Yet another tip question

[Addict]

Sorry to raise this question for what must be the millionth time on this forum, but I have read most of the posts and am still not clear on this (and probably worrying far too early as our first cruise is Xmas 2006 Constellation).

 

Anyway, here goes. We are from the UK but frequently holiday in the States so know a fair bit about tipping there, however we have booked the cruise "including gratuities" - so they are all pre-paid (I understand we will be given vouchers to hand out to the relevant staff at the end of the cruise). We will make sure to have plenty of $1s for cabin steward, porters etc, but (this is the sticky point), how do the waiters in the dining room etc, KNOW how generous you intend to be with their tips at the end of the cruise? If they are especially good one evening, do you tip extra there at the table, or if you receive just a standard service, do you leave the dining room without leaving anything at all? Sorry, I just imagine this could get really embarrassing if we don't approach this in the right way. Obviously we want to reward good service when we feel we should but if we don't tip extra each evening, would we get a poorer service?? Bearing in mind that we have prepaid the basic gratuities for the whole cruise already - but how do the waiters KNOW that?

 

Thanks to anyone who can clear this up in detail. What do you do?

 

Sue

[BobN]

If you have advanced tipped the staff you will have a card for each one of the suggested people. At the end of the voyage you think that you have recieved above expected service you can give an additional envelope to the worthy parties. I would make sure that you have gotten the conformation for the tipps that were prepaid.

 

Have a wonderful trip. :) :)

BobN

 

P.S. We always do all of our tipping personally if this is possible.

[suzeyQ]

Most people don't tip the dining room staff after/at dinner - they just do it at the end of the cruise. You'd be in the definite minority if you did that. The waiter and assistant waiters will generally do everything possible for you all week to ensure that you reward them at the end. I've never found it necessary to "pre-tip" to get good service.

[BobN]

Most people don't tip the dining room staff after/at dinner - they just do it at the end of the cruise. You'd be in the definite minority if you did that. The waiter and assistant waiters will generally do everything possible for you all week to ensure that you reward them at the end. I've never found it necessary to "pre-tip" to get good service.

 

.

Most good waiters feel that it is not necessary to pretip in order to get excellent service as they strive to make sure that you are more than satisfied.

 

Happy cruising

BobN :) :)

[adegner]

I agree. I have been on many cruises and I have only ONCE seen anyone tip cash in the dining room during the cruise. I usually make sure I look the waiter in the eye and say a big thank-you on the day we actually get the great service. I think that always helps. Plus, you may already know this, but something that is easy to do and does not cost any money is to make sure to write down the names of the people that have given you great service and then put their names on the comment card at the end of the cruise. Management considers these personal recommendations very highly when it comes time for promotions etc.

[SANDY BEACH]

I was told that names on a positive comment card also allows the crew member to receive additonal free time. I find it amazing they continue week after week to provide such great service. They sometimes make you feel as if you were the only cruise that sailed all year. If we have received exceptional service we usually tip in cash at the end of the cruise. We indicate in a note that we have left the standard tip on our shipboard account and that this is a little extra for their great service.

[Addict]

Thanks very much everyone for the replies. You have certainly cleared that up and put my mind at rest.

 

Sue

[BobN]

On one occasion we had to change tables, not the fault of the wait staff, we then tipped the waiter and his ass't. as soon as we were sure of the change. We have been lucky on all of our other cruises to have great tablemates.

 

Happy cruising

BobN :)

[FinelyCruising]

You know we did not receive paper vouchers this cruise, but have not ppd on X only RCCL...and I was a bit concerned, but know9ng from posting that the staff gets a list...and I expect they scrutinize..after all it is their business....we did ask our cabin steward for the envelopes since we did not get them either, so we could at least write a little note and sign our names for those who we wanted to give a little extra to.

 

Not sure what went wrong on our cruise in this department, but I know the charge was entered on our account, and I think our dining room waitress would easily have hung us if we failed her...so I think even if the envelopes and slips of paper fail, it all works out...

 

I hope....I hope...I hope....

[AtlantaCruiser72]

Another question-

 

Does X offer the option of charging gratuities to your onboard account for US travellers? Is it a set amount, or do you tell them how much you want given to each member of the staff that you need to tip?

 

It would be so nice not to have to take an extra $120-150 in cash with me when I leave home on Friday - I hate carrying any more than $20.00 in cash on me at any time - makes me nervous...... I love my check card :)

[barbels]

You can now put the gratuities on your ship account.

We much prefer to give cash however and have taken advantage of the tip learned on these boards to get cash from the casino. This cash is charged to your credit card as a purchase not a cash advance and there is no ship charge for the service. This is a great way to limit the amount of cash you take with you. Just remember to get all the cash you need when the casino is open.

[AtlantaCruiser72]

Thanks for the tip on the Casino cash - I thought there was a 3% fee for the transaction, but if it is free then that sounds like the best route for me to go!

[Ma Bell]

Thanks for the tip on the Casino cash - I thought there was a 3% fee for the transaction, but if it is free then that sounds like the best route for me to go!

 

On our last cruise in March, there was a sign at the casino cashier saying that the casino charges were for use in the casino. It's the first time I've ever seen a sign like that so I imagine there will be some limitation on getting cash in the casino without a fee. There are teller machines at guest relations and also in the casino.

[Diamond Lil]

Thanks very much everyone for the replies. You have certainly cleared that up and put my mind at rest.

 

Sue

 

:) Hi There Addict

We are also from the UK and took a Celebrity cruise at the end of March 06 and like you worried about this (even during the cruise) We did not pay gratuities up front. We were given an idea on who to tip and how much, a number of times during the cruise.

By the end of the cruise we had decided quite clearly who we would tip and how generously ! We had a fabulous cruise, the food was great, the cabin very nice and the staff couldn't have been nicer. The ship was extremely clean. The entertainment was geared towards the older person and Bingo was played on a regular basis (not by me!)

We opted for second sitting in the dining room which was great for us (party of 4) We had cocktails before dinner, dinner at 8-30, we never got out of the dining room before 10-30, straight into a show then onto whatever was organised re dancing etc. Great time was had by all!!

Where are you going on your cruise and how many of you are travelling??:) :)

[chily3]

We charge the prepaid if we are giving tips to everyone. It is an all or nothing. AND we also we use the envelopes provided to write a note and include extra "cash" where earned. This works very well for us. :)

[cruiselover20]

Interesting on the 14 night Summit April 9th, the prepaid tips were for 15 nights. Not good. Also, I do not believe you can remove any tips i.e. housekeeper, etc.

 

did the envelopes for the suggested amount. The service was average, but nothing special.