Cash Tips for better service at Bars

[tserface]

We haven't ever done the "tip up front" technique, but we do carry around $1 bills and tip extra if the experience is good. We've also done extra envelopes for special people at the end of the cruise.

 

We also tip when we ask for a glass of water at a bar. 18% of nothing means nothing for the tip by default, but I've often seen people order a glass of water in the theater and, at least apparently, not tipped the server. I think it's good form to tip them, perhaps even up front in that case, when you ask them to stop doing what they make $$$ at to get you something for free.

 

Tom

 

The BAR STAFF work their asses off all around the ship ! If you feel the need to tip a little more' date=' we personally do for great service, then do so, if not don't. It's not required at all.[/quote']

[Retired LEO]

There is on Oasis class ships (Rising Tide). :)

 

Tom

 

Ok I stand corrected. You got me on that one. :D

[Paul65]

There are no bars in the elevators. :rolleyes:

 

It seemed a fair enough comment, since you were advocating extra tips as a way to basically cut in line ahead of other bar patrons. Sort of the same mentality as pushing ahead of others to get in an elevator - my needs ahead of anyone else. :cool:

[Ray in NH]

There are no bars in the elevators. :rolleyes:

 

Except on Oasis Class where the Rising Tide Bar is the elevator. :D

 

N Ray H

[babyher]

I bar tended for quite a while in my younger days and I always appreciated a tip before , during, or after service.

 

 

Somebody stiffing you is way more crass and insulting than anyone shoveling out money at you like Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack .

[Paul65]

I bar tended for quite a while in my younger days and I always appreciated a tip before , during, or after service.

 

 

Somebody stiffing you is way more crass and insulting than anyone shoveling out money at you like Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack .

 

There is really no such thing as "stiffing" a bartender on Royal Caribbean, though, since you're automatically paying 18% on top of relatively expensive drink prices. I guess the exception might be in the Suite/Concierge/Diamond lounges, where you're getting complimentary drinks. But otherwise, tipping is automatic.

 

Of course, you can tip even more, but it's hard to stiff anyone.

[babyher]

There is really no such thing as "stiffing" a bartender on Royal Caribbean, though, since you're automatically paying 18% on top of relatively expensive drink prices. I guess the exception might be in the Suite/Concierge/Diamond lounges, where you're getting complimentary drinks. But otherwise, tipping is automatic.

 

Of course, you can tip even more, but it's hard to stiff anyone.

 

 

I never worked on a cruise ship , but on good old dry land I worked my butt off a few more times than I care to mention. At the end of the night all I got for my efforts was tired .

 

Funny that the "Classier" places I worked had the worst tippers and the more unseemly places , I made out like a bandit.

[Retired LEO]

It seemed a fair enough comment, since you were advocating extra tips as a way to basically cut in line ahead of other bar patrons. Sort of the same mentality as pushing ahead of others to get in an elevator - my needs ahead of anyone else. :cool:

 

Whatever floats your boat (Pun intended)

[Cabansail]

$50 for every drink I bought .... why not :D

[retird]

I never get the drink package.

 

I always hand my server a dollar bill with my SeaPass card.

 

I do the same

[BND]

We have never tipped extra and we always receive excellent service. Those that think they're getting "better" service for tipping additionally, probably aren't. They just like to think they are.

 

We tip for service above and beyond, but mixing and delivering a drink is not above and beyond. It's their job. The 18% is added on because some people don't tip otherwise.

 

I waited tables in college at a pizza place and I took whatever tip I was given, but the amount never changed my service.

Edited March 16, 2016 by BND

[Paul65]

Whatever floats your boat (Pun intended)

 

Neither bothers me nor floats any of my boats; it's just what you described.

[M_BA]

:D:D

 

That's the plan.

 

I know these guys and gals don't get all of that 18% tip or even 50% (I'm sure the crusie ships skim off their portion and I know it is shared and I know they make $50-100 a month). The extra $50-100 I spend on a cruise isn't going to make much difference to me, but IMHO it will mean a lot to them. Goes right in their pocket vs pooled.

 

Same will go if I get great service from the room attendants or servers or the staff in the Kids Club.

 

To me, the workers in the Kids Clubs definitely deserve some extra as the last time I was on board the Indy, they were awesome.

 

I may be in the minority, and I understand that every culture is different and us Americans tend to over tip (especially when travelling).

 

Agreed, most from the US don't realize that the employees of RCCL aren't bound by US law, but by the county each ship is flagged within. Most crew members have 2-4 jobs throughout the day and all work 6-7 days a week for 12+ hours for sub-US wages (ever wonder why there are so few US or UK employees, except for much higher paying positions?). Over just a few cruises, I've learned a lot of by crew members whom I spent the time to chit-chat and get to know them. Most are sending home a substantial portion of their wages to support their families. A $1USD cash add-on to a drink is peanuts to most cruisers, but it is graciously appreciated by the crew. Most ships tend to follow US and UK customs (this will be quite different for the China ships), so I don't see tipping either before or after to be insulting.

[Retired LEO]

Neither bothers me nor floats any of my boats; it's just what you described.

 

Try reading it again. Nowhere did I say that I ever cut in a line.

[Merion_Mom]

We have never tipped extra and we always receive excellent service. Those that think they're getting "better" service for tipping additionally, probably aren't. They just like to think they are.

 

We tip for service above and beyond, but mixing and delivering a drink is not above and beyond. It's their job. The 18% is added on because some people don't tip otherwise.

 

I waited tables in college at a pizza place and I took whatever tip I was given, but the amount never changed my service.

 

I don't tip because I think that I get "better" service.

 

I tip because I believe that the workers deserve it.

 

Period.

 

YMMV

[BND]

I don't tip because I think that I get "better" service.

 

I tip because I believe that the workers deserve it.

 

Period.

 

YMMV

 

Um, the title of the thread is "Cash Tips for Better Service at Bars"

 

Why so defensive when I didn't even quote anyone? You are usually a fount of information, but I think you overreacted to my post.

Edited March 17, 2016 by BND

[Oscarsgrandad]

Cash up front works wonders. Just ignore the comments from those that are waiting as you take your drink and walk away. :)

 

Have to agree with Paul65, Reckon you implied that you're happy to pay to get served first irrespective of anyone else waiting in front of you.

[Paul65]

Have to agree with Paul65, Reckon you implied that you're happy to pay to get served first irrespective of anyone else waiting in front of you.

 

Yeah. That's pretty much what I got, when I read it again, as he requested. Since that seemed to be the exact point he was making, I didn't think he'd be defensive about it. But maybe that's not what he meant, and he just phrased his thoughts poorly.

[tserface]

I tip because I 'got' better service... Or because they add it on automatically!

 

:)

 

Tom

 

I don't tip because I think that I get "better" service.

 

 

 

I tip because I believe that the workers deserve it.

 

 

 

Period.

 

 

 

YMMV

[Merion_Mom]

Um, the title of the thread is "Cash Tips for Better Service at Bars"

 

Why so defensive when I didn't even quote anyone? You are usually a fount of information, but I think you overreacted to my post.

 

Just giving another viewpoint. :)

 

I should have used a :) last time. My bad. :D

[keishashadow]

I bar tended for quite a while in my younger days and I always appreciated a tip before , during, or after service.

 

 

Somebody stiffing you is way more crass and insulting than anyone shoveling out money at you like Rodney Dangerfield in Caddyshack .

 

most who have moonlighted as bartenders would agree 100% Bar staff work very hard for their $ as do food servers.

 

DH & I both remember our time in the trenches and remember the difference a 'good' night in tips could make; as such, we choose to go above & beyond. It's our personal choice. :confused:Crass is others making judgement upon it imo.

 

Cash is king in the industry. As an added bonus, we tend to get our drinks quickly & receive good liquor/pours; which are gratefully accepted.:D

[readytolose]

I don't tip because I think that I get "better" service.

 

I tip because I believe that the workers deserve it.

 

Period.

 

YMMV

 

Ditto!

[absolutonrox]

We have been on 2 cruises. The first on Royal. We did not have a beverage package, we did not tip extra, we received WONDERFUL service (we did end up giving our servers and steward extra the last night because we thought they were exceptional).

 

Our 2nd cruise was with Carnival, we DID have a package, we tipped 1 person extra. Apparently they have a thing where the first person in a particular bar on each sailing gets their picture taken and a free beer. Well that was us. We were the only people in the bar at the time (it was maybe noon?) and talked at length with the bartender (Tepson we loved you!) while enjoying our free beer. We really enjoyed him and the bar. When we left, we gave him $20 cash. We stopped back to that bar multiple times each day, sometimes just passing by to say hi to Tepson (and Karen, a waitress there who me met the next day). Every time we returned to that bar, Tepson and Karen saw us first, no matter how crowded it was. We never waited for a drink in their bar. They even went so far as to allow us more "premium" liquor that wasn't "supposed" to be part of the package (I'm a vodka drinker, he would allow me Belvedere while the rest of the ship charged extra for it, and NO I'm not complaining I was charged for it elsewhere as I was fine drinking Grey Goose in those places). Service on the rest of the ship was fantastic as well, but just a tad bit better for us with Tepson and Karen. Now, I can't begin to say whether that is because we gave him $20 on embarkation day, or because we stopped numerous times each day and had conversations with them and treated them like they were actual people, not servants. What I can say for sure is that they provided us the best service we had on either of our 2 cruises; we ended up tipping both Karen and Tepson extra the last night of the cruise as well, my wife and I both having worked in the food service industry, we were very appreciative of their effort.

 

Contrary to what some posters seem to think, I feel we did NOTHING wrong. We showed them a good gesture and were given one in return. I can't say I will do the same thing in the future, but I also can't say that I won't in a similar situation.

[Tommy3putts]

:D:D

 

 

 

That's the plan.

 

 

 

I know these guys and gals don't get all of that 18% tip or even 50% (I'm sure the crusie ships skim off their portion and I know it is shared and I know they make $50-100 a month). The extra $50-100 I spend on a cruise isn't going to make much difference to me, but IMHO it will mean a lot to them. Goes right in their pocket vs pooled.

 

 

 

Same will go if I get great service from the room attendants or servers or the staff in the Kids Club.

 

 

 

To me, the workers in the Kids Clubs definitely deserve some extra as the last time I was on board the Indy, they were awesome.

 

 

 

I may be in the minority, and I understand that every culture is different and us Americans tend to over tip (especially when travelling).

 

 

Couldn't agree more. I'm fortunate to be able to afford to go a cruise. We always get $100-250 ones and fives to take on a cruise for "beer tip money". The crew works long hours and are away from their family for long periods. While we won't miss that extra money it certainly will help them.

 

On all of my experiences tipping a little extra in cash as you go gets you faster better more personalized service.

Edited March 17, 2016 by Tommy3putts

[ksmcdonald]

So the best way to handle tipping would be to tip after the person takes care of you with no expectation of a tip. I do like the idea of carrying ones and fives (granted get a little soggy in the pool).

 

If I find a bartender/staff who provides great service then I do plan to tip them something extra.

 

I highly doubt that any of the staff will complain for some extra cash for a job well done. It will also help in the future for a good pour and them knowing I appreciate a job well done.

 

The reason this came up was there was a cruise a week ago with a lot of spring breakers (college) and apparently service was very pour.

 

 

Yes, I was on that spring break cruise last week and yes, my husband tipped to roving waiter well in the casino and when that same waiter was working the pool area and saw us, he would immediately come over and take our order. Everytime he walked by he would give us a "thumbs up" to see if we were OK or wanted another. If it wasn't for him, we would of never got our money's worth from the drink package!