Who do you tip in cash?

[rebeccalizzie]

We are booked on the Freedom, Eastern Caribbean on June 5. This will be our second RCCL cruise but the first was 10 years ago and I am trying to figure out how much cash to bring. We are doing MTD so we prepaid the regular gratuities and I was thinking we were set (silly me :p). Then I read someone talking about luggage porters...and of course tour guides...and I realized I need to make sure we bring enough cash.

 

How much cash do you bring for tips? We'll bring some cash for shopping in ports, but we aren't big souvenir people so I wasn't planning to bring a bunch. I rarely carry cash at all at home, this is going on my packing list!

 

Thanks!

[Lizcourt]

The only cash I use on a cruise (from curbside to curbside), aside from purchases on shore (and there's no way to estimate that for another person, since it's all a function of what you buy and how much it costs) are for the following:

 

1. $2 per bag for the porters curbside on arrival

2. Casino (ALWAYS more than I intended, but that's just me)

3. $2 anytime I have room service delivered

4. $5-10 for tour operators on shore (or alternatively might take a cab to a beach, price varies)

5. additional tip for my cabin steward (varies from cruise to cruise based on service; has been as low as $10 and as high as $100) above the recommended amounts, which I put on my sea pass card.

6. on cruises where I use MTD, give only the recommended tips to wait staff, so no added cost there

7. $2 per bag for porters at luggage pick up through customs

 

Incidentally, some ships now have ATMs aboard (have seen them on CCL, not sure if I've seen them on RCCL). You can also get cash on your seapass card at the casino for a 3% fee if you run really short, like on tip night.

 

Other than my casino losings, I rarely spend more than a couple hundred in cash, if that, on a cruise, including on shore.

[Langley Cruisers]

Hi,

 

Just so you know you have the option to put your tips directly onto your onboard account (either credit card, debit card, or settle in cash one time at the end of the cruise). This eliminates the need for cash at all. Those whom are included in the tips will be acknowledged and it saves a bit of time and fuss, if you will. :)

 

Here is a link with info, from the website. This explains what you need to know. Click below:

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/subject.do?faqSubjectName=Gratuities&faqSubjectId=415&faqType=faq

 

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[mamaza]

We tip a dollar or two per luggage bag, depending on size, and they get handled about 4 times. We tip our waiters and room attendant in cash, about $165 on a 7 night. I carry cash to tip anyone else who does us good service. I even carry a roll of quarters to add to the bar tips. I often get about $40 in $2 at the bank - it's sort of special, and I get $50 in singles for tipping at casinos, bars, etc. These people work 7 days a week for months straight and if they can do that with a smile, I tip them for that. It's all part of the cruise price.

[Tucker in Texas]

We are booked on the Freedom, Eastern Caribbean on June 5. This will be our second RCCL cruise but the first was 10 years ago and I am trying to figure out how much cash to bring. We are doing MTD so we prepaid the regular gratuities and I was thinking we were set (silly me :p). Then I read someone talking about luggage porters...and of course tour guides...and I realized I need to make sure we bring enough cash.

 

How much cash do you bring for tips? We'll bring some cash for shopping in ports, but we aren't big souvenir people so I wasn't planning to bring a bunch. I rarely carry cash at all at home, this is going on my packing list!

 

Thanks!

 

I have my tips put on the S&S card or prepaid if we are doing MTD. However, I bring $25-$30 in singles. Each morning, I leave $2 along with a note thanking my room steward for doing something- -my punch list on the first night, keeping my six pack cooler full of ice, towel animal, whatever I can think of even if it is just keeping my cabin so nice and clean. I, also, leave a couple of pieces of snack candy. I leave $2 in case he has an assistant he wants to share with.

 

I usually get over the top service. Since in the past, we always gave extra over the recommended amount anyway, it's not really "costing" me any more.

 

I keep some of the singles to tip a bar server who brings my drinks a buck. That usually brings quicker service and better drinks as the week progresses.

 

If someone in the WJ goes "above and beyond," I give them a dollar. If I eat dinner up there and get a particularly attentive waiter, then a couple of dollars to him.

 

What is "fun" is when you tip someone just a dollar who very seldom gets a tip. For instance, one particular crew lady was cleaning in the rest room near the pool several times when I was there. She would hand me a paper towel or hold the door open for me when I would leave. On the last day I gave her $2 and she almost dropped her jaw she was so surprised.

 

As for other cash, about the only thing you need to factor in is if you take private tours, i.e. hire a cab driver. That needs to be paid in cash. We estimate about $30 pp for a four hour tour. If you take a ship's sponsored cruise, the guide and the driver need to be tipped out. We usually do $5 to the guide and $3 to the driver for both of us. However, I see a lot of people not tipping anything.

 

When we leave for a cruise/vacation, we make a note of how much cash we leave with and how much we come back with. I'm always surprised about how little it is against what I estimated it could be. On our last Eclipse cruise last month, I think we spent around $200-$250 in cash. $45 or so for a tour, $15 or so for tips in the Elite Lounge (which you won't have), $35 cab fare from the hotel to the port, $25 back to the airport. The rest was for porters, meals going and coming, snacks, minor souvenirs. No major shopping in ports. We did buy a polo shirt in St. Kitts but we charged it.

 

Because I am such a "worry wart," I get $500 (in $100 increments) of traveler's checks (free at my bank) for an emergency. So far have never needed it but I'm ready (lol).

 

Tucker in Texas

[rebeccalizzie]

Thank you all, very helpful! I'm sure I'll tip as many people as possible on my card, I just want to be prepared for people like porters and tour guides (and bathroom attendants, good idea :) ).

[dzcruisers]

We also tip cash for room service.

[romnan]

You are right about about the luggage porters,also include shuttle service. You did't state how you are getting to the port? Are you driving? I would plan on bringing a couple of $100:confused:

[Coralc]

Because I am such a "worry wart," I get $500 (in $100 increments) of traveler's checks (free at my bank) for an emergency. So far have never needed it but I'm ready (lol).

 

Tucker in Texas

 

I am guessing here....but if you haven't needed it, you might be as disappointed as I was last fall; when you go to replenish your traveler's check stock. 3A in CA, Credit Union and bank....and none of them are carrying traveler's checks anymore. They all offered me that somewhat useless TC card.

 

I will be checking again shortly, but it has become very difficult to find them. :o

[er345]

I think Lizcourt had a good list. We do pretty much the same. On port excursions we try to tip each person we have contact with individually if possible. So a couple of $ for the drivers, $5 - $10 for the tour guides, depending how much they do.

 

We usually add cash to the voucher envelopes beyond the suggested tips as we've always had OUTSTANDING service on RCI.

 

I seem to remember that when you sign for drinks on your sea card you can add in a tip just like with a credit card onshore. I add tips for bartenders and drink waiters this way. Maybe they would prefer the cash.

 

I always bring $50 in ones and another $50 in fives, plus $100 in tens just so I have enough for tips. Then spending $ for me in twenties. Plus DH brings his casino $ himself.

 

Funny things happened last cruise when our kayak sunk on an excursion. My money was all in a travel wallet around my neck and everything was soaked! The cabin steward came in for the evening cleaning to find the bed entirely covered in small bills drying on towels. Yes, I trusted him and he did not take anything, and YES I have learned my lesson to have my $ and passports in a waterproof holder even if I don't think I will be wet.

[Jimnbigd]

If you have kids, you might tip the Adventure Ocean people $20 or so per child. This is not required but they do appreciate it.

[cruzin momma]

We try to tip everyone in cash, including waiters/cabin steward. I'm not sure why, but from our experience, they seem happier to get the cash than the voucher (we have tipped the same amounts using both cash & the vouchers)

[Host Faith]

We tip luggage porters, room service, taxi drivers, and tour guides in cash. We prepay our gratuities- one less thing to worry about while onboard :).

[Gonzo70]

We are booked on the Freedom, Eastern Caribbean on June 5. This will be our second RCCL cruise but the first was 10 years ago and I am trying to figure out how much cash to bring. We are doing MTD so we prepaid the regular gratuities and I was thinking we were set (silly me :p). Then I read someone talking about luggage porters...and of course tour guides...and I realized I need to make sure we bring enough cash.

 

Here is what I usually bring cash along with for and who I tip above the standard gratuities:

 

*Tipping Room Service: We usually give $2 for a small order $3 to $5 for a full meal.

 

*Tipping Tour Guides: Depends on the length of the excursion as well as the quality of the service provided by the guide(s), on average we tip $10 to $20 per excursion. Be advised that if you book private excursions, sometimes you need to pay for the excursions in cash - be sure to find this out in advance.

 

*Extra Tips for Room Steward & Waiter: On most of our cruises we felt that the outstanding service by these personnel merited an extra tip - on average we have given about $20 extra to the room steward and our waiter (above their normal tips).

 

*Luggage Porters: In U.S. ports these are union longshoremen and they earn upper middle class salaries - no tipping is expected or required and signs are up in all U.S. ports stating this (though many people do tip them). If all I do is hand them my luggage as I enter the terminal I do not tip as they are already being generously compensated and they are only doing a few seconds of work (all they do is put the luggage on the cart beside them and push the cart a few yards where others take over). If I have them do a personal service (i.e. one time I needed new luggage tags because of an upgrade and they filled them out for me), then I tip about $5. Likewise if at the end of the cruise you have them push your luggage for you on a cart and help you get through customs or get to a cab/rental car etc. a $5 to $10 tip would likely be warranted.

 

*Specialty Dining: I usually tip $10 per meal in a specialty restaurant; however you do not need cash for this as you can charge it. While a small gratuity is included in the cover charge to the restaurant, I have always had such outstanding service and an amazing experience that I have felt a larger tip was well deserved.

 

*Bar Staff: Any particularly friendly bartenders I tip an extra buck or two to, but also usually charge it to my account rather than use cash.

 

*Cabs: I usually take a cab to hotels, ports and airports - sometimes I can use my credit card for this, but I bring cash for the fare and tip in case it is needed.

 

*Hotels: I typically leave $2 cash per night at my pre-cruise hotel for the maid.

 

*Shopping: Any large purchases I use a credit card, but if shopping or eating out at port I bring some cash for purchases costing less than $20. In the Caribbean U.S. cash is widely accepted; I use ATM machines to get cash if in Europe with my Capital One ATM card (no ATM fee and great conversion rate).

 

*Casino: The ship charges 3% to take out cash against your on board account, so I generally bring as much cash with me as I plan to gamble or I bring a traveler check with me for my casino cash (you can cash these for no charge at guest relations and they provide some protection over cash in case of being pick-pocketed/robbed).

[Tucker in Texas]

I am guessing here....but if you haven't needed it, you might be as disappointed as I was last fall; when you go to replenish your traveler's check stock. 3A in CA, Credit Union and bank....and none of them are carrying traveler's checks anymore. They all offered me that somewhat useless TC card.

 

I will be checking again shortly, but it has become very difficult to find them. :o

 

Last time I got the checks was in late November at the Johnson Space Center Credit Union. Our bank, Compass, also, had them but now will charge for them whereas in the past they didn't if you had an "old folks" account.

 

Guess I'll find out in May when we leave for our trans-Atlantic cruise.

 

Tucker in Texas

[hotdog647]

Tipping is a huge part of the income of onboard staff. For beyond 'good' or normal service I add to the vouchers for cabin attendant and dining room service. Usually I find one bar I enjoy, sit at the bar with others and tip the bartender an extra dollar per drink, in cash besides the automatic tip. I can tell you my drinks are stronger than I usually get with table service.

 

Portside, even though the baggage handlers are paid, a few bucks on and off doesn't bother me. It's part of the package for me. What do other cruisers think about tipping porters

[daveky]

I tip the porters, for several reasons but guess I see the swet pooring off their brow, with their hard work they must put in each week. I always tip in cash. Cash is still king and they don't have to cash something in. Tip of course, cabin steward, waiter, and assitant waiter and head waiter if I see him during the week and/or he help out during the week. Will tip special people during the week who take special care of me: bar waiters, casino dealers, etc. Always cash... CL and DL people if i use them. As said thing is as others post, their salary is very low and want pay them accodingly to the service they have provided me. Special note, in my middle days of crusing as a divorced person, have tipped other people even the DJ for playing songs i wanted and they will serve me quicker in the club knowing i tip along the way. Thank god (little word) i have a SO and don't have to cruise that way anymore. Bottom line, we all work a a pay check as they do, just in another way and I have found in my 30+ cruises when I get on the ship, I usually have tipped up front to the people I will ask to take care of me, they will remember you, and you'll have great service from them during the cruise. Even in Johnny Rockets LOL

 

Dave

[slimknyzer]

I usually bring gold dollar coins and $2 bills for tips. It's different!

[Tucker in Texas]

I tip the porters as "insurance" that my luggage doesn't take a bath or sent on another ship. I have heard stories where the porters in Miami and other places where there are signs saying "tipping is not necessary" convey it very clearly that a tip would be a good idea.

 

Tucker in Texas

[rebeccalizzie]

I'm used to tipping porters at the airport so I figure I'll do it at the port as well. We're driving down so I don't have to worry about anyone until we get to the port :) I waited tables for years so tipping is important to me. :D

 

Thanks for all the advice! I think we'll plan on DH and I each bringing $100, if we don't use it all we'll just use it for restaurant meals on the drive back. We aren't doing a tour at Coco cay, so just tour guides at the other two ports (once we figure out what the heck we are doing at the other two ports) and various people on the ship.

[er345]

Someone asked what we thought of tipping porters, our answer is that we always do. To me it doesn't matter what their salary is, I am tipping them based on the job of handling my luggage. I would tip anyone carrying our luggage at a hotel or airport, so why would I not tip the handlers at port? A couple of dollars per bag isn't going to hurt us. I have luckily always found them to be cheerful in their greetings and quick and that makes a great first impression and start to the vacation.

[burritto]

Hi,

 

Just so you know you have the option to put your tips directly onto your onboard account (either credit card, debit card, or settle in cash one time at the end of the cruise). This eliminates the need for cash at all. Those whom are included in the tips will be acknowledged and it saves a bit of time and fuss, if you will. :)

 

Here is a link with info, from the website. This explains what you need to know. Click below:

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/customersupport/faq/subject.do?faqSubjectName=Gratuities&faqSubjectId=415&faqType=faq

 

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