Suites - tipping concierge

[slyster]

Do the daily service gratuities in a suite include the concierge?  I know being in a suite, I paid more for the service gratuity, but I wasn’t sure if the concierge was included.  I stayed in a suite once before, but never interacted with the concierge for the entire cruise.  This time, I plan on asking them assist with dining reservations.  We are staying in a Crown Loft Suite.

 

Besides reservations, can you tell me what other things a concierge assists with?  I want to make sure I tip them appropriately especially if they do not receive any of the suite tips.

Edited August 1, 2023 by slyster

[txjim09]

The concierge is very helpful and it pays to get to know them early, starting with the e-mail you will receive pre-cruise.  On the Allure, they escorted us to shows, disembarkation and tenders, all while taking reserved elevators or skipping lines.  They made sure we knew what was happening around the ship and generally made sure we were comfortable in the lounge.   

 

They are not included in the tip pool and I made sure they understand how much they helped with an appropriate tip.  

[gerif]

They can be very helpful and are not included in the tip pool so need to be tipped separately (as well as the bartenders in the lounge). 

[slyster]

Ok thanks for that.  I know there are certain beers and wines that are free from 11-11. We do have a refreshment package too.  Do they give you a receipt for your drink so you can tip?  Or is cash expected?

[HBCcruiser]

5 minutes ago, slyster said:

Ok thanks for that.  I know there are certain beers and wines that are free from 11-11. We do have a refreshment package too.  Do they give you a receipt for your drink so you can tip?  Or is cash expected?

On our last 9-day cruise our concierge was one of the best ever. He organized all of our specialty dining and show rezys, made sure we had the Coco Cay cabana we wanted, escorted us as listed above among other things. I tipped him $100 on day one for that. He continued to provide us with service above and beyond what we expected so I tipped him another $100 at the end of our cruise. There were 3 of us. 

Edited August 2, 2023 by HBCcruiser

[Ashland]

Some of ours have been great a few not so much. Our gratuity is based on what our needs have been. On some cruises we have not used or needed their services...so tip accordingly.

[klfrodo]

1 hour ago, slyster said:

Ok thanks for that.  I know there are certain beers and wines that are free from 11-11. We do have a refreshment package too.  Do they give you a receipt for your drink so you can tip?  Or is cash expected?

Completely separate situation from the Concierge.

The Suite Lounge or Concierge Lounge depending on the ship, has a bartender who is separate from the Concierge. You will tip them in cash if you choose and you’re not limited to beer or wine while in the lounge.

[SG65CB]

The suite concierge can do almost anything guest services can do. before getting in line for something at guest services check with your concierge. I think they are actually an employee of guest services. 

[George C]

We tip concierge depending on what they do for us , they can normally help for any problem you may be having , we tip anywhere from 0 to 100.

[slyster]

Ok wow. Im glad I asked!  We will be prepared to tip them as they are definitely assisting us with dinner reservations.  
 

as for the suite lounge bartenders it sounds like we need cash for that too.  In other venues, I have usually signed the $0 receipt and added a little more if warranted.  
 

off topic but are they giving out receipts for using diamond vouchers and refreshment package?  I usually add a tip there.  If they have stopped doing that I want to have extra $1s when we board. 

[lovesthebeach2]

10 hours ago, gerif said:

They can be very helpful and are not included in the tip pool so need to be tipped separately (as well as the bartenders in the lounge). 

How do you know they’re not included in the tip pool? Im curious what would be the reason since not everyone tips at the end of the cruise. What would be their incentive to want to be a suite concierge? Are they paid a higher salary? That would make sense then……

[Kiki and The Noush]

1 hour ago, slyster said:

Ok wow. Im glad I asked!  We will be prepared to tip them as they are definitely assisting us with dinner reservations.  
 

as for the suite lounge bartenders it sounds like we need cash for that too.  In other venues, I have usually signed the $0 receipt and added a little more if warranted.  
 

off topic but are they giving out receipts for using diamond vouchers and refreshment package?  I usually add a tip there.  If they have stopped doing that I want to have extra $1s when we board. 

I always tip bar service in cash.  I could be wrong about this, but I think if you just add a tip to your receipt it goes into the tip pool and not just to the person you were intending on tipping.  If someone knows if this is true or false, please respond.

[island lady]

Cash tips are always the best for the bartenders, waiters, concierge, restaurant host, etc.  They appreciate that much more.  

 

We always tip for each drink in cash.  They get to know us and don't even generate a paper receipt for our vouchers and CL/SL drinks.  

 

[whoshwhosh]

what would be an appropriate tip for the concierge lounge bartender if having 1 drink?

[George C]

1 hour ago, Kiki and The Noush said:

I always tip bar service in cash.  I could be wrong about this, but I think if you just add a tip to your receipt it goes into the tip pool and not just to the person you were intending on tipping.  If someone knows if this is true or false, please respond.

I bring a hundred in singles and another hundred in 5 for tips for a 7 day cruise, plus larger bills., if I am running low I may sign to add tips.

[slyster]

You raise a good point.  I know the auto tip generated from the drink purchase is pooled together. But I thought I’d I wrote in an additional tip on the receipt, that server or bartender got the additional tip.  
 

I guess that’s not the case?

[reallyitsmema]

9 minutes ago, slyster said:

You raise a good point.  I know the auto tip generated from the drink purchase is pooled together. But I thought I’d I wrote in an additional tip on the receipt, that server or bartender got the additional tip.  
 

I guess that’s not the case?

 

We have never received a paper receipt in the SL.  We always tip with cash.

[molly361]

3 hours ago, slyster said:

Ok wow. Im glad I asked!  We will be prepared to tip them as they are definitely assisting us with dinner reservations.  
 

as for the suite lounge bartenders it sounds like we need cash for that too.  In other venues, I have usually signed the $0 receipt and added a little more if warranted.  
 

off topic but are they giving out receipts for using diamond vouchers and refreshment package?  I usually add a tip there.  If they have stopped doing that I want to have extra $1s when we board. 

I have found it hit or miss about getting receipts for the D vouchers in venues other than the SL even when I have my cash tip out on the bar

[molly361]

42 minutes ago, whoshwhosh said:

what would be an appropriate tip for the concierge lounge bartender if having 1 drink?

Figuring a drink costs around $14 I would say at least $2.  20% would be closer to $3 a drink

[OCSC Mike]

5 minutes ago, molly361 said:

I have found it hit or miss about getting receipts for the D vouchers in venues other than the SL even when I have my cash tip out on the bar

 

The receipts for voucher drinks definitely varies... a lot I didn't get a single paper receipt on Wonder in June. The SL bartenders (especially one who was both a great guy and made amazing drinks) knew us but no one else did.

[Fish42]

The Harmony of the Seas has around 95 Suite cabins not including Junior Suites (which don't have access to the concierge).  If every Suite cabin tipped $100 for a 7 night voyage and all cabins were booked, that's a $9500 benefit to the concierge staff.  Over one year that would be almost $500,000 benefit to the staff.

 

Since not all cabins will be booked and not everyone will tip that much (or in some cases 0), I wonder if the benefit would be closer to $300,000.  I also wonder what a salaried position in the hospitality industry would make...

 

I usually tip $100 per cabin.

[slyster]

2 hours ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

We have never received a paper receipt in the SL.  We always tip with cash.

Okay thank you. That is very helpful!  I will definitely have plenty of dollar bills. 

[coachmike1959]

6 hours ago, slyster said:

Ok wow. Im glad I asked!  We will be prepared to tip them as they are definitely assisting us with dinner reservations.  
 

as for the suite lounge bartenders it sounds like we need cash for that too.  In other venues, I have usually signed the $0 receipt and added a little more if warranted.  
 

off topic but are they giving out receipts for using diamond vouchers and refreshment package?  I usually add a tip there.  If they have stopped doing that I want to have extra $1s when we board. 

when you add a tip to the receipt the money is put into the tip pool for the bartending staff...i have always carried $1 bills to tip the bartenders that i frequented. they learn your account number so after several days you will not even have to show your sea pass card..and they usually tell me if i have reached my 5 day drink limit and i just tell them to use DW's account

[Ashland]

3 hours ago, island lady said:

Cash tips are always the best for the bartenders, waiters, concierge, restaurant host, etc.  They appreciate that much more.  

 

We always tip for each drink in cash.  They get to know us and don't even generate a paper receipt for our vouchers and CL/SL drinks.  

 

We also tip the waitstaff cash directly to them in the SL.

[OCSC Mike]

32 minutes ago, slyster said:

I will definitely have plenty of dollar bills.

 

Going to the bank for a large amount of singles is one of my favorite pre-cruise rituals. I always assume the bank teller thinks I'm going to a strip club (no judgment of course).