Jump to content
Cruise Critic Community

Tipping the crew with items other than cash...

unisphere-roy

By unisphere-roy,
in Ask a Cruise Question

 Share

Recommended Posts

mom says Excellent Advice! Rare

mom says

Posted
Posted
We do auto tip, extra tips and generally take small gifts when we travel, not just on cruise ships/ typical items candy, lipstick, eye shadow, ties, pens.

 

I can see someone subsisting in a poverty stricken 3rd world country might have some appreciation for these items (except the ties...what an odd thing). But if I was working full time on a ship, (or at a land resort) and someone gave me a pen or a lipstick, I'd be truly insulted. That reeks of being a pity gift. Show them the same respect you would want shown to yourself. Give them cash, to spend as they see fit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
wheezedr

wheezedr

Posted
Posted
Hank-

You believe "silly chocolate" gets shared among the staff and cash doesn't? really!? The cruise lines require the staff to report and pool all cash.

and why do you feel the need to use such a derogatory description of someone else's idea of a gift. not very nice.

Actually you are incorrect. If you remove your auto tip than any cash crew members receive must be pooled. If you are giving cash while leaving your auto tip in place then that crew member gets to keep their extra tip. As far as anything extra CASH is king.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hlitner "Live from...." Rare

Hlitner

Posted
Posted
Hank-

You believe "silly chocolate" gets shared among the staff and cash doesn't? really!? The cruise lines require the staff to report and pool all cash.

and why do you feel the need to use such a derogatory description of someone else's idea of a gift. not very nice.

 

You are being just a teeny bit naive. Cash, that is quietly pushed into somebodies palm...stays in their palm (its like what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas). And please do not confuse constructive criticism with something that is being derogatory. I am simply speaking the truth. As to chocolate, how do you know that a crew member is not allergic to chocolate or even likes chocolate? But there is no question that they love cash (which can help support their family).

 

And if you want to try an experiment, the next time you dine in a nice restaurant ask the waiter if he/she would prefer a box of good chocolates...or cash? or...if you are dining in Italy and they have "Coperta" on the bottom of the menu...ask if they will accept chocolates or a small gift in place off "coperta."

 

Hank

Link to comment
Share on other sites
OVgirl

OVgirl

Posted
Posted

Of course cash is king, but..... One cruise I brought a few small packages of dried mango.

When we gave it to our cabin stewards one day in the middle of the cruise, they asked our permission to eat it right away while doing our cabin.

So, yes they do like to receive gifts as well.

Sometimes they suggest they will keep it to take home to their children.

 

Just show them a lot of respect, tip accordingly and be friendly. Nothing wrong with that.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
champagne123

champagne123

Posted
Posted
We did pre paid gratuity plus gave our room steward $100 bill and a bottle of wine. She cried!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

She cried over the $100 bill...NOT the wine.

 

REALLY people (and we have discussed this sooooo much on CC) ....they don't want anything but cash.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
kitty9

kitty9

Posted
Posted

A bottle of wine? Many ship employees come from Muslim countries where alcohol is prohibited. Not only that, but they eat Halal, which precludes them from eating a lot of what many posters are suggesting as gifts. And finally, no one knows what health issues an employee might have such as allergies.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
DirtyDawg

DirtyDawg

Posted
Posted

So it looks like the concensus is cash is king and just tip extra with cash.

 

:mad: Drat, I just bought 12 dozen hockey pucks to give as cruise tips this year. Hey, it was a better idea than tipping with poutine. Man, that stuff gets nasty by day 7 in the suitcase. :eek:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mef_57

mef_57

Posted
Posted

If bringing a little something from home, starts a discussion about it, isn't such a bad thing....just know it is a novelty and most likely will be discarded before they return home. A gift should really have no strings attached. Once given, you no longer should have any interest of what the recipient does with it. But I will admit to writing my thank yous on a post card with a Mountie in scarlet uniform on the front - pretty Canadian, eh?

If one is thinking of practical gifts as well meaning and helpful, it reminds me of the stories I hear of the cleaning staff in Cuban resorts who receive 'stuff' by the suitcase-full and actually renting furniture lockers in order to house it all. It becomes a wonderful black market. Could be an urban myth, but sometimes generosity is better provided to agencies who know how to disperse - and even they will say cash is better.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
cruzeluver

cruzeluver

Posted
Posted

In my 12 plus years on this site, this topic comes up at least once a month. And every single solitary time, the vast majority agree that cash is the answer, along with positive feedback, keep the candy for your grandkids. Of course they will say "thank you" for the trinket and smile politely. It is their job! What would you expect, they would throw it back in your face and scream at you? :rolleyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites
dkjretired

dkjretired

Posted
Posted
You are being just a teeny bit naive. Cash, that is quietly pushed into somebodies palm...stays in their palm (its like what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas). And please do not confuse constructive criticism with something that is being derogatory. I am simply speaking the truth. As to chocolate, how do you know that a crew member is not allergic to chocolate or even likes chocolate? But there is no question that they love cash (which can help support their family).

 

And if you want to try an experiment, the next time you dine in a nice restaurant ask the waiter if he/she would prefer a box of good chocolates...or cash? or...if you are dining in Italy and they have "Coperta" on the bottom of the menu...ask if they will accept chocolates or a small gift in place off "coperta."

 

Hank

 

Hank is correct and keep in mind not all cash is pooled, depends on the cruise line and where on the ship they work.

 

Cash is King and just as an FYI, many crew members consider it an insult to be tipped at the beginning of the cruise. Sort of the concept of well you don't think I'm going to do my job.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
sail7seas

sail7seas

Posted
Posted

I expect all those boxes of candy, lipsticks, ties and pens land in the closest trash bin.

 

donate the lipstick, ey e shadow etc to a women's homeless shelter. i t would be most welcome there. IMO

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Flatbush Flyer

Flatbush Flyer

Posted
Posted
I expect all those boxes of candy, lipsticks, ties and pens land in the closest trash bin.

 

donate the lipstick, ey e shadow etc to a women's homeless shelter. i t would be most welcome there. IMO

 

 

 

When I was a young man, I was a ski instructor at a major north Tahoe area. I can't begin to tell you how many ski week visitors thought it would be great if they gave you a knit cap instead of cash at the end of a ski week.

Needless to say, we had a box in which most, if not all, of those hats would later be deposited (and then taken to charities in Reno or Sacramento).

Cash folks!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites
unisphere-roy

unisphere-roy

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

As the OP, I want to say Thank you all for giving me your thoughts and reasons for handling this question as you do. I appreciate your time and effort. I don't think more needs to be said. :-)

Edited by unisphere-roy
Link to comment
Share on other sites
cruisemom42 Great Review Rare

cruisemom42

Posted
Posted
So it looks like the concensus is cash is king and just tip extra with cash.

 

:mad: Drat, I just bought 12 dozen hockey pucks to give as cruise tips this year. Hey, it was a better idea than tipping with poutine. Man, that stuff gets nasty by day 7 in the suitcase. :eek:

 

 

Look on the bright side. You can use them to hold towels in place on 12 dozen lounge chairs. Maybe you could even win the title of Ultimate Chair Hogger.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
jc3443

jc3443

Posted
Posted

Hard candies and chocolate are hard to come by? The crew are not indentured servants. They can buy any of that stuff if they should want it. They are working and providing a service. It's a job. They are not there to make friends, thought undoubtedly that does happen at times. And as has been mentioned, many people don't even like chocolate. We have no idea what they may actually want, besides cash.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
 Share
Go to topic listing
  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • ANNOUNCEMENT: Set Sail Beyond the Ordinary with Oceania Cruises
      • ANNOUNCEMENT: The Widest View in the Whole Wide World
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Cruise Critic News & Features
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...