Paid gratuities and tipping questions.

[JAMESCC]

I see some online cruise agents offering "paid gratuities". How exactly does that work? Also I have tipping questions in general. On Explorer last November my 2nd cruise ever I did the "auto tipping" but at the end I gave my room attendant 50 bucks on top of that. Is that a smart move or over the top? we also gave our dining room waiter extra money at the end.smart move or over the top? We also tipped for every drink order a dollar. Is this all necessary or did we go over the top because tipping at the end cost us a lot of money when we took a look at it. Is the "auto tipping" plenty for the trip? We were sort of rookies so that is why I'm asking plus I extremely curious. I mean we spent a ton on tipping. Thanks for the answers I appreciate it JC

[steponboard]

RCL has determined what it wants you to tip it's personal and you met your obligation with the auto tip. Why do you feel you need to contradict or second guess RCL they know what they are doing. I tip the requested amounts and leave it at that.

[bionicman97]

I see some online cruise agents offering "paid gratuities". How exactly does that work? Also I have tipping questions in general. On Explorer last November my 2nd cruise ever I did the "auto tipping" but at the end I gave my room attendant 50 bucks on top of that. Is that a smart move or over the top? we also gave our dining room waiter extra money at the end.smart move or over the top? We also tipped for every drink order a dollar. Is this all necessary or did we go over the top because tipping at the end cost us a lot of money when we took a look at it. Is the "auto tipping" plenty for the trip? We were sort of rookies so that is why I'm asking plus I extremely curious. I mean we spent a ton on tipping. Thanks for the answers I appreciate it JC

 

To each his own, but you are under no obligation to tip any extra. The "paid gratuities" that some agents offer is the exact same thing as the auto tipping you refer to.

 

We use the prepaid gratuities and may add a little to it (less than $10, often $5 or less) for outstanding service. No extra beyond prepaid for someone just doing there job. I never tip per drink during a cruise since it is already included in the cruise. If we have the same bartender or waiter/waitress all week, we give them a tip ($5-10) if they looked out for us all week.

 

I would say it is up to you, but personal opinion would be you could cut it back quite a bit if you are prepaying gratuities.

[debates2]

OP I prepay the gratuities, but also gave my waiter and room attendant extra in cash for service above and beyond. I think I gave each of them a $20. I hope that helps. I don't typically tip more than the automatic 15% gratuity added to drink tabs. I believe 15% is enough.

[cruisenfever]

I see some online cruise agents offering "paid gratuities". How exactly does that work? Also I have tipping questions in general. On Explorer last November my 2nd cruise ever I did the "auto tipping" but at the end I gave my room attendant 50 bucks on top of that. Is that a smart move or over the top? we also gave our dining room waiter extra money at the end.smart move or over the top? We also tipped for every drink order a dollar. Is this all necessary or did we go over the top because tipping at the end cost us a lot of money when we took a look at it. Is the "auto tipping" plenty for the trip? We were sort of rookies so that is why I'm asking plus I extremely curious. I mean we spent a ton on tipping. Thanks for the answers I appreciate it JC

The suggested gratuities for non-suite guests is $9.75pp per day. Staying in a suite (GS or above) would be $5.75pp per day.

 

The breakdown is as follows:

 

$3.50pp per day for Stateroom Attendant

$3.50pp per day for Waiter

$2.00pp per day for Assistant Waiter

$0.75pp per day for Head Waiter

 

If you feel that any of the four above name individuals, that have served you during your cruise, have gone above and beyond what you expected, then, yes, it is perfectly acceptable to add something additional. If you feel you got adequate service, then nothing additional is necessary.

 

When ordering drinks there is a 15% gratuity already added into your bill. This is shared by all bar servers at the end of the cruise.

 

If you frequent one lounge or bar more than another during the cruise where you have gotten to know the folks that work there as they have gotten to know you, and you feel that the bartenders have gone above and beyond with their service........then at the end of the cruise you can give them something additional.

[es_2009]

The suggested gratuities for non-suite guests is $9.75pp per day. Staying in a suite (GS or above) would be $5.75pp per day.

 

So is that to say that a JS should follow the same guidelines as a balcony or interior stateroom ($9.75pp/day), and not pay the additional $5.75pp/day for the suite attendant? We have a JS for the first time and were looking for some clear answers on this. Thanks :)

[cruisenfever]

So is that to say that a JS should follow the same guidelines as a balcony or interior stateroom ($9.75pp/day), and not pay the additional $5.75pp/day for the suite attendant? We have a JS for the first time and were looking for some clear answers on this. Thanks :)

Yes, JS cabins are not considered full suites.

[cb at sea]

JS's tip the regular ($9.75 pp pd) rate...NOT the full suite rate!

[FB]

Are employees required to forward any cash tips you give them to the "tip pool"? Our last cruise on Costa I wanted to tip our butler extra as he was fantastic. However when I asked him if he got to keep the money he told me no. He was forced to put any cash tip into the tip pool.

[JAMESCC]

Oh my god thank you so much for the help,you have cleared up so MUCH! I really appreciate the posts. Our first cruise was with my girlfriend at the time and her parents so it was sort of thier cruise. I tipped what was "auto tipping". This last time on "Explorer" in November was our honeymoon so this was our real 1st cruise. I like the tipping my room attendant an extra 20 bucks. That sounds fair but we went WAY overboard. Next time we are gonna just let "auto tipping" and tip the room atendant 20 bucks if he's great but other wise "Auto tipping" is going to work. I estimate on our honeymoon we spent an extra 100 buck for tips,maybe more? Thanks again for the responces I appreciate it. JC

[InsideCruiser]

I see some online cruise agents offering "paid gratuities". How exactly does that work? Also I have tipping questions in general. On Explorer last November my 2nd cruise ever I did the "auto tipping" but at the end I gave my room attendant 50 bucks on top of that. Is that a smart move or over the top? we also gave our dining room waiter extra money at the end.smart move or over the top? We also tipped for every drink order a dollar. Is this all necessary or did we go over the top because tipping at the end cost us a lot of money when we took a look at it. Is the "auto tipping" plenty for the trip? We were sort of rookies so that is why I'm asking plus I extremely curious. I mean we spent a ton on tipping. Thanks for the answers I appreciate it JC

 

Some travel agents will prepay the "auto tips" out of their own pocket as an incentive for you to book with them.

 

I searched Google for cruise and contacted 3 of the top hits. One of them offered the free gratuities even though it was 11 days in entry level inside cabins (perhaps the fact that we were booking 5 cabins helped).

 

Apparently this cost them 13% of a 16% commission. My local TA says her commission would have only been 10% so it appears that the playing field is not level and you can do better dealing with the larger companies.

[Jolimont]

I auto tip and I give extra to the steward when s/he brings me extra pillows or does something special for me. Usually anywhere between $5 and $20. $50 extra is generous I think, but I'm sure they love you! I don't tip extra at bars, although I'll try it this time, see what it gets me.

[JAMESCC]

Thanks for the help. I see now 50 bucks was WAY over the top and if he didn't get it and it went into a big pot then whats the point. JC

[donaldsc]

IMHO, you were very generous. We add to the standard tips for the waitstaff and room steward but not at the level you did. I regard a 15% tip to just pour a drink out of a can to be extremely excessive so we never tip the bar staff.

 

DON

[Cravin]

If you have pre-paid gratitudes do they see that when you are, let's say getting a drink at the bar, or having dinner? I've taken this option for my Nov cruise and wouldn't want the staff thinking that I'm not tipping...

[katiel53]

OP,,

We usually end up tipping our cabin steward and waiter an extra $20. I ask for a few extra things from the cabin steward and I am highly allergic to shrimp so I ask for my lobster to be on a plate that shrimp hasn't touched and at times I have asked for special things.

 

My husband usually finds a bartender that he likes and tips him $5 after the first or second drink and then again the last night. He gets his drinks served right away and I

think a couple of times he's even gotten free drinks. I know on our last cruise he ordered plain coke and the bartender said I am giving you a rum and coke because you've been good to me. He definitely doesn't tip extra every time.

 

Cravin,

The people who are tipped by your pre-paid gratuities do get the info, but you will also be given vouchers to put in envelopes that are given to you by your cabin steward. You just hand out the envelopes with the vouchers or if you wish to add additional cash, you may do so.

 

As far as drinks at the bar are concerned, a 15% tip is automatically added to every drink. When you pre-pay your tips, you are NOT pre-paying tips for drinks as the cruise lines have no way to know how many/few drinks you will consume.

[Havingfun2010]

What is "above and beyond" for a room steward? Extra pillow when asked? That's not really above and beyond. Hotels give that to you if you ask. They have a hard job, but I haven't met one, that went above, and beyond, what I would expect.

 

However, your wait staff, can be a bit more "above and beyond". You can really see this sometimes.

 

I have tipped extra for my wait staff that were good. Never really met a room steward that wowed me. As for drinks, the 15% seems a bit much sometimes, to pop open a beer, but, so giving more for a mixed drink, the 15% is resonable. Giving an extra dollar, is like giving a 30% or more tip, for 2 minutes of work?

 

If someone "wows" you, than tip extra, but don't go overboard for getting just the standard service.

[JAMESCC]

Wow you guys have opened up my eyes thanks. I now know something I always wanted to know. Excellent info I sort of feel like a sucker but it went to good people who need so I'll let that go. Next time I know now though. Thanks a million for the responces. JC

[gerif]

RCL has determined what it wants you to tip it's personal and you met your obligation with the auto tip. Why do you feel you need to contradict or second guess RCL they know what they are doing. I tip the requested amounts and leave it at that.

 

Because the "suggested amounts" are pretty much what they consider to be minimal tips. If anyone goes over and above just basic service, then that is fine. However, with very few exceptions, I feel the room stewards and waitstaff bend over backwards to please the cruisers and definitely deserve more (although $50 was a bit much, I'm sure it was appreciated).

[Mr. Luckytoo]

Is the "auto tipping" plenty for the trip? We were sort of rookies so that is why I'm asking plus I extremely curious. I mean we spent a ton on tipping. Thanks for the answers I appreciate it JC

 

JC, I'm going to go out here and be vilified because - well I see it a lot differently.

 

Whenever you order or purchase anything onboard they AUTOMATICALLY add 15% to that total, for a latte, coke, beer, etc. So why on earth would you give your server more than that? In the casino I'll toss 1-2 dollar chips if my drink is being comp'd but if I have to pay for it they've already gotten my 15%.

 

Room steward is a whole different ball game. I was on a cruise where we NEVER saw our room steward. there was no hair dryer in the room and we called but it was never brought. Nothing special at all. I had the automatic tips removed from my bill.

 

On another cruise the room steward was always there, always filled our ice bucket, very attentive to our needs, room was spotless, etc., and we tipped an additional $30 on TOP of the pre-paid.

 

Waiters in the dining room: Head waiters. Mostly you never see them. On occassions when we've asked to change tables or for something special I will give them $5 at the time. Waiters and assistant waiters. Pre-paid are there for a specific level of service. Above that they get more. If they are a slug they get less.

 

I like to leave CASH for the first 2-3 nights/days. This lets the waiters KNOW if they hustle there is more in store.

 

What does tipping - at the end of the cruise/after the fact - do their their incentive? NOTHING.

 

I tip in a restuarant in the US but not overseas. When in Rome/Spain it's included in the menu prices.

 

There is a certain BASE/LEVEL of service. tipping should be for service ABOVE AND BEYOND, as a reward. Too often the waiters barely live up to the basic level. let's face it just bringing your food to the table isn't good service.

 

JC you and only you determine the amount of tips on your cruise. I've been on cruises where I tipped WAY TOO much but when I consider what these people did it was well worth it. In fact my wife and I still talk fondly about those times. On other cruises I've removed the tips from my bills and only tipped those individuals that deserved it. In fact on truely unmemorable cruise we didn't tip anyone because the service was so lousy, we were sick and used the buffet and it was the time the room steward was MIA. :(

[JAMESCC]

Wow that was a lot of info thanks. I think just the "Auto tip" and maybe slightly more to the room attendant. Good info thanks.