prepaying tips

[toyotaworker]

We are going on GRANDEUR OF THE SEAS 4/3/06 and have already pre-paid our tips . I do realize that the bar will add tips also. Is this all i need to know about the tipping?

[Host Kat]

Howdy!

 

There have been many threads on this subject. Just use the Search feature using "tips", "gratuities" or "tipping" as your key words on the different forums.

 

For now, a couple of extras not included in your pre-paid gratuities:

 

• Tip the person taking your luggage at the pier about $1.00 or $2.00 a bag. They do not work for the cruise line, they work for the port.

• The room service food orders are free, but you need to tip the person bringing them about $1.00 or $2.00 and even more if it is a large order.

• Casino workers as well as child care workers appreciate tips too.

Even with pre-paying, your "tips" for your staff/crew are really their "salaries". Please feel free to give them more at the end of your cruise if you feel their service was exceptional, which it usually is.

 

The best "tip" by far is when you fill out the comment cards at the end of your cruise. Write something good using a staff/crew person's name specifically. Raises and promotions are based on the comment cards.

 

It is also good to personally write a letter to your cruise line after you get home with the staff/crew person's name mentioned. Be sure to put in specifically how, when, where, etc. they helped you. Those letters are shared MUCH faster with the staff/crew person by a Supervisor than the comment cards, which they may not find out out about for weeks. When a good letter is received by a Supervisor, a staff/crew person may be rewarded with extra time off, which is probably the best "tip" given the excruciating long hours they work.

 

It sounds like this will be your first cruise. Don't worry, but you will be hooked on cruising just like the rest of us!

Kat

[bayyore]

We found it interesting on our first cruise how even though we pre-paid, we still had to physically hand out envelopes with vouchers in them. We found it all a little awkward and embarassing. Hopefully, we'll feel more comfortable this time.

Our seasoned table mates had printed out envelopes ahead of cruise time. They brought lots of small bills and added or subtracted the money based on service. They told us that they almost always add some.

I think this time we'll try their idea!

[lawsoncd3]

I also read on this board (I love it by the way), that some stationary thank you cards are also very nice. I'm planning on this as well.

 

Dona