For those that don't auto-gratuity, how do you distribute they money?

[HappyTexan44]

Note, I am not wanting to tip less money.   I am a former waitress, and am pro-tipping. 
  
But, it bugs me that people I might never see or have anything to do with might get some of the tip money.  
It also bugs me that there is the rumor that the company doesn't pass on all the tip money.   I know this has been a problem in restaurants.   Not one I worked in, but it has been sometimes a thing and I can totally see Royal corporate bean-counters doing that.  

So, for those that don't auto-gratuity how much do you give people?   I am thinking of matching the auto-gratuity amount  These are the things I can see us doing.  

• Obviously the room steward
• MDR meals 
• WJ meals
• Likely an occasional snack location but no specialty restaurants.  
• Pool/towel attendants
• Two girls aged 13 & 14, so there is that club they hang out in.   
• DH will be buying an occasional beer, and the girls will likely get sodas on the refreshment package.  So bartenders.  
• Attendants for the slides, that surfing thing, laser tag, etc. (Voyager)
• If there is a poker game, I'd like to do that.   Tipping the dealer is normally a thing.   I assume it is the same on a cruise.  

For those that tip but don't do auto-gratuity, how much do you tip each person?   Obviously people do different things on the ship, so spread the money differently.  But I thought if I had a few examples, I'd be better educated.   
I assume that the cabin steward is a certain $ per day.   Meals per person per meal makes sense.  
 

 

[Biker19]

🍿

[Husky1987]

For quite a few of the auto-tip removers, their breakdown is as follows:

 

Cabin Steward - $0

MDR waiter - $0

Bartenders - $0

Everyone else - $0

[neverbeenhere]

We were long time holdouts for the pay in cash system. 40% to Waiter, 40% to room steward, 20% to assistant waiter. But, now find it easier to pay the auto gratuities and add where we want.

 

(I paid for college as a cook, we got a percentage from the wait staff)

[taglovestocruise]

10 minutes ago, HappyTexan44 said:

Note, I am not wanting to tip less money.   I am a former waitress, and am pro-tipping. 
  
But, it bugs me that people I might never see or have anything to do with might get some of the tip money.  
It also bugs me that there is the rumor that the company doesn't pass on all the tip money.   I know this has been a problem in restaurants.   Not one I worked in, but it has been sometimes a thing and I can totally see Royal corporate bean-counters doing that.  

So, for those that don't auto-gratuity how much do you give people?   I am thinking of matching the auto-gratuity amount  These are the things I can see us doing.  

• Obviously the room steward
• MDR meals 
• WJ meals
• Likely an occasional snack location but no specialty restaurants.  
• Pool/towel attendants
• Two girls aged 13 & 14, so there is that club they hang out in.   
• DH will be buying an occasional beer, and the girls will likely get sodas on the refreshment package.  So bartenders.  
• Attendants for the slides, that surfing thing, laser tag, etc. (Voyager)
• If there is a poker game, I'd like to do that.   Tipping the dealer is normally a thing.   I assume it is the same on a cruise.  

For those that tip but don't do auto-gratuity, how much do you tip each person?   Obviously people do different things on the ship, so spread the money differently.  But I thought if I had a few examples, I'd be better educated.   
I assume that the cabin steward is a certain $ per day.   Meals per person per meal makes sense.  
 

 

There is no way to get tips to the many behind the scene workers that are in the pool.  I believe #3 is you ultimate goal. 

[pcur]

I have felt for decades in restaurants a frustration that I cannot tip the cooks.  I don't see them, but I definitely benefited from their labor.  

 

I assume the wait staff share their tips with the bussers (I know they did with my son when he was a busboy in a restaurant as a teenager.  Well, also the cook like him and during his meal break gave him prime rib and a baked potato).

 

So, I am glad some of the less / never seen workers are getting a share of my auto-tips.  The problem is they would get nothing for their service to me if I didn't auto-tip.

 

I tipped the casino cashier on my last cruise, because she was flying the next day allllllllll the way to South Africa, and I wanted her to get some good coffee in the airport.

 

Your decision.  But remember those hard working cooks, dishwashers, and cleaners at the restaurants you worked with back in the day...............

Edited December 7, 2022 by pcur

[JeffT237]

20 minutes ago, HappyTexan44 said:

But, it bugs me that people I might never see or have anything to do with might get some of the tip money.  
It also bugs me that there is the rumor that the company doesn't pass on all the tip money.   I know this has been a problem in restaurants.   Not one I worked in, but it has been sometimes a thing and I can totally see Royal corporate bean-counters doing that.  

We haven't cash tipped since the cruise lines moved to the auto gratuity, back then the cruise line would have a recommended cash amount for the crew members in the different departments that served you.  I'm sure this thread will go multiple pages, just be prepared your'e likely to receive a lot of criticism for even suggesting removing the auto gratuities. I do think you are asking a legit question and you seem genuinely concerned about rewarding those who serve you on your vacation.  In addition you are likely to hear exactly how a ship's tipping system works, who gets it and who does not.  I have no idea if they are right or wrong we just try and do what is expected and appreciated.  We leave auto tips on and tip extra when we feel it's warranted and enjoy our cruise, it's really made it easy for us as we like to have everything paid and accounted for prior to our cruise.  It sounds like if you do remove them you've given lots of thought on who you'll cash tip.  

Edited December 7, 2022 by JeffT237

[smokeybandit]

59 minutes ago, HappyTexan44 said:

Note, I am not wanting to tip less money.   I am a former waitress, and am pro-tipping. 
  
But, it bugs me that people I might never see or have anything to do with might get some of the tip money.  
It also bugs me that there is the rumor that the company doesn't pass on all the tip money.   I know this has been a problem in restaurants.   Not one I worked in, but it has been sometimes a thing and I can totally see Royal corporate bean-counters doing that.  

So, for those that don't auto-gratuity how much do you give people?   I am thinking of matching the auto-gratuity amount  These are the things I can see us doing.  

• Obviously the room steward
• MDR meals 
• WJ meals
• Likely an occasional snack location but no specialty restaurants.  
• Pool/towel attendants
• Two girls aged 13 & 14, so there is that club they hang out in.   
• DH will be buying an occasional beer, and the girls will likely get sodas on the refreshment package.  So bartenders.  
• Attendants for the slides, that surfing thing, laser tag, etc. (Voyager)
• If there is a poker game, I'd like to do that.   Tipping the dealer is normally a thing.   I assume it is the same on a cruise.  

For those that tip but don't do auto-gratuity, how much do you tip each person?   Obviously people do different things on the ship, so spread the money differently.  But I thought if I had a few examples, I'd be better educated.   
I assume that the cabin steward is a certain $ per day.   Meals per person per meal makes sense.  
 

 

Or just pay the gratuities and tips others as you deem fit. A lot simpler that way.

[poocher]

Just because you don’t SEE them, doesn’t mean they aren’t contributing to your cruise enjoyment.

[steveru621]

3 hours ago, HappyTexan44 said:

Note, I am not wanting to tip less money.   I am a former waitress, and am pro-tipping. 
  
But, it bugs me that people I might never see or have anything to do with might get some of the tip money.  
It also bugs me that there is the rumor that the company doesn't pass on all the tip money.   I know this has been a problem in restaurants.   Not one I worked in, but it has been sometimes a thing and I can totally see Royal corporate bean-counters doing that.  

So, for those that don't auto-gratuity how much do you give people?   I am thinking of matching the auto-gratuity amount  These are the things I can see us doing.  

• Obviously the room steward
• MDR meals 
• WJ meals
• Likely an occasional snack location but no specialty restaurants.  
• Pool/towel attendants
• Two girls aged 13 & 14, so there is that club they hang out in.   
• DH will be buying an occasional beer, and the girls will likely get sodas on the refreshment package.  So bartenders.  
• Attendants for the slides, that surfing thing, laser tag, etc. (Voyager)
• If there is a poker game, I'd like to do that.   Tipping the dealer is normally a thing.   I assume it is the same on a cruise.  

For those that tip but don't do auto-gratuity, how much do you tip each person?   Obviously people do different things on the ship, so spread the money differently.  But I thought if I had a few examples, I'd be better educated.   
I assume that the cabin steward is a certain $ per day.   Meals per person per meal makes sense.  
 

 

 

Glad you have heard that 'rumor'.  RCI steals all of that tip money.

 

[HappyTexan44]

Well, the rumor wasn't that they were stealing all of it.   But, that they weren't passing on all of it.  

My original thought was just to cash tip.   Then I talked myself into the auto-gratuities for the same reasons as mentioned here.   Then the rumor that they don't all get the money.  

I would have thought that this would be something at least people did and could give some suggested amounts.  

 

[Biker19]

3 minutes ago, HappyTexan44 said:

I would have thought that this would be something at least people did and could give some suggested amounts.  

Welcome to just about every tipping thread.

[Seville2Cabo]

The three biggest lies of all time

 

1) the check is in the mail

2) I won’t, you know what,  in your you know where

3) I remove auto gratuities, but  tip great

 

 

Edited December 8, 2022 by Seville2Cabo

[jean87510]

7 hours ago, HappyTexan44 said:

Note, I am not wanting to tip less money.   I am a former waitress, and am pro-tipping. 
  
But, it bugs me that people I might never see or have anything to do with might get some of the tip money.  
It also bugs me that there is the rumor that the company doesn't pass on all the tip money.   I know this has been a problem in restaurants.   Not one I worked in, but it has been sometimes a thing and I can totally see Royal corporate bean-counters doing that.  

So, for those that don't auto-gratuity how much do you give people?   I am thinking of matching the auto-gratuity amount  These are the things I can see us doing.  

• Obviously the room steward
• MDR meals 
• WJ meals
• Likely an occasional snack location but no specialty restaurants.  
• Pool/towel attendants
• Two girls aged 13 & 14, so there is that club they hang out in.   
• DH will be buying an occasional beer, and the girls will likely get sodas on the refreshment package.  So bartenders.  
• Attendants for the slides, that surfing thing, laser tag, etc. (Voyager)
• If there is a poker game, I'd like to do that.   Tipping the dealer is normally a thing.   I assume it is the same on a cruise.  

For those that tip but don't do auto-gratuity, how much do you tip each person?   Obviously people do different things on the ship, so spread the money differently.  But I thought if I had a few examples, I'd be better educated.   
I assume that the cabin steward is a certain $ per day.   Meals per person per meal makes sense.  
 

 

https://www.cruzely.com/full-guide-to-cruise-ship-gratuities-for-2019-amounts-etiquette-and-more/

 

granted it's from 2019 but it may help you better than cc.

[ARandomTraveler]

On my last cruise I tipped the auto-gratuities, and on top of that:

 

$10 at every meal at a specialty restaurant except Johnny rockets and playmakers.

 

$5 at Johnny Rockets when we got a burger and fries, and $3 when I got a root beer float.

 

$5 at playmakers when we got nachos and a campfire cookie, and $3 when we just got the campfire cookie.

$3 in the windjammer whenever someone brought us fresh squeezed juice 

 

$50 to my room steward. I was conflicted with this because while it's seemed like (and I think was) a generous tip, I also felt like maybe I should have tipped more because she cleaned our room 3 times a day, and she was so stealthy about it. She had our routine figured out and went into our room and had it clean every morning, afternoon and evening. $50 divided by 7 days is only $7.14, which seems like a weird amount to tip someone, why not make it $10/day? But then $70 seemed like a lot because we didn't make a mess, and also, I spent most of my cash and didn't have another $20 bill and was too lazy to ask guest services to change in my $1's, and I guess I also used the hassle as an excuse not to tip $70 because I didn't really want to 😂. 

$2-$3 for drinks at the bars (usually $2 if I got 1 drink and $3 if I got 2, but sometimes I only tipped $2 for 2 drinks, and there were a couple times I didn't tip anything because I decided to get a drink when I walked by a bar and didn't have cash on me).

 

$0 at Sorrentos, promenade cafe, solarium bistro, park cafe or the smoothie place at the gym, which my daughter pointed out to me as being kind of hypocritical since I was tipping everyone else but for whatever reason it didn't seem like a tippable experience.

Edited December 8, 2022 by ARandomTraveler

[HappyTexan44]

11 hours ago, jean87510 said:

https://www.cruzely.com/full-guide-to-cruise-ship-gratuities-for-2019-amounts-etiquette-and-more/

 

granted it's from 2019 but it may help you better than cc.

 

From that article.  

"For example, of a $15 charge, $7 per day may be distributed to your room steward, $5 to the dining staff, and the remaining $3 is spread among other customer-facing positions on the ship. "

 

So assuming a Royal's auto-gratuity of $16.  5-night cruise, 4 people in 2 rooms.   

1) Room steward will get $7.46/pp/day. So, $150 assuming our connecting rooms will have the same person.  

2) We'll be eating meals together, so $22 per day rounding up.  So, thinking $10 for each dinner in MDR, and $6/day for each of breakfast and lunch.   If we end up just grabbing a bagel for breakfast and not sitting down, then we'll have to redistribute that money since there won't be anyone to tip.   Maybe the MDR meal tip isn't enough?   Assuming 20% tip, $10 equates to a $50 bill for 4 people.   Then there are two port days where we won't be eating lunch on the ship.  So that will leave extra tip money.

3) Then there is $13/day for misc. people.  

 

Thinking I'll tip the room steward on the first day since it will be the same person, and everyone else as we go.  I think the dining tips need more thought.  
 

[ARandomTraveler]

2 minutes ago, HappyTexan44 said:

 

From that article.  

"For example, of a $15 charge, $7 per day may be distributed to your room steward, $5 to the dining staff, and the remaining $3 is spread among other customer-facing positions on the ship. "

 

So assuming a Royal's auto-gratuity of $16.  5-night cruise, 4 people in 2 rooms.   

1) Room steward will get $7.46/pp/day. So, $150 assuming our connecting rooms will have the same person.  

2) We'll be eating meals together, so $22 per day rounding up.  So, thinking $10 for each dinner in MDR, and $6/day for each of breakfast and lunch.   If we end up just grabbing a bagel for breakfast and not sitting down, then we'll have to redistribute that money since there won't be anyone to tip.   Maybe the MDR meal tip isn't enough?   Assuming 20% tip, $10 equates to a $50 bill for 4 people.   Then there are two port days where we won't be eating lunch on the ship.  So that will leave extra tip money.

3) Then there is $13/day for misc. people.  

 

Thinking I'll tip the room steward on the first day since it will be the same person, and everyone else as we go.  I think the dining tips need more thought.  
 

I didn't read the article but I'm not sure that the cruise lines distribute the daily tips only to your specific waiters and room stewards. Maybe they do, I don't know, but I assume it's more like they put everyone's money in one bank account and then use it to pay all of the service people a set wage with it.
 

I'm not sure if they make a wage on top of those gratuities, or if the gratuities is all they get. I don't try to figure it out, I just assume it's part of the cruise fare, and then tip people individually as I go as though it's an entirely separate transaction, not attached to what I think they're already getting or not. To me it seems easier that way.

[not-enough-cruising]

15 minutes ago, ARandomTraveler said:

I didn't read the article but I'm not sure that the cruise lines distribute the daily tips only to your specific waiters and room stewards. Maybe they do, I don't know, but I assume it's more like they put everyone's money in one bank account and then use it to pay all of the service people a set wage with it.
 

I'm not sure if they make a wage on top of those gratuities, or if the gratuities is all they get. I don't try to figure it out, I just assume it's part of the cruise fare, and then tip people individually as I go as though it's an entirely separate transaction, not attached to what I think they're already getting or not. To me it seems easier that way.

There is a fair guaranteed wage aside from the tips. 

[resetjet]

Its too much hassle to remove the gratuity.  We get lots of $1 and $5 bills to bring.  Plus if we get good service we tip the room and wait staff a decent amount.  These people are slave labor and they work so hard for us.  I want to hire them for my business!!!!

[shipgeeks]

Is it an appropriate reply to say we would never remove them?

[not-enough-cruising]

14 minutes ago, shipgeeks said:

Is it an appropriate reply to say we would never remove them?

It is absolutely positively 100% always appropriate to say what you would do, it’s only inappropriate when you expect others to do what you do regardless of their opinions 
 

[jean87510]

2 hours ago, HappyTexan44 said:

 

From that article.  

"For example, of a $15 charge, $7 per day may be distributed to your room steward, $5 to the dining staff, and the remaining $3 is spread among other customer-facing positions on the ship. "

 

So assuming a Royal's auto-gratuity of $16.  5-night cruise, 4 people in 2 rooms.   

1) Room steward will get $7.46/pp/day. So, $150 assuming our connecting rooms will have the same person.  

2) We'll be eating meals together, so $22 per day rounding up.  So, thinking $10 for each dinner in MDR, and $6/day for each of breakfast and lunch.   If we end up just grabbing a bagel for breakfast and not sitting down, then we'll have to redistribute that money since there won't be anyone to tip.   Maybe the MDR meal tip isn't enough?   Assuming 20% tip, $10 equates to a $50 bill for 4 people.   Then there are two port days where we won't be eating lunch on the ship.  So that will leave extra tip money.

3) Then there is $13/day for misc. people.  

 

Thinking I'll tip the room steward on the first day since it will be the same person, and everyone else as we go.  I think the dining tips need more thought.  
 

lol, this is too much for me.  I can't start analyzing each nuance of a cruise.  I agree with your last statement.  I'd do that as well.  

[Mikew0805]

17 hours ago, Seville2Cabo said:

The three biggest lies of all time

 

1) the check is in the mail

2) I won’t, you know what,  in your you know where

3) I remove auto gratuities, but  tip great

 

 

I'm dying!! 🤣

[dada2199cc]

I've submitted your complaint to the CEO!

 

[FamilyCruiserUK]

On 12/7/2022 at 6:53 PM, HappyTexan44 said:

Note, I am not wanting to tip less money.   I am a former waitress, and am pro-tipping. 
  
But, it bugs me that people I might never see or have anything to do with might get some of the tip money.  
It also bugs me that there is the rumor that the company doesn't pass on all the tip money.   I know this has been a problem in restaurants.   Not one I worked in, but it has been sometimes a thing and I can totally see Royal corporate bean-counters doing that.  

So, for those that don't auto-gratuity how much do you give people?   I am thinking of matching the auto-gratuity amount  These are the things I can see us doing.  

• Obviously the room steward
• MDR meals 
• WJ meals
• Likely an occasional snack location but no specialty restaurants.  
• Pool/towel attendants
• Two girls aged 13 & 14, so there is that club they hang out in.   
• DH will be buying an occasional beer, and the girls will likely get sodas on the refreshment package.  So bartenders.  
• Attendants for the slides, that surfing thing, laser tag, etc. (Voyager)
• If there is a poker game, I'd like to do that.   Tipping the dealer is normally a thing.   I assume it is the same on a cruise.  

For those that tip but don't do auto-gratuity, how much do you tip each person?   Obviously people do different things on the ship, so spread the money differently.  But I thought if I had a few examples, I'd be better educated.   
I assume that the cabin steward is a certain $ per day.   Meals per person per meal makes sense.  
 

 

Great question.

I am not going to get into a debate about pay or dont pay its up to you and no one else at all. All i will say its easy to remove them if you wish and you can tip whoever you want too, however much you want too. I am curious about your list though and here are my thoughts.

Room steward: Yes 

MDR: Dont use it so dont know. 

WJ: From my experience the staff switch over lots, have seen bar staff in there, mdr waiters etc... 

Pool/towel: .No. its a 5 second job to hand a towel over.

Bartenders: already a 18% grats per drink.

Entertainment staff/kids club: No i would imagine they get well paid. 

 

Its difficult to know who to tip esp for us non americans. I dont know the wage structure on the ship and maybe the grats should really go to the low paid staff.

I am going to Miami in Feb and have no idea who i should tip...🤷