Tipping

[KB Cruisin]

We are going on our first cruise soon. In general, I believe tipping is very important. It will be a little strange for me to have prepaid tips. (I will feel awkward walking away leaving nothing for basic service). Can you all please give me some examples of when you leave extra tip money and when you don't? Also, how much extra? I saw some posts about $2 extra for service but I do not know what is appropriate for which service and when. I just want to make sure I understand what is a good tip in this situation and what is expected. Specific examples would really help me get a frame of reference. Thank you!!!

[paul929207]

We have always left on the autotip as we have never had bad service to warrant reducing it.

 

I then look for extras by the staff. On our last cruise, our steward kept us supplied with clean wine glasses. 

 

We have cruised enough with Princess to get a free mini bar setup each cruise. The provided beverages can be exchanged. One steward had her own form that she filled out with our requested swaps. She got our info, turned it in to room service and verified it was done correctly. 

 

We tend to go on longer cruises, so if appropriate, I get a dollar or so per day extra.

[KB Cruisin]

2 minutes ago, paul929207 said:

We have always left on the autotip as we have never had bad service to warrant reducing it.

 

I then look for extras by the staff. On our last cruise, our steward kept us supplied with clean wine glasses. 

 

We have cruised enough with Princess to get a free mini bar setup each cruise. The provided beverages can be exchanged. One steward had her own form that she filled out with our requested swaps. She got our info, turned it in to room service and verified it was done correctly. 

 

We tend to go on longer cruises, so if appropriate, I get a dollar or so per day extra.

Thank you. I appreciate you sharing your experience. 

[sparks1093]

If you leave the pre-paid tips in place that covers your waitstaff and your steward. The decision to leave more is entirely up to you. If we've made special requests that were met or if the service was extra attentive then we'll leave an extra $20 or so for each. That being said if we are that happy with the service we will also make sure to leave written comments for management so they know that we received excellent service. On some lines this results in the crew receiving extra time off, promotions, etc. Each line has their own way of handling this so check on board how to accomplish it.

[Schoifmom]

8 minutes ago, sparks1093 said:

If you leave the pre-paid tips in place that covers your waitstaff and your steward. The decision to leave more is entirely up to you. If we've made special requests that were met or if the service was extra attentive then we'll leave an extra $20 or so for each. That being said if we are that happy with the service we will also make sure to leave written comments for management so they know that we received excellent service. On some lines this results in the crew receiving extra time off, promotions, etc. Each line has their own way of handling this so check on board how to accomplish it.

Ditto ^^^^^^

[KB Cruisin]

This is very helpful. Thank you. I have to be gluten free so I know I will need help in the MDR. Would I tip extra at the beginning or end of the week with a $20? (Feel free to correct me if I got this wrong!). Also, I love the idea of leaving comments. Thank you!

[Schoifmom]

2 minutes ago, KB Cruisin said:

This is very helpful. Thank you. I have to be gluten free so I know I will need help in the MDR. Would I tip extra at the beginning or end of the week with a $20? (Feel free to correct me if I got this wrong!). Also, I love the idea of leaving comments. Thank you!

IMO, making accommodations due to an allergy is part of the normal job description in the MDR.  Now, if your wait staff go out of their way to make recommendations, repeated recognize your allergy and special requests, and overall go above and beyond, then I would tip additional at the end.

Edited April 3, 2019 by Schoifmom

[KB Cruisin]

8 minutes ago, Schoifmom said:

IMO, making accommodations due to an allergy is part of the normal job description in the MDR.  Now, if your wait staff go out of their way to make recommendations, repeated recognize your allergy and special requests, and overall go above and beyond, then I would tip additional at the end.

Thank you. That is very helpful. If the waitstaff was really good with my allergies (very important to me functioning on the cruise), is $20 extra enough (at the end of the week)? Also, what do you tip a great room steward? Thank you!!!

Edited April 3, 2019 by KB Cruisin

[Nebr.cruiser]

We always leave the pre-paid gratuities on.  Service would have to be truly horrible before we'd take it off.  I actually can't imagine that everyone that tip covers would be that terrible.

 

We are not normally very 'needy', but usually leave an extra tip for our steward, in the range of $20pp, depending on the length of the cruise.  Once in a great while we leave the dining room waiter(s) extra if we had extraordinary service.

[LHT28]

1 hour ago, KB Cruisin said:

This is very helpful. Thank you. I have to be gluten free so I know I will need help in the MDR. Would I tip extra at the beginning or end of the week with a $20? (Feel free to correct me if I got this wrong!). Also, I love the idea of leaving comments. Thank you!

You should notify the cruise line well in advance   then you will receive menus  the night before to choose what you want  so it will be GF

The only place  where you will need assistance would be the buffet  & then you should ask to speak to the Chef

DO NOT WING IT 

If you want to tip extra  do it the last night  or for room service  when it is  delivered $1-5  depending on what you order

[KB Cruisin]

27 minutes ago, Nebr.cruiser said:

We always leave the pre-paid gratuities on.  Service would have to be truly horrible before we'd take it off.  I actually can't imagine that everyone that tip covers would be that terrible.

 

We are not normally very 'needy', but usually leave an extra tip for our steward, in the range of $20pp, depending on the length of the cruise.  Once in a great while we leave the dining room waiter(s) extra if we had extraordinary service.

Thank you. That helps to know on the room steward. I appreciate good service and like to tip for it but had no idea what was appropriate in this setting. 

[KB Cruisin]

18 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

You should notify the cruise line well in advance   then you will receive menus  the night before to choose what you want  so it will be GF

The only place  where you will need assistance would be the buffet  & then you should ask to speak to the Chef

DO NOT WING IT 

If you want to tip extra  do it the last night  or for room service  when it is  delivered $1-5  depending on what you order

I have notified the ship. I definitely cannot wing it. I get very sick if I eat gluten. I was told to stick to the MDR with waiters who would know me. I definitely want to leave a good tip to those who help me out.  

[SantaFeFan]

One thing not yet mentioned is if the service you are receiving is not up to your expectations, bring it up immediately with the supervisory staff to have it resolved. 

 

Some people on these boards will claim they reduce or remove entirely the tips because of poor service received. That claim makes absolutely no sense. Why would anyone put up with poor service for the entire cruise only to "punish" the crew at the end by altering the tip amount? Seems that enduring poor service for all those days would punish the guest more than the crew. Plus, removing tips punishes ALL crew in the tip pool. I have never had so bad a service level from even one crew member to adjust down the tips, much less the entire crew who provided service to me.

 

Leave the tips unaltered and if you receive better than expected service from one or more individuals, give them each a bit more. For those exceptional people we typically give an additional $20 per stateroom guest for a 7 day cruise. 

 

And one more thing - on most cruise lines the person delivering any room service order you place is often not in the tipping pool. We typically give $2 per stateroom guest for that service. 

Edited April 3, 2019 by SantaFeFan

[cb at sea]

The tips you either pre-pay or have added to your account daily covers your cabin attendant and waitstaff for all meals.  No further tipping is required or expected.

Room service is generally NOT included in those tips....tip at time of service...$1-5 depending on how much they bring to you and have to carry.

Bar service will add an 18% tip to every purchase...(or, if you have a "package", it will add 18% to the cost of the package itself).

 

Really, there are no other tips needed.

[KB Cruisin]

10 minutes ago, cb at sea said:

The tips you either pre-pay or have added to your account daily covers your cabin attendant and waitstaff for all meals.  No further tipping is required or expected.

Room service is generally NOT included in those tips....tip at time of service...$1-5 depending on how much they bring to you and have to carry.

Bar service will add an 18% tip to every purchase...(or, if you have a "package", it will add 18% to the cost of the package itself).

 

Really, there are no other tips needed.

Thank you. I really appreciate this information!

[KB Cruisin]

34 minutes ago, SantaFeFan said:

One thing not yet mentioned is if the service you are receiving is not up to your expectations, bring it up immediately with the supervisory staff to have it resolved. 

 

Some people on these boards will claim they reduce or remove entirely the tips because of poor service received. That claim makes absolutely no sense. Why would anyone put up with poor service for the entire cruise only to "punish" the crew at the end by altering the tip amount? Seems that enduring poor service for all those days would punish the guest more than the crew. Plus, removing tips punishes ALL crew in the tip pool. I have never had so bad a service level from even one crew member to adjust down the tips, much less the entire crew who provided service to me.

 

Leave the tips unaltered and if you receive better than expected service from one or more individuals, give them each a bit more. For those exceptional people we typically give an additional $20 per stateroom guest for a 7 day cruise. 

 

And one more thing - on most cruise lines the person delivering any room service order you place is often not in the tipping pool. We typically give $2 per stateroom guest for that service. 

Yes, I definitely agree. I tend to handle matters when they happen. I also tend to really appreciate the good things that happen too. I appreciate the information on when you add to the tip and how much.  Thank you!

[Flatbush Flyer]

3 hours ago, KB Cruisin said:

This is very helpful. Thank you. I have to be gluten free so I know I will need help in the MDR. Would I tip extra at the beginning or end of the week with a $20? (Feel free to correct me if I got this wrong!). Also, I love the idea of leaving comments. Thank you!

A "tip" at the beginning is better defined as a "bribe"- fairly "low rent" move.

Special requests that truly require "above and beyond" efforts, should be considered for an extra gratuity.

Example: we do mostly longer cruises of at least 3-4+ weeks on Oceania and want our cabin fridge to always have a supply of individual Pellegrino waters (which is not part of the regular items replenished daily). Sometimes, tracking down those small bottles of that very popular water can be quite the extra effort for the steward (particularly on long itineraries).

And, usually, that single upfront request is all that is necessary. 

Items like the Pellegrino deserve an added tip, which is given at the end of the cruise along with a mention by name in the mid and end cruise comment cards.

[KB Cruisin]

17 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

A "tip" at the beginning is better defined as a "bribe"- fairly "low rent" move.

Special requests that truly require "above and beyond" efforts, should be considered for an extra gratuity.

Example: we do mostly longer cruises of at least 3-4+ weeks on Oceania and want our cabin fridge to always have a supply of individual Pellegrino waters (which is not part of the regular items replenished daily). Sometimes, tracking down those small bottles of that very popular water can be quite the extra effort for the steward (particularly on long itineraries).

And, usually, that single upfront request is all that is necessary. 

Items like the Pellegrino deserve an added tip, which is given at the end of the cruise along with a mention by name in the mid and end cruise comment cards.

Great example for me. Thank you. I need those details because I have been clueless on this venue. On the comment cards, do I need to look for those or do they make sure you have one? Also, it is ok to make special requests (like your waters) as long as you tip for extra service? Thanks again!

[mjkacmom]

3 hours ago, KB Cruisin said:

This is very helpful. Thank you. I have to be gluten free so I know I will need help in the MDR. Would I tip extra at the beginning or end of the week with a $20? (Feel free to correct me if I got this wrong!). Also, I love the idea of leaving comments. Thank you!

The service we received from dietary managers on NCL has been outstanding, especially the delivery of big breakfast orders in the buffet that were ordered the night before. We always tipped at the end of the cruise, plus have tipped for room service, some bartenders (at the bar after service), room stewards, and kids club staff.

[Flatbush Flyer]

8 minutes ago, KB Cruisin said:

Great example for me. Thank you. I need those details because I have been clueless on this venue. On the comment cards, do I need to look for those or do they make sure you have one? Also, it is ok to make special requests (like your waters) as long as you tip for extra service? Thanks again!

I doubt that there is a cruise line that will not, at least, try to address a special request (unless specifically excluded in their T&Cs). Of course, depending on that particular cruise line, the item requested may be complimentary or incur an extra charge.

Again, depending on the particular cruise line, comment cards are usually provided at the mid and end cruise points and weigh heavily in the evaluation/promotion of crew.

[SRF]

I tip the cabin steward extra for extra.  Towel animals every night, fresh ice several times per day.  Always plenty of fresh towels, etc.

 

I tip at the bar for above and beyond.  I like caipirinhas.   The should be made with actual sugar.  On board they many make then with simple syrup.  I ask for them to be made with sugar.  Remember this, and making them every time without asking, gets extra tips.

 

We don't eat in the MDR much of the time, but there, or in specialty restaurants, if the service goes above what is normal, I tip extra.

 

So bottom line is, the expected level of service (which is fairly high) gets the standard built-in tips.  Anything above that, gets extra.

 

Oh, we also sail in suites, so I tip the concierge for their service.  $70 - $100 or more, depending.

[KB Cruisin]

3 minutes ago, SRF said:

I tip the cabin steward extra for extra.  Towel animals every night, fresh ice several times per day.  Always plenty of fresh towels, etc.

 

I tip at the bar for above and beyond.  I like caipirinhas.   The should be made with actual sugar.  On board they many make then with simple syrup.  I ask for them to be made with sugar.  Remember this, and making them every time without asking, gets extra tips.

 

We don't eat in the MDR much of the time, but there, or in specialty restaurants, if the service goes above what is normal, I tip extra.

 

So bottom line is, the expected level of service (which is fairly high) gets the standard built-in tips.  Anything above that, gets extra.

 

Oh, we also sail in suites, so I tip the concierge for their service.  $70 - $100 or more, depending.

Thank you for the specific examples.  That is so helpful. It may be a newbie thing but I am sure looking forward to towel animals! I have seen pictures and would love to see one! Besides that newbie wish, I really am grateful for the specifics. It gives me a good idea of the tipping expectations on a cruise. I appreciate it!

[KB Cruisin]

32 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

I doubt that there is a cruise line that will not, at least, try to address a special request (unless specifically excluded in their T&Cs). Of course, depending on that particular cruise line, the item requested may be complimentary or incur an extra charge.

Again, depending on the particular cruise line, comment cards are usually provided at the mid and end cruise points and weigh heavily in the evaluation/promotion of crew.

That is very good to know. I will definitely look for and fill out the comment cards. Thank you!

[kerryincork]

You should know that they automatically add tips to your bar bill and spa treatments between 15 to 20% depending on line. The receipt they give you will have a blank space for an additional tip. I personally draw a line through this and don't tip any extra. If I like a particular waiter/waitress I will give them a tip at the end.

 

I usually give about $20 to the room steward.

[Nebr.cruiser]

10 hours ago, KB Cruisin said:

Thank you. That helps to know on the room steward. I appreciate good service and like to tip for it but had no idea what was appropriate in this setting. 

That said, it is perfectly fine not to tip more as they do share in the pre-paid tips.  We just like to add a little something for our steward; they work so hard.