What benefit would I actually see with a cash tip at bar on day 1 or 2?

[Seville2Cabo]

1 minute ago, PolicromaSol said:

 

That was where the concept of tipping came from.

 

It was supposed to be a "bribe" for better customer service than everybody else, then somehow became customary when everybody started doing it.

False. See above 

[PolicromaSol]

Just now, Seville2Cabo said:

False. See above 

Snopes is only claiming it's not an acronym. Which is about as manipulative as most crap they write these days.

[Seville2Cabo]

3 minutes ago, PolicromaSol said:

Snopes is only claiming it's not an acronym. Which is about as manipulative as most crap they write these days.

Referring to this. 
 

The oft-repeated story of "tips" meaning "to insure prompt service" is in fact an urban legend. The Oxford English Dictionary places the origin of "tip" as a slang word used by criminals more than 400 years ago, and the dictionary provides historical examples.

[Ret MP]

I bet you can go to 5 different sites and get 5 different answers.  Having said that, I wouldn't go to Snopes anymore than I would Wiki, and I don't go to either.  

 

One source I found was that it meant/the history was to touch lightly.  Whatever!  It's like finding the meaning of GOLF.  Some will say, Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden.  And then there are many others.  

Edited October 19, 2022 by Ret MP

[Seville2Cabo]

24 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

I bet you can go to 5 different sites and get 5 different answers.  Having said that, I wouldn't go to Snopes anymore than I would Wiki, and I don't go to either.  

 

One source I found was that it meant/the history was to touch lightly.  Whatever!  It's like finding the meaning of GOLF.  Some will say, Gentlemen Only, Ladies Forbidden.  And then there are many others.  

True, but I guess it should be Tep, not tip

[PolicromaSol]

Yeah, looked up a few other sources myself out of curiosity.

 

Funny thing is Wiki claims that the "bribe for better service" thing started in America by Americans wanting to show off, but also claimed an earlier origin:  English aristocrats giving bonuses to their servants. (But were paid nearly diddly squat in the first place.) The Americans bribing for better service were trying to look aristocratic by giving tips, so it was a way to show off wealth. I guess by Wiki's argument, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

 

I don't trust Wiki on everything, but on politically neutral subjects they tend to give all sides of the story and enough discussion behind them that you know everything's been given its proper check. 

 

I can take an L on the origins, but Snopes was arguing something completely different, and is still manipulative garbage. Do not trust it. (It was good... 20 years ago.) I'd never even heard of tipping being an acronym until today, and I've read more than my share of articles and histories regarding it, mainly trying to figure out if there's any real end to tip creep. (Nope, there isn't.) And also to adjust my personal calculations which are usually a percentage plus a dollar than rounded up. (Yeah, okay, I'm part of the problem there.) As for things like drinks on a ship, 2 dollar bills for me, I swear by them.

[blueslily]

I'm curious if most of the people responding to this thread are from the US. 

 

It's interesting when I travel around the world and service staff comment on tipping and the tipping culture in the US, which I understand has caught on in some other parts of the world.

 

There are interesting comments in this thread. Like the many other tipping threads that are posted here, on and on. 

 

Happy cruising everyone!

[PolicromaSol]

13 minutes ago, blueslily said:

I'm curious if most of the people responding to this thread are from the US. 

 

It's interesting when I travel around the world and service staff comment on tipping and the tipping culture in the US, which I understand has caught on in some other parts of the world.

 

There are interesting comments in this thread. Like the many other tipping threads that are posted here, on and on. 

 

Happy cruising everyone!

 

Over the years I've heard a lot of Americans blaming each other for bringing tipping to various tourist destinations (like, if enough Americans travel there, people start expecting tips), and residents of various other countries thinking we're all nuts for not just paying the price on the menu.

 

I don't think there's any "winning" the tip debate. 

[Ret MP]

1 hour ago, Seville2Cabo said:

True, but I guess it should be Tep, not tip

Why?  As I pasted above, "Ensure and Insure" are synonymous with each other.

[Ret MP]

1 hour ago, blueslily said:

I'm curious if most of the people responding to this thread are from the US. 

 

I'm born and raised in Canada, well until the 2nd grade or as Canadians would say, "Grade 2", where they do tip.  I'm now a U.S. Citizen and Veteran and I tip, obviously.  My dad taught me to tip who was also a Canadian from birth until he was in his 70s when he became a U.S. Citizen.  

[BirdTravels]

9 hours ago, Woody14 said:

It is not that I have anything against tipping and I seek out my favourite bartenders at the end and give them an extra tip but reading on the boards all the conversation about tipping in advance I am curious what I would actually see as far as a benefit.    I can't see them giving me a much different experience is i slip them a dollar or 2.   maybe if I dropped a 20 or 50 maybe but still I have a deluxe drink package so why should I tip to start?

You tip to acknowledge great service. Not to get something out of it. 

[Junkhouse]

8 hours ago, PWP-001 said:

Actually this is a quote from a brief history of tipping and it's something that I've heard from other sources which I cannot remember to cite:

 

Tipping—which may have originated in the taverns of 17th Century England, where drinkers would slip money to the waiter “to insure promptitude” or T.I.P for short

 

Tipping was done in advance.

Sounds like “Fornication Under Consent of King” origin.

[celticgirl]

Im not saying what ship or bar but we tipped 100 first night n 20 every night after card never ever got swiped through 

[blueslily]

6 hours ago, PolicromaSol said:

 

I don't think there's any "winning" the tip debate. 

 

Yep, totally agree. Tipping threads just go on and on here on this site 😂🤔😉 I often skip those threads. I'm going back to that strategy.

 

Today is another day closer to my next cruise. I'm taking a first time cruiser, a veteran, on their first ever cruise!   Woohoo! It's always fun introducing people to cruising. So, I'm heading back to reading threads that are helpful for my next cruise. Love cruising! 

 

[time4u2go]

7 hours ago, Seville2Cabo said:

True, but I guess it should be Tep, not tip

Correct. 

 

Edited October 19, 2022 by time4u2go

[robmtx]

I recommend steering clear of tipping with $2 bills. These are not commonplace, and often disregarded as legit cash. And then, crew aren't always able to spend them or convert them in a lot of foreign ports. 

While the US dollar is the most acceptable form of payment on Earth, his cousin the $2 bill is a little less respected.

 

As for tipping - a tip-as-you-go system gets you noticed. Keep in mind that your daytime bartenders (e.g. on the pool deck) are your nighttime bartenders at a different venue. I was in the Schooner bar and my Sun Deck bartender was there and she greeted me by name and and tended to my drink order personally. Another night, a bartender I hadn't met before said "hello Mr. Rob" and got me my drink. I didn't even know the guy? That means my main bartender was talking about me to him, so far as to tell him my name and drink preference. That attention to detail doesn't go unnoticed with me.

 

Reminder: Tipping is discretionary and by no means a requirement. Tipping is also customary and benefits you as well as the staff. 

[Joseph2017China]

16 hours ago, Woody14 said:

It is not that I have anything against tipping and I seek out my favourite bartenders at the end and give them an extra tip but reading on the boards all the conversation about tipping in advance I am curious what I would actually see as far as a benefit.    I can't see them giving me a much different experience is i slip them a dollar or 2.   maybe if I dropped a 20 or 50 maybe but still I have a deluxe drink package so why should I tip to start?

Well, I don't tip extra, and have excellent service, and have a beverage package mostly.  So the only benefit I see is that your wallet will be lighter, and you will pay more for drinks than me, and get the same service.

[Mum2Mercury]

1 hour ago, robmtx said:

I recommend steering clear of tipping with $2 bills. These are not commonplace, and often disregarded as legit cash. And then, crew aren't always able to spend them or convert them in a lot of foreign ports. 

While the US dollar is the most acceptable form of payment on Earth, his cousin the $2 bill is a little less respected.

Once -- years ago -- I cashed a small check to get singles for cruise tips, and I asked for all Susan B. Anthony dollars.  What a mistake.  I thought they would stand out and be cool, but I got some disappointed looks from the crew.  They thought they were quarters.  

 

Simple single bills.  That's the ticket. 

[rudeney]

So I took $100 in one dollar bills on my last cruise with the DBP.  For each drink ordered, I handed the bartender/server $1.  I did this partly because I just don't feel right not tipping "something" even though I know the DBP has an 18% gratuity built-in.  But I also did it so I could count how many drinks we had to see if the UDP was worth it.  I think I came back with just over $40.  But that didn't count drinks ordered while dining, fresh OJ, bottled water, etc.  And then Jan reminded me that I had comingled change from where we spent money in port with my stack of ones so it's possible I spend more than I took with me, so this strategy probably didn't give me a good count.

 

Regardless, I tended to go to the same bars - the Pool Bar as it was the closest to our room, High Notes because we spent a lot of time in VK lounge, and the Schooner Bar when in the casino because the casino bar didn't have Johnnie Walker Double-Black.  Bartenders there got to know me and while the bars were never crowded, I was definitely acknowledged and give good over-pours.  I drank High Notes out of Double-Black, so Lanvin, the bartender there, would just serve me a double or Black Label.  BTW, if you are on Voyager, go up to High Notes and tell Lanvin that "Mr. Johnnie Walker" says hi!  

[Mum2Mercury]

1 minute ago, rudeney said:

So I took $100 in one dollar bills on my last cruise with the DBP.  For each drink ordered, I handed the bartender/server $1.  I did this partly because I just don't feel right not tipping "something" even though I know the DBP has an 18% gratuity built-in. 

Yes, I tip $1 for every drink because of the "not feeling right" thing -- but when we're talking about just a beer, I feel the 18% is plenty.  

 

I like the idea of counting up how many drinks you used -- I think that way too -- but, yeah, you fell short in the execution.  Guess you'll have to go on another cruise to continue your research!  

[Ret MP]

I've always tipped on a cruise ship with $2.00, for decades now.  The only complaints I hear about it is from people in these social media forums.  Never, not once has a recipient of a $2.00 bill complained to me personally.  And the people that complain about it in the social media forums only allude to the bills not being widely recognized back in the crew's home country.  I don't know if that's true or not, but when I give it to them, I don't tell them that they can't spend them in/on the ship, in the U.S. when they visit there, or in Ports of Call that recognize them.  This is a non-issue issue.  

[mjkacmom]

17 hours ago, Seville2Cabo said:

If you give money upfront, is it still a tip?  Or is it a bribe?

Was just at a gathering this weekend, we all agreed that tipping in advance is definitely a bribe, and well worth it in certain situations. I’ve found the practice very effective at open bar situations. On cruises we just tip $1 of 2 with each drink since we frequent several different bars.

[robmtx]

52 minutes ago, rudeney said:

So I took $100 in one dollar bills on my last cruise with the DBP.  For each drink ordered, I handed the bartender/server $1. 

We once tried the "ticket" strategy to keep count. You can buy tickets (for like raffles) and then fold them and put them in your pocket. Then for every drink you order, rip a coupon off the stack. then later you can see what ticket number you're at and calculate your drinks.

 

By the way - this was epic fail also as we forgot sometimes to do it, and I think I washed some left in my pocket. lol -- but I'm not above posting my ideas even when they didn't work so well!

 

 

[smokeybandit]

16 hours ago, Jimbo said:

Been on a lot of cruises and every crew member seems to have the same sad story. After awhile makes you wonder if they are taught to do this in their training.

 

Don't get me wrong I still tip but I really rather not hear about their back home stories. Kind of gets old.

 

I doubt it's part of their training, but no doubt there are a lot of people on board who will be sympathetic to the life of a crew member and it may well elicit a few extra dollars in tips.

 

But just the same, being proud of your family and where you're from is a much bigger deal in other countries than in the USA.

Edited October 19, 2022 by smokeybandit

[Joseph2017China]

1 hour ago, Ret MP said:

I've always tipped on a cruise ship with $2.00, for decades now.  The only complaints I hear about it is from people in these social media forums.  Never, not once has a recipient of a $2.00 bill complained to me personally.  And the people that complain about it in the social media forums only allude to the bills not being widely recognized back in the crew's home country.  I don't know if that's true or not, but when I give it to them, I don't tell them that they can't spend them in/on the ship, in the U.S. when they visit there, or in Ports of Call that recognize them.  This is a non-issue issue.  

On the ship, they have a very complicated banking ATM that is stocked with all kinds of money.  The owner of the ATM/bank will take deposits in all currency.  The money is converted and placed in the employees own bank account, most likely at home.  At some point in time, the ATM is maintained, restocked etc or excess money removed.  

 

That ATM will have the ability to disburse cash, which is converted from their banks currency to the currency they want, such as USD or EUR etc.  

 

This is like a normal bank.  They don't carry around thousands in cash until they go home.  They deposit it.  

 

The staff does not care if you give $2.00 bill.  They will smile and say thank you.  However, they just take it to the ATM.  It is a novelty for the giver, but the receiver, just puts into the ATM.  

 

Honestly, I don't know why anyone would actually keep those, and try to spend it in port.  It would be too much of a hassle.