Tipping Cab Stew at end of cruise- You?

[RenoNanaOz]

I am wondering what many of you that tip your cabin steward extra at the end of the cruise actually leave? Let's say service was good and you want to leave extra. How much do you normally leave? I am talking good service - not exceptional - as I have never but one time had anything less than good. Have had exceptional a few times and I can take care of that. Just curious what the norm is... Exceptional warrants more, I know, but I am just wondering on the good level. What are we thinking from different parts of the country?

 

Again, to be clear, I am asking what those of you who tip at end in addition to our normal gratuities. I am aware that all do not do this and that is okay.

We always tip them $20 on the first day as soon as they introduce theirself to us. We have found that we get alot better service when they already have the money in their pocket ;)

[H82seaUgo]

We always tip them $20 on the first day as soon as they introduce theirself to us. We have found that we get alot better service when they already have the money in their pocket ;)

 

curious what extra service you get. :confused: please be specific.

[Colorado Kat]

I was concerned because I have seen threads where people ask what to bring and some people suggest like "$200 in ones and fives". Holy heck! $200! :)

 

I bring $100 in $1s, and another $100 in $5s. These are not just for the ship. Tips in the airport if I use a porter, room service tips (I leave a small pile of $1s in desk drawer, so daughters can also tip room service). For us, mostly a matter of having small bills for cab rides, and purchases. It's amazing how often someone doesn't have change for a $20.....I prefer to have the exact change needed myself. Quite often, I bring a lot of small bills home, but like to have them if needed.

 

By the way, I try my best not to use my credit card in a foreign country. Too many horror stories of identity theft.

[mompolo]

These types of threads always have me wondering what you all think deserves an extra tip??

 

I just came back a few weeks ago from my 5th cruise (3 Celebrity, 1 RCL, 1 Carnival) and I have never asked my room stewart for anything on any of these cruises - I have never even seen my room stewart on any of these cruises.

 

We did see my son's and mom's room stewart many times while we were at their room - but never saw ours once.

 

We always had a clean room. Always had ice and always had our bed turned down with a towel animal and chocolate.

 

I give the normal tip (however, we did give our MDR breakfast asst waitress and our MDR waiter an extra tip - they were both exceptional - I think $10 for bfast girl (we didn't go everyday) and $20 to the dinner guy.

 

I have never received poor service - but never more than what I consider to be the norm.

[Danacat222]

Tipped our cabin steward $25 debarkation morning...we never made special requests but we saw him most days and he was always working hard and very friendly, without asking he kept our small cooler stocked with ice and he put a few of our Coke Zeros in it on most days. We did not ask for that and he did not have to do it, we just felt like, without having to ask, he anticipated our needs, and I appreciate that kind of service.

[iTouch]

I understand the autotips. I have already paid them. I understand the other stuff. Not too worried. I already bought the excursion, plan on getting the soda card, don't drink alcohol, don't like getting my picture taken don't gamble etc..

 

I was concerned because I have seen threads where people ask what to bring and some people suggest like "$200 in ones and fives". Holy heck! $200! I had planned like an extra $20-30 for steward/waiter and like $4 for the porters. See where I feel cheap? And as I had to save and work ot to pay for my cruise, excursions, odds and ends (camera, luggage, etc.) And I am a month out...$200 is out of my reach. I am poor, $200 is a lot of extra money :)

 

Just leave the auto tips on that is all that is expected for great service.

We bring extra money for tipping tour operators, taxis, porters, room service and such.....mostly ones and fives.

I believe in over 16 cruises I can remember only once tipping an extra $20 to our cabin steward only.......auto tips and you are good to go......please don't feel like that is being cheap because it's far from it.

[OfcSupport]

I wish we were given a reason to tip extra. Maybe it's just a coincidence but ever since they started the automatic tipping we've received mediocre service. It's almost as if they know they are going to get tipped so they don't care to go the extra mile.

 

I'm hoping our experience on the Freedom this year will be different.

[bumorgan]

Last cruise I spent over 35 hours in the casino according to my win/loss statement. Always saw this young fellow constantly cleaning the rugs and ashtrays and felt so sorry for him so I gave him $20 and thanked him for keeping the casino so clean. It brought a tear to my eye to see how greatful he was. He must have thanked me 3 or 4 times. It made me realize how fortunate I was in life. God bless him.

[GoingWithTheFlow]

Tips for our recent Back to Back to Back cruises.

 

Stateroom

Cabin Steward on 9 day cruise--$60

Cabin Steward on 7 day X 2 cruises = $90 and

his assistant: $60.

Both stewards were exceptional in service, personality, and attitude.

 

Main Dining Room

Waiter on 9 day cruise -- $40

Maitre'd on 9 day cruise: $20

Waiter on 7 day X 2 cruises--$60

Maitred'd on 7 day X 2 cruises--$20 X 2 = $40

 

Room Service

$4 per delivery (full meals, not just snacks and drinks).

 

Luggage

Porter---$10 for 4 bags

 

Spa services (Note: The spa staff are NOT employed by Carnival which means they do not share in Carnival's auto-gratuity tips.)

Massage--$20

Spa Concierge (for extra service, help, & attention she gave us during the 2 weeks)-- $20

 

I worked in the hospitality industry for many, many years so I tend to tip generously if the quality of service warrants it---and it did!

[rlkubi]

For a 7 day we give room steward $20, asst. steward $10, head waiter $20, asst $10. If my husband gets a soda card we give them $5. Plus the tips on the charge.

[Twibbs]

I generally leave the room steward $10, the head waiter $20, the maitre d' $20 (unlike most people, I see the MD every night and they take good care of me), and the assistant waiter $10.

[saltmom1]

I usually tip the room steward $20 at the end of the cruise and $20 for the head waiter and $10 for the asst head waiter. Only once did I tip the Maitre D'(asst) . We had Desi as our assistant Maitre D' and she came to our table every night and chatted about our day and gave us tips about the ports and ship. Does anyone know where Desi is now ?

Our last cruise on NCL I tipped our room steward $35 for over the top service and you would have thought it was a million. Exceptional doesn't begin to describe her.. She said that she could buy a phone card and call her parents in the Phillipines. She was so sweet and would always chat.

[hn7609]

I am a low budget cruiser but I always try to something extra for the room steward. Usually I will give him just a five upon the first meeting and ask him to watch out for my wife. Then during the week if he is keeping her happy I'll get him 5 more every few days. Sometimes the first 5 is all they get. Most times they get an additional 15 occasionally 20. We do the anytime dining and don't tip the wait staff as we rarely have the same servers.

[H82seaUgo]

I generally leave the room steward $10, the head waiter $20, the maitre d' $20 (unlike most people, I see the MD every night and they take good care of me), and the assistant waiter $10.

 

just curious as to what it is that md does to take care of you daily?

[Room Service!]

Seems (according to the posts here) we may be in the minority.

We tip the porter $5.00. 3 bags.

Room service $2.00 each morning for coffee.

We don't ask for anything above and beyond.

Some cruises we've never even met our steward.

[RuthlessBoss]

just curious as to what it is that md does to take care of you daily?

My sentiments too. He must be "special". I usually see a MD on the last night saying HELLO!

[H82seaUgo]

My sentiments too. He must be "special". I usually see a MD on the last night saying HELLO!

 

i usually see them "blocking" the "exit" door on my way out on tip night.

 

i've also seen some lock the upstairs doors so that everyone needs to exit in one location.

[fishtaco]

Tips for our recent Back to Back to Back cruises.

 

Stateroom

Cabin Steward on 9 day cruise--$60

Cabin Steward on 7 day X 2 cruises = $90 and

his assistant: $60.

Both stewards were exceptional in service, personality, and attitude.

 

Main Dining Room

Waiter on 9 day cruise -- $40

Maitre'd on 9 day cruise: $20

Waiter on 7 day X 2 cruises--$60

Maitred'd on 7 day X 2 cruises--$20 X 2 = $40

 

Room Service

$4 per delivery (full meals, not just snacks and drinks).

 

Luggage

Porter---$10 for 4 bags

 

Spa services (Note: The spa staff are NOT employed by Carnival which means they do not share in Carnival's auto-gratuity tips.)

Massage--$20

Spa Concierge (for extra service, help, & attention she gave us during the 2 weeks)-- $20

 

I worked in the hospitality industry for many, many years so I tend to tip generously if the quality of service warrants it---and it did!

 

Wow I find this a bit extreme!

 

Not from the States:p but on Australian ships I leave on the Auto tips, an extra $20 left in cabin last morning for the steward and assistant and a table whip round last night for the wait staff in MDR if we have the same table/guests each night.

 

We will be on our first USA cruise in June and they will get the same.

 

Glad I read this thread as i wouldn't have tipped the port baggage handlers and now I will but there is no way i will arrive with a fist full of dollars when I have already pre paid my auto tips.

 

Den

[RuthlessBoss]

At the rate some people tip, I guess I don't need to!;)

[fishtaco]

Where do most of Carnivals staff come from?

 

Cabin stewards,wait staff etc,USA citizens working and living in the USA economy?

 

If like Australian ships, India,Philippines and the like then a $20 tip is like a weeks wage back home to them.

 

If so then I will tip the shore side porters more and on board staff less:p

 

 

Den

[Twibbs]

just curious as to what it is that md does to take care of you daily?

 

If you have dietary issues, the MD is the person who comes around every night and gets your order for the next so they have time to prepare it for you.

[RuthlessBoss]

If you have dietary issues, the MD is the person who comes around every night and gets your order for the next so they have time to prepare it for you.

Maybe so. For the rest of us, he's a ghost, except the last night, or once in a while see him "strolling" around.

[kgj1970]

I usually give my cabin steward an extra $20 at the end of the cruise and the waiters in the MDR get $10 each. I did give an especially awesome steward $50 once. I have never had bad service on a cruise but he really did a teriffic job and I felt like letting him know it. One time I tipped the waiter that always took great care of us on the lido deck an extra $20 too. I have been a waitress before and I know that it is hard work.

[maggie cruises]

I generally leave the room steward $10, the head waiter $20, the maitre d' $20 (unlike most people, I see the MD every night and they take good care of me), and the assistant waiter $10.

 

we have never needed the MD for anything so I am interested in what you need him for every night? What care do they give you? Do you need help walking?

 

I am being serious....I just don't know why a pax needs the MD every night...unless the pax has some sort of problem every night. What sort of problems..other than needing physical help? Were the servers horrible? Did you need to change your table every night? was the food bad?

 

again..being serious because I have never heard of the need for the MD every night...maybe others will chime in that they need the MD every night as well...I am interested to hear why that would be so.

 

Thanks

[maggie cruises]

If you have dietary issues, the MD is the person who comes around every night and gets your order for the next so they have time to prepare it for you.

 

I hadn't thought of that..maybe that is the case...but I would like to hear from the poster who uses the MD every night as well