Tipping Room Service

[parisbully]

Have not had room service before on Regent. Might be a possibility this trip - husband is having some minor leg problems. Do you give a few dollars when room service is delivered? That is what we usually do on other lines. Just wondering since gratuities are included on Regent.

[dfb]

Gratuities are indeed already paid in the fare. No additional tipping is necessary. (This does not include contract employees in the spa or casino, but does include all waiters/waitresses/stewards...) I understand that some people have felt pressured to tip room service servers, but I have had a lot of room service in 4 months onboard Voyager and 2 months onboard Mariner and I have never seen that kind of behavior, nor given additional tips for room service. Debbie

[Hambagahle]

As Debbie says, your cruise fare has already included tips so you should not tip room service (or any other) deliveries, nor cabin stewardess, butler etc etc. The only exception we make is when someone has really, but really, gone out of their way to do something for us. As someone noted on another link, the greatest thing you can do is to mention the staff by name in your evaluations...all of these are read, and all names mentioned are noted!

[Prada Cowboy]

As Debbie says, your cruise fare has already included tips so you should not tip room service (or any other) deliveries, nor cabin stewardess, butler etc etc. The only exception we make is when someone has really, but really, gone out of their way to do something for us. As someone noted on another link, the greatest thing you can do is to mention the staff by name in your evaluations...all of these are read, and all names mentioned are noted!

 

Would it include the tip for the Butler in the Penthouses, too?

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Read the "Tipping (Mariner)" thread that's down this page. Lots of opinions there.

 

But I would imagine that the majority adhere to the stated policy: no tipping. If you really feel the need, contribute to the crew fund at the end of the cruise. But do not tip your butler or other server when they serve you.

[Jim B]

I really don't understand why people read the "no tipping" policy

of Regent Seven Seas Cruise Line and STILL have a problem understanding what it means!

No tipping means "NO TIPPING"

Someone is always trying to figure out a way that they should have to tip!

WHY????

You are not ripping an employee off. They get paid well.

Take a look at the price you are paying per person for your cruise.

Go look at another cruise lines price where you do tip.

It is really clear that you are paying a very nice tip aboard a Regent cruise.

Why does everyone feel so guilty all the time??

Is it because you are not use to this form of doing business??

[Travelcat2]

Jim B -- agree with you completely. It seems to be an American thing. . . plus, people don't read enough about the country (or ship) they are going to be visiting. As I mentioned in the other "tipping" thread below, it is illegal to tip in China. The odds that some one from this country tipped a person during the Olympics is probably 100%.

 

When people visit our country, state, city, home, we expect them to following our laws and guidelines. . . . it is not unreasonable to expect that we do the same.

[puddinhd58]

It probably is an American thing. My hubby and I will be taking our very first cruise in June 09 and I am already nervous about the tipping thing. In the US everyone is the service industry is tipped. I read in other threads here that other countries do not do that...

 

My hubby and I are on the norm very generous tippers and it makes me nervous to think I will be getting room service, etc and not tipping.. But happy!!!!

 

Even in the US, a no tipping policy just means tip anyway... it is expected. That is why we are so uncomfortable not tipping..

 

 

I am happy to see here that no tipping on the Regent, means NO TIPPING!!! As long as the staff is not expecting it, I will be fine with it.

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Also, tipping is not a big thing in French Polynesia. In Papeete, in a restaurant or bar, yes, a small tip is now the norm. But in the islands generallly, no, it's not expected, and in fact frowned-upon. So if you're on (and off) the Paul Gauguin, just be aware of that as well.

[cruzndiz]

It is amazing just how far this tipping thing has gone in my country (USA). There are tip jars at the front counters of every place imaginable. At the deli: oh, here, let me leave you a tip for ringing up my coffee which I prepared myself because you know darn well that every "service" business that could possibly go to self-serve has already done it! At the bagel store: let's not forget that the reason I'm paying a dollar more for THIS bagel than the one I could have picked up at the grocery store is because I'm already paying you to spread my cream cheese & now I'm supposed to leave a tip too?!?!

 

What I'm trying to say is, don't be so harsh with us poor Americans when we ask about the tipping thing....we've been OVERtrained :p

[tombo]

I think that most people don't tip but that those that do make sure that everybody knows about it.

[Travelcat2]

What I'm trying to say is, don't be so harsh with us poor Americans when we ask about the tipping thing....we've been OVERtrained :p

 

Being from the U.S., I understand what you are saying. However, it seems that we are UNDERtrained. I was just reading a travel blog where a person was complaining that the signs in the country being visited were not in English. Then I come back to this thread where people raised in the U.S. tip -- even if it against the law, custom of the country or a ship policy.

 

IMO, it is so important to understand the customs of the country(s) being visited. . . then, make sure we observe them and do not offend. Things like. . . no, it's not okay to wear shorts in Muslim countries. . . do not point your feet at anyone in many Asian countries. . . don't touch/pat a child on the head in Thailand (the head is sacred) and, in keeping with the subject of this thread, know which countries include tips in their bills or have no tipping policies/rules.

 

It is wonderful that so many of us are able to travel around the world, meet people and learn other cultures. When we travel, we are there to learn -- not to change the way they do things or judge their way of life.

 

Didn't mean to get on my soapbox. . . just feel a bit strongly on this subject.

[tommy275]

I think that most people don't tip but that those that do make sure that everybody knows about it.

how do you figure all of those who tip but don't tell you into your calculus?

[poolechick]

Here's what I have done at the end of my 3 cruises on the PG:

 

Ladies, you know those gift-with-purchase items you sometimes get when you buy cosmetics? It seems there is always something in the gift package that I don't like. I save them and take them with me on my trip. At the end of the cruise I leave them for my cabin stewardess. I have been thanked profusely by the women who recieve these! It seems women everywhere get a kick from new face creams and lipsticks!

:)

[LOGHL]

Have not had room service before on Regent. Might be a possibility this trip - husband is having some minor leg problems. Do you give a few dollars when room service is delivered? That is what we usually do on other lines. Just wondering since gratuities are included on Regent.

 

I am a little old lady who has been on 800 cruises on Silversea, and over 210 on Regent............I have never tipped anyone......just mentioned superior service to the powers that be as well as donate to the crew welfare fund....

My husband & I are always welcomed back on board with big smiles, and a great deal of warmth. Had the same butler on 2 occasions (a year or so apart) had never tipped him, but was welcomed by him as a special passenger

I hope that this answers your question.

[larry1365]

Chelonia --

 

1010 cruises! Is that correct? At 50 1-week cruises a year that would work out to 20 years of full-time cruising (with two weeks off for good behavior!)...and some of them must have more than a week, right? At 25 a year, that would be 40 years. At 10 a year that would be 100 years. The two cruise lines must love you!

[Wendy The Wanderer]

I'm betting that Chelonia meant nights of cruising?

[LOGHL]

I'm betting that Chelonia meant nights of cruising?

 

being a little old gray haired lady allows me to make mistakes...OF COURSE/...I meant nights .Thanks for correcting me...