Tipping outside of Gratuities?

[CityChickCruising]

Hello!! I leave on Jewel of the Seas on Saturday (eek!!) and was wondering how to go about tipping. We have the auto-gratuity set up, which I think everyone does, but what do we tip outside of that?

 

We have premium drink packages, and I believe we can tip on the slips if we really like a waiter or bartender, correct?

 

What about the room steward or our wait staff? What's the general consensus on tipping them?

 

Any tipping tips would be great! We are always very generous with our tips and kind staff, so we don't want to make any faux pas! thanks :)

[champagne123]

If you wish to tip extra, that is at your discretion. The only person I can think of that is not included in the auto gratuities, is the room service person.:):):)

[George C]

Need to tip porters they are not RCCL employees. I normally tip extra bartenders ( not every time) also should tip a few dollars when using room service. We also tip piano player .

[shipshape sam]

We tip extra when we feel we have gotten exceptional service/help. With the current 18% auto gratuity it also depends on our order. I have bought a round of drinks in the past and it was close to $100, so there was a quick $18 for our server. A $5 beer generates an 18% tip of 90 cents. For me, in most cases, it took them 30 seconds to get the beer and hand it to me.

 

I have found that I do a mix of adding an additional gratuity and totaling and then at times, I give them an extra $1 or $2, thus I keep some bills with me on ship.

 

I can only tell you from my experience that they seem more appreciative when I hand them cash. It may be that it forces the issue in that then have to stop what they are doing and interact with you vs adding, for example, $2 extra and handing back the charge receipt.

 

My last quick thought, is that I try to get to know the bar staff early on and provide an extra tip early on. I did this once on Allure and after the 2nd day, when the bartender saw me coming, he got me my Boddington/glass and brought it over to my lounge chair. Once just before the bar even opened at 11 am. Had others have no clue too!

 

Great service and effort and he made some nice tips!

[I&J Cruisers]

We generally give extra at the end of the cruise to the cabin steward, assistant and if wai staff is the same for the whole cruise them as well. I'm of the opinion that the current "gratuity" structure is in reality a service charge. The people you think you are tipping actually receive a relatively small piece of the whole as the cruise lines say that your gratuity is divided up among all service people many of which you never see. If someone gives you exemplary service it is appropriate to tip accordingly.

[LilBlackDress]

Porters, 1 to 2 dollars per bag

Room Service depends on size of order

Room Attendant (optional to give more than the Auto)

Bartenders (optional to give more than the 18%)

Waiter / Asst (optional...)

 

Our last cruise I had an omelette in WJ almost every day. (I admit I am beyond picky) 1st day I explained what I wanted, the next day he asked me if I wanted it the same. From that point on I made sure I had a couple of ones to tip him every day... he was surprised but very appreciative.

 

not sure if you are diamond / suite (Bartenders and Concierge)

 

I think that is most of it

[Havingfun2010]

When thinking about this question, think about the cost of your dinner (if you were in a land based getting the same food) and think of how much your daily tip is to the server. Do you think it is enough, or should they get more. Make your decision on how much based on what service you received. Do the same review for every person that gets a tip. You will get 100 different answers, but only you can decide or justify what you give.

[Havingfun2010]

Need to tip porters they are not RCCL employees. I normally tip extra bartenders ( not every time) also should tip a few dollars when using room service. We also tip piano player .

 

The porters are not "tipped" people and are longshoreman. The person you see, and hand money to, only takes your bag and places it in a cart. That cart is moved by forklift to the staging area and than on the ship. It is sorted on the ship and delivered to your room. It is touched by a dozen people. But yet, the only person that gets the tip, served you 30 seconds. Think about it!

 

Bartenders and room service do not share in the tip pool, however, unlike the MDR, bartenders already get 18% which is more than enough.

[Desert Cruizers]

We paid ahead our Gratuities last October and have always tipped extra to our Room Steward, Waiter & Assistant Waiter.We pay each $20 and hand it to them personally the final night of the cruise.

[dmlee1990]

This will be our first time sailing RCL in September. When I booked this cruise through the travel agent, I wasn't asked about prepaid gratuities. Do I log on to the RCL site and sign up for this? Or if I don't prepay, I'm assuming it will show up on my final statement on the last night of the cruise, correct?

 

Thanks for your help with this!

[Merion_Mom]

This will be our first time sailing RCL in September. When I booked this cruise through the travel agent, I wasn't asked about prepaid gratuities. Do I log on to the RCL site and sign up for this? Or if I don't prepay, I'm assuming it will show up on my final statement on the last night of the cruise, correct?

 

Thanks for your help with this!

 

You can call your TA and have him/her bill you now.

 

If you choose to wait, then each day on your SeaPass account, you will see $12.95 ($15.95 in full suite) added per person.

[dmlee1990]

You can call your TA and have him/her bill you now.

 

If you choose to wait, then each day on your SeaPass account, you will see $12.95 ($15.95 in full suite) added per person.

 

Thank you, Merion Mom!

[2skikids]

We usually give extra to the room attendant on the first day. Always bring a cooler for my Diet Coke ( tap soda upsets my stomach) . Ask to have it filled with ice and every day it is freshly done.

Will give extra to anyone who goes above and beyond.

Kathy

[matj2000]

I bring $200 in ones.

And give tips frequently to Bartenders, Buffet servers, Ass Servers, MDR Breakfast staff, Etc.

Anyone who goes above...

[George C]

I bring $200 in ones.

And give tips frequently to Bartenders, Buffet servers, Ass Servers, MDR Breakfast staff, Etc.

Anyone who goes above...

 

We bring about 100 in singles and fives, its also good to use small bills on islands so you do not get change in local currency

[beshears]

I have not read all the postings, but I went on TA, and someone who "worked" on the ship, explained how the tips that are tagged on our bill is distributed. It doesn't sound like the small (not big names that we would think of that are doing something for us) areas really get any tip at all. For me, if I "know" personally that someone has done something special or gone above what they are to do, I always tip extra in the envelopes.

[caribbean sailor]

If you wish to tip extra, that is at your discretion. The only person I can think of that is not included in the auto gratuities, is the room service person.:):):)

 

I Think the room service guy is included.At any rate we cancel auto tips and tip in cash.That way we can tip who we want.:)

[cb at sea]

Your prepaid or "added onboard daily" tips cover your cabin attendant, waiter, ass't waiter and head waiter.

Room service is NOT included in the suggested tips. Tip at time of delivery, in cash...$1-5 depending on how much they have to bring!

If you BUY a drink, tip is added to the cost. There is also a line for "additional" tip, but unless it's some lengthy recipe, there's no need to tip more that 18% for a beer or wine or simple cocktails.

 

There is no need to bring wads of $1's.....larger bills are MUCH easier to carry, and can be "broken down" into smaller bills on the ship!

Edited March 4, 2016 by cb at sea

[CityChickCruising]

thank you all so much!! my dad just went to the back to get lots of singles, thank you all :) <3

[cruzrman]

I like to tip bartenders and room stewards extra money in cash directly. That way they get 100% of the intended tip.

 

 

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[actuarian]

The porters are not "tipped" people and are longshoreman. The person you see, and hand money to, only takes your bag and places it in a cart.

 

You see the porters twice; once when you embark and once when you disembark. They do relatively little at embarkation and I usually tip them $2/bag then. However, on disembarkation, their services are on request and they will take your luggage through customs and right to your parked car / taxi / bus. For that service, they expect much more and I tip much more, usually about $20 to handle two pieces of luggage.

Edited March 4, 2016 by actuarian

[FloatMe]

Hello!! I leave on Jewel of the Seas on Saturday (eek!!) and was wondering how to go about tipping. We have the auto-gratuity set up, which I think everyone does, but what do we tip outside of that?

 

We have premium drink packages, and I believe we can tip on the slips if we really like a waiter or bartender, correct?

 

What about the room steward or our wait staff? What's the general consensus on tipping them?

 

Any tipping tips would be great! We are always very generous with our tips and kind staff, so we don't want to make any faux pas! thanks :)

 

Only the dealer in the casino after I win!:p but seriously, we generally feel the daily gratuities are sufficient, but if we truly have an exceptional steward or wait staff I will tip them an $20 -$40 personally.

[binbali]

Great information,thank you.

 

 

I usually tip $20 on day 1 to our room attendant (or each if there is 2) as I ask for 1 extra bath towel everyday,then I tip them another $20 with some Tim Tams or chocolates on the last night. We don't ask anything else of our room attendants throughout the cruise.

 

If we have room service I tip $2-$5 depending on the order size and the time of day/night.

 

I tip our favorite barman's $20-$50 depending on the length of cruise.

 

We only eat in the MDR once or maybe twice a trip so did not tip anyone there.

 

I love my pizza so I did tip the guy on Coral Princess $10 on the last night too.

 

We don't eat at specialty Restaurants either so not sure what you are meant to tip there?

 

We dont use the spa so not sure on what people tip there also.

 

I also pre pay our grats.

 

I am aware that Australians can have a bad reputation for not tipping appropiately so I often wondered what other people tipped.

[M313M]

Great information,thank you.

 

 

 

 

 

We don't eat at specialty Restaurants either so not sure what you are meant to tip there?

 

.

 

Never having been myself, this is a question I have...if you pay for your specialty dining when booking, is the tip included in that amount, or do you include one on the night you dine there?

 

 

 

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[FloatMe]

Never having been myself, this is a question I have...if you pay for your specialty dining when booking, is the tip included in that amount, or do you include one on the night you dine there?

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

tip is included in the fee for specialty restaurants. unless the wait staff BLOWS me away with great service we do not tip extra. so do not feel guilty writing in $0 in the tip line on the bill.

 

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