Tipping for the Diamond Drinks loaded on your card

[cruisegirl1]

B2B on Harmony last week we went to the suite lounge 3 times and rarely saw anyone tipping the bar servers. 

 

We tip for each (complementary) drink regardless of where we get it. (Lounge, bar, casino, pool etc.) 

 

m

[cruisegirl1]

23 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

But that would take several trips. 

 

They limit how many you can get

Correct, they really don’t like to give you lots of small bills from the casino. We have started bringing a (100) pack of 1’s and plenty of 5’s. We find it so easy to have the small bills in the cabin, and not have to worry about going to guest services or the casino for change. 
 

m

[herbanrenewal]

11 hours ago, Tlbecker1 said:

You and me both are nitwits and I agree 100%!  I still don’t understand why $2’s are a problem?  That is what we use and will keep doing so.

I've had checkers in US stores refuse two dollar bills - they are not that common here, and some fear they are fake/counterfeit.

On European trips I use Euro coins or local currency change that I have left over after ports that use non-Euro currencies.

[artvlay]

Going on a Mediterranean cruise, is it ok to tip with $1 US currency? 

When I am on transatlantic I know it's fine because they will be in US for a number of months. 

[billslowsky]

11 hours ago, taglovestocruise said:

 

After smiling at you when you hand them the strange bank note, they only remember the nitwit  who thought he / she was being cute.

 

What a lovely attitude.  Really makes me want to tip even more.

 

People should understand that the crew views passengers as little more than potential cash sources.

[whoshwhosh]

New to Diamond status. With the 4 free drinks daily do I have to tell the server to use my drink allowance versus paying for the drink?  What if order a soft drink or water, how does that work?

[billslowsky]

15 minutes ago, whoshwhosh said:

New to Diamond status. With the 4 free drinks daily do I have to tell the server to use my drink allowance versus paying for the drink?  What if order a soft drink or water, how does that work?

Yes you have to tell them.  And tell them to charge your account for non-alcoholic drinks unless you plan to not use all four by the end of the day.  You can also ask them how many you have available at the time of your order, they can tell you.

[OCSC Mike]

59 minutes ago, cruisegirl1 said:

Correct, they really don’t like to give you lots of small bills from the casino. We have started bringing a (100) pack of 1’s and plenty of 5’s. We find it so easy to have the small bills in the cabin, and not have to worry about going to guest services or the casino for change.

 

We do the same exact thing. As an added bonus, the singles you get from your bank don't reek of smoke from the casino. 🤣

[whoshwhosh]

23 minutes ago, billslowsky said:

Yes you have to tell them.  And tell them to charge your account for non-alcoholic drinks unless you plan to not use all four by the end of the day.  You can also ask them how many you have available at the time of your order, they can tell you.

thank you, that is exactly the info I needed

[OCSC Mike]

Just now, whoshwhosh said:

thank you, that is exactly the info I needed

 

One other tip... when you use a voucher, the drink should show up on your account in the app almost instantly with the name of the bar you used and $0.00. This is another way to both keep track of how many you have used as well as make sure you weren't charged.

[billslowsky]

23 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

One other tip... when you use a voucher, the drink should show up on your account in the app almost instantly with the name of the bar you used and $0.00. This is another way to both keep track of how many you have used as well as make sure you weren't charged.

True, but I learned with an Emerald discount on drinks, the full price showed up, I went to Guest Services and got the "you should have..." spiel.

[Seville2Cabo]

1 hour ago, herbanrenewal said:

I've had checkers in US stores refuse two dollar bills - they are not that common here, and some fear they are fake/counterfeit.

On European trips I use Euro coins or local currency change that I have left over after ports that use non-Euro currencies.

Are you saying you tip with coins?  Almost impossible to spend or exchange unless you go back to that country.  

[cruisegirl1]

1 hour ago, artvlay said:

Going on a Mediterranean cruise, is it ok to tip with $1 US currency? 

When I am on transatlantic I know it's fine because they will be in US for a number of months. 

Yes - US currently works on board.  

 

M

[yogimax]

2 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

B2B on Harmony last week we went to the suite lounge 3 times and rarely saw anyone tipping the bar servers. 

 

I've seen the same thing in the DL.  It seems like the majority don't tip at all.  Of course, that's interesting because it seems like everyone on this Board tips, or at least they say they do.

[ABC Cruisers]

14 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:Tip: You do have 4 more on disembarkation morning (or turnaround morning if a B2B).

We are on our first B2B this year, does that mean we have 4 the last morning to use and 4 more are loaded on our card when we check in for the 2nd leg of our B2B as it’s considered the start of the next cruise?

[rrraydon]

$2 per drink. (two single dollar bills...😁)

[OCSC Mike]

14 minutes ago, ABC Cruisers said:

We are on our first B2B this year, does that mean we have 4 the last morning to use and 4 more are loaded on our card when we check in for the 2nd leg of our B2B as it’s considered the start of the next cruise?

 

Yes. Last week was my 1st B2B and we used some that morning of TAD (turn around day) for bottled water for the 2nd leg and some iced coffee drinks at Cafe Promenade.

[karl_nj]

1 hour ago, Seville2Cabo said:

Are you saying you tip with coins?  Almost impossible to spend or exchange unless you go back to that country.  

 

That is true.  On the other hand, there is no "paper" 1 or 2 euro currently.  Only 1 and 2 euro coins.

 

[Guest]

Can we order 2 freshly squeezed orange juices to the cabin first thing in the morning and use drinks vouchers? 

[Biker19]

14 minutes ago, Glock said:

Can we order 2 freshly squeezed orange juices to the cabin first thing in the morning and use drinks vouchers? 

Unlikely.

[Seville2Cabo]

21 minutes ago, karl_nj said:

 

That is true.  On the other hand, there is no "paper" 1 or 2 euro currently.  Only 1 and 2 euro coins.

 

I understand that and I guess on a ship that is porting in a "euro" country, the crew could spend the coins in port - but would not be able to exchange them.  In Mexico we see people giving tips in US quarters.  Nothing they can do with them - just trash or find someone like me willing to exchange for Pesos and bring the quarters back to the US

[Guest]

10 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

Unlikely.

Thanks, but why do you think that?

[herbanrenewal]

1 hour ago, Seville2Cabo said:

Are you saying you tip with coins?  Almost impossible to spend or exchange unless you go back to that country.  

I use coins that are worth 1 to 3 USD if that's what I have after visiting a port. Since cruise staff revisit. ports its easier for them to use than USD where they have to pay exchange fees. That's what I was told by staff member when I asked him if he would be back in that country again during his current contract. I do check to be sure they will be returning to that port and able to use the coins. The last time I was in Denmark I had about $6 left in DKR and didn't anticipate returning so I gave to my room attendant.  I do not give it as a tip unless I've checked to see if the recipient will be back in that country. Of course Euros are much easier for them to deal with if their contract is for a season in Europe.

[Big_G]

I always get a chuckle at the airport because I have to go through the X-ray at security and you have to take out your money. TSA always wants to skim through my huge wad of cash which is more ones than anything else. They probably think I'm heading to a strip club.

[Biker19]

54 minutes ago, Glock said:

Thanks, but why do you think that?

The D drink perk is like a limited number drink package and those can’t usually be used for in cabin drink orders.