Concierge/assistant concierge tipping thread

[erdoran]

Here’s a different tipping question:

 

On our last Bliss sailing 7- day the concierge did absolutely zero for us; the assistant concierge did everything.  We tipped proportionately - nothing to the head concierge, and something reasonable that otherwise would have gone to the head concierge (perhaps $50-$100) to the assistant for making a few reservations, not a lot, and always being available to us when we needed something.  I felt like I was stiffing the head concierge and it certainly gave that appearance, but I think what I did was legit but I have to say, I was uncomfortable about it because I know the unwritten rule that you always tip something.  I felt like maybe a token $20 might be OK but might also be insulting.

 

What do you tipping gurus think is the appropriate way to handle this situation in the future?  The head concierge was always chatting it up with other guests when we stopped by, which is fine, and we got fine service because of the assistant, so not a complaint at all, but looking for guidance for the future as we have another Bliss cruise coming up.

[ColeThornton]

For me at least I have never heard of an unwritten rule rule that you have to tip "something".   If the concierge did zero for me as you said then that is what they would receive as a gratuity.  You already pay for their service with your higher Haven fare.

 

Don't be guilted into tipping when not necessary.

[SeaShark]

Not directing this to the OP specifically, but to the topic in general...

 

Tipping should be based on a) the quantity of services received, b) the quality of services received, and c) with consideration given to the financial means of the tipper....IOW, stay within your budget/financial means. Some people are in a better financial position in life and thus are able to tip more...this should, in no way, affect the amount that another person in a different situation should tip.

 

We, the cruising community, need to stop worrying so much about what others tip, what is an appropriate tip, what do others typically tip, etc and simply do what we feel is acceptable while staying within our means. Do what is appropriate given the situation...don't worry about keeping up with the neighbors.

[Two Wheels Only]

3 minutes ago, SeaShark said:

We, the cruising community, need to stop worrying so much about what others tip, what is an appropriate tip, what do others typically tip, etc and simply do what we feel is acceptable while staying within our means.

 

Will someone please pin this post to the first page of the forum?

[david_sobe]

I think it has been posted before that the concierge and asst concierge pool their tips together as they should.  Its fine the concierge delegates duties since he/she has way too many passengers to deal with alone.  They work in concert with eachother since they work at the same desk.  So tipping the asst concierge is actually tipping the concierge.

[graphicguy]

2 hours ago, david_sobe said:

I think it has been posted before that the concierge and asst concierge pool their tips together as they should.  Its fine the concierge delegates duties since he/she has way too many passengers to deal with alone.  They work in concert with eachother since they work at the same desk.  So tipping the asst concierge is actually tipping the concierge.

True!

 

OP....tipping the asst concierge, or the head concierge, doesn’t matter.  That’s why there are more than one Concierge.  When the Head Concierge is busy, like on your cruise, the Aasistant  picks up the slack.

 

They share tips.

[valleyvillage]

2 hours ago, david_sobe said:

I think it has been posted before that the concierge and asst concierge pool their tips together as they should.  Its fine the concierge delegates duties since he/she has way too many passengers to deal with alone.  They work in concert with eachother since they work at the same desk.  So tipping the asst concierge is actually tipping the concierge.

Just off Joy and concierge told me that if you designate the tip as for Concierge Team, then they share the tips. If you just give to concierge she does not share with the assistant. This could vary between teams, but this is what she told me.

[graphicguy]

1 minute ago, valleyvillage said:

Just off Joy and concierge told me that if you designate the tip as for Concierge Team, then they share the tips. If you just give to concierge she does not share with the assistant. This could vary between teams, but this is what she told me.

Adrian (probably the best NCL Concierge) said it didn’t matter who helped me, as long as I was helped.  His assistant told me they share tips.  Maybe the Concierges make arrangements among themselves?

[valleyvillage]

Adrian is great! And he was this other concierge's teacher, so clearly it can vary from ship to ship. I will always ask the individual concierge in the future. I prefer using the onboard account to pay tips, so I could divvy it up if needed.

[david_sobe]

54 minutes ago, valleyvillage said:

Just off Joy and concierge told me that if you designate the tip as for Concierge Team, then they share the tips. If you just give to concierge she does not share with the assistant. This could vary between teams, but this is what she told me.

I hope you can give us a mini review of the Joy especially with no Haven restaurant.

I agree.  Adrian is the best.  I had high expectations since I heard good things but he exceeded my expectations.

Edited September 15, 2019 by david_sobe

[Hotspring]

4 hours ago, david_sobe said:

I think it has been posted before that the concierge and asst concierge pool their tips together as they should.  Its fine the concierge delegates duties since he/she has way too many passengers to deal with alone.  They work in concert with eachother since they work at the same desk.  So tipping the asst concierge is actually tipping the concierge.

Yes, I think I assumed that and may have read it on these post before.  However, I was surprised when I asked one of the Breakaway assistants that they did not share the tips made to the concierge.  So we ended up doing 3 tip vouchers for the concierge, and the two assistants we ended up interacting with on our last trip.    However,  if we can just make one voucher to the Concierge team we are going to feel much better.   (Of course we are going to use vouchers to max our out credit card points).

 

[AlexandNessa]

Don't worry about it. Honestly. Our very first NCL cruise we never used the concierge. We used the asst concierge once on the last full day and tipped him (because, like you, we thought, we should tip something ).

 

First of all, he seemed surprised. Second, it was the head concierge who escorted us off the ship for priority disembarkation the following morning, and we felt weird. So we discreetly asked someone we disembarked with whom we recognized as a fellow Haven guest. He was warm, friendly, and told us not to think twice. They share their tips. Didn't matter if that's true. He told us what we needed to hear.

 

You will never go wrong doing what's in your heart. Many cruises later, we go with our gut and don't look back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Buford T Justiice]

5 hours ago, valleyvillage said:

Adrian is great! And he was this other concierge's teacher, so clearly it can vary from ship to ship. I will always ask the individual concierge in the future. I prefer using the onboard account to pay tips, so I could divvy it up if needed.

We have had problems in the past when trying to add a "miscellaneous gratuity" for a group at the reception desk. They have told us more than once it had to be to a person, and not a unit ... We could not tip splash academy staff... but had to pick an individual.

 

Maybe they have changed it in the last year or so though 

[valleyvillage]

I think it is still the same. I ended up giving cash to the assistant.

[erdoran]

1 hour ago, AlexandNessa said:

Don't worry about it. Honestly. Our very first NCL cruise we never used the concierge. We used the asst concierge once on the last full day and tipped him (because, like you, we thought, we should tip something ).

 

First of all, he seemed surprised. Second, it was the head concierge who escorted us off the ship for priority disembarkation the following morning, and we felt weird. So we discreetly asked someone we disembarked with whom we recognized as a fellow Haven guest. He was warm, friendly, and told us not to think twice. They share their tips. Didn't matter if that's true. He told us what we needed to hear.

 

You will never go wrong doing what's in your heart. Many cruises later, we go with our gut and don't look back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, that’s exactly what I needed to hear.  And yes, identical scenario - regular concierge did escort us off, I’m sure to collect his tips!

[valleyvillage]

4 hours ago, david_sobe said:

hope you can give us a mini review of the Joy especially with no Haven restaurant.

Working on it! Short version is that it worked just fine. Cagney's is a beautiful venue.

[Shidah]

Honestly, I was a little disappointed in the concierge service in the Haven on my last cruise.  The one assistant helped us a little who I did tip, and another assistant completely messed up one of our reservations.  However others may have received outstanding service. Needless to say, while I did tip a little, it was considerably lower than previous cruises.  However, I did tip bar staff in the vibe much more than previous cruises since they made our cruise so special.  As others have said, there are no rules, tip those that really make your cruise memorable.  No reason to overthink it, you will know what to do when you are on your cruise.  Some staff will go above and beyond.

[Frogdogpal]

Will be in haven.  Encore 4-12. How do you tip?  Cash, credit cards or vouchers. Thanks. 

 

[graphicguy]

1 hour ago, Frogdogpal said:

Will be in haven.  Encore 4-12. How do you tip?  Cash, credit cards or vouchers. Thanks. 

 

I do cash!

[NLH Arizona]

1 hour ago, Frogdogpal said:

Will be in haven.  Encore 4-12. How do you tip?  Cash, credit cards or vouchers. Thanks. 

 

I also do cash.

[ray98]

They pool the tips, that is the only way it can work.  The 'head' anything will have additional logistical duties and responsibilities that will take them away from their primary duties.  The very job of the assistants is to pick up this work load.  They work as a team.

[Captain-John]

By definition though the 'head' is already receiving a higher salary for those additional duties?

 

 

[SeaShark]

8 hours ago, Frogdogpal said:

Will be in haven.  Encore 4-12. How do you tip?  Cash, credit cards or vouchers. Thanks. 

 

 

Being in the Haven has nothing to do with the amount or method of tipping. 

 

It does not matter one bit how I, or anyone else, tips. We do not need to use the same method. You have to use the method best suited to YOU. Don't worry about what anybody else does...it does not matter.

 

Please review post #3 in this thread.

[ray98]

50 minutes ago, Captain-John said:

By definition though the 'head' is already receiving a higher salary for those additional duties?

 

 

 

Absolutely, but it does not change the service dynamic. They are set up to share duties as a team, if that structure was not necessary you would just have a bunch of concierges.

[Cindyscruising]

22 hours ago, david_sobe said:

I think it has been posted before that the concierge and asst concierge pool their tips together as they should.  Its fine the concierge delegates duties since he/she has way too many passengers to deal with alone.  They work in concert with eachother since they work at the same desk.  So tipping the asst concierge is actually tipping the concierge.

I agree with David that I have always understood the concierge pools tips with their assistant