Give me the skinny on tipping please

[DalTXColtsFan]

If I:

- pay the pre-included tips,

- leave a $20 for room steward at the end of the week,

- sit at the same dining room table every night and leave a $20 at the end of the week, and

- give $1 or $2 any time someone does something special for me like bring me room service or just generally do something nice,

 

where would that stand on the tipping scale between being a cheap ba***rd and being an overtipper (like Steve Martin's character in My Blue Heaven)?

 

In other words, does the crew get paid a sufficiently decent wage that this is enough for them to feel appreciated for their good work?

 

Be honest - I want to be a generous (but not ridiculous) tipper when I get good service.

[LHT28]

There is a "search" feature at the top of the page

lots of threads on tipping no need to start another

 

 

You will be fine as long as you leave the suggested daily gratuities in place

[ger_77]

If you leave the pre-paid in place, anything extra you choose to give your cabin stewards, dining room servers, wine steward, etc., is welcome. Room service is tipped when it arrives. On the last night when folks usually hand out their envelopes, nobody is going to know whether you put in a $20 or $100, as the envelopes are not opened until later.

 

Give the amount you feel would express your appreciation for the crew having made your vacation truly memorable.

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

[spookwife]

you are under zero obligation to leave anything else after you have paid the daily charge outside of room service

 

in fact, the last couple of cruises I felt that no one deserved any extra. they did their jobs well, and efficiently, and were minimal polite and personable. but that was it. nothing spectacular at all.

 

I would venture a guess that MOST people do exactly what you are proposing.

[rebel26]

No, most of the staff in housekeeping and dining are paid very low wages-similar ro restaurant servers here in the US. They work very hard,and long hours. If you feel the service is outstanding, tip well (whatever you consider well). I usually leave $35 for the waiter, and 25 for the assistant waiter per week. The room steward,also

 

 

I always like to err on the side of generous. The staff are paid very low wages, and generally do a fantastic job-tip accordingly-f the performance is not to your liking,adjust the tip.

[JTBCruiser]

If I:

- pay the pre-included tips,

- leave a $20 for room steward at the end of the week,

- sit at the same dining room table every night and leave a $20 at the end of the week, and

- give $1 or $2 any time someone does something special for me like bring me room service or just generally do something nice,

 

where would that stand on the tipping scale between being a cheap ba***rd and being an overtipper (like Steve Martin's character in My Blue Heaven)?

 

In other words, does the crew get paid a sufficiently decent wage that this is enough for them to feel appreciated for their good work?

 

Be honest - I want to be a generous (but not ridiculous) tipper when I get good service.

 

 

DW and I were recently on RCI's Serenade of the Seas. I did exactly as you suggested, same amounts but gave the room steward $10 when I met him on the first day and another $10 midweek. The room steward knocked himself out giving us exceptional service, likewise with MTD table for two, Waiter and assistant were outstanding. :cool:

[paul929207]

I would only give the extra $20 to the steward and waiter if their service warranted it. The autotip is intend to cover normal, excellent service.

[Husky61]

Just like a restaurant or hotel at home, you are not obligated to leave any tip. If you decide to tip, how you tip is your choice. However you have to be aware of the tip police on this forum.:D

[LHT28]

some people feel the service is never special enough to leave a tip

[Husky61]

some people feel the service is never special enough to leave a tip

 

I guess you can assume that is their personal decision.:)

[cb at sea]

If you prepay the tips, there is no need to leave extra....you've done your duty. IF you find someone was so wonderful that extra is required, you'll know it. No need to plan in advance for it!

[cbr663]

Just like a restaurant or hotel at home, you are not obligated to leave any tip. If you decide to tip, how you tip is your choice. However you have to be aware of the tip police on this forum.:D

 

"Tip Police" - love it. :D

[donaldsc]

You are being generous. Many people just leave the suggested daily tips and then there are those who are total cheapskates and take off all the tips.

 

In answer to your crew wages questions - they are sort of like servers in US restaurants except that they get paid even less. They need the tip money to provide for their families back home.

 

DON

[DirtyDawg]

If I:

- pay the pre-included tips,

- leave a $20 for room steward at the end of the week,

- sit at the same dining room table every night and leave a $20 at the end of the week, and

- give $1 or $2 any time someone does something special for me like bring me room service or just generally do something nice,

 

where would that stand on the tipping scale between being a cheap ba***rd and being an overtipper (like Steve Martin's character in My Blue Heaven)?

 

 

I'd say you are closer to Vinnie than to Ebenezer.:)

[Velvetwater]

Naturally, a tip is at your discretion in any case but a quick search on cruise employees wage may influence you. However if service is way below par in any way its your choice to adjust. We had a room steward who did various things (including loosing my night gown) so some of her tip went extra to the waiters.

 

If you have paid the auto amount there is no need to tip extra..apart from room service of course.

Edited April 29, 2015 by Velvetwater

[hdowney]

You are being generous. Many people just leave the suggested daily tips and then there are those who are total cheapskates and take off all the tips.

 

In answer to your crew wages questions - they are sort of like servers in US restaurants except that they get paid even less. They need the tip money to provide for their families back home.

 

DON

 

LESS than US waitstaff? Really ? :(

 

The envelopes mentioned. Are the staff's name/position/your cabin no etc on them or how do you make it known where the money is going?

 

I have the auto-grats on my booking and was planning on tipping extra as I see fit. I can certainly see myself giving more to my room steward and I'll go from there.

[ger_77]

The envelopes mentioned. Are the staff's name/position/your cabin no etc on them or how do you make it known where the money is going?

 

You can either bring your own envelopes, or ask for some at the front office. I usually bring a package of blank thank you cards from the dollar store and write a note of thanks and maybe something I've learned about them during the cruise i.e. "I hope you enjoy the time with your family when you go home at the end of the next cruise." You don't have to do that, it is something I enjoy doing.

 

Smooth Sailing ! :) :) :)

[maywell]

You already 'tipped' when prepaid the gratituties - tipping more on top of that by whatever means (cash or onboard /credit card) is being generous.

 

Edit: I normally tip $2-3 to my room steward for new/fresh towels, it also seems to get me towel animals too.[emoji15]

 

Sent from my SGH-T399 using Tapatalk

Edited April 29, 2015 by maywell

[DalTXColtsFan]

I'd say you are closer to Vinnie than to Ebenezer.:)

 

YES!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you - I'm glad SOMEBODY got that My Blue Heaven reference :).

[Grandma Dazzles]

Normally sail RC so my comments are directed to RC. Prepaid or daily billed gratuities cover everyone except room service. If you wish to give extra it's obviously appreciated, but you don't have to. Have often tipped extra for special or exceptional service. Example, a button came off a shirt and I asked the steward if he could find a needle and thread for me - he said not to worry - he took the shirt and was back in no time with the button sewn on. That deserved an extra tip!

 

Also, if you have access to diamond or concierge lounge you should tip the servers who wait on you with your free drinks. Like room service they are not included in the daily or prepaid tips.

[taglovestocruise]

 

Also, if you have access to diamond or concierge lounge you should tip the servers who wait on you with your free drinks. Like room service they are not included in the daily or prepaid tips.

 

This brings up another question about rccl diamond lounge. On our last 15 day TA I figured my wife and I had a total of 6 drinks during the C&A event each night and always took one addional with us down to late dining, that make a total of 8 per day for 15 nights adding up to about 120 drinks for the cruise, most of those were Martinis or Makers. I gave our waiter, who was the same all week, a tip of $120.00. I felt that was sufficient, but my wife thought I was being cheap and gave him another $60.00. I would be interested to hear what others who get free drinks leave as a tip..

[Cruisin' Chick]

The OP didn't say which cruiseline he's going on -- mainly there's many similarities but a few differences (mostly in how the auto-grats are collected and called).

 

I can only speak about Princess (when we were on Carnival cruises, that was back in the days before auto-grats and on the last day, we did a lot of pooling our cash and stuffing the envelopes, so I much prefer the new way).

 

Each night, a daily hotel charge goes on your folio. This covers your cabin steward (and his support staff) and your waitstaff. The auto-grats go into a pool from which those crew members share. There are also other staff who aren't in this pool (barstaff, casino staff, kids' clubs staff, as not everyone buys a drink, gambles, has a kid busily doing kids' activities; room service is the same, not everyone will order room service, so it's nice to give $ to whoever delivers your food).

 

And even if you don't have the same waitstaff every night (if you have flexible dining), you will often see some of the waiters in the buffet and other venues providing food service during the day.

 

Generally, if you keep on the auto-grats, and then give some cash at the end of the cruise to your cabin steward, he/she is required to turn that money over to the supervisor along with your cabin number. After the removals list is checked, and your cabin isn't on it, the crew member will be given the cash to keep.

 

If you had removed the auto-grats, and then give cash to your cabin steward, your cabin will be on that list and that cash will be put into the pool. So by thinking you're giving your crew member more money, you're actually giving less.

 

And don't think (as many claim) the crew member will just pocket the money without turning it in. If caught (and we're talking about close quarters that they share), they will be fired.

 

Another negative result of removing the auto-grats is that the supervisor might quiz the crew member about what they may have done to displease you, the passenger.

[hdowney]

Do you give the envelope directly to the steward or leave it on the desk in room?

 

I like the bringing of envelopes and cards from el cheapo store :)

[Grandma Dazzles]

Personally I think you were just fine. Did a similar cruise a couple of years ago. We drink wine - hard to count the number of drinks as bartender often just kept the glasses full. Usually tipped $30-$50 per server/bartender. We had three of them on our 14 day cruise, so tipped a total of $150 - very similar to what you gave. I think any tip in the lounges is appreciated. Responding to post - forgot to quote.

Edited April 30, 2015 by PMcC1998

[Grandma Dazzles]

This brings up another question about rccl diamond lounge. On our last 15 day TA I figured my wife and I had a total of 6 drinks during the C&A event each night and always took one addional with us down to late dining, that make a total of 8 per day for 15 nights adding up to about 120 drinks for the cruise, most of those were Martinis or Makers. I gave our waiter, who was the same all week, a tip of $120.00. I felt that was sufficient, but my wife thought I was being cheap and gave him another $60.00. I would be interested to hear what others who get free drinks leave as a tip..

 

 

See response above.