Diamond Drink Vouchers ... Tipping Guidelines?

[welshrich]

We have only ever gone to the DL and tended to tip nicely when we first enter each evening, question about the vouchers, if two people go to a bar do they both have to hand their seapasses over?

[DarthGrady]

In the DL and CL I generally tip them $1 each time they bring drinks by, or serve us at the bar. Then extra at the end of the cruise if they were our usual bartender/waiter. I would follow the same system when using the vouchers.

Edited August 21, 2014 by DarthGrady

[delirious9876]

The drinks are a hard earned perk but this isn't France. Tips aren't included and are expected for good service regardless if it's free or not.

You think the servers shouldn't get paid because they are serving you free drinks

Yes

[delirious9876]

The drinks are a perk not the service. Those people work hard so you can enjoy your "perk". Are you really that person? Really?

Yes

[delirious9876]

Seriously?

Yes

[delirious9876]

Since you live in multiple countries, you should take the time and interest to understand the compensation structure for service employees in various countries or situations. While its well known that servers in some European countries are compensated fully by salary, and tips are just a "nice" extra, this is not the case everywhere.

In the US, and especially in the cruise industry, employers of servers compensate with the understanding that a large proportion of compensation will come from tips.

This is just the way it is. If you choose to ignore this, you are cheating these employees out of their fair compensation. Its the drinks that are free, not the great service.

I do understand and the majority of our lives has been in the USA :-)

[delirious9876]

oh that guy fully knows that he is stiffing the staff. He just chooses to rationalize it, and cheat them anyways.

ok :-)

[Guest maddycat]

We have only ever gone to the DL and tended to tip nicely when we first enter each evening, question about the vouchers, if two people go to a bar do they both have to hand their seapasses over?

 

If they both order a drink, then they would both have to hand over their seapass cards. That would be the only way that the server would know that both passengers are D or above.

Edited August 21, 2014 by maddycat

[mommabean]

Wow ,i asked this question a while back and got flamed,most of the answers was ,HOW CAN WE PAY 15% OF NOTHING,:confused:

 

People don't tip 15% of nothing. They usually give a cash bill of some sort (most of the time a dollar a drink whatever that drink may be), the same they do for any service - even when they choose to tip over the 15% already added on.

 

I like others, like to give a cash tip in addition to the 15% already added on. It goes into the pocket of the server in most cases.

 

Some people are just more giving than others, too. It takes all kinds. :)

 

Gina

Edited August 21, 2014 by mommabean

[delirious9876]

It's a perk that someone is serving you. If they are gracious about doing it, they really deserve a tip. $1 per drink is perfectly adequate.

 

Do you feel like you got a better deal by withholding this trivial amount of money? I feel like I am getting a nice perk, the person serving me is nice, I give him $1 for my drink...done! and everyone's happy!

 

It's just mean not to tip the server because your drink is a 'perk'.

 

If the server is rude, none of this applies of course. And some of the auxiliary bartenders are still getting used to the new voucher system, so I can see a rocky phase. Listen to yourself talking though. You sound like a big cheapskate.

I'm not a cheapskate but you're entitled to your opinion.

 

I tip room service very well and often extra people like cleaners, entertainment staff, culinary staff etc. I am very generous in fact.

 

My principle of why not in the DL still stands.

[Guest maddycat]

The servers in the DL or CL are assigned there all week and have little or no other source of tips. If they worked in the regular bars that week the automatic tip on beverages that RCI adds to every bill would be in effect for them even if they did not get extra tips from customers. When working in the DL and CL they absolutely depend on a nightly tip or the end of the week tip for a good part of their income.

 

This information is wrong. When we go the the diamond event we always get to know the servers/bar tenders. They tell us which other bars/lounges where they work after they leave the diamond event. I would imagine that the same would hold true for the DL or CL.

[delirious9876]

This information is wrong. When we go the the diamond event we always get to know the servers/bar tenders. They tell us which other bars/lounges where they work after they leave the diamond event. I would imagine that the same would hold true for the DL or CL.

It is true for the DL servers so even if they aren't tipped in the DL they will get tipped elsewhere for selling drinks and bar tending/serving in other venues.

[emeraldcity]

Oh my. Look what I started. I am so sorry. This really wasn't supposed to be about the whole "to tip or not to tip" question.

 

It's really supposed to be about tipping etiquette.

 

And anybody who has ever worked a stint waiting tables to get through those rough patches in their early years, truly understands how hard that job is.

 

At any rate, I appreciate the answers and will plan on stopping at the bank before leaving Ohio to get a fistful of singles.

 

One other question ... since I get 3 drink vouchers a night, can I order two glasses of champagne at the same time, even though one is clearly for my DD who is traveling with me? (I wouldn't want to break protocol by letting a non-diamond guzzle diamond bubbly. :))

[Motorman23]

It is true for the DL servers so even if they aren't tipped in the DL they will get tipped elsewhere for selling drinks and bar tending/serving in other venues.

 

Ok, so should I also assume that when you are back in the US of A and you get your BOGO or 2 for 1 coupon out of the Sunday paper for Friendly's you only tip on the charged total vs what the bill would have been with out the coupon even though the servers wages are lower as a result of laws which take tipping into consideration? Sorry about the long sentence but I figured you would make it through... :rolleyes:

[delirious9876]

Ok, so should I also assume that when you are back in the US of A and you get your BOGO or 2 for 1 coupon out of the Sunday paper for Friendly's you only tip on the charged total vs what the bill would have been with out the coupon even though the servers wages are lower as a result of laws which take tipping into consideration? Sorry about the long sentence but I figured you would make it through... :rolleyes:

Yes I would tip on the total of the bill figure I actually pay, not what it 'should' have been, as it never was and will never be :-)

[looking4info]

This information is wrong. When we go the the diamond event we always get to know the servers/bar tenders. They tell us which other bars/lounges where they work after they leave the diamond event. I would imagine that the same would hold true for the DL or CL.

 

You are correct. Not sure why so many on here insist that the bartenders/servers in the CL/DL do not share in the tip pool. They are assigned other bars/areas when not in the lounges.

[dancinman66]

Yes but for three hours and more per day their only chance to get more tips is from us and the bar they are from they only get portioned of for rest of time

 

I tip them

Your choice whether you do or not

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[cruzincurt]

I anticipate tipping at the bar because I'll get immediate service.

 

On some cruises we've gone into the DL or Concierge Club and sat for 30 minutes before being greeted or asked for a drink order. In those cases, either the Concierge sits all night staring at his/her computer or Mr. & Mrs. Popularity (you know who you are) have the Concierge and/or servers tied up with their apparently engaging conversations while they have 4 or 5 drinks in front of them.

 

In those instances, I'm not inclined to tip the servers who eventually find their way over to us. In other cases, when given prompt service throughout the week, the servers get tips daily or on the last night.

 

I just hope Mr. & Mrs Popularity are big tippers.

Edited August 22, 2014 by cruzincurt

[pcur]

One other question ... since I get 3 drink vouchers a night, can I order two glasses of champagne at the same time, even though one is clearly for my DD who is traveling with me? (I wouldn't want to break protocol by letting a non-diamond guzzle diamond bubbly. :))

 

This is exactly what I did with my friend on the Vision earlier this month. I ordered two drinks (usually different ones), with my seapass card and 2-$1 bills. Easy!

[pcur]

Yes I would tip on the total of the bill figure I actually pay, not what it 'should' have been, as it never was and will never be :-)

 

The tip is for the service, which is the same whether you pay for the drink or not: it's the same effort on the part of the bar staff.

 

My 9 year old son "got it" when he and his friend would go to eat some place after grammar school. If they observed someone stiffing the wait staff, THEY would leave something for him/her.

 

If a 9 year old can understand it; certainly adults can, too. That is, of course, if they are just too miserly to want to understand.

[dancinman66]

Some adults only see what they want to see and will never see it as it does not suit their purpose

 

They would be very quick if they were on the receiving end of tipping and depended on it

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[EmpressofPurple]

Yes I would tip on the total of the bill figure I actually pay, not what it 'should' have been, as it never was and will never be :-)

 

Wow...

 

Even groupon carefully spells out that you should tip based on the pre-discount price...

 

I guess you've never worked (or known anyone who had worked) in a job that depends on tips...

 

...or, just take a minute and read the well written post above, and take a minute to think what would happen if everyone acted the way you claim to...

 

Sent from my SM-G900P using Forums mobile app

[Merion_Mom]

Oh my. Look what I started. I am so sorry. This really wasn't supposed to be about the whole "to tip or not to tip" question.

 

It's really supposed to be about tipping etiquette.

 

And anybody who has ever worked a stint waiting tables to get through those rough patches in their early years, truly understands how hard that job is.

 

At any rate, I appreciate the answers and will plan on stopping at the bank before leaving Ohio to get a fistful of singles.

 

One other question ... since I get 3 drink vouchers a night, can I order two glasses of champagne at the same time, even though one is clearly for my DD who is traveling with me? (I wouldn't want to break protocol by letting a non-diamond guzzle diamond bubbly. :))

No need to "stock up" on ones if you don't want to, or forget. Either Guest Services or the Casino Cashier will be happy to break larger bills for you.

 

:)

[Merion_Mom]

The tip is for the service, which is the same whether you pay for the drink or not: it's the same effort on the part of the bar staff.

 

My 9 year old son "got it" when he and his friend would go to eat some place after grammar school. If they observed someone stiffing the wait staff, THEY would leave something for him/her.

 

If a 9 year old can understand it; certainly adults can, too. That is, of course, if they are just too miserly to want to understand.

 

Beautiful post. Just beautiful. :)

[BMT]

We cruise a lot - both on Royal and on Celebrity.

 

Oddly enough, I have never seen anyone in the Concierge or Diamond Lounges tipping per drink.

 

We tip at the end of the cruise although we drink rarely - more like make a coffee for ourselves!!