Tipping with the unlimited beverage package

[cathi007]

We usually try to book our cruises with a promotion that includes the drink package and thus gratuities as well.

 

For the last couple cruises I usually tip $1 about every 2 drinks with the same bartender. We drink plenty. (We tip more for our favorites at the end)

 

I'm curious if such a small amount would ever be considered "offensive" or even laughable? In the states it very well could be. Some seem to honestly appreciate the tip and I would say service has even better.

 

What are your tip amounts? Do you drink close to 10+ on a sea day? Thank you.

 

I always bring 100 1.00$ bills and I tip 1 or 2 bucks every time we order drinks. I do that on cruises and on all inclusives, I get better service and I make some friends :)

[cathi007]

I'm the same. I'll include a $1 cash tip with my drink. It keeps the drinks flowing and sometimes I get some extra service (like the bartender saving my seat for me while I go back to the cabin for a bit). But, that's true of home, too.

 

I ordinarily tip a little more than 18%-20% when I'm at a restaurant or drinking establishment at home, too.

 

Me too. My daughter was a server while away at college and I can't tell you how many people don't tip at all. It's sad when she was making 3.00/hour and was lucky if she walked out with 20.00 bucks. Because of this I always tip way more than 20%.

[pghflyer]

Thrilled we pay our gratuities up front so I don't have to carry cash or calculate it later, really makes for a great vacation. I expect the level of service I have pre-tipped for and have never been so overwhelmed with incredible extraordinary service that I thought even more was due. However I have let less than expected service slide and don't bother to reverse any amount back out. While many of these workers are less fortunate than us, I feel like there is more serious need in other parts of the world where we make our charitable donations. Anyhow to each his /her own, it is great to help others either way, even if it has the side benefit of random candy bars appearing in your cocktails.

[adjensen]

I have been on several NCL cruises and pother lines and never tipped extra and the service is no different too so one waving $ bills around

 

 

How do you know the service is the same if you haven't waved some $ bills around?

Anecdotal, perhaps, but...

 

On the Escape last February, my "go to" bar was the one just outside of Vibe. It was a pretty quiet deck, my wife was able to consistently find a lounger, and I always had a barstool in the shade (I can't do sun.) From the first day, I got to know the bartenders, and tipped $1 here, $5 there, and made sure that they got something every couple of orders. After two or three drinks, some guy came up and ordered a Grolsch "swing top," a beer I hadn't seen in forever, so for my next drink, I got one of those. Had a couple more and, over the course of the week I would order at least one a day.

 

So, last day of the cruise comes along, and when I sit down on my barstool, the bartender smiles, says "Hello, Mr. Jensen, I have something for you!" and disappears into the back room. He comes back with a Grolsch and explains that it's the last one on the ship and that they'd saved it for me.

 

How do I know the service isn't the same for people who don't "wave some $ around"? Because that sort of thing happens to me, over and over, regardless of ship, and I don't see it happening to a lot of other people. At that particular bar, where maybe 10% of people tipped a dollar or two with their order, if my glass was empty, it didn't matter how long the line was, one of the guys would come over and ask me what I'd like next.

[cathi007]

I cannot understand the logic of this constant tipping for everything which Americans do but no one else in the world. You have already paid 20% which is excessive why give more? I have been on several NCL cruises and pother lines and never tipped extra and the service is no different too so one waving $ bills around

 

Not sure where you are from, but here in the U.S. our servers get paid WAY below minimum wage. Here in the U.S. it is impossible for them to survive without tips. Also, we don't wave our money around, that you even said it that way is offensive. Americans (not our government), but the people, are the most generous people in the world. Watch when a natural disaster happens in a foreign land and see what people give the most....it's almost always the USA

[Whimsy]

Having worked for years in the service industry I consider myself a good tipper. I agree. I know we have pre paid the gratuity but a little extra is not going to hurt me and it does exactly what it stands for:

 

To

Insure

Prompt

Service

 

The others have a point. If the server knows I will give them a few dollars they give me prompt service.

[cruiser man 60]

But the servers on the ship are not from USA and don't get paid way below minimum wage they get industry standard wage. If USA lets business get away with wages below minimum that need addressing, it would be illegal in UK and the owners would get fined heavily

[vpearlkc]

We also get a stack of ones and tip a buck a drink one if I am by myself and two if my wife is with me. She does the same. We are remembered and have had similar experiences to adjensen. But never the last beer I liked on the boat. Great story. We also do a fiver from time to time after a few too many.

[GUEST080219]

I cannot understand the logic of this constant tipping for everything which Americans do but no one else in the world. You have already paid 20% which is excessive why give more? I have been on several NCL cruises and pother lines and never tipped extra and the service is no different too so one waving $ bills around

 

I can't bring together those thread where it looks like nearly everyone is tipping with the reality on the ships where I hardly ever see it to that extend. But that is the internet I guess...

[cathi007]

But the servers on the ship are not from USA and don't get paid way below minimum wage they get industry standard wage. If USA lets business get away with wages below minimum that need addressing, it would be illegal in UK and the owners would get fined heavily

Yes, I did not think of that, but I still will tip with the extra dollars. I love to make people feel good, no matter where they are from :)

[vpearlkc]

But the servers on the ship are not from USA and don't get paid way below minimum wage they get industry standard wage. If USA lets business get away with wages below minimum that need addressing, it would be illegal in UK and the owners would get fined heavily

 

 

I was at the airport in Manila a few years ago and started chatting with a guy with a Royal Caribbean tee shirt on. He said his base salary as a waiter in the MDR was around $60 a month the rest of the money he made was from the service charges that some choose to decline and the envelopes at the end of the cruise.

[roger001]

I cannot understand the logic of this constant tipping for everything which Americans do but no one else in the world. You have already paid 20% which is excessive why give more? I have been on several NCL cruises and pother lines and never tipped extra and the service is no different too so one waving $ bills around

 

I don't tip extra for any other reason than it makes me feel good and is enjoyable. In this small way I am perhaps helping the NCL crew who, cruise after cruise, make me sooo happy. I'm not waving it around and am not trying to buy favoritism from them. If I get rid of 100 one dollar bills over the length of a cruise, its been an enjoyable way for me to spend that money. Personal choices.

[mjkacmom]

But the servers on the ship are not from USA and don't get paid way below minimum wage they get industry standard wage. If USA lets business get away with wages below minimum that need addressing, it would be illegal in UK and the owners would get fined heavily

There is a legal server minimum wage so restaurants are t doing anything wrong. In my state it’s $2.13 an hour and hasn’t increased in many decades. I do tip bartenders on the ship, I know I’m not obligated, but I actually feel uncomfortable not tipping them, because I’m so used to it.

[graphicguy]

But the servers on the ship are not from USA and don't get paid way below minimum wage they get industry standard wage. If USA lets business get away with wages below minimum that need addressing, it would be illegal in UK and the owners would get fined heavily

 

While true, they work 100+ hours/week. Get very few days off in between contracts. They make WELL BELOW what anyone, anywhere makes on land in the service industry.

 

But, we get some perks. As reported above, I was sailing the RCCL Allure of the Seas with my girlfriend a few years ago. We would always spend time in the Solarium at night. I always tipped $1 for our drinks to the bartender (who had drinks ready for us before we even sat down). He was constantly pushing the RCCL Coolers filled with beers (saying someone ordered the wrong thing), the RCCL souvenir glasses and cups, filled with drinks calling them "a mistake".

 

We were well taken care of.

[BigEasyCC]

I don't tip extra for any other reason than it makes me feel good and is enjoyable. In this small way I am perhaps helping the NCL crew who, cruise after cruise, make me sooo happy. I'm not waving it around and am not trying to buy favoritism from them. If I get rid of 100 one dollar bills over the length of a cruise, its been an enjoyable way for me to spend that money. Personal choices.

 

 

Thank you Roger001. I agree, makes me feel good and I plan on having those dollar bills as part of my spending money.

[Maniacal Cruiser]

We usually try to book our cruises with a promotion that includes the drink package and thus gratuities as well.

 

For the last couple cruises I usually tip $1 about every 2 drinks with the same bartender. We drink plenty. (We tip more for our favorites at the end)

 

I'm curious if such a small amount would ever be considered "offensive" or even laughable? In the states it very well could be. Some seem to honestly appreciate the tip and I would say service has even better.

 

What are your tip amounts? Do you drink close to 10+ on a sea day? Thank you.

 

When I go to shows with fiends, we tip $1 per drink no matter if it is alcohol or soft drinks. There is no right or wrong amount however I doubt there is bartender anywhere turn down a $1 tip.

[Maniacal Cruiser]

I got a snickers bar in my Bloody Mary, skewers of shrimp, bacon....nobody else did.

 

GROSS. I'd send them back.

[Maniacal Cruiser]

Not sure where you are from, but here in the U.S. our servers get paid WAY below minimum wage. Here in the U.S. it is impossible for them to survive without tips. Also, we don't wave our money around, that you even said it that way is offensive. Americans (not our government), but the people, are the most generous people in the world. Watch when a natural disaster happens in a foreign land and see what people give the most....it's almost always the USA

 

 

Almost true. By law, if the employees tips do not bring them up to the standard minimum wage, the employer has to make up the difference. So tipped employees are making at least the standard minimum wage with no regard to how much they get tipped. We tip based on the level of service we receive. I personally have tipped anywhere from $0 to well over 200%.

[Maniacal Cruiser]

Having worked for years in the service industry I consider myself a good tipper. I agree. I know we have pre paid the gratuity but a little extra is not going to hurt me and it does exactly what it stands for:

 

To

Insure

Prompt

Service

 

The others have a point. If the server knows I will give them a few dollars they give me prompt service.

 

Tips ENSURE service they do not INSURE it. Truthfully they do nether. They reward good service. Just saying...

[Maniacal Cruiser]

BTW I never tip "extra" I tip what I think ids the appropriate amount for the service received. No extra, no shortage.

[tallnthensome]

I tip $1.00 cash per drink ....... When I was on the Escape back in 2016 the bartenders on the second level by the pool made it very clear that no one was tipping at all until I did. It was about 12:30, the bar was busy, and I ordered a drink for my wife and I. I laid down my typical $2 tip. The two bartenders started laughing and loudly stated for all to hear standing and sitting around the bar that this was the first cash tip they got all day so far ..... The looks or look-aways by the other passengers who had probably been sitting there all day was obvious ..... Don't kid yourself. The bartenders really appreciate cash and know who is and who isn't tipping. There could be 6 people in line including myself and many times I somehow quietly had my order taken before others. The bartenders probably see very little of that service charge you pay on the UBP ......

[sakura3]

just a note- we had ordered some beverages here and there that were over the $15 limit so we had slips to sign occasionally. these extra charges included 20% gratuity, but occasionally we wrote in a buck or two if the service was great (mostly the casino)- however I was in the middle of doing it one time and the server stopped me and told me not to put a tip in because it didn't go to him- and actually gave me a blank receipt to start over. We thought that was interesting (guess maybe it goes to a general pool?). We will try to carry some $1s next time or just tip in chips in the casino which we started doing after that

[Susandt]

I cannot understand the logic of this constant tipping for everything which Americans do but no one else in the world. You have already paid 20% which is excessive why give more? I have been on several NCL cruises and pother lines and never tipped extra and the service is no different too so one waving $ bills around

 

 

 

Because that 20percent is split between all workers and because the right thing to do

 

 

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[marcanbr]

So we will be on the Epic in a few weeks in the Mediterranean. If we tip extra, should we tip in dollars or Euros?

[gkr283]

Because that 20percent is split between all workers and because the right thing to do

 

 

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It's not "the right thing to do". It's A thing to do. Saying it's the right thing to do is sending those that don't tip on a guilt trip.

 

It's cultural. We in the UK don't tip every Tom, Dick or Bar keep but folks in the US do. That's fine and what works for you on a cruise is also fine. Just as me choosing not to tip is also fine.

 

I've never noticed any lesser service and I've never noticed anyone arriving at a bar after me being served before me simply because they're a tipper or are holding a handful of the green stuff. If it does happen I will raise it as an issue straight away. I'm sure I'll be served first [emoji6]

 

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