Tipping

[Lynda90]

I'm not sure how this whole thing works so I'm hoping all you experienced cruisers can help me. I understand that we will automatically be billed $10 per day pp. Is it customary to tip more or is that pretty much enough. If we want to tip more can we add it to our shipboard account or do we have to use those little envelopes which i really don't like. Also how about room service. Do we tip them every day and if so how much. Or can we do it all at the end of the cruise and if so can that be put on the shipboard account?

Thank you all for your help,
Lynda

[roohound]

I base my tipping on how my personal service was. We always tip at least the $10 pp per day but if someone exceeded our expectations, we typically showed our appreciation by giving those individuals extra in cash.

Room service I tip each time they come..depending on the size of the order I give anywhere from $2 - $5.

[Lynda90]

So, an extra $20 per couple extra for the steward and/or our main waiter for better than average service--would that be an acceptable amount?

[Nitemare]

The extra $20 would be an acceptable amount if the service was exceptional. The automatic tip is appropriate for normal service (which is generally outstanding, anyway).

[srphnx]

Lynda,

Yes $20 is about right for service you feel exceeded the level you define as average which as has been pointed out is usually good. We usually leave the auto tip on and reward people we feel are going the extra mile with a thank you, not always in cash either. Prepaid phone cards (be sure to get ones that work where you are cruising, sometimes you have to do this in port) are a real nice treat, nearly everyone aboard has some one they call and that means they must spend money, we look at the cards as a gift to the crew member and their family.

One open Princess booking
[B]<FONT color=red>Alaska</FONT>[/B]
Diamond Princess 05/04
Mercury 06/02
Rhapsody o.t. Seas 05/98
Legend o.t. Seas 09/95
[B]<FONT color=red>Mexican Riviera</FONT>[/B]
Diamond Princess 11/04
Diamond Princess 04/04
Sea Princess 01/02
Vision o.t. Seas 04/02
Star Princess 12/02[B]<FONT color=red>
West Coast-Baja Mexico</FONT>[/B]
Ecstacy 09/01
Vision o.t. Seas 10/02
[B]<FONT color=red>Eastern Carribean</FONT>[/B]
Century 12/97
[B]<FONT color=red>Western Carribean</FONT>[/B]
Century 9/96

[wspatton]

What about bartenders? Is their tip automatically added to the cost of the drink when it is put on my account? Or do we give them a tip in cash at the time of purchase?

I usually tip $1.00 per drink in land bars.... is that about right on board?

Any other folks on the ship that will be expecting a tip at the time their service is delivered?

Thanks for this thread.... Newbies like me can really use the help.

Bill

[B]<FONT SIZE="5"><FONT COLOR="#000000">Bill & Mary</FONT></FONT>[/B]
[B]<FONT SIZE="3"><FONT COLOR="#FF0000">Golden Princess: May 9, 2004</FONT></FONT>[/B]
[B][I](A 25th Anniversary First Cruise.... Everyone has to start Somewhere!)[/I][/B]
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[BurBunny]

A 15% service charge is automatically added to every drink purchase onboard - even sodas. Tip additionally if you establish a relationship with a waiter/bartender who really takes care of you. Otherwise, they're covered

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[sue d. miller]

Bartenders tip is 15% and taken out when the drink is purchased, automatic. It will appear on the slip you sign for the drink.

Sue
7 days on Star Princess 10/24

[Lynda90]

What a great idea about the phone cards. I think that's a very thoughtful gift. Thanks to everyone for all the help.

Lynda

[licht]

I would assume that if you want you can have the tip removed from your account and you can tip the old fashion way with cash.

Larry

[ruvidu]

Excuse me but was there not a thread a couple of weeks ago explaining that tips were divided among the crew regardless of service?
If that is the case giving your steward or server extra would mean he or she would only get a portion of what you intended on them having.
Pleae correct me on this if I am wrong.

SC Traveler
Until our Alaska Land/Sea Tour & Cruise
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[srphnx]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ruvidu:
Excuse me but was there not a thread a couple of weeks ago explaining that tips were divided among the crew regardless of service?
If that is the case giving your steward or server extra would mean he or she would only get a portion of what you intended on them having.
Pleae correct me on this if I am wrong.
[B]Good news. You are wrong, as long as you leave auto tip on, the additional monies do stay with the recipient(s).[/B]

SC Traveler
Until our Alaska Land/Sea Tour & Cruise
[url="http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=FFA000&cdt=2004;5;11;06;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>"]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=FFA000&cdt=2004;5;11;06;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>[/url]

One open Princess booking
[B]<FONT color=red>Alaska</FONT>[/B]
Diamond Princess 05/04 ~~ Mercury 06/02
Rhapsody o.t. Seas 05/98 ~~ Legend o.t. Seas 09/95
[B]<FONT color=red>Mexican Riviera</FONT>[/B]
Diamond Princess 11/04 ~~ Diamond Princess 04/04
Sea Princess 01/02 ~~ Vision o.t. Seas 04/02[B]<FONT color=red>
West Coast-Baja Mexico</FONT>[/B]
Ecstacy 09/01
[B]<FONT color=red>Eastern Carribean</FONT>[/B]
Century 12/97
[B]<FONT color=red>Western Carribean</FONT>[/B]
Century 9/96

[Dipsylee]

My understanding of this is, as long as you leave the autotip in place, the extra tip you give someone will go to that individual at the end of the cruise. It only gets added to the crew's tip if you take off the autotip.

[ruvidu]

OK. If that is true I will be much happier. I do wish the search function was working so I could find that last thread on this subject.
I sometimes like being told I am wrong.
srphnx,
Are you going on the same land/sea tour as me?
Princess starting in Fairbanks on 5/11.
Russ

SC Traveler
Until our Alaska Land/Sea Tour & Cruise
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[srphnx]

Russ,Ruvidu.

No, sorry to say on land cruise for us, we are on the 5/22 sailing on Diamond after our 4/17 oh her and before our 11/27 again all diamonds 2 more for a flush.

One open Princess booking
[B]<FONT color=red>Alaska</FONT>[/B]
Diamond Princess 05/04 ~~ Mercury 06/02
Rhapsody o.t. Seas 05/98 ~~ Legend o.t. Seas 09/95
[B]<FONT color=red>Mexican Riviera</FONT>[/B]
Diamond Princess 11/04 ~~ Diamond Princess 04/04
Sea Princess 01/02 ~~ Vision o.t. Seas 04/02[B]<FONT color=red>
West Coast-Baja Mexico</FONT>[/B]
Ecstacy 09/01
[B]<FONT color=red>Eastern Carribean</FONT>[/B]
Century 12/97
[B]<FONT color=red>Western Carribean</FONT>[/B]
Century 9/96

[travelb]

I just spoke to a head waiter on my last cruise who confirmed if you leave autopay on, the extra amount given is kept by the person you gave it to. However, if you cancel the autopay, the entire amount given to that person goes into the pool and is divided among the staff.

If you would like to tip additional amounts, I would highly recommend you keep the autopay on your account.

[srphnx]

We have gotten stuck on the Diamond, as such we know some of the staff, it makes for a chance to do little thoughtful things. One waitress from Poland saw a particularily odd Pepsi can I had, it is the 8oz. version and just burst out in a childlike glee over the tiny soda. We are bringing her a six pack, is it big money, no but she will be the only one on the ship with one and noticing that kind of thing really goes a long way with the staff.

[B]<FONT color=red>Alaska</FONT>[/B]
Diamond Princess 05/04 ~~ Mercury 06/02
Rhapsody o.t. Seas 05/98 ~~ Legend o.t. Seas 09/95
[B]<FONT color=red>Mexican Riviera</FONT>[/B]
Diamond Princess 12/04
Diamond Princess 11/04 ~~ Diamond Princess 04/04
Sea Princess 01/02 ~~ Vision o.t. Seas 04/02[B]<FONT color=red>
West Coast-Baja Mexico</FONT>[/B]
Ecstacy 09/01
[B]<FONT color=red>Eastern Carribean</FONT>[/B]
Century 12/97
[B]<FONT color=red>Western Carribean</FONT>[/B]
Century 9/96

[sue d. miller]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Sue
7 days on Star Princess 10/24

[Rustynail]

I perfer the tip showing up on our account as well as opposed to having to deal with the envelopes on the last night.

We also tip a few extra bucks when the cabin steward goes the extra mile or spends time making towel animals etc.

If you really don't receive great service you can always go to the purser's desk and have your tip adjusted on your account. To date I've only experienced great service so I've never had to alter the account.

Dan

CARRIBEAN PRINCESS JAN 2005
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[vince_g]

I got the feeling on my last cruise that the cabin steward expected an additional tip just because we had a category 12 stateroom. Anyone else sense this when you stayed in a suite?


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June 5th - Queen Mary 2 Westbound Transatlantic


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November 22nd - Sun Princess Eastern Caribbean

[srphnx]

Yes, I did. I think that the crew is well aware of who is there on budget terms and who isn't. It is not uncommon for suite holders to be over-generous and as a result the stewards can come to be "less surprised" by it.

[B]<FONT color=red>Alaska</FONT>[/B]
Diamond Princess 05/04 ~~ Mercury 06/02
Rhapsody o.t. Seas 05/98 ~~ Legend o.t. Seas 09/95
[B]<FONT color=red>Mexican Riviera</FONT>[/B]
Diamond Princess 12/04
Diamond Princess 11/04 ~~ Diamond Princess 04/04
Sea Princess 01/02 ~~ Vision o.t. Seas 04/02[B]<FONT color=red>
West Coast-Baja Mexico</FONT>[/B]
Ecstacy 09/01
[B]<FONT color=red>Eastern Carribean</FONT>[/B]
Century 12/97
[B]<FONT color=red>Western Carribean</FONT>[/B]
Century 9/96

[Lynda90]

I will be staying in a Premium Suite this time around (lucky upgrade)m, and it will be interesting to see if I can tell if the steward acts like he's expecting more. If I get really exceptional service, he will get extra. If just what is expected, just the auto.

Lynda

[Italy52]

[B]travelb[/B] Your explanation is correct. We left our autotip on and gave our cabin attendant, waiter, and assistant waiter a little extra in an envelope. We felt they had provided service above the norm. Inside the envelope I put the extra cash as well as a note telling them this money was in addition to their autotip. This way they knew I was not trying to cheat them out of anything. They were most grateful and we were happy to reward exceptional service.

**The Purser's Office confirmed that if we left the autotip on, the people we rewarded for exceptional service would be able to personally keep the money and not have to share it with the tip pool.