Elite Cocktail Hour - Tip at Beginning or End of Cruise?

[Northern Aurora]

Kindness, respect, and understanding are almost on equal footing though.

 

So true.

[Oville]

Kindness and respect I'm sure are appreciated and we indeed do show this, but on a cruise ship money does talk and if you tip the wait staff for each drink on the first evening and continue to do so, they will search you out at the Elite Event every evening, probably with your drinks in hand.

[snausman]

Kindness and respect I'm sure are appreciated and we indeed do show this, but on a cruise ship money does talk and if you tip the wait staff for each drink on the first evening and continue to do so, they will search you out at the Elite Event every evening, probably with your drinks in hand.

 

 

This is so true.

 

Laura

[Waterlily777]

Money Talks, eh? Whether you are on a cruise or at big city hotel. Kindness, respect, and understanding are almost on equal footing though. ~ Ric

 

Kindness, respect, understanding and a generous tip. Now there's a winning combination.

[A Sixth?]

Just curious, when you tip do you tip using cash, or travels checks, insist that you get a ship chit, or is Canadian Tire money as good on "X" as it is at our house? :p

 

Do you just put the tip on the tray, just palm it over, or wave it in the air and deep six in directly into the servers pocket? :p

 

When you tip at any ship free drink-up, what's the best "delivery method" in everyone opinion? :confused::D

[dkjretired]

We usually tip our waiter $5. with the first drinks he brings the first day and try to sit in the same area each night. The drink server is there waiting for us. We give him a few bucks each night and get super service. You'll see others who can barely get a drink and can't figure out why. This is when it's crowded.

 

This has been our experience, even with over 1000 elite on board.

 

Same experience here, and sometimes you can get certain drinks or premium brands that are not on the menu that you might not get otherwise. Also, your drinks usually come out a little stronger. I've found that also helps in other places such as land based casinos and even on the ships casinos...

[caladezi]

Just curious, when you tip do you tip using cash, or travels checks, insist that you get a ship chit, or is Canadian Tire money as good on "X" as it is at our house? :p

 

Do you just put the tip on the tray, just palm it over, or wave it in the air and deep six in directly into the servers pocket? :p

 

When you tip at any ship free drink-up, what's the best "delivery method" in everyone opinion? :confused::D

 

Just don't make it into a paper airplane and fly it to your server.

[dkjretired]

Just curious, when you tip do you tip using cash, or travels checks, insist that you get a ship chit, or is Canadian Tire money as good on "X" as it is at our house? :p

 

Do you just put the tip on the tray, just palm it over, or wave it in the air and deep six in directly into the servers pocket? :p

 

When you tip at any ship free drink-up, what's the best "delivery method" in everyone opinion? :confused::D

 

Cash, American dollars is what they like the best, much of their money is sent back home..

 

I usually just slip it quietly....

[gracecarmo]

We tip as we drink in the Elite Lounge....the first night we give our server $5.00 to start. We tend to sit in the same area every night and our server pretty much is the same every night.

Then, as we use the Elite lounge, we usually tip $1 per drink, just handing him the cash. We have always received good service. The last night we may give extra.

[A Sixth?]

We tip as we drink in the Elite Lounge....the first night we give our server $5.00 to start. We tend to sit in the same area every night and our server pretty much is the same every night.

Then, as we use the Elite lounge, we usually tip $1 per drink, just handing him the cash. We have always received good service. The last night we may give extra.

 

Do you tip every time you get a drink/drinks or on your last round figure out what is appropriate? :confused:

[jackdiamond]

Do you tip every time you get a drink/drinks or on your last round figure out what is appropriate? :confused:

Every time a drink is presented.

[teajak]

Kindness, respect, understanding and a generous tip. Now there's a winning combination.

Works for us and is appreciated by the staff,winning combination.;)

[gracecarmo]

Do you tip every time you get a drink/drinks or on your last round figure out what is appropriate? :confused:

 

We usually tip for our drinks when the server brings the first round ($1 per drink), then if we order another round on occasion, we also give him another tip.

[Ruthk]

I quietly slip the tip to the server with the first drink and that is it for the day. They certainly do remember to ask you if you want a refresher every time they pass by and then will bring you a couple of drinks at last call.

 

Now, when I pay attention to the other tables around us, and how they handle tips, it must be invisible money - I see so few people giving a tip - all tippers must be on this thread!!! LOL

 

Ruthk,

St. Catharines, Ontario,

Canada.

[DrKoob]

We tipped fairly heavily on the last night (around $50) but what amazes me the number of people who tip $1 or $2 per drink, every night. When I am on board any ship, I hardly ever carry any cash with me. I seriously, can't remember the last time I did. My cash is in my safe in my wallet. My seapass is in my pocket and that's all I have.

[FortyNinerLiz]

I quietly slip the tip to the server with the first drink and that is it for the day. They certainly do remember to ask you if you want a refresher every time they pass by and then will bring you a couple of drinks at last call.

 

Now, when I pay attention to the other tables around us, and how they handle tips, it must be invisible money - I see so few people giving a tip - all tippers must be on this thread!!! LOL

 

Ruthk,

St. Catharines, Ontario,

Canada.

 

I think your observation is accurate.........Unfortunately.................

[A Sixth?]

Okay I'll ask

 

Do those who tip on every drink at the elite drink up, also tip a little extra every time in all bars? :confused:

[snausman]

Okay I'll ask

 

Do those who tip on every drink at the elite drink up, also tip a little extra every time in all bars? :confused:

 

 

Yes, we do. There is a line that you can add a tip or we leave a 1.00. Yes we really do carry dollar bills around in my DH pocket. They don't take up much room at all in a pocket.:rolleyes:

 

Laura

[Oville]

Yes we do, usually cash, if not add a few dollars to the bill.

[LunaSeaRetreat]

 

Now, when I pay attention to the other tables around us, and how they handle tips, it must be invisible money - I see so few people giving a tip - all tippers must be on this thread!!! LOL

 

Ruthk,

St. Catharines, Ontario,

Canada.

 

We are new to elite and so I paid attention too. I agree, I saw very few people tipping. We tipped for each round of drinks when we remembered to bring the dollar bills. We saw no difference in service the two nights we forgot. We don't go until 6:15 so we only get two rounds. The tipping for us is just a thank-you not about getting more or faster service. We have been on two cruises as elite and enjoy the cocktail hour very much.

 

Cynthia

[kelmac]

We are new to elite and so I paid attention too. I agree, I saw very few people tipping. We tipped for each round of drinks when we remembered to bring the dollar bills. We saw no difference in service the two nights we forgot. We don't go until 6:15 so we only get two rounds. The tipping for us is just a thank-you not about getting more or faster service. We have been on two cruises as elite and enjoy the cocktail hour very much.

 

Cynthia

 

Cynthia,

 

I agree, we saw very few people tip. We usually wait until we are ready to leave each evening and give those that served us* $5.00.

 

*usually we get to know these individuals a little bit, as we engage them in conversation each time they come by our area. By the second or third night, they know us and call us by name.

 

Enjoy!

Kel:)