How much in tips for 7 day cruise?

[momtogkc]

Hi,

 

I'm heading to the bank today to get money for tips. About how much do you usually spend on tips per day? We won't be doing room service but will probably be at a bar each night.

 

This is our first cruise so I want to be sure I tip correctly.

 

Thank you!

[kywildcatfanone]

Hi,

 

I'm heading to the bank today to get money for tips. About how much do you usually spend on tips per day? We won't be doing room service but will probably be at a bar each night.

 

This is our first cruise so I want to be sure I tip correctly.

 

Thank you!

 

You really don't need money for tips, as on Princess they are auto added to your shipboard account. It's $10.50 per day/person or $11 if in a suite. Now, if you get exceptional service you might want to tip above and beyond, but it's not required. As far as bars go, they add 15% automatically there as well.

 

Mike

[whitecapray]

From the Princess web site:

"Gratuities

 

 

During your cruise, you will meet staff throughout the ship who provide you with excellent service. Many more crew support those who serve you directly.

 

A discretionary Hotel and Dining charge of $11 per person for mini-suites and suites, and $10.50 per passenger in all other staterooms per day (including children) will be added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. This charge will be shared amongst those staff who help provide and support your cruise experience, including the waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, galley staff, laundry staff and others.

 

A 15% gratuity is added to bar charges and dining room wine accounts. This is shared amongst the beverage staff and their support staff, including cleaners and utility staff. We know you will find these services onboard exemplary.

 

Casino dealers and Lotus Spa® personnel do not share in the Hotel and Dining charge, as not all passengers utilize these services.

[1025cruise]

You should have some money to tip any shore excursion guides, otherwise everything on the ship is done automatically. I usually tip my room steward at the end of the trip. In terms of waiters, since I tend to take anytime dining, I don't have a "regular" waiter so I just leave the auto-tip. If I had the same wait staff each night, I would probably be inclined to give them a little extra as well.

[flamomo]

As Mike noted above, tips are automatically charged to your onboard account.

 

We always give an additional cash tip to our cabin steward at the end of the cruise, the amount determined by the quality of his/her service (starting at about $21 for a 7 day cruise ... $3 per day). The steward does not receive the entire daily $10.50/$11. It is shared with numerous behind-the scenes crew, and also, I believe, with the folks in the buffet who bus and set up the tables and get your beverages, and the ones who keep the food area supplied and clear of spills and drips.

 

We have never not given an additional tip, because the steward is the person who cares for your cabin, making the bed, cleaning the cabin and the bathroom and replacing used towels, providing turndown service every night, keeing you ice bucket filled, and fulfilling special requests you might make. These people care for 18-20 cabins each, they work hard, but seem to always be cheerful.

 

Additionally, the bar waiters are usually very personable and friendly, and if we frequent a particular bar night after night, and are served by the same couple of waiters, we give them an extra cash tip at the end of the cruise. The 15% that is added to your tabs is pooled, and is shared by the bartenders and the bar waiters, and possibly others I am not aware of.

 

When we order morning coffee from room service, we always tip the delivery person a couple of dollars. If we order more than coffee, we up the tip another dollar.

 

Hope this helps.

[momtogkc]

Thank you! So it sounds like I don't need as much as I thought. Baggage handlers, room steward, some bartenders and maybe waiters.

 

Ok, now on to laundry and packing- we leave in 48 hours!

[Cruise Junky]

You don't have to tip your bartenders any extra, they get 15% of every drink bill. Not saying you shouldn't just that you don't have to.

[cruiseron36]

I usually tip the barista at the IC for coffee in the morning, even with the coffee card.

[cb at sea]

You can add an additional tip to your bartab...no need to do it in cash....eliminates the need to carry money around with you on the ship.

[captainron]

Hi,

 

I'm heading to the bank today to get money for tips. About how much do you usually spend on tips per day? We won't be doing room service but will probably be at a bar each night.

 

This is our first cruise so I want to be sure I tip correctly.

 

Thank you!

 

 

If your ship is based in a US port I'd recommend "above and beyond" tipping in USD. If based in Aus, then tip in AUD, in the UK, tip in GBP and if from a Mediterrranean port go with Euros.

 

It is so much easier for the crew to have local currency they can use rathe rthan paying the exorbitant exchange fees onboard.

 

Ciao for now!!!