Since the recent tipping post, I have to ask....

[teddie]

I've mustered up some bravery to ask my tipping questions after seeing the most recent tipping post.  We live in the NY metro area (NJ) and I was raised in NYC by a service-oriented family (hospitality business), so I consider myself a decent tipper.  On our last cruise on the 2/4 Anthem sailing, a group on another platform (which shall remain unnamed) discussed tippping.  A number of posters noted that they gave their wait staff $20 dollars extra every night in the MDR. Also to their room steward.  I felt kinda like I was under some rock, as after 10 cruises, we have never tipped that much!

 

We sailed in a non-suite balcony cabin, paid the automatic gratuities, and at the end of the cruise, we gave the waiter, assistant waiter and room steward $60 more each.  We tipped the hostess at the MTD podium and the Maitre 'd $20 each. 

 

I'm not looking for a debate, but would love to hear what others are doing.  Hence, I ask the following:

 

1.  Do you feel that $20 extra each per night was appropriate for the wait staff and room steward? 

2.  Were my tips over the top?

3.  Have I turned into an outdated stiff?? 

 

Lay it on me, people.

 

Thanks (I think!)

Teddie

 

 

 

Edited February 23, 2023 by teddie

[smokeybandit]

I think some people exaggerate how much they tip.

 

So tip what you think it's worthy and don't pay any attention to what other people claim. Remember you aren't obligated to tip a single penny over any included gratuities.

[cruiseguy1016]

1 minute ago, smokeybandit said:

I think some people exaggerate how much they tip.

 

So tip what you think it's worthy and don't pay any attention to what other people claim. Remember you aren't obligated to tip a single penny over any included gratuities.

 

You're not even obligated to pay the included gratuities.

[ngrund]

a couple of things to put this in perspective

 

-were those $20 a night tips for a couple, a family of 4, or a family of 8 with 6 obnoxious/messy kids?

[teddie]

3 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

I think some people exaggerate how much they tip.

 

So tip what you think it's worthy and don't pay any attention to what other people claim. Remember you aren't obligated to tip a single penny over any included gratuities.

I hear you.  But ya know, there are those out there who leave a 10% tip for what they deem to be good service and feel good about themselves.  I suppose they are entitled to do as they wish, but I do not want to be that person!

[teddie]

1 minute ago, ngrund said:

a couple of things to put this in perspective

 

-were those $20 a night tips for a couple, a family of 4, or a family of 8 with 6 obnoxious/messy kids?

True. Good questions.

[joeyancho]

You're fine.  They were over the top. 

[Rusty_lock]

$20 a night in the MDR is over the top.  Your tips were more than generous and more than adequate and would have been gratefully received.  I typically tip just like you have and have no intention of going much beyond that.  The only way I do things differently than you is generally give $20 to the cabin steward up front when I meet him/her on day 1 and let them know my special needs.

Also I tend to tip my bartenders or servers in the bar.  I'm probably overly generous there but that is for selfish reasons.  I tend to get good return on investment when doing that.

[Seville2Cabo]

I say BS.  We do tip specialty dinning $15 to $20 (for 2) , but MDR is usually $25 for a week.  I will admit we have not been in MDR for 7 years, but that is what we would do.  $20 per night in MDR is crazy

[zanydoc]

We usually do the autogratuities and then give extra to the cabin steward, waiter and assistant waiter at the end….If they did a great job. If not, just the autograts. We had a cruise last year where the Waiter was terrible, the assistant waiter was person non grata and then the waiter had the nerve to come and ask for 5’s on the survey the last night. I did not tip extra and I considered removing the autograt it was so bad…but I didn’t. Maybe they just were off for that week? I did not give a good review, tho.
 

I agree that $20 per night is over the top and your tipping is more than generous. 

Edited February 23, 2023 by zanydoc

[njkruzer]

You're doing fine.  We don't usually tip at the beginning but tip extra at the end.  Also tip in the middle if it's a long cruise or a b2b.  

[taglovestocruise]

I think I am a good tipper, you are over the top compared to me.  I tip $10 for a specialty dinner, $1 for every voucher cocktail we order, $20 extra to the room steward as my wife has several additional tasks for him/her, $3 for room service runner, never have left anything extra for the waitstaff as we usually have 3 -5 nights of specialty dining.  My son on the other hand thinks I way under tip. He had 15 years as a bartender at a large Indian casino near us and would make upwards of $500 in tips on Friday and Saturday nights. 

[neverbeenhere]

Just to be the first write it and hopefully the highest claimed amount, we give $12,000 per meal in the MDR as a gratuity each night. 

[zanydoc]

On 2/21/2023 at 4:25 PM, Itchy&Scratchy said:

 

 

3 minutes ago, neverbeenhere said:

Just to be the first write it and hopefully the highest claimed amount, we give $12,000 per meal in the MDR as a gratuity each night. 

Is that Pesos?

Edited February 23, 2023 by zanydoc

[Seville2Cabo]

11 minutes ago, zanydoc said:

 

Is that Pesos?

Still $600 per meal

[soremekun]

If someone only elects for prepaid or daily gratuities as defined by the cruise line and doesn't tip a single dollar extra, is that person cheap?

[neverbeenhere]

No.

 

 

If they are a billionaire…

I would say cautious with their cash. 

 

 

Edited February 23, 2023 by neverbeenhere

[Coralc]

2 minutes ago, soremekun said:

If someone only elects for prepaid or daily gratuities as defined by the cruise line and doesn't tip a single dollar extra, is that person cheap?

No. Or maybe a little. Tipping is a personal matter and is not the norm (at all) in all countries. I think cruise line staff are used to that, as opposed to US employees. They seem to be delighted, or at least pleased when an additional gratuity is offered. 

[ONECRUISER]

42 minutes ago, zanydoc said:

 

Is that Pesos?

Beat me too it...

[Coralc]

We were on a TP, and went out to dinner in Papeete with our friends, a couple from Australia. When DH went to pay the bill at the table, our friend kept slapping his hand, and saying, "No tip! Do not leave a tip! You don't tip here" 

 

It is difficult for us to get used to that sort of mind set. 

[Rusty_lock]

38 minutes ago, soremekun said:

If someone only elects for prepaid or daily gratuities as defined by the cruise line and doesn't tip a single dollar extra, is that person cheap?

No, not by my standards.  The cruise line has determined that that is recommended amount.  It is sufficient and anyone who does that has, at least in my humble opnion, fulfilled their obligation.

[Longford]

1 hour ago, teddie said:

 I suppose they are entitled to do as they wish, but I do not want to be that person!

 

"entitled:?  Really?  Well, that's your perspective.  For an AI vacation where most people pay cruise line determined gratuities in advance ... an additional 10% for restaurant waitstaff seems appropriate to me ... unless the service was spectacular and a higher tip is warranted.  I subscribe to the belief that tips are for service rendered over and above what the staff is already being paid to do the job.  Some people view tips as a sort of charity for what they believe is low wages paid to restaurant staff / crew - so they over-tip.  Not me.  And I've been in the hospitality business.  When tipping, I oftentimes deduct the liquor portion of the check when tipping ... because drink prices inflate the check and it's the bartenders who do the work, and waitstaff just carries the drink to my table.  Others can do as they wish, it's their money ... but I'm not subscribing to some sort of guilt trip when tipping (not that it's what you do).

[Longford]

56 minutes ago, soremekun said:

If someone only elects for prepaid or daily gratuities as defined by the cruise line and doesn't tip a single dollar extra, is that person cheap?

 

Answer:  No

[njkruzer]

We tip for drinks in the CL and at bars, usually a $1 per drink.  In the past when we knew we would have the same servers in the CL we would tip a couple of times during the week.  We've been with couples who were not Americans and they did not tip at all.   The servers were always appreciative and remembered our favorites. 

[teddie]

5 minutes ago, Longford said:

 

"entitled:?  Really?  Well, that's your perspective.  For an AI vacation where most people pay cruise line determined gratuities in advance ... an additional 10% for restaurant waitstaff seems appropriate to me ... unless the service was spectacular and a higher tip is warranted.  I subscribe to the belief that tips are for service rendered over and above what the staff is already being paid to do the job.  Some people view tips as a sort of charity for what they believe is low wages paid to restaurant staff / crew - so they over-tip.  Not me.  And I've been in the hospitality business.  When tipping, I oftentimes deduct the liquor portion of the check when tipping ... because drink prices inflate the check and it's the bartenders who do the work, and waitstaff just carries the drink to my table.  Others can do as they wish, it's their money ... but I'm not subscribing to some sort of guilt trip when tipping (not that it's what you do).

"Entitled" in my usage here basically means "it's their choice".  I feel more comfortable knowing I wasn't undertipping after being away from cruising for almost 10 years.  It wouldn't incur guilt for me;  I just want to reward good service appropriately and with the times.

 

Thanks for your input.

Teddie