Tipping on MSC cruises

[Huntingdon1701]

Yes, always speak with them first to find out what they want. Food is fairly safe though. If they don't want it, I hear there is a fairly healthy trade system among the crew. Small souvenir type things are inappropriate - they just don't have space for that sort of thing. 

[no1talks]

20 hours ago, alyssamma said:

You *typically* tip your butler, not the bartender. In fact, you will have little or no interaction with the bartender at all (butlers will bring you drinks).

 

Most leave a set amount at the end of the cruise for their main butler You can also do this for the asst. butler, bartenders, Maître D, concierge, etc. But the majority (I believe) just do it for the butler.

 

How much depends on how you use them. Some tip zero, others tip hundreds. Again, tip based on how much you use them.

If we don't scrap the cruise for MSC pulling the double Voyager points (LONG story) I'll be interacting with the bartenders frequently.

 

Mostly, I'll need to explain my favorite drink recipes.

 

Last time, I stumped the bartender with a Colorado Bulldog. That's not a super-rare drink.

 

[hamrag]

2 hours ago, Huntingdon1701 said:

It doesn't have to be money either. I chatted with mine about some of the new features on Virtuosa and she mentioned she'd not tried the chocolate from the 'design your own bar' shop. So I left her that at the end and she loved it. 

No, no and no again.....there is only one way to tip crew members....🙄

[hamrag]

1 hour ago, publicpersona said:

 

....as a general rule otherwise, the very last thing that crew members aboard the ship want are little gifts that you bring from home .. a knick knack of some sort for their living quarters. There is precious little room for them and their living supplies in their quarters, much less little tchotchkes. They would nevertheless express that they are thrilled when they get one .. then it goes in the trash.

 

Absolutely, well said.

[alyssamma]

50 minutes ago, no1talks said:

If we don't scrap the cruise for MSC pulling the double Voyager points (LONG story) I'll be interacting with the bartenders frequently.

 

Mostly, I'll need to explain my favorite drink recipes.

 

Last time, I stumped the bartender with a Colorado Bulldog. That's not a super-rare drink.

 

Not saying you won't, but in the YC, it is discouraged that you interact with them directly. I, like you, sometimes like to talk to bartenders and I've had mixed success. Some make it pretty clear they don't want to talk. And it kind of messes up the butlers' groove. But, like I said YMMV.

 

That being said, no one it sitting at the bar now because of covid 😞 

[rkacruiser]

9 minutes ago, alyssamma said:

I, like you, sometimes like to talk to bartenders and I've had mixed success.

 

That's what I experienced on the Meraviglia with the YC Bartender.  He seemed uninterested in making conversation when the Lounge was not busy and I was the only one sitting at his bar.  Why?  Not a good command of English?  It was quite different from what I have experienced on other cruise lines.   

[Nunagoras]

2 hours ago, publicpersona said:

 

Sounds like you determined a desire before you got her the chocolate, so that's good. But as a general rule otherwise, the very last thing that crew members aboard the ship want are little gifts that you bring from home .. a knick knack of some sort for their living quarters. There is precious little room for them and their living supplies in their quarters, much less little tchotchkes. They would nevertheless express that they are thrilled when they get one .. then it goes in the trash.

I believe @Huntingdon1701was talking about those chocolates pax can purchase from Venchi/Jean Philippe or whatever the vendor maybe at the ship. Do note that low rank crew usually do not have access to those stores or they just have it at pax prices at some very specific set times which is too expensive, or too inconvenient for them to splurge. Once monetary extra tips are highly discouraged from MSC management, maybe they're mostly OK with those "little nothing" that may be acceptable at the eyes of the company. After all, those "little nothing" were purchased aboard...

 

Have a nice day!...

[Nunagoras]

48 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

That's what I experienced on the Meraviglia with the YC Bartender.  He seemed uninterested in making conversation when the Lounge was not busy and I was the only one sitting at his bar.  Why?  Not a good command of English?  It was quite different from what I have experienced on other cruise lines.   

Well: It is just a cultural barrier just arriving at this discussion, again... Not the first time, not the last surely... Let me try to explain it the best I can from my continental European perspective and from someone that has done both ways, MSC and RCI:

 

So; while on the US or US oriented venues (like RCI ships) a bar is a place where you go primarily to "engage" the bartender and drink. Socializing with your friends or relatives is secondary. Let the music go on with your drinks ordered "the right way" from the bartender... Here in Europe is quite the opposite: A bar is a place where you go in first place to socialize with your friends and relatives (in MSC most bars are even open to minors and they have a quite nice page of non alcoholic cocktails on offer for them! That page used to be nicer back in the day, but it is still nice today!...). Your drinks are just an additional part of the experience. Most bars here where I live do have an "entry fee" that you can redeem for a certain number of drinks, usually one for a reason... That is the proper bar experience. The bartender is then supposed to be quite discrete... Most time he/she works sort of behind the scenes, making the client interaction to be with the regular servers servicing the place, whose service is expected to be quite reserved as well (reserved professionalism is something very appreciated everywhere here where I live). I've rarely interacted with a proper bartender everywhere here, apart during an exhibition or bartender competition of some sort. In Hotels or MSC cruises it is mainly with the servers. I had have longer conversations only once with a true bartender with MSC, and it was with the coffee bar specialist manager on the UAE cruise, and that was just a happy coincidence being me sort of a "coffee buff" myself wondering for something special at a certain morning!...

 

Hope to have helped a little bit!...

 

Have a nice day!...

Edited September 19, 2021 by Nunagoras

[alyssamma]

22 minutes ago, Nunagoras said:

Well: It is just a cultural barrier just arriving at this discussion, again... Not the first time, not the last surely... Let me try to explain it the best I can from my continental European perspective and from someone that has done both ways, MSC and RCI:

 

So; while on the US or US oriented venues (like RCI ships) a bar is a place where you go primarily to "engage" the bartender and drink. Socializing with your friends or relatives is secondary. Let the music go on with your drinks ordered "the right way" from the bartender... Here in Europe is quite the opposite: A bar is a place where you go in first place to socialize with your friends and relatives (in MSC most bars are even open to minors and they have a quite nice page of non alcoholic cocktails on offer for them! That page used to be nicer back in the day, but it is still nice today!...). Your drinks are just an additional part of the experience. Most bars here where I live do have an "entry fee" that you can redeem for a certain number of drinks, usually one for a reason... That is the proper bar experience. The bartender is then supposed to be quite discrete... Most time he/she works sort of behind the scenes, making the client interaction to be with the regular servers servicing the place, whose service is expected to be quite reserved as well (reserved professionalism is something very appreciated everywhere here where I live). I've rarely interacted with a proper bartender everywhere here, apart during an exhibition or bartender competition of some sort. In Hotels or MSC cruises it is mainly with the servers. I had have longer conversations only once with a true bartender with MSC, and it was with the coffee bar specialist manager on the UAE cruise, and that was just a happy coincidence being me sort of a "coffee buff" myself wondering for something special at a certain morning!...

 

Hope to have helped a little bit!...

 

Have a nice day!...

Not from Europe but spent a *lot* of time there and have been to most countries - including Portugal. My experience has been the opposite. I've found the bartenders in Europe to be nice and eager to engage in conversation. Maybe not to the extent they are in the US, but pretty close.

 

Perhaps it is the types of bars we go to?

 

Or maybe it is just my natural charm 🙂

 

I've made quite a few friends with European bartenders - friends I still keep in touch with.

 

As for command of English, I don't think that was the case. I believe it is a YC thing...bartenders in other bars have engaged me when they aren't busy. I think in the YC, you aren't supposed to "do anything"...you let the butlers get you drinks. So when you're at the bar, you kind of disrupt the flow.

 

 

[CarolnLarry]

Normally I don't respond to tipping questions as I feel that is each persons choice.

When it comes to the bartenders in the yacht club I have had some great experiences.

I have done four back to back out of Miami, 2 on the Divina and 2 on the Seaside.

When I am ready for my afternoon Titos on the rocks martini I sit at the bar and put down a shiny gold dollar.  The bartender comes up and I tell him what I want and then when I receive it I give him the shiny gold dollar.  He usually smiles and aske what it is, the conversation starts.  I usually asks if he has any children and if he has any I give him the amount of coins and tells him to give them to his kids.

Next day I will sit down with a different shiny gold dollar and order my drinks.  Give him the coin and tell him it is different than . the ones I gave him yesterday.  Plus I ad d a few for the kids.

Never have a problem sitting and enjoying a talk with the bartender if they have time.

Sometimes I will do the same thing in the casino.(1 Coin only and maybe not every drink).

A 2 dollar bill works also, but only a couple of times and they will remember you.

Most of the cruise employees send most of their money home for their families.

 

 

[no1talks]

I'm not looking to bend the ear of any cruise bartenders, YC or otherwise. I just want to make sure the drink is made in the standard method and avoid a possible occurrence of the following...

Butler: Welcome to Top Sail Lounge, sir! May I bring you a beverage?
Me: Thank you, Benjamin, a nightcap would be lovely. I'll have a White Spider.
Butler: Extra primo good, sir! (Walks to bar.) Tip o' the cap to you, if you know that film reference.

*** Eight minutes later ***

Butler: I apologize, sir... What is in a Wise Spider?
Me: (Explains White Spider recipe fully to Benjamin.)
Butler: Thank you, sir. (Walks to bar.)

*** Eight minutes later ***

Butler: Your Wild Spider, sir. Enjoy! (Walks away.)
Me: (Looks at visibly incorrect White Spider and sighs.)

This vignette is half-jest, of course. I would hope Top Sail, if not the ship's bars as a whole, have access to a drink library in the point-of-sale system. But, since a Colorado Bulldog stymied a casino bartender last cruise, I don't know.
🍸

[Huntingdon1701]

10 hours ago, hamrag said:

No, no and no again.....there is only one way to tip crew members....🙄

 

I'll go by the reaction of the crew members, thank you. 

[miataman19]

On 9/18/2021 at 7:20 PM, Kruizin'Kath said:

I realize you tip in YC depending on use of personnel, but what is a ball park figure? We sail next week for our first time in YC. We have always tipped bar servers for drinks....is that appropriate in YC? TIA

When we stayed in The Haven on NCL we tipped our Butler $100 and the Concierge $50. Tipped the Bartenders and Cocktail servers and extra $1 per drink. 

[zekekelso]

14 hours ago, alyssamma said:

. I believe it is a YC thing...bartenders in other bars have engaged me when they aren't busy. I think in the YC, you aren't supposed to "do anything"...you let the butlers get you drinks. So when you're at the bar, you kind of disrupt the flow.

Some days I’m glad I’m too darn cheap to ever book the YC. 

[Nunagoras]

14 hours ago, alyssamma said:

Not from Europe but spent a *lot* of time there and have been to most countries - including Portugal. My experience has been the opposite. I've found the bartenders in Europe to be nice and eager to engage in conversation. Maybe not to the extent they are in the US, but pretty close.

 

Perhaps it is the types of bars we go to?

 

Or maybe it is just my natural charm 🙂

 

I've made quite a few friends with European bartenders - friends I still keep in touch with.

 

As for command of English, I don't think that was the case. I believe it is a YC thing...bartenders in other bars have engaged me when they aren't busy. I think in the YC, you aren't supposed to "do anything"...you let the butlers get you drinks. So when you're at the bar, you kind of disrupt the flow.

 

 

By reserved professionalism, I don't mean they need to be distant from guests, just that we expect their interaction to be on the "low key" side of the pound. Due to health reasons I'm not a drinker myself, but back before the pandemic I used to go some twice a month to a lovely 4* hotel rooftop bar on my office's building neighborhood to enjoy the conversation with my colleagues and some live music after work with such a freshly squeezed juice or a smoothie of some sort in hand, and that was the land experience I was comparing with MSC or RCI bar experiences. Surely, if one goes on those smaller "corner" venues mostly for the locals to enjoy, or on such a small hotel on the countryside, the experience will to be too much more personal at some point. But on the larger venues what we expect is for our orders to be delivered with no fuss at all!... In other words: We want a nice service, with a discrete interaction!...

 

Have a nice day!...

[shipgeeks]

Nunagoras,  I always learn something worthwhile from your posts, and I always enjoy your writing style.

[Beamafar]

1 minute ago, shipgeeks said:

Nunagoras,  I always learn something worthwhile from your posts, and I always enjoy your writing style.

And always incredibly polite! 🙂

[hamrag]

18 hours ago, shipgeeks said:

Nunagoras,  I always learn something worthwhile from your posts, and I always enjoy your writing style.

 

18 hours ago, Beamafar said:

And always incredibly polite! 🙂

 

Indeed, it's a pleasure to read and learn from such posts....thanks Nunagoras.

[rkacruiser]

On 9/19/2021 at 7:02 PM, alyssamma said:

As for command of English, I don't think that was the case. I believe it is a YC thing...bartenders in other bars have engaged me when they aren't busy. I think in the YC, you aren't supposed to "do anything"...you let the butlers get you drinks. So when you're at the bar, you kind of disrupt the flow.

 

Your thinking may be correct.  But, as a solo cruiser sitting in the YC Lounge by oneself is a rather lonely experience during much of the time.  Sitting at the Bar, once in awhile some others would make a brief appearance, but, nothing lasted long.  A Bartender who was a bit conversational would have helped.

 

On 9/19/2021 at 6:36 PM, Nunagoras said:

So; while on the US or US oriented venues (like RCI ships) a bar is a place where you go primarily to "engage" the bartender and drink. Socializing with your friends or relatives is secondary. Let the music go on with your drinks ordered "the right way" from the bartender... Here in Europe is quite the opposite: A bar is a place where you go in first place to socialize with your friends and relatives

 

  Socializing with fellow guests and friends is incorporated with conversations with bartenders and the stewards working in that venue.  That is the main enjoyment of mine during HH on any US oriented cruise ship on which I have sailed.  

 

 

Edited September 22, 2021 by rkacruiser

[Seadweller001]

On 9/19/2021 at 7:40 PM, CarolnLarry said:

Normally I don't respond to tipping questions as I feel that is each persons choice.

When it comes to the bartenders in the yacht club I have had some great experiences.

I have done four back to back out of Miami, 2 on the Divina and 2 on the Seaside.

When I am ready for my afternoon Titos on the rocks martini I sit at the bar and put down a shiny gold dollar.  The bartender comes up and I tell him what I want and then when I receive it I give him the shiny gold dollar.  He usually smiles and aske what it is, the conversation starts.  I usually asks if he has any children and if he has any I give him the amount of coins and tells him to give them to his kids.

Next day I will sit down with a different shiny gold dollar and order my drinks.  Give him the coin and tell him it is different than . the ones I gave him yesterday.  Plus I ad d a few for the kids.

Never have a problem sitting and enjoying a talk with the bartender if they have time.

Sometimes I will do the same thing in the casino.(1 Coin only and maybe not every drink).

A 2 dollar bill works also, but only a couple of times and they will remember you.

Most of the cruise employees send most of their money home for their families.

 

 

Golden Dollar.  There no gold in this coin.

 

On 9/19/2021 at 7:40 PM, CarolnLarry said:

Normally I don't respond to tipping questions as I feel that is each persons choice.

When it comes to the bartenders in the yacht club I have had some great experiences.

I have done four back to back out of Miami, 2 on the Divina and 2 on the Seaside.

When I am ready for my afternoon Titos on the rocks martini I sit at the bar and put down a shiny gold dollar.  The bartender comes up and I tell him what I want and then when I receive it I give him the shiny gold dollar.  He usually smiles and aske what it is, the conversation starts.  I usually asks if he has any children and if he has any I give him the amount of coins and tells him to give them to his kids.

Next day I will sit down with a different shiny gold dollar and order my drinks.  Give him the coin and tell him it is different than . the ones I gave him yesterday.  Plus I ad d a few for the kids.

Never have a problem sitting and enjoying a talk with the bartender if they have time.

Sometimes I will do the same thing in the casino.(1 Coin only and maybe not every drink).

A 2 dollar bill works also, but only a couple of times and they will remember you.

Most of the cruise employees send most of their money home for their families.

 

 

Golden Dollar, 88% copper and some zinc.   Will never be worth more than $1.00

 

 

[MonsterJoe]

How are y'all tipping?

I mean, specifically and physically.  I don't think I've had the occasion to physically hand someone a tip since the before the beginning of the Apocalypse. 

Is there an appropriate way to do so while supporting the necessities of physical space (which I support fully?)

[JAGR]

1 hour ago, MonsterJoe said:

How are y'all tipping?

I mean, specifically and physically.  I don't think I've had the occasion to physically hand someone a tip since the before the beginning of the Apocalypse. 

Is there an appropriate way to do so while supporting the necessities of physical space (which I support fully?)

For MSC on cruises from the U.S. (where tipping beyond the service charge is a typical practice), I can only speak of Yacht Club, but we have always gone to the concierge and asked for small envelopes and stationary.  They will happily give you how ever many you want.  I assume that Guest Services has envelopes that they will give out as well.  We usually right personalized notes to our butler, junior butler, YC waiter and assistant (we usually request the same server for the cruise), pool attendants/life guards (who provide extraordinary service!), as well as dining room manager and concierge (depending on services performed).  We then will give the envelopes to the recipients along with our personal thanks.  This was before COVID, but it is our intention to continue this way in the future.

[dexddd]

On 9/19/2021 at 4:37 PM, alyssamma said:

Not saying you won't, but in the YC, it is discouraged that you interact with them directly. I, like you, sometimes like to talk to bartenders and I've had mixed success. Some make it pretty clear they don't want to talk. And it kind of messes up the butlers' groove. But, like I said YMMV.

 

That being said, no one it sitting at the bar now because of covid 😞 

That is kind of how it is now.  I was standing far away and ordering and they insisted we call and order from reception and bring to room.  In lounge, they have all bar chairs blocked, snacks are served, and they want to have you basically sit down.  By the pool, same.  They want to bring to you.

[publicpersona]

7 hours ago, JAGR said:

For MSC on cruises from the U.S. (where tipping beyond the service charge is a typical practice)

 

If you wanted to provide even more gratuity than the service charge already covers, despite the cruise line recommending that you do not, then that's fine. What you do is your business.

 

But don't be implying that your actions are "typical" unless you've done a survey and found that most people do this. If I am satisfied with service, I will just let the service charge take care of that detail. In the event that someone does something extraordinary, I may hand them cash on the last night with direct reference to that unusual service. But that is far from typical for me .. I can't speak for others.

[JAGR]

15 hours ago, publicpersona said:

 

If you wanted to provide even more gratuity than the service charge already covers, despite the cruise line recommending that you do not, then that's fine. What you do is your business.

 

But don't be implying that your actions are "typical" unless you've done a survey and found that most people do this.

Don't you imply you know how to read!  I never said what I did was typical.  I said that on cruises out of the US, 'tipping' as a practice, and then I explained my personal practice.  I did not say my action was typical, I only described my practice.  That was in response to the OP's request, and was an appropriate answer to his inquiry.  I don't need a survey to know what is a common in cruises out of U.S  ports.  Look up tipping on cruises in Google.  Read the threads here on CC regarding tipping.  I explained my practice.  You explained your practice (In and odd way, implying you don't feel a need to tip beyond the service charge, and then saying you may give the odd bit of coin out for exceptional service).  The OP has gotten the information he was seeking.