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What is the appropriate amount to tip for room service?

parksguy99

By parksguy99,
in Princess Cruises

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Long Lana

Long Lana

Posted
Posted

Maybe, just maybe, instead of assuming other posters are wrong, we should specify to what line you refer. For instance, Royal Caribbean absolutely charges $8 for most room service. Some other lines don't charge at all.

I used to tip on RC when RS was free, but don't anymore.

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Cruise Raider Great Review Rare

Cruise Raider

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Not to say that tipping isn't appropriate but I'm almost certain that all the crew are included in the auto tipping program. It's exactly why it was begun in the first place.

 

I happen to think you are right ... even though we do tip for room service. We were in the MDR one night on Princess ... our assistant waitress happened to be married to a staff member onboard that took care of deliveries for room service. I asked her flat out if he would be included in the tipping pool from the auto gratuities and she said he definitely was. Now, why would she lie about that??

As mentioned, I still tip between $2 - $5 for our breakfast (have never ordered any other in room meal) but think we might be double tipping. Princess does a good job with their room service for the most part.

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Colo Cruiser

Colo Cruiser

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Maybe, just maybe, instead of assuming other posters are wrong, we should specify to what line you refer. For instance, Royal Caribbean absolutely charges $8 for most room service. Some other lines don't charge at all.

I used to tip on RC when RS was free, but don't anymore.

 

 

This is the Princess board. Why would I care what RCCL or any other line charges for RS.

That was not the question by the OP anyway.

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Bentleg

Bentleg

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Posted
Only covers certain crew bar staff/wait staff in the DR etc. Not RS.

Not sure which line you are talking about but on HAL the hotel service charge includes everyone , even the laundry and other behind the scenes workers. Bar staff are excluded as they get the 15% sc that is added to the drinks.

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cruzsnooze

cruzsnooze

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Room Service is included. Go ask at Guest services if you need reassurance that you are not stiffing them when you don't double tip. Princess now has three tiers for auto tipping which isn't right IMHO. The cabin attendant may have a few more sq. ft. to clean and still only one bed and bathroom to care for, but you haven't received any better service in the dining room or elsewhere to justify the large discrepancy. Tipping is becoming a revenue source instead of what tipping is meant to be.

During your cruise, regardless of which Princess ship you choose, you will meet staff who provide you with excellent service. Crew members often rotate to different vessels within the Princess fleet which helps to maintain our high standards on every ship. These dedicated workers reflect our philosophy that all crew on all ships are but one family who share in our success.

To simplify the tipping process for our guests, a discretionary gratuity of $15.50 per guest for suites, $14.50 per guest for mini-suites and club class, and $13.50 per guest for interior, oceanview, and balcony staterooms. This gratuity will be shared amongst those staff who help provide and support your cruise experience, including all waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, and housekeeping staff across the fleet.

For your convenience, this gratuity can be pre-paid online via Cruise Personalizer. Alternatively, you may call us at 1-855-500-7690 and reference Special Services item number 0591. Pre-payment is available up to 2 days prior to departure.

A 15% gratuity is added to bar charges, dining room wine accounts, and Lotus Spa® services. This is shared amongst the beverage staff, their support staff and Lotus Spa® personnel.

Casino dealers and youth staff do not share in these gratuities. We know you will find these services onboard exemplary.

Please note gratuities will be deemed undisputed unless a request to modify is received prior to disembarking the ship.

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GRAYTech

GRAYTech

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I asked her flat out if he would be included in the tipping pool from the auto gratuities and she said he definitely was. Now, why would she lie about that??

 

We asked several delivery staff and got a similar answer from each, yes they are part of the pool. If you put the tip on the card it goes into the pool. If you hand them cash it is supposed to end up in the pool but it's up to them if goes into their pocket.

 

They appreciate the cash... I take 100 singles and a bunch of 5's for room service and like others give $2 for small orders that they just drop and go. $5 or even $10 when they setup the table with a cloth, silverware and distribute the dishes / pour the coffee.

 

I have also not tipped at all when there was a clear attitude coming from the server. I'm sure the vista suite looks like a palace compared to their quarters but I have paid to be there. I shouldn't get even a hint of snarky from a RS server and normally don't, it's the rare exception but boy it sticks out when it happens.

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Colo Cruiser

Colo Cruiser

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Not sure which line you are talking about but on HAL the hotel service charge includes everyone , even the laundry and other behind the scenes workers. Bar staff are excluded as they get the 15% sc that is added to the drinks.

 

 

HAL or any other line besides PRINCESS have nothing to do with this discussion.

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Ginnyfyr

Ginnyfyr

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Posted
We order at least tea in the room the first morning. We drink only the specialty coffees, not the regular stuff...but having hot tea to relax with is nice. We don't just stash mugs from the buffet, we hide the carafe and refill it at the buffet as needed throughout the cruise.

 

Genius!

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jaylaykay

jaylaykay

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This is the Princess board. Why would I care what RCCL or any other line charges for RS.

That was not the question by the OP anyway.

 

 

 

It is 8$ just for morning coffee? Ouch! Hey rccl, we really enjoy free room service breakfast on hal!! Since you are reading!![emoji23][emoji23]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Thrak

Thrak

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Tipping is personal. I don't really think it needs to be discussed. If one doesn't tip or "only" tips one or two dollars people judge them as cheap. If one is from the UK they wonder why those from the US continue to cultivate the tipping culture.

 

Personally, I live in the US and used to (many years ago) work as a cook. I never got a tip and never expected one. If I made great food and presented it well the waitress got a tip. Even though I worked in food service I really never understood why wages were structured such that the waitress had to get tips in order to make ends meet. Of course, in the course of my life, I have also known cocktail waitress who, in addition to their normal pay, could make as much as $300 per night in tips. Really??? At that time, a professional with degrees and working in a major field wasn't making that much per day.

 

Tipping in the US is insane and out of control. If one tips at all for room service a small tip is totally sufficient. $5?? $10?? For walking down the hall and delivering some food?? Holy crap. Long ago I was also an appliance repair man. When in the shop rather than in the field someone sometimes had to go to the supermarket to purchase microwave popcorn to test bar microwaves we were repairing. Alternately someone may have to take a service truck down the street to have it lubed. Some guys freaked out and were offended because they were "trained service people" and it was "beneath them". Really??? Heck, I looked at it as a chance to get out and about. My point is that room service delivery is most likely considered a wonderful chance to get out and about rather than a hardship. The tip is just gravy.

 

Having said that, I actually do tend to tip room service but only $1 or $2. I don't view it as "necessary". I just do it because I remember how much it would have meant to me "back in the day".

 

Sorry for the seim-rant. I just get sooooo tired of the "conversations" regarding tipping. Do what you want and let it go at that. Don't judge others or try to influence them. If you do tip heavily that is your business. If someone else doesn't tip at all that is their business.

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floridalover5623

floridalover5623

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Posted
Do what you want and let it go at that. Don't judge others or try to influence them. If you do tip heavily that is your business. If someone else doesn't tip at all that is their business.

What about the people who feel obligated to tip $5 per bag to the porters on embarkation day for moving the bags 10 feet. ;p

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elfinmagic

elfinmagic

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What about the people who feel obligated to tip $5 per bag to the porters on embarkation day for moving the bags 10 feet. ;p

 

Sometimes it is a good idea to give these crooks a good tip or your bag might not make it to the ship??? We pack two 30 inch wheeled duffels and give the crook $5 total.

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floridalover5623

floridalover5623

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Sometimes it is a good idea to give these crooks a good tip or your bag might not make it to the ship??? We pack two 30 inch wheeled duffels and give the crook $5 total.

That's why they can average over $100,000 a year. Maybe you should increase your amount each year so they can keep up with the cost of living. ;p

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elfinmagic

elfinmagic

Posted
Posted

FYI'

 

But the men who work the docks make far in excess of minimum wage. In fact, according to the union's own material, the average dockworker makes $147,000 in annual salary and pulls in $35,000 a year in employer-paid health care benefits. Pensions pay $80,000 a year.Feb 6, 2015

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