Tipping for Room Service

[neverbeenhere]

I tip $1,000 USD every time we get room service. 

[2 cruises a year]

14 minutes ago, neverbeenhere said:

I tip $1,000 USD every time we get room service. 

Even at Alice's Restaurant?

Edited June 14, 2023 by 2 cruises a year

[J13C85]

Not going to chime in on the tip debate.  We choose to tip extra and room service is one of those extras. We typically give $2-$3 per room service delivery. 

 

To the OP, we have a "nerd wallet" and before our trip we "load" w/ cash (1s, 5s, 10s and 20s) for tips (airport, hotel, excursions, room service etc).  On embarkation day we give some extra to our room steward, throw the wallet in the safe, and pull 1s for the room service person on each delivery.

[ldubs]

8 minutes ago, J13C85 said:

Not going to chime in on the tip debate.  We choose to tip extra and room service is one of those extras. We typically give $2-$3 per room service delivery. 

 

To the OP, we have a "nerd wallet" and before our trip we "load" w/ cash (1s, 5s, 10s and 20s) for tips (airport, hotel, excursions, room service etc).  On embarkation day we give some extra to our room steward, throw the wallet in the safe, and pull 1s for the room service person on each delivery.

 

"Nerd wallet"?  I know of the company.  Not sure your usage.  

[justafem]

14 hours ago, jag82177 said:

What is the standard practice around tipping for room service when you have the Plus or Premier packages? Are room service gratuities included in the daily amount that the package covers? We have a lot of early mornings on our upcoming cruise so will probably be utilizing room service for breakfast most days.

 

If not included, should you tip in USD, Euros, or some other currency?

If you leave auto-grats on, any additional tipping is not expected nor required for any food or bar service.  Heck, even if you removed auto-grats, I'm sure the service would be exemplary! 

[d9704011]

17 minutes ago, justafem said:

If you leave auto-grats on, any additional tipping is not expected nor required for any food or bar service.  Heck, even if you removed auto-grats, I'm sure the service would be exemplary! 

Additional tipping not expected.... that's funny!!

[Bgwest]

13 hours ago, neverbeenhere said:

I tip $1,000 USD every time we get room service. 

That’s 10 Franklins!

And I thought I was being generous!!!

[roxievegas]

We prepay for the gratuities if we do not have the princess plus package.

  

We give our cabin attendant $40 - $60 at the end of the cruise - we are not slobs, we keep our cabin clean and tidy, so we expect fresh towels, toilet paper and kleenex, - service once a day is fine for us and we like to be left alone, put all paperwork under the door and do not knock everytime you want to give us something

 

We give the room service $3 if we order something small, and $5.00 if we order lunch or dinner.

 

Our next cruise is a casino VIP and we get free drinks in the casino only, we then tip $1.00 - $2.00  for each drink received.

 

We do not tip extra to the food servers in MDR as we eat there only two or three times during the cruise - we check the menu and if it is not to our liking, then we go somewhere else.

 

As with any topic on tipping - do what you are comfortable with and what you feel is right for you.

 

happy cruising.

 

 

[Napagirl]

20 hours ago, Bgwest said:

A Franklin for each and every Princess employee one encounters each day. 

Years ago I worked in a very expensive resort. There was one guest who came often and ALWAYS handed a hundred dollar bill to every employee he encountered - and I mean if he walked past you, you got a hundy. Do you think he got the best service on the planet? haha! 

[2 cruises a year]

1 hour ago, Napagirl said:

Years ago I worked in a very expensive resort. There was one guest who came often and ALWAYS handed a hundred dollar bill to every employee he encountered - and I mean if he walked past you, you got a hundy. Do you think he got the best service on the planet? haha! 

Good for him.  👍👍👍

[Crystabel]

We tip every time for room service, but don’t judge others who don’t. 

[2 cruises a year]

17 minutes ago, Crystabel said:

We tip every time for room service, but don’t judge others who don’t. 

Judging by the comments on this topic, those that don't tip are judging those of you that do tip.  😉😉

[Bgwest]

1 hour ago, 2 cruises a year said:

Good for him.  👍👍👍

An example for all to follow. 

[J13C85]

22 hours ago, ldubs said:

 

"Nerd wallet"?  I know of the company.  Not sure your usage.  

My "Nerd Wallet" is a document holder I bought years ago.  It hangs from my neck, holds our passports and has a zipper compartment for cash. 

[damiross]

I believe the easiest way is the best way.  Thus, I prepay the tips either directly or through a package.

Pay once, be done with it.

 

The average pay (base and tips) on Princess (according to https://shiplife.org/) is about $2600.  Add in the free room and board, stewards do pretty good.

 

Giving a steward a tip at the start of a cruise is, in my humble opinion, just plain bribery.  Tips are for work done, not work to be done.

Edited June 15, 2023 by damiross
typo corrected

[joeyancho]

Pot of coffee in the morning...$2.00. 

[justafem]

4 hours ago, damiross said:

I believe the easiest way is the best way.  Thus, I prepay the tips either directly or through a package.

Pay once, be done with it.

 

The average pay (base and tips) on Princess (according to https://shiplife.org/) is about $2600.  Add in the free room and board, stewards do pretty good.

 

Giving a steward a tip at the start of a cruise is, in my humble opinion, just plain bribery.  Tips are for work done, not work to be done.

I so agree on the wages.  They are doing amazing for their financial base.  Coveted positions, life changing for them and their families. 

 

You are doing exactly what cruise lines were trying to fix when they came up with daily grats.  

[SargassoPirate]

10 hours ago, J13C85 said:

My "Nerd Wallet" is a document holder I bought years ago.  It hangs from my neck, holds our passports and has a zipper compartment for cash. 

An apt description.  I just don't like things hanging around my neck - id badges, neckties, bandanas,  COVID masks,  etc.

 

I have a little card holder that I got on Celebrity years ago.  Real leather.  It holds my cruise card and a few folded bills for additional tips for the drink servers who deserve it.

 

Then came the Medallion.

 

Now I use a leather Apple tag holder that I found on Amazon.  The medallion fits in the holder and there are a couple of slots for credit cards/folding money.

 

 

 

[RedIguana]

On 6/13/2023 at 6:12 PM, Sprocket said:

I found another use for the wall magnets about 3 cruises ago, they are awesome for easy access to my tip $$ that I happy to give to the person who brings my order. They are usually in and out so quick that I like to be prepared.  Some of our cabins are either way aft or at the very front of the ship, so a lot of walking.   We also order to Skywalkers so worth it to us.

 

 

 

 

6 hours ago, SargassoPirate said:

An apt description.  I just don't like things hanging around my neck - id badges, neckties, bandanas,  COVID masks,  etc.

 

I have a little card holder that I got on Celebrity years ago.  Real leather.  It holds my cruise card and a few folded bills for additional tips for the drink servers who deserve it.

 

Then came the Medallion.

 

Now I use a leather Apple tag holder that I found on Amazon.  The medallion fits in the holder and there are a couple of slots for credit cards/folding money.

 

 

 

I found the magnetic clip holder for the medallion makes a nice money clip for tip bills. Just refresh it from small bills stored in the safe as needed.

Usually give room service $2 when used, whether for a delivered drink or coffee/light breakfast in the morning. Same as for drinks off the package. Never have used room service other than that.

[Napagirl]

18 hours ago, Bgwest said:

An example for all to follow. 

Especially when I'm working! 😄