Do you tip twice??

[SciFiGuy1960]

I do. Mostly the bartenders who I typical interact with the most during the cruise at the pool bars. I'll usually tip a dollar when I hand over my sea pass card. From my experience it then goes into a bucket on the back of the bar and is shared with the other bartenders working that shift. 

 

I'll also tip those walking around the pool deck taking drink orders. In both cases after a couple of dollars if they see me heading to the bar or giving them a sign I'm ready for another drink they're right there with my drink of choice waiting for me.

 

Having worked for tips back in the day I guess I have a better appreciation for them then others do.

 

[Zach1213]

I do not, and I do not feel bad. 18% to open a beer (not that I drink much beer) is ridiculous. 18% to make a multi-ingredient mixed drink seems fair. But generally, I get something simple like a G&T or whisky, so 18% is plenty for that 20 seconds of work they have to do.

[kerryincork]

No I don't tip every drink. But if I liked a particular bar person I might tip on the last night. Nothing extravagant.

 

But if I have the service charge specified by cruise line I don't feel compelled to give extra.

[cb at sea]

I think 15-18% to open a beer or pour a simple drink is ample.  If we sit at the bar, or get table service (which is quite rare), we will tip 20% on the bill....

 

If I'm at a walk-up bar on land, I tip $1 per order...unless it's more than 2 things.  That's about normal for the areas around us.  I'm certainly not going to tip 50% or more!

[screwsmcernst]

At the Celebrity martini bar, the bartenders pool their tips.  When you hear the bell ring, you know someone tipped extra.  We sat at the martini bar every night.  We had the same bartender for 11 nights.  at the end of our cruise, we gave an extra tip for the pool, and then my husband shook our bartenders hand, and gave him a tip that was just for him.  We don't tip every waiter every time, but we do at the end if they gave us exceptional service.  This goes for our MDR staff and our cabin steward as well.

[MicCanberra]

Staff that go above and beyond for us will be rewarded, otherwise the auto gratuities are in place.

[taglovestocruise]

7 hours ago, SciFiGuy1960 said:

 

 

Having worked for tips back in the day I guess I have a better appreciation for them then others do.

 

You also know that the guy who tips gets the better service, a little more attention, a better pour, and as I have found on Royal a occasional upgrade to top shelf offerings. Hard to believe some are blind to reality.  This comes from someone who has a son overseeing 5 bars at a large Indian casino. Lots of stories about non tippers.  happy cruising

 

 

[JMorris271]

I tip only very special servers that are  naturally nice and proficient. That is not because giving a tip  makes me feel good, it doesn't,  but rather that I appreciate my feeling that they are to me, a special kind of person  and I want to do something for them.

Believe me, not many meet my standard. There is no obligatory tipping on my part.

I'm such a cad.

Edited March 8, 2019 by JMorris271