Payment of gratuities

[Carolyn FitzGerald]

Hi everyone,

 

We are about to go on our first ever cruise and I have been reading up on the gratuities that are expected to be paid whilst on board. My mother-in-law tells me we should really only be tipping (on a daily basis) our cabin attendants (meaning the lovely person who will be cleaning our cabin on a daily basis). I have also read that all gratuities on board the Constellation are automatically added to our bill and if we want to make any changes we have are to inform the appropriate crew member (Purser? - sorry if that spelling is off). My question is - what do people normally do with regard to tipping? We are Aussies and that is not always a part of our every day life. We may leave a tip at a restaurant but that's about it.

 

Cheers,

Carolyn

[mom says]

On all celebrity ships, gratuities are automatically added to your cruise account. These go to your cabin stewards and dining room waiters, as well as a few other people. Gratuities for bartenders are automatically included in your bar tab. Of course if you want to tip an individual in addition to this for exceptional service, you can do this in person at any time. From what I understand, room service delivery people do not get auto tips for this service, so it's recommended to tip a few dollars cash each time.

 

Because the autogratuities ate pooled and shared by the crew, as mentioned, reducing these is usually only done if there has been a serious problem with service. You would need to go to Guest Relations to do so, something you would presumably be doing anyway, if you had an issue big enough to warrant reducing the gratuities.

[Carolyn FitzGerald]

Thanks for that Mom Says. My main concern was that we would get an enormous bill at the end, and didn't want to be horribly surprised. For your experience, is it a big expense?

[DYKWIA]

We prepay our gratuities before we even get on the shop and then forget all about the subject of gratuities. We then only tip on board (a couple of dollars) for things like room service delivery.

[G.M.T.]

Thanks for that Mom Says. My main concern was that we would get an enormous bill at the end, and didn't want to be horribly surprised. For your experience, is it a big expense?

Why be surprised at the end, you can work it out yourself (the actual daily amount are on Celebrity web site), US $13.50 x number of nights x number of passengers.

 

Did you book via an Australian TA or Celebrity in Australia? If so, I always thought the gratuities had to be included in the final price?

[varoo]

Hi everyone,

 

We are about to go on our first ever cruise and I have been reading up on the gratuities that are expected to be paid whilst on board. My mother-in-law tells me we should really only be tipping (on a daily basis) our cabin attendants (meaning the lovely person who will be cleaning our cabin on a daily basis). I have also read that all gratuities on board the Constellation are automatically added to our bill and if we want to make any changes we have are to inform the appropriate crew member (Purser? - sorry if that spelling is off). My question is - what do people normally do with regard to tipping? We are Aussies and that is not always a part of our every day life. We may leave a tip at a restaurant but that's about it.

 

Cheers,

Carolyn

 

 

Carolyn, which cruise are you taking?

 

If it departs from Australia or New Zealand, the gratuities are already included in your fare, so you should have no concerns about tipping whilst on board at all.

This change was made about a year ago for Celebrity and Royal Caribbean cruises departing from Australia and New Zealand, for precisely the reason you stated.

If you should wish to give anyone on your cruise an extra tip, you may certainly do so. But no additional tips are required or expected as you have already paid the standard gratuities.

 

 

....... My main concern was that we would get an enormous bill at the end, and didn't want to be horribly surprised. For your experience, is it a big expense?

 

You should get no bill for tips at the end at all, so zero expense.

(Now if you spend a lot of money at the shops, or the casino, or spa, or for shore excursions, then you may get an enormous bill at the end, but it won't be for tips.)

Hope you can now relax, stop worrying about this, and have a wonderful cruise.

 

Edited January 28, 2018 by varoo

[Carried_Away]

The auto gratuities recently increased. The current rates are USD 14.50 per person per day for most room types, USD 15 for Concierge and Aqua classes, and USD 18 for suites. These tips go to the room attendants and dining staff.

 

https://www.celebritycruises.com/company/customer-support/help-and-faqs/during-your-cruise/gratuity-program

 

I I can’t imagine a scenario in which I would reduce these tips. I don’t think it’s necessary to tip more than the auto amounts, but as an American coming from a tipping culture, I am happy to give additional tips to staff whose service stands out to me as special.

[gerelmx]

As mentioned in certain countries tips are included in the bill, in other countries one can request to be included, there are also offers where one can choose a free perk (tips, internet, drinks, OBC). And the last one is that they are charged to your account daily.

 

What is not included is the tip of the porters, they are not personnel of the cruising company.

[NantahalaCruiser]

Thanks for that Mom Says. My main concern was that we would get an enormous bill at the end, and didn't want to be horribly surprised. For your experience, is it a big expense?

For your 9 night Med cruise the auto gratuities will be a total of 130.50 USD per person if you have booked an inside, oceanview or standard balconies.

 

For Concierge or Aqua balconies 135 USD and for suite 162 USD.

[dkjretired]

On all celebrity ships, gratuities are automatically added to your cruise account. These go to your cabin stewards and dining room waiters, as well as a few other people. Gratuities for bartenders are automatically included in your bar tab. Of course if you want to tip an individual in addition to this for exceptional service, you can do this in person at any time. From what I understand, room service delivery people do not get auto tips for this service, so it's recommended to tip a few dollars cash each time.

 

Because the autogratuities ate pooled and shared by the crew, as mentioned, reducing these is usually only done if there has been a serious problem with service. You would need to go to Guest Relations to do so, something you would presumably be doing anyway, if you had an issue big enough to warrant reducing the gratuities.

 

Just an FYI, not all auto tips are pooled.

[cb at sea]

Cruises from Australia don't have the same tipping requirements as US and European cruises....they INCLUDE the tips into the fare...so you need not worry about it. If the cabin attendant, or waiter, or whoever goes "above and beyond", and you wish to extend an additional tip, feel free to do so!

[NantahalaCruiser]

Cruises from Australia don't have the same tipping requirements as US and European cruises....they INCLUDE the tips into the fare...so you need not worry about it. If the cabin attendant, or waiter, or whoever goes "above and beyond", and you wish to extend an additional tip, feel free to do so!

OP is on a Med cruise

[Tbird58]

Hi everyone,

 

We are about to go on our first ever cruise and I have been reading up on the gratuities that are expected to be paid whilst on board. My mother-in-law tells me we should really only be tipping (on a daily basis) our cabin attendants (meaning the lovely person who will be cleaning our cabin on a daily basis). I have also read that all gratuities on board the Constellation are automatically added to our bill and if we want to make any changes we have are to inform the appropriate crew member (Purser? - sorry if that spelling is off). My question is - what do people normally do with regard to tipping? We are Aussies and that is not always a part of our every day life. We may leave a tip at a restaurant but that's about it.

 

First time cruisers, it is a bit of a shock to see the bill for tips at the end, however just figure it into the the cost of your vacation. Workers are not paid very much and their tips are a huge part of their income. We always take envelopes (from the bank) and at the end of the trip, we decide how much over the expected we want to give individually. We always leave a little everyday to our cabin steward. And we like to tip the waiters, bread guys/girls and wine stewards at the end providing they give us great service, which they always do. And of course we tip our bartenders throughout if they too are on top of things. Some are definitely lacking is speed and they are left without additional gratuities from us. Have a great trip!