First time cruiser - is it standard to tip the cabin steward

[DCPIV]

We typically leave something extra for our room attendant because they typically do an amazing job and help us out in one manner or another throughout the cruise.  If nothing else, I have a habit of sleeping late on a cruise when I can, and I know I'm messing up their routine.  That's reason enough for me, but there usually are more reasons.

 

That said, we've had cruises where we've not left anything extra for a room attendant.  It just wasn't warranted.  While that's an unfortunate situation, it is what it is.  Do what you feel is warranted, and don't let shame or guilt motivate you.  

 

I completely agree about giving good reviews and mentioning crew by name in your survey.  That really does a lot for them!  We mention someone's exceptional service while we are in the ship when we get a chance to do so to an officer.  They want to hear from you, goo or bad.  

 

There's one other thing regarding the gratuities form you can use at guest services.  If you want to wait until the last day of the cruise to use that form, you probably want to get over there and do so before dinner.  I was on one sailing when I showed up around 9 PM, and they told me they had already shut everything down for that sailing.  I was able to use the form in the end, but it took a little discussion to get there.  I do know the gratuities went through because I was thanked for them the next morning, so you can feel confident that they get to the person(s) you intend, they get there pretty quickly, and the recipients know they came from you.

[RichYak]

32 minutes ago, GRBlizz said:

Here's a question - when you do select dining, how do you handle extra tips for the waitstaff? When we have done select dining in the MDR, we seriously get a different person/team each night. Actually, it's one of the main drawbacks to Select in my opinion. But what do people do?

Tip each night.

[markeb]

1 hour ago, GRBlizz said:

It is so interesting to see the amounts people are reporting that they tip! We've only ever had one cruise with a cabin steward who disappointed us, and even then we felt bad giving him only half of our normal extra amount. 

Here's a question - when you do select dining, how do you handle extra tips for the waitstaff? When we have done select dining in the MDR, we seriously get a different person/team each night. Actually, it's one of the main drawbacks to Select in my opinion. But what do people do?

Add a tip with guest services. The tips are pooled, so the entire waitstaff will share them. Let the employer and their employees sort it out. 

[dazey]

Regarding select dining we also did not know how to handle the tipping as we always did it the last night.  However, on our last two cruises(Nov and May) while we had select dining we reserved a time and always had the same service people.  That resolved the tipping issue for us.

[DCPIV]

3 minutes ago, markeb said:

Add a tip with guest services. The tips are pooled, so the entire waitstaff will share them. Let the employer and their employees sort it out. 

 

That might be true for dining staff or something like that, but a tip made with the GS form that is directed to your room attendant or butler goes directly to the person you intend.  Those aren't pooled.

[the penguins]

1 hour ago, GRBlizz said:

It is so interesting to see the amounts people are reporting that they tip! We've only ever had one cruise with a cabin steward who disappointed us, and even then we felt bad giving him only half of our normal extra amount. 

Here's a question - when you do select dining, how do you handle extra tips for the waitstaff? When we have done select dining in the MDR, we seriously get a different person/team each night. Actually, it's one of the main drawbacks to Select in my opinion. But what do people do?

Not an issue for us as we keep the same table every night. 

[the penguins]

4 hours ago, dazey said:

WE usually tip our cabin steward approx. $30-$45 depending on length of cruise.  I especially tip when they listen that I do not want all those decorative pillows put on the bed.  It sometimes takes a few days before they figure out I am hiding them for a reason! 

We solve this and other issues on day  1 by talking to the cabin steward. We acknowledging that they have to makeup the cabins to an official standard which is checked by a supervisor/officer. We then agree how we want our cabin done (for example the sheets are not to be tucked in, fridge emptied etc) and then offer to sign their worksheet to this effect. Experienced Stewards have no problem explaining the changes to their supervisor new staff are happy to have the written instructions.

[weregoingcruising]

We have always had select dining and  been assigned our favorite  table for 2 at 7pm.  I'm looking for help on how to show our appreciation to staff in 4 differrent MDR on Edge class at the end of the cruise. I'ts also possible we will be dining at different select times.

Thank You

[markeb]

43 minutes ago, DCPIV said:

 

That might be true for dining staff or something like that, but a tip made with the GS form that is directed to your room attendant or butler goes directly to the person you intend.  Those aren't pooled.

That’s also how it was explained to me as well, which is how it would apply to the OP. But dining services was one entry. They have a pooling system. I was specifically responding to the question about Select dining. 
 

[Algebralovr]

On 8/18/2022 at 9:06 AM, GRBlizz said:

Here's a question - when you do select dining, how do you handle extra tips for the waitstaff? When we have done select dining in the MDR, we seriously get a different person/team each night. Actually, it's one of the main drawbacks to Select in my opinion. But what do people do?

We were told on a previous cruise that since select diners were not allowed to deduct their gratuities, that the waiters (and asst) who agreed to work in Select Dining knew up front that the auto gratuities included their pay.  Many people end up with the same team of servers in Select, but not everyone.  So, the waiters know if you are a one-time diner, they simply get that share of the auto-grat for your table.  
 

What they are paid also is influenced by how many guests they end up serving for dinner.  If they have a 2 top and can turn it 3 times, they know they will earn a little more than if they only turn it twice. 

[mamacol]

One thing I do before departing for a cruise is get $100-$200 in small bills. I always tip the room service person, and with baggage handlers, tour guides, taxi drivers, bartenders it really can add up. And with small bills I can give just the amount I feel is appropriate. 

Long story short - I recommend stopping at a bank before your trip to get small bills.

Enjoy your trip~

[D. B.]

I leave for a cruise tomorrow and stopped at my bank for Tips money to use just as mamacol suggests.

 Once on the ship the Casino cashier can also provide change in USD$.

 I started my working life in low paying jobs and now I like sharing with  those who make my late life a better place.

 

[emmas gran]

The OP is boarding tomorrow so may not read any further advice 

[Gracie115]

We have always tipped extra, these people, for the most part work incredibly hard for long hours every single day.  Yes, some room stewards are better than others, but none have been bad.  

 

Wait staff, room stewards, bartenders, cocktail waitstaff all receive something from us, sometimes on the last day, sometimes throughout the cruise.  

 

We also answer the survey in great detail, naming all the people that helped make our cruise special.

 

I can NOT imagine removing the automated gratuities for any reason.  You would be hurting not only the visible staff, but also rarely seen employees that share in those gratuities. 

[Treasure Hunter]

We always need extra things ( like more hangers, different pillow, diet coke, ice ). Once in a celebrity suite they taped up the little window between the bed and the living area. We tip at least a  $20 at the beginning and usually $20-$40 at the end if we feel we have a established a relationship. I'm so happy to be on a cruise I could cry. The stewards work to death for us.

[LMaxwell]

18 minutes ago, Treasure Hunter said:

We always need extra things ( like more hangers, different pillow, diet coke, ice )

 

The stewards work to death for us.

 

If I were going to run them daily I'd consider a per diem addition so they would not be wondering and not wait for the end. We never ask for that level of service and often tip similarly to you. 

[PTC DAWG]

On 8/18/2022 at 11:55 AM, the penguins said:

We solve this and other issues on day  1 by talking to the cabin steward. We acknowledging that they have to makeup the cabins to an official standard which is checked by a supervisor/officer. We then agree how we want our cabin done (for example the sheets are not to be tucked in, fridge emptied etc) and then offer to sign their worksheet to this effect. Experienced Stewards have no problem explaining the changes to their supervisor new staff are happy to have the written instructions.

You serious Clark? 

[LMaxwell]

3 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

You serious Clark? 

I was wondering about some of these responses also.  People sure seem to relish "getting into it" with Stewards and micromanaging their work, tipping early, tipping daily, tipping at the end, to get pillows square instead of diamond, towels stacked instead of layered, ice cubed instead of round.

 

 Be courteous and polite to them. Stop trying to reinvent the process. If you require something additional; one simple request is all that is ever needed. They apprciate additional cash, if you want to provide it. They don't need $5 candy bars from the gift shop onboard. They don't want to play hide and seek where someone has hidden pillows and put all the minibar items in the bathroom cabinet so that they get dinged by their supervisors. Just let these hard working individuals do their job.

[PTC DAWG]

29 minutes ago, LMaxwell said:

I was wondering about some of these responses also.  People sure seem to relish "getting into it" with Stewards and micromanaging their work, tipping early, tipping daily, tipping at the end, to get pillows square instead of diamond, towels stacked instead of layered, ice cubed instead of round.

 

 Be courteous and polite to them. Stop trying to reinvent the process. If you require something additional; one simple request is all that is ever needed. They apprciate additional cash, if you want to provide it. They don't need $5 candy bars from the gift shop onboard. They don't want to play hide and seek where someone has hidden pillows and put all the minibar items in the bathroom cabinet so that they get dinged by their supervisors. Just let these hard working individuals do their job.

Well said. 

[mitz18]

4 hours ago, emmas gran said:

The OP is boarding tomorrow so may not read any further advice 

It's still fun to read responses.....no matter how crazy they are.😁

[mitz18]

On 8/18/2022 at 10:55 AM, the penguins said:

We solve this and other issues on day  1 by talking to the cabin steward. We acknowledging that they have to makeup the cabins to an official standard which is checked by a supervisor/officer. We then agree how we want our cabin done (for example the sheets are not to be tucked in, fridge emptied etc) and then offer to sign their worksheet to this effect. Experienced Stewards have no problem explaining the changes to their supervisor new staff are happy to have the written instructions.

 

I said, don't tuck in the sheets.....

 

 

 

 

[the penguins]

On 8/20/2022 at 3:24 PM, PTC DAWG said:

You serious Clark? 

Very. In addition, because my wife has to take morpine based pain killers followed by a 30 minute nap at the sametime every day, it's important that the Steward knows to avoid those times. To that end we go to breakfast and dinner at the same every day which means the Steward can work around those schedules. It works to everyone's advantage and every Steward has been delighted with the arrangement.

[MixerDave]

On 8/17/2022 at 11:22 AM, JFontaine said:

In the "old days" cash tips were handed out on the last evening of the cruise.  I still do this in envelopes obtained from the guest relations desk; they are available for free, and they have a stack for this purpose.  I write a short note on the envelope (thank you and good luck, and my name), and I give them out before dinner, dining room staff receive their envelopes as I'm leaving dinner. Have a great cruise. 

I remember in the "old days"  when this was the custom.  On the last day at breakfast, the waiter commented to me how empty the dining room was.  He said those were the tables where people did not tip the night before.  Situations like this lead to the autimatic gratuities.

 

[Markanddonna]

Yoy will also find that people who tip extra come from thw USA. Travel with Ossies or Kiwis and you will get a lecture about tipping. Many Europeans alao.

[JFontaine]

1 hour ago, MixerDave said:

I remember in the "old days"  when this was the custom.  On the last day at breakfast, the waiter commented to me how empty the dining room was.  He said those were the tables where people did not tip the night before.  Situations like this lead to the autimatic gratuities.

 

On one of my first cruises many years ago with assigned tables and no specialty restaurants yet a couple didn't show up for the last dinner. I remember feeling awful that they were going to stiff the hardworking wait staff. But as dinner ended the husband walked into the dining room, envelopes in hand. Funny how some memories stick with you.