How many dollar bills to take

[tigger2002]

First cruise -- how many dollar bills do you realistically need for a 5 day cruise. It's ok if I have too many but definitely don't want to run short. For TIPS

I think that if you bring $5,000 - $8,000 in cash you will be fine AND have a great time.

 

[steves100]

We are doing a Stingray excursion at Castaway Cay. Do we tip them too?

We didnt...

 

[Alicatt]

How much do you usually tip for excursions? Is it a percentage?

 

[DIS_Ag]

So we took the DCL bus from MCO (we stayed at the Hyatt inside the airport) and left our luggage in the hotel room for someone to get. How can we go about finding out who to tip for that as we already left our room and walked down to the DCL check-in before our bags were picked up. I would really like to be able to tip someone for that since it will be 4 bags this time for our longer cruise.

As for how much we brought last time? It was a 3night cruise just DH and I and we brought wayyyyyyyyy too much cash ($150). We didnt order room service as we were constantly on the go since it was our first time. Didnt have to use a porter as we had one bag picked up from our hotel room and we didnt do excursions this time around. We also didnt have a carryon except my purse which I kept with me so we didnt tip the driver. We did tip extra for our stateroom host and our serves though but that can be adjust on your account. I think this time we will bring $200 ($1s, $5s, and $10s) since it will be 4 of us this time for 7 nights and we are going on excursions and would like to tip there too. If we run out of cash, we will just up our tips to the servers and stateroom host on our tip forms at guest services. Having a teen this time I'm sure I will be using the $1s for room service

Just leave cash on top of your bags, they'll know what it's for

 

[ahain]

I would estimate it based on the following.
$2-3 per bag for porters (x2- before and after)
$30+ in one's for room service
The excursions are the hard part. It depends on the cost and the level of service. I plan on bringing a couple of hundred (mix of 5, 10, & 20s)

We also bring some extra cash ($10s and $20s) to add to the tip envelopes for our Server, Assistant Server and Room Attendant

 

[IceSkatingPrincess]

I took 30 on my 7 night, and that was pretty much exactly enough (including tips to my cab driver in Mexico and at a bar in the Caymans). We used it for the baggage people when we arrived, room service a few times, and a porter to help us to our car when we departed. We took $200 besides that for extra tips for servers, small souvenirs in ports, etc.

 

[ludari]

I usually bring about $30 in $1s to cover room service and luggage porters. I also bring $40 in $5s and $40 in $10s and use that cash for various tips for port adventures and port gifts, snacks, drinks, etc. In addition to the print out tips for MDR staff and stateroom attendants I also add cash to the envelops.

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

I usually bring about $30 in $1s to cover room service and luggage porters. I also bring $40 in $5s and $40 in $10s and use that cash for various tips for port adventures and port gifts, snacks, drinks, etc. In addition to the print out tips for MDR staff and stateroom attendants I also add cash to the envelops.

We had singles on our radar and brought enough of them, but we almost ran short of 5's and 10's, or even 20's for some of the shore excursions, especially if there are several of you in your group.

 

[scrappinginontario]

We'll be driving to Port Canaveral for the first time this year so not sure what happens with our luggage when we drive up. Do we take our luggage to a drop off location? Do we tip at the drop off location? Or, are there porters that automatically collect our luggage? I want to ensure I tip all those who would normally be tipped.

 

[queenofheartsfan]

Usually bring $25 in ones and $20 to $25 in fives

 

[ScooterPie]

You can get change at Guest Services.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

We'll be driving to Port Canaveral for the first time this year so not sure what happens with our luggage when we drive up. Do we take our luggage to a drop off location? Do we tip at the drop off location? Or, are there porters that automatically collect our luggage? I want to ensure I tip all those who would normally be tipped.

You will see the porters waiting to assist you in the drop off lane as you approach the ship. Pull up and have one of them assist you with the luggage you wish to check through for delivery to your room. Tip the porter at that time, since you will next see those bags when they have been delivered outside your stateroom later in the afternoon. I usually leave my carry-on bag with DW while I return the rental car and return to the ship on the rental car shuttle. We rejoin and get in line to enter the terminal together.

 

[Shanti]

I recommend 50 ones so you'll never have to worry about running short.

 

[Ghen]

We always tip on the receipt for room service (not cash). The only cash for tipping is baggage handlers to and from (including bus or cab driver). Another $1 for a stamp on Castaway Cay if you want to send a postcard.

 

[dclpluto]

You will need more 5 and 10 dollar bills than one dollar bills for tips.

 

[scrapperkimmydee]

I would estimate it based on the following.
$2-3 per bag for porters (x2- before and after)
$30+ in one's for room service
The excursions are the hard part. It depends on the cost and the level of service. I plan on bringing a couple of hundred (mix of 5, 10, & 20s)

How does it work for tipping the porters? Don't they come and take your luggage in the middle of the night? When do you see them?

I don't even remember what we did with our bags getting on board. It's obviously been WAY too long since I cruised.

 

[surran12]

How does it work for tipping the porters? Don't they come and take your luggage in the middle of the night? When do you see them?

I don't even remember what we did with our bags getting on board. It's obviously been WAY too long since I cruised.

They mean the porters at the cruise terminals. The ones who take your bags at the curbside and bring them to the drop off spot so they get out on the ship and when you disembark and are finding your luggage there will be a porter to load it all onto a luggae cart and will cart it back to the curbside or to your car for you.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Just leave cash on top of your bags, they'll know what it's for

We did this too.

 

[JW9DVC]

We tipped $2 per bag for the porters at the port.
We carried our own luggage off, so no help there...and no tips.
We tipped $1 per item from room service.
We tipped 20% to each of our guides and drivers (that we hired privately, not DCL people).

You may also find yourself needing to tip a shuttle driver, a cab driver, or the hotel maid pre or post cruise.

Never understood tipping a cab driver. Unless they carry your bags and groceries for you. Like tipping me as a police officer for pulling you over and not giving you a citation a tip for doing so. Doesn't make since.

 

[MunFam]

Never understood tipping a cab driver. Unless they carry your bags and groceries for you. Like tipping me as a police officer for pulling you over and not giving you a citation a tip for doing so. Doesn't make since.

When we are in foreign countries, we often hire a cab and ask for a city tour en route to our destination. In the event the driver also provides a tour. Otherwise we tip a cab driver if they help us with luggage.

FWIW, I have never been pulled over by a police officer and NOT given a ticket. Ha. I even got one for having window tint on my front windows. So yeah, I've never wanted to tip a cop.