Another thread about tipping thoughts and customs - Not how much $$ people tip

[PTC DAWG]

The asking a crew member to dinner mentioned above sounds a little creepy to me…YMMV. 
 

I think they would rather have the CASH. 

[Spif Barwunkel]

Is it foolish to over-tip, selfish to under-tip, and just plain wrong not to tip at all? Whether it's your culture, your upbringing, your mindset, your financial status, or any combination thereof, the only right answer - yes or no - is the one that fits you. The thought of tipping or not tipping should not be a burden to your cruising enjoyment, and, indeed, should not be dependent on what others do. 

 

For us, tipping is a pleasant part of our overall cruising experience. Our additional gratuities are portioned out, depending on length of cruise. The usual suspects are recognized, above and beyond the auto-grats and based solely on normal, reliable service. We will add for exceptional care. We can afford to tip well, and we enjoy having the ability to do so. A personal envelope with name and a sincere thankyou written on the front brings a smile, to crew member and to us. A small gesture, but worth so much.  What others do is right for them and is not any concern to us.

 

On several occasions on cruises past, I have included tips for some forgotten crew, who toil in not the most desirable locations and are privy to not the most desirable passengers. A good restroom attendant earns his/her keep while maintaining a friendly, helpful demeanor. Those folks who I have encountered several times while cruising, I like to recognize. 

 

However one chooses to recognize the crew members, or not, is a personal choice. It is not enjoyable to the guest if done reluctantly, so why put oneself in that position. For us, mutual satisfaction is what it's all about.  

 

[SoloAlaska]

1 hour ago, Spif Barwunkel said:

Is it foolish to over-tip, selfish to under-tip, and just plain wrong not to tip at all? Whether it's your culture, your upbringing, your mindset, your financial status, or any combination thereof, the only right answer - yes or no - is the one that fits you. The thought of tipping or not tipping should not be a burden to your cruising enjoyment, and, indeed, should not be dependent on what others do. 

 

For us, tipping is a pleasant part of our overall cruising experience. Our additional gratuities are portioned out, depending on length of cruise. The usual suspects are recognized, above and beyond the auto-grats and based solely on normal, reliable service. We will add for exceptional care. We can afford to tip well, and we enjoy having the ability to do so. A personal envelope with name and a sincere thankyou written on the front brings a smile, to crew member and to us. A small gesture, but worth so much.  What others do is right for them and is not any concern to us.

 

On several occasions on cruises past, I have included tips for some forgotten crew, who toil in not the most desirable locations and are privy to not the most desirable passengers. A good restroom attendant earns his/her keep while maintaining a friendly, helpful demeanor. Those folks who I have encountered several times while cruising, I like to recognize. 

 

However one chooses to recognize the crew members, or not, is a personal choice. It is not enjoyable to the guest if done reluctantly, so why put oneself in that position. For us, mutual satisfaction is what it's all about.  

 

Restroom attendants are one of the ones I tip but in odd times. If I’ve had a few to drink and as ladies sometimes do we start a conversation in a washroom I usually tip the staff as I leave as a form of apology. Drunk Sam is clean and polite but I feel bad for getting in the way of them doing their job so I tip. 

[Cruise till you drop]

1 hour ago, SoloAlaska said:

Restroom attendants are one of the ones I tip but in odd times. If I’ve had a few to drink and as ladies sometimes do we start a conversation in a washroom I usually tip the staff as I leave as a form of apology. Drunk Sam is clean and polite but I feel bad for getting in the way of them doing their job so I tip. 

What’s odd about this is one of the givens for us on a cruise is it having to carry around a wallet and cash.

 

So are you carrying around cash for such an occasion ?

[DaKahuna]

21 minutes ago, Cruise till you drop said:

So are you carrying around cash for such an occasion ?

 

I cannot speak for @SoloAlaska but, yes, I always have cash for tips with me. 

 

[SoloAlaska]

1 hour ago, Cruise till you drop said:

What’s odd about this is one of the givens for us on a cruise is it having to carry around a wallet and cash.

 

So are you carrying around cash for such an occasion ?

I carry a little bag slightly larger than my phone. It has my phone, inhaler, sea pads card, a few dollar bills, and maybe a lip balm.

 

I can’t understand people who just lock up their phone for an entire cruise… how do they take pictures 😂. If I’m carrying my phone and seapass then why not add a couple of dollars where I carry that.

[Georgia_Peaches]

7 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

I cannot speak for @SoloAlaska but, yes, I always have cash for tips with me. 

 

Same...always have cash on hand for the purpose of tipping...or rather DH has cash on hand so that he can tip.  I leave it up to him while I'm off to make us money in the casino...lol.

Edited October 21, 2023 by Georgia_Peaches

[perakcruiser]

On 10/19/2023 at 3:52 AM, Joker54 said:

Our curiosity is not how much anyone tips as that is a personal decision. We are curious how folks feel about tipping and who they tip where service has been appreciated. It will be interesting to see the tipping thoughts from those not from the US.

 

We don´t tip on cruise ships. We also book Celebrity (and other lines) only with rates where the daily tip, service charge, whatever they call it, is included. 

 

We do tip the Grab (for you Uber) driver and the Foodpanda (for you Uber Eats) driver. 

[emmas gran]

15 hours ago, SoloAlaska said:

Restroom attendants are one of the ones I tip but in odd times. If I’ve had a few to drink and as ladies sometimes do we start a conversation in a washroom I usually tip the staff as I leave as a form of apology. Drunk Sam is clean and polite but I feel bad for getting in the way of them doing their job so I tip. 

This made me laugh, when I travel with Australian friends as we exit dinner we have a restroom stop. Always gave the attendant a couple of $$$ . On a particular cruise she appreciated it and started calling us by name and if she saw us around the ship always smiled and said Hello.

Edited October 21, 2023 by emmas gran
add

[CaroleSS]

DH and I are big tippers. You really have to be bad for us to not leave 20%, but my feelings about tipping are beginning to change.

 

The reason......more and more folk are expecting a tip. I see tip jars cropping up everywhere.....at the convenience store, fast food places, I even saw one at my local bank! Tipping has gotten out of hand. Nearly anytime I pay for something, there is the option for a tip! Am I expected to tip the cashier at my grocery store.....they provided me with a service. How about the mailman, the delivery person.....the doctor? Lots of people provide me with a service. Some are paid a salary, some are hourly. How do we know who to tip and who not? I am leaning more and more to paying people a flat rate and eliminating tipping all together. Yes, I understand it is a cultural thing, but many countries have moved away from tipping and I, for one, would be agreeable to the idea.

 

Each of us has our own opinions, these are mine. I do not expect to change anyone's mind, but to simply state my feelings. I will continue to tip as that is the custom, but would welcome cruising where the fare was truly "all inclusive".

[emmas gran]

3 minutes ago, CaroleSS said:

DH and I are big tippers. You really have to be bad for us to not leave 20%, but my feelings about tipping are beginning to change.

 

The reason......more and more folk are expecting a tip. I see tip jars cropping up everywhere.....at the convenience store, fast food places, I even saw one at my local bank! Tipping has gotten out of hand. Nearly anytime I pay for something, there is the option for a tip! Am I expected to tip the cashier at my grocery store.....they provided me with a service. How about the mailman, the delivery person.....the doctor? Lots of people provide me with a service. Some are paid a salary, some are hourly. How do we know who to tip and who not? I am leaning more and more to paying people a flat rate and eliminating tipping all together. Yes, I understand it is a cultural thing, but many countries have moved away from tipping and I, for one, would be agreeable to the idea.

 

Each of us has our own opinions, these are mine. I do not expect to change anyone's mind, but to simply state my feelings. I will continue to tip as that is the custom, but would welcome cruising where the fare was truly "all inclusive".

Carole I always tip the mailman and the garbage collection men every Christmas just to say Thanks

 

[CaroleSS]

58 minutes ago, emmas gran said:

Carole I always tip the mailman and the garbage collection men every Christmas just to say Thanks

 

We do that as well......but DH usually tips the garbage folk anytime we put out anything bigger than the "usual". 

 

But, my question is still out there? Where does it stop? Who do you tip and who don't you tip?

[carol louise]

23 hours ago, PTC DAWG said:

The asking a crew member to dinner mentioned above sounds a little creepy to me…YMMV. 
 

I think they would rather have the CASH. 

I agree. For the crew member to be free, perhaps someone else who was to have the evening off was called to step in to cover the job of the crew member.
 

And like a working person being asked to dine with a customer, I suspect that however graciously he/she carries it off, the crew member considers accepting this “invitation” to dine with a passenger as a duty. Once on a cruise (HAL) a person from the Guest Services came to sat with us at dinner. We had a pleasant chat and she apparently enjoyed our company, but she did let slip at one point that she hadn’t realized she would be “working” that evening. 

[Spif Barwunkel]

23 minutes ago, CaroleSS said:

DH and I are big tippers. You really have to be bad for us to not leave 20%, but my feelings about tipping are beginning to change.

 

The reason......more and more folk are expecting a tip. I see tip jars cropping up everywhere.....at the convenience store, fast food places, I even saw one at my local bank! Tipping has gotten out of hand. Nearly anytime I pay for something, there is the option for a tip! Am I expected to tip the cashier at my grocery store.....they provided me with a service. How about the mailman, the delivery person.....the doctor? Lots of people provide me with a service. Some are paid a salary, some are hourly. How do we know who to tip and who not? I am leaning more and more to paying people a flat rate and eliminating tipping all together. Yes, I understand it is a cultural thing, but many countries have moved away from tipping and I, for one, would be agreeable to the idea.

 

Each of us has our own opinions, these are mine. I do not expect to change anyone's mind, but to simply state my feelings. I will continue to tip as that is the custom, but would welcome cruising where the fare was truly "all inclusive".

No doubt, the tipping culture worldwide, but especially in the U.S. has gotten out of hand. It seems more and more folks think that "what's in your wallet" should become a shared commodity. There are instances where I am actually offended or embarrassed by the solicitation.

 

If I may digress. I am a native Floridian, born in Daytona Beach. For several years after discharge from the service in 1967 I lived in Sarasota, FL. To me, some of the most beautiful stretches of land and sea anywhere is the area from St. Armands Circle to the end of Longboat Key. One of several jobs I had included working as a bellman at the Field's Colony Beach Club on Longboat Key. A high-end hotel that attracted the rich and famous. Some of the guests who I checked in were, then Senator Lowell Weicker of Connecticut, Christine McGuire of the McGuire Sisters, Art Linkletter, James Garner and the occasional "Boss" from New York or Chicago. Naturally, tips were a big part of my daily pay and like anywhere else, no matter one's celebrity status, there are non-tippers everywhere. 

 

I will say, the best tippers were the "Bosses". It was nothing to get handed $20.00 for bringing a bucket of ice to the cottage. Of course, there would be no look of disappointment or hint disdain if there was no tip. When two very large non-smiling human beings take the ice bucket from your hands, you smile and say, will there be anything else. 

 

I know that the Sarasota/Bradenton area is nothing like it was 56 years ago. I am going to assume that despite the tremendous growth, Longboat Key is still as beautiful as ever.

[CaroleSS]

25 minutes ago, Spif Barwunkel said:

"Longboat Key is still as beautiful as ever."

 

It is!

Edited October 21, 2023 by CaroleSS

[DingoMom]

On 10/18/2023 at 10:33 PM, markeb said:

I'm now really curious about something that will be unanswerable. In the US, managers cannot participate in a tip pool. In some states they can accept a tip if and only if they alone provided the service (and even then I'd hope they'd drop it in the tip jar anyway). And I realize it's different, but 30 years in a military uniform as a commissioned officer make me psychologically incapable of tipping an officer. You eat last...

This! Mark, I totally agree and for the same reason. Spent 30 years in a military uniform as a commissioned officer. Officers are salaried professionals. IMHO, their job IS to go the extra mile and always do their best. (But I do like @Jim_Iain’s thought of a special gift for special people that I see repeatedly!)

Next, when I eat in the MDR and the ‘head waiter’ comes over (usually the last night or two of the cruise) to inquire how the service has been, why would I tip him? I take care of my service personnel. In the 4 MDRs on E-class ships, I take a small gratuity for the sommelier  and the server. I hand that to them if there is great service…as when the Sommelier doesn’t let my wine glass stay empty (too long!) and takes the initiative to also bring my husband’s beer. Alternatively, I have also picked a favorite MDR and asked for the same sever and tip them (and the sommelier) later in the cruise based on the number of nights we have been their guests. 

[Joker54]

On 10/20/2023 at 9:58 AM, PTC DAWG said:

The asking a crew member to dinner mentioned above sounds a little creepy to me…YMMV. 
 

I think they would rather have the CASH. 

Well we give them a cash tip as well. The point is to give them something in addition to cash

[hrhdhd]

On 10/19/2023 at 11:20 PM, Joker54 said:

Which is why we enjoy doing something outside of cash if that makes any sense.

 Not really. I don't tip because I enjoy it. I tip because it's the right thing to do.

[RichYak]

2 hours ago, Joker54 said:

Well we give them a cash tip as well. The point is to give them something in addition to cash

Why not more cash?

[zitsky]

10 hours ago, hrhdhd said:

 Not really. I don't tip because I enjoy it. I tip because it's the right thing to do.

“The right thing to do” is for companies to pay their employees more.  But that might mean higher prices and possibly higher taxes for the rest of us.

Edited October 22, 2023 by zitsky

[Cruise till you drop]

1 hour ago, zitsky said:

“The right thing to do” is for companies to pay their employees more.  But that might mean higher prices and possibly higher taxes for the rest of us.

So where would you stand if the cruise lines stopped asking for Gratutites and simply added that amount to the cruise fare (basically a wash).

[zitsky]

5 minutes ago, Cruise till you drop said:

So where would you stand if the cruise lines stopped asking for Gratutites and simply added that amount to the cruise fare (basically a wash).

Celebrity has already done that.  And stopped.  It was called ALL INCLUDED or ALL INCLUSIVE, whatever.

 

But to answer your question.  Yes I would still keep cruising if ALL gratuities were included.  We never reduce our gratuities and we pay extra.

 

The question is how much should gratuities be?  $20 pp pd?  $50? 

[FlyingCruiser2]

Just a funny story…..my glider Flight Instructor was an old, grumpy(just for show), ex-Eastern Airlines pilot.  He flew in the days when it was a nice experience.   Back then the Pilot, Copilot, and Purser would be at the door as people deplaned. He told us once that after arrival in MIA, this “tiny older lady my gramma’s age” thanks him on leaving and shakes his hand. By the time he realized she had slipped him a $2 tip, she was gone.

[hcat]

On 10/21/2023 at 9:46 AM, Spif Barwunkel said:

No doubt, the tipping culture worldwide, but especially in the U.S. has gotten out of hand. It seems more and more folks think that "what's in your wallet" should become a shared commodity. There are instances where I am actually offended or embarrassed by the solicitation.

 

If I may digress. I am a native Floridian, born in Daytona Beach. For several years after discharge from the service in 1967 I lived in Sarasota, FL. To me, some of the most beautiful stretches of land and sea anywhere is the area from St. Armands Circle to the end of Longboat Key. One of several jobs I had included working as a bellman at the Field's Colony Beach Club on Longboat Key. A high-end hotel that attracted the rich and famous. Some of the guests who I checked in were, then Senator Lowell Weicker of Connecticut, Christine McGuire of the McGuire Sisters, Art Linkletter, James Garner and the occasional "Boss" from New York or Chicago. Naturally, tips were a big part of my daily pay and like anywhere else, no matter one's celebrity status, there are non-tippers everywhere. 

 

I will say, the best tippers were the "Bosses". It was nothing to get handed $20.00 for bringing a bucket of ice to the cottage. Of course, there would be no look of disappointment or hint disdain if there was no tip. When two very large non-smiling human beings take the ice bucket from your hands, you smile and say, will there be anything else. 

 

I know that the Sarasota/Bradenton area is nothing like it was 56 years ago. I am going to assume that despite the tremendous growth, Longboat Key is still as beautiful as ever.

Still a great area but  it  is  getting overbuilt...esp with tall buildings, super shopping malls, and the SRQ  expansion..

 

Many service workers rely on tips but lately the  "outreach" efforts in some restaurants and  take out spots  are over the top! 

 

cruise ships make it easy to auto tip and add where needed..at the bar, ladies rm for a clean towel, someone who goes out of the way to help!

 

 

[Pinboy]

On 10/20/2023 at 9:58 AM, PTC DAWG said:

The asking a crew member to dinner mentioned above sounds a little creepy to me…YMMV. 
 

I think they would rather have the CASH. 

Agree 100%-- and besides, I was under the impression that Crew members were not permitted to socialize with passengers. 

In fact, I believe a CCer was banned from Celebrity for something like that, but, I could be wrong.

 

 

 

Edited October 22, 2023 by Pinboy