Additional Gratuities - Cash vs Onboard Account

[colliercruiser]

Up until our most recent cruise (Nov 13), I always gave additional gratuities via cash (beyond the standard ones)... often in the small envelopes provided by Guest Services onboard.  On this recent cruise, however, I became aware that there is a form (at Guest Services) to itemize additional gratuities which are then charged to our onboard account (eventually paid via credit card and potentially OBC).  I was told that I could even name specific crew (e.g., Luminae waitstaff, butler, etc) to receive specific amounts, and they would eventually receive the gratuities in their next paycheck.

 

When I mentioned this to the Luminae maitre d', he said that these gratuities are pooled for the entire Luminae staff, even if specific names are listed on the form.

 

Is anyone familiar with the gratuity process via the form and charged to one's onboard account?  Are they handled the same as cash?  If you give a specific dining room staff member cash instead, do they "normally" keep it for themselves or is it also added to the gratuity pool?

 

Final note:  When I mentioned this gratuity to our suite's room attendant, her comment was something like "oh, Celebrity just keeps those tips for themselves"... but I assume this was just someone's (negative) opinion and not correct.

[PTC DAWG]

I leave the standard gratuities in place..on top of that I give cash to certain people through the cruise, room steward, bar tenders, waiters etc…I let them sort out what to do with it.  

[Jim_Iain]

I have done both for additional tips.   I found out from the Hotel Director of Equinox that if you just put the $ amount against a position, e.g. Waiter then it goes to a shared pool.   If you write the person's name it goes to them directly.

 

As far as leaving cash there are conflicting reports but my understanding is that it goes into a pool of all the dining room staff.   Some have indicated that if you put the money in an envelope with their name on it they can take it individually.

 

I also asked in Specialty Dining room and was told if you leave a tip on the Receipt it goes to the entire dining room staff of all restaurants but if you leave cash it is split among the Specialty Dining room only.

[Phxazzcruisers]

If you ask 10 different cruisers you will get 10 different answers to this question.  If you want an additional tip to go directly to one specific person, give them cash in an envelope.  we always leave the standard tips in place and tip the butler, room steward, waitstaff, sommelier, restroom attendant and anyone else that gave us excellent service.  THey work very hard for their money and we feel they have earned it

Edited November 21, 2021 by Phxazzcruisers

[ETHTrader]

I just hand extra cash in an envelope to the individuals. Whether they get to keep them or need to share with others, is out of my control.

 

But by handing them the extra tip in an envelope, I am simply trying to express my gratitude directly to the individuals and in my opinion, that's what matters. If they get to keep it. Fantastic. If they have to share it, well, out of my control at that point.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

Luminae has always pooled their tips.  There are lots of people who contribute to your good experience there besides your actual waiter.  I have used this form previously when I had lots of nonrefundable OBC.

[Pinboy]

ANOTHER thread about Gratuities ??? (  Same xxxx , different day ) .

If you want to provide an additional tip , over and above the " Gratuities Included " that have already been paid for----- Either put the $$$ into an envelope OR just hand it directly to the person.  He/ She is entitled to keep it for themselves--- ( Re : Hotel Manager, Maitre'D , Stateroom Attendants , that have confirmed this many times ).  Very simple and easy to understand. 

 

 

 

[colliercruiser]

13 minutes ago, Pinboy said:

ANOTHER thread about Gratuities ??? (  Same xxxx , different day ) .

 

Well, I wasn't asking the usual gratuities question (i.e., "do you leave an extra tip and, if so, how much").  Yes, I've read that many times and everyone has their own approach.  I was simply inquiring about the form I used from Guest Relations (first time I was aware of it) and whether it mirrored the "using cash" result.

 

Regardless of the method, I always express my many thanks to those who provide great service... and I don't think those thanks have to be directly connected to a handover of cash.  But just my opinion.

[BoundForSea]

I need to clarify something which is important. The OP mentioned somebody told her that “they would receive it in their next paycheck”. That is 100% not true. The crew are not employed by RCG. The contracts are negotiated prior to their coming on board, every detail.  Part of that contract is a section specific to Gratuities. Contracted employees who fall into job categories covered by gratuities are given a certain percentage of the TOTAL gratuities collected for their time period on board. One negative aspect of a 50% occupancy post covid is that’s 50% less gratuity spread across those who receive a percentage. So my point is it’s all laid out in a contract ahead of time and believe me, RCG and the other cruise lines legal departments have that nailed down 100%. 

 

I know this first hand and share it so you’re educated. 

 

Please, if someone you feel deserves something on top of the equally distributed pot of gratuities, then HAND THEM CASH.  Not gifts, not gift cards, not hand made knitted scarves or any of that kind of thing. They don’t want it. Most importantly certainly PLEASE don’t give it to the cruise line. What you can do is take a cash withdrawal from Guest Services and they will charge it to your room with a small fee.  There are also ATM machines available. Casino will also be an option if you have OBC (that’s a different topic for a different thread)

 

Y’all can throw darts at me if you don’t like my answer but it’s the facts. I’m taking the spears to look out for those great crew members from getting swindled out of a well deserved tip. 

 

 

 

 

 

[LGW59]

1 minute ago, BoundForSea said:

I need to clarify something which is important. The OP mentioned somebody told her that “they would receive it in their next paycheck”. That is 100% not true. The crew are not employed by RCG. The contracts are negotiated prior to their coming on board, every detail.  Part of that contract is a section specific to Gratuities. Contracted employees who fall into job categories covered by gratuities are given a certain percentage of the TOTAL gratuities collected for their time period on board. One negative aspect of a 50% occupancy post covid is that’s 50% less gratuity spread across those who receive a percentage. So my point is it’s all laid out in a contract ahead of time and believe me, RCG and the other cruise lines legal departments have that nailed down 100%. 

 

I know this first hand and share it so you’re educated. 

 

Please, if someone you feel deserves something on top of the equally distributed pot of gratuities, then HAND THEM CASH.  Not gifts, not gift cards, not hand made knitted scarves or any of that kind of thing. They don’t want it. Most importantly certainly PLEASE don’t give it to the cruise line. What you can do is take a cash withdrawal from Guest Services and they will charge it to your room with a small fee.  There are also ATM machines available. Casino will also be an option if you have OBC (that’s a different topic for a different thread)

 

Y’all can throw darts at me if you don’t like my answer but it’s the facts. I’m taking the spears to look out for those great crew members from getting swindled out of a well deserved tip. 

 

 

 

 

 

OMG so WELL stated!  Cash is king for sure.  I tip early and I tip often.  Folks who give gift cards, knitted whatever, trinkets from home, while well meaning and still do it, but give cash as well.

[colliercruiser]

2 minutes ago, BoundForSea said:

I need to clarify something which is important. The OP mentioned somebody told her that “they would receive it in their next paycheck”. That is 100% not true. The crew are not employed by RCG. The contracts are negotiated prior to their coming on board, every detail.  Part of that contract is a section specific to Gratuities. Contracted employees who fall into job categories covered by gratuities are given a certain percentage of the TOTAL gratuities collected for their time period on board. One negative aspect of a 50% occupancy post covid is that’s 50% less gratuity spread across those who receive a percentage. So my point is it’s all laid out in a contract ahead of time and believe me, RCG and the other cruise lines legal departments have that nailed down 100%. 

 

I know this first hand and share it so you’re educated. 

 

Please, if someone you feel deserves something on top of the equally distributed pot of gratuities, then HAND THEM CASH.  Not gifts, not gift cards, not hand made knitted scarves or any of that kind of thing. They don’t want it. Most importantly certainly PLEASE don’t give it to the cruise line. What you can do is take a cash withdrawal from Guest Services and they will charge it to your room with a small fee.  There are also ATM machines available. Casino will also be an option if you have OBC (that’s a different topic for a different thread)

 

Y’all can throw darts at me if you don’t like my answer but it’s the facts. I’m taking the spears to look out for those great crew members from getting swindled out of a well deserved tip. 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for those specifics.  You've raised a concern, based on my last cruise, that I am being told something very different by Guest Services than what you state above.  I specifically asked if the individual I listed for a specific gratuity amount would receive that specific amount.  I was told yes, that person would receive notification that an extra gratuity was left for them and, later, get it in their paycheck.

 

Sounds like they were telling me what I wanted to hear and not necessarily the correct answer.

[cruisestitch]

I filled out the form at guest relations to use some onboard credit for extra gratuity for my state room attendant
 

Three days ago, my state room attendant said that he will receive the gratuity in his next paycheck.

 

I have no reason not to believe him.

[Pinboy]

13 minutes ago, colliercruiser said:

and I don't think those thanks have to be directly connected to a handover of cash.  But just my opinion.

Let's agree to disagree---

Let's say you were working on a cruise ship for xx months at a time, away from family , friends, your favorite Tim Hortons , and Pinboy expresses his " Sincere Thanks for busting your A-- in providing ME  Excellent Service "--- And, I give you a handshake and a big hug --- No envelope, no $$$ in the palm of your hand --- How are you going to feel ? What are you going to tell your colleagues ? 

These folks work for TIPS -- not jars of " world famous " Quebec maple syrup, nor a hand knitted scarf that you are re-gifting from a gift exchange that you were stuck with , or even a framed picture you took with them 6 cruises ago. 

 

 

[colliercruiser]

23 minutes ago, cruisestitch said:

I filled out the form at guest relations to use some onboard credit for extra gratuity for my state room attendant
 

Three days ago, my state room attendant said that he will receive the gratuity in his next paycheck.

 

I have no reason not to believe him.

👍

[canderson]

1 hour ago, BoundForSea said:

...taking the spears to look out for those great crew members from getting swindled out of a well deserved tip. 

When the Hotel Director reads the entire "We'd love to hear from you..." note in the crew meeting that not only explains the reasons for the tip but also the amount, everyone involved has their expectations set correctly.  Due to some major repricing post-final payment, we were afforded the opportunity to be particularly generous with X's money on our current cruise.  One example, all of which was confirmed to be added specifically to the Luminae pool:

Edited November 21, 2021 by canderson

[Pickels]

Since 2003, we’ve always left the automatic gratuity on our account and, have given  staff an envelope with cash at the end of the cruise; cabin steward, butler, waiters, etc.  they all work hard and deserve extra!

[goofysmom99]

I used the form for an additional $100 each for my butler and room steward, by name, last month.  I had them again 10 days later and they both told me they DID receive it and they both told me the amount they received ($100).  This is my own personal experience specifically for these two positions.  I don't know about any other people or groups.  For bartenders and wait staff, I use cash.

[Northern Aurora]

6 hours ago, colliercruiser said:

........ On this recent cruise, however, I became aware that there is a form (at Guest Services) to itemize additional gratuities which are then charged to our onboard account (eventually paid via credit card and potentially OBC).  ......

 

While I realize I am probably stating the obvious I just wanted to mention that the OBC gratuities form can also be obtained from the Retreat concierges.  And it would not surprise me if the Captain's Club host also has it at his or her desk.