breakfast room service tips

[Pinboy]

1 hour ago, Dolebludger said:

But room service tips have been included on the many AI cruises I’ve taken. This makes me wonder if there are other tipping expections on Celebrity AI that I would not expect

Why so much talk ( debate ) on whether to tip, or , if it's included when a Server brings your room service order -- You're spending $$$$ to take the cruise, so, why look for an excuse ( ?? ) to " stiff " the Server. They expect a tip -- so, hand him/her a few $$ -- otherwise your next room service order might not be delivered. --- Hey, Now there's an " excuse " to remove your gratuities.

Other tipping expectations ?

Of course--- Let's say you want a reservation in a Specialty restaurant that is not available at the time you request, and, the Maitre'd " somehow " finds one--- Are you not going to Thank him/her ( $$ ) ?

Or, Your back is " killing " you -- Spa completely booked --- However, the Manager " squeezes " you in--- You better Thank him/her ( $$ ) or your back will feel even worse for the next 14 days after they get finished with you.

We all know when a tip is expected-- so, forget the AI bs.

 

 

 

 

[Mark_T]

10 minutes ago, Pinboy said:

Of course--- Let's say you want a reservation in a Specialty restaurant that is not available at the time you request, and, the Maitre'd " somehow " finds one--- Are you not going to Thank him/her ( $$ ) ?

Or, Your back is " killing " you -- Spa completely booked --- However, the Manager " squeezes " you in--- You better Thank him/her ( $$ ) or your back will feel even worse for the next 14 days after they get finished with you.

We all know when a tip is expected-- so, forget the AI bs.

That is an interesting perspective.. have you ever considered that if you hadn't trained them to know that you would tip in those circumstances, the availability that was there all along to meet your request would not have mysteriously vanished in the first place.. ? 🙂

 

We have had some interesting conversations with guides in countries where tipping was not a national habit, about how the locals have learned to encourage it once they discovered that certain nationalities expected to tip and believed it would get them better service, when the locals were keen to provide great service anyway...

[Dolebludger]

I will never remove tips from my  final bill, because I will always book a cruise wherein tips are included. So I couldn’t remove them even if I wanted. My question here is not when tips are expected. It is when are additional tips CUSTOMARY on Celebrity for guests who have paid to book AI in the Retreat. I expect to do what is customary for a guest in the Retreat.That’s all.

[Pinboy]

1 minute ago, Dolebludger said:

1---So I couldn’t remove them even if I wanted.

2---It is when are additional tips CUSTOMARY 

1-- From what I understand ( but would never do ) there are people who do find ( ?? ) some lame duck excuse to remove the gratuities--- Apparently there are some who remove them as soon as they board saying they would tip whom they want to and how much . They probably " stiff " everyone !!

Others, line up at GR on the last night and remove them. 

2-- Kindly see post #76 for a few examples.

And to quote---"  We all know when a tip is expected ".

 

[Dolebludger]

In addition to Celebrity suites and Regent, we have been on a few mass market lines not too long ago for music cruises. On those we have never removed the gratuities. We know, on such ships, gratuities are added to the quoted fare, and about how much. We also knew not to expect Celebrity suites and Regent level service, and the service met or exceeded our expectations. So we never even thought about asking to remove our gratuities. It would have to be very bad for us to even consider this. Our next cruise (when problems of Covid and undependable air travel ease) it will probably be in Celebrity Retreat or on Regent. In comparing offers on these two lines don’t think that Regent is problem free for us. For one thing, air is included in Regent’s fare, and it is basic economy for legs in North America and the Caribbean. Life is too short to fly basic economy! But the credit for taking our own booked air is way too skimpy. Also, Regent’s fare includes shore excursions, which now seem to be only bus rides. Better excursions cost about as much as if “basic” shore excursions weren’t included in the fare. So the thought of giving the room service person a few bucks and giving the martini bar a few bucks for a great drink does not deter my continued consideration of Celebrity.

[Mark_T]

41 minutes ago, Dolebludger said:

For one thing, air is included in Regent’s fare, and it is basic economy for legs in North America and the Caribbean. Life is too short to fly basic economy! But the credit for taking our own booked air is way too skimpy. Also, Regent’s fare includes shore excursions, which now seem to be only bus rides. Better excursions cost about as much as if “basic” shore excursions weren’t included in the fare.

Also some of the reasons why we have not recently been back to Regent.

 

The Celebrity product meets our needs very well these days.

[BigTorino]

7 hours ago, Pinboy said:

The biggest " sucker " in any casino are those who tip a Dealer-- for their '' Good Luck ".

All they do is turn cards, spin a little ball , and " call " the dice---and have no outcome on the results.

Do they tip you as a " Thanks for playing " after losing $$$ ???

 

 

 

No, we tip because they actually teach us how to play. If you play against the house the dealer will educate you and you'll walk away with a new skill. 

[Dolebludger]

Well  Mark T. Celebrity suites exceeded our needs twice right before the pandemic. For one thing, we liked the food in the Luminae more than anything we’ve had at sea. (And we have been on Silversea too.) and I mentioned the martini bar which only Celebrity (AFIK) has. And I liked the dress code. Celebrity is the only line I know of where I can wear nice jeans (collared shirt, sports jacket and leather shoes) after 6:00 PM. (I live in SW Colorado, and this is as dressy as we get.) so I didn’t intend to come off negative about Celebrity on this thread. On our first cruise we were in a CS and never saw the butler. We just walked off the ship, and didn’t think about tipping anybody (we never had room service). The second was in a RS and the butler was more than outstanding, and we tipped him very highly. We didn’t know if this was customary not. But he gave us the best service we have ever had at sea. My questions about tips for the room service delivery was really not about just that. It was really about trying to find out all the exceptions to AI and Retreat status inclusions, so I would know “the drill”.

Edited June 21, 2022 by Dolebludger

[Pinboy]

1 hour ago, BigTorino said:

the dealer will educate you and you'll walk away with a new skill. 

The Dealer will inform you on how the game is played, but, are not allowed to advise you as what you should to do ( how much to bet , whether to draw another card, double your bet , the many ways to play craps ). 

Have fun-- don't bet on " hunches or feelings " that you're going to win.

You might walk away with a new skill ----But ---Remember--- Casinos were not built on Winners. 

 

[RichYak]

5 hours ago, Dolebludger said:

I expect to do what is customary for a guest in the Retreat.That’s all.

It's just not that complicated. If you're unsure that someone who's helped/served you in some way should be tipped extra, the answer is yes, they should be tipped extra. If you're certain they should NOT be tipped, then don't tip.

[Dolebludger]

Now, Rich, are you posting about the Retreat? Really, it seems that Celebrity has three classes onboard. These are something I will call “regular” (for lack of a better word), Aqua class, and the Retreat (FKA, suite class). Perks and inclusions may be different among these classes IDK. I am only posting about what is customary in the Retreat. It is perhaps the only way we would book Celebrity. It is costly as heck, so we don’t intend to cruise as often as we did back when lux line 7 night cruises were like $2500 pp. in the early 2000’s. Those days are gone. Now, and from our fairly recent experience, celebrity suites are the best way to go for those of us who hate lines, crowds, and nickel and dimming. And I hope I am not wrong about this, as things may have changed since our 2019 Alaska cruise.

[Dolebludger]

And please note thar we do not gamble on ships, in Vegas, or in any of of the near  by native casinos. But we gamble big in the stock and securities market. No criticism for anybody. This is just what we do and don’t do. So we don’t worry about tipping at a ship’s casino, because we never go there, actually we wish the ship’s casino did not exist. But we know everybody is not like us, so we respect other’s opinions. So we have no thoughts on tipping in the casino.

[upwarduk]

11 hours ago, Pinboy said:

We all know when a tip is expected-

 But, it shouldn’t be if you are on AI.

AI was introduced, to stop people from certain cultures from removing tips.

You cannot remove them as they are part of you fare. So you have already paid for service.

Anything extra, especially if given to a bar tender before service, is bribery.

[sunlover33]

43 minutes ago, upwarduk said:

Anything extra, especially if given to a bar tender before service, is bribery

I completely agree, tips given before any service in the expectation of better service is bribery. But to me it just illuminates there is still  a massive cultural divide between different countries on this issue. And round we go again. 

[LGW59]

5 hours ago, upwarduk said:

 But, it shouldn’t be if you are on AI.

AI was introduced, to stop people from certain cultures from removing tips.

You cannot remove them as they are part of you fare. So you have already paid for service.

Anything extra, especially if given to a bar tender before service, is bribery.

Guilty a$ charged. and proud to do $o.

[CGTNORMANDIE]

5 hours ago, upwarduk said:

 But, it shouldn’t be if you are on AI.

AI was introduced, to stop people from certain cultures from removing tips.

You cannot remove them as they are part of you fare. So you have already paid for service.

Anything extra, especially if given to a bar tender before service, is bribery.

So true…however…overtipping when the drink arrives always goes a long way to insure prompt service in the future!  TIP…To Insure Promptness.  

[RichYak]

10 hours ago, Dolebludger said:

Now, Rich, are you posting about the Retreat? Really, it seems that Celebrity has three classes onboard...

Once again, you're overcomplicating it. If you are wondering if a staff member warrants an extra tip for a service they just provided, then they do. It doesn't matter what cabin class you're in.

[Mark_T]

40 minutes ago, CGTNORMANDIE said:

So true…however…overtipping when the drink arrives always goes a long way to insure prompt service in the future!  TIP…To Insure Promptness.  

So bribe the server in an attempt to skip the line... doesn't sound quite so noble that way around though does it?

 

This is one of the least welcome exports from the US in countries that didn't have this as a problem originally.

 

I know that nothing will change this behavior, I've been well trained in the art of competitive tipping during the time I've spent living in the USA, and I do know when a bribe is customary in the US, just a pity it couldn't have stayed in the US.

[Pinboy]

7 hours ago, upwarduk said:

 But, it shouldn’t be if you are on AI.

AI was introduced, to stop people from certain cultures from removing tips.

You cannot remove them as they are part of you fare. So you have already paid for service.

Anything extra, especially if given to a bar tender before service, is bribery.

" to stop people from certain cultures from removing tips "

From what I understand you can remove the gratuities from AI-- just make up some bs and it's done.

With AI -- you have paid for " basic " service--- anything extra ( as mentioned in previous posts ) is " extra " and over and above what you paid for and should be recognized with a " Thank You -$$ ".

It is not a bribe-- period.

While it's been quoted as being a US " thing ", as a proud Canadian, I'm happy to inform you--- We do it here too-- in our " culture ". It's just the right thing to do .

Merci--- ( Thank You ).

 

 

 

[LGW59]

1 hour ago, Mark_T said:

So bribe the server in an attempt to skip the line... doesn't sound quite so noble that way around though does it?

 

This is one of the least welcome exports from the US in countries that didn't have this as a problem originally.

 

I know that nothing will change this behavior, I've been well trained in the art of competitive tipping during the time I've spent living in the USA, and I do know when a bribe is customary in the US, just a pity it couldn't have stayed in the US.

Noble - having or showing fine personal qualities or high moral principles and ideals.  Guilty as charged, thank you for pointing this out.

[Mark_T]

This is not something we are ever likely to get agreement on, I just adapt according to where I am.

 

I've never removed tips on a cruise, and as I've said, I know what is expected when I'm in a country that expects it.

 

What I do not do is try to do it anyway when in countries that do not expect it.

 

Respect the country/culture of the place you are in.

[sunlover33]

9 minutes ago, Pinboy said:

It is not a bribe-- period.

While it's been quoted as being a US " thing ", as a proud Canadian, I'm happy to inform you--- We do it here too-- in our " culture ". It's just the right thing to do .

Merci--- ( Thank You ).

 

 

Bribe

: to influence the judgment or conduct of (someone) with or as if with offers of money or favor :

 

Giving tips  before a service is definitely a bribe. After a service would be a tip. What’s your definition? I would also argue on ‘ the right thing to do’.  Maybe if staff were paid a decent living wage, they would not need to rely on tips. But there again is the cultural divide between countries. In Japan it would be considered an insult. 

[cruisestitch]

7 hours ago, upwarduk said:

 But, it shouldn’t be if you are on AI.

AI was introduced, to stop people from certain cultures from removing tips.

 

While that may have been part of the motivation for the introduction of “always included,” I think the greater motivation was to create a bundled package which would appeal to those who  want to avoid having to deal with individual purchases, especially when it comes to beverages. 

[RichYak]

10 minutes ago, sunlover33 said:

Giving tips  before a service is definitely a bribe.

So the pre-paid tips I pay before sailing are bribes?

[Pinboy]

Just now, sunlover33 said:

 

 

Bribe

: to influence the judgment or conduct of (someone) with or as if with offers of money or favor :

 

Giving tips  before a service is definitely a bribe. After a service would be a tip. What’s your definition? I would also argue on ‘ the right thing to do’.  Maybe if staff were paid a decent living wage, they would not need to rely on tips. But there again is the cultural divide between countries. In Japan it would be considered an insult. 

Any tips that I referred to are usually given after a Staff member does something " extra " to help you--
( get a reservation in a Specialty restaurant, a Spa treatment, a ticket for a tour , etc ).

However, it doesn't hurt to imply --- " You take care of me , I'll take care of you ".