For First Time Cruisers Info About The Tip Envelopes

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

When I was researching info for my first cruise I found very little info about the tip envelopes and what they looked like. So now I am writing a post with the info I was looking for before my first cruise.

I was on a 7 night cruise. The tip envelopes were put in my room by my stateroom host as part of the turn down service on the second last night. The actual money was put onto my stateroom account the day before.

This is what I found on my bed when I returned to my room



The tip amount is $14.50 per person in a stateroom, which for me as a solo cruiser on a 7-night cruise came to $101.50 and it was divided between 4 people:

• Stateroom host
• Head Server
• Server
• Assistant Server

You get a sheet which breaks down how much each person gets with tearable sections to put in the envelopes.



You don’t have to put the slips of paper into the envelopes and give them to each person, but it’s a nice tradition to do. It just lets them know that the tips have been paid and I would imagine it helps them with their personal budgets, to know how much and when the tips have been given to them.

I also wrote a personal note to each person and gave them an extra cash tip in the envelope. Again, that’s optional and not something you have to do. I did it not just for the service and doing the basic job, but for little extras they all did which were above and beyond their job. Sometimes in the parks as a solo person in a restaurant I have felt that I have had less attention and sometimes been ignored due to being on my own. On the cruise this was never the case, in fact the serving team made a special effort to talk to me and stop by the table.

The next day was my last full day on the ship.

When I left my room for the day I left the envelope for my stateroom host on the table in my room so he would see it.

At my last MDR dinner I gave the envelopes to my serving team.

 

[RACHEL_GB]

Thank you for taking the time to write this, firstly because I felt really weird with the envelopes on my first cruise and wasn’t sure what the etiquette was (prob being British) so I am sure it will help people and secondly I am considering taking my first solo cruise so good to hear your experience!

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Thank you for taking the time to write this, firstly because I felt really weird with the envelopes on my first cruise and wasn’t sure what the etiquette was (prob being British) so I am sure it will help people and secondly I am considering taking my first solo cruise so good to hear your experience!

You are welcome I'm from Ireland so I know what you mean. A lot of people here cruise so much they just take things like this for granted and forget that first time cruisers dont know.

You should check out my full solo cruise report here https://www.disboards.com/threads/s...second-day-at-sea-returning-to-dover.3926775/

I am going on my second solo cruise in a few weeks time and I have made a pre cruise planning thread here https://www.disboards.com/threads/p...-southampton-england-to-bilbao-spain.3926855/

 

[anricat]

And if you don't have any cash and want to give a little extra, you can always go to Guest Services and they can adjust the amount of the tip and give you a new sheet of paper you can stick in the envelope with the new amount.

 

[motherdaughtercruisers]

Nice summary!! Very appreciated!

 

[Skippyboo]

Do they still give you the envelopes if you prepay the tips?

 

[Mommb]

Do they still give you the envelopes if you prepay the tips?

Yes. You will get the envelopes and the sheet with slips for each person being tipped whether you paid tips in advance or are being charged while onboard.

 

[kiford]

Do they still give you the envelopes if you prepay the tips?

Even if you prepay tips, the staff don't get them until the end of the cruise. It's essentially a credit on your account marked as the gratuities.

And if you don't have any cash and want to give a little extra, you can always go to Guest Services and they can adjust the amount of the tip and give you a new sheet of paper you can stick in the envelope with the new amount.

I always go to Guest Services to raise the amount if I want to give extra. There is very little that CMs can spend cash on and many of them send funds back home and have to deposit it first. But mainly I do this because I have had situations where we didn't see our servers either on the last night because of illness or at the last breakfast because of re-assignment and I want to make sure that they get it. So cash always worries me a bit. It doesn't take long to do; they just reprint the forms for you. This way you know they'll get the money whether you see them or not.

 

[CarolynFH]

You should check out my full solo cruise report here https://www.disboards.com/threads/for-first-time-cruisers-info-about-the-tip-envelopes.3927572/

I think you accidentally inserted the wrong link - it links back to this very thread!

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

I think you accidentally inserted the wrong link - it links back to this very thread!

oops thanks, I changed it, this is the correct link
https://www.disboards.com/threads/s...second-day-at-sea-returning-to-dover.3926775/

 

[Rex1993]

This is helpful information. We sailed for the first time on the Wish in June and these envelopes came the last night at turndowns. It was hectic and confusing since I kept seeing tips already taken out of my account each day. I now know there are plenty of people that like to hand the envelopes in person but it makes me feel awkward so I didn't do it and probably wouldn't in the future. I also only added additional (in the form of cash) to our assistant server. She was absolutely awesome and frankly the only person who really went out of their way among all those on the tipping sheet. Our head server was a straight up jerk and he was so incredibly rude to the assistant and only a bit less awful to my wife. I was really tempted to reduce his tip but just left it as is.

 

[DisneyConvert]

When I was researching info for my first cruise I found very little info about the tip envelopes and what they looked like. So now I am writing a post with the info I was looking for before my first cruise.

I was on a 7 night cruise. The tip envelopes were put in my room by my stateroom host as part of the turn down service on the second last night. The actual money was put onto my stateroom account the day before.

This is what I found on my bed when I returned to my room

View attachment 785147

The tip amount is $14.50 per person in a stateroom, which for me as a solo cruiser on a 7-night cruise came to $101.50 and it was divided between 4 people:

• Stateroom host
• Head Server
• Server
• Assistant Server

You get a sheet which breaks down how much each person gets with tearable sections to put in the envelopes.

View attachment 785148

You don’t have to put the slips of paper into the envelopes and give them to each person, but it’s a nice tradition to do. It just lets them know that the tips have been paid and I would imagine it helps them with their personal budgets, to know how much and when the tips have been given to them.

I also wrote a personal note to each person and gave them an extra cash tip in the envelope. Again, that’s optional and not something you have to do. I did it not just for the service and doing the basic job, but for little extras they all did which were above and beyond their job. Sometimes in the parks as a solo person in a restaurant I have felt that I have had less attention and sometimes been ignored due to being on my own. On the cruise this was never the case, in fact the serving team made a special effort to talk to me and stop by the table.

The next day was my last full day on the ship.

When I left my room for the day I left the envelope for my stateroom host on the table in my room so he would see it.

At my last MDR dinner I gave the envelopes to my serving team.

This is an EXCELLENT summary for the DCL protocol. I think some cruise lines may be a tad different.

FWIW, I dont think we have ever lowered a gratuity to anyone, but we give extra when service has been above and beyond (which seems frequent in our case).

 

[RedHead0186]

This is an EXCELLENT summary for the DCL protocol. I think some cruise lines may be a tad different.

FWIW, I dont think we have ever lowered a gratuity to anyone, but we give extra when service has been above and beyond (which seems frequent in our case).

Same. We have never lowered gratuity for anyone. Since they sort of "expect" that, I wouldn't feel right lowering it unless it was something pretty egregious (and only if I had already used other methods to try and address). I have very often increased gratuity for good service.

 

[oferiniowa]

Do they still give you the envelopes if you prepay the tips?

Yes. You will get the envelopes and the sheet with slips for each person being tipped whether you paid tips in advance or are being charged while onboard.

Forgive me for being unfamiliar. If I prepay, what do I do with the envelopes?

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Forgive me for being unfamiliar. If I prepay, what do I do with the envelopes?

Prepaying just means that you authorize DCL to take the money and add it to your room account bill before the cruise.

As the PP said everyone gets the envelopes, so you have 3 options

1. Give the envelopes with the slip of paper to the CM's
OR
2. Throw the envelopes and paper in the trash
OR
3. Keep the envelopes and paper as a souvenir

 

[motherdaughtercruisers]

We tend to do the first as it is a formality of saying thank you and we have taken care of you as you have promised to take care of us.

And I say this as I have prefaced the cruise with my customary, “I know you need all excellent s and I will work with you to make sure by the end of each day/experience I can give you the excellent you deserve and I will take care of you. ”

 

[DCLMP]

This is helpful information. We sailed for the first time on the Wish in June and these envelopes came the last night at turndowns. It was hectic and confusing since I kept seeing tips already taken out of my account each day. I now know there are plenty of people that like to hand the envelopes in person but it makes me feel awkward so I didn't do it and probably wouldn't in the future. I also only added additional (in the form of cash) to our assistant server. She was absolutely awesome and frankly the only person who really went out of their way among all those on the tipping sheet. Our head server was a straight up jerk and he was so incredibly rude to the assistant and only a bit less awful to my wife. I was really tempted to reduce his tip but just left it as is.

I don’t hand out the envelopes either. I find it awkward. I haven’t tipped extra in a while. Our last cruise we had pretty bad dining room service. It was actually the first time 30 cruises. Hopefully it’s not a trend.