Tipping - When, Where, Who?

[SeattleAl]

Hi folks. To start, I'm not a big fan of tipping. I think you should pay people a fair wage, they should do their jobs well, and customers should pay a price to support that. That said, I know the travel industry runs on tips and that's not likely to change.

 

I know that many of the daily tips are now charged and collected as a daily fee. I actually like that. But, as I read more threads I'm reading about other times and places tips are expected/appropriate and I don't want to be that guy who stiffs someone because he doesn't know any better. So, I wonder if you all could comment on times & places I should tip? I have already heard about room service and the porters who take your luggage. Any others I should be aware of? What about excursions? What if your room steward brings you ice? Suggested amounts? I know this is a big question, so thanks in advance!

[Cigar King]

I'd suggest you tip as you feel appropriate.  I'll offer as guidelines that you tip everybody who brings something to you.  

[Biker19]

48 minutes ago, SeattleAl said:

, I wonder if you all could comment on times & places I should tip?

Don’t let the tipping police shame you into doing anything you don’t feel comfortable with. There’s no expectation of any tips above the automatic grats. 

[binro01]

1 minute ago, Biker19 said:

Don’t let the tipping police shame you into doing anything you don’t feel comfortable with. There’s no expectation of any tips above the automatic grats. 

This!!! Almost everything has a service fee, tip already tagged on outside of what use to be done by cash prior to automatic grats. Anything above and beyond that is purely up to you.

The only thing in your question outside of the Royal bubble is the porters outside at the embarkation/debarkation port. They are not Royal employees. Tip them if you use them.

[Ashland]

You don't need to tip your cabin steward any extra to bring you ice when he/she does your turn down service. We however tip for any service gone above and beyond what would be considered normal or to those that aren't included with the daily gratuities. Some of those for us would be room service, drink staff in the SL etc. etc. and of course when we travel with grandkids that use the Adventure Ocean facilities we certainly thank them !!!!

 

Use your own experience to do this...it won't be hard to figure out...

 

Enjoy your cruise !!

[deliver42]

There is no should tip. Everybody has their opinion and what they do, including me. I don't tip daily, except for the service charge that Royal takes out. I do tip for drinks, the dock porters,if the service is good, then I'll give extra to our waiter and ass't, and our cabin attendant at the end of the cruise. As I said, this is me. My choice. Do what you're comfortable with, and don't let anyone shame you to do more.

[Tree_skier]

2 hours ago, SeattleAl said:

Hi folks. To start, I'm not a big fan of tipping. I think you should pay people a fair wage, they should do their jobs well, and customers should pay a price to support that. That said, I know the travel industry runs on tips and that's not likely to change.

 

I know that many of the daily tips are now charged and collected as a daily fee. I actually like that. But, as I read more threads I'm reading about other times and places tips are expected/appropriate and I don't want to be that guy who stiffs someone because he doesn't know any better. So, I wonder if you all could comment on times & places I should tip? I have already heard about room service and the porters who take your luggage. Any others I should be aware of? What about excursions? What if your room steward brings you ice? Suggested amounts? I know this is a big question, so thanks in advance!

🍿

[neverbeenhere]

Is there a popcorn vendor on the ship? that would definitely be worth a tip. 

[firefly333]

3 hours ago, SeattleAl said:

Hi folks. To start, I'm not a big fan of tipping. I think you should pay people a fair wage, they should do their jobs well, and customers should pay a price to support that. That said, I know the travel industry runs on tips and that's not likely to change.

 

I know that many of the daily tips are now charged and collected as a daily fee. I actually like that. But, as I read more threads I'm reading about other times and places tips are expected/appropriate and I don't want to be that guy who stiffs someone because he doesn't know any better. So, I wonder if you all could comment on times & places I should tip? I have already heard about room service and the porters who take your luggage. Any others I should be aware of? What about excursions? What if your room steward brings you ice? Suggested amounts? I know this is a big question, so thanks in advance!

I vote formif someone does something extra. Check your luggage? They expect a tip. Do you order room service? They expect a tip.

 

Just carry all your luggage on, no shuttle service, excursion bus drivers, taxi, room service upscale dining ..

 

 

[Merion_Mom]

7 minutes ago, neverbeenhere said:

Is there a popcorn vendor on the ship? that would definitely be worth a tip. 

 

On the Anthem, smartypants, they sell popcorn outside the theater.

[Sunshine3601]

I personally like to give some tip upfront to our room steward and bartenders I know I will frequent.  Helps them remember you and make perfect drinks and do extra special towel animals etc in your cabin.  

 

One of my last cruises before shutdown I had a fabulous waiter in Casino bar who came looking for me a couple times on pool deck to bring me mojitos when casino was slow during the day.  Maybe I tipped him too much with some casino winnings but he definitely went above and beyond.

[late2cruisin]

We have only been on Royal Caribbean twice, 2 different ships and about 5 years apart. Both times the room attendant left envelopes for extra tips, so clearly it was expected. Do they do this on all Royal Caribbean ships?  I have never experienced this on any other cruise line (and I've been on many).

[WindinmySails]

2 hours ago, Ashland said:

and of course when we travel with grandkids that use the Adventure Ocean facilities we certainly thank them !!!!

This really made me smile, I used to tip much much more than normal when my kids were little and we went out to eat.

[zekekelso]

I was going to say no need to tip any RCI folks above and beyond the standard daily charge. Unless you want. But I’ve seen how some kids behave. If parents of those kids (you know who you are) dump them on the adventure ocean staff, they better be tipping. 

[ditmar2007]

12 hours ago, Ashland said:

Use your own experience to do this...it won't be hard to figure out...

For some of us that is not very good advice. I come from a country where tipping is not a thing. 

My own experiece is to NOT TIP AT ALL. 

I would be the a__hole if I used my own experience on a cruise ship.

[lakelivin2]

What if you have the unlimited dining package?  Does auto grats include these servers?  

[Biker19]

33 minutes ago, ditmar2007 said:

I would be the a__hole if I used my own experience on a cruise ship.

Not at all, don't let the tipping police here shame you into it.

[Biker19]

28 minutes ago, lakelivin2 said:

What if you have the unlimited dining package?  Does auto grats include these servers?  

Yes.

[smokeybandit]

Tip whomever you want whenever you want whatever you are comfortable with.

 

Whether that's 10 people $100 each or no one at all.

[SRF]

12 hours ago, neverbeenhere said:

Is there a popcorn vendor on the ship? that would definitely be worth a tip. 

 

Yes, sometimes there is popcorn in the theater before the shows. 😄

[SRF]

I tip people who provide service above and beyond expected.

 

The bartender that remembers what you drink, sees you coming, and is already preparing or has prepared your drink by the time you get the bar.  The waiter that goes above and beyond.

 

I tip room service if there is no charge.  Like in a suite or for continental breakfast.  Suite lounge for free drinks.

 

But as many have said, tip what makes sense to YOU. 

[RedIguana]

1 hour ago, glentally said:

When will they give up on the Covid - 19 vaccine mandates and fears and go back to normal cruising?  I am not vaxed and right now I have to be jabbed three times just to get on the ship and also tested.

 

At some point don't we move on and go back to worrying about Noroviruses like the good old days.

 

What about the regular flu?  No one talks about these anymore like they don't exist.

 

Not here to judge, just curious when will we move on?

 

 

 

3 hours ago, glentally said:

No tips from me.  I need to spend that money on the multiple tests, masks, gloves, shields and hoops just to get on the ship.

Have you even been on a ship since March 2020  since you are not vaccinated?

[loman]

Since drinks are included when you book a suite , what do you usually tip for a drink in the concierge lounge .It says beer and wine , not a mixed drink.

And do you tip if all you want is a  bottle of water.

[ramja96]

18 hours ago, Cigar King said:

I'd suggest you tip as you feel appropriate.  I'll offer as guidelines that you tip everybody who brings something to you.  

 

You just delivered some advice .... are you trying to send a message here? 😉😆

[Tree_skier]

2 hours ago, RedIguana said:

 

Have you even been on a ship since March 2020  since you are not vaccinated?

According to signature he hasn't been on a ship since 2014