Additional tipping

[Silvermist]

I've seen a number of members advising to tip your room steward a little extra over and above the daily charge NCL puts on your account. I'm thinking it sounds like a good idea since they'll be the only people who are consistently dealing with us, right? (Or is that wrong - will there be others that will be consistent throughout the cruise as well?) Anywhoozles, I'm wondering what is an acceptable "over and above" tip? An extra $1/person/day? We're on a 15 day cruise so that's an extra $15 from each of us. Would that be about right? Should it be higher? And is there 1 room steward, or 2 (on the Star)? The whole idea to me is that since they're consistently dealing with us, I think it'd be nice to give them a little sump'in-sump'-in that they don't have to split with others. I mean if I'm tipping the bartender 15% extra to hand me a beer, shouldn't I show a little extra appreciation to the person making my bed and emptying my trash pail daily? :)

[Shelli]

I don't think anybody should feel "obliged" to tip extra. Don't forget that the $12 pp daily service charge covers the steward's tips. That said, we (2 of us) usually do slip our steward an extra $20 or so on the last day... and it's usually well deserved!

[biker@sea]

When in a land hotel or at sea I leave $2 on my pillow every morning for house keeping. I also try to use the same bartender and tip $1 over the set fee. J.M.O.

[sottovoce]

You should feel no peer pressure to tip your room steward above the daily service charge amount. If you ask for something special (e.g., additional ice daily for an ice chest; removal of items from a mini-bar), it might be appropriate. Or, if you are especially pleased with the way you've been treated over the course of your cruise, it would certainly be appreciated if you chose to show your gratitude.

 

Some people apparentluy feel the need to bribe the room steward with something when they first meet him or her, and, in my view, this is utterly unnecessary and could be seen as demeaning. In any case, the daily service charge is intended to obviate the need for the traditional "envelope" tipping, and you should feel no need to tip above and beyond this unless you, yourself, feel that it is something either deserved by the steward or that you just feel is "right" given the way you've been treated over the course of your cruise.

[uppitycats]

While we don't tip upfront -- seems too much like a bribe, to me, and insulting to the steward!, if we do get exceptional service during the cruise, we'll give him..and his assistant (if there is one), $20, and a thank you note. And a positive comment card to the "boss".

[mylesf]

Any cash tips goes into a pool and it is split between all the staff. The full amount does not get pocketed by the person you will hand it to. Therefore, when cruising on NCL I do not tip above and beyond the daily service fee.

[luddite]

No one feels that you're obliged to add to the DSC.

[2Cruise4Ever]

Any cash tips goes into a pool and it is split between all the staff. The full amount does not get pocketed by the person you will hand it to. Therefore, when cruising on NCL I do not tip above and beyond the daily service fee.

 

That's not entirely true. It may be the case on some ships, but on the Dawn, each crew/staff member who receives cash is allowed to keep it. We typically give some $ at the beginning to a bar server at the pool who seems to be particularly attentive. And, whenever we go to the pool (fairly often), he/she will find us and take really, really good care of us.

 

And, we typically give our room steward(s) a bit extra at the end, too (also a S.T.Y.L.E. card). The more he/she goes above and beyond, the higher the $ amount.

[mylesf]

That's not entirely true. It may be the case on some ships, but on the Dawn, each crew/staff member who receives cash is allowed to keep it. We typically give some $ at the beginning to a bar server at the pool who seems to be particularly attentive. And, whenever we go to the pool (fairly often), he/she will find us and take really, really good care of us.

 

And, we typically give our room steward(s) a bit extra at the end, too (also a S.T.Y.L.E. card). The more he/she goes above and beyond, the higher the $ amount.

 

I would think the policy is the same fleet wide. I just came off the Epic and specifically asked my room stewart this question and he responded as I posted above.

[cabincop]

On Gem if you give extra, which I did they DO get to keep it. I also learned from my steward that on every cruise some people always take off the DSC. Oh wait thats a seperate thread sorry:p

[luddite]

That's not entirely true. It may be the case on some ships, but on the Dawn, each crew/staff member who receives cash is allowed to keep it. We typically give some $ at the beginning to a bar server at the pool who seems to be particularly attentive. And, whenever we go to the pool (fairly often), he/she will find us and take really, really good care of us.

 

And, we typically give our room steward(s) a bit extra at the end, too (also a S.T.Y.L.E. card). The more he/she goes above and beyond, the higher the $ amount.

 

If the guest has removed the DSC, the crew is supposed to pool the 'tips'.

If the DSC hasn't been removed, they keep the extra tip.

[Silvermist]

While we don't tip upfront -- seems too much like a bribe, to me, and insulting to the steward!, if we do get exceptional service during the cruise, we'll give him..and his assistant (if there is one), $20, and a thank you note. And a positive comment card to the "boss".

 

 

Ok, I've made a note on my To Do list to fill out comment cards for great service. I'm sure NCL must be like most other service industries that reward employees for good comment cards. Thanks for that suggestion!

 

Would it seem bribey/insulting to tip additional $ every morning like I would a hotel maid? I don't expect we'll get mediocre service no matter what, but I really would like to show appreciation. I'm a housewife. My husband won't be working on his vacation, and I don't plan to do my job on my vacation either. Not that we'll be pigs - I won't expect them to pick up my dirty clothes or anything, but I certainly won't be making the bed daily or wiping down the shower after every use. (That's the vacation part to me - the pool and different ports are just gravy!)

[uppitycats]

Ok, I've made a note on my To Do list to fill out comment cards for great service. I'm sure NCL must be like most other service industries that reward employees for good comment cards. Thanks for that suggestion!

 

Would it seem bribey/insulting to tip additional $ every morning like I would a hotel maid? I don't expect we'll get mediocre service no matter what, but I really would like to show appreciation. I'm a housewife. My husband won't be working on his vacation, and I don't plan to do my job on my vacation either. Not that we'll be pigs - I won't expect them to pick up my dirty clothes or anything, but I certainly won't be making the bed daily or wiping down the shower after every use. (That's the vacation part to me - the pool and different ports are just gravy!)

 

Making the beds, cleaning the bathroom -- that's their job. Tidying up the room (and they'll appreciate you not leaving your stuff lying all over!) is part of the job. Keeping your ice bucket full (if you want it), is part of their job.

 

You can show appreciation at the end with something extra, if you feel like it...but it's not necessary.

[uppitycats]

I would think the policy is the same fleet wide. I just came off the Epic and specifically asked my room stewart this question and he responded as I posted above.

 

I think your steward misunderstood how you asked the question. Fleetwide, if you *leave the autotip in place*, then anything extra you hand to a steward (or other service staff) can be kept. If you remove the autotip (or adjust it downwards), they are obligated to turn in any cash you give them.

[brokenarrowhd]

When in a land hotel or at sea I leave $2 on my pillow every morning for house keeping. I also try to use the same bartender and tip $1 over the set fee. J.M.O.

 

biker and I always do this on land or sea. I also right a little note on a post it with " have a nice day " or something like that everyday!

 

We also on the last day find our steward shake their hand or give them a hug and give them an additional tip on top of the daily tip we gave them. We also fill out the S.T.Y.L.E. cards.

 

The NCL crews always make us feel like family. That's why we are heading out on our 7th NCL cruise in a little over 2 years. It didn't matter wether we where in an inside cabin, ocean view or balcony. We have always gotten outstanding service.

 

We realize that no tipping is required. This is just how we roll. Maybe it's a blue-collar thing.

[newmexicoNita]

I've seen a number of members advising to tip your room steward a little extra over and above the daily charge NCL puts on your account. I'm thinking it sounds like a good idea since they'll be the only people who are consistently dealing with us, right? (Or is that wrong - will there be others that will be consistent throughout the cruise as well?) Anywhoozles, I'm wondering what is an acceptable "over and above" tip? An extra $1/person/day? We're on a 15 day cruise so that's an extra $15 from each of us. Would that be about right? Should it be higher? And is there 1 room steward, or 2 (on the Star)? The whole idea to me is that since they're consistently dealing with us, I think it'd be nice to give them a little sump'in-sump'-in that they don't have to split with others. I mean if I'm tipping the bartender 15% extra to hand me a beer, shouldn't I show a little extra appreciation to the person making my bed and emptying my trash pail daily? :)

 

Here is how we look at it, but nothing is set in stone. if the service is barely standard we do not tip extra at all, if it is better than expected, like our last cruise we gave him an extra $20 at the end. We also usually find one cocktail wait person we are impressed with and give her a little extra. I don't think anyone should feel obligated to tip above the $12 a day. Oh, I have tipped extra in the casino a couple of times as well and of course the conceirge (or however you spell it) when we have had one.

 

Nita

[MotherofTrips]

While we don't tip upfront -- seems too much like a bribe, to me, and insulting to the steward!, if we do get exceptional service during the cruise, we'll give him..and his assistant (if there is one), $20, and a thank you note. And a positive comment card to the "boss".

 

Why do you think that it is a bribe? We always give our steward something on the first day and throughout as we ask for something or after they make the towel animals for the kids. I don't look at it like a bribe, I just feel that it is showing your appreciation for their work. This is how they make their living and I don't think that it would be insulting to them at all. I am sure that they are glad to receive it. But that is just my opinion.

[bob brown]

I was just re-reading page 11 of the "Welcome Aboard" booklet for my next cruise on the Dawn. It goes into detail about how the service charge is computed, and who benefits from it. They also say they will try to resolve any shortcomings encountered on board, but if not satisfied, passenger may adjust it accordingly.

They do go on to say that although not required, guests may make additional cash gratuities to staff for extraordinary service, or tip those staff members that render a personal service who are not a part of the service charge pool.

[2Cruise4Ever]

I would think the policy is the same fleet wide. I just came off the Epic and specifically asked my room stewart this question and he responded as I posted above.

 

Actually, it's up to the Hotel Director of each ship to set that policy. On the Dawn, they are allowed to keep it.

[Don Haynes]

I rarely tip the room stewards more than the DSC. However, if I ask them to replace a broken balcony chair, or a tv remote's batteries, or a burnt out light bulb, and its done, I leave a small tip for the extra service they provided, say another $5 per job...

 

I feel the room stewards are well compensated with the DSC for their normal jobs with the cabin...

[bowbiter]

When I was on the Sky back in January they said any extra tip added to the receipt (charged to your room card) went into the pool. Cash tips they could keep themselves. From that point on we kept the "normal" tip on the receipts and just gave extra cash. (but we had an exceptional server - he went above and beyond for us all of the time)

[Silvermist]

Thanks for all the great info and advice! I really appreciate y'all taking the time to reply.

[mylesf]

I think your steward misunderstood how you asked the question. Fleetwide, if you *leave the autotip in place*, then anything extra you hand to a steward (or other service staff) can be kept. If you remove the autotip (or adjust it downwards), they are obligated to turn in any cash you give them.

 

No he did not misunderstand my question. I was pretty specific and we had several minutes of conversation about this issue. I am not sure you are correct either about removing the daily service fee....

[mylesf]

Actually, it's up to the Hotel Director of each ship to set that policy. On the Dawn, they are allowed to keep it.

 

I will be on the Dawn at the end of the month and will check this out.

[Globaliser]

I'm wondering what is an acceptable "over and above" tip?

$0.00 is perfectly acceptable if you are paying the daily service charge. That includes an appropriate tip to your cabin steward for doing his job. There really is no need to tip anything extra for all the stuff that he's supposed to do. Truly, you will not burn in hell if you don't hand over even more money, because you have already tipped him enough and he is being properly paid for his job.

 

If he does anything extraordinary, then an additional tip might be warranted.