Tipping onboard question

[Birdy9003]

So please be gentle.  My first cruise coming up in August.  I know that we have our taxes and tipping included already.  Do people normally tip more or not at all.  If I have already tipped is their a need to do it a second time?  Thanks 

[Jembeccatoo]

Unless you get exceptional service from a certain crew member or want to ensure great service from a bartender, extra tips are not necessary.

[GUT2407]

Not needed, not required, but if you want to go for it.

[Nuyawker]

Additional tipping for services is up to you.  You may want to tip your steward  more if he/she takes care of your cabin re: cleaning, towels , vanity items.  On Norwegian as an FYI you can get a rebate on included tips by going to customer deck 6 at end of cruise.  However many staff persons go over and beyond and individual tips are a guarantee while pooled tips do not go to all the ships crew.

[All-ready2cruise]

I don't tip unless someone is really good at picking up on my needs.  If a waiter comes by and notices my drink is low and keeps on walking (yup, I realize they're busy) they likely won't get a tip unless they come back and ask for my order. 

On the Jade, my last cruise in Jan., I never had to wait to get my drink refilled, so, yes, my waiter/waitress, usually one of two, would always get a $1 tip. 

 

Is it necessary, absolutely not, however, I  did it b/c I felt they deserved it. As others have said, only if you feel it's exceptional service. 

[valleyvillage]

We always tip the butler, the concierge, and the steward. 

[esm54687]

2 minutes ago, valleyvillage said:

We always tip the butler, the concierge, and the steward. 

Important to point out that butler and conceirge along with Splash Academy staff are not included in the Daily Service Charge (DSC) so tipping these people is 100% expected. 

[esm54687]

One of the other important things you can do beyond the monetary tipping is to fill out a Vacation Hero card for staff. These are used by NCL for incentive and performance awards. They can be found at Guest Services and your steward will have some. These go a long way in helping the staff. 

[GUT2407]

5 minutes ago, esm54687 said:

One of the other important things you can do beyond the monetary tipping is to fill out a Vacation Hero card for staff. These are used by NCL for incentive and performance awards. They can be found at Guest Services and your steward will have some. These go a long way in helping the staff. 

Even better go and tell their superior face to face.

[esm54687]

1 minute ago, GUT2407 said:

Even better go and tell their superior face to face.

Not really..... telling the supervisor face to face may have that compliment stop at the supervisor (what if there are personal issues / conflicts between the two) and never make it up the chain.  With the Vacation Hero submission it is reviewed directly by the Hotel Director / General Manager and documented in the staff's record.... 

[GUT2407]

17 minutes ago, esm54687 said:

Not really..... telling the supervisor face to face may have that compliment stop at the supervisor (what if there are personal issues / conflicts between the two) and never make it up the chain.  With the Vacation Hero submission it is reviewed directly by the Hotel Director / General Manager and documented in the staff's record.... 

Well go tell the Hotel Director too, I can guarantee you it is appreciated and great service becomes great friendly service.

Edited June 2, 2019 by GUT2407

[Outerdog]

I'm not drunk enough for another tipping thread.

[dbrown84]

I don't get the drink package because I get free drinks in the casino.  I tip the bartenders at the casino bar since they are not covered by the DSC and there isn't an auto added tip added to the cost of the drink (since it's free)

[esm54687]

50 minutes ago, GUT2407 said:

Well go tell the Hotel Director too, I can guarantee you it is appreciated and great service becomes great friendly service.

and that's what the Vacation Hero card does..... 

[GUT2407]

14 minutes ago, esm54687 said:

and that's what the Vacation Hero card does..... 

And there must be something wrong with doing it in person I guess.

Edited June 2, 2019 by GUT2407

[esm54687]

2 hours ago, GUT2407 said:

And there must be something wrong with doing it in person I guess.

There's absolutely nothing wrong by doing it in person so let's not be so dramatic...... but by doing it via NCL's Employee Recognition Program there is a much more likelihood that the compliment will be seen by those that matter.  I'm sure it's super nice that the supervisor hears that one of their reports is doing a good job but there's likely 4 or 5 layers of management between the supervisor and the HD / GM and one is bound to be too busy to pass it along   

[AK Dreaming]

I always bring cash to tip bartenders. Also tip room steward for taking care of me during the cruise. 

[newmexicoNita]

10 hours ago, Birdy9003 said:

So please be gentle.  My first cruise coming up in August.  I know that we have our taxes and tipping included already.  Do people normally tip more or not at all.  If I have already tipped is their a need to do it a second time?  Thanks 

This is a very personal matter and has to be up to the guest. We do, normally give our cabin steward a little extra at the end if he/she has done a really good job. We also may tip the bar tender or drinking waiter a buck for a drink. Not everyone does this and no one should be pressured into tipping extra. 

[4774Papa]

I tip the room steward about $30 per cruise.

Also, at the end of a cruise, if we have had a particular table in the MDR and had great service, I will tip the waiter, assistant waiter and wine steward.

[deliver42]

I usually tip same as 4774Papa, but also tip a server or bartender an extra $1.00 per drink. This is after I've pre paid grats. This is only me. If you've pre paid grats, then you owe nothing else.

[UFMOM]

On top of our prepaid gratuities, we tip extra to our room steward and the waiters in the specialty restaurants. We also tip a dollar per order to drink waiters and to bartenders if our order involves mixing a drink or more effort than just opening a beer bottle or pouring a glass from an already open bottle of wine. But none of this is required or expected if you have paid the gratuities. It is just what we do. 

 

 

 

 

Mary Ann

 

 

 

Mary Ann

[myra711]

I leave something extra for the cabin steward, about $20/person in the cabin.  They  work like dogs, and I appreciate the effort to keep the room nice.  But as others have said, it is totally a personal decision and not necessary after you have paid the DSC.  

[ColeThornton]

I rarely tip extra.   I feel the DSC amount is fair for the service I receive.   The stewards do a good job but I've never needed or received anything other than what I feel my fare/DSC covers.

[graphicguy]

3 hours ago, newmexicoNita said:

This is a very personal matter and has to be up to the guest. We do, normally give our cabin steward a little extra at the end if he/she has done a really good job. We also may tip the bar tender or drinking waiter a buck for a drink. Not everyone does this and no one should be pressured into tipping extra. 

This follows pretty closely to how I tip, also.

 

For the record, there are NO REBATES on tips that I’m aware of as someone else posted.

[BirdTravels]

If the room steward does a good hob, we tip them an extra $5-$10 pp per day. Also carry a bunch of $1 bills for bartenders and bar waiters.