Tipping at the bar....

[Bert64]

I realize that gratuity is automatically added to all our drinks, but my question is should I, or more like is it expected, that we also tip the bartenders a little extra in cash? What does everyone else do?

[Cruise-Nut]

I always tip my bartender right off the bat. He will be your best friend for the rest of the week.

[hstrybuf]

Once we decide which bar/lounge is going to be our favorite on the ship, we also find a favorite bartender/waitress as well. The more we like them, the more we tip on top of the 15%.

[dms_cruisers04]

I think it really depends on you and your frequency with any one bar/bartender and the service you are actually receiving.

My SIL and her DH mentioned sitting at a bar several times during our cruise and the bartender was making conversation and doing magic tricks. He got tipped extra. And we were at Dualing Pianos the first night and we tipped the waitress that had been bringing our rounds all night extra.

On our Carnival cruise last fall we had a waiter that took great care of us all week (he motion from across the deck or the deck above/below to see if we needed anything as he was going by) and he got a hearty tip at weeks end.

[wrp96]

Find one bar the first day and tip the bartenders well. Keep going back to that same bar all week for your drinks. You'll be taken care of. My last cruise I tipped the bartenders well the first day and I hardly paid for another drink the rest of the week. Of course, they got a very nice tip at the end of the week as weel.

[stevekc]

I realize that gratuity is automatically added to all our drinks, but my question is should I, or more like is it expected, that we also tip the bartenders a little extra in cash? What does everyone else do?

 

 

You've identified the operative word here, IN CASH...apparently when you add the extra tip to your bill they have to split it with the staff.

When you put cash in their hands you make an immediate impact that will benefit you throughout the cruise.

And I agree with all the others do this early on in your cruise at a bar you like and then you (and the bartender) can have a mutually enjoyable cruise all week!

[cruisinisforme]

I agree too, tip in cash and early and you will find you pay less the rest of the cruise.

[Bert64]

Great! Thanks for all the info.

[BobBeaSea]

Just to confirm what others have said- tipped the bartenders the first day and periodically through the week (CASH) and never, I repeat, never had a problem getting a drink- even when the bar was busy.

[crowsnest]

We familiarize ourselves with the bars the first night and next day. Then we choose our favorite bar and bartender and tip them. We never have problems getting a drink and after going several times on our last cruise, the bartender would see us coming and start fixing them.

[davidgee]

How much do you tip them?

 

And how do you get free drinks?

[Cruising89143]

I realize that gratuity is automatically added to all our drinks, but my question is should I, or more like is it expected, that we also tip the bartenders a little extra in cash? What does everyone else do?

 

I usually just add more to the bill when I sign it.

[frankie&shirley]

Find one bar the first day and tip the bartenders well. Keep going back to that same bar all week for your drinks. You'll be taken care of. My last cruise I tipped the bartenders well the first day and I hardly paid for another drink the rest of the week. Of course, they got a very nice tip at the end of the wwgeek as weel.

 

 

May I ask what you consider "tipped the bartenders well"? Would also be willing to do. Thanks

 

Shirley

[Winghunter]

We just got off the BOS a few weeks ago and had a great time, one of our best cruises ever. We made $ friends with the bar tender in the Casino bar on the first night and he took great care of us the remaining 10 nights, he also did all the tricks with cards and bottles. I would give him 10 or 20 bucks every night and 6 of us would drink the rest of the night.

I also asked him about how the additional tip works, he says the 15% tip gets split with the crew but the extra tip goes straight to him, so if I did not have cash I would just add it to my tab. For a round of six drinks the tab would be $1.73 (thats what a coke costs). One day when I had a really bad hangover I was drinking soda and he took my card and stuck one of those Coca Cola stickers on it for free.

[wrp96]

How much do you tip them?

 

And how do you get free drinks?

 

How I got free drinks:

 

1. Went to the same bar every day.

2. On the 1st day made friends with the bartenders by tipping well (i.e. above the 15%) and making friends with them.

3. young single female traveling alone (on my birthday no less)

 

Every day they would put one drink on my seapass account (usually because there was someone else there having to pay) and after that I (and several others who had the same idea I had) drank pretty freely:D . Towards the end of the night we usually ended up doing shots together.

[Max Circus]

May I ask what you consider "tipped the bartenders well"? Would also be willing to do. Thanks

 

Shirley

 

On our last cruise (NOS 11/03), my wife and I would always tip a few dollars extra for each round of drinks. We frequented the same bar all week (Schooner). On the last formal night I gave the bartender $100 since he had been giving us free speciality shots during the week, along with generally outstanding service (always started making our drinks as we approached). I don't recall paying for many drinks after that and we had quite a few.

 

I know some will say that the drinks weren't really "free" since we tipped the bartender. To that I would say the following: I'd rather use my money that way (rewarding excellent service) as opposed to directly into the pockets of RCI.