kasowell2 Posted September 17, 2022 #1 Share Posted September 17, 2022 First time European cruise leaving from Southampton and ending in Rome. My question is about the currency for tipping. Southampton and dock workers. The porters at the port are they expecting a tip like the workers in the unite states? On the ship such as room service what currency is expected. United States dollars or Great Britain pound? What about porters in Rome? Do they expect a tip too? I‘m guessing they do so I will have to get some euros to tip them too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alakegirl Posted September 17, 2022 #2 Share Posted September 17, 2022 Will the ship be coming back to Southampton or going on from Rome to the transatlantic? If it won’t be coming back to Southampton, the crew will have a harder time if you use pounds for room service tipping. Stick with US dollars. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jelayne Posted September 17, 2022 #3 Share Posted September 17, 2022 The currency of the ship is USD so if you can tip with that it makes it easier for the crew. Some think that the crew can use the local currency when they go ashore but theses days the crew are not getting off the ship as much as they did pre pandemic, which wasn’t often then. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HskrCrsr Posted September 17, 2022 #4 Share Posted September 17, 2022 41 minutes ago, jelayne said: The currency of the ship is USD so if you can tip with that it makes it easier for the crew. Some think that the crew can use the local currency when they go ashore but theses days the crew are not getting off the ship as much as they did pre pandemic, which wasn’t often then. Agreed. I was told on a European cruise a few years back that the ships are like miniature floating USA's. Tipping in USD was encouraged. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the penguins Posted September 17, 2022 #5 Share Posted September 17, 2022 6 hours ago, kasowell2 said: First time European cruise leaving from Southampton and ending in Rome. My question is about the currency for tipping. Southampton and dock workers. The porters at the port are they expecting a tip like the workers in the unite states? On the ship such as room service what currency is expected. United States dollars or Great Britain pound? What about porters in Rome? Do they expect a tip too? I‘m guessing they do so I will have to get some euros to tip them too? It makes no difference to the crew. The ship will handle any currency for them. If you have left over Euros or £'s use those first (far better than converting them back into 💲's) then top up with 💲's if you need to. In Southampton tipping is not expected but if you do use £'s. Remember the smallest UK note (bill) is the equivalent of over 💲4). Have never tipped in Rome. For tips off the ship, restaurants etc we add those to the bill and pay by Credit Card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hrhdhd Posted September 17, 2022 #6 Share Posted September 17, 2022 55 minutes ago, the penguins said: It makes no difference to the crew. The ship will handle any currency for them. If you have left over Euros or £'s use those first (far better than converting them back into 💲's) then top up with 💲's if you need to. In Southampton tipping is not expected but if you do use £'s. Remember the smallest UK note (bill) is the equivalent of over 💲4). Have never tipped in Rome. For tips off the ship, restaurants etc we add those to the bill and pay by Credit Card. £5 = ~$5.70, so closer to $6 than to $4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upwarduk Posted September 17, 2022 #7 Share Posted September 17, 2022 (edited) All tips are covered if you have booked All Included. They are part of your cruise fare. i will add a small % if eating out, if the service has been good. Edited September 17, 2022 by upwarduk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdrinks Posted September 17, 2022 #8 Share Posted September 17, 2022 Tip in €’s, £’s or $’s. I guarantee no one will hand it back! 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wineoclock Posted September 17, 2022 #9 Share Posted September 17, 2022 You absolutely do not need to tip from Southampton as it’s not expected. Mind you no one will hand it back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wineaux007 Posted September 17, 2022 #10 Share Posted September 17, 2022 The currency on the ship is USD. That's the currency I would use when tipping on board. When you arrive in Rome, you will not run into any luggage handlers. You just pick up your staged luggage and go to your transport. No customs or immigration there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the penguins Posted September 17, 2022 #11 Share Posted September 17, 2022 5 hours ago, hrhdhd said: £5 = ~$5.70, so closer to $6 than to $4. Whoops, so used to doing it the other way. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichYak Posted September 17, 2022 #12 Share Posted September 17, 2022 I tip USD on cruise ships, regardless of itinerary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cruisequeen4ever Posted September 19, 2022 #13 Share Posted September 19, 2022 Southampton dock workers don’t expect a tip at all. We were ready to tip even though we had been told no need to, and the guy was gone so fast with our luggage, we couldn’t even catch up to him to tip him. They truly don’t expect a tip there. Onboard, USD is always a safe bet for tipping. If it’s the end of the Southampton season, I’d try to avoid tipping in Pounds, but if it’s summer or spring, I’m sure they’d be fine with Pounds or USD. Euros are also good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wineoclock Posted September 19, 2022 #14 Share Posted September 19, 2022 Yes definitely no need to tip in Southampton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuAnn Posted September 20, 2022 #15 Share Posted September 20, 2022 I will be flying into Heathrow and the only time I will need any cash money would be to tip the person who handles the wheelchair at the airport. Would it be ok to tip them in US$? I have prepaid my transportation to Southampton. So I don't think I'll need any other currency while in the UK. Thanks for any info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichYak Posted September 20, 2022 #16 Share Posted September 20, 2022 1 hour ago, LuAnn said: I will be flying into Heathrow and the only time I will need any cash money would be to tip the person who handles the wheelchair at the airport. Would it be ok to tip them in US$? I have prepaid my transportation to Southampton. So I don't think I'll need any other currency while in the UK. Thanks for any info. Reach out to local friends and family. Someone might have a few spare GBP from a prior visit to trade for USD. That's what I do when I don't need much currency. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 21, 2022 #17 Share Posted September 21, 2022 (edited) We generally tip in US $. We usually only travel with modest local currency these days. Covid really encouraged Electronic Payment Systems to flourish and 99% of the time anything I spend is via Apple Pay via my Chase Card. I even bought a hot dog in Peggy's Cove and she took Apple Pay. She said she really encourages it as it cuts down on her need to visit the bank. Edited September 21, 2022 by Jim_Iain 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jim_Iain Posted September 21, 2022 #18 Share Posted September 21, 2022 2 hours ago, LuAnn said: I will be flying into Heathrow and the only time I will need any cash money would be to tip the person who handles the wheelchair at the airport. Would it be ok to tip them in US$? I have prepaid my transportation to Southampton. So I don't think I'll need any other currency while in the UK. Thanks for any info. Good point... Tipping Porters and Wheel Chair attendants are defiantly something that we use cash for. We usually have a couple hundred dollars in Euros and Pounds on hand that we pull out each trip. Iain had to scramble recently because UK came out with new notes and they were to stop accepting the old notes. Luckily his sister's bank swapped them out for him. If you want to tip in Pounds you might have the attendant stop at an ATM using a card that doesn't charge ATM Fees and take out $50 or so. You will probably also need funds for your return trip. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wineaux007 Posted September 21, 2022 #19 Share Posted September 21, 2022 If you are going to tip in $$$, make it worth their while to have to go to the bank to exchange it. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wineoclock Posted September 21, 2022 #20 Share Posted September 21, 2022 6 hours ago, LuAnn said: I will be flying into Heathrow and the only time I will need any cash money would be to tip the person who handles the wheelchair at the airport. Would it be ok to tip them in US$? I have prepaid my transportation to Southampton. So I don't think I'll need any other currency while in the UK. Thanks for any info. No it isn’t ok. And it isn’t necessary to tip. They won’t be expecting it either. Staff in the U.K. are paid a living wage and tips are unnecessary. They won’t say no to them however. If you want to to a pound coin is sufficient. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upwarduk Posted September 21, 2022 #21 Share Posted September 21, 2022 5 hours ago, Jim_Iain said: Iain had to scramble recently because UK came out with new notes and they were to stop accepting the old notes. We have 10 days to use the old PAPER £20 & £50 notes. However, you can pay them into your bank account. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGW59 Posted September 21, 2022 #22 Share Posted September 21, 2022 5 hours ago, upwarduk said: We have 10 days to use the old PAPER £20 & £50 notes. However, you can pay them into your bank account. Is all of the money, coins and paper, with the queen on it, to be turned in? If so, for how long will it still have any value? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare DCPIV Posted September 21, 2022 #23 Share Posted September 21, 2022 52 minutes ago, LGW59 said: Is all of the money, coins and paper, with the queen on it, to be turned in? If so, for how long will it still have any value? There's no word on whether it will need to be turned in. The last word from the Bank of England was to stay tuned until after the period of mourning has ended. That ended on Monday, but I expect they are not in an enormous hurry. It takes time to get all those notes printed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare terrydtx Posted September 21, 2022 #24 Share Posted September 21, 2022 We sailed on the Reflection last month from Rome, the porters took our luggage as soon as we exited our transport and didn't expect a tip as they disappeared before we all got out of the vehicle. Out itinerary was Italy, Croatia, Montenegro and Greece and we used Euros in all locations for tips including the extra tips we gave our butler and room attendant on the ship. Never had any problems using our CC at any location for any purchase. Croatia currently used their own currency but as of January 2023 they will be on the Euro, but most places are taking euros now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wineoclock Posted September 21, 2022 #25 Share Posted September 21, 2022 2 hours ago, LGW59 said: Is all of the money, coins and paper, with the queen on it, to be turned in? If so, for how long will it still have any value? I doubt it. I will imagine that they will do it slowly. When I was young I remember coins from George VI reign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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