Cash tips?

[BlessedBeingMom]

Other than the onboard gratuities (which we have prepaid), where can I expect to need (or want) to pay cash tips, and how much? If you go on an excursion, should you tip the driver? How much? Anyone else? How much do you tip for room service? How about for baggage/porters?

 

Just want to make sure we bring enough cash in small bills. :)

 

Also, how much cash do you think is good/prudent for a family of five to bring on a cruise?

 

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

[beachbum6264]

We tip:

porters at the port $1 or $2/bag

room service - $2 or $3 depending on how much stuff we ordered

taxi drivers in port

excursion people (if they've done a great job and do NOT beg for tips, that just puts me off)

bartenders

bar staff in past guest and fun farewell parties (great service from then on out!)

beach waiters

extra for room steward and MDR wait staff (if they do a fabulous job, so we've mostly tipped extra)

I will carry a few $1 bills in my bag on the ship - if I see someone really trying to do a good job (like in the windjammer, or some random crew member cleaning the hallways) I'll hand them a couple with a big Thank You and a smile. :D

Probably forgotten some - but that's a good start

[zqvol]

Short answer not much. If you use room service you might give the server a dollar or two.

 

With a family of 5 you will need a ten for the porters at the pier. With cab drivers round the fare up to an even amount ending in a 5 or a 0 and you are good to go.

 

Other than that everything else can be added to bar bills, etc.

 

How much cash to bring? Impossible to answer. I don't bring much, I prefer to put everything on a CC and pay when I get home, more protection that way, others prefer to pay cash. For a family of 5 $800 - $1000 would not be unreasonable, especially if you are going to the casino or use cabs ashore.

[melanieannd]

We tip:

porters at the port $1 or $2/bag

room service - $2 or $3 depending on how much stuff we ordered

taxi drivers in port

excursion people (if they've done a great job and do NOT beg for tips, that just puts me off)

bartenders

bar staff in past guest and fun farewell parties (great service from then on out!)

beach waiters

extra for room steward and MDR wait staff (if they do a fabulous job, so we've mostly tipped extra)

I will carry a few $1 bills in my bag on the ship - if I see someone really trying to do a good job (like in the windjammer, or some random crew member cleaning the hallways) I'll hand them a couple with a big Thank You and a smile. :D

Probably forgotten some - but that's a good start

 

I like that idea of giving tips to random crew members doing a good job at whatever random task they're doing. I think I might start doing that. :D

[smplyblessed619]

I like that idea of giving tips to random crew members doing a good job at whatever random task they're doing. I think I might start doing that. :D

 

 

That is pretty nice...I'm taking that tip for myself :)

[FantasyLineAddict]

A suggestion I have is to bring $50-75 in one's and the same amount in five's as part of the cash you bring. It's a pain to have a bundle that big, but its so much easier in ports, as well as room service tips, etc.

 

Technically, the only extra tip money you need are for room service and porters; and someone will probably write to say porters don't need to be tipped.

 

It's really up to you what you want to do - members here probably tip more than average due to an appreciation of the staff and the love of cruising.

[jonathansburden]

Everyone else has given some great advice, we usually bring $100-$200 in small bills to tip with and $1,000 for everything else (we use cash for our s&s acct) we've never come home with less than $250 remaining. It all depends on your spending habits, you might want to put together a budget so you don't get any suprises, you can find prices of almost anything on the boards :)

[Colorado Kat]

I stop at the bank before leaving on vacation, and get $100 in $1s, and $100 in $5s. They give me the money in envelopes, and I have a certain spot in my travel backpack to put them.

 

Handy for airport help, cab drivers, etc. This always ensures we have small bills to buy something in a foreign port.

 

I also put ones in a top desk drawer, so my kids can order room service if they want, and they know where the tip money is.

 

And that new Casino game - the Vault - where you might win an ipad with skill. That requires cash. Spent a bit on that as well.