Yet another Tipping question

[Twistergirrl]

Hi, we are on a really tight budget, and I was wondering if tipping with $2 bills would be novelty enough to get past the fact that its only $2...

I plan on setting up the sea pass to automatically take the tip at the end of the cruise, but all the extra tipping is more than we can afford.

What do you think?

[GMoney]

I'm hoping you're pulling our collective leg. I can understand being on a budget, but that's no excuse for inadequate tipping. IMO, if you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to cruise. :confused:

[jwlane]

all the extra tipping is more than we can afford.

Don't do anything that requires extra tipping, and there'll be no problem.

 

The first part doesn't make sense. Correct me if I'm paraphrasing wrong, but it seems you're asking if it's OK to pay a tip where more than $2 is deserved with a $2 bill. I think you already know the answer....

[Twistergirrl]

I'm hoping you're pulling our collective leg. I can understand being on a budget, but that's no excuse for inadequate tipping. IMO, if you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to cruise. :confused:

 

There is a reason why its been 13yrs since we have had a vacation. I never said that I wouldnt tip. I just cant be handing out cash like it was burning a hole in my pocket. I realize that good service is deserving of a good tip, and that most of the workers live off of tipping. I am speaking of the extra things such as the room service tip. It seems that if I am allready paying the standard gratuity, and NOT requiring anything special, I shouldnt need to tip extra. Your opionion is yours, and my bank account is limited.

Solutions are what I am looking for, not insults.

[wrp96]

Do not use $2 bills to tip. Not only are they not novel, but they may not accept them as they will have a hard time using them outside the states. Same thing with the $1 coins.

[GMoney]

There is a reason why its been 13yrs since we have had a vacation. I never said that I wouldnt tip. I just cant be handing out cash like it was burning a hole in my pocket. I realize that good service is deserving of a good tip, and that most of the workers live off of tipping. I am speaking of the extra things such as the room service tip. It seems that if I am allready paying the standard gratuity, and NOT requiring anything special, I shouldnt need to tip extra. Your opionion is yours, and my bank account is limited.

Solutions are what I am looking for, not insults.

 

A few things:

 

+ Your original post should have been more clear to help us better understand where you were coming from. Go back and look at what you said: "...I was wondering if tipping with $2 bills would be novelty enough to get past the fact that its only $2..."

 

+ No one insulted you. There's no personal attack in my post. If you don't want feedback, don't post on an opinion board.

 

+ Of course my opinion is my own. Take it for what little it's worth. :D

 

+ It's like another poster said: Don't do anything that requires extra tipping, and there'll be no problem. If you order room service, tipping is appropriate. In some cases $2 is an acceptable amount. It depends.

[zotzer]

Hi, we are on a really tight budget, and I was wondering if tipping with $2 bills would be novelty enough to get past the fact that its only $2...

I plan on setting up the sea pass to automatically take the tip at the end of the cruise, but all the extra tipping is more than we can afford.

What do you think?

 

If you are watching your budget, don't do things that require extra tipping. Charge the standard on your seapass and go with the flow. Keep in mind, though, that you should be prepared to tip people outside of the cruise...like porters and such.

 

Room service is the main thing that requires extra tipping on a ship (beyond wanting to give extra to people for special service). If your budget is tight, save your $2 and don't order room service.

 

But don't use the $2 bills. Just bring double $1s. :)

 

Tracy

[cruisePRN]

I only tip $1 for a cup of coffee each morning, I use this as a wake up call and a shot of caffeine. I wedge the dollar bill in the mirror at bedtime so I don't have to fumble for it in the morning. On all your bar bills which includes soda they automatically add in 15% so you needn't add any more to the tip. It's easy enough to bring your luggage to the check in point at the dock if you want to save some tipping money. You can buy your soda in port and there is ice in your room to save on this if you want.

It's your vacation to spend as you see fit. I am glad you will put the recomended tips on your sea pass, the rest won't be too much.

[Twistergirrl]

I am feeling a bit touchy after paying my credit cards.... I diddnt realize that $2bills would be a problem. Most of the time when someone gets one they either think its a fake bill, or really get a kick out of it. I was hoping that they would think it was neat, since it would be easy to prove that they are legal.

[wrp96]

I am feeling a bit touchy after paying my credit cards.... I diddnt realize that $2bills would be a problem. Most of the time when someone gets one they either think its a fake bill, or really get a kick out of it. I was hoping that they would think it was neat, since it would be easy to prove that they are legal.

 

Here yes it is easy to prove that they are legal, but I still know people in the US that think they are fakes. Almost all the staff are from other countries and spend most of their time out of the country (embark/disembark day is usually their busiest day so no time off that day). Since there are so few of them, other countries aren't familiar with them and in many cases view them with skepticism, if they accept them at all.

[MszKitty]

I only tip $1 for a cup of coffee each morning, I use this as a wake up call and a shot of caffeine. I wedge the dollar bill in the mirror at bedtime so I don't have to fumble for it in the morning. On all your bar bills which includes soda they automatically add in 15% so you needn't add any more to the tip. It's easy enough to bring your luggage to the check in point at the dock if you want to save some tipping money. You can buy your soda in port and there is ice in your room to save on this if you want.

It's your vacation to spend as you see fit. I am glad you will put the recomended tips on your sea pass, the rest won't be too much.

 

Only if your bag will fit thru the security scanners. If your bags are larger than a carryon, you will have to give them to the porters. You can't take them with you thru check in. A $1 per bag is the minimum you should tip....so figure that into your budget.

[Valentine's Mom]

The way I read this question is that you are paying the normal tips on your sail card and you are asking if paying $2 for room service, and things like this will be fine. I think $2 for a small to medium delivery of say breakfast is fine. I have given the $1 gold coins before and they loved them. Just be sure to explain that they are still worth One Dollar. On on cruise we took all of the extra money that we gave to the waiters, asst. waiter, steward, and such was all in these gold coins. They told us that they had a good time trading with the other workers. Just remember that if you get served a drink by a waiter there will be a 15% tip added on to the price of the drink. Also since the porters at the pier do not work for RCCL I would be sure to tip them or you may not get your suitcases. Usually $2 per bag. Really there is a lot of things to do that do not require extra money I'm sure that you will be fine. Have a good time!

 

BLUE SKIES!

[sherin65]

I am speaking of the extra things such as the room service tip. It seems that if I am allready paying the standard gratuity, and NOT requiring anything special, I shouldnt need to tip extra.

 

As someone above mentioned, room service is one of those extra services that should receive a tip. We've never even used room service. We always have an inside cabin and they aren't really big enough to eat in.

 

I don't think I would use $2.00 bills. They didn't really catch on here in the US as common currency and I think other countries would be suspect of them. Our tour guide in Belize was even unwilling to take travelers checks from one of the women on a tour that we were on because he said the banks won't take them.

 

Bring extra 1's and use them wherever tipping is necessary (room service, porters, taxi drivers, ect.) and you'll be fine. I don't think it will break you and you'll still have a great trip.

 

Have fun on your vacation!

[pinkrosesdeb]

Remember also that rccl adds the 15% tip to each drink order. We were adding our usual 20% on to each one. No wonder they came looking for us.

[pacthepuppies]

Hi, we are on a really tight budget, and I was wondering if tipping with $2 bills would be novelty enough to get past the fact that its only $2...

I plan on setting up the sea pass to automatically take the tip at the end of the cruise, but all the extra tipping is more than we can afford.

What do you think?

 

I agree that drinking and room service are the 2 places- unless you do alter dining, see other thread- where you would 'lose' $$ to tips- we did very little room service- we also had an inside where you can not eat in the room- and the $2 tip was fine... The other area- alcoholic drinks- is one only you can know about- DH and I dont drink at all, so we never had to spend that $$ in drinks or Tips!:D

[cruisePRN]

Only if your bag will fit thru the security scanners. If your bags are larger than a carryon, you will have to give them to the porters. You can't take them with you thru check in. A $1 per bag is the minimum you should tip....so figure that into your budget.

 

I use the porter so didn't know this. My budget isn't limited but I realise some people's are limited, I was trying to help the poster save some $$.

[moknits]

You should also plan on money to tip in port - tourguides on excursions, taxi drivers, etc. You should consider this in your budget.

[packercruising]

There are lots of ways to cut corners on cruise expenses without stiffing the staff on their tips, which is basically what you are asking. These are people with familys with mouths to feed and they are away from them for months at a time.

 

That said, since you are agreeable to the 15% gratuity from the start you don't have a whole lot to worry about. Any other tipping would be for above average service, which you are bound to get whether you order room service or not. I'd suggest just planning an extra $75-$100 for that knowing you may not need it. Lord loves a cheerful giver :) If you are on a budget you probably aren't going on many excursions so you may need to add a little for thatif you are. If you have a bottom line budget, you may need to trim back somewhere else.

 

JMO. Have a great cruise! :)

[jander]

Do not use $2 bills to tip. Not only are they not novel, but they may not accept them as they will have a hard time using them outside the states. Same thing with the $1 coins.

I use $2 bills all the time at the bars and for rooms service. They are novel and I have never had anyone not accept them. If they don't want the $2 bill they won't have any problem getting rid of them on the ship among other crew members. Who in the world would not accept a $2 bill, because they may have a had time using it? A $2 bill is better than no bill.

[lovemylab]

I was told by several people not to use $2 bills for tipping as several of the islands don't accept them (perhaps they feel they are fake?).

 

There are lots of ways you can save money on a cruise while still being to give appropriate tips. My husband and I were on a budget for our honeymoon cruise (due to having to pay for a wedding) and we managed just fine. We didn't feel like we were missing any aspects of the cruise experience. We used cabs in two of our ports and tipped them both.

 

Some of the things we did to save $$:

 

- only went on one ship excursion (which was very well priced). We tipped the bartender and tour guide of this excursion.

 

- we did our own walking tour in San Juan and Nassau. We bought the book "Frommer's Caribbean Ports of Call" which provided maps and points of interest for both of these ports.

 

-we went back to the ship for lunch in all of our ports. Sometimes we had lunch as late as 2pm but it saved us from having to buy meals in port. Because there were very little people on the ship we were able to get a great table and service in the Windjammer.

 

- in St. Thomas we took a cab to Magen's Bay Beach. On the way the taxi driver stopped at some scenic lookoffs so we could get some great photos. If you check the Ports of Call forums you will be able to find lots of great ideas for private tours offered.

 

- we only bought one drink on the ship. Neither one of us are big drinkers and it would be cheaper to drink on land anyways.

 

- we skipped the casino. We are not gamblers although we did enjoy walking around the casino.

 

- we only ordered room service on one day. We actually preferred the dining room/wiindjammer breakfasts more.

 

- skipped the specialty restaurants. This was our first cruise and we loved the food in the dining room. The dinner menu is usually posted by 4pm and we would check this everyday to make sure there was something that we liked (otherwise we planned on going to the Windjammer). We ate every dinner in the dining room. I've heard that the specialty restaurants are delicious....but we still don't regret not going because we enjoyed our experience in the dining room. Once again, it was our first cruise so the dining room was a new experience for us.

[NancyB84]

I have never heard about $2 bills not being accepted until today. I used some on our last cruise to tip extra cash at the bar... even though the gratuity was added on the bill, we left an extra $2 bill most times that we got drinks. Also used them for coffee in the morning from room service. I planned on getting some for our next cruise. I would really like someone to clarify this issue. If it is legal US tender, what difference does it make if I leave a $2 bill vs 2, $1 bills? Thanks.

 

Ok, that was off topic from the post... sorry... but to answer the original question... I agree with the others... don't do anything that requires extra tipping. Plan on the porters as an extra at the pier. Other than that, just don't order room service or anything. You can still have a good time on a budget!!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[lovemylab]

If it is legal US tender, what difference does it make if I leave a $2 bill vs 2, $1 bills? Thanks.

 

It is legal tender in the US....but many countries (including those in the Caribbean) have their own currency and accept US bills as a courtesy. If they are not familiar with the $2 bill they may not accept it.

 

I know of several people who tried using US $2 bills outside the US and had problems. Knowing this, I would prefer to tip with $1's or $5's. Heck, I've had problems using the $2 bill in the US!!

[NancyB84]

It is legal tender in the US....but many countries (including those in the Caribbean) have their own currency and accept US bills as a courtesy. If they are not familiar with the $2 bill they may not accept it.

 

I know of several people who tried using US $2 bills outside the US and had problems. Knowing this, I would prefer to tip with $1's or $5's. Heck, I've had problems using the $2 bill in the US!!

 

 

Wow, I have never had a problem using them myself so I didn't think anyone else would. Hummmmm learn something new every day I guess. Anyone else have any input???? Thanks Autumn3. I appreciate your experience with this.

[jander]

It is legal tender in the US....but many countries (including those in the Caribbean) have their own currency and accept US bills as a courtesy. If they are not familiar with the $2 bill they may not accept it.

 

I know of several people who tried using US $2 bills outside the US and had problems. Knowing this, I would prefer to tip with $1's or $5's. Heck, I've had problems using the $2 bill in the US!!

You tip with whatever you want, but I tip the bartenders with 2's and they love them. What is all this stuff about other countries not accepting them, I went through 22 2's on my last cruise, and you know what, I never had any crewmember complain to me, as a matter of fact I had excellent service at all the bars, they are novel. I have no idea who all these people are that say not to tip with $2 bills. You evidently don't spend a lot of time at the bars. By the way, these countries don't accept US bills aa a courtesy, they accept them, because the appreciate the money. Duh

[Slam308]

For what it's worth, I was in Port Canaveral about a month ago and noticed signs posted at the baggage loading area that said the porters are paid an hourly wage. Don't remember the exact wording, but that was the basic idea. I took it to mean you don't have to tip. Noticed it on our way off the ship.

Don't know that I'd trust getting my bags if I didn't tip, but there were signs.