Trying to figure how much cash for misc. tips - pls help me!

[Olive2Read]

We're leaving this weekend for our first cruise. I'm trying to figure out how much cash I will need to have for misc. tips along the way. We are doing MTD, so the bulk of my tips are covered already. I'm just trying to figure out who else along the way will need to be tipped and how much I need to give.

 

We are flying into Houston and will take a private shuttle to the Hotel Galvez where we will stay one night. Then we'll have the shuttle from the hotel to the port on Sunday. We have booked three excursions through RCI. Then we will return to the airport via RCL shuttle at the end of the cruise. So, who can help me out? Who else gets tipped from the time I leave my home airport to the time I return home?

 

Thanks so much for any help!

[cb at sea]

You will need cash for taxi/shuttle tips----10-15% of the cab fare or a couple bucks to the shuttle driver.

If you encounter the porters (if the shuttle doesn't handle your bags for you), then $1-2 per bag is standard.

We don't tip every excursion guide---it just depends if we feel we got alot for what we booked, or if it was strictly transportation....we don't tip for a ride, since we paid alot for that!

You will need to tip if you order room service--$1-5 is standard, depending on how much they carry to you!

You've done the pre-paid tips, since you booked MTD, and that's about all you need to tip. Some will tell you to plan on tipping everyone extra, but you certainly do NOT have to do that....it's all based upon the service your get, and what YOU feel it's worth!

Enjoy!

[Fredr]

Hello,

 

I agree with CB. As this is your first cruise, you will not know the difference between routine and superiorservice so following the ship's guideline's on gratuities is advised.

 

Generally I do give the excursion guide about $5.00 per person or $10 for my wife and I. However this is if they do their job...if not , no gratuity.

 

I do not know the ports opu will visit but there are ATMs all over the world. You should check with your ATM carrier though to make sure that you can use your ATM in foreign countries and the network (Star, Cirrus or whichever). Not sure about this but I would think that any Banco Popular, Santander or HCBC would take your ATM card in Mexico.

[Colorado Kat]

I get $100 in ones from my bank before I go. (For little tips.) There's nothing worse than wanting to tip $5 but only having $20s on you.

 

I stash a bunch of $1s in the cabin dresser, where my kids know that if they want to order room service, they need to tip when it is delivered.

[paul929207]

I always get too many $1 bills. I also get a good number of $5 & $10. You need them for tipping and also small purchases in port. Most places, US$ are acepted, but change is given is local currency.

[cruiserbryce]

we always take as much as we can andf if we end up with extra just put it towards our on board account. For a 7 day cruise we usually go through about $500 in cash. Aside from tips though we try to pay for everything in port with cash to avoid the use of cc's out of the country

[trish1c]

Cash v. costs. They can be different issues.

We took a lot of cash this time because we booked with independent tour excursions operators who all wanted cash when we arrived.

Usually we bring about $200-$300 in cash for tipping, taxi drivers, stevedores, tour operators etc. as well as any extra tips we want to give on board personnel.

We expect to spend about $100 per day per person in on board charges including the built in tips.

[satxdiver]

Almost all independent tour operators want cash unless you reserved the tour online and paid for it with your cc. It is an excellent idea to use cash to buy anything while in a foreign port. If you use your cc in a foreign country, it will be in their currency which will have to be converted to USD. Your cc company will charge a fee to do the transfer in addition to the current exchange rate. This can be anywhere from 2% to 5% or more! In the Caribbean they all take USD. However be forewarned that they will sometimes give you change in their currency so it would be a good idea to have a lot of small bills. Check the port boards on cc to see who you tip in foreign ports.

 

If you give your stateroom attendant an additional tip, be aware that on most cruise lines (s)he will be required to turn it in to be placed in the pool for distribution to all the attendants. This is true for most service people on the ship.

 

I take several hundred mostly in small bills. I do not usually buy food or trinkets while in port. I do buy usually at least one beer to tasted the local brew. Not good news for the local vendors!

[drewrst]

Hello,

 

I agree with CB. As this is your first cruise, you will not know the difference between routine and superiorservice so following the ship's guideline's on gratuities is advised.

 

Generally I do give the excursion guide about $5.00 per person or $10 for my wife and I. However this is if they do their job...if not , no gratuity.

 

I do not know the ports opu will visit but there are ATMs all over the world. You should check with your ATM carrier though to make sure that you can use your ATM in foreign countries and the network (Star, Cirrus or whichever). Not sure about this but I would think that any Banco Popular, Santander or HCBC would take your ATM card in Mexico.

 

 

I read, in a different post, a tip reguarding ATM's which stated the fees were rather high and free cash could be gotten in the casino with your ship card?