ChrissieCee Posted September 23, 2018 #1 Share Posted September 23, 2018 I’m on Celebrity Solstice NZ/Pacific cruise in March, and the gratuities are pre-paid. My question is, will the staff know it is pre-paid, and therefore not expect tips (except for exceptional service, and I would probably still do something for my steward at the end)? I am thinking in particular of room service. I don’t want the service to suffer because they think I am not tipping, but I don’t want to be double tipping the whole time. As a NZer, the whole tipping thing is foreign to me anyway. What do others do, and what currency do they use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted September 23, 2018 #2 Share Posted September 23, 2018 You may also want to ask this on the dedicated Celebrity forum here: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=28. The room service people may or may not be in the general tip pool. Also, if room service has a charge, that may or may not include tips. These are details that cruisers on the Celebrity forum wuld know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted September 23, 2018 #3 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Yes...a couple bucks at time of delivery is nice. It's kitchen staff who delivers...not the included wait staff. $1-5 depending on how much you order is common. You may use any currency...they can exchange whatever you give. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare c-boy Posted September 23, 2018 #4 Share Posted September 23, 2018 a quandary. I believe room service staff are also part of the dining room staff. A percentage (unknown amount) of the shared pool is given to them. I/we always tip a couple of bucks upon arrival. hey cb; our "kitchen staff " was wearin' a white dress shirt,bow tie and vest when our tray was delivered...you sure ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCC retired Posted September 23, 2018 #5 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Yes tip room service a dollar or two each time you use it Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leaveitallbehind Posted September 23, 2018 #6 Share Posted September 23, 2018 (edited) I am thinking in particular of room service. I don’t want the service to suffer because they think I am not tipping, but I don’t want to be double tipping the whole time. The service will be the same whether you tip or not. They will not risk a bad performance review out of concern for a tip. But it is appropriate to tip the room service person with the delivery. BTW, the stateroom attendant and dining waitstaff will know that you prepaid your gratuities. This information is conveyed to them prior to you boarding. Edited September 23, 2018 by leaveitallbehind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrissieCee Posted September 23, 2018 Author #7 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Thank you all for the useful replies. I think I will just do as suggested and provide a small tip each time. I’m guessing any currency will suffice, but as I have some US dollars, I’ll take the opportunity to use them, and hope it’s ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine5715 Posted September 23, 2018 #8 Share Posted September 23, 2018 a quandary. I believe room service staff are also part of the dining room staff. A percentage (unknown amount) of the shared pool is given to them. I/we always tip a couple of bucks upon arrival. hey cb; our "kitchen staff " was wearin' a white dress shirt,bow tie and vest when our tray was delivered...you sure ? Room Service is always tipped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare c-boy Posted September 23, 2018 #9 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Room Service is always tipped. well there ya have it as per Elaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanger727 Posted September 23, 2018 #10 Share Posted September 23, 2018 You don’t have to worry about the perception of you tipping due to you pre-paying. The standard is auto gratuities that are either pre-paid or assessed to your onboard account. The wait staff and room staff assume you’re paying that and don’t expect additional tipping as you go. Now, room service tipping is a different thing, and un-related to wether you prepaid the gratuities. I’ve heard people argue both sides on whether or not that is included in the auto gratuity but based on responses I think most people tip additional to room service. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NLH Arizona Posted September 23, 2018 #11 Share Posted September 23, 2018 The room service attendants are part of the service charge/automatic gratuities, so you don't have to tip, but if you would like to, they will appreciate it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navybankerteacher Posted September 23, 2018 #12 Share Posted September 23, 2018 The room service attendants are part of the service charge/automatic gratuities, so you don't have to tip, but if you would like to, they will appreciate it. Is this a guess? Is it a wish about how things might be? I ask because others have posted the opposite - with as much apparent certainty. If you have a source, please provide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navybankerteacher Posted September 23, 2018 #13 Share Posted September 23, 2018 FOOTNOTE: I was curious about this point, so I went to Celebrity’s site and found the following regarding room service: “Room service outside the hours of 11pm and 6am is complimentary, although you may wish to offer a gratuity to room service staff”. Elsewhere, it was mentioned that there was a flat charge applied for room service between 11pm and 6am; and the discussion of the daily gratuity made it pretty clear that it covered cabin and dining room attendants and behind the scenes personnel for routine services — which makes it pretty clear that room service delivery staff do not participate in the daily gratuity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elaine5715 Posted September 23, 2018 #14 Share Posted September 23, 2018 FOOTNOTE: I was curious about this point, so I went to Celebrity’s site and found the following regarding room service: “Room service outside the hours of 11pm and 6am is complimentary, although you may wish to offer a gratuity to room service staff”. Elsewhere, it was mentioned that there was a flat charge applied for room service between 11pm and 6am; and the discussion of the daily gratuity made it pretty clear that it covered cabin and dining room attendants and behind the scenes personnel for routine services — which makes it pretty clear that room service delivery staff do not participate in the daily gratuity. Room Service is crew off the clock, running for tips. They don't get the flat fee like at home pizza delivery fee isn't a tip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted September 23, 2018 #15 Share Posted September 23, 2018 (edited) I always tip room service steward no matter how small or large my order but it is optional . I am appreciative and a moderate tip seems no big deal. Room service on HAL has no charge but for one or two special items and runs free 24 hours. Edited September 23, 2018 by sail7seas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George C Posted September 23, 2018 #16 Share Posted September 23, 2018 We also always tip for room service Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iancal Posted September 23, 2018 #17 Share Posted September 23, 2018 We only do coffee and sometimes fruit. We always tip. Why not? We appreciate the service. And we very much appreciate the phone call a few minutes prior to the knock on our cabin door. Don't understand the big decision point. It is only a couple of bucks. It is entirely optional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underwatr Posted September 23, 2018 #18 Share Posted September 23, 2018 It's not required (nor is there an outward expectation, in my experience) but it's customary. We normally tip a couple of dollars but I don't lose sleep if I don't have money ready when the order arrives. They also don't wait around to see if you're just slow at getting your money. If someone can find a cruise line discussion of daily gratuity vs. tips that mentions that people should tip for room service (when the room service order itself is free), I haven't seen that mentioned. Here's Cunard's discussion of daily gratuities. Note that they do mention casino and youth center staff as not being in the gratuity pool, and imply that people who use those services should tip staff appropriately. No suggestion of a tip for room service. During your cruise, you will receive service from many members of our staff in a variety of locations. For your convenience a gratuity will be added to your shipboard account on a daily basis for each guest (including children). The gratuity will be shared amongst those staff that helped provide and support your cruise experience, including the restaurant staff, stateroom stewards and accommodation staff, buffet stewards and others. Casino personnel and youth staff do not share in the gratuity as not all guests utilise this service. Please note, this is a suggested gratuity and, should you wish to remove it or make any adjustments, you may contact the Purser’s Desk before the end of the cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted September 23, 2018 #19 Share Posted September 23, 2018 We only do coffee and sometimes fruit. We always tip. Why not? We appreciate the service. And we very much appreciate the phone call a few minutes prior to the knock on our cabin door. Don't understand the big decision point. It is only a couple of bucks. It is entirely optional. FULL ^^ Agreement . :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted September 23, 2018 #20 Share Posted September 23, 2018 Tipping in general is a part of he cost of travel. Most of the tips are not large sums but when you plan to cruise or travel, I would suggest adding a b it for tips into your travel budget If you plan ahead and go prepared for such small expenses, they may become more agreeable for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pudgesmom Posted September 24, 2018 #21 Share Posted September 24, 2018 We do not tip separately for room service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sloopsailor Posted September 24, 2018 #22 Share Posted September 24, 2018 We prefer to be generous instead of stingy so we always tip for room service. It's only a couple of dollars or so and we certainly can afford it (if we can afford to be on the cruise, we can afford these few extra dollars). The people delivering always appreciate the generosity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navybankerteacher Posted September 24, 2018 #23 Share Posted September 24, 2018 We do not tip separately for room service. What do you mean by “separately” ? On many lines - particularly Celebrity, which is the line OP is sailing - room service delivery people do not participate in the distribution of the daily service charge; so, if they are not tipped separately, they are not tipped at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pudgesmom Posted September 25, 2018 #24 Share Posted September 25, 2018 What do you mean by “separately” ? On many lines - particularly Celebrity, which is the line OP is sailing - room service delivery people do not participate in the distribution of the daily service charge; so, if they are not tipped separately, they are not tipped at all. I mean I don’t tip room service each time I order. It is possible to tip room service without handing a couple bucks each time one orders. The OP did not ask what line I was sailing on or whether I tip outside of individual delivery, so chill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sloopsailor Posted September 25, 2018 #25 Share Posted September 25, 2018 I mean I don’t tip room service each time I order. It is possible to tip room service without handing a couple bucks each time one orders. It's also possible to not tip at all, both on the ship and on land. I guess it all depends on how generous a person is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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