Tipping Staff on European Cruise: USD or Euros?

[Krazy Kat]

 

Does it matter if cruise staff are tipped in US dollars or Euros when cruising the Western Med?  Do the staff have a preference?

 

Thanks for sharing your experience.

[All-ready2cruise]

Always USD. Even though they're in EU waters, the ship is still USD dollars, just look at your invoice, it never changes.  Crew can always exchange currency if they want to but, they get paid in USDs and that's their best currency preference. 

[GUT2407]

I was behind a crew member in a shop once he had ever currency you can imagine, and some I didn’t recognise. There were US$, Aus$, NZ$, Euro, Can$  pounds, Yen, Lira, Sing$, and more besides. This was an Australia New Zealand cruise for what that May effect it. I guess if he couldn’t use it he could bank it 9r exchange it, or keep it for next stop.

[zdcatc12]

I actually gave the bartender dollars some times and Euros others. It depended on whatever I brought with me.

[KeithJenner]

They are happy with either.

 

I did ask once and was told that either are absolutely fine. There was a slight preference for Euros, for the simple reason that a Euro is worth more than a Dollar.

 

Of course, as places become more cashless there may be less options to spend Euros onshore.

[ocdb8r]

4 hours ago, All-ready2cruise said:

Always USD. Even though they're in EU waters, the ship is still USD dollars, just look at your invoice, it never changes.  Crew can always exchange currency if they want to but, they get paid in USDs and that's their best currency preference. 

I would not say always USD.  The fact the ship uses USD and they are paid in USD is of little consequence.  Cash is not spent anywhere on the ship except the casino (even in crew areas).  Crew charge anything not provided by NCL to an account settled against their wages.  Cash is most useful for them to spend onshore; if they're operating where that's Euros, they will most certainly be welcome (otherwise they are needing to pay a currency conversion for anything they want to purchase off ship).

 

Regardless, ANY major currency I am sure is appreciated.  

[Tante Din]

Good question.

I was thinking about that before.

We are on a cruise next month and thought about getting $ from the bank for tips.

We live in Germany so I think I don´t have to get them and tip in Euros.

Thank you for your thoughts.

 

Nadine 

[Hadacareer]

I just asked our concierge that for our transatlantic in December:

 

“We have noted all your request for you on your reservation. Your Concierge onboard will be David. You are allowed to tip as much as you like and preferably USD as the crew is not allowed off the ship or whatever is most convenient for you.”

 

maybe also because we disembark  in Miami 

 

[hawkeyetlse]

Yes, I think currently crew are confined to the ship, no shore leave, so local currency is less useful to them. But euros are not exactly exotic or difficult to exchange, and even if you only have something like 500 Russian rubles, they'd still rather have that than nothing, which is what they get from most people.

[ocdb8r]

46 minutes ago, hawkeyetlse said:

Yes, I think currently crew are confined to the ship, no shore leave, so local currency is less useful to them. But euros are not exactly exotic or difficult to exchange, and even if you only have something like 500 Russian rubles, they'd still rather have that than nothing, which is what they get from most people.

This is not the case currently in the Western Med.  Even in Italy, where only "bubble" shore excursions are permitted, crew are being permitted off the ship to shop in the duty free areas (and we observed this last week in several ports, with crew purchasing all variety of "snacks" and personal toiletries).  

 

I have no idea what the current regulation is for Caribbean cruises, but given USD is the most commonly used currency throughout the Caribbean, I would agree USD is likely preferable there.

Edited October 2, 2021 by ocdb8r

[phillygwm]

8 hours ago, Krazy Kat said:

 

Does it matter if cruise staff are tipped in US dollars or Euros when cruising the Western Med?  Do the staff have a preference?

 

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Whatever I have in my pocket.  As an American, I always have USD.  But chances are I've accumulated Euros, Canadian dollars, Croatian Kuna, or whatever during my travels, depending on the destination.  I want to get rid of it and I assure you the staff aren't picky.  In fact, I often mix and match.  If I have €3 in my wallet, I'll give them that plus whatever USD.

 

 

Edited October 2, 2021 by phillygwm

[Krazy Kat]

Thanks to all for your feedback.

[craig01020]

US dollars. In fact, before I leave home, I visit my bank and get fifty $2 bills. It makes for a unique tip.

[CILCIANRQTS]

Think of it this way…

If you were traveling in the US, would you tip in Euros??

[billslowsky]

30 minutes ago, CILCIANRQTS said:

Think of it this way…

If you were traveling in the US, would you tip in Euros??

If I had come from Europe, of course I would if that's what I was carrying.

 

These people are more than capable of dealing with foreign currencies.  They are hardly as helpless as some posters seem to think they are. 

 

 

[ocdb8r]

31 minutes ago, billslowsky said:

If I had come from Europe, of course I would if that's what I was carrying.

 

These people are more than capable of dealing with foreign currencies.  They are hardly as helpless as some posters seem to think they are. 

 

 

I don't think it has anything to do with being helpless, but rather trying to tip with something readily usable to them.  Of course I am sure they are all more than capable of converting money to the currency they'd prefer...that doesn't mean it's easy or that one shouldn't consider what might be most useful.

Edited October 4, 2021 by ocdb8r

[nolatravelgirl]

8 hours ago, craig01020 said:

US dollars. In fact, before I leave home, I visit my bank and get fifty $2 bills. It makes for a unique tip.

$2 bills while unique could be a major PITA. Yes they are legal US tender but a lot of people are not familiar with them and they aren't accepted in vending machines. While plenty of Caribbean ports will accept USD, they will probably not be familiar with them and could have challenges spending them. One thing I would consider is getting new/crisp money. Lots of foreign exchange booths will give you hassle/refuse to exchange old/tattered money. Before a cruise I try to go by the bank and get new bank notes for tips which mitigates issues with spending. 

[KeithJenner]

6 hours ago, CILCIANRQTS said:

Think of it this way…

If you were traveling in the US, would you tip in Euros??

If I was sailing on a ship where the onboard currency was Euros then yes, I would.

[billslowsky]

8 hours ago, ocdb8r said:

I don't think it has anything to do with being helpless, but rather trying to tip with something readily usable to them.  Of course I am sure they are all more than capable of converting money to the currency they'd prefer...that doesn't mean it's easy or that one shouldn't consider what might be most useful.

Workers in the tourism industry have been receiving tips in multiple currencies for decades.  They get by somehow.

 

I am voluntarily paying them extra based on service provided.  I trust them to figure it out.

[UKstages]

in the before times, i traveled quite frequently to the philippines for work. so, i often had filipino pesos in my possession. in fact, i still have about USD 1000 in filipino pesos. 

 

in my experience, at least 60% or 65% of the customer-facing crew in hospitality positions on cruise lines are filipino. on my last cruise to the bahamas on the bliss in december of 2019, i asked many of the filipino staff if they wanted tips in USD or filipino pesos. everybody requested pesos and they were thrilled.

 

i can only assume it was put away for when they went home or it was being mailed home to relatives.