The bottom line on tipping?

[HappyLawyer]

well i decided i did not want to deal with it i had the cruise line add the tips on to my resv. so i will get pre paid vouchers we are a family of three and paid 43.00 per person for the 4 nights i think that sounds fair to me.

 

[jgalecpa]

Good Thread.

I once worked a tipped position, so I will easily tip extra if the service deserves it. I consider myself fortunate in life, and I have come from a place where money was so tight the buffalo on the nickel sqeeled when removed from the pocket, to a place where I get great joy overtipping where I can.

However, I am sure the Crew would love to get an entire ship where everyone tips the recommended portion, and no cheapskates stiffed them completely.

Tip the suggested amount with no qualms of guilt whatsoever.

Just for anyone who wants it, here is the tip calculator link for all the major cruise lines.

http://members.aol.com/CruiseTip/

Jim

 

[scrapperjill]

I plan on tipping the recommended amount and I have budgeted $$$ for extra tips (room service, bars, Do you tip at the Spa?).

QUOTE]


Photobear Sam I just wanted to say...that tips are automaticaly added into all bar tabs..for Smothies, beer, wine, and those good mixed drinks....just wanted to let you know...just in case you didn't already know that. I knew ahead of time...but totally forgot once we were on the ship.

 

[lovwdwalot]

Here is another dumb question, We're going on our first cruise in three weeks and my DW wanted to know do you also tip the person who brings you room service too?

 

[burma]

yep that one you tip in cash ... a dollar or two will do

 

[rex_b]

I know there are standard tip guidelines, but I notice that many people comment how they tend to tip WAY over the guideline.

I would LOVE to be able to overtip, but we're really watching our cash on this trip. If I tip the standard suggested amount, will the recipients feel slighted since they are used to getting so much more? Would it be considered poor manners to tip the standard amount?

Thanks.

It's $10/per day /per cabin / per person

Most lines auto tip now onto your total bill. And if they do this you can go to the front desk and ask them to take it off so you can personally tip yourself.

Hope that helps

 

[jrabbit]

It's $10/per day /per cabin / per person

Most lines auto tip now onto your total bill. And if they do this you can go to the front desk and ask them to take it off so you can personally tip yourself.

Hope that helps

It's actually closer to $11/day/person.

Here's a thread that has my FAQ's on Gratuities (tipping) Just look for my post - you can't miss it - it's dang long with "quotes" and "answers"

 

[herrbeeb]

the recommended tip is just that recommended. although we have nver felt that a tip was undeserved we have added to the tip on several occasions when particularly good service warranted a extra tip. i did not feel compelled to do so. also, i complemented the cms frequently and made sure they knew how pleased we were with the service.

the cms seem to rely on factors other than the tip to measure the quality of the service. more than any other cruise line they seem to genuinely enjoy serving passengers.

 

[crisi]

No one should feel bad because some people can afford or choose to tip more than the recommended amount. The recommended amount is fine. Those who tip more do so for a variety of reasons, none of them are "to make other cruisers feel bad." Just like people book verandas because they want them, not to make someone who can only afford an inside stateroom feel bad. Someone taking a dozen cruises or cruises in the suites hasn't done so merely to make me feel bad. Since tipping happens late in the cruise, it isn't like they are buying better service by tipping early on - it isn't taking from your experience.

However, if you can't afford to tip the recommended amount....you should reconsider cruising. The recommended tip amount should be considered part of the fare. If you get substandard service, I don't feel you need to tip the recommended amount, but I do feel strongly that you should budget for tipping the recommended amount and assume your service will merit the recommended tip.

 

[jrabbit]

the cms seem to rely on factors other than the tip to measure the quality of the service. more than any other cruise line they seem to genuinely enjoy serving passengers.

You are correct in stating that the CM's rely on other factors that just the tips. If ANY CM (not just the tipped positions) goes above and beyond the call of duty, try to make a mental note of their name and be sure to mention them by name (and department) on the survey you receive the final night. CM's mentioned on the cards are noted by "management" and at times they recieve other "rewards".

 

[herrbeeb]

although i try to mention extra special cms by name i am very glad to know that they are rewarded by disney for hard work. we cruised on rccl for the first time in february and the rccl employees were fine but they just didn't have that disney touch. (except for our children's room steward who was a gem)

the difference seems to be that the disney cms truly enjoy making the cruise a totally wonderous experience.

 

[kidsmom]

On 2 out of the 3 cruises we tipped the recommended amount. However, on our last cruise we did not tip our waitstaff the full amount as our service was way below what we had experienced before on DCL. Maybe it was because it was just DH and myself (no kids) that the wait staff felt they had to pay very little attention to us. I did not regret giving them a lower tip and included comments in the end of cruise survey. We did tip generously at Palo though because the service we received there was outstanding!!

I would base tipping on your own personal experience and be flexible as to rewarding the type of service you receive.

 

[pclare]

As a first time cruiser other than phone cards for long distance and local/state lottery tickets what else may be appropriate for those
CM's that go over and above to make it a special trip? In particular I was thinking about the kids counsellors and such that you dont actually tip.

Thanks for this great thread
Pauline

 

[scrapperjill]

I've heard that Gift Cards from places like Target or Wal Mart (something that's close to Port Canaveral) is appriciated...because they can use it on what ever they may need...either necessities of just on fun stuff.

I also don't know about the phone cards...but you may want to make sure they are good for international calls...not just for long distance.