Another boring tipping question-bartenders

[mnbruce]

Sorry if this has come up here before but I did a search and did not see it.

 

I've only cruised 5 previous times and our HAL Alaskan cruise last summer was the first that had the auto tipping and the service charge on drinks at the bars. My question has to do with tipping the bartenders. On that last cruise I would tip $2-$3 per round most of the time because the service was good and I'm just used to tipping when at a bar. The problem was twice during that cruise I had other passengers who were bothered that I was tipping because it made them feel awkward because they were not tipping. I also tip when staying at all inclusives where tips are included and have never been questioned about it. I certainly don't do it to make others feel cheap. Do you tip bartenders and if not does it bother you if others do? Our January cruise on the Caribbean Princess will be our first Princess cruise.

 

Thanks

[Pam in CA]

Sorry if this has come up here before but I did a search and did not see it.

 

I've only cruised 5 previous times and our HAL Alaskan cruise last summer was the first that had the auto tipping and the service charge on drinks at the bars. My question has to do with tipping the bartenders. On that last cruise I would tip $2-$3 per round most of the time because the service was good and I'm just used to tipping when at a bar. The problem was twice during that cruise I had other passengers who were bothered that I was tipping because it made them feel awkward because they were not tipping. I also tip when staying at all inclusives where tips are included and have never been questioned about it. I certainly don't do it to make others feel cheap. Do you tip bartenders and if not does it bother you if others do? Our January cruise on the Caribbean Princess will be our first Princess cruise.

Princess charges 15% on top of the cost of a drink or soda for service, no choice as it's added automatically. If your service has been exceptional or you've requested something special, a little something might be appreciated. I tip the waiter or bartender very rarely and only at the end of a cruise; only when they've gone way beyond expectations as I feel the 15% already paid is sufficient.

[Katie333]

I'm not a big drinker, and have never experienced service that went beyond the 15% gratuity I was already paying. That may be 'cheap' but again, I'm a person who orders one drink or so a day (at most). If I was spending time at the bar and the server went above and beyond, perhaps extra at the end of the cruise, but not drink by drink.

 

It wouldn't bother me if someone did this differently, but I question the necessity given the auto tip. Tipping is a very personal matter, I'm sure you'll hear people who agree and disagree.

[billet]

Sorry if this has come up here before but I did a search and did not see it.

 

I've only cruised 5 previous times and our HAL Alaskan cruise last summer was the first that had the auto tipping and the service charge on drinks at the bars. My question has to do with tipping the bartenders. On that last cruise I would tip $2-$3 per round most of the time because the service was good and I'm just used to tipping when at a bar. The problem was twice during that cruise I had other passengers who were bothered that I was tipping because it made them feel awkward because they were not tipping. I also tip when staying at all inclusives where tips are included and have never been questioned about it. I certainly don't do it to make others feel cheap. Do you tip bartenders and if not does it bother you if others do? Our January cruise on the Caribbean Princess will be our first Princess cruise.

 

Thanks

If you like tipping additional to the 15% that is your prerogative. If others choose to feel awkward about it that is their issue and certainly not yours. I am sure the bartenders appreciate it very much.

[mnbruce]

Thanks for the responses. I realize that there is a 15% service charge,which does not bother me as long as it all is going to the workers. I should clarify that the tipping is usually happening when my wife and I are hanging at a particular bar and conversing with the employees.

[wrecks]

As other have said, there is the 15% auto gratuity. I always tip an extra $1.00 per drink in all venues; casino, lounge, ship's gatherings (where there is no charge) - just what I do. With the auto tip, you don't have to add, but I feel it's ok to do.

See you on the water,

Rex

[sultan_sfo]

We do extra $1 per order if there are 2 of us. We carry $ bills with us. At Vines where we were almost every day on a 30-day cruise and served by the same person we tipped more extra daily plus another $10 or so every week or so because we cannot buy them a drink when they are working.

 

As other have said, there is the 15% auto gratuity. I always tip an extra $1.00 per drink in all venues; casino, lounge, ship's gatherings (where there is no charge) - just what I do. With the auto tip, you don't have to add, but I feel it's ok to do.

See you on the water,

Rex

[sveipe]

I usually add $1-2 per drink.

[mnbruce]

Thanks again. As long as I know the cash tipping is not uncommon I won't really give it a second thought.

[mikjr]

I always tip an extra $1.00 per drink in all venues; casino, lounge, ship's gatherings (where there is no charge) - just what I do.

 

I only give an additional tip to the bartender or bar servers if the drinks are prepared good and strong. So... I guess I'll never have to worry about tipping extra on Princess. :rolleyes:

[west coast cruiser]

I tip the bar tender and the bar servers the last night of the cruise. They usually know your name and drink preference very early in the cruise and take good care of you.

WCC

[AndyTheK]

I only give an additional tip to the bartender or bar servers if the drinks are prepared good and strong. So... :rolleyes:

 

 

Last year on RCCL, when DW asked a barman, jokingly, if he "made a good bloody mary," he told her that drinks were prepared from mixes, and they no longer mix their own (presumably they just add the alcohol to a prepared mix). Anyone know if Princess follow this procedure also?

[pg.]

Thanks for the responses. I realize that there is a 15% service charge,which does not bother me as long as it all is going to the workers. I should clarify that the tipping is usually happening when my wife and I are hanging at a particular bar and conversing with the employees.

 

Do you normally have to pay people to talk to you?( rhetorical question, I am sure you don't)

 

Seriously,, why to some people feel that because a bartender is talks to them they should tip more.. I am sorry,, I don't get it. I talk to people at work,, and I do that to be PLEASANT and because talking is more fun then not talking.

 

I find it hard to believe that uncorking a bottle of wine and pouring it into a glass is going to warrant an EXTRA tip.

 

I am not trying to rant at you,, but this whole tip tip tip mentality becomes a bit overwhelming when someone cites an employee chatting with them as a reason to TIP more!

 

Now,, it they pour doubles but charge singles,, THAT is worth an extra tip,, LOL

[WeBeGone]

The 15% is divided between servers and bartenders so we don't normally tip extra. However, on the Tahitian Princess 3 years ago, one bartender from India made the most excellent martini I've ever had and since we went to that lounge promptly at 5 each evening, about day 4 he started to make my drink as soon as he saw us walking down the hall. It was in my hand by the time I sat down. At the end of our 20 day b2b, he got a big tip, and I wrote him up on the "You Made a Difference" card.

[m steve]

I will tip a 5 early in the cruise and might make a comment about making the drink a little stronger. They usually catch on and by giving me a little larger pour, can expect additional tips during the cruise. I like a strong drink but don't need a double although I might order one occasionally .

[steponboard]

How many times do people think they have to tip? The tip is added in already and tipping more is for show, so yes you would make your guests feel awkward.

[WeBeGone]

How many times do people think they have to tip? The tip is added in already and tipping more is for show, so yes you would make your guests feel awkward.

 

Sorry but I disagree. Tipping is a subjective and personal matter that each person decides for themselves. If I feel someone decides an extra tip, then I give them an extra tip. If someone feels awkward, that's their problem, not the problem of the person doing the tipping.

[Clutterlady]

If we frequent a certain bar during our cruise, and the bartender has my drink ready for me and goes beyond the regular "how was your day"......sure I give him a nice tip at the end of our cruise! Nothing wrong with that's and my prerogative:)

[m steve]

they don't need to be embarrased. Nothing more is expected.

[WeBeGone]

they don't need to be embarrased. Nothing more is expected.

 

Right on !

[Johanna7]

Some cruise lines give repeat passengers a book with coupons and when I get 2 drinks with a coupon, while one only is charged, I always add a $1 bill. As there would be no gratuity with the 'free' drink. Usually, they make the drinks very strong. As I do not drink alcohol much, it is too strong for me and can only drink part of it. When my dh has finished his, I pour mine (what is left) over his ice and it works out well.

[cantwaitfornextcruise]

The last 2 days of the cruise, we have our little envelopes for people who made our stay perfect. tipping at the time makes more sense but as the ship is cashless, we don't carry any money about.

 

[LA_FadeAway]

We don't want to be bothered with carrying cash around the ship for tips, but we usually do add a little extra when signing the receipts at the bar. If the tab is like $12.07, we'll round up to $13. If it's more like $12.75, we may make it $14. You get the idea. I guess we do this because we normally tip around 20% at bars and restaurants at home so we feel adding a little extra makes up the difference from 15% to 20%. I suppose doing it this way may avoid making people "uncomfortable" too, since they won't even know you're doing it. It's not as obvious as throwing cash down. To each his own. I can't imagine feeling uncomfortable at other people's tipping practices.

[mnbruce]

Do you normally have to pay people to talk to you?( rhetorical question, I am sure you don't)

 

Seriously,, why to some people feel that because a bartender is talks to them they should tip more.. I am sorry,, I don't get it. I talk to people at work,, and I do that to be PLEASANT and because talking is more fun then not talking.

 

I find it hard to believe that uncorking a bottle of wine and pouring it into a glass is going to warrant an EXTRA tip.

 

I am not trying to rant at you,, but this whole tip tip tip mentality becomes a bit overwhelming when someone cites an employee chatting with them as a reason to TIP more!

 

Now,, it they pour doubles but charge singles,, THAT is worth an extra tip,, LOL

 

LOL! Not sure why you felt the need to take that approach. I never said that I tip simply because someone is talking to me. I would surely go broke if that was the case because I'm a talker,maybe to a fault. If I'm sitting at a bar for any length of time it's because I like the service and the conversation. I might be getting some info regarding the cruise ship or maybe I'm just interested in the employee,his or her life and the culture they come from. I also appreciate positive attitudes and a smile from someone who works a long day and on some occasions get lousy treatment from other passengers but does not let it effect their work. Like at home, if the service is better than normal,so is the tip. I would still tip no matter what the answers were here but if everyone said they don't tip extra I probably would be more discreet about it,and maybe still will be.

[mnbruce]

How many times do people think they have to tip? The tip is added in already and tipping more is for show, so yes you would make your guests feel awkward.

 

Maybe to you showing a little extra appreciation is for show. I don't need to show off to anybody,I don't have a self esteem problem.