calex Posted March 24, 2014 #1 Share Posted March 24, 2014 (edited) Does anyone tip their cabin steward on the first day of the cruise? I tried it a few cruises back and I was amazed how extra attentive my steward was for the rest of the cruise. Edited March 24, 2014 by calex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvsullivan Posted March 24, 2014 #2 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Have never tipped steward, butler or concierge in advance and always had excellent to outstanding service. I don't know of anything more they could do for us if we paid in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlsDad Posted March 24, 2014 #3 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Does anyone else tip their cabin steward on the first day of the cruise? I tried it a few cruises back and I was amazed how extra attentive my steward was for the rest of the cruise. Yep. Must be an Oregon thing :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeT Posted March 24, 2014 #4 Share Posted March 24, 2014 (edited) I always tip them on the first day. I want better treatment and if I am going to tip. Always tip first and let them know there will be more tipping if things work out Edited March 24, 2014 by jakeT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
che5904 Posted March 24, 2014 #5 Share Posted March 24, 2014 No I already pay the DSC, they are essentially getting their tip already before they do anything. I extra tip for service over and above at the end of my cruise if it warrants. So far all of my cabin stewards have worked very hard, were very attentive without bribing them on the first day. So I showed each one my appreciation on the last day of my cruise. I often wonder when this question comes up, do people, when on land, tip their waitress, hairdresser, dog groomer, taxi driver etc before service? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AF-1 Posted March 24, 2014 #6 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I assume you tipped so you could ensure your cabin attendant would take extra good care of you. This is by all means acceptable but not necessary. So in addition to what the cruiseline charges per day, you go above that limit, and you do it on day one. Am I correct in my assumption? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Novastar Posted March 24, 2014 #7 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Never. I tip at the end of the cruise, commensurate with service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cod Posted March 24, 2014 #8 Share Posted March 24, 2014 We have but only if I'm asking him to go above board for us. In a small cabin, having the beds separated makes a world of difference in space. So, yes, I will tip him and ask him to please change it up if we find them together. I can only imagine what their check in-check out morning is like....changing every bed and thoroughly cleaning every cabin...yikes. Otherwise, no, I do not tip up front. The tip at the end of the cruise then depends on the weeks service, which usually is pretty darn good!!! A $20 may be in order because really, the daily service charge should suffice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
isdoo Posted March 24, 2014 #9 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Does anyone tip their cabin steward on the first day of the cruise? I tried it a few cruises back and I was amazed how extra attentive my steward was for the rest of the cruise. So if you tried it 'a few cruises ago' what stopped you? This is a complete myth as nobody could prove it worked anyway. Your steward receives their tip via the DSC which is either added to your account or prepaid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinIllinois Posted March 24, 2014 #10 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Everyone has their own way of doing things. It seems almost insulting to me to do that. To me that just seems like one feels the need to bribe someone to get good service. That's just me though. Whatever works for ya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zoey Posted March 24, 2014 #11 Share Posted March 24, 2014 It could backfire. I read a CC post about a year ago in which the OP tipped the steward on the first day (plus extra) and hardly saw him again for the rest of the cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonnie voyage Posted March 24, 2014 #12 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Yes, we have always done this. Also tip at the end of the cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tel2 Posted March 24, 2014 #13 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I always tip on the first day with a note containing multiple requests -- asking for the refrigerator to be emptied and all contents removed from the room, extra coffee to be left (and the tea and decaffeinated to be removed), ashtrays for balcony, and, if possible, whether he could scare me up a pitcher or two so that I could bring back orange and cranberry juice from the buffet. No one has ever said no to my requests and I think leaving a tip at that time of the request demonstrates that if I am going to ask for extra service I'm willing to pay for it... Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winchester Ranger Posted March 24, 2014 #14 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I always tip them on the first day. I want better treatment and if I am going to tip. Always tip first and let them know there will be more tipping if things work out This. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grobma Posted March 24, 2014 #15 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Like the OP, I do tip extra as soon as I meet my cabin steward. It's a small token that doesn't cost me much, but means a lot to the crew (not the best paying jobs, and many send much of their earnings home to their families). In every case, I have received better service than others, as confirmed through conversations with fellow cruisers ("Really? My cabin steward didn't do that for me."). I'm not saying that they do not give excellent service to everyone. But I do enjoy the genuine smile it brings to their faces (they only get a small cut of the DSC as it is shared with many), and the very personal and outstanding service I've received in return. It's a win-win to me. That's my $0.02. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calex Posted March 24, 2014 Author #16 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Like the OP, I do tip extra as soon as I meet my cabin steward. It's a small token that doesn't cost me much, but means a lot to the crew (not the best paying jobs, and many send much of their earnings home to their families). In every case, I have received better service than others, as confirmed through conversations with fellow cruisers ("Really? My cabin steward didn't do that for me."). I'm not saying that they do not give excellent service to everyone. But I do enjoy the genuine smile it brings to their faces (they only get a small cut of the DSC as it is shared with many), and the very personal and outstanding service I've received in return. It's a win-win to me. That's my $0.02. Your post mirrors what I have experienced during the last three cruises where I left a $20 bill in the steward's hand when we shook at the begining of the cruise. It was nice to find a plate of unordered chocolate strawberries one day, or the cruise where we had 2 or 3 towels animals on our bed at night. Other guests never mention being served above and beyond. Not sure if it is an 'Oregonian' thing, or having family members that work in the hospitality industry mention that the unexpected tip made them feel more appreciated... either case, I'll keep up the practice in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreestyleNovice Posted March 24, 2014 #17 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Does anyone leave a daily tip (on the pillow) beside all of the above? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vols_159 Posted March 24, 2014 #18 Share Posted March 24, 2014 negative I tip extra at the end for GREAT service.. And I leave the DSC in place.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreestyleNovice Posted March 25, 2014 #19 Share Posted March 25, 2014 NoI often wonder when this question comes up, do people, when on land, tip their waitress, hairdresser, dog groomer, taxi driver etc before service? Best comparison would be an hotel housemaid/housekeeping? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
che5904 Posted March 25, 2014 #20 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Best comparison would be an hotel housemaid/housekeeping? I wasn't comparing jobs, I was comparing against other tipping jobs. The answer to my question, I would assume no then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vacation luvver Posted March 25, 2014 #21 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I was just on the March 16 sailing of the Breakaway. I didn't tip my cabin steward on the first day. As it turned out, we never saw him again after the second day because he got sick. Another cabin steward took over for him, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timhoke Posted March 25, 2014 #22 Share Posted March 25, 2014 Does anyone tip their cabin steward on the first day of the cruise? I tried it a few cruises back and I was amazed how extra attentive my steward was for the rest of the cruise. TIPS is an acronym for "To Insure Prompt Service" So it never hurts to do it ahead of time. I often will tip the steward or butler ahead of time, even if it doesn't change the service, they always great us a big smile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weloverunning Posted March 25, 2014 #23 Share Posted March 25, 2014 We always tip something on the first night or first full day. We ask for our ice to be filled twice a day and I know that means extra work for them. We also don't get out of our cabin until 8:00 PM (do not disturb sign until then) so they usually save us for last instead of just skipping over us. They are always appreciative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare graphicguy Posted March 25, 2014 #24 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I assume you tipped so you could ensure your cabin attendant would take extra good care of you. This is by all means acceptable but not necessary. So in addition to what the cruiseline charges per day, you go above that limit, and you do it on day one. Am I correct in my assumption? Correct! Always seem to get more "considerations" by tipping on the first day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luddite Posted March 25, 2014 #25 Share Posted March 25, 2014 So if you tried it 'a few cruises ago' what stopped you? This is a complete myth as nobody could prove it worked anyway. Your steward receives their tip via the DSC which is either added to your account or prepaid. The DSC isn't a tip. It is their pay. A tip is money after the DSC is paid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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