Tipping, True or False

[Jeremiah1212]

This often comes up and ultimately no one really knows. 

I'd be 100% confident the staff is advised not to discuss it and they are probably uncomfortable when a guest presses the issue. 

[cruisinnorth]

Thanks for all the information.  I can understand all the confusion especially since there isn’t any published definitive information from the cruise line.  Thanks again.

Dave

[dani negreanu]

On 3/3/2022 at 4:47 PM, morpheusofthesea said:

"Recently I saw a Tik Tok by Captain Kate. She was giving out envelopes to her staff that a passenger asked her to do for them. One staff member opened the envelope to find $5.

 

I'm myself an avid follower of Captain Kate, and the mentioned video really stuck to my mind... Turns out that in India 5$ go a long way. "Small amount makes a huge difference".

 

[cdn_tbird]

I have always tipped extra for good service. Personally don't have any problem with tips being pooled, because the hundreds of crew members that work behind the scene are just as responsible for the enjoyment of our cruise as the ones we interact with and deserve to share in the additional tips. 

[micruiser2002]

I think the bottom line here is CASH is king.  Not sure how anyone can completely control what happens to that cash once it is in the employees pockets.  Plus they are instantly rewarded rather than waiting.  I still believe those who are given cash the majority are able to keep it.

[DaKahuna]

Does anyone else make a point of going to the bank and getting $2.00 bills for tips at bars and venue’s you visit only occasionally? 

[micruiser2002]

20 minutes ago, DaKahuna said:

Does anyone else make a point of going to the bank and getting $2.00 bills for tips at bars and venue’s you visit only occasionally? 

Not $2 bills but I did get ones and fives.  The only time I made a point of getting $2 bills was I believe a trip to Asia (??) there was a specific country that they loved them and they meant good luck so you would get a better deal when using them.

 

[Denny01]

1 hour ago, DaKahuna said:

Does anyone else make a point of going to the bank and getting $2.00 bills for tips at bars and venue’s you visit only occasionally? 

We cruise with good friends and he always gets $2 bill and uses those for tips. I’ll carry the $1/5/10’s and use accordingly. I think $2 would be kind of fun, but never did it. 

 

Den

[cruisestitch]

Recently on a back to back cruise, I used the form they gave me at Guest Relations to add extra gratuity to my room steward out of my on-board credit.  A couple of days into the second cruise, my room steward  thanked me for it.  So that answered the question for me about whether or not that onboard credit gratuity goes straight to my Room attendant.

[NutsAboutGolf]

On 3/2/2022 at 6:25 PM, PTC DAWG said:

Cash is KING

 

More like not paying taxes is KING, all servers including those in our home country prefer cash for this reason...ha ha

[NutsAboutGolf]

10 hours ago, Denny01 said:

We cruise with good friends and he always gets $2 bill and uses those for tips. I’ll carry the $1/5/10’s and use accordingly. I think $2 would be kind of fun, but never did it. 

 

Den

 

Those giving out $2 bills mean well, but it's been discussed for decades that the crew hate receiving them.  They aren't accepted outside of the united states and rarely does the crew get to get off of the ship in US ports.  The crew will often try to trade them with a newer crew member.

[morpheusofthesea]

22 minutes ago, cruisestitch said:

 So that answered the question for me about whether or not that onboard credit gratuity goes straight to my Room attendant.

Curious if steward got 100% of what you gave him ?

[cruisestitch]

2 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Curious if steward got 100% of what you gave him ?

Yes.  She told me what she received.

[Pinboy]

On 3/2/2022 at 10:14 PM, Oville said:

They make a big deal of ringing the bell if they give a cash tip.

Geez--- It's called Marketing 101 ---- Meaning " Hey, Y'all --- Don't forget to say Thank You ( $$ ) for my service ". 

Also, about " pooling cash tips "------ How come Servers have two back pockets ?? 

[Denny01]

1 hour ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

Those giving out $2 bills mean well, but it's been discussed for decades that the crew hate receiving them.  They aren't accepted outside of the united states and rarely does the crew get to get off of the ship in US ports.  The crew will often try to trade them with a newer crew member.

Interesting statement, but doesn’t quite track. Watched my friend who did carry $2 bills use them in EU ports. They Are accepted outside the US. I agree a $2 is odd and may cause some money exchange some issues, but EU banks and most institutions are aware of US currencies and accept them. 

 

Did a Google search on $2 not accepted and there were No discussions on such an issue. In fact, the ‘issues’ those sites brought up were warnings on using $50 and $100 bills overseas that many locations wouldn’t accept them out of counterfeit concerns. No $2 concerns were identified. 

 

But each of us can interpret what we wish. I personally decided not to use them because I thought they were a bit too showy/odd: ‘see what I’m giving you!’ Instead of just handing over a nice tip amount. 

 

But $2 are legal currency and are accepted outside the US….. but probably not by some taxi driver or street vendor who hadn’t seen one. 

 

Den

[cruisestitch]

2 hours ago, NutsAboutGolf said:

 

Those giving out $2 bills mean well, but it's been discussed for decades that the crew hate receiving them.  They aren't accepted outside of the united states and rarely does the crew get to get off of the ship in US ports.  The crew will often try to trade them with a newer crew member.

This should not be a problem because on board they can exchange them for orher denominations.  

[d9704011]

1 hour ago, Denny01 said:

But $2 are legal currency and are accepted outside the US….. but probably not by some taxi driver or street vendor who hadn’t seen one.

So, they're not particularly useful for day-to-day transactions outside of the US?

[verizon]

On 3/3/2022 at 11:04 AM, Jim_Iain said:

This has been a constant debate but what I have found is that it depends.   I was in Murano as a RS free dinner.   At the end of the meal I asked for a bill and they told me it was included.   I said I wanted to leave a tip.    The Maitre'd came over and said the tip was included but if you leave a tip on the bill it goes to the total ship pool but if I left a cash tip it goes only to the Murano Dining room pool 

 

I did find out from a reliable source (The HR Director)  You can leave a tip using your OBC using a form BUT if you just leave it to a position e.g. waiter that it goes to a pool.   If you designate it to an individual by name it goes to them direct.   She said she knows because she is the one that applies it.  The Retreat host even volunteered to look up their employee number if I wanted.

 

Now on the rumor side which I have no way to verify.   Many of the waiter and bar staff say it goes to the pool I was also told if you put it in an envelope with their name on it they don't have to put it into the pool

Be aware if you are using the gratuities forms for tipping.

They will deduct from your refundable OBC instead of Non refundable OBC.

That has happened to my previous sailing.

[NutsAboutGolf]

  

1 hour ago, Denny01 said:

Interesting statement, but doesn’t quite track. Watched my friend who did carry $2 bills use them in EU ports. They Are accepted outside the US. I agree a $2 is odd and may cause some money exchange some issues, but EU banks and most institutions are aware of US currencies and accept them. 

 

Did a Google search on $2 not accepted and there were No discussions on such an issue. In fact, the ‘issues’ those sites brought up were warnings on using $50 and $100 bills overseas that many locations wouldn’t accept them out of counterfeit concerns. No $2 concerns were identified. 

 

But each of us can interpret what we wish. I personally decided not to use them because I thought they were a bit too showy/odd: ‘see what I’m giving you!’ Instead of just handing over a nice tip amount. 

 

But $2 are legal currency and are accepted outside the US….. but probably not by some taxi driver or street vendor who hadn’t seen one. 

 

Den

 

9 minutes ago, cruisestitch said:

This should not be a problem because on board they can exchange them for orher denominations.  

 

Like casino bill breaking machines, in the crew only area there's a kiosk where they can insert their cash tip into their on board account and that does NOT accept $2s.  They also have crew only vending machines, most accept electronic payments but if they accept cash they also don't accept $2s.  I'm not sure if they can utilize any other onboard services on X, I'll ask them next time I'm on board.

[WestLakeGirl]

1 hour ago, verizon said:

Be aware if you are using the gratuities forms for tipping.

They will deduct from your refundable OBC instead of Non refundable OBC.

That has happened to my previous sailing.

How very odd.  That has never happened to us.  Always non-refunable is used first.  

[cruisestitch]

1 hour ago, d9704011 said:

So, they're not particularly useful for day-to-day transactions outside of the US?

I would say that is true. Even in countries where US currency is easily accepted, $2 bills are probably going to give the shop or taxi driver or vendor pause.

[verizon]

29 minutes ago, WestLakeGirl said:

How very odd.  That has never happened to us.  Always non-refunable is used first.  

It happened to my cruise on Apex Feb.5 sailing.

May be was the accounting Department mistake.

Edited March 5, 2022 by verizon

[Projunior]

In the casino I always tip the drink server with chips. So much easier than reaching for my wallet and fishing out bills. 

[P&M_Cruising]

What do people from Europe usually do on Mediterranean cruises? It’s hard to get hold of $1 Bills, or anything less than $20 bills in money exchanges on this side of the Atlantic. Is it acceptable to tip with a €1 or €2 coin even though that’s not the currency used onboard if the cruise leaves from Italy for example?

Edited March 5, 2022 by P&M_Cruising

[verizon]

Please ignore my post #43

I just called Celebrity accounting department in Miami and they need to send an email to the ship accounting Department to make correction about my refunds.

 

Edited March 5, 2022 by verizon