Currency for tipping

[ozliz]

so I know everything on my shipboard account is charged in USD but when cruising Europe what currency should I tip room service in? We are Australian sailing out of Copenhagen to Norway after visiting the UK. That's already a lot of different currencies to carry! Last time we sailed Europe it was Mediterranean from Barcelona so tipping in euro (which we had) seemed acceptable as the crew might actually have use for euro despite I assume being paid in USD.

 

[MikeGS]

Even in Europe I tipped dollars. As Neil Gaiman says in the foreword of Good Omens "Dollars for preference in an uncertain world"

That said I'm sure they'd be ok with Euros as well.

 

[ozliz]

Even in Europe I tipped dollars. As Neil Gaiman says in the foreword of Good Omens "Dollars for preference in an uncertain world"

That said I'm sure they'd be ok with Euros as well.

Hmm the problem is that we will not need USD or euros for this trip so not sure whether it is worth getting some just in case we want room service.

 

[MikeGS]

Hmm the problem is that we will not need USD or euros for this trip so not sure whether it is worth getting some just in case we want room service.

TBH, even as a Brit, where ever I travel, I always take some dollars. Now, I admit, I've been to some pretty rough and poor parts of the world (though not on a Disney Cruise) but it usually easier to change dollars than any other currency. It's up to you though I guess. As long as its a normally traded currency I suspect they won't have too much of a problem.

 

[clten]

I think it is acceptable to tip in any currency that the ship will be visiting after you pay the tip. For example if you are on the last Norwegian fjords cruise and the ship won't be sailing back to Norway, you shouldn't tip in Norwegian krone. But if you are on one of the first northern European sailings and the ship will have several port days in Copenhagen in the upcoming weeks it is acceptable to tip in Danish krone.

Or you can request a slip with your room service delivery, tip a few dollars (American) on that and have it charged to your onboard account. They get tipped, you don't need to worry about the currency type. (A lot of time people will not be presented with the slip to sign since there is no charge for what is ordered but they can easily produce one especially if you let the person who takes your order know you would like one to be able to tip the delivery server.)

 

[cheermom2four]

I'm bringing dollars on our med cruise in Sept. Costs me more to change dollars to euros so I will just keep mine as dollars when I cruise and only take enough euros for our pre and post cruise stay in barcelona

 

[FigmentSpark]

My thought (and it's no more than an opinion, as I have no experience in this) would be to tip in the currency that is used on the ship. That's what they get paid in and can use aboard ship. Anything else will have to be exchanged by them anyway. If you tip in the country's currency, it's possible the staff aren't able to get off in that port, so will have no use for it. But if you tip in dollars and they are given a free day, I'm sure they have means of converting money anyway.

That's my 2 cents.

 

[darnheather]

If you already have Euros I'm sure it will be fine. Please take in account the exchange rate if it falls. Currently you can do one for one.

 

[m3owbox]

I am also going to be on this cruise. I plan on tipping Euros, it's very hard to get dollars from where I am and the ship will not be back in the US for quite some time. Since it is sailing more of Europe after we get off, I feel like Euro is acceptable.

 

[HeatherLassell]

Well

Hmm the problem is that we will not need USD or euros for this trip so not sure whether it is worth getting some just in case we want room service.

(depending on what you do for tips/that's a personal decision) Not only cash tips for room service but also for the porters who take your luggage before you board the ship and then the porters who help you collect your luggage and get through customs. I travel alone with my kids so those porters are a life saver. I give them $10. Which isn't much for what they do. IMO of course. No judgment just a heads up for something you might not have thought of.

 

[gotomu212]

Hmm the problem is that we will not need USD or euros for this trip so not sure whether it is worth getting some just in case we want room service.

If all you're worried about is room service I wouldn't bother getting currency, I would fill out the slip with a tip that will be charged to the stateroom (when you order you can mention needing a receipt slip).

 

[timrousbeastie]

so I know everything on my shipboard account is charged in USD but when cruising Europe what currency should I tip room service in? We are Australian sailing out of Copenhagen to Norway after visiting the UK. That's already a lot of different currencies to carry! Last time we sailed Europe it was Mediterranean from Barcelona so tipping in euro (which we had) seemed acceptable as the crew might actually have use for euro despite I assume being paid in USD.

As for Copenhagen, you shouldn't need to worry. I am Danish and can't think of a case where it would be considered rude not to tip. You are never expected to give tips at restaurants or taxis and it is perfectly acceptable not to tip at hotels: wages for all these positions are much higher than in the US and expected to cover everything. Tipping in taxis or most restaurants would be considered downright weird.

To be perfectly honest, I usually leave a tip at major hotels anyway, but only if I can put it on a room charge or happen to have pocket change. But that's only because I've lived in the US for so many years that it feels too weird not to give anything. My old Danish friends usually laugh when I tell them.

 

[bbel]

For land based tips, the currency of the country country you're in if you're tipping.
Onboard, dollars. It not uncommon to go around a week without being able to actually get off the ship (although euros would probably be ok, but not near the end of Europe). I would suggest no to anything like krone though.
Onboard, for crew everything is dollars, and although crew don't/can't use cash onboard, it's a lot easier for crew members to change dollars into other currency than the other way around.