Tipping with Cheers Package?

[handbellplayer]

We normally cruise on Royal and don't buy a drink package because we get a certain number of drink coupons per day due to our status.  We tip a couple of bucks per drink, because we figure the servers don't get any kind of gratuity for these free drinks.  We have purchased the Cheers package for our upcoming cruise on Magic.  Should we tip for our drinks, or has the tip already been included in what we paid for the package?  Will tipping get us better service?

[clech]

It’s really up to you.  They do give you a receipt you can add on an extra tip.  I get beer and usually give a dollar.  Because mine is so easy to just grab one and open, and I add a dollar, I had one server tell me I was a VIP and I just let him know when I need something.  But I don’t know it’ll necessarily give you significantly better service.

[MeganGC1983]

The gratuity is included. However, tipping a bit extra gets you better service and better pours. JS! 

[WhiteOptima]

I always leave tip with cash.  Agree with @MeganGC1983you get better service and they remember your drink!  On my last cruise I would just sit down and the bartender in Alchemy would nod and I soon would have an Old Fashion in front of me.

[Indianamale]

We always get the Cheers package and we usually tip $2 to $3 per round and a occasional $5 and we get excellent service and great pours. To us it's worth the extra few bucks to tip. I will add that I wouldn't feel guilty not tipping extra since a 18% tip is already included. You should do a experiment and not tip your 1st drink or two and then tip a few bucks on your 3rd drink and see if there is any difference. Whatever you decide to do enjoy your cruise. 🍻

[jerseygirlinAZ]

5 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

The gratuity is included. However, tipping a bit extra gets you better service and better pours. JS! 

 

1 minute ago, WhiteOptima said:

I always leave tip with cash.  Agree with @MeganGC1983you get better service and they remember your drink!  On my last cruise I would just sit down and the bartender in Alchemy would nod and I soon would have an Old Fashion in front of me.

 

Agree with all of the above!

[keels81]

I tip for every drink even though it's "included" when you buy the package, mostly because I go out a lot here at home and it's almost just sheer muscle memory at this point to write a tip and sign a check.

 

But another thing to keep in mind is that your servers on the pool decks/Serenity are often also your servers in the Punchliner/Theater/Casino and a little tip goes a long way in them recognizing you and seeking you out when things get really crowded for shows and the like.

[mondello]

The 18% gratuity is only based on the price of Cheers. I’d imagine the tip formula would be less based on the more drinks you partake. A dollar extra is good for me.

[cruisingguy007]

If you go and get it yourself it's up to you, if it's just handing you a beer or something then I can see not adding extra but it's always a good idea to tip for service when the runners go get you something. It rewards them for their personal effort and will ensure they return to that section or come looking for you, especially If you are in an out of the way place or up on a different level ect; and as Megan pointed out, it can also help get you better service at crowded bars and/or more generous pours on occasion. 

[LaRue1975]

On the Panorama last week I tipped $2 cash per drink or $3 when getting drinks for the hubby and me. A few times I tipped more, especially the first day and it definitely enhanced our Cheers experience, lol! I tried to remember to put the tip on the bar when I ordered, it definitely improves service and pours, cheers! 

[Pellaz]

I have to get Cheers since my cruise-friends and I share a cabin and THEY drink a lot.  Alas, I'm not a huge drinker -- I don't like the taste of alcohol -- and even less so now since I'm pre-diabetic.  

So, I get a few alcoholic drinks here and there, and a lot of zero-sugar sodas.  

Even though gratuities are baked into the Cheers price, I tip 50 cents for sodas, $1 for alcoholic drinks (think Frozen Mudslides, pina coladas, etc.) and $2 for drinks that require special handling, like Miami Vices.   And yes, I generally get great repeat service and heavier pours.   

Watching the bartender's face light up when they see a 50-cent tip on a mere soda receipt is worth it EVERY time, since they never expect it.  

[bafinegan]

We usually get free drinks because of casino deals, both in the casino and shipwide and we always tip.  If both hubbs ad I are ordering, we give $5.  If it's just one of us ordering, $2.  Always got great service😁

[sparks1093]

Even though I generally leave a bit more with each order I have done it both ways and frankly didn't notice a change in the service, which was always great.

[handbellplayer]

Thanks to everyone for the advice!

[ray98]

It depends on what I order for me.  If you are just handing me a beer the included gratuity is sufficient.  If you are making me a mixed drink that requires attention I will leave some cash.  I also always give extra to the roaming servers.  Saving me a trip to a busy bar is worth it.

[BarbieGee]

11 hours ago, MeganGC1983 said:

The gratuity is included. However, tipping a bit extra gets you better service and better pours. JS! 

And you should KNOW! One of the many things I learned when reading your live review on the Dream.

[Elaine5715]

12 hours ago, handbellplayer said:

We normally cruise on Royal and don't buy a drink package because we get a certain number of drink coupons per day due to our status.  We tip a couple of bucks per drink, because we figure the servers don't get any kind of gratuity for these free drinks.  We have purchased the Cheers package for our upcoming cruise on Magic.  Should we tip for our drinks, or has the tip already been included in what we paid for the package?  Will tipping get us better service?

 

12 hours ago, MeganGC1983 said:

The gratuity is included. However, tipping a bit extra gets you better service and better pours. JS! 

The "included tip" is about 75 cents per beverage

[Schoifmom]

You will get a wide range of opinions on this here.  The only "fact" that there is, is that you pay an 18% gratuity on top of the package price for Cheers.  Anything over and above that is at your discretion.

[MeganGC1983]

34 minutes ago, BarbieGee said:

And you should KNOW! One of the many things I learned when reading your live review on the Dream.

Thanks! You’d be surprised how many don’t tip for soda service and get mad when they have to wait for their drinks. 

[vacruisin]

It's up to you if you wish to tip extra.  18% gratuity is already included with each drink on Cheers.  I very rarely tip for each individual drink.  Sometimes I will tip a dollar but not too often per drink.  Not sorry for that, Cheers is pretty expensive as it is and the whole point of purchasing Cheers is for you to have your drinks AND GRATUITIES automatically covered for the duration of the cruise.

 

However, at the end of the cruise we give a nice cash tip to our room steward and a few others who have served us well over the course of the cruise.  Usually we will tip a couple of alchemist at the Alchemy bar since we tend to spend A LOT of time there.  Also our favorite barista because we love our morning coffee.  And sometimes we'll tip another bartender if they gave us exception services (like a bartender at the Atrium bar or casino bar).  

 

One time we had a server who was just incredible at taking care of us while we were having drinks at the aft pool so we tipped him better than our Room Steward!   Ole Savio made that one of our best days ever on a cruise! lol

[MeganGC1983]

1 minute ago, vacruisin said:

 

One time we had a server who was just incredible at taking care of us while we were having drinks at the aft pool so we tipped him better than our Room Steward!   Ole Savio made that one of our best days ever on a cruise! lol

We have definitely tipped certain bartenders better than stewards. 

[ray98]

That is where we are all different.  I rarely ever give the Steward an additional tip.  We ask them for nothing extra and keep the cabin clean.  They are in and out in 10 minutes on the once a day service. 

 

Virtually all my extra tips go to bartenders and bar waiters.  We spend a lot of time there and there is always a few that go above and beyond to make sure we have a good time.

[sparks1093]

2 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

 

The "included tip" is about 75 cents per beverage

We can calculate it out that way, but I don't think that's the way it works. It's likely pooled among all eligible employees and paid out on an obscure formula that they may not even understand. 

[havanadaydreaming]

16 hours ago, handbellplayer said:

We normally cruise on Royal and don't buy a drink package because we get a certain number of drink coupons per day due to our status.  We tip a couple of bucks per drink, because we figure the servers don't get any kind of gratuity for these free drinks.  We have purchased the Cheers package for our upcoming cruise on Magic.  Should we tip for our drinks, or has the tip already been included in what we paid for the package?  Will tipping get us better service?

We usually tip $1 for two drinks on the drink package since we've prepaid gratuities at 18% rate.  IF i'm in the casino and on a mini-roll (ie not losing rapidly) i'll tip a buck a drink.  

 

almost always get speedy service...i don't think too many others are "extra" tipping.  

[silvercrikhix]

We are in the always tip a buck extra per drink crowd.  
Whether it’s ‘free’ in casino, cheers or paid for; and we get great bar service.