I've been reading several older posts about tipping and now I'm more confused then ever.
I know I don't tip until the last day. Is there a way to charge my tips on my Sea Pass card or should it be done in cash? What do the employees getting the tips prefer? I remember seeing something about receiving envelopes but I can't find the post. Help!
You can pre-pay your tips before you leave on your cruise. Check with your travel agent as to how to do that.
The last day of the cruise, your room steward will put envelopes in your room. Each envelope will have printing on the front, such as "room steward," "waiter," etc. If you have pre-paid your tips, you'll also receive vouchers on the last day. You'll put each person's voucher into the appropriate envelope. For example, one voucher will say "waiter" and you'll put that one in the envelope labeled "waiter" and take it to the dining room to give your waiter.
If you have not pre-paid your tips, you will put the appropriate amount of cash into each labeled envelope. Current suggestions include $3.50 per person per night of the cruise for the waiter, same for the room steward, and $2.00 per person per night for the assistant waiter. They also make suggestions for the Head Waiter, Chief Cabin Steward, and Maitre d' of the restaurant. Tip those if they've given you special service, but I suggest you always tip the room steward, waiter and assistant waiter.
I'm pretty sure that RCCL is one of the cruise lines that posts the recommended tipping amounts to your shipboard account automatically. If you wish to change those amounts, you must make arrangements with the purser's office sometime before the last night of the cruise.
Posts: 1361 | Location: Illinois | Registered: June 19, 2002
Karen, as of January 2006, that was not the case. NCL posts tips automatically, but not RCI, unless things have changed since January. The groups I've put on RCI this year have had the option of pre-paying the tips, but no mention has been made of automatic tipping.
You have to fill in a form and bring it to the front desk, that you will add the tips at the end of your cruise to your account and you get the envelopes and the vouchers the day before the arrival at the port.
In addition to the folks mentioned above, on cruises with tipping, I also tip the cocktail waiter/waitress where I've done most of my boozing as well as the deck steward that has (most often) taken care of my needs on deck.
Posts: 665 | Location: The Southwest | Registered: May 08, 2006
I agree with ChucksOK. I've always tipped extra for the cocktail waiter/waitress, and they remember my preferences (and my name). I also try and tip my cabin steward on the second day while asking for something little, like a second bucket of ice, extra towels, etc. Remember, these folks work for small wages and depend on your tips. Kind words that express your appreciation and a small tip at the right time works wonders for extra service.
Originally posted by Luv2Cruise2007: That's correct, Royal Caribbean does not automatically add the tips.
We just returned from a cruise on Serenade of the seas. I have to disagree with your statement- Royal Carribean does not automatically add tips.They do -- on every drink, cigarettes, etc. They add 15 percent on your bill,even in the dining room if you have a drink with dinner you Pay! The stateroom attendant, waiter, head water, assistant waiter, are the ones they ask you to tip at your own discrepency. They have a sheet that they pass around with their recommendations for tipping!
I use the Concierge for a lot of different things and always tip at the end of the cruise. I believe in tipping and I go ballistic when I see empty chairs in the dining room on the last night, which usually are those that are skipping out on the tip.
Originally posted by SONNYV: I use the Concierge for a lot of different things and always tip at the end of the cruise. I believe in tipping and I go ballistic when I see empty chairs in the dining room on the last night, which usually are those that are skipping out on the tip.
Sonny, I'm in total agreement with you. However, when you read the same things regarding tipping (who, when, how much, etc.) over and over, it should not come as a surprise to see those empty chairs if you catch my meaning.
Posts: 665 | Location: The Southwest | Registered: May 08, 2006
Chuck, I caught your meaning. I guess the best way to avoid any confusion is to have the travel agent just add the gratuity to the cost of the cruise. At least the minimum tips would be taken care of. So, that would be my suggest for those who are in question on who, when, how much, and etc.
I believe in tipping and I go ballistic when I see empty chairs in the dining room on the last night, which usually are those that are skipping out on the tip. Mad
My chair has been empty the last night of the cruise, but it has also been empty during every other meal, because we sometimes eat all meals in the Windjammer. I have asked the Maitre d' to put other people at our table so the waiter doesn't miss out on the tips, but I don't know if they do this, or if the seats are kept open in case we change our mind (which we never have).
On one cruise, we ate dinner in the dining room one night (of a 3 night cruise) and ate all other meals in the Windjammer, and stopped off in the dining room the last night just to give the waiter and asst waiter their tips. I wish there were a way we could tell the cruise line in advance that we don't plan to eat in the dining room. Maybe they could keep a table or two open in the dining room for those who say they'll eat all their meals in the Windjammer, and then change their mind. Tips would be per meal in that case, like in a restaurant.
This makes me wonder what people do in restaurants, taxi cabs, hotels, airports, on tours, etc. Every dollar I spend tipping is because I appreciate the service. Even when I get an order to go, I tip. If you're taking up someone's time that is working for tips (and the space--empty chairs), they deserve the tip. If you don't feel someone deserves a tip, don't tip. I'm sure someone else will make up the difference if you choose not to. No one but you knows. Best wishes!
Sandy, The "empty chair" syndrome that we were talking about applies to the chairs that were occupied throughout the cruise and only wind up empty on the last night.
Penny, Makes me wonder also...
Posts: 665 | Location: The Southwest | Registered: May 08, 2006
ON OUR MAJESTY 4 NIGHT CURISE ON THE SECOND TO LAST NIGHT THEY HAD PREPAID FORMS TO FILL OUT.YOU THEN TAKE COMPLETED FORMS TO A BOX AT THE PURSERS DESK. THE NEXT DAY THEY HAD PREPAID VOUCHERS ALONG WITH ENVELOPES FOR THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE THAT SERVED YOU DURING YOUR CRUISE. THESE FORMS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE AT THE PURSERS DESK. DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. IT'S NOT THAT DIFFICULT.
Just returned from our first cruise on the Explorer. I have never received such outstanding service in all areas. I have dined at some of the finest restaurants in New York and Miami and have seldom received the high level of service we received aboard ship.
I'm retired lower middle class income but grew up around the well educated and well heeled upper class, more than a scattered few of whom I found to be an extreme embarrassment when it came to tipping.
The people who attend you aboard I'm sure not just the Explorer of the Seas, but the overwhelming majority of all of these vessels, fawn over you and treat you as if there's no one else in the world who is more important. Yet these same people are paid relatively next to nothing. Anyone who complains about having to (collectively) tip them (and I've both read and heard such complaints) either is, regardless of their income, more than a mite deficient in the social graces or are so cheap I wouldn't be caught dead out in public with 'em.
We just returned from Majesty of the Seas where we enjoyed a family reunion of 53 of us sailing together. Each evening at dinner we laughed, talked and had fun. However, on the last night, about 1/3 of the group skipped out on dinner. They said they didn't like the assigned seating and wanted to visit with other family members the last night. However, if the real reason was to avoid tipping, how embarrassing. I hate to think that they really did that.
We found the easiest way to tip is add it on your seapass by going to the information desk and letting them know thats what you perfer. Then they will send vouchers w/ envelopes to your stateroom for each person to tip and you just put the vouchers in the envelopes and hand them out at dinner and such. Know though if you are buying drinks on board (poolside) throughout the week when the bartender gives you your recipt you tip them at that time. Hope this helps !!!
