Newby here but does anyone ever tip on first day over and above ?

[Joebucks]

I do my part in paying my suggested gratuities instead of thinking I know how to better spend the money, and screw over the hard-working employees behind the scenes. There are tons of people working hard to make your vacation enjoyable. Are you tipping them extra too?

 

We have left extra tips for those who were outstanding in their service. Tipping ahead is a silly concept to me, especially for the steward. What do I expect, an extra towel for a $20 bill?

[bluesman0711]

I have also tried tipping the steward something extra the first day, and was underwhelmed with the results.

[tw67]

I have done this when cruising with my sons.  They are usually next door or across the hall from us.  I usually apologize for the way their cabin will be, and give an exta $20 or so as my "apology".  The older one is 20, and is pretty neat, but the 15 year old thinks that living out of a suitcase the whole trip is ok.  Yes, as a mom, I should make them keep the cabin neat, but I go on to tell him to just do what he can in the room, and to let me know if there is a problem, and I will see to it right away.  So maybe a bribe it is, but I honestly appreciate what they do.  I always tip more at the end of the cruise, and I tell Carnival when I get great service.  I did spend some time in college working for tips, so I get it.  I ask for twice a day service, but I do tell them that the second time I just want fresh towels.  I find that my towels just don't dry on the ship, and I just want a dry towel out of the shower.  

[bakersdozen12]

Money given on the first day is a bribe, not a tip. Tips are given for good service rendered. If and when I receive good service, I give the steward a tip on the last evening of the cruise. 

[GMRPHRN]

Nope. I believe in tipping hard work and extraordinary service. Tipping up front feels too much too me like a bribe. As in "slipping someone a $20" to get something extra.

[angela12345]

16 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

100% of the auto grats does go to the intended crew. 

That has been reported as not being true.  I was told it was not true personally by a cabin steward a few years ago. 

Also, read about the auto-grats for drinks going up from 15 to 18% and part of it goes into ASP pool, not to the crew.  The thread is titled Onboard Revenue Creep.  The thing that struck me the most -  the gratuity goes into a pool towards paying for the "Free" uniform.  Basically Carnival is using the alcohol grat to go into a pool to pay the salaries.  And of course, pocketing the leftovers is how I read between the lines.

From this 3% increase, 1.5% will go to server and remaining 1.5% will go into the ASP pool. As you know the ASP pool funds employee compensation and benefit programs that you receive; including bar level pay, itinerary stipend pay, as well as free uniform and return airline tickets

[Purvis1231]

I have been a many cruises and have never tipped up front. I usually give extra tips at the end on top of the auto-tips.  

[Elaine5715]

4 hours ago, GMRPHRN said:

Nope. I believe in tipping hard work and extraordinary service. Tipping up front feels too much too me like a bribe. As in "slipping someone a $20" to get something extra.

If you want someone in the service industry to get you something extra, slipping them the $20  is how that works.

[Elaine5715]

3 hours ago, angela12345 said:

That has been reported as not being true.  I was told it was not true personally by a cabin steward a few years ago. 

Also, read about the auto-grats for drinks going up from 15 to 18% and part of it goes into ASP pool, not to the crew.  The thread is titled Onboard Revenue Creep.  The thing that struck me the most -  the gratuity goes into a pool towards paying for the "Free" uniform.  Basically Carnival is using the alcohol grat to go into a pool to pay the salaries.  And of course, pocketing the leftovers is how I read between the lines.

 

The recipients of the ASP fund is the crew.  It has also be reported here many times that the grats are distributed as advertised.  Many employers require employees to pay for uniforms, someone pays for them.  The people who account for the grats are crew themselves and they would certainly relay to their coworkers that they aren't getting paid.

[Elaine5715]

10 hours ago, tw67 said:

I have done this when cruising with my sons.  They are usually next door or across the hall from us.  I usually apologize for the way their cabin will be, and give an exta $20 or so as my "apology".  The older one is 20, and is pretty neat, but the 15 year old thinks that living out of a suitcase the whole trip is ok.  Yes, as a mom, I should make them keep the cabin neat, but I go on to tell him to just do what he can in the room, and to let me know if there is a problem, and I will see to it right away.  So maybe a bribe it is, but I honestly appreciate what they do.  I always tip more at the end of the cruise, and I tell Carnival when I get great service.  I did spend some time in college working for tips, so I get it.  I ask for twice a day service, but I do tell them that the second time I just want fresh towels.  I find that my towels just don't dry on the ship, and I just want a dry towel out of the shower.  

It isn't a bribe.  It is a common practice for savvy travelers who know they or their travelling companions are high maintenance and it signals to the service industry employee that there will be expectations.  

[coevan]

3 hours ago, angela12345 said:

I was told it was not true personally by a cabin steward a few years ago

 

 

 

Seriously? You think a cabin steward has an idea how corporate divides the money? 

 

 

4 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

And of course, pocketing the leftovers is how I read between the lines.

 

 

another seriously? Carnival does not rob it's employees, they have no reason, no one is pocketing anything

[Purvis1231]

It seems the extra thing everyone wants is ice. Since when is this something extra?

[Missymo]

I always prepay the gratuities and always give the stateroom attendant $$ the first day, to advise  them that we like extra towels in the bathroom and an extra blanket for the cabin (I'm always cold on a ship). If I'm in the room and housekeeping brings the blanket, they get a tip also. I find if you appreciate them, they appreciate you.  

[Purvis1231]

22 minutes ago, coevan said:

 

 

 

Seriously? You think a cabin steward has an idea how corporate divides the money? 

 

 

 

 

another seriously? Carnival does not rob it's employees, they have no reason, no one is pocketing anything

I have to agree. I know the average Carnival employee does not make a lot of money but have met many crew members that have been with them over 20 years. On our last cruise, Charlie our head waiter was one of those. He had been on almost every Carnival ship and was very happy with his career.

Edited December 2, 2018 by Purvis1231
typo

[Elaine5715]

3 hours ago, coevan said:

 

 

 

Seriously? You think a cabin steward has an idea how corporate divides the money? 

 

 

 

 

another seriously? Carnival does not rob it's employees, they have no reason, no one is pocketing anything

That was not my statement.

[sanmarcosman]

8 hours ago, Purvis1231 said:

It seems the extra thing everyone wants is ice. Since when is this something extra?

Carnival discontinued placing ice in the cabins without being requested to do so 6 years ago.

[sparks1093]

51 minutes ago, sanmarcosman said:

Carnival discontinued placing ice in the cabins without being requested to do so 6 years ago.

Yep, and when I was a bellhop back in the day we'd receive a small tip for bringing ice to a guest's room, so I see this as something similar.

[DirtyDawg]

I have pre-tipped the bartenders and waiters more than the room stewards but when we had a special request or when we knew it was going to be a busy week for the steward (like when our three teenage boys shared a cabin!!), I gave $20 bucks on the first day, kept the DSC in place and tipped at the end if they did a great job.

 

Some people don't like the idea of pre-tipping but if professional athletes and corporate executives can get signing bonuses and get some of their cash before rendering their services why should I deny bartenders, waiters and room stewards the same opportunity.

 

Happy pre-tip, mid-tip or post-tip cruising!

[finoky]

My policy is to never tip prior to services rendered. We have always received excellent service and any extra we fell like giving over the auto tips is done at the end of the cruise.

[sanger727]

No; I’ve never pre-tipped and never plan to. I’ve been a waitress as well and believe in tipping well but the idea of someone handing me cash prior to service with a request to take extra special care of them gives me a creepy feeling. It’s awkward and IMO completely unnecessary. Hard workers will work hard and not hard workers will work no hard, regardless of a pre-tip. I’d rather show them appreciation at the end.

[Djptcp]

We sail on the Paradise quite often and before dry dock this year and cabins didn't have fridges, DH would tip the room stewards on the first day and ask him to please keep the soft sided cooler on the bathroom floor filled with ice at all times. They did. On all of our 47 cruises,  DH also tips generously in the casino and always has. On a Holland America cruise, he was playing Three Card Poker and one hand won $1000 for himself and $300 for the dealer. The pit boss had to bring a paper bag for the dealer because she was hyperventilating from the excitement of the $300 tip (tips go into a kitty for all the dealers to share). By the last night, many of the dealers were asking DH if he could stay on for another cruise. 😀

[GMRPHRN]

17 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

If you want someone in the service industry to get you something extra, slipping them the $20  is how that works.

Yes. Thank you for clarifying my point.

[serene56]

On 12/1/2018 at 6:02 PM, angela12345 said:

That has been reported as not being true.  I was told it was not true personally by a cabin steward a few years ago. 

 

that steward was just trying to get more money from you.   Yes he got the entire 3.50 pp per day from your cabin.  He hires people to help him so he shares that part of the tip to his assistant.

[okgirl]

I always tip the bartender/barwaiter starting with the first drink.

 

I tip my cabin steward if I've asked him to do something extra at the time I request the service.

 

I tip the waitstaff in the MDR if I've ordered and been served wine.  But not generally for just doing their job.

[Mommawo]

12 minutes ago, okgirl said:

I always tip the bartender/barwaiter starting with the first drink.

 

I tip my cabin steward if I've asked him to do something extra at the time I request the service.

 

I tip the waitstaff in the MDR if I've ordered and been served wine.  But not generally for just doing their job.

   I really do t plan on asking for anything extra.  Also the people who think it’s bribe um ok well I really don’t see tipping that way at all.  However we all have opinions and that is what I asked for 🙂.  I always tip over 20% to my server at a restaurant especially if they have done a good job.  Now I realize I have prepaid my tips but I will also be adding to it 

Edited December 6, 2018 by Mommawo