Who do you tip in cash?

[VMax1700]

I gotta say, that as an outsider looking in, I am extremely pleased that you guys, who started the tipping system are just as confused as I am.

😉😇

[The-Inside-Cabin]

2 hours ago, VMax1700 said:

I gotta say, that as an outsider looking in, I am extremely pleased that you guys, who started the tipping system are just as confused as I am.

😉😇

The best way to avoid confusion and ensure everyone is appropriately tipped, is to leave the automatic gratuities (crew incentive) in place.   This way everyone who needs to get tipped will be tipped an appropriate amount.     The SPA and bars will automatically add 18%.   The only people who should be tipped, but don't have an automatic system in place are the casino workers.  

 

I am glad the days are gone where I have to carry around a bunch of small bills and tip someone after every interaction.     

 

Many are old enough to remember when you were given envelopes to be stuffed with cash and distributed on the last night of the cruise.    Glad those days are gone.   

 

Today I rarely carry any cash as virtually every transaction from parking meters to soda machines will take a credit card or apple pay.

 

I follow the cruise line recommendation, leave the automatic gratuities in place and enjoy the cruise, knowing that everyone is getting tipped.

[Florida_gal_50]

6 hours ago, sassy~one said:

Oddly I have never seen the Lido and Deli folks on the Tip list.  (or what ever it's being called now)  A tip to me is providing a cash reward to a person who has given me great service, and that is what I do.  On a b2b with DH 21 night total we did not eat in the MDR even ONCE. We did tip the lido and deli folks as well room service and random folks.  We are all different and I choose to provide to people who helped me the most. 

I rarely eat in the MDR.  I choose to eat mostly in specialty restaurants and have tipped there as well.  I always leave the HSC or whatever they are calling it now in place because I don't want anyone to have to turn in the extra.  For sure I'll know they'll get to keep it.

[VMax1700]

18 minutes ago, The-Inside-Cabin said:

The best way to avoid confusion and ensure everyone is appropriately tipped, is to leave the automatic gratuities (crew incentive) in place.   This way everyone who needs to get tipped will be tipped an appropriate amount.     The SPA and bars will automatically add 18%.   The only people who should be tipped, but don't have an automatic system in place are the casino workers.     

   

Today I rarely carry any cash as virtually every transaction from parking meters to soda machines will take a credit card or apple pay.

 

I follow the cruise line recommendation, leave the automatic gratuities in place and enjoy the cruise, knowing that everyone is getting tipped.

We always leave the autos in place.  We don't use the casino so ok there too!

We haven't had cash in pockets for over a year now.  Nearly everything here is card or tap, even down to the smallest amount.  It was one of the recommended health protocols.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

9 hours ago, sassy~one said:

Oddly I have never seen the Lido and Deli folks on the Tip list.  (or what ever it's being called now)  A tip to me is providing a cash reward to a person who has given me great service, and that is what I do.  On a b2b with DH 21 night total we did not eat in the MDR even ONCE. We did tip the lido and deli folks as well room service and random folks.  We are all different and I choose to provide to people who helped me the most. 

I discussed who is in the tip pool with several hotel directors - they all confirm that all Lido workers, room service waiters, deli workers, dutch cafe workers, New York Pizza workers, Dive In workers, etc etc etc and specialty dining staff are all included on the "tip list"  While tipping extra is always appreciated, you are already tipping all these people thru your daily gratuity (crew incentive) 

 

No one is left out - 

 

The Spa and Beverage people maintain a separate pool.   The casino workers don't have an automatic tipping method, but they do pool all their tips based on my conversations with the casino managers.  

Edited September 7, 2021 by The-Inside-Cabin

[silversneakers]

On 8/28/2021 at 2:55 PM, Petrocelli said:

I am a complete newbie who has traveled alot, but at age 61, I have never been on a cruise.  I'm going to Alaska next year on the Konigsdam.

 

I understand there is a service charge added to my bill.  But I am not sure who it is customary to tip beyond that.  Like when room service comes, do you give the crew member a couple bucks?  Do you ever give cash to waiters at restaurants?  Or is everything included?

 

Thanks!

We usually give our cabin steward $20 when we first meet him/her in cabin and ask for anything extra we may need. If they have done exceptional service we also give money at the end of our cruise.  This is in addition to their regular prepaid tip.

[Cruizer Bill]

We tip our Room Steward(s) some extra at the end of the cruise.  If it is a short cruise we give them an extra $10 each and on longer cruises $20 each.

[Boytjie]

On 9/7/2021 at 5:41 PM, The-Inside-Cabin said:

The casino workers don't have an automatic tipping method, but they do pool all their tips based on my conversations with the casino managers.  

 

When you tip someone in the casino, they point it out to the manager and then drop it into a specific slot, so it has to be pooled; they don't pocket the chips.

[FlaMariner]

For good/bad/wrong or whatever....this is what we do

 

• always leave the auto service charge in place (that's considered the cost of the cruise, IMO)
• increase our auto service charge $50 or $100 bucks or so at the end of the cruise if we've been impressed with the overall service (which seems to be every cruise)
• tip $2 if we order room service (put the tip in the key slot the night before so it's ready)
• tip $2 for shoe shine (leave it in the basket w/the shoes)
• tip the two MDR waiters 20 bucks each on the last night (tell them thanks and that this is in addition to the regular service charge)
• tip the two rooms stewards 20 bucks each on the last night (tell them thanks and that this is in addition to the regular service charge)
• tip a few bucks (last few days) any other crew that did anything special for us consistently during the cruise (this could simply be the lido waiter we see at early morning breakfast and we have a chat and he fetches the OJ or whatever)

We like to be "good passengers" and do want to thank/reward for all the good service we receive.  

 

YMMV and there is no set rules here....we enjoy the freedom to do what we think is best......everyone else should feel free to do the same.

[SargassoPirate]

After fifty some cruises, I have developed a very low key style of cruising.  I leave the automatic tips in place.  I avoid the MDR in the evenings which  frees up my time to enjoy a wee dram of a good Scotch and follow some music venues.  I always give the drink server a couple of dollars with my first order.  I soon find that my usual drink hits the table about the same time I do and that I'm getting upper shelf pours. 

 

 

 

 

[HappyCamper49]

On 8/28/2021 at 3:15 PM, rucrazy said:

We tip if we request ice.. the amount of tip depends on time of day& how much they bring us .. It's all relative to the function.

That said we also don't tip if service is not to standard. (that rarely happens_)

We have been fortunate to have cabin stewards ask us on day one if we have any special requests.  Ice once per day is usually the only request.  However, we always tip the cabin steward quite a bit extra at cruise's end, as well as dining servers.  They deserve it!