Gratuity Envelopes

[Living42Day]

I have read conflicting info so wanted to ask here. What is the point of gratuity envelopes? We prepaid our gratuities and I have read that any extra cash needs to be taken to guest services rather than put into the envelope. I just want to make sure we're doing things correctly for our upcoming cruise!

 

[rhit2004]

We always just stick extra cash in the envelope. I can't confirm that is correct/appropriate, but we have never been told otherwise.

 

[Aby]

The gratuity envelopes are more a symbolic thing now - you put your tip slips in them and pass them out to your servers and hosts as a gesture of appreciation. You don’t actually have to give them the envelopes - they will get the tips you paid on your account regardless.

If you want to give extra above and beyond the standard tips, you can put extra cash in the envelopes, or you can go to guest services and just increase the amounts.

 

[happycamper47]

We always add extra cash in the envelope it doesn't have to go to GS.

 

[mmouse37]

As mentioned, the envelopes are now more symbolic but it upholds a long running cruising tradition of personally handing your servers their tip to show your appreciation. I know many feel awkward about handing them their tip directly but I think it adds humanity to the situation. I would much rather personally thank them and give them their envelopes then just have DCL do it. I know they still get paid the tips without the envelopes but we always put extra cash along with the tip vouchers in the envelopes and hand them out at the last dinner. We rarely go to breakfast in the dining room the last morning so do it at the last dinner.

I have never, in 56 DCL cruises, brought extra cash to guest services for the tips. I just put it in the envelopes and hand those to our servers/room hosts.
MJ

 

[Chirple]

I write a short personal thank you note on the back of the envelopes.

 

[MomOTwins]

I have never, in 56 DCL cruises, brought extra cash to guest services for the tips. I just put it in the envelopes and hand those to our servers/room hosts.
MJ

So just to explain, when people talk about increasing tip at guest service, they do that so they can use a credit card (eg a to get rewards/cashback) or gift card (eg one the got with a discount). Agree if you brought cash it makes sense to just add to envelope but for a different payment method you need guest services.

 

[71 Truck]

I write a short personal thank you note on the back of the envelopes.

My wife and I do the same thing.

 

[71 Truck]

My wife and I will add cash to the envelope along with the prepaid tip slip.
We like to hand it to the cast member thanking them for their hard work and how much we enjoyed the cruise, them being a part of the reason we had a good time.
My wife will also wright a thankyou note on the back of the envelope.

We were told the cast members like some cash when possible because it works out for them when they go ashore to either, enjoy activities in the port or to do any shopping for personal items they need.

When we go to Cozumel one of the first places we go is Mega. Mega is like a one stop box store for all kinds of things.
We see crew member doing shopping for all kind of thing from snacks to personal items like clothing.

 

[tvguy]

I have never, in 56 DCL cruises, brought extra cash to guest services for the tips. I just put it in the envelopes and hand those to our servers/room hosts.

If we receive the great service we expected, we always hand our Server, Assistant Server, Wine Steward and Cabin Steward an envelope with an additional cash tip on the last night. So far, every cruise on every line that we have been on that was the case, great service.

 

[mmouse37]

So just to explain, when people talk about increasing tip at guest service, they do that so they can use a credit card (eg a to get rewards/cashback) or gift card (eg one the got with a discount). Agree if you brought cash it makes sense to just add to envelope but for a different payment method you need guest services.

Yes, if someone wanted to pay additional tip via other means than cash you would go to guest services....unless you were gifting a gift card as additional payment. That could be added to the envelope instead of cash if someone wanted to do it that way.

MJ