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

[DallasGuy75219]

42 minutes ago, Longford said:

In the USA, restaurant owners are notoriously and abusively cheap ... well, not all but most.  Rather than raise wages on the price of a cruise or a meal in a land-side restaurant in order to pay a better wage we're pressured to leave a big tip.  In the USA 20% is being pushed as the norm.

So unless they refuse to tip or altogether eat at land-side restaurants, the Americans who refuse to tip on a cruise are hypocritical cheapskates.

[mjkacmom]

11 hours 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).

You do realize servers have to tip the bartenders for their share?

[Itchy&Scratchy]

48 minutes ago, PamelaHunt said:

We've only done the MDR on one cruise, it will be our last.  I think we gave the head waiter $60 and the assistant $40, but that was only because we felt we had to.  I really wish we hadn't left anything - the service was subpar - we waited very long periods of time between courses and we were reminded every single night to leave 10's - so over the top annoying.

you shouldn't have tipped them. You rewarded poor service....

You shouldn't feel obligated to tip extra for subpar service. Let go of the guilt!

[nelblu]

1 hour ago, Longford said:

 

Yes, the cruise lines are cheap ... and take advantage of many of the crew who are from poor countries because those individuals can earn more onboard than they would doing jobs back home.  In the USA, restaurant owners are notoriously and abusively cheap ... well, not all but most.  Rather than raise wages on the price of a cruise or a meal in a land-side restaurant in order to pay a better wage we're pressured to leave a big tip.  In the USA 20% is being pushed as the norm.

The offset a reasonable wage is that prices would go up and the wait staff would still expect a gratuity.

You are not being pressured to leave a tip but expect something of your action on social media.🤣

 

[PamelaHunt]

13 minutes ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

you shouldn't have tipped them. You rewarded poor service....

You shouldn't feel obligated to tip extra for subpar service. Let go of the guilt!

You are totally correct.  

[PolicromaSol]

13 hours 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?

Pretty much this. Some folks tip extra if their group's a little more rowdy or needs more attention than the norm.

[zoepipes]

We've been on more than 10 cruises and have always tipped the room steward on top of the auto gratuities.  We bring our two bottles of wine and request a bottle opener and two glasses and offer a $20 bill for that service.  On the Odyssey last month the steward told us they were not allowed to bring glasses to the room.  Okay, that's a first.  He did end up bringing us two plastic wine glasses (LOL) but did not refresh them on a daily basis.  I'll usually fill my glass before dinner and leave it at the dining room.  We did leave him another $20 at the end of the 7 days just because. . .I'm assuming he was relatively new.

[timbom]

Why is there all of this discussion on extra tips.  These people with standard tips (per the cruise line)  are already making almost 10 times what they could earn back home. 

 

Remember the average wage in the third world countries they come from is usually less than 150$ per week (if they can find a job).  This is why the cruise lines hires from these countries.  If  anything the average we pay on tips is way above what should be necessary for good service.

 

Real reason the tips are so high is so the cruise line can retain their staff without having to go to expense of hiring and training new workers. 

[HappyTexan44]

14 hours ago, teddie said:

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!

My evil grandparents were worse.   They usually didn't tip at all!   I didn't notice this until I was a teen and waiting tables myself.  I suspect that they ate a lot of spit since they went to the same places all the time.  

[3CatsInMA]

I only tip on the last day but I do it right, unlike the rest of you cheapskates. 

 

[bigque]

14 cruises and I have always prepaid gratuities since my very first cruise. I give extra to the wait staff and room steward at the end of each he cruise and that amount is based on well I thought the service they provided during the week was. I have no set amount for that extra but it has never been $20 per night for anyone being that I have already prepaid gratuities when I booked the cruise. 

[Joseph2017China]

14 hours ago, teddie said:

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

 

 

 

I tip the customary amount and not a penny more.  Been doing that for 33 years.  Customary amount is the amount, of a fixed fee given out to the staff.  It is not a USA amount but rather an international cruise amount that has been acceptable for decades.  I don't feel cheep and I certainly would never post how much I tip.  But I have no issue saying it is the customary amount

[Longford]

7 minutes ago, Joseph2017China said:

But I have no issue saying it is the customary amount

 

What is the "customary amount" and who decided what it is on an international level?

[graciekelli]

13 hours ago, teddie said:

Thanks.  I was like, "are we cheapskates, or what?"

Teddie

Hi Teddie, 

I think that there are a lot of people in this world that have a lot of disposible income and can afford to be super generous with tips and they spread their kindness to others whenever possible. 

 

I also think there are a lot of braggers out their who a "full of it."  

 

And finally, I think that tipping anything over what is recommended - cruise or land is extremely generous.

 

You are extremely generous.

[Joseph2017China]

27 minutes ago, Longford said:

 

What is the "customary amount" and who decided what it is on an international level?

Well that is a very good question.  Why in the USA you tip 18% at a restaurant and in Europe you round up to a whole number  (less than 5%) and in Asia, it is an insult to tip. 

 

I don't know, where and why customary amounts exists world wide for tips but they do. However a customary amount is an amount that one should expect to give for good service.  Cruise lines have a customary amount per day, and has been that way for decades.  One must remember that the cruise is international trip, and not the USA.  It is world wide.  There is no answer to your question outside of a customary amount is one that you should expect to pay.  Anything over that amount is not needed or expected.

[teddie]

5 hours ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

I don't understand a couple of things in your post... first, you mention "an additional 10% for restaurant waitstaff" at an AI.  But how do you know what the bill is?  What AI delivers an itemized bill after a meal?  Without the bill, how do you know how much 10% is?

 

Regarding taking the liquor off the bill because the "waitstaff just carries the drink"... doesn't the "waitstaff just carry your food"?  What's different between the drink and the food?  

 

Regarding the OP, maybe the others ARE tipping $20/night at the MDR... BECAUSE they removed auto tips.  Even if they didn't, who cares how much anyone else tips?  Anyone who, unprompted, says "I tip $x" or y% is just virtue signaling IMO.  I guarantee you're tipping more than others and less than some.  And that's OK.

The idea of not adding a tip to the bar portion of the tab is an old habit of many patrons. I myself could not be bothered parsing that all out.  Re the auto tips:  the persons who responded to me on the other group specifically noted that their nightly cash out was in addition to autograts.   I can't understand why someone would be fibbing about tipping--pretty small-minded IMO.  Maybe I'm just gullible....

[HBE4]

17 hours ago, teddie said:

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

 

Well, it's not inappropriate. 🙂

 

Having said that, I probably wouldn't do that myself but others feel extra generous when on a cruise and that's OK. I'm more inclined to tip as you did.

 

Usually with the wait staff I wait to the end of the cruise. With the room attendant, I may give some upfront and the rest at the end.  Not sure why, I think someone suggested that to me on my first cruise and I've being doing ever since. 

 

17 hours ago, teddie said:

2.  Were my tips over the top?

 

Not at all. That's probably what I would be tipping as well.  On a 7 day cruise, it works out to be a little less that $10 per day on top of the auto-gratuities. .

 

 

17 hours ago, teddie said:

3.  Have I turned into an outdated stiff?? 

 

Not at all. Usually this is where I would write that I don't care what others tip. They can over-tip, under-tip or not tip at all  That is between them and their server.  How people choose to spend their hard-earned money is not my business and will not affect the quality of my vacation.

 

However, I consider myself average tipper, maybe slightly above average. So I guess I do care what others tip so at least I know I'm in the ball park.

 

17 hours ago, teddie said:

Thanks (I think!)

Teddie

 

You're welcome (for sure!)

HBE4

[teddie]

6 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

 

Well, it's not inappropriate. 🙂

 

Having said that, I probably wouldn't do that myself but others feel extra generous when on a cruise and that's OK. I'm more inclined to tip as you did.

 

Usually with the wait staff I wait to the end of the cruise. With the room attendant, I may give some upfront and the rest at the end.  Not sure why, I think someone suggested that to me on my first cruise and I've being doing ever since. 

 

 

Not at all. That's probably what I would be tipping as well.  On a 7 day cruise, it works out to be a little less that $10 per day on top of the auto-gratuities. .

 

 

 

Not at all. Usually this is where I would write that I don't care what others tip. They can over-tip, under-tip or not tip at all  That is between them and their server.  How people choose to spend their hard-earned money is not my business and will not affect the quality of my vacation.

 

However, I consider myself average tipper, maybe slightly above average. So I guess I do care what others tip so at least I know I'm in the ball park.

 

 

You're welcome (for sure!)

HBE4

Many, many thanks. This helps me feel more comfortable, especially after being away from cruising for such a long period.  I know it's up to me in the end.

 

Teddie

Edited February 23, 2023 by teddie

[Rusty_lock]

I believe in the sowing and reaping principle.  Some might call it Karma, I call it the law of the harvest.  You give, you receive.  I have been fortunate in my life and have been the recipient of great kindness.  I'm paying that forward because I know that it will come back to me 10x

[Longford]

2 hours ago, Joseph2017China said:

Well that is a very good question.  Why in the USA you tip 18% at a restaurant and in Europe you round up to a whole number  (less than 5%) and in Asia, it is an insult to tip. 

 

I don't know, where and why customary amounts exists world wide for tips but they do. However a customary amount is an amount that one should expect to give for good service.  Cruise lines have a customary amount per day, and has been that way for decades.  One must remember that the cruise is international trip, and not the USA.  It is world wide.  There is no answer to your question outside of a customary amount is one that you should expect to pay.  Anything over that amount is not needed or expected.

 

Thank you for the explanation.  I doubt I'd ever not pre-pay the cruise line "customary" gratuities (I just consider it part of the overall cruise cost) ... but anything additional in cash will depend on whether or not the level of service rises above what is customarily expected for the job category.  I can't remember the last time I left no gratuity for a land-based food/beverage service.

[SilkySal]

18 hours ago, taglovestocruise said:

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. 

Last year, we only tipped half of what you are doing. This year, I convinced DH to increase it to what you are listing. We also tip $1 per drink every time a waiter serves us, voucher or drink package. DH would also tip our "favorite" bartenders making our drinks. I sometimes would like to increase our tips for specialty dinners and the room steward but DH doesn't think it's necessary. Of course, DH is probably the reason we are comfortably retired and continue to cruise often, so, I have become spoiled to some extent. We continue to make it a point to interact with all of the staff and let them know that they are truly appreciated for their service, so I hope our tips are acceptable to them.

[Deeliteful]

It is definitely a very American thing - tipping. In the UK it is generally 10% in restaurants or taxis or hairdressers.

 

Personally I think 18% is way over the top.

 

I remember buying a bottle of Champagne at a 4 or 5 star hotel in Vegas and tipping the waitress $10. My American friend was appalled! She thought I should have given her at least $25! My argument was that if I had asked for beer the bill would have been less but her work would have been the same. 
 

I pay the auto gratuities and tip as and when I feel it’s appropriate. On my last cruise I tipped $2 every now and then for my drinks (vouchers or paid), I did not tip my waiters as they weren’t great and I tipped my Cabin Steward $60 because he was great,

 

Guess I’m becoming more American! 😂

Edited February 24, 2023 by Deeliteful

[Morecruisesplz]

11 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

So unless they refuse to tip or altogether eat at land-side restaurants, the Americans who refuse to tip on a cruise are hypocritical cheapskates.

Wow, you must think you can embarrass those who tip less to change their minds.

[Longford]

3 hours ago, fredmdcruisers said:

Wow, you must think you can embarrass those who tip less to change their minds.

 

Yes, it's the ignorant who over-tip.

[Morecruisesplz]

1 hour ago, Longford said:

 

Yes, it's the ignorant who over-tip.

That's a stretch. Just ignorant of those who badger anyone who mentions their right to remove auto tips as less than. Those who tip with the envelopes and as they pass cash to staff daily could very easily be the over-tippers. Or at least tip more than the vocal group of rude posters.