Question re. tipping.

[WouldBeCruiser]

I understand that the tip will be automatically added to our on board expenses account.

Are there any circumstances when we would need to have any cash to tip anyone, or is it all truly included in the bill at the end of the cruise ?

Thanks for answering all my questions - this is a great site!

[Mrs.C05]

I understand that the tip will be automatically added to our on board expenses account.

Are there any circumstances when we would need to have any cash to tip anyone, or is it all truly included in the bill at the end of the cruise ?

Thanks for answering all my questions - this is a great site!

 

It's strictly up to you. We've tipped our room steward extra and also our dining staff at the end of the trip in the past.

[thinfool]

I understand that the tip will be automatically added to our on board expenses account.

Are there any circumstances when we would need to have any cash to tip anyone, or is it all truly included in the bill at the end of the cruise ?

Thanks for answering all my questions - this is a great site!

 

 

The port workers to whom you give your bags for loading onto the ship are not covered in the tip pool as they are not employees of the cruise line.

 

Also, the maitre'd in your dining room is usually a cash tip.

 

If you plan to use room service onboard, they need to be tipped as their services are not included in the tip pool.

 

Otherwise things are well covered. Note that if you remove the auto-tips from your account, anything that you give to an individual will go into the tip pool anyway. If you leave the auto-tip in place, then any extra that you give to your room steward, etc. will stay with that person.

[paul929207]

Room service personnel do not receive any of the auto tip.

[Mrs.C05]

I have and will also tipped the port baggage handlers. I've heard of someone (a personal friend) not getting their luggage because they didn't tip. I don't know if that's true or not, but his brother tipped and got his right away. I don't think we'll ever know the truth to that, but I've heard stories.

[Arwenmark]

Taxi drivers, baggage handlers are pre cruise but you need cash to tip them. on board you would need cash to tip for room service. and IF you felt someone deserved something over and above your auto tips. If you use the Kid's club you need to plan to tip the staff they are not in the tip pool.

Oh if you have a suite, Butler and Concierge also need to be tipped as they are not part of the pool either.

[5waldos]

HOT TOPIC ALERT

 

Just a warning. I pretty much agree with the above posters. Our first cruise we added some to bar bills, didn't add anything for our room staff since we never saw them and wouldn't have known who to tip (although the service was fine), and our waiter was just so-so. This year they were so much better that we gave several folks an additional $20 at the end of the trip- room steward and assistant, waiter and assistant- him especially since he became a father the day we set sail and was a terrifically nice and helpful young man. I felt no pressure to add anything to the (for us) pre-paid tips, but our staff this time really were quite exceptional.

[cb at sea]

If you use room service, you should tip a couple of bucks at time of delivery....they are kitchen staff, not waitstaff, that will deliver food to you. They are NOT included in your pre-paid tips.

If you go the "pre-paid" route, there's no need to tip additionally for your room attendant, waiter, ass't waiter, or head waiter. They are the ones included in your pre-paid tips. Bar tabs have 15% added to the cost of every drink, so there's no need to tip them again, unless they do something so remarkable, that you feel it's deserved!

[blindrid]

I normally flip our "drink runner" a $20 every so often as I normally know him (or her) by name after the first day and ask also which club they work at night so they can get my sales also.

 

Only other tips I do will be in the casino (chips, not cash), cabbies and other service people in port. Other than that I let the auto tip handle it. I think most people overtip as it's a pretty festive occasion and it's easy to throw money around.

[QLUVS2CRUZ]

We tip the porters a couple of dollars per bag, room service attendants about $4, excursion operators (we do private, not ship sponsored) if the excursion was especially good, we don't tip the Maitre'D unless he/she does something for us (like switching our dinner time or our table). We have always had exceptional dining room and room (make-up) service, so even though we do the pre-paid gratuity, we tip the room steward and our waiters about $10-$20 each at the end of the cruise too.

[Hellolost]

If I am planning to have coffee delivered every morning how much would I tip the room service person? And would that be per day?

[Mrs.C05]

We tip the porters a couple of dollars per bag, room service attendants about $4, excursion operators (we do private, not ship sponsored) if the excursion was especially good, we don't tip the Maitre'D unless he/she does something for us (like switching our dinner time or our table). We have always had exceptional dining room and room (make-up) service, so even though we do the pre-paid gratuity, we tip the room steward and our waiters about $10-$20 each at the end of the cruise too.

 

Wow, maybe I'm giving waaayyyy too much if you guys are giving only $10-20 at the end of the trip. And I don't mean that in an insulting way, I'm being serious.

[voyager22]

This seems like the place to ask this.

There's 3 of us in one room - our first cruise, 7 nights. How much should we leave in the envelope at the end, assuming the service is good?

 

Also, since this is all US$ cash (caribbean cruise), how do we know another employee won't come in and take the envelope? Sry if that is an absurd question..

[wrp96]

This seems like the place to ask this.

There's 3 of us in one room - our first cruise, 7 nights. How much should we leave in the envelope at the end, assuming the service is good?

 

Also, since this is all US$ cash (caribbean cruise), how do we know another employee won't come in and take the envelope? Sry if that is an absurd question..

 

 

On Royal Caribbean, the suggested total amount of tip for your stateroom attendant for 3 people on a 7 night cruise is $73.50 US if you are in a regular stateroom http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/

 

As to getting the tip to your stateroom attendant, if you are worried, hand it to them in the morning as you are leaving your stateroom. They will already be up in the hallway getting ready to clean the room as soon as you leave.

[arlee]

Hellolost - we had orange juice and coffee (sometimes cereal) delivered every morning and tipped between $2-3 each time.

[Arwenmark]

Wow, maybe I'm giving waaayyyy too much if you guys are giving only $10-20 at the end of the trip. And I don't mean that in an insulting way, I'm being serious.

 

 

I know what you mean I normally tip $50 to $100 to the cabin steward and assit. on top of the auto tips and about the same to waiter and asst. since I usually tend to stay with one set of waiters.

[silentbob007]

Service has to be exceptional for me to tip above the recommended amounts but also truly dreadful to tip under. I'll also throw some extra in for my room steward if I'm cruising single.

[blindrid]

How much should we leave in the envelope at the end, assuming the service is good?

 

 

Most lines do not have the "envelope" these days. I still believe that most overtip especially since the auto-tip thing started.

[ncaaref]

Tipping, like most everything else in this world, can be very subjective. What I may consider exceptional service, someone else may consider "normal" or "adequate". Thus, I think it's probably impossible to "overtip". You tip based on the service you feel you deserved.

 

With that said, keep this in mind when cruising. These people (all of them) work very, very hard day in and day out. Consider that they have a new "audience" every few days. Is it possible they can occasionally have a bad day ? Sure it is.

 

They often come from parts of the world where having the opportunity to earn this kind of money is NOT possible and so they leave family and friends behind to try to make a better lot in life for their family.

 

If I'm an "over-tipper", so be it. I will spend an entire 12 days in May barely lifting a finger and I will enjoy it immensely. I'll make sure the folks who make that happen know it when I leave the ship!

[ATL2LAS]

Tipping, like most everything else in this world, can be very subjective. What I may consider exceptional service, someone else may consider "normal" or "adequate". Thus, I think it's probably impossible to "overtip". You tip based on the service you feel you deserved.

 

I completely agree. I tip at the bars and casino. You would be suprised how often a small tip will actually bring a smile to some of the crew. And they remember you. I tip in the casino if I am winning or losing. Its the entertainment I enjoy. The cabin steward gets a tip everyday and I get extra towels and such. It is subjective and its just what I do.

[cruiserbryce]

this last week the only times we needed cash for tips on board was for room service and we left a little extra for our room attendant