Cabin Steward earns extra tips: What have you requested?

[jimbo5544]

I'm sure that the room stewards on cruise ships are no different than the passengers. Some have financial problems, some don't. Same as all of us. Even though, I am far from being rich, I do not struggle financially, so if I can help out someone else by giving them a little extra, I'm happy to do so.

 

What a nice refreshing post! Thanks

[Surfwench]

Everyone can tip as much or little as they like just so it isn't one cent less than the rate set by Carnival.

 

We tip for ice. An extra $20 when we first meet our steward has always ensured a full ice bucket every afternoon at 3:00 pm on sea days (they know us so well!), and regular refreshing through the evening.

 

Last cruise was a big family affair and we tipped extra on the last night to everyone from the Maitre'd down because they went out of their way to make our dinners memorable, (all 15 sat at a long single table).

 

Outside of that.... we let our prepaid gratuities cover the rest.

[ncovert]

I enjoy giving extra tips to our cabin stewards as they have all been amazing and frankly I enjoy seeing the looks on their faces. I do this intermittently throughout the cruise because a) I am assured fantastic service and b) I have had several almost cry with gratitude for the extra gift. And yes, we prepay our gratuities.

 

I'm curious to see what other cruisers have done for their cabin stewards and also requests that have been made earning the steward extra tips. My twin boys will be turning 16 on our March Breeze cruise and along with all the usual funshop trappings I'm thinking I may ask our cabin steward for birthday ideas outside of the ordinary requests.

 

Suazo and Arifin ~ Valor

 

We do the same (above our pre-paid gratuity). When we first meet our new best friend we will give them a little something, around day two or three and then some time on the last full day since there is a chance we won't see them again. Always had great experiences and have been doing this since our Alaskan cruise (once I learned just how very little they do receive in compensation).

 

DW (she is the talker of the two of us) loves to get to know our waiter too. Find out about their lives at home and such. Very interesting stories about where they come from and how their experiences are on board.

[topguy]

 

DW (she is the talker of the two of us) loves to get to know our waiter too. Find out about their lives at home and such. Very interesting stories about where they come from and how their experiences are on board.

I do the same. I really enjoy meeting the staff and asking them about their families and lives. You can tell that they appreciate that your concern for them is more than just them waiting on you.

[TerReuv]

I don't have to try anything. I will do what I feel best doing.

In my case it is tipping some money up front.

 

I do ask for ice twice a day and extra pillows. On other cruise lines I asked for items that carnival doesn't offer.

 

First, I believe I was responding to another poster. Second, is there really a reason to respond that way? I did not tell anyone to do anything. Just a suggestion.

[pbsteve]

My brother in law had never tied a tie in his life, and didn't know how, so his steward tied it for him, got a 20 for it.

 

He also on the same cruise in my cabin put my smuggled bottle of Jager (Full size bottle, not rum runner, but the actual Jager bottle) in an ice bucket and kept ice in it the whole time, that earned him 30 from me.

[cuppettmd]

To me, giving extra is part of my vacation. I actually plan on it and carry cash just for this purpose. I don't do it because I feel sorry for them or to make myself feel important or that they will owe me something. I do it because I enjoy it! I look at it this way, if a dollar will put a smile on the face of someone for pouring me a soda for my soda card, that's great. I'm just saying to them that I appreciate them. I sure don't get that on my job. I always tip my steward and never really ask for anything special. The only things I ask is for them to look after my wife and leave my "animals" until the end of my cruise. I'm sure they would do these things if I didn't tip extra, but I see it as a "Win, Win" situation. They get a little extra and We get a little extra, also. I owned my own business for almost thirty years and I know what an asset employees are. Sometimes a pat on the back or a little token of appreciation went a long way in their attitude. This made it better for everybody. Maybe just a little something will make them smile and think that some folks do care. Be Blessed! Mikey<><

[cru-cru]

It's a little off topic but I seen someone say that Carnival does not pool tips. Any extra tips to the room Steward is up to him to if he wants to split it with his team. The Casino HAS TO POOL all tips. I don't think that is right but that is how it is done

[LMaxwell]

I've never asked for anything super special or out of the way. I do ask for the ice to stay filled, but that is part of the job and not a special request. I would not tip the first day for that request. My wife asks for a second box of tissues in the room. I also do not consider that a special request. Others might, but I don't.

 

Once my wife lost a small item that was probably only worth a buck or two, but not easily replaceable mid-ocean. She let the attendant know and it was found and left with a note. That was worth a nice cash tip the same day. To us that was a little extra caring and attention to detail by the attendant that wasn't strictly necessary.

 

Generally speaking we have left an additional $20-$40 cash for our attendants on 7 day cruises on top of autotips when all the basic requirements of the job are met. Frequency of interaction has nothing to do with it. Some of the best attendants are ones we interact with the least; they work hard and efficiently!

[pbsteve]

It's a little off topic but I seen someone say that Carnival does not pool tips. Any extra tips to the room Steward is up to him to if he wants to split it with his team. The Casino HAS TO POOL all tips. I don't think that is right but that is how it is done

 

All Auto tips are pooled, including auto tips on drinks. But any extra tip is for them, and they can decide to keep it all or share it, which is why auto tip is important.

[Rosesgt]

DW (she is the talker of the two of us) loves to get to know our waiter too. Find out about their lives at home and such. Very interesting stories about where they come from and how their experiences are on board.

 

We also enjoy chatting up the workers and listening to their stories. Most seem to like talking about their lives. It's one of the little things we enjoy doing, especially on sea days.

[TPFKAH]

It's a little off topic but I seen someone say that Carnival does not pool tips. Any extra tips to the room Steward is up to him to if he wants to split it with his team. The Casino HAS TO POOL all tips. I don't think that is right but that is how it is done

 

I was referring to the staff that's assigned to you. That includes your dining team and your steward.

 

The 15% tip they add to your bar tabs is pooled, but if you tip in cash, whomever you give it to keeps it.

[srlafleur]

We just leave the autotips in place and that's it, because we are very low-maintenance people. (We generally don't even request ice!) We try to keep our room neat enough to make it easy for the steward to do his/her job quickly and easily (and so we're not tripping over stuff - not that we're uber-neatniks or anything.)

However, if we did have a special over-and-above request or accommodation, certainly we would tip extra.

[TPFKAH]

All Auto tips are pooled, including auto tips on drinks. But any extra tip is for them, and they can decide to keep it all or share it, which is why auto tip is important.

 

This is incorrect information.

[ChaplainPagne]

This is incorrect information.

 

I'm sure a lot of people would like to know the correct information, so instead of just dropping "you're wrong" and leaving, can you explain what the correct information is, and cite your source? Thanks!

[TPFKAH]

I'm sure a lot of people would like to know the correct information, so instead of just dropping "you're wrong" and leaving, can you explain what the correct information is, and cite your source? Thanks!

 

John Heald, every time this topic comes up.

[ChaplainPagne]

John Heald, every time this topic comes up.

 

So again, what is the correct information?

[bruadhin]

It's a little off topic but I seen someone say that Carnival does not pool tips. Any extra tips to the room Steward is up to him to if he wants to split it with his team. The Casino HAS TO POOL all tips. I don't think that is right but that is how it is done

 

Excluding cocktail waitresses, that is the norm in any casino (at least US casinos). All tips are pooled for the day and then divided among the dealers.

 

Tips have to be pooled in a casino. Although it should be by shift, instead of day. It isn't a dealer's fault the pit boss stuck him on a slow game with no players. So they pool tips so the casino management can put dealers at the games they need.

 

An unfortunately side effect is that in Vegas, you tend to find the best dealers working the day shift versus swing shift. Some of the day shift dealers are absolutely wonderful and are bored out of their minds because there isn't as much action as in the evening. But they work days and get to be home with their families in the evenings.

[TPFKAH]

So again, what is the correct information?

 

Read my previous posts.

[rcrx]

We generally give them $20 on the first day and ask for the ice to be kept full. Last cruise we did that and never saw the steward again, and no ice either. We'll try it again next cruise and see what happens.

 

I give them a 20 every time to keep cooler full of ice and they have always taken care of me. In my smuggling days would bring a fair amount of beer etc on. They didn't care and kept all things cold.

[pompeyfan0304]

I was referring to the staff that's assigned to you. That includes your dining team and your steward.

 

 

 

The 15% tip they add to your bar tabs is pooled, but if you tip in cash, whomever you give it to keeps it.

 

 

So who contributes to "staff that's assigned to you"?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rednose83]

We've never tipped anything extra. We've never asked for anything extra either. I'm not even sure what I'd ask for. I'm not a high-maintenance person so I can do whatever I need for myself. IMO, their job is to clean my cabin and replenish towels. I'm not going to go and request that they vacuum twice or something :o

 

On port days, we always just tell the steward to leave us fresh towels and not to worry about the rest. I keep our room picked up and we put all used towels in one pile for them.

[TPFKAH]

So who contributes to "staff that's assigned to you"?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Anyone in my party.

[sparks1093]

John Heald, every time this topic comes up.

 

The last response I read was something along the lines of "the employees keep the tips they receive" which is not quite the same as "the tips are not pooled among the employees". Yes, I expect he is disingenuous enough to dodge the question in such a fashion. If he has declared unequivocally that tips aren't pooled I have missed it.

[TPFKAH]

The last response I read was something along the lines of "the employees keep the tips they receive" which is not quite the same as "the tips are not pooled among the employees". Yes, I expect he is disingenuous enough to dodge the question in such a fashion. If he has declared unequivocally that tips aren't pooled I have missed it.

 

A simple search brought this up:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=30514483&postcount=43