Tipping

[Kindlychap]

A real favourite......

 

I've been looking at the Cruise Critic notes by Greg Straub, which can be found here.

 

I'm surprised to see that such a prolific tipper does not see fit to tip the steward's assistant.

 

Equally, how many actually tip bar staff per drink? (I'm in full agreement about a bartender who goes above and beyond on a regular basis deserving an "end of cruise envelope".)

 

And the steward who takes you to your cabin? The one who delivers the luggage? (Although in my experience that is done by the staff on the Signal Deck, not by A. N. Other.)

 

Does everyone tip per cabin, or do you tip more when there are two of you?

 

Am I the only one who wishes the whole thing would disappear?

 

Matthew

[pb82]

A real favourite...... And more fun than white dinner jackets, pre-tied bow ties, etc.

 

I've been looking at the Cruise Critic notes by Greg Straub, which can be found here. He is a bit more generous than I.

 

I'm surprised to see that such a prolific tipper does not see fit to tip the steward's assistant. Never met the steward's assistant, but I did tip the butler's assistant, the one time I had one.

 

Equally, how many actually tip bar staff per drink? (I'm in full agreement about a bartender who goes above and beyond on a regular basis deserving an "end of cruise envelope".) A 15% gratuity was added to each bar bill, sometimes I tipped more in cash.

 

And the steward who takes you to your cabin? Not a problem on the QM2, you find your own way. The one who delivers the luggage? (Although in my experience that is done by the staff on the Signal Deck, not by A. N. Other.) The luggage beat us to the cabin.

 

Does everyone tip per cabin, or do you tip more when there are two of you? Some, perhaps many based on the number of envelopes I didn't see being offered the last night, do not tip beyond the daily 11-13% Cunard adds to your bill.

 

Am I the only one who wishes the whole thing would disappear? No, but it won't disappear, it will be around as long as white dinner jackets, pre-tied bow ties, etc.

 

Matthew

 

My advice is to tip (auto billed + extra) what you feel is deserved, and tip any extras in cash.

Paul

[Oahucruiser]

You don't have to tip anyone who takes you to your cabin because no one does. There will be people lined up at the entry and they will point you to the lifts. On each deck there are usually people to give you directions to your cabin. Quite different from the greeting on the QE2.

[Kindlychap]

You don't have to tip anyone who takes you to your cabin because no one does. There will be people lined up at the entry and they will point you to the lifts. On each deck there are usually people to give you directions to your cabin. Quite different from the greeting on the QE2.

 

I'm horrified at that - although I knew it.

 

It's not much of a welcome, is it?

 

Matthew

[dak]

It's not much of a welcome, is it?

 

Matthew

 

Matthew,

I think they call it progress!!!!!!:confused:

 

I'm sure that there will be some kind of upbeat companyspeak to tell us how much more of an improved service it represents and it will be backed up by figures, statistics and a Powerpoint presentation specifically designed as a cure for insomnia.

 

David

[Kindlychap]

Matthew,

I think they call it progress!!!!!!:confused:

 

I'm sure that there will be some kind of upbeat companyspeak to tell us how much more of an improved service it represents and it will be backed up by figures, statistics and a Powerpoint presentation specifically designed as a cure for insomnia.

 

David

 

I have yet to come across anything that cannot be put better by omitting the Powerpoint presentation.

 

Does this mean that every single passenger has to find his own way to his cabin? Or just those of us in steerage?

 

Matthew

[Oahucruiser]

As far as I know, it's everyone finding his own way. We were pretty amazed the first time we boarded after many times on the QE2 being greeted and led to our cabin by a starched, handsome and friendly person who always put my carry-on bag on his shoulder and made polite conversation. We've been on Mary 4 times and are used to it now but it's definitely impersonal and we prefer the elegant treatment on Lizzie. It's such a nice start to a voyage and makes you feel so special and welcome.

 

Patti

[pb82]

I have yet to come across anything that cannot be put better by omitting the Powerpoint presentation. Absolutely correct! But we are in the minority, I had a "visual presentation" somewhere that trashes Powerpoint, but I can't find it; "they" must have gotten to it.

 

Does this mean that every single passenger has to find his own way to his cabin? Or just those of us in steerage? No, it means that all QM2 passengers are assumed to be intelligent enough to push elevator (lift) buttons and literate enough to read cabin numbers.

 

Matthew

Paul

[songanddance]

Paul

 

 

Surely you would not suggest that if doing away with the personal guide to you room because people are capable of doing it on their own, then waitstaff service could be done away with in the dining room in total favor of a cafeteria because people are capable of carrying a tray and dishing up their own food?

 

Some things are there just to make it elegant and very special not for the actual purpose of guiding the unabled.

[Wadadli1]

Surely you would not suggest that if doing away with the personal guide to you room because people are capable of doing it on their own, then waitstaff service could be done away with in the dining room in total favor of a cafeteria because people are capable of carrying a tray and dishing up their own food?

 

Some things are there just to make it elegant and very special not for the actual purpose of guiding the unabled.

 

Our stewardess was there to take us to our room on the Oceania Regatta this past Christmas. And for some reason, we all practically raced to the cabin, not as if to get us there faster so she could get back to others, but well, as if the crew was as excited to get going as the passengers. It certainly was a wonderful and fun way to get things started.

 

I also had a problem. At the check in desk, for some reason, I was showing up in the computer, but there was no card for me. The concierge was called over, then he got on the phone/walkie-talkie, the two of us whisked thru the rest of the checking in, a card was waiting for me at the next checkpoint, and then once onboard, well, you know the rest.

 

How a card was made for me and sent down to where I collected it in the few minutes it took to get there is a wonder I still can't imagine, but I was impressed and happy.

[pb82]

Surely you would not suggest that if doing away with the personal guide to you room because people are capable of doing it on their own, then waitstaff service could be done away with in the dining room in total favor of a cafeteria because people are capable of carrying a tray and dishing up their own food?

 

Some things are there just to make it elegant and very special not for the actual purpose of guiding the unabled.

No, no, no. And, true. It's just that I would rather have staff devoted to getting my luggage to my cabin before me, than devoted to getting me to my cabin before my luggage.

[pnhmrk]

Surely you would not suggest that if doing away with the personal guide to you room because people are capable of doing it on their own, then waitstaff service could be done away with in the dining room in total favor of a cafeteria because people are capable of carrying a tray and dishing up their own food?

 

I wonder if that isn't part of the reason for not being shown to your cabin on the QM2 - On the QE2 the wailing staff (amongst others) show you to your cabin. On the QM2 the Grills and Kings Court are open for lunch on that first day. This means that there are not enough staff available to show everybody to the cabin. I think it could come down to a choice between being shown to the cabin or having lunch.

[KenC]

I wonder if that isn't part of the reason for not being shown to your cabin on the QM2 - On the QE2 the wailing staff (amongst others) show you to your cabin. On the QM2 the Grills and Kings Court are open for lunch on that first day. This means that there are not enough staff available to show everybody to the cabin. I think it could come down to a choice between being shown to the cabin or having lunch.

 

No, I should think it is more due to the need not to have passengers (apart from the regulars) wandering around QE2 for hours trying to find their cabins in the 'quirky' layout via all the 'quirky' stairwells :) .

 

On QM2 the layout is more straightforward.

 

Ken

[K.sailaway]

Last May we were greeted upon boarding QM2, our carry-ons taken off us and we were escorted to our suite. We'll let you know if that happens again in September. In was an excellent start to a faultless experience.

 

K.

[pnhmrk]

No, I should think it is more due to the need not to have passengers (apart from the regulars) wandering around QE2 for hours trying to find their cabins in the 'quirky' layout via all the 'quirky' stairwells :) .

 

You mean that passengers can't wander on their own, but it's OK if there are crew there to escort them? Half the time the crew don't know where the cabins are and spend time asking directions and looking for signs:p

[mufi]

No, I should think it is more due to the need not to have passengers (apart from the regulars) wandering around QE2 for hours trying to find their cabins in the 'quirky' layout via all the 'quirky' stairwells :) .

 

On QM2 the layout is more straightforward.

 

Ken

 

 

Never miss a trick Ken.

 

David,

[exlondoner]

Being escorted to your cabin on QE2 is great, but only if the person knows where the cabin is. Last time as we approached Deck 5 from the main lobby, I had immense trouble convincing our escort thar our Signal Deck cabin (we had an upgrade) actually existed. This slightly spoilt the fun.

[KenC]

Never miss a trick Ken.

 

David,

 

David.... It's called giving another point of view :rolleyes: It was also meant as a likely reason for pax on QE2 being shown to their cabins - not everyone has been on it dozens of times !!!

 

Ken

[Glenndale]

I wonder if that isn't part of the reason for not being shown to your cabin on the QM2 - On the QE2 the wailing staff (amongst others) show you to your cabin.

I didn't notice any 'wailing' staff on QM2 - hope that they stay on QE2 :p

[travel-to-go]

[ Originally Posted by Oahucruiser

You don't have to tip anyone who takes you to your cabin because no one does. There will be people lined up at the entry and they will point you to the lifts. On each deck there are usually people to give you directions to your cabin. Quite different from the greeting on the QE2.

quote=Kindlychap;10255819]I'm horrified at that - although I knew it.

 

It's not much of a welcome, is it?

 

Matthew

 

Oh, they probably stopped doing it because of all those cheap b@$t@rds who stopped tipping them! <G>

 

and it's such a shame about all of those wailing staff on QE2. They should come over the QM2. Much nicer and easier to get about! And not so many old doddering stuffy snobbish passengers! <G>

 

Truly, QM2 is a larger ship. If they had staff busy escorting passnegers (and face it, many passengers today really DON'T want to be escorted. There are many more first time and non-traditional cruisers who really prefer to go at their own pace!) there would be no staff making food and bringing on luggage and delivering it!

 

Karie,

who is trying to start a big brouhaha with her fighting words, as I am leaving for Maine in a couple of hours <LOL> no, make that BWAAHAAHAA!

-) <===== (that's a tongue in a cheek~!)

[calikak]

Karie, hope the trip to Maine goes well!

 

Normally on a cruise we do the autotip, then if we get extra service from someone, we tip them too. For example, if we need to ask for something special from the Maitre'D, then we tip him, but if we have no contact with him other than him coming by the table and asking how we're doing once or twice, then we don't tip him. Also, if we make any special requests of our cabin steward, then we tip extra. I almost always tip the spa staff if I get something done there--I figure anyone who has to give me a pedicure should get some sort of reward! :D We usually don't tip above the 15% automatically added to bar tabs. We'll probably tip the playzone staff too. Oh, and we usually have a couple of ones around to tip the people bringing us room service.

[Meeruisland]

I have no problem with tipping.....but what about this 15% service charge for drinks, who gets the money from this ? is it a tip or does it go the the crusie line ?

 

cheers

 

steve