Can we use OBC for *additional* tips to crew?

[Turtles06]

A few years ago, and I can't recall which cruise line we were on but I think it was Celebrity, we used some OBC at the end of the cruise to give additional tips to specific crew members (e.g., our cabin attendant and MDR servers).  I recall having to visit Guest Services, where I had to give them the names of the crew members and the amounts of the tips, and they gave me a voucher for each person (which we could give to them), with the money going directly into the crew members' accounts on board. 

 

As I said, I think we did this on Celebrity, but I would appreciate knowing if we can do this now.   (We generally don't have much OBC at the end of a cruise, and we normally tip in cash, but we may have some "extra" OBC on an upcoming cruise.)    Thanks for any info! 

[hiccups]

Yes, you can--we did this on our recent Equinox cruise.  We went to Guest Services and filled out the form.  It posted to our account pretty quickly.

We did not receive vouchers to give to the crew members, though.

Edited July 2, 2019 by hiccups

[WestLakeGirl]

They do not use vouchers and you can’t single out a dining room staff member, you can only contribute to the tip pool for the entire waitstaff.  If you designate an extra tip to your room steward, however, it does go in to his or her own paycheck

[chemmo]

You need to complete the form at least 24 hours before departure. No vouchers, we did check with our butler that he and our room attendant knew they had received a ‘thank you’ from us...

[Jim_Iain]

2 hours ago, WestLakeGirl said:

They do not use vouchers and you can’t single out a dining room staff member, you can only contribute to the tip pool for the entire waitstaff.  If you designate an extra tip to your room steward, however, it does go in to his or her own paycheck

With all due respect.   You can indeed direct a tip to an individual staff member.   I had this confirmed by the Suites Manager who was the one who does the transactions.    The clarification I got was that if you check the box for Dining Room the tip goes to the pool.  If however you put the servers name and title the tip is not shared nor put into the pool.  I did this and got a verbal thank you from my server and other designated staff. 

 

It took me a while to get the straight answer as I got the pooling answer when asking the front desk, when I brought it up to the Suites Manager she explained as above and indicated she would contact the Customer Service manager and have them do additional training.

[WestLakeGirl]

Good to know.  I remember that we used to be able to single out individual servers, I was able to get tips to staff at Cafe al Bacio, but then the last time i filled the form out with their names and $$$$, Guest Relations said nope, only to the total pool.  That was on Rflection last winter

[Jim_Iain]

1 minute ago, WestLakeGirl said:

Good to know.  I remember that we used to be able to single out individual servers, I was able to get tips to staff at Cafe al Bacio, but then the last time i filled the form out with their names and $$$$, Guest Relations said nope, only to the total pool.  That was on Rflection last winter

 

I just left tips on Summit for two baristas last month using the form.   I was on a B2B and both times the individual got the tip I left them.   It's obvious from what you say is that Celebrity is consistently inconsistent and in need of remedial training.  When I received the clarity of the policy I was on Silhouette.  

 

[Turtles06]

Thank you all for the very helpful information!   I'm happy to know we will be able to use our OBC this way, and I'll be persistent if anyone tries to tell me something has to go into a pool.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

With all due respect.   You can indeed direct a tip to an individual staff member.   I had this confirmed by the Suites Manager who was the one who does the transactions.    The clarification I got was that if you check the box for Dining Room the tip goes to the pool.  If however you put the servers name and title the tip is not shared nor put into the pool.  I did this and got a verbal thank you from my server and other designated staff. 

 

It took me a while to get the straight answer as I got the pooling answer when asking the front desk, when I brought it up to the Suites Manager she explained as above and indicated she would contact the Customer Service manager and have them do additional training.

 

I had this issue on the Solstice in May.  Did not have access to the Suite Manager.  Guest Relations would not allocate tips to specific people in the MDR as I wished even though I had put their specific names on the cards.  Guess I will work through the Suite Manager in the future.  It would be nice if Celebrity would get its act together on this issue.  I don't always travel in suites.

[Gonzo70]

I too was not successful in designating individuals in the dining area during one of my more recent cruises (Summit if I recall correctly). Was told by guest relations that it would be pooled by dining room personnel; the Michael's Club concierge at the time agreed with this when I informed her what I was told.

 

Hopefully the OP has better luck; this is definitely an area where Celebrity is inconsistent, but unfortunately it seems like one is more likely to be declined than accommodated when making this request.

[Turtles06]

3 minutes ago, Gonzo70 said:

Hopefully the OP has better luck; this is definitely an area where Celebrity is inconsistent, but unfortunately it seems like one is more likely to be declined than accommodated when making this request.

 

Thanks for the info, Gonzo.  Perhaps the most consistent thing about Celebrity is its inconsistency.  🤣

[varoo]

42 minutes ago, Gonzo70 said:

I too was not successful in designating individuals in the dining area during one of my more recent cruises (Summit if I recall correctly). Was told by guest relations that it would be pooled by dining room personnel; the Michael's Club concierge at the time agreed with this when I informed her what I was told.

 

 

We were told the same thing, and it even stated right on the form that the only individuals we could designate specifically were the stateroom attendant and butler.

 

Perhaps they have changed the form since the last time we used one, since I have not seen anyone else who has posted here so far commenting that this restriction was printed right there on the form itself.

 

We noticed it every time we filled one out as we also would have liked the ability to designate other individuals by name, but since it was clearly stated that we could not do so, we did not try to contest it.

  

                                

Edited July 2, 2019 by varoo

[Algebralovr]

For an individual server at the bar, they can print out a receipt with no sale and you can add a tip to it that way.  We've done it a number of times for our favorite bar servers.  The dining room doesn't have that same ability, however.

[Turtles06]

8 minutes ago, varoo said:

We were told the same thing, and it even stated right on the form that the only individuals we could designate specifically were the stateroom attendant and butler.

 

Since we already pay daily gratuities going to the pool, it’s odd that X won’t (or maybe won’t) let you direct an additional tip to a specific server this way.  We can certainly do it with cash. 

 

I do appreciate the replies from everyone. 

[cruisestitch]

The first time I ever tried to do this, I was given the instruction that the tips could go to anyone who was normally in the tip payment schedule. That is any waiter, bartender, assistant waiter, room steward etc. Not an entertainer, or security staff,( just as examples.). It had to be someone for whom tips were part of their salary.

 

I know that the tips went to the person I intended them to, because the money showed up on the next pay period, which was still during that cruise, and I was thanked for the extra tip amount.

 

I continued to do that successfully for maybe three or four cruises and then the next time I went to guest relations they said no it can only be given to the tip pool, not two individuals.

 

In January and February of this year, I did back to back cruises on reflection. I said to guest relations that I wanted to designate tips to certain people, they said “no problem.”  But the guest relations agent told me something interesting, that the person receiving the tip would have no way of knowing who was giving it unless you told them yourself.  In other words, there would just be an unexpected amount of money on their paycheck, but they wouldn’t know who it came from. So I made sure to say to the steward and the waiter on cruise number one, “look for something extra from me in your paycheck.”  Sure enough, I received a nice thank you from each of them.   But then on the second leg of the back to back, going to the same guest relations officer, I was told, no, we can only put the money in the tip pool.  I couldn’t figure out what changed from one cruise to the next, and neither could the Guest Relations agent. 

 

Same ship, different day🤪

[kat228]

We had extra non-refundable OBC that we left as tips. Those that we wanted to give specifically to, we still gave cash to. But we figured that since we won't get it back, it might as well go to the crew! It was really easy, just had to fill out a form. 

[ALWAYS CRUZIN]

To a specific person I do not know. However, you can add it to you bar drink and you specialty restaurant before leaving.

[Luvcrusn]

On 7/2/2019 at 12:48 PM, Jim_Iain said:

 

I just left tips on Summit for two baristas last month using the form.   I was on a B2B and both times the individual got the tip I left them.   It's obvious from what you say is that Celebrity is consistently inconsistent and in need of remedial training.  When I received the clarity of the policy I was on Silhouette.  

 

Jim, I'm wondering whether the difference working here is suite vs non suite guests. We've been unable to single out individual servers/bartenders for additional tips through guest services when in Aqua and Concierge class and have just done it in cash rather than having it to into a pool for the last several years. I do remember being able to do it previous to that time through GS and being able to confirm with the intended recipients that they indeed received the additional.

[CGTNORMANDIE]

Sooo...your OBC is on your room card?   You go to the casino put your card into a slot machine, punch in the amount of money you desire then collect your winnings on a paper receipt and cash it in at the cage?  Then you tip with cash?  Wouldn’t that be easier than trips to reception and filling out forms?  Where am I going wrong here?

[Alakegirl]

There is a charge for running your money from your on board account through the casino, that’s what you missed

[Turtles06]

26 minutes ago, CGTNORMANDIE said:

Sooo...your OBC is on your room card?   You go to the casino put your card into a slot machine, punch in the amount of money you desire then collect your winnings on a paper receipt and cash it in at the cage?  Then you tip with cash?  Wouldn’t that be easier than trips to reception and filling out forms?  Where am I going wrong here?

 

I'll let those more familiar with the casino than I am reply as to the specifics, but you can't turn non-refundable OBC into 100% cash this way, certainly not without Celebrity taking some cut on the cash. 

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

43 minutes ago, CGTNORMANDIE said:

Sooo...your OBC is on your room card?   You go to the casino put your card into a slot machine, punch in the amount of money you desire then collect your winnings on a paper receipt and cash it in at the cage?  Then you tip with cash?  Wouldn’t that be easier than trips to reception and filling out forms?  Where am I going wrong here?

 

Assuming you're going to win?

[Jim_Iain]

2 hours ago, Luvcrusn said:

Jim, I'm wondering whether the difference working here is suite vs non suite guests. We've been unable to single out individual servers/bartenders for additional tips through guest services when in Aqua and Concierge class and have just done it in cash rather than having it to into a pool for the last several years. I do remember being able to do it previous to that time through GS and being able to confirm with the intended recipients that they indeed received the additional.

 

Don't think so.   Last month I did a B2B on Summit and was able to leave additional tips to individuals with no problem.  When I turn in the sheet I return it directly to the front desk Guest Relatiions. 

[Jim_Iain]

1 hour ago, Alakegirl said:

There is a charge for running your money from your on board account through the casino, that’s what you missed

 

I believe they have done away with this casino cash in method.   My understanding is you can put money on your card but only winnings are able to be cashed in for cash the remainder remains on account as non-refundable.   Maybe others that have been successful can explain their methodology.

[cb at sea]

Your OBC is merely a CREDIT against any charges you make.  You can't specify how it's used, but whatever you sign for, that OBC will be used first....in most cases.