Tipping Denominations

[jszpira]

Hi,

I've done prepaid grats, but we all know there are certain people who go above and beyond what is expected of them.

 

Is tipping $1 bills okay? Or should I bring larger denominations to tip with as well? For example, if I know I'm going to tip the bartender $5 at the end of the night, are 5 $1 bills okay or should I also bring some $5s?

[GUT2407]

Hi,

I've done prepaid grats, but we all know there are certain people who go above and beyond what is expected of them.

 

Is tipping $1 bills okay? Or should I bring larger denominations to tip with as well? For example, if I know I'm going to tip the bartender $5 at the end of the night, are 5 $1 bills okay or should I also bring some $5s?

 

 

Contrary to what some will try to say, they'll take whatever you give them, remember it is likely that there will be at least 3 [probably more] different currencies floating around on the ship, regardless where you are sailing, they have facilities on board to deal with it.

[jszpira]

it is likely that there will be at least 3 [probably more] different currencies floating around on the ship, regardless where you are sailing, they have facilities on board to deal with it.

 

 

Good!! Then I can get rid of some of my $$$ that I have yet to exchange back from previous trips! Haha

[Northern Aurora]

While I hope that I am not stating the obvious I just wanted to point out that Guest Relations can break bills into smaller denominations. Instead of taking wads of small bills we just drop by GR and have a $100 bill broken into combinations of fives and ones.

[jszpira]

While that may be "the obvious" for most people, I am an idiot and I did not even for a second think about making a visit to GR.

 

You just saved me a trip to the bank!!

[Eloise4Ever]

While I hope that I am not stating the obvious I just wanted to point out that Guest Relations can break bills into smaller denominations. Instead of taking wads of small bills we just drop by GR and have a $100 bill broken into combinations of fives and ones.

 

This is great news for us. We've always gone to great lengths to get hold of small denomination bills for tipping on cruises. I never would have thought Guest Relations would have a big supply of small bills, given that it's a "cashless economy" onboard but maybe they have them specifically as a service to guests. Thanks for the heads up :)

[Duanerice1]

We just bring a lot of ones. I don't want to have to go to Guest Services. Easier to hit a bank that's next door to my office.

 

Actually after about 12 cruises, I've never been to Guest Services. I don't want to break that streak :) Not sure why I'd ever need to go actually.

[WestLakeGirl]

The casino can also change bills for you

[ajaxup]

Even with prepaid grats and even with a drink package you'll usually be given a ticket to sign when you're through at a venue. All you have to do is add a tip on it even if the charges are zero and it goes on your ship bill. There's really no need to carry any cash at all on the ship until you're ready to disembark and might want to give something to your butlers and/or room attendants.

[illiniwahoo]

On celebrity with a drink package, I have never had to sign a reciept. You can always ask for a zero charge slip to sign, and write in an amount on the gratuity line. We have done that before.

[keithm]

Hi,

I've done prepaid grats, but we all know there are certain people who go above and beyond what is expected of them.

 

Is tipping $1 bills okay? Or should I bring larger denominations to tip with as well? For example, if I know I'm going to tip the bartender $5 at the end of the night, are 5 $1 bills okay or should I also bring some $5s?

As to bar tabs, we usually add a "little more" to the tab. We don't do beer & wine packages, so we sign each time. As to the other staff.. we usually go by the Berlitz Guide to cruising. We found pax were far more willing to tip extra on Cunard v/s Celebrity(not sure why)The service was excellent on both lines. We normally tip about $50 to our steward & the same to our water. About half that to the asst.Steward & asst.waiter. Some tip far more or none at all(above the standard auto gratuity)It's up to each pax to decide.

[wpgcycler]

Even with prepaid grats and even with a drink package you'll usually be given a ticket to sign when you're through at a venue. All you have to do is add a tip on it even if the charges are zero and it goes on your ship bill. There's really no need to carry any cash at all on the ship until you're ready to disembark and might want to give something to your butlers and/or room attendants.

 

Did this just start recently?

[chicagopaul]

I've never received a slip to sign after ordering a drink when I've had the drink package. The only time I've had this happen is when I've ordered something about the premium package where you pay the difference. I always have small bills for room service delivery and larger bills for the bartenders I like but I typically tip them at the end of the cruise. I go around to my favorite bartenders, thank them for an amazing cruise, and give them the tip. The same for room steward, etc.

 

Thank your Northern Aurora for mentioning guest relations will change bills for you. I had never thought of asking them and glad I now can.

 

The great thing about your question is there is no right or wrong answer. You can tip them a little each night or one not at the end of the cruise. You can tip in $ or pounds or euros, they can always exchange the money and should be able to do so easily.

 

Cheers and Happy Cruising!

[harz99]

A word of advice - don't rely on either Guest Relations or the Casino to break down large notes. They are not a bank with an endless supply. Should you be on a cruise with a high proportion of foreign guests, they will often have bought currency in their home country which inevitably comes in high denominations, and they also will be wanting to split them down.

 

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Forums mobile app

[navybankerteacher]

We always bring a stack of ones to tip for room service morning coffee - other than that, we have never had a problem getting $50's changed at the casino for smaller denominations toward the end of the cruise. Since we normally are on for two weeks or more, we generally want to be able to give extra tips (appropriate to the service) to cabin and dining room stewards. For that, as well as a bit to lose at the casino, we always bring about $300 pr $400 per week of cruise - anything smaller than $50's would be a huge wad.

[TravelerThom]

While I hope that I am not stating the obvious I just wanted to point out that Guest Relations can break bills into smaller denominations. Instead of taking wads of small bills we just drop by GR and have a $100 bill broken into combinations of fives and ones.

GR has a continuous re-supply of small bills. As an example, many people in the Elite lounge tip a dollar or so per drink or $5 or $10 per evening cash to their server (there is NO receipt to add a cashless tip to). The server then takes a bunch of small bills to the crew bank downstairs for deposit or for maybe $20s. The deposited small bills are then available to GR as change for tips, and the cycle continues.

 

Thom

[Phxazzcruisers]

We have never been on a cruise where Guest Relations ran out of small bills. They have plenty and as one poster said above, they also get bills throughout the cruise from staff.

We have received change on the last day in small bills and they have always been new crisp bills. They always have an adequate supply. do not worry about carrying a large amount of small bills

[cruise kitty]

Even with prepaid grats and even with a drink package you'll usually be given a ticket to sign when you're through at a venue. All you have to do is add a tip on it even if the charges are zero and it goes on your ship bill. There's really no need to carry any cash at all on the ship until you're ready to disembark and might want to give something to your butlers and/or room attendants.

 

I've had a drink pkg. last 3 cruises, & have never been given a slip to sign, except when DH bought a wine that exceeded the premium pkg. We signed for the extra $3 dollars for that.

[GUT2407]

A lot of small notes stay on board in a closed economy, they are given as tips, banked by the staff, given out to Pax as change and given in tips.

[ajaxup]

I've had a drink pkg. last 3 cruises, & have never been given a slip to sign, except when DH bought a wine that exceeded the premium pkg. We signed for the extra $3 dollars for that.

 

I've been given tickets at the Martini Bar that I definitely remember but other venues I'm not as positive about. But in any case if you want to tip you can request a ticket and sign for a tip only as someone said above. It's just a lot more convenient to me than carrying a wad of cash around.:)

[cb at sea]

WE do any additional tipping on the last evening, as is customary in cruising...so we generally use larger bills...but they do NOT care! As long as it's legal tender, they will take it!

[cruise kitty]

I've been given tickets at the Martini Bar that I definitely remember but other venues I'm not as positive about. But in any case if you want to tip you can request a ticket and sign for a tip only as someone said above. It's just a lot more convenient to me than carrying a wad of cash around.:)

 

I can see getting a slip to sign if you asked for one, but you shouldn't under any other circumstances... maybe you had the classic pkg. & were charged for your drinks at the Martini bar?

 

Regarding the extra tipping, we usually leave a few Euros for our favorite bartenders each night.

[junetraveler2014]

Hi,

I've done prepaid grats, but we all know there are certain people who go above and beyond what is expected of them.

 

Is tipping $1 bills okay? Or should I bring larger denominations to tip with as well? For example, if I know I'm going to tip the bartender $5 at the end of the night, are 5 $1 bills okay or should I also bring some $5s?

Green backs are green backs. If they frown on many bills as compared to a single large bill the problem is theirs not yours. I think at that time I'd ask for them back !

[cruisestitch]

I agree that it would be a very unusual cruise where Guest Relations runs out of small denomination bills. Between them and the casino, you shouldn't have any trouble getting the paper money you need.

[elena7seas]

Just be sure you have the appropriate denomination that you wish to give the porter/stevedore/dockworker who takes your luggage when you arrive at the dock for boarding. That is one place you do NOT want to be out of cash.