Tipping?

[chiefofsages]

If this is already covered somewhere else, please feel free to delete.

 

I wanted to see what people felt about tipping on the ship, on top of the prepaid gratuities.  I have pre-paid mine in general and for my drink package, and on my last trip, I only tipped the room steward.  It wasn't because I was cheap, I just hate carrying cash around with me on the ship.  When leaving the room, I only brought my room card and phone with me (except when getting off the ship in port).  I don't like loose cash in my pocket for my own reasons, and my wallet is bulky.  

 

If you prepay your gratuities, is it still expected to tip?  Am I the jerk if I don't?  Like I said, I will leave a tip for the room steward at the end of the week and perhaps if I get a massage or something, but otherwise, are my prepaid gratuities enough?

[ColeThornton]

It's a completely personal choice.   You are under absolutely no obligation to tip above the daily gratuities or whatever term NCL is using for it these days.   It doesn't make you a jerk if you don't.  It doesn't make you a saint if you do.  Let your conscience be your guide. 

 

You should be aware that certain positions are not in the tip pool:

 

https://www.ncl.com/faq#!#what-about-gratuities

 

Now, stand by for the comments ranging from "not only don't I tip extra but I remove the daily grats" to "hey, look at me..I tip twenty bucks every time my steward brings me an ice bucket".  🙂

 

 

 

 

[OurAnniversary25]

This is often a hot topic on these boards.  I think it's very much a personal preference.  We do tip in addition to our prepaid gratuities, and while I am sure it's appreciated, I don't know that it's expected.

[ziggyuk]

A tipping thread..... things are indeed returning to normal hurrah 🥳

[billslowsky]

5 minutes ago, ColeThornton said:

It's a completely personal choice.   You are under absolutely no obligation to tip above the daily gratuities or whatever term NCL is using for it these days.   It doesn't make you a jerk if you don't.  It doesn't make you a saint if you do.  Let your conscience be your guide. 

 

You should be aware that certain positions are not in the tip pool:

 

https://www.ncl.com/faq#!#what-about-gratuities

 

Now, stand by for the comments ranging from "not only don't I tip extra but I remove the daily grats" to "hey, look at me..I tip twenty bucks every time my steward brings me an ice bucket".  🙂

 

 

 

 

When you read that fine print, it mentions that for some of the people not in the tip pool (the daily service charge) there is a 20% gratuity added when you use their services.  Beverage service, for example.

[Trimone]

This old favourite is back, we’ve all been friends during covid?

[hallux]

As said - personal choice.  I've left some extra in specialty restaurants if I was pleased with the service.  I've also left extra for my room steward.  On my last trip one of my travel mates even gave a member of the entertainment staff some extra cash because we felt she did an especially good job.

[complawyer]

in addition to the daily gratuities, we always tip, the servers at breakfast lunch and dinner, the bartenders, and any one else that does something extra for us. these people dont make a lot of money, and sometimes their contracts stipulates that a large part of it goes home to their families.

 

i give the cabin steward $20 at the beginning, $20 at the middle and $20 at the end of the cruise. butler gets $100 and concierge gets $50, as we dont really use his services much.

 

also, if youre in the casino playing blackjack and winning, it doesnt hurt to tip your dealer, and the girl thats bringing your drinks

 

as was stated prior, extra tipping is totally at one's discretion

[Two Wheels Only]

I only tip chair hogs who cut in line at the buffet after removing the DSC and giving drinks to those who don't have a drink package while smoking on the balcony as my kids are running wild all over the ship including the Haven.

[casofilia]

When considering stopping the DSC and tipping instead remember there are some groups of people who don't share in that; the laundry staff for one and the kitchen hands for another.   It is shared between those who are actually face to face with the public.

[ziggyuk]

7 minutes ago, casofilia said:

When considering stopping the DSC and tipping instead remember there are some groups of people who don't share in that; the laundry staff for one and the kitchen hands for another.   It is shared between those who are actually face to face with the public.

 

Nobody suggested stopping the DSC, lets not go down that road, the OP was clear (underlined) it was a question about additional tipping over and beyond the DSC.

[trivimp]

I'm like the OP, I just hate carrying around cash, so I figure I'll let the DSC do its job... the only exception to that is a few nice tips to various bartenders in the whiskey bar early on in the cruise.  They tend to learn my name & what I like to drink.  I consider it an investment in the rest of the cruise, I never have to wait for a drink after that 🙂 

[craig01020]

10 minutes ago, trivimp said:

I never have to wait for a drink after that

Sounds more like quid pro quo than tipping. 😂

[WorkNCruise]

I tip the bartenders at the bars I frequent, the Uber driver at the beginning and end, the porters, tour guides, and the room steward. Thats standard for me. I also tip extra generous when extra special service is given.

 

It makes the vacation go more smoothly. I can afford it and its always appreciated.

 

I'm not saying my way is the proper way but it works for me.  I factor it into the projected cost of the vacation and budget and plan for it.

 

[ClevelandCruisin]

We always budget in money to tip. These people have to pay for most things on the ship. So we bring cash for bartenders, room steward, etc.. We work in the industry based on tips, so to see how hard these individuals work, a few dollars always help.

 

Now that being said... most people don't tip. 

 

They will remember what I like to eat, drink, my name. Will go out of there way for me with a few dollars here and there. I've even had people remember my name from previous cruises years before.

 

It's really up to you. But you'll tip your server here, pizza guy, etc.

[Named-Tawny]

4 hours ago, ClevelandCruisin said:

We always budget in money to tip. These people have to pay for most things on the ship. So we bring cash for bartenders, room steward, etc.. We work in the industry based on tips, so to see how hard these individuals work, a few dollars always help.

 

Now that being said... most people don't tip.

Nearly everybody tips.

They just don't tip extra.  Tipping 20% on your drinks and food, plus the per day gratuity are all tips.

[ClevelandCruisin]

25 minutes ago, Named-Tawny said:

Nearly everybody tips.

They just don't tip extra.  Tipping 20% on your drinks and food, plus the per day gratuity are all tips.

You do realize that most of the people who work on NCL do not receive those tips. They have to pay for mostly everything extra. They work 12 hour days, 7 days a week at 8 months. So by me giving a few extra tips here and there goes the extra mile.

 

You can cruise how you want. 

[Named-Tawny]

2 minutes ago, ClevelandCruisin said:

You do realize that most of the people who work on NCL do not receive those tips. They have to pay for mostly everything extra. They work 12 hour days, 7 days a week at 8 months. So by me giving a few extra tips here and there goes the extra mile.

 

You can cruise how you want. 

Yeah, you can absolutely tip extra if you want.  But the key is that you're tipping extra.

Denigrating those who don't tip extra as 'not tipping' serves no purpose other than rhetoric.

[ClevelandCruisin]

1 minute ago, Named-Tawny said:

Yeah, you can absolutely tip extra if you want.  But the key is that you're tipping extra.

Denigrating those who don't tip extra as 'not tipping' serves no purpose other than rhetoric.

The OP wanted to know if people tipped on top of the already prepaid gratuities. So I told them what we do. 

 

I'm not going back and forth on this with you. You can do as you please. It's you're life. But I am allowed my opinion!

[Named-Tawny]

2 minutes ago, ClevelandCruisin said:

The OP wanted to know if people tipped on top of the already prepaid gratuities. So I told them what we do. 

 

I'm not going back and forth on this with you. You can do as you please. It's you're life. But I am allowed my opinion!

You're absolutely allowed your opinion - nobody has said otherwise.  Likewise, telling them what you do is fine.

The only thing that I have an issue with is when you lied.  You said "Now that being said... most people don't tip. "

That's patently untrue.  The vast majority of people on the ships tip.  They just, unlike you, don't tip extra.

It's okay that you were wrong; you don't need to make an argument about it.

[BirdTravels]

5 hours ago, craig01020 said:

Sounds more like quid pro quo than tipping. 😂

Exactly. Tip a bartender a couple of times and you'll get preferential service the rest of the cruise!

[valleyvillage]

Like the OP, I don't like carrying a lot of cash around. But I do like tipping, so I do it when I can do so by adding an extra tip to the bill for the bar or the restaurant. And then I visit the front desk to have the tips for the Butler, Concierge, and Room Steward added to my bill. They give me a receipt which I present to the tippee with a thank you note. 

[Trimone]

I get my Butler to follow me around with a suitcase full of cash !

$100 per drink, $100 to anyone in the elevator, $100 to anyone that smiles 

These tipping threads cause so much division, tip is you want too don’t if you don’t want too….it’s up to you

Now can you list your PayPal accounts I want to tip everyone that agrees X

[Coastalbreezes]

I tip cash in all restaurants, free and specialty, in the casino for drink service and wherever else a tip might be warranted. As someone mentioned, crew work 12-16 hour days, seven days a week for months on end to make my vacation perfect. A few extra dollars here and there won't break me but will let someone know they are appreciated. After not working for a year and half, crew members could certainly use the extra dollars as cruising restarts.

[FreestyleNovice]

This might be the European perspective but browse around some of the Instagram pages of the youngest generation of crew; latest models iPhones, AirPods, clothing and sneakers and so on.

 

While it may be showy and they do work long contracts, it's a game for them too. A new week, a new week of big fishes tipping much and often.. 

 

On topic: we tip too, a few dollars a day for the room steward, like in any hotel. A few dollars on the receipt for a round of drinks or at a specialty restaurant, just like on land. Exceptional service deserves a good tip too. In total 100-200 USD for an average cruise? We tip more on a cruise than we would back home because we are aware of the tipping culture and we feel we should adhere and respect the current social norm. But also to enjoy a carefree vacation, as said by others above.