Tipping Bartenders/Servers on Sky

[ldl05]

I will be sailing on the Sky next week. The ship is open bar....do you tip your bartender/server? Or is your daily tip also distributed amongst them? I have no problem tipping for each drink, I just need to go get a stack of ones! I have been cruising lately on RCI and service was included on drinks....Thanks for the info!

 

 

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[samiam0403]

I will be sailing on the Sky next week. The ship is open bar....do you tip your bartender/server? Or is your daily tip also distributed amongst them? I have no problem tipping for each drink, I just need to go get a stack of ones! I have been cruising lately on RCI and service was included on drinks....Thanks for the info!

 

 

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Yes and yes. :D Tips for bar staff are included in the DSC. When I sailed on the Sky last month, I chose to tip the servers/bartenders an extra $1 or so per drink because they worked so darn hard for us. It got to the point when a bartender saw me at the end of the bar, he would mix up my drink as he made whatever batch of drinks he was working on, or the waiter would just bring me two drinks instead of the one I ordered. Win win, I'd say. :) But they really are included if you don't feel the need to tip extra.

[Stace894]

I have to agree. I wasn't on the Sky, but had the beverage plan. I tipped one particular bartender $10 up front on my first order and still tipped extra during each night. By the 3rd night My DH and I would walk in and he would say "usual?" and we had very fast service. Not that is should matter but he did his job very well and I felt deserved the extra compensation for being attentive.

[wazzujoel]

I would believe what the other two said.... I just got off the Sky, and I didn't see anyone ever tip the bar extra. I would imagine if you are one of the very few who did tip extra, they would remember you.

 

I didn't tip extra, and didn't feel bad not doing so.

[jusstice]

I tipped extra in the casino for drinks because they would get the lattes from the coffee bar. By the 2nd day, the servers knew my name & order. No issues with drinks.

 

I sometimes tipped at the other bars, if I was carrying cash with me. No issues getting service, and the staff was still pleasant.

[Teambanzai]

From the Norwegian Website about tipping...

 

<<Also, certain staff positions (e.g., concierge, butler, youth program staff and beverage service) provide service on an individual basis to only some guests and do not benefit from the overall service charge. We encourage those Guests to acknowledge good service from these staff members with appropriate gratuities.>>

 

According to this the bartenders do not share in the automatic gratuity.

[LMaxwell]

And since the ship is open bar and you will not receive a receipt with 18% added on, if you feel like you got good service and want to reward people be sure to have cash on you.

[JuneauWhatIMean]

From the Norwegian Website about tipping...

 

<<Also, certain staff positions (e.g., concierge, butler, youth program staff and beverage service) provide service on an individual basis to only some guests and do not benefit from the overall service charge. We encourage those Guests to acknowledge good service from these staff members with appropriate gratuities.>>

 

According to this the bartenders do not share in the automatic gratuity.

 

 

The term "beverage service" refers to packages, cocktails, and/or butler service delivered to your cabin or suite. It does not refer to bartenders or waitstaff.

[wazzujoel]

I think it's important for people to realize that you aren't going to feel out of place not tipping. I never once saw anyone getting drinks tip. I am not saying that there are not a couple of people who did tip- But I would guess at least 90% of the people getting drinks did not tip. People are on a cruise.... they arent carrying their wallet around.

[fabnfortysomething]

an 18% auto gratuity is added to each bar order so you are already tipping

[LMaxwell]

an 18% auto gratuity is added to each bar order so you are already tipping

 

Not on the Sky it isn't. It is Open Bar. It's not like ordering drinks a la carte on other ships.

[madgran]

So sorry to break in on this, but I have a question to those that have sailed since drinks are now free. Do you have sales tax added while in port? It really will be small and will not kill us, but would really like to know. How can they tax something that is free? We have already got cash ready for extra tips.

[ldl05]

Thanks for the input! I am an overtipper by nature. I work in the service industry myself. I know how hard the crew works and a few dollars to us means a lot more to them.

 

 

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[CasinoCruzGirl]

I think it's important for people to realize that you aren't going to feel out of place not tipping. I never once saw anyone getting drinks tip. I am not saying that there are not a couple of people who did tip- But I would guess at least 90% of the people getting drinks did not tip. People are on a cruise.... they arent carrying their wallet around.

 

 

I would think a larger percent tip a dollar or two with drink orders. Just from this thread alone look at the percentage that tip. I always tip $1 or $2 for drinks served and I always tip even in MDR or specialty restaurants and room steward but that's me. I am leaving this Saturday on the gem and friday I will go to the bank and get 50 one dollar bills and a bunch of 5 dollar bills for tips. Not necessary to tip but I feel they deserve it.

[MapGeek]

So sorry to break in on this, but I have a question to those that have sailed since drinks are now free. Do you have sales tax added while in port? It really will be small and will not kill us, but would really like to know. How can they tax something that is free? We have already got cash ready for extra tips.

 

There was no tax in port - they do not scan your ship card when you order drinks so there is no way to charge you.

 

I'm sure it is all factored in somewhere in the overall price, but no specific charges.

[cb at sea]

You can break down larger bills on the ship...no need to carry wads of $1's !

[wazzujoel]

I would think a larger percent tip a dollar or two with drink orders. Just from this thread alone look at the percentage that tip. I always tip $1 or $2 for drinks served and I always tip even in MDR or specialty restaurants and room steward but that's me. I am leaving this Saturday on the gem and friday I will go to the bank and get 50 one dollar bills and a bunch of 5 dollar bills for tips. Not necessary to tip but I feel they deserve it.

 

Feel free to tip, there is certainly nothing wrong with generosity. Im really only talking about what I witnessed on the sky from April 18th 2016- April 22nd 2016. And that was, I personally saw zero people tip at the bars on deck, or a the night club. And it was something I was looking for because prior to going on the cruise I was wondering if this was something I should plan for. I would estimate that during this week trip I waited in line for drinks roughly 20 times per day, maybe 80 times for the trip. Not once did I see someone tip.

 

Do I think there was no one that tipped for drinks on the Sky during that trip? No... Im sure there has to be a couple. And maybe other bars on the boat, had people tipping more. Like take the casino for example- I spent no time in there. But the bars on the deck, or dazzels night club- The vast majority of people did not tip.

[RobinKY]

Just off Sky 3-day. I did not see anyone tipping bar staff or pool-side wait staff.

[mabones]

There are a couple ports, Houston is one of them, that do charge a port/state tax. I think we had a couple drinks & was charged about $.57. No big deal.

[wazzujoel]

Just off Sky 3-day. I did not see anyone tipping bar staff or pool-side wait staff.

 

Exactly. Same experience on my 4-day :)

[Teambanzai]

I was just off that same 3 day cruise and I tipped a dollar every drink, every time and it made a huge difference. At the pool bar they would see me at the back of the line and beckon me up to see what drink I wanted. If you had a regular bar you stayed at they would remember you. I also saw a few other people tip, but not many. I saw one guy tip $ 20 and he never waited for anything after that.

[mjkacmom]

Since this is truly open bar, you are not charged the 18%, and bartenders aren't included in the DSC. I would think tips are expected, like at an open bar at a wedding.

[wazzujoel]

I was just off that same 3 day cruise and I tipped a dollar every drink, every time and it made a huge difference. At the pool bar they would see me at the back of the line and beckon me up to see what drink I wanted. If you had a regular bar you stayed at they would remember you. I also saw a few other people tip, but not many. I saw one guy tip $ 20 and he never waited for anything after that.

 

 

Huge difference? I don't think there was ever more than 3-4 people in front of me when I went to get a refill. Nice that tipping worked out for you though :)

[StolidCruiser]

Huge difference? I don't think there was ever more than 3-4 people in front of me when I went to get a refill. Nice that tipping worked out for you though :)

 

When tipping, there is never anyone in front of me. See how that huge difference works? :D

[wazzujoel]

When tipping, there is never anyone in front of me. See how that huge difference works? :D

 

I'd call it a small difference. How fast are drinks made? I would guess maybe 1 drink every 5 seconds? So on average I waited 15-20 seconds for my drink at 0 dollars/drink; where you waited 5 seconds for your drink at the price of 1 dollar/drink. In my opinion 15 extra seconds of wait time isn't what I would call a "huge" difference, nor do I think spending that extra hundred on tips really significantly enhanced your trip experience.

 

I'm glad you found value in tipping, nothing wrong with generosity.