Tipping on Celebrity

[C 2 C]

We were told by a bartender in Michael's Club (now the retreat), that with tips he makes $75k+ a year.

Everyone pays what they can afford relative to their income and "residence" on board.

[Bill Miller]

Good for the bartender in Michaels Club. I'm sure he busted is butt to move up to this job.  I don't go on cruises to save money. I tip well and often and I never wait at any bar for service. 

And now a "tip" for my fellow passengers. Put $50 on red at the roulette and ...“Laissez les bon temps rouler,”

“Oui, cher.” 

 

Shout out to Mom Says. I didn't get a chance to wish you Happy Mothers Day, so wishing you a belated Happy Mothers Day.

[sanger727]

Everyone is charged auto tips so I assume the OP is only asking about "extra" tips. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using an envelope for extra tipping or giving a bartender cash. I don't typically hand out cash as we go; but I may track down favorite employees at the end of the cruise to give a larger cash tip to. I wouldn't be too concerned about whether or not others appear to be tipping extra. They may, they may not, or they may do it discreetly enough that no one notices. As already mentioned, I think alot of Celebrity cruisers end up with quite a bit of OBC and probably use some of that for extra tipping.

Edited May 30, 2023 by sanger727

[Charles4515]

1 hour ago, dazey said:

I am surprised using the envelope is considered gauche. 

I always thought in the days before the auto charge gratuities that the envelopes were a reminder to leave gratuities and social pressure since everyone could see if you handed out an envelope the last night or did not show up the last night. Before the internet I recall a number of first time passengers who were unaware about the expectations and asked me what to do. I would always point them to the suggested amounts that the cruise line published. Now with auto charges those envelopes I see as passe and I don't feel any presssure to tip extra. I think the suggested amounts are fine, I leave those charges on, and I won't tip extra except for something exceptional. Which happens sometimes. If you want to pass out envelopes fine but if you think everyone should be handing out an envelope with an extra amount and there is something wrong if they don't I think you are just wrong. I also think I can give a great thank you without a note. 

[Octavias]

When you tip extra cash to a specific person, do they keep it, or is it all supposed to be turned in to be pooled with the auto gratuities we pay?  

[dazey]

I do not think people who do not tip are wrong.  I did not mean to indicate that feeling.  I was just checking on how it is now handled.  I respect all to do as they wish.  Honestly sorry I asked.

[Charles4515]

14 minutes ago, Octavias said:

When you tip extra cash to a specific person, do they keep it, or is it all supposed to be turned in to be pooled with the auto gratuities we pay?  

I have been told if you tip extra above the auto gratuities they get to keep it. They only pool it if you take the auto gratuities off. 

[docsneeze]

Just read an article highlighting tipping customs in different countries.  Americans have a culture of tipping that is now extending even to fast food workers.  In Japan it is considered an insult to tip.  There are mediums between these extremes.  Bottom line is to tip according to your beliefs regarding service.  We like to tip ship workers who strive to make our experience enjoyable but no one should feel uncomfortable if tips are already included.

[RichYak]

1 hour ago, Octavias said:

When you tip extra cash to a specific person, do they keep it, or is it all supposed to be turned in to be pooled with the auto gratuities we pay?  

Your stateroom attendant and butler (if in a suite) get to keep all of whatever you give them. The dining room staff is supposed to pool it. I'm not certain about the bar staff, but I think they pool cash tips within the specific venue--martini bar pool, sunset bar pool, mast bar pool, etc. What actually happens is anyone's guess, which is why I don't worry about it. Pool it, don't pool it, it's really not my concern once I hand it to them.

[Mark_K]

8 hours ago, cruisestitch said:

Many people tip quietly and surreptitiously and you might not even be able to see it done.  
 

As an example, not all use envelopes, some enclose money in a handshake.

 

 

Ah yes, the old shake hands with the right hands, while underneath it the left hands exchange an envelope. Fond memories.

[hawkesbaynz]

We tip the cabin attendant, MDR/Blu restaurant waiter team and sommelier if they offer good service (the sommelier has missed out before for slow service). At the end of the cruise will often tip a pool waiter if he has brought me the occasional drink. Odd good bar tender too Never the speciality restaurants as included and getting more expensive. 
 

Like to tip the evening bathroom attendants too. The restrooms are spotless in comparison with those on other lines that do have an evening attendant.
 

I come from a non tipping culture but make an exception for the cruise.

[bjahil47]

If we have prepaid tips we give extra at the end for superior service.  I hand write a note to each individual and enclose cash.  I bring Thank You cards from home.  Maybe I am old fashioned but I would rather give them a note with the money than just hand it over.  Also, tip at bars ongoing through the cruise.  

[Jim_Iain]

7 hours ago, Mark_K said:

If I remember right, you can’t really tip specific dining room staff using the form. It goes into a general bucket.

You can indeed tip individual staff member by simply writing their name and position on the back of the tip form.   I've had this confirmed by the HR Director who actually process the transaction and staff I have tipped who thanked me when they were advised of the tip.  

 

Generally if you give a tip to the waiter in the dining room he is suppose to put it into the dining room pool.  

[Arizona Wildcat]

7 hours ago, Mark_K said:

If I remember right, you can’t really tip specific dining room staff using the form. It goes into a general bucket.

Was not that way on our recent Apex cruise.  Filled out the form and inserted names.  One of the staff whom we had shared contact info said  thank you.

[Mark_K]

1 hour ago, Jim_Iain said:

You can indeed tip individual staff member by simply writing their name and position on the back of the tip form.   I've had this confirmed by the HR Director who actually process the transaction and staff I have tipped who thanked me when they were advised of the tip.  

 

Generally if you give a tip to the waiter in the dining room he is suppose to put it into the dining room pool.  

 

1 hour ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

Was not that way on our recent Apex cruise.  Filled out the form and inserted names.  One of the staff whom we had shared contact info said  thank you.

Good to know, I was told by the Luminae Maitre’D on our last cruise that it wasn’t possible.

[Georgia_Peaches]

9 hours ago, lv2cruisgrl said:

We almost always tip extra during the cruise. We take small bills, $1, 2, 5 and we hand out tips when we feel service has been great.  (We also prepay our tips.) 

So you may never see us tip as we don't use envelopes.

 

Sorry, just have to ask, you give out $2 bills? If so, do you get them specifically for cruising?  It’s been so long since I’ve seen one but it would be a kinda cool tip. 

[CunucuMom]

10 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Sorry, just have to ask, you give out $2 bills? If so, do you get them specifically for cruising?  It’s been so long since I’ve seen one but it would be a kinda cool tip. 

My understanding is $2 bills can be problematic for staff and crew depending on the country where they spend or bank the bills because they can be perceived as bogus.  Sounds like a novel idea but we'll stick with 1, 5, 10 and 20s.

[Georgia_Peaches]

1 minute ago, CunucuMom said:

My understanding is $2 bills can be problematic for staff and crew depending on the country where they spend or bank the bills because they can be perceived as bogus.  Sounds like a novel idea but we'll stick with 1, 5, 10 and 20s.

Yes, I can totally see how that would be an issue. Frankly, I’d look at it sideways too since they are so rare these days. Like you, I think we will stick with more traditional bills. 

[dreamer321]

I treat the daily gratuity automatically charged to my room or as part of All Included as going to the service crew who I don't have personal interactions with. Laundry room attendants, bussers in the Oceanview Café, pool deck attendants who are constantly mopping the deck or dealing with all the dirty towels.  If my cabin attendant does a good job, I'll tip her/him separately in cash.  If I'm eating in the dining room with the same waiters all the time, I'll also tip them if they've gone above and beyond the expected service. (on the last ship I was on I mentioned the ice tea they served tasted terrible because it was made from commercial tea concentrate, subsequently at all future meals they had a glass of freshly brewed ice tea waiting for me at my table) If I only in a restaurant once to twice or its a specialty restaruant I feel the separate service charge added to the bill is sufficient.  I will tip a cocktail runner $1 or $2 if the bring me a drink at the pool or casino. If I have to go to the bar to get it myself the 20% service charge automatically added should be sufficient.  

 

That's how I deal with tips, but people should do what they feel is right knowing how hard the crew works every single day to make your vacation better and to the people who say the cruise line should just pay the crew more and they remove the daily gratuity I say "Screw You."

[Octavias]

15 minutes ago, dreamer321 said:

I treat the daily gratuity automatically charged to my room or as part of All Included as going to the service crew who I don't have personal interactions with. Laundry room attendants, bussers in the Oceanview Café, pool deck attendants who are constantly mopping the deck or dealing with all the dirty towels.  If my cabin attendant does a good job, I'll tip her/him separately in cash.  If I'm eating in the dining room with the same waiters all the time, I'll also tip them if they've gone above and beyond the expected service. (on the last ship I was on I mentioned the ice tea they served tasted terrible because it was made from commercial tea concentrate, subsequently at all future meals they had a glass of freshly brewed ice tea waiting for me at my table) If I only in a restaurant once to twice or its a specialty restaruant I feel the separate service charge added to the bill is sufficient.  I will tip a cocktail runner $1 or $2 if the bring me a drink at the pool or casino. If I have to go to the bar to get it myself the 20% service charge automatically added should be sufficient.  

 

That's how I deal with tips, but people should do what they feel is right knowing how hard the crew works every single day to make your vacation better and to the people who say the cruise line should just pay the crew more and they remove the daily gratuity I say "Screw You."

The cruise line SHOULD pay their people more and not lean on gratuities to justify paying sub standard wages, however, punishing the employees by removing tips solves nothing.  

[Charles4515]

40 minutes ago, dreamer321 said:

I treat the daily gratuity automatically charged to my room or as part of All Included as going to the service crew who I don't have personal interactions with

The daily gratuity does go to the crew you have personal interactions with like the cabin attendants and the MDR servers. 

Edited May 31, 2023 by Charles4515

[dreamer321]

Just now, Charles4515 said:

The daily gratuity does go to the crew you have interactions with like the cabin attendants and the MDR servers. 

I realize that but if they treat me special they get additional tips. If they provide the bare minimum they may not get an additional tip.  I treat the daily gratuity as part of the cost of cruising.

 

[Charles4515]

4 minutes ago, dreamer321 said:

I realize that but if they treat me special they get additional tips. If they provide the bare minimum they may not get an additional tip.  I treat the daily gratuity as part of the cost of cruising.

 

Yes, that is what makes sense to me. Part of the cost of cruising. I don’t give an additional tip to someone for just doing their job. But I will for something special. That something special could just be their attitude. 

[lv2cruisgrl]

8 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Sorry, just have to ask, you give out $2 bills? If so, do you get them specifically for cruising?  It’s been so long since I’ve seen one but it would be a kinda cool tip. 

Yes we get them from our bank. It's a nice amount to give a bartender when ordering drinks.  

[mayleeman]

14 hours ago, dazey said:

I do not think people who do not tip are wrong.  I did not mean to indicate that feeling.  I was just checking on how it is now handled.  I respect all to do as they wish.  Honestly sorry I asked.

 

I don't see why you would be sorry you asked! I haven't seen any criticism of your question or comments. As you can see, many different approaches.

 

Bottom line: do what is most comfortable for you.