When to tip the butler

[Minecrafter]

When is it best to tip the butler/concierge? The last morning or night before? Do I do it in person?

[Cubechick]

We always tip the day before we get off of the ship. Usually when he/she brings that last afternoon snack.

[njhorseman]

We do it in person the afternoon or night before disembarkation.

 

Never leave a tip in an envelope in your cabin...whether for the steward or butler. On disembarkation day more than just the regular crew that services your cabin may be in there and the tip could end up in the wrong pocket...not to mention the possibility of it just being mistaken for trash and thrown out.

 

It's also a courtesy to hand the tip to the person directly and thank them.

[NLH Arizona]

I always tip the last afternoon and give it directly to the Butler along with a thank you.

[newmexicoNita]

I always tip the last afternoon and give it directly to the Butler along with a thank you.

 

This will be our first time using a butler, but we have used the concierge many times. We usually tip the last time we will see him/the day before. I think a couple of times we have tipped as we are being escorted off the ship, but I like the night before better.

Edited November 8, 2014 by newmexicoNita

[Minecrafter]

The cruise I'm on right now has 2 concierge at the desk. Do I tip them both? The same? Or one amount to share? Need help here.

Thanks for everyone's guidence so far.

[njhorseman]

The cruise I'm on right now has 2 concierge at the desk. Do I tip them both? The same? Or one amount to share? Need help here.

Thanks for everyone's guidence so far.

 

It should be one concierge, with the second person working as an assistant. We tip the concierge. I suspect the assistant receives a cut of the concierge's tips...but I can't prove it.

[Minecrafter]

It should be one concierge, with the second person working as an assistant. We tip the concierge. I suspect the assistant receives a cut of the concierge's tips...but I can't prove it.

 

Thank you. Oh oh. Now I have to find a time when Anoop's assistant is not there.

[rjm11]

Thank you. Oh oh. Now I have to find a time when Anoop's assistant is not there.

 

don't worry about that- we tried giving our tip to the assistant and she wouldn't even take it... I think they know that the main concierge gets the tip, and then I'm sure it's worked out how much is shared.

[cb at sea]

The traditional time to tip is the last evening.

[sjbdtz]

I usually go to Guest Services, the 2nd-last day, and ask them to add a room charge (which goes on my credit card....earning me reward points!), allocated to the Butler & Concierge.

 

They look up their names, and write-out charge slips in the amounts I designate. I then sign them, and its done.

 

Not only is it quick, easy & painless, but I know it's not being waylaid, and there's written confirmation of the gratuity.

 

The first time I did this, I took my copy of the receipt and gave it in an envelope to the concierge, so that they knew this was done....but since then have learned that Guest Services sends the tippee a confirmation directly.

 

 

 

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[johnsak123]

You should tip any time you want

I do not believe there should be a set time or place to give a tip

It is your discretion to tip and your discretion how much and when to tip

Cheers!!

[seahorse]

I usually go to Guest Services, the 2nd-last day, and ask them to add a room charge (which goes on my credit card....earning me reward points!), allocated to the Butler & Concierge.

 

They look up their names, and write-out charge slips in the amounts I designate. I then sign them, and its done.

 

Not only is it quick, easy & painless, but I know it's not being waylaid, and there's written confirmation of the gratuity.

 

The first time I did this, I took my copy of the receipt and gave it in an envelope to the concierge, so that they knew this was done....but since then have learned that Guest Services sends the tippee a confirmation directly.

 

 

 

.

 

Great idea....thanks:)

[rjm11]

I usually go to Guest Services, the 2nd-last day, and ask them to add a room charge (which goes on my credit card....earning me reward points!), allocated to the Butler & Concierge.

 

They look up their names, and write-out charge slips in the amounts I designate. I then sign them, and its done.

 

Not only is it quick, easy & painless, but I know it's not being waylaid, and there's written confirmation of the gratuity.

 

The first time I did this, I took my copy of the receipt and gave it in an envelope to the concierge, so that they knew this was done....but since then have learned that Guest Services sends the tippee a confirmation directly.

 

 

 

.

 

wow- so you don't have to do anything else? The butler and concierge know that tip specifically came from you? Do they see if before you leave the ship then? (just so they don't think you're stiffing them)

[RJ2002]

I usually go to Guest Services, the 2nd-last day, and ask them to add a room charge (which goes on my credit card....earning me reward points!), allocated to the Butler & Concierge.

 

They look up their names, and write-out charge slips in the amounts I designate. I then sign them, and its done.

 

Not only is it quick, easy & painless, but I know it's not being waylaid, and there's written confirmation of the gratuity.

 

The first time I did this, I took my copy of the receipt and gave it in an envelope to the concierge, so that they knew this was done....but since then have learned that Guest Services sends the tippee a confirmation directly.

 

We've done the room charge route as well. It is a nice alternative to dealing with cash.

 

Our last cruise, we tipped the butler the night before the end of the cruise, as he was leaving the ship the next day. We tipped the concierge the day of disembarkation, but I would not do it again. It was difficult to track him down. Next time we'll tip both the day before the end of the cruise.

[sjbdtz]

wow- so you don't have to do anything else? The butler and concierge know that tip specifically came from you? Do they see if before you leave the ship then? (just so they don't think you're stiffing them)

 

 

 

Yes, they know the same day. I specifically asked about timing of their notification, for the same reason.... and was assured by GS that they would be notified in the same day.

 

 

 

Stephen

 

 

.

[rvsullivan]

We've done the room charge route as well. It is a nice alternative to dealing with cash.

 

Our last cruise, we tipped the butler the night before the end of the cruise, as he was leaving the ship the next day. We tipped the concierge the day of disembarkation, but I would not do it again. It was difficult to track him down. Next time we'll tip both the day before the end of the cruise.

 

When you do the form at Guest Services they make three copies, one for accounting, one for the guest and the third goes directly to the employee. Last cruise we did this again and within 10 minutes both the Concierge and Butler stopped by our room to thank us.

Easy!!

[rajones007]

Like everyone else, we try to track the butler down at some point on the last day. That morning (or even the night before) I go down to guest services and put the tips on my account, so they give me a slip in an envelope to give to the crew member. (This is always interesting too, as they'll write down the crew members real name on the slip and envelope.)

 

We usually find him in the late afternoon or early evening, give him/her their slip, and spend a few quiet minutes talking and saying our goodbyes and good lucks and handshakes and what not. We do this for the concierge and the room steward too.

[NLH Arizona]

Like everyone else, we try to track the butler down at some point on the last day. That morning (or even the night before) I go down to guest services and put the tips on my account, so they give me a slip in an envelope to give to the crew member. (This is always interesting too, as they'll write down the crew members real name on the slip and envelope.)

 

We usually find him in the late afternoon or early evening, give him/her their slip, and spend a few quiet minutes talking and saying our goodbyes and good lucks and handshakes and what not. We do this for the concierge and the room steward too.

 

I usually just call the Butler and request something like cookies the last day and when he delivers it, I give him the tip. We both win....he gets his tip and I get some good cookies LOL!

 

Last cruise I put the Concierge's tip on my account, the fourth day into the cruise. I never heard from her the whole trip, even at disembarkation when she talked with those sitting right next to me and never even said thank you for the tip. Needless to say, I won't do that again.