Tipping question

[usafun]

I have paid all Gratuities in advance (Alaska cruise).
Never the less, the service is outstanding and the 2 people which I might tip separately are our personal waiter and our room attendant.
I'm not local so I would appreciate your advice what should be the tip for a week cruise.

[storybookcruises.com]

Tipping is always a personal thing. What one person will consider too much, another will consider to be not enough.

In the days before automatic gratuities when we use to provide cash gratuities to our servers and stateroom attendants, many people would not leave anything. We'd show up for dinner on the last night of the cruise and there were a huge number of empty tables because people wouldn't show up in order to avoid providing a gratuity to the servers.

Personally, I'm not in favor of automatic gratuities, because it takes the personal touch out of handing cash to the people who make your cruise special, shaking their hands, and letting them know how much your appreciated their service. But I understand why many people like the hassle-free approach.

But as for providing additional gratuities, it depends on the cruise line as to how this is handled. For example; on Princess, if you give a cash gratuity to your stateroom attendant, they are required to turn that over to the office, so it can be shared with everyone. If they don't, they can lose their job.

So, it's always best to ask your agent how your cruise line handles additional gratuities to insure you're following protocol.

Here's another thought; while cash is obviously preferred by many, if you find it will be shared with others, you might consider giving a personal gift. They are usually allowed to keep those and often have a big impact, since it's something more personal than cash.

We once had a stateroom attendant that we got to know fairly well and during a conversation about her family and how it's tough being away from her children, she happened to mention she would be missing her daughter's birthday in a couple of weeks. While we were in port, we just happened to see a beautiful doll that we couldn't pass up. When we gave it to her and told her to send it to her daughter for her birthday, she cried. She said no one had ever given her a gift before and we could tell how much it meant to her. Made for a very special memory.

Pete

[Donna]

At least you can tip extra, in cash yourself, as long as the service was exceptional...

[lulu48]

I like the auto gratuities ..we still get hugs from the crew at the end & tell them how much we enjoyed the service
we make a note in the final comment cards for those that have made our cruise special ..this goes a long way for them for promotions etc..

It is personal what you want to tip
we put cash in an envelope with a note of appreciation with our names & cabin number since we leave the auto tip in place they get to keep the extra

If you remove the auto tip most cruise lines will make the crew turn in any $$ they receive from the passengers to share with others in the tip pool
YMMV

[Fern]

Pete, I was told that if you tip extra to your steward and leave the auto tip in place, the steward would get the extra back (after confirming you kept the auto tip on).
Is that not true?

[Mike M]

Originally Posted by Fern

Pete, I was told that if you tip extra to your steward and leave the auto tip in place, the steward would get the extra back (after confirming you kept the auto tip on).
Is that not true?

That's what I have been told by the Hotel Director on Holland America and Princess ships. I do think it's the same on Carnival. I have also been told the same thing by a number of stewards.

Take care,
Mike

[lulu48]

Originally Posted by Mike M

That's what I have been told by the Hotel Director on Holland America and Princess ships. I do think it's the same on Carnival. I have also been told the same thing by a number of stewards.

Take care,
Mike

I think that is how most lines handle the EXTRA cash tips

I used to hate having to make sure we had the right bills to put in the envelopes on the last night & going to dinner to find your tablemates did not show up because they did not want to tip
Now a days with so many dining venues & open dining the auto tip just makes my life easier

[storybookcruises.com]

Perhaps the policy has changed on Princess, because we were told on our last cruise with them when we tried to give our cabin steward some cash, that they would have to turn it in. And we have pre-paid gratuities. I'll have to ask and see if something changed.

Pete

[lulu48]

Originally Posted by storybookcruises.com

Perhaps the policy has changed on Princess, because we were told on our last cruise with them when we tried to give our cabin steward some cash, that they would have to turn it in. And we have pre-paid gratuities. I'll have to ask and see if something changed.

Pete

maybe they have to turn it in until the ship confirms you did not remove the auto tip
lots of people wait until the last day then stiff the crew

that is why I put the cash in an envelope so they can confirm we left the auto tip in place & this was extra $ for the person

[storybookcruises.com]

All these policies change all the time and they're all different with the various cruise lines, so it's tough to keep up with everything. But I sent an email to our BDM (Business Development Manager) asking about the current 'official' policy on this for Princess.

Talking about changes, I have a large group cruising to Hawaii. One day, the deposit was $400 per stateroom. Two days later, they changed the deposit to $400 per person. Three days later, they changed it to $398 per stateroom. Sometimes, it drives us crazy trying to stay on top of all the changes.

And then, as if that weren't enough, sometimes we'll call the cruise line and get some information, only to find out later that it was wrong and we just gave a client incorrect information.

Didn't use to be this difficult, but it keeps us on our toes and makes it interesting, that's for sure!

Pete

[lulu48]

Pete I agree
I think the travel industry is trying to drive TA's nuts
Back in the day before internet you had to call the tour operators/cruise lines then relay the info to your client
then the clients asks well what if I choose a different cabin you are on hold for another 30 mins with the cruise line
then the clients want to book you now get a different story after sitting on hold again for the res dept

GLAD i AM RETIRED

[usafun]

Originally Posted by lulu48

Pete I agree
I think the travel industry is trying to drive TA's nuts
Back in the day before internet you had to call the tour operators/cruise lines then relay the info to your client
then the clients asks well what if I choose a different cabin you are on hold for another 30 mins with the cruise line
then the clients want to book you now get a different story after sitting on hold again for the res dept

GLAD i AM RETIRED

We are cruising with rci. And idea what is the policy with private tips ?
also, it will not turn me poorer to give extra tip althogh i have paid My gratuities in advance- just would not know what is consider "normal" tip.
I would not give as small tip as $10, but also not as much as $100.

[storybookcruises.com]

RCCL is not a problem with cash. Just keep in mind that you're already providing your cabin steward is already getting about $50 for two people in a cabin, so often you'll see people only give another $20 or so, depending on their comfort level and the level of service they got.

Pete

[storybookcruises.com]

Originally Posted by lulu48

Pete I agree
I think the travel industry is trying to drive TA's nuts
Back in the day before internet you had to call the tour operators/cruise lines then relay the info to your client
then the clients asks well what if I choose a different cabin you are on hold for another 30 mins with the cruise line
then the clients want to book you now get a different story after sitting on hold again for the res dept

GLAD i AM RETIRED

You got that right!! Even now, I hate calling the cruise lines cause we can still be on hold for 15 to 30 minutes, then we answer all the questions for the clients and they'll ask for something else we need to call about, and the process starts all over again. I've learned to become very good at multi-tasking!

But sometimes the internet can definitely be a big pain in the a**! Each cruise line has their own booking engine, they're all different, and none of them are all that great.

But even after all that, I still enjoy working with my clients, because they are the ones who make it all worth while.

Pete

[lulu48]

Originally Posted by usafun

We are cruising with rci. And idea what is the policy with private tips ?
also, it will not turn me poorer to give extra tip althogh i have paid My gratuities in advance- just would not know what is consider "normal" tip.
I would not give as small tip as $10, but also not as much as $100.

If the room stewards go above a7 beyond their normal duties we would give around $20 just depends on what we ask them for
We are not usually high maintenance & do not leave a mess
we rarely order room service so no dirty dishes to remove

it is what ever you feel comfortable giving you do not have to give extra at all

[Mike M]

I want to emphasize, especially to new cruisers, that you are under absolutely no obligation to give an extra gratuity.

Your standard tips are adequate and I know that many of the people who claim to give $20 or $100 in advance, to insure good service, are doing it as much for their self edification than to receive good service.

You'll find that the service level will be the same if you do not pre-tip. Yes, you will hear "We always pre-tip and always receive great service and the one time we didn't the service was terrible." Yep: Sometimes you get a steward that isn't as good, no matter if you pre-tip or not.

If you feel someone deserves extra then, by all means, give it to them. Just remember you are under no obligation to do so.

Take care,
Mike

[storybookcruises.com]

Yep, what Mike said!

We use to pre-tip cash to our cabin steward and sometimes it made a difference, but except for one time, we've always had wonderful service, so it really wasn't necessary.

Some unknowing cruisers think that the staff who take care of you are well paid and not really entitled to gratuities, so they'll do what they can to have them removed from their account and then don't provide cash in place of the pre-paid option. Could be they're just cheap, but some people feel they paid alot of money for their cruise and they shouldn't have to pay tips. It is what it is. But as Mike said, don't feel like you have to give additional tips, unless you really want to and then it's always very much appreciated because tips are their main source of income.

I did hear back from my Princess BDM about their current tipping policy regarding cash and this is what she said, "You can get envelopes from the pursers office or give cash directly to your room steward should you wish to give him/her an additional tip and they're allowed to keep it."

So, this is a departure from the policy that was in affect before. Glad they have this now, because I was never crazy about the old policy whereby the cash was pooled and shared among all.

Pete

[lulu48]

Just to clarify ..we never pre tip we usually give the housekeeping something on the last night if they have done something extra for us

Pete
we have not cruised Princess in a long time but that was the policy when we did ..any extra $$ they got to keep it but I think the purser checks to make sure we did not remove the daily tips first

talking of cheap
One day in the casino we were near to this couple who were talking to another couple ( she was close & loud) telling them to go to reception &remove the tips to tell them you want to tip in cash
The other couple said they did not know this was possible but a good idea
the 1st lady said they do it all the time then they just spend the cash in the casino because the crew get paid enough anyway
I was about to say something when DH grabbed me & dragged me out

[Donna]

That is what I hate about the tipping, and was glad to hear they automatically take it out daily unless it is pre-paid...no wonder the cruise lines find it necessary to do this because of people like that, OY....

[Cc007]

Originally Posted by storybookcruises.com

Tipping is always a personal thing. What one person will consider too much, another will consider to be not enough.

In the days before automatic gratuities when we use to provide cash gratuities to our servers and stateroom attendants, many people would not leave anything. We'd show up for dinner on the last night of the cruise and there were a huge number of empty tables because people wouldn't show up in order to avoid providing a gratuity to the servers.

Personally, I'm not in favor of automatic gratuities, because it takes the personal touch out of handing cash to the people who make your cruise special, shaking their hands, and letting them know how much your appreciated their service. But I understand why many people like the hassle-free approach.

But as for providing additional gratuities, it depends on the cruise line as to how this is handled. For example; on Princess, if you give a cash gratuity to your stateroom attendant, they are required to turn that over to the office, so it can be shared with everyone. If they don't, they can lose their job.

So, it's always best to ask your agent how your cruise line handles additional gratuities to insure you're following protocol.

Here's another thought; while cash is obviously preferred by many, if you find it will be shared with others, you might consider giving a personal gift. They are usually allowed to keep those and often have a big impact, since it's something more personal than cash.

We once had a stateroom attendant that we got to know fairly well and during a conversation about her family and how it's tough being away from her children, she happened to mention she would be missing her daughter's birthday in a couple of weeks. While we were in port, we just happened to see a beautiful doll that we couldn't pass up. When we gave it to her and told her to send it to her daughter for her birthday, she cried. She said no one had ever given her a gift before and we could tell how much it meant to her. Made for a very special memory.

Pete

Great info. Thanks Pete.

[Dappertrapper]

I travel a lot internationally and find tipping is always a big question mark depending on the country. Reading these posts, I see that things seem to change quite frequently and some of the info here may be out of date already.
I'll be taking two cruises with Carnival this year. I normally tip on the bar bill (I know, 15% is included), but I always like to give the steward a little extra at the end of the cruise.
Does Carnival allow the steward to keep the extra since we always leave the auto-tip option on (didn't know you could change it)?

Thanks

[johnthed0g]

Recently P&O & Cunard (so presumably all carnival?) have said that if the auto is removed then anyone you tip in cash CAN KEEP the cash ...my thoughts are that this is unfair & will result in some members of staff getting Auto + cash & some maybe not getting much at all.

[johnthed0g]

I posted an answer before I saw your question...

[Lakers Fan]

We always give an extra gratuity to the Wait Staff and Cabin Steward.

[Manuel]

Originally Posted by Lakers Fan

We always give an extra gratuity to the Wait Staff and Cabin Steward.

I do the same thing. Plus I also tip bartenders a little extra cash.

TM

[johnthed0g]

This was from P&O (UK) Recently also Cunard sent the same reply....both owned by Carnival

"P&O Cruises...
Hi John,
If you opt remove the gratuity charge any tip which you choose to give a member of staff will be kept by that member of staff and not entered into any form of tips pool. Additionally- at no point will this staff member be disciplined for this.
Hopefully this answers your question, please do let us know if there's anything further which we can help with ''

[Lakers Fan]

Originally Posted by Manuel

I do the same thing. Plus I also tip bartenders a little extra cash.

TM

We do not drink alcohol,if we could we would tip them too.

[saronfornbac]

i was actually about to ask the same question... Hmmm. I'm hoping for answers

[Ajaybeta]

do it. you might want tomake sure what is the best for the employee. it might not be advantageous for them to get dollars but their own currency. I think the ship would recommend doing it on your ship to shore account and it will get to the proper employee

[saronfornbac]

what are the basis in giving tips or whatever any suggestions will be appreciated