Extra tip upon service with drink package.

[GottaLuvCruising]

This will be our 44th cruise, but first time with RCI drink package. On Carnival (where we have purchased the drink package) my understanding is that if we put additional tip on the receipt, it is pooled among all servers. SO...we carry one dollar bills and tip our specific server (where on Carnival, I understand that the server gets to keep it.)

 

Is that the case on RCI? Since there are two of is, will we each get a separate receipt with each drink? Since we paid gratuity on package, we generally tip $1 each time both of us get a drink at the bar. If server brings a drink to us, we each tip $1. Doing so, on Carnival, server(s) watch for us - service is fantastic and personal.

 

What is the best strategy on RCI to ensure quick service, good drinks, our server gets his/her tips?

[Clarea]

Our experience has been if we give the dollar up front, when we give the server our SeaPass card, we rarely get a receipt. Also, we've seen bartenders put the dollars in a container on the bar, as if they intend to share it. However, the roving bar servers put the dollars in their pocket.

[GottaLuvCruising]

Our experience has been if we give the dollar up front, when we give the server our SeaPass card, we rarely get a receipt. Also, we've seen bartenders put the dollars in a container on the bar, as if they intend to share it. However, the roving bar servers put the dollars in their pocket.

 

Hmmm...good to know! Hadn't considered giving it to them up front, but will try that!

 

BTW - we do Vegas often. I keep a fistful of ones (actually they are in my bra) and get great service at my slot machines as server knows they will be tipped.

[grapau27]

In my experience it depends on the server.I could quote many examples but generally if you give a tip when you order, the server gives you better service.

 

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[George C]

We also bring at least 50 dollars in singles for tipping , I do believe service is improved with both a tip and a smile when ordering drinks. Also goes the same for diamond and concierge/suite lounge

Edited January 12, 2017 by George C

[Havingfun2010]

18% is already a large amount of money to tip. Add another $1 and you might be approaching 30% tip.

 

Sharing. I really don't care how tips are handled, just like I don't care how much they make.

 

Tipping in advance.....That's not a tip, but a bribe. Drinks are enough money, so why add 30% on top of it?

 

Speed of service....I never have a problem. tip, no tip, still good service.

 

Bartenders, both behind the bar and roaming get paid on tips. The faster they move, the more customers they will service, the more money they make. If they waste time on going out of their way for one person, they could loose the tips of another big group. Most of them realize that, and the real talented ones, will make you believe they will service you faster without actually doing it.

[billybob57]

RCI you don't get a receipt or have to sign anything

They take your cards swipe them and return

I like to find my favourite bar then give the waiter a tip at the start so he knows our drinks and has them on the way when they see us.

I find it very obtrusive when you have bought a drinks package and are having to break conversation to sign a receipt each time

 

 

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[matj2000]

I bring $100 in single bills every cruise.

 

Usually give $1 per round min with my drinks, sometimes more.

 

We can walk up to a crowded bar and usually get served right away.

 

Also, I don't sign the recipes and they stop giving them to me.

 

No it is not necessary, but I worked in bars for many years and that's what I like to do. Especially on a trip when I am in a good mood.....

 

[billybob57]

$100 for the feel good factor, well worth it, makes way for happy cruising.

[emoji106]

 

 

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[SilkySal]

We always tip $1 cash when the drinks are served (brought) to us but may try the tip up front to avoid getting the receipt. However, remember that the "free" drinks in the suite and diamond lounges do not have the added 18%, so we make sure to tip those waiters who work very hard to keep our glasses filled!;) Cheers!!:cool:

[funship freddy]

You can change large bills into 5's & 1's at the purser's desk [emoji41]

 

 

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[racnwdow]

Hmmm...good to know! Hadn't considered giving it to them up front, but will try that!

 

BTW - we do Vegas often. I keep a fistful of ones (actually they are in my bra) and get great service at my slot machines as server knows they will be tipped.

 

Off topic but your bra money made me laugh. I have heard from a friend that there is a sign in our jail that says, No boob money will be accepted for bail money."

[rum & monkey]

We always tip bartenders we like when ordering the drinks and never get a receipt to sign when doing that, if I happen to not have any ones with me when ordering the receipt is always given to sign. Have had all but one bartender put it in the bucket to share and she slid it in her pocket. I always fold the bill and put it behind the card leaving it up to the bartender if they want to share it or just palm it and keep it but almost always they share it. Our service has always been superb where the bartenders know us by name, never make us wait and usually have the drink started before we get all the way to the bar. Both my husband and I worked in bars through school and both tip for great service above and beyond and find that $1 a round goes along way. We usually board with $100 in ones and leave with some. $100 for great bar service our entire vacation is well worth it. I have always considered the 18% a service charge and not a tip as it is considered part of their salary and the they get a lower base salary. Do whatever you are comfortable with but if you are going to tip per round I suggest handing the tip with your card and they will not bother handing you a receipt to sign.

 

 

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[Just Jo]

My experience over NYE on Brilliance:

 

DH and I both had the drink package. I took extra ones for additional tips. For my mixed drinks I received a receipt to sign every time except once. After DH switched to beer he was given a receipt 50% of the time. I usually tipped cash when I got a receipt, but not always.

 

We did ask a bartender in the Schooner Bar about tipping cash vs. adding it to the receipt. His reply was if we tip in cash the employee gets to "put it in his pocket and keep it", and not so with adding it to the receipt. I never saw him put our cash tips anywhere because I wasn't watching. After this conversation I watched the casino bartender take my cash tip and put it in the tip bucket on the bar. :confused:

 

From then on I tried to tip cash for better than average service.

[Just Jo]

Do whatever you are comfortable with but if you are going to tip per round I suggest handing the tip with your card and they will not bother handing you a receipt to sign.

 

 

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It would be so nice to not deal with the receipts every time. I can't wait to try this next year.

[fletch1027]

This will be our 44th cruise, but first time with RCI drink package. On Carnival (where we have purchased the drink package) my understanding is that if we put additional tip on the receipt, it is pooled among all servers. SO...we carry one dollar bills and tip our specific server (where on Carnival, I understand that the server gets to keep it.)

 

Is that the case on RCI? Since there are two of is, will we each get a separate receipt with each drink? Since we paid gratuity on package, we generally tip $1 each time both of us get a drink at the bar. If server brings a drink to us, we each tip $1. Doing so, on Carnival, server(s) watch for us - service is fantastic and personal.

 

What is the best strategy on RCI to ensure quick service, good drinks, our server gets his/her tips?

 

That's always been a grey area for me. Do I tip the guy that is making my non-alcoholic frozen drink when I have the drink package? I have already paid an 18% gratuity on the drink package itself and I am assuming the bar staff gets a cut of that 18% correct?

 

I want to be fair to them, but I also don't want to end up paying a 30% tip on a frozen drink 2-3 times a day either. That adds up quickly...

[Flatbush Flyer]

18% is already a large amount of money to tip. Add another $1 and you might be approaching 30% tip.

 

 

 

Sharing. I really don't care how tips are handled, just like I don't care how much they make.

 

 

 

Tipping in advance.....That's not a tip, but a bribe. Drinks are enough money, so why add 30% on top of it?

 

 

 

Speed of service....I never have a problem. tip, no tip, still good service.

 

 

 

Bartenders, both behind the bar and roaming get paid on tips. The faster they move, the more customers they will service, the more money they make. If they waste time on going out of their way for one person, they could loose the tips of another big group. Most of them realize that, and the real talented ones, will make you believe they will service you faster without actually doing it.

 

 

Plus 1. A $1 bribe? "Low rent" for sure not to mention the potential for a dressing down by server's supervisor if observed "play for pay" disadvantages other guests.

 

 

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[BILLP1]

I had a bartender on the Anthem admit to me that if you give Americans a receipt to sign most will add a tip. Most Europeans will not add a tip because they a use to service included so they are usually not asked to sign a receipt. If you have a drink package and they swipe your card there really is no reason to sign a receipt.

[Bellyflopchamp]

I used to be a bartender so I know the value of tipping. a $1 tip goes a long way. I seriously doubt that their supervisor would do anything if they end up serving the person that tips first. I never consider a tip a bribe.

 

Another thing to note is depending on how many drinks you get when you have the drink package your tip percentage will change. Someone that has 5 beers a day will most likely be tippnig the 18%. Somone that has 10 mixed drinks per day would end up tipping like 5%.

 

Personally I prefer to tip because it is just what I do. Last time we were on the Allure I probably tipped the two bartenders in the Rising Tide bar over $50. We were there every day, they always made our drinks right away and we got to know them. They even gave us drinks as they were closing down one of the nights.

[jamesr3939]

RCI you don't get a receipt or have to sign anything

They take your cards swipe them and return

 

Not true. In November on Allure I got a $0 receipt to sign just about every time, except in the Suite Lounge.

 

The only person I tipped extra, as I feel 18% is plenty, was the suite sun deck attendant. The second day I gave him $20 as the first day he had been outstanding.

 

I can't say it made the bar service any better, but there were a few other things he did for us, which I won't detail for fear of getting him in trouble, that I am sure were a direct result of the $20.

[George C]

Only time we do not tip in cash is when we need to sign receipt , since most of the wine we like is over the 12 dollars limit so then I add a dollar or 2 to receipt

[fletch1027]

Not true. In November on Allure I got a $0 receipt to sign just about every time, except in the Suite Lounge.

 

 

I have seen the same type of thing. Last October on Freedom we had the Refreshment Package, and I got a receipt every time getting non-alcoholic frozen drinks at the Pool Bar, Schooners, Theater, etc. We even got $0 receipts when getting the fresh squeezed OJ in the WJ for breakfast. The only thing that never generated a $0 receipt was sodas from the bars...

[GottaLuvCruising]

Only time we do not tip in cash is when we need to sign receipt , since most of the wine we like is over the 12 dollars limit so then I add a dollar or 2 to receipt

 

Not regarding the tip: When your wine (or other drink) is more than $12, do you pay only the difference in cost? I didn't realize that might be an option.

[GottaLuvCruising]

The only person I tipped extra, as I feel 18% is plenty, was the suite sun deck attendant.

 

IMHO 18% would usually be enough, but we intend to make good use of our drink package, so the per drink tip would actually be less than that. I'm happy to tip an extra dollar each time we get service and have found that worked very well on Carnival.

[BillDg]

People.....we are talking about $1.00.......right?