Tipping your room steward on the first day?

[mikel24m]

first day I always give him $20

 

We always have ice and whatever we ask him for

 

Midway throught the week I give him another $20

 

Last day we give him another $20 and any unopened bottles of liquor for the crew parties

 

Plus his actual tips that are pre paid

[Prphan2]

Our best method is to make friends with the staff. Ask about their family, how they like working onboard, etc. That goes a looong way towards getting great service.

 

That's exactly what we do and it is so rewarding to just chat with them.

 

One of my favorite cruise experiences was on the Adventure of the Seas 2 years ago. We had a late afternoon flight and weren't in a huge hurry to leave the ship for the San Juan airport. We found out that the ship was in drydock at the end of our cruise, so the usual rush to get the passengers off of the ship didn't exist. After breakfast we went to the pool deck, sat down at a table facing the city, and spent the next couple of hours chatting with various crew members, while enjoying the great view. It was so fun to hear about their lives off of the ship. One of the maintenance guys was chopping at the bit, because at the end of the drydock time his contract was up and he was headed home for a few months. His excitement was so fun to embrace. What a great memory!

 

 

I read this after posting and realized that I didn't mention that we actually do this throughout the entire cruise, not just at the end. We've enjoyed getting to know our stewards, waitstaff and others throughout the ship all cruise long.

[mikel24m]

if someone handed me money before i did anything, i would just think "sucker!".

 

No actually you are incorrect

 

someone who tips before willl tip again

 

 

its pretty common sense I go to a bar and hand the bartender a $20 and say this is for you .If there are 50 people waiting for drinks and he looks up and sees me who would you wait on...Its not rocket science.Im never thirsty

[Froufie]

first day I always give him $20

 

We always have ice and whatever we ask him for

 

Midway throught the week I give him another $20

 

Last day we give him another $20 and any unopened bottles of liquor for the crew parties

 

Plus his actual tips that are pre paid

 

What if he isn't doing a good job? (and he would probably do that stuff anyways whether you 'pre-tipped' him/her or not! I always get ice and 'whatever I ask for' without handing over any gratuity til the end of the cruise - go figure :D)

[H82seaUgo]

the posters tipping bartenders are using a bribe. what that has to do with tipping a steward, i"m certainly lost.

 

maybe they're hoping the tiles are scrubbed counterclockwise.

[nanuak]

I was just wondering what is a good tip amount for the first day for the week. I was thinking like 100.00 dollars?

 

My DH normally tips a $20 on the first day, and requests that our cooler is kept stocked with ice and his sodas are cold. For some odd reason, he likes to tip while on vacation, so I'm not sure how much in total we tip our steward/bartender(s)/casino dealer(s), etc.

 

I do know that we sailed two years later on the Conquest, and one of the bartenders recognized us, gosh knows how much he tipped the prior cruise :eek:

[Marysunshine]

Okay I am not a "Pre-tipper". But if I think about it, I wind up tipping on my trip:

taxi to airport

airport porter at airport

taxi airport to hotel

bell service at hotel

maid at hotel

wait staff at dinner restaurant

wait staff at breakfast restaurant

bell staff leaving hotel

taxi hotel to port

port guys at the cruise ship

standard tips plus extra staff on ship

 

Add in anything else I may do and before you know it tips have become a big expense when traveling.

Here in my daily life, tipping has become insane: tip jars at subway, at dunkin donuts, etc.

I don't mean to criticize but people who overtip or tip when they shoudln't have created a tip monster that is out of control.

[Hooking4]

No actually you are incorrect

 

someone who tips before willl tip again

 

 

its pretty common sense I go to a bar and hand the bartender a $20 and say this is for you .If there are 50 people waiting for drinks and he looks up and sees me who would you wait on...Its not rocket science.Im never thirsty

 

 

 

 

 

mike , save your breath , most are just to cheap to tip anyway and are looking for any excuse not to , and then there are the argue every subject posters ( not much of a home life so they push there weight around here ). they just want to tell you how crazy you are for doing what your doing . no mater what it is . right Hate ?

[jpg1747]

IMO giving money in advance of service is not a tip, it's a bribe. I tip after service has been rendered.

[cdamion]

What if he isn't doing a good job? (and he would probably do that stuff anyways whether you 'pre-tipped' him/her or not! I always get ice and 'whatever I ask for' without handing over any gratuity til the end of the cruise - go figure :D)

 

I've never had the situation arise, but I suppose if I tipped up front, and then received exceptionally poor service, then I would probably go to guest services and reduce the auto-tip and tell them exactly why.

[SMSACE6]

OP, do not do this! Especially 100.00! There is absolutely no need to do it, and as far as Im concerned you would be throwing your money away. As it is you are already paying a daily tip to the room steward. Their basic service is to make your bed, change your towels, and empty the wastebaskets, ok towel animal at night and a chocolate on your pillow. What extra would you want from them to warrant tipping 100.00 on the first day? In most cases you will find that your room steward does an excellent job, so why not at the end of the cruise/last evening leave a little extra for him/her depending on the level of service?

[ck53]

Turbot,

 

Please feel free to give/tip whatever you feel like doing, it is your money.

 

One time I tipped $20. the 1st time I saw our steward and ask him for 15 extra coat hangers and to clean out our refrigerator and a new / clean bedspread (old one was stained) He did a service for us @ a time when he was busy and it was appreciated.

 

How people spend their own money is up to them, let them decide, we have enough politicans spending our money for us we don't need to do it for others!:rolleyes:

 

Just enjoy your cruise!

[T. Advisor King]

Do you understand what a tip is?? It is [for] a service provided to you that went above and beyond. Not there normal duties but something they did extra for you. Tipping before they did anything makes no sense. That is a charitable donation not a tip. Please if you feel bad for them then donate to them but that is NOT A TIP!!:mad:

 

While I generally agree with your sentiment, I'm not sure that a tip is something paid for service that was better than "normal" or exceeded expectations. Virtually everyone pays their auto-tips. Not everyone receives "above average" service. In fact, either everyone receives "average" service, or half the people are above and half the people are below. Tipping, whether it is the cabin steward, or the waiter/waitress at a restaurant is simply a social and economic convention of compensation for services rendered. I know few people who tip only if their restaurant service is "exceptional" (although many people may leave a slightly higher tip). Same thing with cab drivers. You tip because it is a part of the cost; not because of the quality service. The amount of the tip may vary, by the the difference is usually pretty small compared to the base tip for average service.

 

Generally, I don't subscribe to the view that every action by every service sector employee requires a tip. That said, I avoid many of those services where I can (e.g., I park my own car and carry my own bags to my hotel room). But I do recognize that there is a limited number of functions where it is socially understood that a standard tip is implied as part of the cost (i.e., restaurant/bar, cab, hair cut, cruise fare). I once tipped a plumber (who I had never met before) because he only charged $10 for coming to the house and replacing a valve. He didn't charge me for the part because he said he could get it replaced through the manufacturer's warranty.

 

As far as the steward goes, I don't ask for anything (unless something is missing or broken, in which I don't expect to provide a tip to get it replaced or repaired). I keep my cabin tidy and expect my children to do the same. I would have no problem if the steward only came by every second day (although my kids would miss the towel animals). The auto-tips are an implied and understood part of the cost of the cruise and I'm happy to pay them.

[AWCHIEF]

I was just wondering what is a good tip amount for the first day for the week. I was thinking like 100.00 dollars?

 

Why? There is no reason to pre-bribe any Carnival employee. You will receive the normal outstanding service even if you just let Carnival take out the standard $10 per day/per person at the end of the cruise.

[trailercruiser]

I actually think that this is a troll- But you are right.

I also think your a troll. But you made a good point. Yes trolling for 5 years . Rofl, you must also believe in the grassy knoll.

[deadmoney]

I was just wondering what is a good tip amount for the first day for the week. I was thinking like 100.00 dollars?

 

I found this thread from last year: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1165429&highlight=

[trailercruiser]

While I generally agree with your sentiment, I'm not sure that a tip is something paid for service that was better than "normal" or exceeded expectations. Virtually everyone pays their auto-tips. Not everyone receives "above average" service. In fact, either everyone receives "average" service, or half the people are above and half the people are below. Tipping, whether it is the cabin steward, or the waiter/waitress at a restaurant is simply a social and economic convention of compensation for services rendered. I know few people who tip only if their restaurant service is "exceptional" (although many people may leave a slightly higher tip). Same thing with cab drivers. You tip because it is a part of the cost; not because of the quality service. The amount of the tip may vary, by the the difference is usually pretty small compared to the base tip for average service.

 

Generally, I don't subscribe to the view that every action by every service sector employee requires a tip. That said, I avoid many of those services where I can (e.g., I park my own car and carry my own bags to my hotel room). But I do recognize that there is a limited number of functions where it is socially understood that a standard tip is implied as part of the cost (i.e., restaurant/bar, cab, hair cut, cruise fare). I once tipped a plumber (who I had never met before) because he only charged $10 for coming to the house and replacing a valve. He didn't charge me for the part because he said he could get it replaced through the manufacturer's warranty.

 

As far as the steward goes, I don't ask for anything (unless something is missing or broken, in which I don't expect to provide a tip to get it replaced or repaired). I keep my cabin tidy and expect my children to do the same. I would have no problem if the steward only came by every second day (although my kids would miss the towel animals). The auto-tips are an implied and understood part of the cost of the cruise and I'm happy to pay them.

By definition then that is not a tip. Eating out years ago 5% was the "norm", then 10% , then 15% , now 20% or the waiter gets mad even if he did a lousy service. I don't always tip a cab driver, its not required, I had a vegas cab driver purposely go the long way( I know vegas) he received no tip and I told him why. A tip is not a built in cost by true definition, your talking about a service charge. I have plenty of times left no tip for horrible service and let the manager know why , when eating out as we would not be going there again . But tipping is a gesture not a requirement and it is also personal and no one elses business what one tips or doesn't tip. All the judgemental people who call people "cheap" because they removed their tips have no clue what kind of service that person received to make them remove the tip. As a waiter that paid my college tuition, we always joked how guilted people were into tipping, sad but it put me through college, so go ahead keep over or under tipping but it is not my business. ;)

[T. Advisor King]

By definition then that is not a tip. Eating out years ago 5% was the "norm", then 10% , then 15% , now 20% or the waiter gets mad even if he did a lousy service. I don't always tip a cab driver, its not required, I had a vegas cab driver purposely go the long way( I know vegas) he received no tip and I told him why. A tip is not a built in cost by true definition, your talking about a service charge. I have plenty of times left no tip for horrible service and let the manager know why , when eating out as we would not be going there again . But tipping is a gesture not a requirement and it is also personal and no one elses business what one tips or doesn't tip. ... ;)

 

My copy of Webster's defines a tip as "a gift or sum of money tendered for a service performed or anticipated; gratuity." It then defines "gratuity" as "something given voluntarily or beyond obligation usually in return for or in anticipation of some service; tip"

 

There is nothing in the definition that makes an association between tipping and any sort of concept of "service beyond expectation". It is the voluntary nature of the payment that makes it a tip. Not the fact that you're getting something better than you expected.

 

That said, I agree with the concept that, in reality, most tips are effectively a service charge. The payment is "mandatory", but the obligation falls from social custom, not from law.

 

Even your own comments support the view that there are certain services for which there is an understanding that a certain baseline tip is required and that the only circumstances when it wouldn't be required is when the service was so bad that you felt compelled to complain about it. And I agree that that is the correct standard. I would never withhold my auto-tips unless the service was so bad (and bad in many areas) that I had to complain. Effectively, it is like you're saying that you did not get what you paid for, and you want some of your money back, except that the part you want back is the voluntary potion (the tip) that you haven't yet paid.

 

As for the trip from McCarran to the Strip, the cab companies will take the highway around the back because it is faster (and because it results in a higher fare). But because of the distance travelled, it is more expensive. The difference is often reported as $30 vs $12, but it is more like $24 vs. $19. Usually the cabbies will ask whether you want to take the highway, because they can be fined a fair sum for long-routing.

[Distilled1]

No actually you are incorrect

 

someone who tips before willl tip again

 

 

its pretty common sense I go to a bar and hand the bartender a $20 and say this is for you .If there are 50 people waiting for drinks and he looks up and sees me who would you wait on...Its not rocket science.Im never thirsty

 

Exactly what I do .. and having many family members in the service industry this works every time.. all you that don't pre tip a bartender in advance ever wonder why they are taking care of people that may have just walked up? maybe its a bribe.. but guess what it works .. yes you get all the service with out a pre tip, but they know more is coming, in fact I let them know more is coming on top of what they get on there book from the auto tip.. we have toured places, local bars with our steward like a private tour guide. gone to crew only beach on Disney's island , danced with them at the clubs .. hung out and got to know them .. its part of the experience IMHO ... and I do it at bars too new bar new city we went to tipped up front came back 3 weeks later knew what we drank and our name .. maybe its a bribe to be treated as a VIP I don't care its nice .. I read a lot of people that say they never see their room steward thats sad even with great service, I like to get to know them

[ta_know]

such an interesting topic...

it's all in the delivery. You either appear an assertive straight shooter by delivering that tip with humility at introduction with specific special instructions that justify the gesture or you come across as a pompous a$$ with no class and culture who passes out money for no reason at all.

Remember 100 bucks isn't going to turn the room steward into a mind reader :)

I've found that taking time out to genuinely converse with the service team on the ship has gotten me more perks than any tip I've ever left.

[turbot72lou]

i didn't expect this many responses when i asked this question. I will put my opinion here and it's only my opinion. tipping 100.00 dollars is not excessive. When i tipped 100.00 to the bartender the first night in the disco, he was thrilled. the next night when the place was packed to the ceiling and it was 20 min wait for drinks. All i had to do is look at him and he skipped everyone else and made my drink along with whatever else i ordered.

 

As far tipping the room steward... People who don't tip at least a little on top of the automatic gratuity are flat out cheap! Once again this is only my Opinion.

[Jennfor5]

I always give 20.00 the first day.The rest of the tip comes at the end of the cruise.100.00 right at the start I think is too much unless you are going to remove the automatic tip.

I give 20 also , hopefully ensuring ice all week.

[JennLuvs2Cruise]

I personally pre-pay my tips before my cruise, leave $20 for the first day and about $50 on the last day. We have never had bad service. Our last room steward was fantastic!

[H82seaUgo]

i didn't expect this many responses when i asked this question. I will put my opinion here and it's only my opinion. tipping 100.00 dollars is not excessive. When i tipped 100.00 to the bartender the first night in the disco, he was thrilled. the next night when the place was packed to the ceiling and it was 20 min wait for drinks. All i had to do is look at him and he skipped everyone else and made my drink along with whatever else i ordered.

 

As far tipping the room steward... People who don't tip at least a little on top of the automatic gratuity are flat out cheap! Once again this is only my Opinion.

 

 

might be cheaper to hand a buck to all those in line to just step aside.

[mikel24m]

the posters tipping bartenders are using a bribe. what that has to do with tipping a steward, i"m certainly lost.

 

maybe they're hoping the tiles are scrubbed counterclockwise.

 

Now read my post very slow and understand it .I was using the Tip the bartender as an example:)

 

As far as tipping before services are rendered .Its $20 and 9 out of 10 times works magic we never to ask for anything