Please help me clear up a tipping question.

[Kelge]

Please help me clear up a tipping question.

We will be keeping the auto-tipping on for our cruise. Exactly who and/or what does this auto-tipping cover. :confused: (We know you can tip above this if service is great.)

 

I assume for baggage handlers and if we are getting a drink at the bar, we tip in cash (it is not under auto-tipping), but what about the room stewards? Who else might we encounter that would get a cash tip?

 

And if room stewards are not under the auto-tipping, is it better to tip at the end of the week or each day?

 

We just want to be prepared with enough $ and understand the system as best as possible. Thanks! :D

[megr1125]

Please help me clear up a tipping question.

We will be keeping the auto-tipping on for our cruise. Exactly who and/or what does this auto-tipping cover. :confused: (We know you can tip above this if service is great.)

 

I assume for baggage handlers and if we are getting a drink at the bar, we tip in cash (it is not under auto-tipping), but what about the room stewards? Who else might we encounter that would get a cash tip?

 

And if room stewards are not under the auto-tipping, is it better to tip at the end of the week or each day?

 

We just want to be prepared with enough $ and understand the system as best as possible. Thanks! :D

 

 

Tip the porters around a dollar a bag.....

 

If you get a drink at the bar, 15% tip is added...you can tip extra if you wish.

 

As for the auto tips:

 

room steward, waiter, asst waiter and the headwaiter are paid out of the auto tips....you can give more in cash if you wish....i give any extra cash the final night.....

 

you will most likely get some sort of envelopes and vouchers to hand out (varies by cruiseline-RC does this). you can then stick the voucher in the envelope and add cash if you wish.

 

If you order room service...tip is not included, nor is it part of the auto tips, so you would want to give a few dollars or more depending on whether it's just coffee (i'd give 2 bucks for that) or a full meal (3-5 or so, depending on what i order)

 

how's that??

[firefly333]

Also, some of the ports have shuttles. Progresso's pier is the longest in the world, over 3 miles long. I tip that bus driver. some other ports have little golf cart almost shuttles, I tip them too.

 

I dont feel bad tipping in ports, the people look like they have less than I do, so I tip when services are rendered.

 

I start collecting $1 bills a few weeks ahead of time and put them in a envelope. I bring about $30 in ones, just in case and some fives. Ports at the small places to buy stuff have trouble making change, so its good to barter with too. So, I just find it easier to bring a envelope of small bills.

 

You might want to tip an excursion driver or a guy bringing you to the airport etc.

[Kelge]

PERFECT! THANK YOU!

 

Thank you both. I am such a nerd, :rolleyes: but I really like to have all my ducks in a row and make sure I am on top of things. (And I would hate to make any assumptions!)

 

Starting my singles collection today! (Wow, that sounds a lot more exciting than it really is LOL!) :p

[ColumbiaSC]

Meg is certainly correct in her observations, but room service is certainly included in the auto-gratuities you pay or are included on a World Cruise price. You have PAID this, and it is real money. So there is no sense whatsover to feel guilty about not adding to it. Europeans have a better grip on this than many Americans, it appears from my experience. Relax and enjoy the SERVICE you have paid for! Be gracious, and say, "Thank you very much?"

[RetireeWannabee]

Meg is certainly correct in her observations, but room service is certainly included in the auto-gratuities you pay or are included on a World Cruise price. You have PAID this, and it is real money. So there is no sense whatsover to feel guilty about not adding to it. Europeans have a better grip on this than many Americans, it appears from my experience. Relax and enjoy the SERVICE you have paid for! Be gracious, and say, "Thank you very much?"

 

You may have more insight into which line and itinerary the OP is going on (I have signatures turned off) but for each cruise I've gone on, tips are NOT included in the price. Drinks have a gratuity added but not room service, porters, etc. Tipping waiters, cabin stewards, etc., is expected, whether via auto-tip process or manually handing it over.

[megr1125]

I've never heard that room service gets tipped as part of the charged tips.....i've never had a voucher for a room service person, and many people do not use it...so at least on RC, room service staff do not appear to receive part of the tips....

 

Maybe other lines split it that way...........at least the OP will be ready in any event.....

 

and i forgot about tour guides and stuff......(we've only done 1 or 2 organized tours and we did tip the one person..the other one was kind of, well, a mess!) so thatnks firefly!!

 

have fun!

[firefly333]

Thats 3 to 1 saying that you need to tip room service that they dont get tipped with the auto tip feature. I dont like eating in my cabin so dont use it, but if I did I would tip. They expect $1 for a couple of items or a few dollars tip if you order a full meal.

 

Im not sure which cruiseline the poster was on that gratuities were included to room service, but not RCI, Carnival or Princess.

[CPT Trips]

I would not get too hung up about having a pile of small bills. The purser's desk can give you change for a larger bill.

[dforeigner]

http://www.princess.com/faq/onboard_experience.html

 

Question: What are the tipping guidelines for my cruise?

Answer: During your cruise, you will meet many members of our staff in a variety of locations as they provide you with excellent service. Additionally, many more crew behind the scenes support those who serve you directly. For your convenience a Hotel and Dining charge of $10 per passenger per day (including children) will be automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. The Hotel and Dining charge will be shared amongst those staff who help provide and support your cruise experience, including the wait staff, stateroom stewards and accommodations staff, buffet stewards, galley staff, laundry staff and others.

 

Casino dealers and Lotus Spa personnel do not share in the Hotel and Dining charge as not all passengers utilize these services.

 

A 15% charge is automatically added to your bar charges and dining room wine account. This is shared amongst the beverage staff and their support staff, including cleaners and utility staff.

[sail7seas]

We always leave the $10 per person automatic service charge on our shipboard bill but we also tip additional to certain people. Among those people, are the Room Service Stewards. We have Room Service breakfast every morning and we tip the fellow who brings it each morning. That is what we choose to do.....as do many other people.

 

[cb at sea]

It's definitely easier to bring large bills, instead of alot of "ones" and get change on the ship! A few large bills are much easier to transport than a wad of smaller bills!

[okbookgirl]

Meg is certainly correct in her observations, but room service is certainly included in the auto-gratuities you pay or are included on a World Cruise price. You have PAID this, and it is real money. So there is no sense whatsover to feel guilty about not adding to it. Europeans have a better grip on this than many Americans, it appears from my experience. Relax and enjoy the SERVICE you have paid for! Be gracious, and say, "Thank you very much?"

 

 

Actually on Carnival you are told that room service is NOT included in your autotipping. Check with your cruise line about who and what is covered.

[CC Help Michell]

To the best of my knowledge, the quote above from Princess's site is also how the tip pool is shared on NCL -- stewards, public area waitstaff (even the ones you may not see, as at the buffet for breakfast/lunch), and behind the scenes people like laundry staff, galley (kitchen) staff, the general housekeepers for public areas, etc. Not included would be bar staff, spa staff, porters, and room service waiters. Both the bar staff and the spa staff may have a gratuity automatically added to your bill so be sure to check -- it's ok to double tip on purpose, but you don't want to do it by accident. :)

 

Here's our take on the rest. We generally tip extra (normally about $5 each) for excellent service in specialty/surcharge restaurants and "niche" services such as a sushi chef or teppanyaki chef. In fact, we've never NOT tipped for these -- the staff that has worked its way up to serve in those locations tends to be extremely good.

 

If you use your room steward "above and beyond" the norm -- for instance, you call for extras like an egg crate mattress topper, extra pillows, extra towels frequently (not just once at the beginning of the cruise); you need ice filled more often than usual; something unusual happens like a soft drink spill all over the carpet or sofa; your beach bag and bathing suit together dumped so much sand your cabin looks like Waikiki, but it's gone when you return -- then an extra tip there is also appropriate. It's okay to wait until the end of the cruise for those kind of extras, but I'd add that in the event of something really unusual (a child having an accident resulting in a mound of wet, icky sheets, blankets, and pillows the steward has to handle, clean up, and replace) then tipping the steward an extra bit of cash right then and there would also be appropriate.

 

Tour operators are a whole different category and IMO should nearly always be tipped. Yes, excursions are expensive, but it's the owner of the company or the cruiseline that receives that money -- the guides frequently are paid very minimally. How much to tip is entirely your choice. For a fabulous ten hour tour we will remember forever, we each tipped our guide $20 (20% of the tour price); our "minimum" is $5.00 each for a ho-hum guide who makes minimal effort at entertaining/educating us; and yes, in the case of a tour where the "guide" decided he/she was just a "bus driver," and did nothing to make it interesting or special, we have given a hearty "thank you very much" and walked away.

[kitty9]

kelge, rarely, and I do mean very rarely, do you tip extra for a bar waiter when they bring drinks. They automatically get 15%, which is quite adequate. The only cash tips you need are: tour guides and tour bus drivers, porters at the terminal, room service delivery, and cash if you wish to increase the auto amount that you already paid.

[sail7seas]

We more often than not sit at the bar. Don't know why as we aren't smokers but we like to chat with the bartenders and are comfortable sitting there together. While we are aware there is 15% added to all beverge checks, we always have an envelope for the bartenders at the end of the cruise.

 

We like to give an additional thank you.

[Jenner9]

What about at specialty restaurants? Like Chops has a $20 cover charge. Does that include the tip and if I choose to leave more do I leave cash at the table?

[Podorama]

What about at specialty restaurants? Like Chops has a $20 cover charge. Does that include the tip and if I choose to leave more do I leave cash at the table?

 

Was watching the Travel Channel last night, (while I played on a CC thread that of course got poofed.....) one of the oft repeated Cruise shows (TC only has 4 or 5 I think, they rotate them over and over and over) but anyway, I heard something I had not caught before. A VP of something or other for RCCL said the “fee” charged for the specialty Restaurants was in fact a gratuity. Does this just apply to RCCL? Will I Tip extra above the $20-30 pp or more Fee (for a balcony dinner $100) ? Not sure, would like more information.

[Kelge]

We always leave the $10 per person automatic service charge on our shipboard bill but we also tip additional to certain people. Among those people, are the Room Service Stewards. We have Room Service breakfast every morning and we tip the fellow who brings it each morning. That is what we choose to do.....as do many other people.

 

 

I might like to try room service now and again, so this is good to know. I wonder what is better -- room service breakfast or dining room? On one hand, no crowds, but on the other there would be less selection.

 

Thanks everyone for your tipping information. I appreciate it!

 

A quick additional tipping question -- how much "tipping cash" would you bring with you? $50? $100? For the week, I mean. Obviously it can vary wildly, but I am looking for an average. Just for reference.

[madelinerose]

I might like to try room service now and again, so this is good to know. I wonder what is better -- room service breakfast or dining room? On one hand, no crowds, but on the other there would be less selection.

 

Thanks everyone for your tipping information. I appreciate it!

 

A quick additional tipping question -- how much "tipping cash" would you bring with you? $50? $100? For the week, I mean. Obviously it can vary wildly, but I am looking for an average. Just for reference.

 

When we cruise, we order room service breakfast with 2 carafes of coffee every, single morning. We prefer to ease into our days, in our robes on our balcony, rather than dine with the masses first thing in the morning. We usually tip the room service delivery person $2-3.

 

I would bring $100 for "tipping cash".

[madelinerose]

Does that include the tip and if I choose to leave more do I leave cash at the table?

 

Yes and yes. ;)

[madelinerose]

We more often than not sit at the bar. Don't know why as we aren't smokers but we like to chat with the bartenders and are comfortable sitting there together. While we are aware there is 15% added to all beverge checks, we always have an envelope for the bartenders at the end of the cruise.

 

We like to give an additional thank you.

 

We sit at the bars also, but we prefer to "tip as we go", just as we would at any bar anywhere. If we've developed a significant fondness for a particular bartender, casino employee, barista etc., we may also give an additional tip during the last evening, no envelope. ;)

[Kelge]

When we cruise, we order room service breakfast with 2 carafes of coffee every, single morning. We prefer to ease into our days, in our robes on our balcony, rather than dine with the masses first thing in the morning. We usually tip the room service delivery person $2-3.

 

I would bring $100 for "tipping cash".

 

 

Perfect! Thank you. (And those mornings sound wonderful!)

[Kris0283]

I have been debating taking the automatic tip off of our account right away. Don't get me wrong...I am going to tip, I would just rather tip accordingly. I will be giving out at least what was going to be automatically added on there. However, I am afraid of who might see this. I don't know if maybe the room attendant might observe this and assume we are not tipping and give us bad service. Does anyone know if this is the case? I know I could just adjust the totals at the end, but I think that would take more time. I would rather just go in and add a dollar amount to each service that I feel they deserve. Any thoughts.....?\

 

 

Thanks,

[madelinerose]

I have been debating taking the automatic tip off of our account right away. Don't get me wrong...I am going to tip, I would just rather tip accordingly. I will be giving out at least what was going to be automatically added on there. However, I am afraid of who might see this. I don't know if maybe the room attendant might observe this and assume we are not tipping and give us bad service. Does anyone know if this is the case? I know I could just adjust the totals at the end, but I think that would take more time. I would rather just go in and add a dollar amount to each service that I feel they deserve. Any thoughts.....?\

Thanks,

 

 

My thought....leave the auto tip. IMO that is "tipping accordingly". ;)