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hstrybuf
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Posted: Tue Jun 27th, 2006 04:20 am | 1st Post |
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Tipping is always a personal choice. Tipping is NOT required, but it IS considered the right thing to do. If you're on a budget, this is something that you will need to include when trying to estimate the costs you will incur.
Who? In addition to your waitstaff and steward on board the ship, the cruiselines may include the head waiter or other staff in their recommendations. Each cruiseline provides a recommended tipping guideline on their websites and some are found here on these forums. A few of the high end lines include tipping in the price of the cruise.
Then there are the taxi or shuttle drivers to and from the hotel or airport and the porters at the pier who take your luggage. In addition, many people tip their tour providers who have provided a good experience. And what about a favorite bartender? We like to tip our favorite bartenders and barstaff a little something on top of the 15% that is added each time you order. If we have a special request for our room steward (extra towels, filling the ice bucket more often than normal, a lounge chair for the balcony) we tip at the time of the request.
Spa staff? Children's staff? Room service? The spa services also add 15% to your bill but you can add extra if you like. Children's staff can be tipped or not at your descretion. It is considered acceptable to tip room service staff from $1 to $5 or more depending on the size of your order.
When do you tip? Some people like to tip a little something to their steward at the beginning of a cruise. Others prefer to wait until the traditional time and do it on the last night. Additional tipping is done throughout the cruise where you feel it is appropriate.
Some lines allow you to pre-pay your tips, add them to your cruise card or pay in cash. If you pre-pay tips, you cannot adjust or remove them once you board. We have never had service so bad that we felt the need to adjust the tip amounts to less or to remove them entirely. Additional tipping however, above the recommendation, is always welcome and entirely up to you.
How much? This is again entirely up to you, but we like to tip a minimum recommended amount and add extra where we feel it has been earned. Tipping for your children can vary. Some lines do not ask that you tip for children under a certain age. Others do not differentiate due to the age of the cruiser.
The whole subject of tipping can be very confusing and opinions can vary widely as to who, when, how and how much. Carry lots of $1's and $5's as you'll find the opportunity to tip quite often.
http://www.cruisediva.com/tipping.htm
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goincruisin
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Posted: Tue Jun 27th, 2006 12:54 pm | 2nd Post |
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I consider tipping as part of the cruise expense. I know that on Carnival the general staff (stewards, etc) make about a buck a day... their tips ARE their salary and they work SOOOO hard. I can't imagine how bad my service would be to warrant not giving them anything.
If you have a problem that you think warrants removal of tips... please speak to the purser first and see if the problem corrects... give them a chance to fix it... generally it will get fixed and you can enjoy the rest of your cruise!!! Happy cruising!
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OceanGirl
Founders
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Posted: Tue Jun 27th, 2006 11:43 pm | 3rd Post |
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Yeah, I have always tipped over the suggested amount......except for one time. It was on an Alaksa cruise on Legend of the Seas. Our room steward was the worst ever. He was surly and in a bad mood all week. I asked him numerous time for things like an extra towel and pillow, etc. Some days I would get it, some days I would not.
But I still tipped him the base daily amount suggested. Just nothing extra.
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TheWog
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Posted: Thu Jun 29th, 2006 03:33 pm | 4th Post |
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| DW hates that I usually always tip over. I feel if I get great service and the person enjoys what they are doing I will have a better experience. Cruising, dining, whatever. I have always tipped over except for the Head Waiter on the Disney Magic. We met him twice. Once when water was spilled on my pants by our server and server wanted me to let them dry clean it. It's only water relax, I'm not an a-hole. Server was very upset, but honestly no big deal. The second time I met him was on tip delivery night. He provided no service to me. Yes, he directs the servers etc, but I had an experience with Harry on the Enchantment of the Seas and he was magnificent. He knew our names and greeted us each evening. He made sure we were satisfied and well taken care of. Harry received the customary and then some.
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Catnip
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Posted: Mon Jul 3rd, 2006 06:32 pm | 5th Post |
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I liked the way all the cruise lines had the tipping procedure in the past---ie: giving the cash $$ directly to the waiters/room steward the last night of the cruise. It was more personal & I know the crew liked getting cash money!
Now, with gratuities added on to your shipboard account, I have no idea when they actually get the money. I wonder if they get it the day you leave, or if they have to wait a week, or two?
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Rumncoke
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Posted: Sun Jul 16th, 2006 06:59 pm | 6th Post |
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Catnip wrote:
I liked the way all the cruise lines had the tipping procedure in the past---ie: giving the cash $$ directly to the waiters/room steward the last night of the cruise. It was more personal & I know the crew liked getting cash money!
Now, with gratuities added on to your shipboard account, I have no idea when they actually get the money. I wonder if they get it the day you leave, or if they have to wait a week, or two?
I actually love that more and more cruise lines are automatically charging your tips to your cruise card, and making it more difficult to adjust them down.
Before they did this, it broke my heart to see the dining room so empty on the last night because of people trying to get out of tipping their servers.
I know you are concerned about them getting their fair share, but I believe the cruise lines know how to run their business better than we do. If the pay wasn't adequate, they would have a workforce.
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seawitches
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Posted: Sun Jul 16th, 2006 07:09 pm | 7th Post |
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I'm on the fence on this one. Done it both ways, and am not sure which I prefer.
I will be honest, I like being able to personally thank someone, but find it uncomfortable handing them money. On the account is easier, but so impersonal. We talked to the crew about their tips, and quite a few told us, those tips that we gave would not be seen until after the next cruise (2 weeks behind??) When I hand it to them, I know that they have received it.
What I hate is the Maitre'd that you often don't see until the last night of the cruise, then he hovers and pours on the sickening charm (dancing in my eyes) for a tip. I have only tipped one Maitre'd in the past. She deserved it from the get go.
I have over tipped the cabin steward routinely, and over over over tipped the wait crew (one in particular, Martin, last I saw him he was in the first floor of the dining room of the Vision of the Seas.... if you see him, tell him our offer is still good!)
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Adios
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Posted: Fri Nov 3rd, 2006 05:20 pm | 8th Post |
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seawitches wrote: I'm on the fence on this one. Done it both ways, and am not sure which I prefer.
I will be honest, I like being able to personally thank someone, but find it uncomfortable handing them money. On the account is easier, but so impersonal. We talked to the crew about their tips, and quite a few told us, those tips that we gave would not be seen until after the next cruise (2 weeks behind??) When I hand it to them, I know that they have received it.
What I hate is the Maitre'd that you often don't see until the last night of the cruise, then he hovers and pours on the sickening charm (dancing in my eyes) for a tip. I have only tipped one Maitre'd in the past. She deserved it from the get go.
I have over tipped the cabin steward routinely, and over over over tipped the wait crew (one in particular, Martin, last I saw him he was in the first floor of the dining room of the Vision of the Seas.... if you see him, tell him our offer is still good!)
I like giving the tip the old fashioned way. For some reason I do not trust the cruise lines to give all of the money to the correct person. At least I know that when I hand my waitstaff their tips it is going into their hands.
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OceanGirl
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Posted: Fri Nov 3rd, 2006 08:38 pm | 9th Post |
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cruisingator2 wrote: )
I like giving the tip the old fashioned way. For some reason I do not trust the cruise lines to give all of the money to the correct person. At least I know that when I hand my waitstaff their tips it is going into their hands.
That's how I feel, too!!!
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http://www.bluevoice.org/Videos/expose.mov
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GREGandamy
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Posted: Sat Mar 17th, 2007 11:06 pm | 10th Post |
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seawitches wrote: I'm on the fence on this one. Done it both ways, and am not sure which I prefer.
I will be honest, I like being able to personally thank someone, but find it uncomfortable handing them money. On the account is easier, but so impersonal. We talked to the crew about their tips, and quite a few told us, those tips that we gave would not be seen until after the next cruise (2 weeks behind??) When I hand it to them, I know that they have received it.
What I hate is the Maitre'd that you often don't see until the last night of the cruise, then he hovers and pours on the sickening charm (dancing in my eyes) for a tip. I have only tipped one Maitre'd in the past. She deserved it from the get go.
I have over tipped the cabin steward routinely, and over over over tipped the wait crew (one in particular, Martin, last I saw him he was in the first floor of the dining room of the Vision of the Seas.... if you see him, tell him our offer is still good!)
I like the auto tipping, but always tip above for the room steward and waiter, if the deserve it. On NCL, with the freestyle dining, we try to find a waiter we like and stick with them for the cruise and tip them at the end.
I've never tipped a Maitre'D, and I find the concept of an envelope in my room, for the Maitre'D offensive.
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seawitches
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Posted: Sat Mar 17th, 2007 11:20 pm | 11th Post |
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you just reminded me... gotta alot for the tips, didn't we have a link for a tip calculator around here????
and you also reminded me how much I do dislike tipping the M'aite D... will see if the Princess ones are any better
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S45OJnQp6mI
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Sun Mar 18th, 2007 12:12 am | 12th Post |
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seawitches wrote: you just reminded me... gotta alot for the tips, didn't we have a link for a tip calculator around here????
and you also reminded me how much I do dislike tipping the M'aite D... will see if the Princess ones are any better
It's here somewhere. I'm trying to remember where.
http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/
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Liberty 10/07; Miracle 10/06; Navigator OTS 10/04; Legend 04/04; Grand Princess 09/03; Dawn Princess 01/03; Enchantment OTS 10/02; Destiny 01/02; Sensation 10/99
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seawitches
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Posted: Sun Mar 18th, 2007 12:19 am | 13th Post |
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| tanxs deb.... HOLY CRRRRRRAP!! 16 day cruise gets costly!!! Only kidding, thought I'd throw in a little Trevor humour.
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~ I am an educated woman...but..."why am I so freaked about this". freaked and fascinated"~
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immargaret
Extreme Cruiser
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Posted: Tue Mar 27th, 2007 04:36 pm | 14th Post |
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hstrybuf wrote: It's here somewhere. I'm trying to remember where.
http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/
Thanks for the link Deb, I've never checked that out before. With NCL you have the auto tipping of $10 PP per day....but we usually cruise in the suites with Concierge and Butler service and I've wondered about their tips and if there was a standard.
Some of the cruise lines I see say to tip the butler $3.50 PP per day. I've always tipped depending upon how much I use their services......and it comes out to a lot more than $3.50 PP per day. Of course I have to have my chocolate fondue in the cabin every evening, and full breakfasts every morning.
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Tue Mar 27th, 2007 11:26 pm | 15th Post |
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immargaret wrote: hstrybuf wrote: It's here somewhere. I'm trying to remember where.
http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/
Thanks for the link Deb, I've never checked that out before. With NCL you have the auto tipping of $10 PP per day....but we usually cruise in the suites with Concierge and Butler service and I've wondered about their tips and if there was a standard.
Some of the cruise lines I see say to tip the butler $3.50 PP per day. I've always tipped depending upon how much I use their services......and it comes out to a lot more than $3.50 PP per day. Of course I have to have my chocolate fondue in the cabin every evening, and full breakfasts every morning.
Oooooo, that sounds like the life. Chocolate fondue and a full breakfast in the cabin. Just up my alley!
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Deb - Research, research, research!
My pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
Liberty 10/07; Miracle 10/06; Navigator OTS 10/04; Legend 04/04; Grand Princess 09/03; Dawn Princess 01/03; Enchantment OTS 10/02; Destiny 01/02; Sensation 10/99
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immargaret
Extreme Cruiser
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Posted: Wed Mar 28th, 2007 03:08 pm | 16th Post |
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hstrybuf wrote: immargaret wrote: hstrybuf wrote: It's here somewhere. I'm trying to remember where.
http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/
Thanks for the link Deb, I've never checked that out before. With NCL you have the auto tipping of $10 PP per day....but we usually cruise in the suites with Concierge and Butler service and I've wondered about their tips and if there was a standard.
Some of the cruise lines I see say to tip the butler $3.50 PP per day. I've always tipped depending upon how much I use their services......and it comes out to a lot more than $3.50 PP per day. Of course I have to have my chocolate fondue in the cabin every evening, and full breakfasts every morning.
Oooooo, that sounds like the life. Chocolate fondue and a full breakfast in the cabin. Just up my alley!
NCL Butlers will deliver and serve full meals from any of the restaurants on the ship. On the last cruise we even had one dinner in our cabin, that had items from 4 different restaurants.........of course that one called for a much larger tip.
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Sea Turtle
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Posted: Sat May 12th, 2007 03:52 am | 17th Post |
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seawitches wrote: We talked to the crew about their tips, and quite a few told us, those tips that we gave would not be seen until after the next cruise (2 weeks behind??)
Two weeks behind in pay is pretty SOP in my world. So I'm not surprised with Carnival in this aspect of their operation.
I prefer the auto tip. Then I adjust upward in cash at the end of the week or upon delivery--whichever suits the type of service.
Except for my first cruise on Carnival I've had some amazing maitre d's and their assistants. I definitely now budget tips for that staff.
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