Observation/comparison on tipping for drinks

[born2travel]

On our recent and first HAL cruise, this aspect of HAL service struck a very positive a chord with me. Now, I would never dream of NOT tipping a bartender, barista, or whoever serves me a drink...anywhere. However, most lines thoughtfully(?) add an involuntary gratuity to the drink bills. RCL - and maybe others - also constantly presents the reminder that you can add more.

 

On the Westerdam, the involuntary tip was in place, but I never saw a line on which to add more. In fact, it was rare to be asked to sign, and my bar rec't was usually wrapped neatly around my card as it was handed back. There was no evidence of a tip receptacle anywhere other than on the piano in the Piano Bar.

 

I really enjoyed not feeling like it was expected that I pad the involuntary tip at every drink.

[OlsSalt]

On our recent and first HAL cruise, this aspect of HAL service struck a very positive a chord with me. Now, I would never dream of NOT tipping a bartender, barista, or whoever serves me a drink...anywhere. However, most lines thoughtfully(?) add an involuntary gratuity to the drink bills. RCL - and maybe others - also constantly presents the reminder that you can add more.

 

On the Westerdam, the involuntary tip was in place, but I never saw a line on which to add more. In fact, it was rare to be asked to sign, and my bar rec't was usually wrapped neatly around my card as it was handed back. There was no evidence of a tip receptacle anywhere other than on the piano in the Piano Bar.

 

I really enjoyed not feeling like it was expected that I pad the involuntary tip at every drink.

 

I am surprised to hear there was even a tip jar at the piano bar. Cash-free ships are better for all concerned, and what we like about HAL too. And we enjoy adding extra at the end to those who really reached out to us too.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I am very surprised to hear that there was a tip jar in the Piano Bar.

Right -- HAL does not have an extra line on their beverage receipts where you can add on an extra tip above the 15% gratuity.

If we get the same server for nearly the entire cruise, we will give them an extra money tip at the end of the cruise -- we just hand it to them.

[kazu]

I am surprised to hear there was even a tip jar at the piano bar. Cash-free ships are better for all concerned, and what we like about HAL too. And we enjoy adding extra at the end to those who really reached out to us too.

 

I am very surprised to hear that there was a tip jar in the Piano Bar.

Right -- HAL does not have an extra line on their beverage receipts where you can add on an extra tip above the 15% gratuity.

If we get the same server for nearly the entire cruise, we will give them an extra money tip at the end of the cruise -- we just hand it to them.

 

There was a tip jar on the piano in the Crow's Nest on our last cruise as well. It was for the piano man. I don't recall noticing one before either!

[SeaBands]

I will tip the bartender the first night and find I get a better pour future nights.

[pris993]

We sometimes give the staff an extra $5 in cash, like we do when we receive room service. We do enjoy having ice water in the lounge in the evening while dancing and with a few cash tips we don't even have to ask for it. We are not big drinkers, we have wine with dinner.

[OlsSalt]

I will tip the bartender the first night and find I get a better pour future nights.

 

Thinking one can buy special favors on cash-less HAL ships by spreading money around just seems so wrong. Sorry to hear this.

[Pettifogger]

If a pleasant and engaging wine steward were to make sure one was aware that he was not charging something that should be charged, a bottle of wine, corkage, etc., especially a day or two before the end of a cruise, and one suspected that he might be hoping for a larger tip as a result, what should one do?

[Taxguy77]

On our HAL cruise, one bar man was great. We (BW & 2 friends) rewarded him by ordering only from him, not the other servers, so he could get the 15% bonus.

We also gave him a good tip at the END of the cruise, I don't want good service because they think I'm a sucker. just because they give good service!!

Edited November 23, 2013 by Taxguy77

[dorisis]

If we have the same waiter most nights in our favorite lounge, we do give him/her a little extra several times on the cruise.

[Tampa Girl]

If a pleasant and engaging wine steward were to make sure one was aware that he was not charging something that should be charged, a bottle of wine, corkage, etc., especially a day or two before the end of a cruise, and one suspected that he might be hoping for a larger tip as a result, what should one do?

 

 

Give him a tip at the end of the cruise.

[SilvertoGold]

On our HAL cruise, one bar man was great. We (BW & 2 friends) rewarded him by ordering only from him, not the other servers, so he could get the 15% bonus.

We also gave him a good tip at the END of the cruise, I don't want good service because they think I'm a sucker. just because they give good service!!

 

I understood that the tips are pooled among all the bar staff.

[OlsSalt]

I understood that the tips are pooled among all the bar staff.

 

Would that be the automatic service charge tips that are pooled or are you saying even the individual tips handed out to favored servers in addition to the service charge are also pooled?

[rkacruiser]

Would that be the automatic service charge tips that are pooled or are you saying even the individual tips handed out to favored servers in addition to the service charge are also pooled?

 

This is a great question! I would like to know the answer to it as well.

[cindivan]

This is a great question! I would like to know the answer to it as well.

 

We have been told many several servers/bartenders/waitstaff anything of your cruise card/auto gratuity is shared among all servers. The only tip they can keep individually is cash. And even then a few have told us the official policy is that they are also supposed to turn in those to be shared, but that rarely happens and is rarely enforced.

 

And in the casino any chip tip given to a dealer is shared among the casino staff.

 

Any cash you give your steward or dining room staff is theirs to keep.

 

We mostly cruise RC but have been told this on HA and Celebrity as well.

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Edited December 1, 2013 by cindivan

[0bnxshs]

We have been told my several servers/bartenders/waitstaff anything of your cruise card/auto gratuity is shared among all servers. The only tip they can keep individually is cash. And even then a few have told us the official policy is that they are also supposed to turn in those to be shared, but that rarely happens and is rarely enforced.

 

And in the casino any chip tip given to a dealer is shared among the casino staff.

 

Any cash you give your steward or dining room staff is theirs to keep.

 

We mostly cruise RC but have been told this on HA and Celebrity as well.

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

Ditto this. We have also been told automatic gratuities are pooled and shared. We've heard the cash tips to bar staff are theirs to keep or share as they wish.

[GeriatricNurse]

I will tip the bartender the first night and find I get a better pour future nights.

 

Thinking one can buy special favors on cash-less HAL ships by spreading money around just seems so wrong. Sorry to hear this.

 

 

Yes, bribes will (sometimes) work! :rolleyes: But why stop with the bartender? How about the stateroom stewards, etc., etc. :confused:

[CaveDiving]

If a pleasant and engaging wine steward were to make sure one was aware that he was not charging something that should be charged, a bottle of wine, corkage, etc., especially a day or two before the end of a cruise, and one suspected that he might be hoping for a larger tip as a result, what should one do?

 

My answer is to report him to the front desk. He is stealing money from the ship in order to get a larger tip for himself.

 

Scott & Karen

[fm6175]

Why does giving a bartender or room steward money up front for hopefully great service AND special consideration through out the cruise not make sence to you Ole Salt ??? I do this and tip more at the end of the cruise if I receive it . Very generously I might add . The hard working persons who get this extra money truly appreciate it and yes I get exceptional service .

 

 

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[sherilyn70]

Thinking one can buy special favors on cash-less HAL ships by spreading money around just seems so wrong. Sorry to hear this.

 

Yes, I've never understood this concept of tipping in advance and I was a server. If anything it would have offended me if someone did that to me... you're basically implying that they wouldn't give you great service if you didn't do this. You shouldn't ever have to tip someone in advance for good service. They should be earning this tip, not working it off.

[trixiee]

Yes, I've never understood this concept of tipping in advance and I was a server. If anything it would have offended me if someone did that to me... you're basically implying that they wouldn't give you great service if you didn't do this. You shouldn't ever have to tip someone in advance for good service. They should be earning this tip, not working it off.

 

I agree completely!

 

Also, I've been in one country where it was impossible to get any service of any kind, unless you placed your tip money on the table first. :rolleyes::mad:

Edited December 2, 2013 by trixiee

[donaldsc]

Let me make sure that I understand this. They add an involuntary tip at the bar of 15% just to reward them for pouring a beer out of a bottle or making a simple mixed drink and you feel that you have to increase the tip. I feel that a 15% tip for this minimal service is outrageous and I would like to see a line to decrease it.

 

If they make a complicated drink, maybe a 15% tip is warranted but it hardly takes a lot of bar tending talent to pour a beer or a premixed special drink.

 

I would never decrease the $12.50 per day service charge as these people work hard for their "tip" money and I often add extra money at the end of the cruise.

 

However, the people at the bar are hardly overworked.

 

DON

Edited December 2, 2013 by donaldsc

[chrispb]

Why does giving a bartender or room steward money up front for hopefully great service AND special consideration through out the cruise not make sence to you Ole Salt ??? I do this and tip more at the end of the cruise if I receive it . Very generously I might add . The hard working persons who get this extra money truly appreciate it and yes I get exceptional service .

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

Why is it wrong? Because you are "buying" favours or bribing in other words.

 

Of course they appreciate it. Did you think they'd throw it back in your face?