When to tip in Diamond Lounge

[Merion_Mom]

13 minutes ago, cruisekap said:

I  tip at the end and try to find all of the servers.  It is difficult for Canadians to get enough $1 USD bills.

Guest Services and the cashier in the casino will give you change, in limited quantities at a time.

[Thorben-Hendrik]

5 hours ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Without a tip, you would be getting free service too.  

Not really - as excellent service is included in your cruise fare! 👍🤔

Edited May 28, 2019 by Thorben-Hendrik

[cruisegirl1]

Of you are speaking of the cocktail hour servers, we tip when served regardless if we are in the lounge or using a voucher in a bar. Since we do use the lounge for morning coffee or continental breakfast, we tip the morning staff at the end of the cruise. 

 

M

[cruisegirl1]

10 hours ago, loveheart said:

I don't want to appear mean but I guess some people don't bother tipping at all . Will play it by ear when we get  to the DL. 

We tip when served and don’t watch or care what others do. If others  don’t tip or wait till the end, that is their decision.  

 

M

[papaflamingo]

Not a fan of carrying a lot of cash around we tip a couple of times through the week.  In our experience the waiters are there for the week, so we tip early (day 2 or so) then again the last night.  If we are served exclusively, then that waiter gets the lions share.  If we are served by multiple waiters we split it.   Just our preference. However if, as others are saying, the waiters change nightly, then I suppose I'll have to start carrying cash.  

 

[island lady]

I go to the bank for a pack or two of dollar bills before the cruise (easier than begging for it from GS desk).  We tip as the majority does... 1.00 per drink when served. 

 

Started doing this years ago when we realized we had so many different waiters.  We do the same if we are not in the lounge, and use our drink vouchers.  They like the cash tip better.  

 

We also tip waiters in CK for dinner each night, since we get different waiters through the week.  

[grapau27]

18 hours ago, krillsister said:

Fairly new to Diamond level. Was wondering if it's best to tip nightly, once midway/once again at end of just wait until the end

$1 per drink.

[grapau27]

12 hours ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Remember, unlike the package that includes a gratuity, the Diamond Drinks have no gratuities included as they are FREE. So if your getting a Diamond Drink, a tip is not included. Without a tip, you would be getting free service too. 

That is my sentiments too.

We have just disembarked from Independence in Southampton UK and only spent 1 hour in the DL and preferred the VCL. Every free drink we got I gave the bar tender or wine waiter $1 per drink which they were very pleased and surprised to receive.

[Milwaukee Eight]

8 hours ago, Thorben-Hendrik said:

Not really - as excellent service is included in your cruise fare! 👍🤔

Typically, each drink you Purshase onboard or with a package includes a service charge. Free Diamond drinks do not. 

[Colorado Babe]

12 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

Guest Services and the cashier in the casino will give you change, in limited quantities at a time.

I was told on the Adventure two weeks ago that if you get change at the casino, it needs to be used in there.

[Colorado Babe]

I always tip $1.00 per drink.  This way, I know whoever is serving me is getting compensated. 

[steveru621]

1 hour ago, island lady said:

I go to the bank for a pack or two of dollar bills before the cruise (easier than begging for it from GS desk).  We tip as the majority does... 1.00 per drink when served. 

 

Started doing this years ago when we realized we had so many different waiters.  We do the same if we are not in the lounge, and use our drink vouchers.  They like the cash tip better.  

 

We also tip waiters in CK for dinner each night, since we get different waiters through the week.  

 

Exactly what we do to prepare and tip during the cruise.  $100 in ones and $100 in $5's, 10's.

 

We know they pool tips most times on Radiance class in the CL.  If they open the VCL it appears there is no pool.  Not really my concern how they handle gratuities.

 

When you tip $1/drink, almost always you have a drink in your hand in a couple of minutes.

[brillohead]

2 hours ago, papaflamingo said:

Not a fan of carrying a lot of cash around we tip a couple of times through the week.  In our experience the waiters are there for the week, so we tip early (day 2 or so) then again the last night.  If we are served exclusively, then that waiter gets the lions share.  If we are served by multiple waiters we split it.   Just our preference. However if, as others are saying, the waiters change nightly, then I suppose I'll have to start carrying cash.  

No need to carry "a lot of cash around" -- if you're going to be having five drinks that night, take five bucks with you. 

If you're going to be having ten drinks that night, take ten bucks with you and ask your doctor to check your liver levels and for suggestions for rehab/AA.

[island lady]

1 hour ago, steveru621 said:

 

 

When you tip $1/drink, almost always you have a drink in your hand in a couple of minutes.

 

And they remember you, as "one of the ones that tip"....drink appears in hand almost magically the next night.  😉 

[island lady]

48 minutes ago, brillohead said:

No need to carry "a lot of cash around" -- if you're going to be having five drinks that night, take five bucks with you. 

If you're going to be having ten drinks that night, take ten bucks with you and ask your doctor to check your liver levels and for suggestions for rehab/AA.

 

We will typically go through six drinks (three per person) between the two of us over the whole evening.   DH sticks six 1.00 bills in his pocket, no big deal to do so before we leave the cabin to head to the lounge.  😉 

[Big_G]

Ran into a couple of situations where he had a particular server for only one night so we started tipping as we went. Just last week on Navigator there were two servers in the SL on Navigator the first night and then only one the remaining nights.

[Retired LEO]

3 hours ago, island lady said:

I go to the bank for a pack or two of dollar bills before the cruise (easier than begging for it from GS desk).  We tip as the majority does... 1.00 per drink when served. 

 

Started doing this years ago when we realized we had so many different waiters.  We do the same if we are not in the lounge, and use our drink vouchers.  They like the cash tip better.  

 

We also tip waiters in CK for dinner each night, since we get different waiters through the week.  

I do the exact same thing. So at the end of the cruise I can count how many bills I have left (if any) and decide whether AA might be in my future.  

[Snit13]

4 hours ago, island lady said:

I go to the bank for a pack or two of dollar bills before the cruise (easier than begging for it from GS desk).  We tip as the majority does... 1.00 per drink when served. 

 

Started doing this years ago when we realized we had so many different waiters.  We do the same if we are not in the lounge, and use our drink vouchers.  They like the cash tip better.  

 

We also tip waiters in CK for dinner each night, since we get different waiters through the week.  

November cruise on Harmony will be my first to enjoy CK.  How do you determine how much to tip per person?  There are 8 of us in GS's and 2 in JS.  Do you also tip for breakfast and lunch?  Always gave tip in Specialty Dining so I know how that works.

Have always tipped $1 pp per drink in Diamond Lounge and when sailing Celebrity.

[Snit13]

1 hour ago, island lady said:

 

And they remember you, as "one of the ones that tip"....drink appears in hand almost magically the next night.  😉 

You got that right.

[taglovestocruise]

38 minutes ago, Snit13 said:

You got that right.

And you also got it right. Amazing who they remember.

[Guest maddycat]

18 hours ago, cruisekap said:

I  tip at the end and try to find all of the servers.  It is difficult for Canadians to get enough $1 USD bills.

We've never had a problem getting $1 bills at guest services.

[Milwaukee Eight]

1 hour ago, Snit13 said:

November cruise on Harmony will be my first to enjoy CK.  How do you determine how much to tip per person?  There are 8 of us in GS's and 2 in JS.  Do you also tip for breakfast and lunch?  Always gave tip in Specialty Dining so I know how that works.

Have always tipped $1 pp per drink in Diamond Lounge and when sailing Celebrity.

JS not typically permitted in the SL/CK for breakfast and lunch. Depending on your sail date, JS may not be able to get dinner reservations, especially if it’s for early dinning times. For those in GS, make sure you reserve your dinner times as soon as you receive the Concierge email. 

[cruisegirl1]

8 minutes ago, maddycat said:

We've never had a problem getting $1 bills at guest services.

Same here.  Never tried to get more than 10 at a time but  we always seem to have enough  $1 for tips.

 

M

[RFerrington]

2 hours ago, Snit13 said:

November cruise on Harmony will be my first to enjoy CK.  How do you determine how much to tip per person?  There are 8 of us in GS's and 2 in JS.  Do you also tip for breakfast and lunch?  Always gave tip in Specialty Dining so I know how that works.

Have always tipped $1 pp per drink in Diamond Lounge and when sailing Celebrity.

Just to keep things simple, we always tip the same (unless there are service issues...which almost never happens) - $1 per drink when served; $5 for breakfast regardless of where we eat; $10 for lunch regardless of where we eat; $20 for dinner regardless of where we eat.  Even if we eat in the WJ (which is almost never the case) the tips are always the same.  It's just easier that way than trying to find someone later or figure out how much to tip.

[cruisegirl1]

2 hours ago, Snit13 said:

November cruise on Harmony will be my first to enjoy CK.  How do you determine how much to tip per person?  There are 8 of us in GS's and 2 in JS.  Do you also tip for breakfast and lunch?  Always gave tip in Specialty Dining so I know how that works.

Have always tipped $1 pp per drink in Diamond Lounge and when sailing Celebrity.

We usually  tipped $5 or $10 per night for dinner for the two of us. ( more often $5)   I hope that was enough - do they share in the general daily gratuity  amount that we pay?    We are not high maintenance and often just had  a  salad and entrée.   Not sure how many tip in CK  but we had  two servers ask us to request them.     Of course, a large table of 8 or 10 requires a bit more work.  

 

M