vendors. When we used to use travelers checks we cashed on board and used the dollars for tips etc.

[cabincop]

Suites dont pay room service sur charge, I tip my night butler when he comes. Also you never know if your regular butler gets sick or has day off. I tip any butler not my regular when I see him. You will end up using your concierge for show tickets priority embarkation and disembarkation. When you go to ports you can use them t get off the ship without standing in lines. Enjoy

[julsluv2cruise]

I'm so confused by all this tipping talk.... I thought tipping was done thru the gratuities that you pay so much per person.... I was always lead to believe that you were not supposed to tip until the end.... Who should be getting tips from us, that is not going to be covered by the pre- paid gratuities?

 

 

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[NayRN]

Especially if you're drinking. I once spent $30 just to stop the Michigan fight song. LOL

 

So I plan on only bringing so much each time I go there so I don't blow it all at once - HAH!

 

Gawd! I would have paid more than that if I had to to stop that song!! 🙀

[gobo]

A lot of people feel if they tip up front they get better service. In addition to the pre paid gratuities, I will tip (at the end of the cruise) additional money to the people that went "above and beyond". Our room steward on the Breakaway was always so nice, engaging and seemed to work her tail off. The butler we had was the complete opposite, but then again we didn't ask anything of him that was beyond what he was supposed to do (we didn't use him for room service, making reservations, special requests for the fridge, etc..). We made sure the room steward was taken care of.

[biker@sea]

I'm so confused by all this tipping talk.... I thought tipping was done thru the gratuities that you pay so much per person.... I was always lead to believe that you were not supposed to tip until the end.... Who should be getting tips from us, that is not going to be covered by the pre- paid gratuities?

 

 

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It's free stye . You can still tip more to Anybody you want Anytime you want any Amount you want or not . :D

[CasinoCruzGirl]

I'm so confused by all this tipping talk.... I thought tipping was done thru the gratuities that you pay so much per person.... I was always lead to believe that you were not supposed to tip until the end.... Who should be getting tips from us, that is not going to be covered by the pre- paid gratuities?

 

 

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Are u in a suite?

[Fishbait17]

I'm so confused by all this tipping talk.... I thought tipping was done thru the gratuities that you pay so much per person.... I was always lead to believe that you were not supposed to tip until the end.... Who should be getting tips from us, that is not going to be covered by the pre- paid gratuities?

 

 

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The majority of these tips are for suite passengers, and the butlers and concierge are not included in the Daily Service Charge and need to be tipped separately. Many passengers (especially those in suites) like to pay extra tips for their room stewards as well for fantastic service. Luggage porters are of course not included in the DSC. The others, like bar waiters, food servers, room service, etc, are included in the DSC (or the automatic gratuity on bar drinks) but are often tipped extra as well for great service, but that's all completely discretionary.

 

Robin

[hpecorari]

The majority of these tips are for suite passengers, and the butlers and concierge are not included in the Daily Service Charge and need to be tipped separately. Many passengers (especially those in suites) like to pay extra tips for their room stewards as well for fantastic service. Luggage porters are of course not included in the DSC. The others, like bar waiters, food servers, room service, etc, are included in the DSC (or the automatic gratuity on bar drinks) but are often tipped extra as well for great service, but that's all completely discretionary.

 

Robin

 

Also, if you have children staying in the kids program they aren't included in the DSC either.

 

Harriet

[Linda the Book Lover]

It's free stye . You can still tip more to Anybody you want Anytime you want any Amount you want or not . :D

 

We tend to tip for the above and beyond service. The amount also tends to vary depending on the service and also how well we get to know them. There is a varying degree that some pay for the butler and concierge which is listed somewhere in another thread and the same holds true as far as extra $$ should you decide to do so.

 

We look at it as the same choice you have in a restaurant when it comes to tipping. Yes, I have asked the tip to be removed after a really bad experience in a spa.

[julsluv2cruise]

Are u in a suite?

 

 

I am not in a suite.... We are in a mini suite..... So I guess this is where the confusion comes from.... Do most of you not pre pay the gratuities?

 

 

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[Linda the Book Lover]

I am not in a suite.... We are in a mini suite..... So I guess this is where the confusion comes from.... Do most of you not pre pay the gratuities?

 

 

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Our cabin gratuities get added on each day. We have never used the prepay option prior to boarding the ship. We have stayed in a mini suite and a balcony on cruises but we tipped for room service, when there was above and beyond service, and when we had a request and not only was it was taken care of there was also a follow-up to ensure everything was ok. We also felt in some circumstances a little $ present (not tip) for those we had daily contact with and made our trip feel more like coming back home rather than being away from it.