Amount of Cash You Bring for Gratuities

[rjohn40787]

My wife and I will be on our first cruise aboard the Coral in April on a 15-day Panama Canal cruise in a full suite. We will be doing shore excursions (booked through Princess) at all of the ports.

 

I know that there are strong opinions about tipping over and above the automatic gratuity. It's not my intent to revisit those issues or get folks riled up with this thread.

 

Instead, I'm interested in experienced cruisers' opinions about how much cash you would bring with you for tips (both on board ship and in ports) if you were going on this cruise. How much, and do you bring a few $20s, $10s, and mostly $5s and $1s?

[pablo222]

Instead, I'm interested in experienced cruisers' opinions about how much cash you would bring with you for tips (both on board ship and in ports) if you were going on this cruise. How much, and do you bring a few $20s, $10s, and mostly $5s and $1s?

 

I would bring 20's and 100's for any additional tips,

and incidentals and souveniers on shore.

 

Break the larger bills at the purser's desk, as needed.

(it is best to avoid the morning of a port arrival for this,

as lots of people wait until the last minute)

 

Alternate: take large bills to casino. leave with small bills.

(or, maybe that's just me)

[neverbeenhere]

Around $ 20 a day for additional tipping(mostly $ 5 and $1, but we have $ 20 too) is what we are prepared to spend in cash.

[antsp]

I would bring 20's and 100's for any additional tips,

and incidentals and souveniers on shore.

 

Break the larger bills at the purser's desk, as needed.

(it is best to avoid the morning of a port arrival for this,

as lots of people wait until the last minute)

 

Alternate: take large bills to casino. leave with small bills.

(or, maybe that's just me)

 

Only 20s, we just go with 100s

[kathyt939]

We tipped our guides and bus drivers on each excursion. Usually 5.00 each.

 

 

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[stoneformation]

We tipped our guides and bus drivers on each excursion. Usually 5.00 each.

 

 

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This. Though for an all day excursion that's top notch we'd do more.

[GRAYTech]

You are in a full suite and will likely have some meals on your balcony. We use room service 3 sometimes 4 times per day when in a Vista suite. If it's a large order (there are 4 of us in the room) and/or the delivery person does the table setup we usually tip a $5. If it's a single plate or the person just dumps a stack of plates on the mini bar it's a couple of bucks. So that's at least $15 a day just for room service. You can also tip on the delivery ticket and charge it to your room but I think it then goes into the "pool" of tips, at least that's what a few of the delivery folks have told us.

 

As others have mentioned we also tip the bartenders / wait staff when someone goes the extra mile. The Elite / Suite lounge normally has exceptional service and we recognize those that deserve it with either a $5 or $10 after a few drinks before dinner.

 

Same with Excursions. Sailboat captain for example if they were "good" we will tip around $10/pp or when there are 4 of us it might be a $50.

 

I take a fair amount of cash including small bills so I don't have to exchange anything and don't have to use my credit card anywhere while traveling. Invariably when I use my card it gets compromised somewhere along the way.

[clmom]

My wife and I will be on our first cruise aboard the Coral in April on a 15-day Panama Canal cruise in a full suite. We will be doing shore excursions (booked through Princess) at all of the ports.

 

I know that there are strong opinions about tipping over and above the automatic gratuity. It's not my intent to revisit those issues or get folks riled up with this thread.

 

Instead, I'm interested in experienced cruisers' opinions about how much cash you would bring with you for tips (both on board ship and in ports) if you were going on this cruise. How much, and do you bring a few $20s, $10s, and mostly $5s and $1s?

On our last cruise I calculated all our tips before we left home, got the proper denominations in bills and put it all in one envelope with a list (cabin steward, tour guides, tour bus drivers, taxis). I added some extra small bills for the unanticipated ..room service, good bartenders, etc. It didn't cover everything but it made for a more relaxing cruise because I didn't have to scramble at the last minute and stand in any lines to break large bills.

[Alaskan Joe]

On our last cruise I calculated all our tips before we left home, got the proper denominations in bills and put it all in one envelope with a list (cabin steward, tour guides, tour bus drivers, taxis). I added some extra small bills for the unanticipated ..room service, good bartenders, etc. It didn't cover everything but it made for a more relaxing cruise because I didn't have to scramble at the last minute and stand in any lines to break large bills.

 

 

Not sure how one calculates all the tips before the trip? My wife and I are good tippers however some people deserve more and some.....well they may not deserve any:eek:.

[Times Prince]

...So that's at least $15 a day just for room service. You can also tip on the delivery ticket and charge it to your room but I think it then goes into the "pool" of tips, at least that's what a few of the delivery folks have told us.

 

As others have mentioned we also tip the bartenders / wait staff when someone goes the extra mile. The Elite / Suite lounge normally has exceptional service and we recognize those that deserve it with either a $5 or $10 after a few drinks before dinner.

 

Same with Excursions. Sailboat captain for example if they were "good" we will tip around $10/pp or when there are 4 of us it might be a $50.

 

I take a fair amount of cash including small bills so I don't have to exchange anything and don't have to use my credit card anywhere while traveling. Invariably when I use my card it gets compromised somewhere along the way.

The only place we've had a credit card compromised is in the airport after the cruise. We use a card for many souvenirs, with cash for the obviously independent vendors.

 

On our last cruise I calculated all our tips before we left home, got the proper denominations in bills and put it all in one envelope with a list (cabin steward, tour guides, tour bus drivers, taxis). I added some extra small bills for the unanticipated ..room service, good bartenders, etc. It didn't cover everything but it made for a more relaxing cruise because I didn't have to scramble at the last minute and stand in any lines to break large bills.

We do about the same and make sure we bring ample small bills. Rarely do we have to break a bigger bill and when we do, it is usually for the end of cruise "above and beyond" tips for steward and/or waiter.

 

When planning, don't forget the porters on the dock at your start/end ports. You can't get luggage onboard without tipping these guys.

 

If you have smaller bills then it is easier to bring less cash on an excursion each day without having to run to the Purser for change. But don't forget a slightly bigger denomination $ bill for the truly unexpected, like a tour operator rescuing you from adverse snorkeling conditions.

 

I typically will get more cash than I need from my local bank, and just maintain an envelope of "cruise cash" with ready tip denominations.

[karena1]

On a week cruise we always take $1000. Never spend that much, but want more than enough. Unlike others, I don't want to have to run and get change so I get lots of smaller bills.

 

$300 in $20's

$400 in $10's

$200 in $5's

$100 in $1's

 

That way I have plenty of small bills and never have to worry about going to Guest Services and getting change. Just my thing but I would rather take it with me than have to run and get change all the time.

[Happy2cruise]

On a week cruise we always take $1000. Never spend that much, but want more than enough. Unlike others, I don't want to have to run and get change so I get lots of smaller bills.

 

$300 in $20's

$400 in $10's

$200 in $5's

$100 in $1's

 

That way I have plenty of small bills and never have to worry about going to Guest Services and getting change. Just my thing but I would rather take it with me than have to run and get change all the time.

Sounds like my husband...that's what he does:D

[mellon1]

We also stay in full suite. We do B2B2B2b2b2b and for 34 days we allow for $100 per day over our normal tips. We go to passenger services and get $100, $50, $20, $10 and $5.

 

These people make our cruise and we look at is as our donation helping someone who has helped us and made our cruise better. Just our opinion. We are not rich. We just feel we need to compensate those who help us...and let's be honest, Princess has excellent stafff

[RocketMan275]

Not sure how one calculates all the tips before the trip? My wife and I are good tippers however some people deserve more and some.....well they may not deserve any:eek:.

 

The question was 'how much cash to bring'. Assume you'll get service good enough for a tip. If that happens, you've got the cash to cover it. If it doesn't, keep the cash.

[Zooguy]

On a week cruise we always take $1000. Never spend that much, but want more than enough. Unlike others, I don't want to have to run and get change so I get lots of smaller bills.

 

 

 

$300 in $20's

 

$400 in $10's

 

$200 in $5's

 

$100 in $1's

 

 

 

That way I have plenty of small bills and never have to worry about going to Guest Services and getting change. Just my thing but I would rather take it with me than have to run and get change all the time.

 

 

 

 

 

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[Zooguy]

Could I please have a loan?

 

 

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[Potstech]

For a 7 day cruise we bring:

 

$40 in one dollar bills

$60 in five dollar bills

Various amounts in $10 and $20 bills.

 

No where near what some are saying.

[Go-Bucks!]

On our last cruise I calculated all our tips before we left home, got the proper denominations in bills and put it all in one envelope with a list (cabin steward, tour guides, tour bus drivers, taxis). I added some extra small bills for the unanticipated ..room service, good bartenders, etc.

 

 

That's how I do it too. And I also plan for the airport porters, cruise ship porters, hotel bell boys, taxi cab drivers, etc. as well as my "on ship" and excursion persons. I try to have lots of $1's, some $5's and some $20's.

[notentirelynormal]

On a week cruise we always take $1000. Never spend that much, but want more than enough. Unlike others, I don't want to have to run and get change so I get lots of smaller bills.

 

$300 in $20's

$400 in $10's

$200 in $5's

$100 in $1's

 

That way I have plenty of small bills and never have to worry about going to Guest Services and getting change. Just my thing but I would rather take it with me than have to run and get change all the time.

 

Yup, that sounds about right. If you don't use it you can always put it back in the bank. I also don't like having to find an ATM or waste time exchanging money. All these people that do the Med and say "just go to an ATM". I can't imagine spending even 5 minutes of my time doing that.

[Renmar]

On a week cruise we always take $1000. Never spend that much, but want more than enough. Unlike others, I don't want to have to run and get change so I get lots of smaller bills.

 

$300 in $20's

$400 in $10's

$200 in $5's

$100 in $1's

 

That way I have plenty of small bills and never have to worry about going to Guest Services and getting change. Just my thing but I would rather take it with me than have to run and get change all the time.

 

Is that just for tips or is that total spending money?

 

Theo

[Lucky TGO]

Not sure how one calculates all the tips before the trip? My wife and I are good tippers however some people deserve more and some.....well they may not deserve any:eek:.

Good answer Joe I agree with you. I always take at least 1,000. In cash.

Tony

[Colo Cruiser]

Good answer Joe I agree with you. I always take at least 1,000. In cash.

Tony

 

We do too.

[arizonaperson]

Wow, I want to travel with those of you that take $1,000 cash for tips.

And be on the receiving end.

I take nowhere near that.:eek: sometimes my 7 day cruise doesn't even cost per person that amount ,so I can't imagine.

Be careful carrying all that cash.

[yuccaman]

 

When planning, don't forget the porters on the dock at your start/end ports. You can't get luggage onboard without tipping these guys.

 

 

YES, good catch! The "standard" I'm still seeing published is $1 per bag, but I start around $1.50 and round up- so for 3 bags I leave $5. If we are high-maintenance due to any circumstances, I go $2 per bag. Peace of mind.

[Potstech]

Must be nice to be able to carry around $1000.00 for spending on tips. Wonder how much you carry around for spending money. I get antsy carrying $100.00 in case an emergencies.