Tipping on Celebrity

[dazey]

We recently returned from the Summit and have a few questions regarding tipping.  Our cruising goes back many years and we still always tip our cabin steward at the end of the cruise and will continue to do so warranted with good service. 

 

However this time in the MDR I noticed we seemed to be the only ones in our set of maybe 10 tables that handed anyone an envelope with a thank you.  Also we get Elite drinks complementary between 5-7 and in the casino when playing and our question is: does the bartender automatically get a percentage from Celebrity as a gratuity when they serve the drinks(they do take our room number)?  Never saw the many people that I could tell who were getting Elite drinks giving a tip.

 

So many times these days I find we are out of touch with how things work that I wanted to check with you all on CC.  I do not want to be tipping extra.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cruisestitch]

Many people tip quietly and surreptitiously and you might not even be able to see it done.  
 

As an example, not all use envelopes, some enclose money in a handshake.

 

 

[hrhdhd]

My thoughts:

1. I don't base my tipping on what I see other people doing or not doing.

2. I pay the gratuities that are added to my account (whether prepaid with All Included or charged nightly with Cruise Only).

3. Rarely, I tip for excellent, unexpected service.

 

Tip how you see fit.

[HS2BS]

We also recently got off the Summit, and we’re in Aqua which meant dining in Blu. Service was above and beyond and we tip according to service! Watching what someone else does not represent what is happening between servers and guests.

 

Hal

[jelayne]

We sometimes forgo the dining rooms on the last night opting for a specialty so we have gotten into the habit of tipping extra as warranted on our last visit to the dining room.

[davekathy]

47 minutes ago, dazey said:

We recently returned from the Summit and have a few questions regarding tipping.  Our cruising goes back many years and we still always tip our cabin steward at the end of the cruise and will continue to do so warranted with good service. 

 

However this time in the MDR I noticed we seemed to be the only ones in our set of maybe 10 tables that handed anyone an envelope with a thank you.  Also we get Elite drinks complementary between 5-7 and in the casino when playing and our question is: does the bartender automatically get a percentage from Celebrity as a gratuity when they serve the drinks(they do take our room number)?  Never saw the many people that I could tell who were getting Elite drinks giving a tip.

 

So many times these days I find we are out of touch with how things work that I wanted to check with you all on CC.  I do not want to be tipping extra.

 

Gratuities are also covered with the AI package or do prepaid gratuities and are paid automatically. Don't assume. 

Edited May 30, 2023 by davekathy

[phoenix_dream]

Another reason you may not see tipping is that some people use their OBC to provide extra tips, through a form at Guest Relations.  I don't know if you meant your cruising was only many years ago until Summit, but way back when tips were not included in any fare.  You always had to pay in cash to tip.  Now many fares have tips included and people may not want to tip extra.

[karmamule]

2 minutes ago, phoenix_dream said:

Another reason you may not see tipping is that some people use their OBC to provide extra tips, through a form at Guest Relations.  I don't know if you meant your cruising was only many years ago until Summit, but way back when tips were not included in any fare.  You always had to pay in cash to tip.  Now many fares have tips included and people may not want to tip extra.

 

Oh I didn't know you could use OBC for tips! We have a LOT of OBC for our upcoming cruise on the summit so it's very helpful to know that's something we can do with any unused portion.

[Honolulu Blue]

1 hour ago, dazey said:

We recently returned from the Summit and have a few questions regarding tipping.  Our cruising goes back many years and we still always tip our cabin steward at the end of the cruise and will continue to do so warranted with good service. 

 

However this time in the MDR I noticed we seemed to be the only ones in our set of maybe 10 tables that handed anyone an envelope with a thank you.  Also we get Elite drinks complementary between 5-7 and in the casino when playing and our question is: does the bartender automatically get a percentage from Celebrity as a gratuity when they serve the drinks(they do take our room number)?  Never saw the many people that I could tell who were getting Elite drinks giving a tip.

 

So many times these days I find we are out of touch with how things work that I wanted to check with you all on CC.  I do not want to be tipping extra.

I'm pretty sure you're tipping extra. 🤑  But that may be OK with you.  😍  It's certainly OK with others.  🤩  Let's walk through this:

 

• Every cruise I've taken since 2014 (some on Celebrity) have either billed me in advance for gratuities or have done so while I've been onboard.  This is to cover the gratuities that would have, in the past, been given to the stewards, MDR staff, and a few others through envelopes, handshakes, and whatever.  I'm happy not to have to go through this rigmarole, but others feel differently.
• Some packages, like Celebrity's "All Inclusive" include the gratuities I mentioned above
• The crew seem to like this system - or at least they're willing to put up with it in order to get paid.  I choose not to worry too much about the ins and outs of it; I just hope that the people that served me well on my cruises got their fair share from me and everyone else.
• I don't know the ins and outs of Celebrity's drink package or the provided Elite drinks, so I'll defer to others as to whether gratuities are included, how much, and where
• I sometimes choose to tip others based on extraordinary service provided to me.  It's easy enough to do if you're so motivated
• Some people choose to reduce or remove the gratuities I mentioned in my first bullet point.  I recommend not doing it, and that's all I have to say about that.

[Mark_K]

26 minutes ago, karmamule said:

 

Oh I didn't know you could use OBC for tips! We have a LOT of OBC for our upcoming cruise on the summit so it's very helpful to know that's something we can do with any unused portion.

If I remember right, you can’t really tip specific dining room staff using the form. It goes into a general bucket.

[karmamule]

Just now, Mark_K said:

If I remember right, you can’t really tip specific dining room staff using the form. It goes into a general bucket.

 

We'll check out the details when we get on the ship. Thanks!

[39august]

You get a form from Guest Services and it requires the full name of the person you wish to tip. I have asked room stewards to write out their last names for me. 

[SeaWatch12]

Last week on Equinox we dined in BLU for every breakfast and all dinners except one.  

The hostess sat us in the same area each evening and most mornings. We were lucky to have the same serving team and sommelier. Even though we paid gratuities thru Always Included, we discreetly handed a cash tip (no envelope) to the waiter, assistant waiter and wine server on the last night. Even in Murano I gave an extra cash gratuity to the waiter even though gratuity was added to the specialty fee. The staff there is wonderful.
I am not sure if the Murano servers keep it for themselves or put it into a pool for the staff. 
 

Also, gave extra to our wonderful room attendant. 

[Charles4515]

2 hours ago, dazey said:

o many times these days I find we are out of touch with how things work that I wanted to check with you all on CC.  I do not want to be tipping extra.

 

I leave the auto gratuities on that are charged to my account every day. You might be tipping extra if you leave the auto grats on or hvae gratuities included. . I only add an extra cash gratuity  for special service. No envelope just hand cash. For the complimentary Elite drinks I hand a $1 to the server. I also use Cafe Bacio for coffees a lot and since I am Elite Plus at the end of the week I hand them some cash. 

[WestLakeGirl]

To the OP, you may never have seen anyone giving any extra gratuities because they do it stealthily……

[jelayne]

I know you can give extra tip to the butler and cabin attendant. I was told dining staff given tips via the form the $ went into the pool not the individual.

[lv2cruisgrl]

We almost always tip extra during the cruise. We take small bills, $1, 2, 5 and we hand out tips when we feel service has been great.  (We also prepay our tips.) 

So you may never see us tip as we don't use envelopes.

 

[dazey]

I always tipped MDR staff in the envelopes available to guests at Customer Relations.  Honestly I have no problem tipping and it does not matter who does and who does not.  We paid gratuities prior to sailing anyway.  Just really wanted to know for sure if the bartenders got gratuities on the Elite drinks so I will call Captain Club.  I  assume they do as they never seem to pass us by when we want to order another.  Of course, we had already tipped with a couple of $'s for each drink so now I think I know why.

 

Thanks for the info about using onboard credits to pay required gratuity.  May not pay before leaving for cruise next time.

[mom says]

Many people still tip their cabin and dining room staff over and above the auto grats; but do it more subtly than with the showy envelope production. As for bartenders  and drinks servers- there is an automatic gratuity added to every drink order. This is included with beverage packages. Tip extra if you see fit.

[Charles4515]

15 minutes ago, dazey said:

I always tipped MDR staff in the envelopes available to guests at Customer Relations.  Honestly I have no problem tipping and it does not matter who does and who does not.  We paid gratuities prior to sailing anyway.  Just really wanted to know for sure if the bartenders got gratuities on the Elite drinks so I will call Captain Club.  I  assume they do as they never seem to pass us by when we want to order another.  Of course, we had already tipped with a couple of $'s for each drink so now I think I know why.

 

Thanks for the info about using onboard credits to pay required gratuity.  May not pay before leaving for cruise next time.

I always tip a dollar for Elite drinks. I usually get pretty good drinks when the servers are used to me tipping on those. It is possible they get something from the tip pool for those drinks but I am skeptical that Captains Club will tell you the truth. If the cabin stewards have been over and above I hand them some extra but not in an envelope. I don’t tip the MDR extra because I don’t do assigned seating. 

[INSIDERS CABIN]

Onboard tip form, to use with OBC, is available at guest services. The tip is added to next paycheck for specific employee. Tips may only go to Cabin steward and butler, general dining and general housekeeping; tip form cannot be used for your waiter or bus boy, for example.

[bikerunner]

Like others said, many tip very indiscreetly, I know I do, I do have the AI package almost all the time and never have touched those and just let them charge etc.  If I am in the main dining room/Blu depending on service, usually always above excellent and will tip the teams working my table, but it usually is a night or 2 before the last night as they servers are not as rushed, saying good byes and starting the turnover the for the next day new cruise.  Honestly what others do, like others stated does not affect me in one way or the other.  

[WestLakeGirl]

Many tip indiscreetly and others do so discreetly

[dazey]

I am surprised using the envelope is considered gauche.  I never tried slipping someone cash in a handshake. One would see it years ago the "gentleman " would sort of slip it to the maitre 'd for quicker or better seating at restaurants. Especially now with health issues I would not try it.

 

Do appreciate hearing everyone's opinion though. Will rethink my tipping but when I do I still will use an envelope with a "thank you" and our name for our cabin attendent and MDR server.   Do give dollars at bars and leave for bartender on the bar.

 

Old school for sure I am I guess.

[wrk2cruise]

I think with the increase of the amounts of tips included in the pre-paid gratuities, be it daily or included in AI and the increase in the % on drinks and specialty dining my observation is that many have reduced the amount of "extra" tipping being done.

 

As far as bartender/bar server gratuities, my understanding is they get a slice of the overall beverage gratuity pool.  Their slice is influenced by performance (however Celebrity rates that??).  I believe they also get a token amount for each "swipe" (drink served) but that's not the bulk of their "tips".