What's the Carnival bartender's expectation?

[mfs2k]

 

I have read many posts about passenger expectations and practices regarding bar tipping, but:

 

I'm curious what the expectation is from the bartender's perspective:

 

They expect an additional tip because most people leave something extra.

or

They are pleasantly surprised if they get an additional tip because it's unusual.

or

They're too busy to think about tips. 

 

What do you think? 

[nc762shooter]

I would say a mix of the 2nd and 3rd options. I don't think tipping extra is as prevalent as a lot of the posts here would have you believe. Cheers gratuities are totaled up from everyone that buys the program and divided among the bar staff, so if I have a server or bartender who I particularly like every now and then I add an extra dollar or two just as an extra thank you.

[mfs2k]

1 hour ago, nc762shooter said:

I don't think tipping extra is as prevalent as a lot of the posts here would have you believe.

 

I wonder if the tipping differs based on which port the ship departs from...

[mz-s]

They do not expect extra tips above and beyond the automatic gratuity. Any extra you give is entirely up to you and is not expected.

[May1cruiser]

We usually tip $1 or $2 based on service and more important, how friendly they are. If they are super friendly, we know their story by the end of the cruise. Not sure I could ever work as hard as they do. 

[mfs2k]

6 minutes ago, mz-s said:

They do not expect extra tips above and beyond the automatic gratuity. Any extra you give is entirely up to you and is not expected.

How do you know they don’t have a tiny letdown feeling if they don’t get an extra rip ?

[luv2kroooz]

5 minutes ago, mfs2k said:

How do you know they don’t have a tiny letdown feeling if they don’t get an extra rip ?

No time to have any letdowns. Plus, why would they let someone else's actions control their feelings. Whether someone tips or doesn't tip extra is out of the control of the server, so no need to fret. They just move on to the next guest with a smile.

[cxr133]

from my expereince they ALWAYS look at the signed receipt to see if a tip was left .  that tells me they were expecting a tip each and every time. 

[mz-s]

1 hour ago, mfs2k said:

How do you know they don’t have a tiny letdown feeling if they don’t get an extra rip ?

 

I am just going by what JH says when he says that extra tips above and beyond automatic gratuities are not expected. He has been a Carnival employee for over 30 years, so he would know.

 

People who have worked for tips know not to take it personally.

[mz-s]

1 hour ago, cxr133 said:

from my expereince they ALWAYS look at the signed receipt to see if a tip was left .  that tells me they were expecting a tip each and every time. 

 

They look at the receipt because if there is an extra tip they have to put it in the computer.

[stobe1]

1 hour ago, cxr133 said:

from my expereince they ALWAYS look at the signed receipt to see if a tip was left .  that tells me they were expecting a tip each and every time. 

 

36 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

They look at the receipt because if there is an extra tip they have to put it in the computer.

 

Next time you are on board, watch closely and look at how they do tip vs non tip receipts. In addition to having to manually add it into the system, they also put the tip receipts in a separate pile from the non tip receipts.

 

Presumably they do this so that on the last night when the cheapskates begin complaining at guest services about their final bill on their S&S account and begin removing gratuities and saying "I never tipped on this drink" and shaft the hard working crew because they spent more than they can afford, they can find the receipt a bit easier to show that they did tip and sign for it.

Edited April 29 by stobe1

[Elaine5715]

1 hour ago, mz-s said:

 

I am just going by what JH says when he says that extra tips above and beyond automatic gratuities are not expected. He has been a Carnival employee for over 30 years, so he would know.

 

People who have worked for tips know not to take it personally.

He is spouting publicity BS.  He wrote this https://crew-center.com/carnivals-senior-cruise-director-we-need-look-closely-removing-crew-gratuities but on FB, he soft balls people who pulls tips.

[Elaine5715]

1 hour ago, stobe1 said:

 

 

Next time you are on board, watch closely and look at how they do tip vs non tip receipts. In addition to having to manually add it into the system, they also put the tip receipts in a separate pile from the non tip receipts.

 

Presumably they do this so that on the last night when the cheapskates begin complaining at guest services about their final bill on their S&S account and begin removing gratuities and saying "I never tipped on this drink" and shaft the hard working crew because they spent more than they can afford, they can find the receipt a bit easier to show that they did tip and sign for it.

Yes, they do. The add on tips and cash is counted separately by the bartenders every night before turning them in. Those amounts come back to those servers.  

[Elaine5715]

Bartenders like all service industry professionals are prone to stereotypes (which are stereotypes for a reason). They aren't surprised by those who snap their fingers and order unusual (tiktok) drinks that don't tip.  They aren't surprised when people tip big to pretty or charming servers.  They are surprised when someone they are decided wasn't a tipper turns out to be a good tipper.  

[Roscoe13]

Bartenders expectation?

 

That they're quick with a joke or to light up your smoke but there's someplace that they'd rather be...

[Colorado Beach Bum]

It’s the law of averages. They know some will tip extra and some won’t.  At the end of a week I’m sure it all averages out. 
 

That being said, we always tip extra and the bartenders know it and recognize it.  We’ve had superior service because of it and always have drinks made right away when we walk up to a bar.  

[hurricane0226]

Just my two cents worth. I always tip either at the outside bars, or casino, which after they

get to know me, always have a drink really quick, they appreciate it, as any one else would, lets them know they are doing a good job, so if I tip a dollar or two, after 15, if I hit that mark, it is only 15 to 30 dollars extra, but the service was great. 

[TigerWoodsLibido]

Last cruise I went on was the Panorama out of Long Beach to the Mexican Riviera last summer and I would regularly tip $1-$2 depending on the bartender. The sports bar guy was super chill and would give me free drinks since I regularly tipped him $2. He also gave me a free souvenir glass.

[mfs2k]

Haven’t any of you ever worked with tipped servers or bartenders?

I’ve worked with many over my entire long career in various positions in the hospitality industry (never cruise lines though) and most are hyper focused on their tips. Maybe it’s different outside the US. 
I’ve worked with many NYC bartenders who would only be satisfied if an additional tip was left regardless of the policy. 
 

[mz-s]

Obviously you want to hear that they expect more tips, so just give them more. No skin off my nose...

[aborgman]

12 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

I am just going by what JH says when he says that extra tips above and beyond automatic gratuities are not expected. He has been a Carnival employee for over 30 years, so he would know.

 

People who have worked for tips know not to take it personally.

 

"Not expected" by corporate policy (see also: Land All-Inclusives and "tips included") and not expected by individual workers are two rather different things.

 

As for people who have worked for tips knowing not to take it personally - that really isn't my experience with a mother (bartender), sister (waitress), and two nieces (waitress/hostesses) currently in the business, as well as numerous friends.

 

Most service folks won't DO anything - but most of them absolutely are irritated, and will complain later to friends/family/co-workers.

[mz-s]

21 minutes ago, aborgman said:

 

"Not expected" by corporate policy (see also: Land All-Inclusives and "tips included") and not expected by individual workers are two rather different things.

 

As for people who have worked for tips knowing not to take it personally - that really isn't my experience with a mother (bartender), sister (waitress), and two nieces (waitress/hostesses) currently in the business, as well as numerous friends.

 

Most service folks won't DO anything - but most of them absolutely are irritated, and will complain later to friends/family/co-workers.

 

So add more tip! Easy peasy.

[TinkLoverSam]

working at a land based restaurant where tips aren't added on the every drink and working on a cruise ship that adds an 18% gratuity to each drink ordered is very different. Of course land based servers who get nothing a a one drink order are not happy. the difference is that the bard enters on ships got their 18% on the drink already so anything on top is a happy extra.

[Elaine5715]

15 minutes ago, TinkLoverSam said:

working at a land based restaurant where tips aren't added on the every drink and working on a cruise ship that adds an 18% gratuity to each drink ordered is very different. Of course land based servers who get nothing a a one drink order are not happy. the difference is that the bard enters on ships got their 18% on the drink already so anything on top is a happy extra.

The only drinks with the 18% are those charged to the S&S individually.  

[Elaine5715]

5 hours ago, aborgman said:

 

"Not expected" by corporate policy (see also: Land All-Inclusives and "tips included") and not expected by individual workers are two rather different things.

 

As for people who have worked for tips knowing not to take it personally - that really isn't my experience with a mother (bartender), sister (waitress), and two nieces (waitress/hostesses) currently in the business, as well as numerous friends.

 

Most service folks won't DO anything - but most of them absolutely are irritated, and will complain later to friends/family/co-workers.

Funny how the corporate talking points from those executives who don't get tips are always "they are just grateful for anything".