Here Ye, Here Ye, I will always tip my cabin steward more...

[waldocruiser1]

Sorry I ment

 

Hear Ye Hear Ye!

 

OK, after 5 cruises I have always thought the topic of tipping a room steward EXTRA was strange, and I have only done this on a few cruises.

 

Well that will change from now on, let me explain....

 

I just got back from a trip to New Haven Ct. it was a business trip, and the group I was with were paired up and stayed in some very nice looking rooms, they were not overly expensive, but this was a downtown hotel of the same name of the city. The room had 2 very nice comfortable beds, down quilts on the beds, very good nights sleep by all the people in the group.

 

We are men that have never met but work for religious related organization, so we were paired up for the week at random.

 

Based on this setup, here are the problems;

 

1. When we got to the hotel on Sunday afternoon, I noticed the bathroom only had 4 bath towels, and 2 wash cloths. No hand towels to dry your hands on after washing, but there was a bar to put them on by the sink, (like they forgot to put them out) I thought this was strange but would be corrected the next day when they make up the room again.

 

2. Day two is over and we get back to the room about 8pm and find the TV still on from morning, (oh well, not my electric bill) the trash can by the desk in the middle of the room, the paper coffee and lid I used the night before was gone, and not replaced, and now we have 4 bath towels and ONE washcloth, no hand towels, now we are just acquainted and have to share a wash cloth? gross! I washed and showered first, not sure what roommate did. Also the 2 glasses in the bathroom had a paper dust cover on them the day before, ( I used one glass when brushing my teeth) had the paper on them again, but one of the glasses was wet inside, (was it washed in the room? or just the lid put back on?) more gross!! Did call to get more washcloths and ask about hand towels, never got any but was told it would be corrected.

 

3. Day 3 get back and the beds are made, room looks great, we have 4 bath towels, 2 wash cloths, 2 hand towels, dry glasses, paper coffee cups with lids again. Things are coming around, or so we thought. When my roommate opens up his bed to go to bed, he finds his shirt that was on the bed that morning, and papers he was working on, under the covers, strange place, but at least the bed was made, I guess.

 

Day 4, we are out of towels and washcloths again, 4 bath towels, and 1 washcloth, TV on again, trash can in the middle of the floor, and this time, I think my roommate must have forgot to flush in the morning, or someone used the bathroom during the day and forgot, either way, DISGUSTING, on many levels.

 

Day 5, room clean, trash can back by desk, beds made, 4 bath towels, no soap or shampoo, 1 wash cloth, no hand towels, NO TOILET PAPER!!!

 

Day six, we left, after asking for a late check out, our shuttle to the airport was at 2:30 pm and we would be back from class at 12:30 to get out stuff, at 12:00 the room was not made up (OK we are leaving)

 

So the point, after all that drama;

 

When you go on a cruise, and the room is always cleaned and straightened up, be happy, when the towels and washcloths are replaced several times each day, be happy, when you find all you cloths on the dresser/table be happy. when you go to the bathroom (literally) be very happy there is paper from your room steward, and leave him/her some paper at the end of the week, because they are looking out for you, and making your life better.

 

Relax and enjoy your trip! AND TIP YOUR CABIN STEWARD WELL, you wont appreciate what they do for you until you don't get it, and you miss it.

[firefly333]

Did you tip the hotel maids at all?? Often people dont tip even a dime.

 

Iv had trouble on one cruise and should have cut the tips back, but let it go as I didnt want to affect other help, just the one cabin steward (we didnt get turn down 3 nights and one day at all).

[kujobie]

I've had poor service from room stewards as well.

[waldocruiser1]

Did you tip the hotel maids at all?? Often people dont tip even a dime.

 

Iv had trouble on one cruise and should have cut the tips back, but let it go as I didnt want to affect other help, just the one cabin steward (we didnt get turn down 3 nights and one day at all).

 

Yes, but this time I did use my friend the $2.00 bill as an insult. I was planning on tipping $20.00 for the week, (I know it is not much) I did tip 5 $2.00 bills roommate did not tip anything.

 

based on the cleaning things I mentioned on OP, I think I over tipped.

[conchead]

Yes, but this time I did use my friend the $2.00 bill as an insult. I was planning on tipping $20.00 for the week, (I know it is not much) I did tip 5 $2.00 bills roommate did not tip anything.

 

based on the cleaning things I mentioned on OP, I think I over tipped.

 

Sound to me like you over tipped by about $10

[Dulahey]

Sound to me like you over tipped by about $10

 

Exactly. Tips are SUPPOSED to be for exceptional service above and beyond what is required.

[Nunu]

goo for you

[CTYOFSUNNSIN]

When you go on a cruise, and the room is always cleaned and straightened up, be happy, when the towels and washcloths are replaced several times each day, be happy, when you find all you cloths on the dresser/table be happy. when you go to the bathroom (literally) be very happy there is paper from your room steward, and leave him/her some paper at the end of the week, because they are looking out for you, and making your life better.

 

Relax and enjoy your trip! AND TIP YOUR CABIN STEWARD WELL, you wont appreciate what they do for you until you don't get it, and you miss it.

 

Being from the city of Sun and Sin, AKA lost Wages, or better known as Las Vegas. I know a large group of people who make their livings on nothing more then the tips. Up until this recession hit, made a really good living at that. And like Waldo was saying, appreciate what you get. When I leave my little city and dine out, i realize just how spoiled we are to live in a city that is based on good, fast service. Don't get me wrong, we can have bad service at places here in Vegas, but it doesn't happen often. Vegas is also a place where if there is a valet parking lot that is full, just tip 10 and its amazing how a spot becomes avaliable. That is how I have always approached my cabin Steward. They are always so pleasant and want to meet and greet you, call you by name. I try to return the favore, call them by name and when I first meet them, hand them a little token of my appreciation for the willingness to leave their families and come and take care of my families needs. Depending on the job they are doing, and how I might be doing in the cruise ship casino, show them more appreciation throughout the week. I have never had a bad experience with my service.

[sjn911]

Being from the city of Sun and Sin, AKA lost Wages, or better known as Las Vegas. I know a large group of people who make their livings on nothing more then the tips. Up until this recession hit, made a really good living at that. And like Waldo was saying, appreciate what you get. When I leave my little city and dine out, i realize just how spoiled we are to live in a city that is based on good, fast service. Don't get me wrong, we can have bad service at places here in Vegas, but it doesn't happen often. Vegas is also a place where if there is a valet parking lot that is full, just tip 10 and its amazing how a spot becomes avaliable. That is how I have always approached my cabin Steward. They are always so pleasant and want to meet and greet you, call you by name. I try to return the favore, call them by name and when I first meet them, hand them a little token of my appreciation for the willingness to leave their families and come and take care of my families needs. Depending on the job they are doing, and how I might be doing in the cruise ship casino, show them more appreciation throughout the week. I have never had a bad experience with my service.

 

I've read so much on this subject here on CC. The above is how I've learned to proceed...and what most often works...the most important thing for me is to always remember to thank the folks keeping your room/cabin..it is an important job. sjn911

[tracyvansmith]

Did you tip the hotel maids at all?? Often people dont tip even a dime.

 

Iv had trouble on one cruise and should have cut the tips back, but let it go as I didnt want to affect other help, just the one cabin steward (we didnt get turn down 3 nights and one day at all).

 

I had a bad room steward once. I went to guest services and told them to take away his tips and give them to our wait staff. They said it was no problem and they just asked me what the problem was with the room steward and I told them.

[MrPete]

What do you expect for $39 a night?

[waldocruiser1]

What do you expect for $39 a night?

 

I agree, but for this room it was $139 per night, not alot but still,

[travelntreats]

I guess the OP's post was interesting, but certainly not a reason to tip a stateroom attendant on a cruise ship any more than is expected if they are just doing their job.

 

Now I will agree if they go that extra mile and make special requests happen... the extra gratuity is deserved.

 

OP... you had bad house cleaning services at the hotel you stayed at... but the same could happen on a ship as well. So how does what happened in a hotel have bearing on tipping a stateroom attendant more on a cruise ship ? A job is a job... do it well, get rewarded, do it poorly and pay the consequences of being reprimanded or lower potential gratuity !

[patrice1]

Being from the city of Sun and Sin, AKA lost Wages, or better known as Las Vegas. I know a large group of people who make their livings on nothing more then the tips. Up until this recession hit, made a really good living at that. And like Waldo was saying, appreciate what you get. When I leave my little city and dine out, i realize just how spoiled we are to live in a city that is based on good, fast service. Don't get me wrong, we can have bad service at places here in Vegas, but it doesn't happen often. Vegas is also a place where if there is a valet parking lot that is full, just tip 10 and its amazing how a spot becomes avaliable. That is how I have always approached my cabin Steward. They are always so pleasant and want to meet and greet you, call you by name. I try to return the favore, call them by name and when I first meet them, hand them a little token of my appreciation for the willingness to leave their families and come and take care of my families needs. Depending on the job they are doing, and how I might be doing in the cruise ship casino, show them more appreciation throughout the week. I have never had a bad experience with my service.

 

We totally agree! We depend on tourism here in Key West, too & we are used to good service when we go out and a small extra tip goes a long way here. We also have never had a bad experiance with any staff on our cruises and we tip generously along the way. We know we don't have to, but everyone always remembers our order & our name throughout the cruise. It's worth it to us & part of the budget for our cruise. We totally believe it makes our cruise experiance much more enjoyable.

[Nunu]

I agree, but for this room it was $139 per night, not alot but still,

 

Good to see the business of religion isn't in a recession.

[busdriver475]

Our experience on the Liberty was very similar. we introduced ourselves to him and gave him a tip right off and never had to ask for anything it was always there. He always managed to get us what he needed. A little extra goes a long way especially if you treat them as people and not servants.

[redskin80]

Best Room steward ever for us

 

Mom and I had a Suite on the Paradise, mom is a a diabetic who needs insulin. We had told PVP what we needed but was not in the room when we got onboard. Let Andy know what we needed and he took care of mom for ther est of the cruise.

 

He told he would take care of her like she was him Mom and he did. He derserved his extra tip from each of us :)

[RossTheBoss]

Is that common for an employer to expect two employees to share a room? Whenever I've travelled on business my employers have always sprung for our own rooms -- I've come to expect that. Have I been spoiled?

[The_Geek]

I have never had to share a room on business either.

[Shewuf]

I tipped our room steward every morning on our December Conquest cruise, and our cabin was always perfect. He never let our ice get low, checked by several times a day to just see how we were, and always said hello to us by name, even if we were WAY down the hall (kind of funny). The other stewards working nearby then started talking to us, too. I might have been tipping too much... ;)

[onthehighseas606]

I'll tip extra if they deserve it. But with money being tight these days, I'll probably just do what's required of me. :rolleyes:

[kyrisong1]

I guess I'm a overtipper, first I've only had one room steward that wasn't excellent and that was on Celebrity.

I figure the tips they charged to the account is minimal suggested tips, when I get excellent service I tip extra at the end of the cruise, I just leave it in an envelope on the last night before I go to dinner.

I don't want thanks for it, to me tipping is a reward for a job well done.

I'm a nurse and I have a hard job, and often we are not always recognized for all we do. A thank you from a patient or family is just something that warms the heart.

I feel my extra at the end is simply a thank you for a job well done, you've spoiled me for 7 days and I appreciate it.

I did have a horrible server on my last cruise and I did not touch the auto tips, however I did write on the comment card how bad he served us and how awfully sarcastic he was with special requests. But truthfully everywhere else we had good service, why short the whole group for one bad apple? A well placed comment is effective.

Anyway I always tip above for excellent service, just like I tip at a restaurant, you'll get 10% if you perform your job in expected manner, 15% if your better at it and 20% if you give me excellent service.

I feel the same about the cruise staff.

Cheers, Carole

[MrPete]

I agree, but for this room it was $139 per night, not alot but still,

 

Looks like you got ripped off, according to TripAdvisor.

 

And shared a room? WOW!

[kyrisong1]

Looks like you got ripped off, according to TripAdvisor.

 

And shared a room? WOW!

It's a religious organization, they are big with stewardship of funds and being fiscally responsible.

My hospital I work with is always talking stewardship and saving the organizations money. I'm sure that the CEO's get a kick out of us little people paying for their private jets :rolleyes:

[waldocruiser1]

I guess the OP's post was interesting, but certainly not a reason to tip a stateroom attendant on a cruise ship any more than is expected if they are just doing their job.

 

Now I will agree if they go that extra mile and make special requests happen... the extra gratuity is deserved.

 

OP... you had bad house cleaning services at the hotel you stayed at... but the same could happen on a ship as well. So how does what happened in a hotel have bearing on tipping a stateroom attendant more on a cruise ship ? A job is a job... do it well, get rewarded, do it poorly and pay the consequences of being reprimanded or lower potential gratuity !

 

The point is this, Don't take the service you get on the ship for granted, it is well beyond the treatment of some (at least one) hotel on land, If you find you don't need to "want" something from your room steward, because they have already taken care of it for you, before you asked, that is a good thing.

 

The cabin stewards make up your room 3 and 4 times a day. What a great service.