xon fedaa Posted August 15, 2008 #1 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Sorry if this has been discussed before - i looked but could not find it if it had. Should solo cruisers tip extra? Case in point: I'm taking the 32-day San Diego to Rome cruise in February 2009. With two persons in the stateroom, all those on the receiving end of the $10 per day gratuity charge would split $640 (unadjusted). But since I'm going solo (my first time!), if I don't increase the automatic $10 per day, they will only receive $320 at trip's end. Yes, I know some will say they have less work to do for only one person rather than for two, but only to a point. For example, while the room steward will only have to change/make one bed per day, he/she will still have to clean/straighten up the bathroom, cabin, and balcony (and, believe me, I can be every bit as messy as two people;), water/replace the fresh flowers, make towel animals (how I love those towel animals:D), and, of course, put out mints (okay, that last one was supposed to be a joke). So, do any of you solo cruisers have any thoughts on this? Appreciate hearing from you. Happy cruising! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtwingcpa Posted August 15, 2008 #2 Share Posted August 15, 2008 I realize that I am not directly addressing the point you made, but having already paid 50% - 100% MORE as the result of traveling solo, I would NOT feel obliged to pay additional tips (although I usually do leave something in addition to the "automatic" amounts). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whiteway906 Posted August 15, 2008 #3 Share Posted August 15, 2008 First of all, what a phenomenal opportunity to take what will no doubt be a great cruise. Oh the things you will see and the people you will meet! How exciting! I agree with MTWINGCPA. While I do already pay quite a bit in supplement, I do not feel obliged but I will tip extra when appropriate. My last room steward was great and I tipped accordingly. On my March cruise, the steward was only so-so and got the standard tip. The Pool Bar bartenders on AOS went above and beyond the call...always treating me like a rock star. Needless to say, they were duly taken care of. Hope that helps... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjb415 Posted August 15, 2008 #4 Share Posted August 15, 2008 I agree with you both. I rely on my feelings toward my Room Steward/ess when it comes time to tip them. 99% of the time, I feel as if I have been very well taken care of by the staff & want to tip them significant additional amounts. If I never see them, have to write them notes to get supplies replenished (soap, shampoo, etc), or have to constantly ask for the basics, I don't tip additional amounts. BTW, I am a sucker for a steward/ess who leaves me 2 chocolates each evening. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flag fan Posted August 15, 2008 #5 Share Posted August 15, 2008 I double tip for the reason you state--I don't want the room steward to get less than he or she would had the cabin been full. Plus I'll tip extra for good service (just like a couple would). I think its about as much work to clean a cabin with 1 person in it as it would for two people (its the same number of floors, showers, sinks, and beds to clean/make up). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitty9 Posted August 15, 2008 #6 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Some lines up the daily tip by $1 per day for solos. The only one you need to include in any extra tip is the room steward, as a solo doesn't impact the number of passengers a waiter serves. I don't feel it's fair to the hard working room stewards to miss out on one full tip, because I choose to sail solo. And it's also not the room steward's fault that the cruise line charges a single supplement, so why take it out on him/her? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 15, 2008 #7 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Hi, 32 days?....I am NOT jealous;) :) Sounds like a simply fantastic cruise:D As for the tipping question....I don't tip for 2 but I do tip more the suggested amount.... and depending on the circumstance I also tip folks who are not on "the list". Example, I usually hang out at the Martini Bar quite often and usually that Bartender takes good care of me throughout the cruise so at the end I take care of him too. Tipping is such a personal thing. Hope you have a WONDERFUL 32 days:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dot73 Posted August 15, 2008 #8 Share Posted August 15, 2008 It depends on the steward. If I get great service, I usually double up. If the service is so-so, which only happened to me once, I will usually just stick to the auto tip. On the Tahitian Princess, for example, my room steward was outstanding and totally deserved the extra tip. One day, he even cleaned my running shoes which were covered with mud after a shore excursion. I was in the cheapest cabin, but the service was first class. If the OP can afford it and the service is excellent, I say tip double. If not, tip according to the service you get. I do agree that with solos, the steward still does the same work as for a double. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtwingcpa Posted August 15, 2008 #9 Share Posted August 15, 2008 I don't feel it's fair to the hard working room stewards to miss out on one full tip, because I choose to sail solo. And it's also not the room steward's fault that the cruise line charges a single supplement, so why take it out on him/her? I understand your point, but I don't see that anything is being "taken out" on anyone. The situation simply is as it is. I can't compensate for all of the perceived unfairnesses of the world, and heaven knows I've been on the RECEIVING end of my share. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtwingcpa Posted August 15, 2008 #10 Share Posted August 15, 2008 The only one you need to include in any extra tip is the room steward, as a solo doesn't impact the number of passengers a waiter serves. I prefer non-traditional dining and I always insist on a table to myself. So it might, in fact, cut down on the number of people the waiter can serve that evening. If they seat me at a 4-top, do I owe a tip for 4 ??? I think not! :-) That said, I actually don't know how the auto-tip money gets allocated to the waiters in non-traditional dining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 15, 2008 #11 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Hi,:) I guess I did not read some of the replies as carefully as I should have.....I never auto tip. I bring greenbacks with me AND Thank You cards from home. I put the money inside the card and on the last evening hand each one out personally. That is just how I have always done it. Darcie, you tip for 2 even when you are sailing solo? This is the first time I can recall in forever where we differ on a topic;) I do take care of the folks who take care me though.... just want to be clear:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xon fedaa Posted August 15, 2008 Author #12 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Thank you all so very much for your replies. You each make good points. Yes, for whatever reason, my basic cruise fare (meaning before port costs, taxes, fuel surcharges, etc.) was slightly MORE than double the single fare price (based on double occupancy). Go figure. And I was surprised to read that some cruise lines increase the daily gratuity amount for solo cruisers. If this applies in my case, I hope I'm duly informed of this before we sail. (Not that I think the staff isn't deserving, I just don't like 'hidden' charges.) Which made me ponder something else: Does a given cruise line therefore REDUCE the automatic $10/person/day charge when there are three or four in a cabin? :confused: It's really interesting - and beneicial, too - to hear others' experiences and feelings on this. Thanks again for responding. Happy cruising! To Lois R who said, "I usually hang out at the Martini Bar . . ." Something tells me we could become fast friends . . . ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kek123 Posted August 15, 2008 #13 Share Posted August 15, 2008 I have never even thought about double tipping until I read this thread. I left the auto tip on and gave extra to those that did an extra special job. Like the bartender who knew after day one what I was drinking and was pouring as soon as I sat down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 15, 2008 #14 Share Posted August 15, 2008 I am in the Martini Bar every night befor dinner:D :) Meet me there:D As for the cruiseline putting double tips on the account? Hmmm......the first time they do that to me, Guest Relations will be seeing me front and center. As I replied earlier, I don't do the auto thing....cash is my preference when it comes to tipping and those who receive it from me seem quite pleased as well:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpg1747 Posted August 15, 2008 #15 Share Posted August 15, 2008 I am in the Martini Bar every night befor dinner:D :) Meet me there:D As for the cruiseline putting double tips on the account? Hmmm......the first time they do that to me, Guest Relations will be seeing me front and center. As I replied earlier, I don't do the auto thing....cash is my preference when it comes to tipping and those who receive it from me seem quite pleased as well:) Unfortunately, I cannot do martinis anymore. But I do spend a good amount of time in the wine bar. Thank goodness I can still have my champagne. I am always most appreciative of a bartender who doesn't ignore me because I'm solo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtwingcpa Posted August 15, 2008 #16 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Which made me ponder something else: Does a given cruise line therefore REDUCE the automatic $10/person/day charge when there are three or four in a cabin? In the situations I've seen, the auto tip is PER PASSENGER, sometimes with a reduced rate for children. So, any given room steward has a random chance of having more than two people in his cabins. Seems like this would even out over time, given that the actual effort to clean the cabins probably doesn't vary much. But, are we sure that the auto tips are allocated to the steward based on the ACTUAL NUMBER of people in his cabins? And not simply a preset allocation of the total pool based on the number of cabins he is responsible for? Plus or minus any additional tips specifically charged for him through the purser's desk? (I assume that cash tips on non-US ships are simply "pocketed" regardless of stated policy.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 15, 2008 #17 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Unfortunately, I cannot do martinis anymore. But I do spend a good amount of time in the wine bar. Thank goodness I can still have my champagne. I am always most appreciative of a bartender who doesn't ignore me because I'm solo. Hi:) first, the Martinis I drink are actually "Cocktails";) different flavors that are delicious. The Purist will tell you what I am drinking is not a "True Martini". That is just fine by me. Call it whatever you want...its soooo good:D And 2nd, I have never had a ship bartender ignore me because I am solo:eek: ....they end up knowing me quite well as the cruise goes along.:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitty9 Posted August 16, 2008 #18 Share Posted August 16, 2008 Hi,:) Darcie, you tip for 2 even when you are sailing solo? This is the first time I can recall in forever where we differ on a topic;) I do take care of the folks who take care me though.... just want to be clear:D Lois, I don't always tip double, and certainly not for waiters/assistant waiters and all that. What I sometimes do is tip 150%, which is the regular tip and then 50% of that. And like you, I do not auto tip. I like giving the cash in a card, just as you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 16, 2008 #19 Share Posted August 16, 2008 Hi Darcie:) you were talking about cabin attendants....I still leave them more than what would be for 1 person but I don't choose to give them a total that would cover 2 people. I know it is not their fault I am sailing solo but I don't feel compelled to compensate them for someone else if you want to look at that way. I give what would be my normal amount and add some extra on top of that...but that amount is not double. I leave 4 weeks from today:) and sail 4 weeks from tomorrow:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjbear Posted August 16, 2008 #20 Share Posted August 16, 2008 Lois, I don't always tip double, and certainly not for waiters/assistant waiters and all that. What I sometimes do is tip 150%, which is the regular tip and then 50% of that. And like you, I do not auto tip. I like giving the cash in a card, just as you. I'm a new cruiser (only 3 under my belt) since retiring and new to these boards but I read the posts by you two with great interest and can't tell you how helpful they have been. :D :) I'm cruising again in January of 2009 and have never done auto-tip, because I loved Lois's idea about the thankyou cards and wanted to be sure everyone personally got their tip. But I've been reading on some threads that the staff must turn over all their tips to a central place and they are then divided among them all. :( Someone suggested that you should do the autotip because anything extra you give them in cash, they can keep. Have you heard anything about this, is there any truth to it? I travel solo also and just want to be sure that those who treat me extra special get to keep everything I tip them. I've also never been treated poorly as a solo, if anything, like Lois, the bartender becomes a "special friend". ;) :D At your suggestion Lois, I had my first (of many) Hypnotique (sp?) a year ago on my Alaskan cruise. Yummy!!!! ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 16, 2008 #21 Share Posted August 16, 2008 I'm a new cruiser (only 3 under my belt) since retiring and new to these boards but I read the posts by you two with great interest and can't tell you how helpful they have been. :D :) I'm cruising again in January of 2009 and have never done auto-tip, because I loved Lois's idea about the thankyou cards and wanted to be sure everyone personally got their tip. But I've been reading on some threads that the staff must turn over all their tips to a central place and they are then divided among them all. :( Someone suggested that you should do the autotip because anything extra you give them in cash, they can keep. Have you heard anything about this, is there any truth to it? I travel solo also and just want to be sure that those who treat me extra special get to keep everything I tip them. I've also never been treated poorly as a solo, if anything, like Lois, the bartender becomes a "special friend". ;) :D At your suggestion Lois, I had my first (of many) Hypnotique (sp?) a year ago on my Alaskan cruise. Yummy!!!! ;) Ohhhh... I have not had a Hypnotiq in a LONG TIME....next cruise is 4 weeks from tomorrow...I will be having one then! As for the pooling of tips...I believe each cruiseline has their own way of doing things. But then again, I don't know for sure. I am going to ask your specific question this coming cruise as well. (About the pooling etc.)....I asked this a long time ago and was told, no they are not.... all my cruises except 2 have been on Celebrity so that is the only line I can give you the answer I was given about... Maybe someone else can chime in on Royal, Hal, Carnvial, NCL, Princess, and those who sail the luxury lines too...Seabourn, Crystal, Regent, etc... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjbear Posted August 16, 2008 #22 Share Posted August 16, 2008 Thanks so much, Lois. I've only cruised on Celebrity so far (love them) so maybe I read that info on another cruise board. I hope so. Thanks for asking the question and enjoy your upcoming cruise! Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitty9 Posted August 17, 2008 #23 Share Posted August 17, 2008 Hi Sue, I've asked specifically on RCCI, Celebrity, Princess and Crystal if they pool their tips and the answer was, No. They get to keep every dollar of the tips they receive. Lois, where on your going on your upcoming cruise and on what ship??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Lois R Posted August 17, 2008 #24 Share Posted August 17, 2008 Hi Darcie:) I am going back on my favorite ship (Mercury) and will be going to Alaska:D Flying to Seattle a day early and taking Amtrak up to Vancouver the next morning. This will be my 2nd Alaskan cruise and I cannot wait:) It was a very good price since it is the last cruise of the season for her....Vancouver south back down to Seattle;) Its an 8 night cruise. Not sure if you remember but 2 years ago in May 2006 there was a major story about the Captain of Mercury at the time. On my particular cruise, the Captain failed the breath test:eek: and was dismissed before we sailed. From everything that happened in the end, the test was overturned but he still was dismissed. Its like a pilot having a drink on the day he flies.......You just CANNOT do it...PERIOD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitty9 Posted August 18, 2008 #25 Share Posted August 18, 2008 Oh wow, Lois. I do remember that incident, but I didn't realize you were on the ship at that time. Did they actually pull the captain off the ship? Who took over? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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