Tipping... again! (but I'm going to the bank tomorrow...)

[FigmentSpark]

I'm drawing a blank here for information I've been reading for the past year. I want to make sure I have enough of the right number of denominations of bills. Can someone give me a suggestion range for tips for the following:

Porters (per bag)
Room service (per trip or item?)
excursion leaders and drivers (anyone else?)
taxis in foreign ports
anyone else?

We're on a Fantasy Eastern and most things are charged to a card or we'll use credit when available, so I don't need to know about the ship standard tipping, as that will go on our account. Just the other things we might need to tip for.

Do you tip at Cove or any of the poolside food areas on the ship? All spa tips can be put on account, right?

Thanks. I'm trying not to panic.

 

[tink1970]

First, congrats that you're so close to your cruise

Porters- I believe most tip $1-3/bag. I usually don't have that many singles so I over tip
Room service-again $1-2/trip
Excursions-ugh, no idea, I haven't taken one in forever, sorry
Taxis-most of what I've read for the Caribbean is 10-20%; again haven't taken a cab there for decades (yikes!)

Bars, spa, etc are an automatic 18% tip on the ship (and Castaway Cay) so that's already calculated. I believe there is an additional line for EXTRA gratuity but if 18% is appropriate, no need to add more. Every charge on the ship is charged on your Key to the World Card which is then charged to the credit card (or other payment) given at check in. On Castaway Cay, you will need cash if you happen to catch the post office when it's open and want a stamp to mail a postcard (I'm 0/3 on my last trips...).

Have fun; it's vacation!!!

 

[ralw143]

I agree above!! I can add:
Excursions - 10-15% for the tour guide and 5% to the driver for the total of cost of your group.
Concierge room attendants - at least 10% of the cost of the cruise for your group if you booked this category.

 

[Laundress]

Just a thought... if needed you can go to guest services and exchange larger bills for smaller denominations.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Thanks. That gives me an idea about cash.

Good to know about guest services. I wouldn't have thought of that. And just maybe they'd rather have larger bills anyway.

 

[MunFam]

Porters (per bag) I tip $1 a bag...no less than $5, usally $10 (I want my bags ON that ship, darn it!)
Room service (per trip or item?) $1 per item up to $5 per delivery
excursion leaders and drivers (anyone else?) 15% for good tour, 20% on great tour to guide and if driver is helpful, keeps bus cool, drops in a good location, I tip about $20.
taxis in foreign ports I usually round up...so $2-5?
anyone else? Valet and porters at hotel pre-trip, Skycap at airport, hotel shuttle driver

 

[xuxa777]

Concierge room attendants - at least 10% of the cost of the cruise for your group if you booked this category.

I think that might be a little on the high side at 10% for concierge attendants - seeing as that could be anywhere from $1000-2000 for a family.

 

[ralw143]

About concierge - Think about it - you tip your wait staff normally 20% of the total bill. Disney charges 18% for almost all other purchases across the board. These people rely mostly on tips. They are there to help you with every move and people do take advantage. One person will book concierge while there entire group purchases the cheaper rooms to take advantage of the perks. The tip is distributed to all concierge attendants during your cruise (you don't just have one - they do take breaks) and staff in the lounge. If you can afford a concierge room - you can afford the tip.

I understand there are times that people don't get the attention - then you tip accordingly. However, if the staff went above a beyond for you - it should be guaranteed!!

It's just like butlers in high end hotels, private drivers, personal assistants, etc. Tipping is always at least 10% of the bill.

We are a tipping society and it angers me how many people on the last night or morning are at guest services disputing charges. If you can't afford to tip - then you can't afford to go. Sorry.

 

[MIDisFan]

About concierge - Think about it - you tip your wait staff normally 20% of the total bill. Disney charges 18% for almost all other purchases across the board. These people rely mostly on tips. They are there to help you with every move and people do take advantage. One person will book concierge while there entire group purchases the cheaper rooms to take advantage of the perks. The tip is distributed to all concierge attendants during your cruise (you don't just have one - they do take breaks) and staff in the lounge. If you can afford a concierge room - you can afford the tip.

I understand there are times that people don't get the attention - then you tip accordingly. However, if the staff went above a beyond for you - it should be guaranteed!!

It's just like butlers in high end hotels, private drivers, personal assistants, etc. Tipping is always at least 10% of the bill.

We are a tipping society and it angers me how many people on the last night or morning are at guest services disputing charges. If you can't afford to tip - then you can't afford to go. Sorry.

I consider myself a very generous tipper but even I consider 10% of the cruise cost to be excessive for concierge. In our case, with just 2 adults, we are already paying about a 35% premium to stay concierge. What does that cover if not the service provided by the Concierge staff?

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Figment Spark, I can only tell you that towards the end of our trip we still had enough 1s and 20s for tips, but were running low on 5s and 10s. I didn't think to go to guest services for change, that is a good idea, but make sure you have some 5s and 10s. That way, you can decide for yourself how much each person should get and you will be sure you have the right combination of bills to give it to them.

Have a great TRIP!

Then come back here and tell us all about it!

 

[msmama]

To piggy back on this question...if I have great service at a bar, for example and want to tip extra, is it better to add on the bill or actually give them actual money? Does the person I give it to get the tip or are they somehow pooled and split. For example, last cruise, I ordered a drink at the cove cafe but then a server insisted I go find a spot to sit and he'd bring it to me (I was the only one there and chatted with them both) - who gets the tip in that situation?

 

[ralw143]

I consider myself a very generous tipper but even I consider 10% of the cruise cost to be excessive for concierge. In our case, with just 2 adults, we are already paying about a 35% premium to stay concierge. What does that cover if not the service provided by the Concierge staff?

It's just like real estate. You can take an exact house and put it into a different zip code - and the house costs twice the amount and taxes are 50% more. Yet it's still the same house - if it's a family of four or two - Cause of the area.

You are paying for top real estate and better perks. Along with this the best staff available on the ship. Private areas, lounges, 24 hour assistants, etc. Premium rooms/unlimited perks - premium tips. To each there own. Tipping etiquette. This is what I do and people I know. You can tip the way you want. Sorry if my opinion doesn't correlate with yours. Happy travels.

 

[DVCTigger]

To piggy back on this question...if I have great service at a bar, for example and want to tip extra, is it better to add on the bill or actually give them actual money? Does the person I give it to get the tip or are they somehow pooled and split. For example, last cruise, I ordered a drink at the cove cafe but then a server insisted I go find a spot to sit and he'd bring it to me (I was the only one there and chatted with them both) - who gets the tip in that situation?

We had this question as well, so we finally asked a server we had in diversions that we came to look for every time we went in. The included tip (15%) is divided/pooled. Any tip that you add to the extra tip line goes directly to that server.

 

[kiford]

To piggy back on this question...if I have great service at a bar, for example and want to tip extra, is it better to add on the bill or actually give them actual money? Does the person I give it to get the tip or are they somehow pooled and split.

As @DVCTigger points out, the automatic tip is pooled and individual tips go to the specific server. I always add an additional tip to the bill (no cash, just on the onboard account) - it doesn't always have to be large, sometimes just $0.50-$1.50 per drink depending on size of order - but they will definitely remember you and it can go a long way to an even higher level of service. I had one server from the Cove Cafe on the Magic remember me when I ran into him inm the Cove Cafe on the Dream a year later. It doesn't cost much over the length of the cruise to do that and it pays off.

 

[MaryPatPA]

At the beginning of our last cruise, I gave my DDs and DH twenty $1 bills and asked them to please TIP at least $1 for any service they receive. It's such a little thing, but I think the CMs appreciated it.

 

[xuxa777]

About concierge - Think about it - you tip your wait staff normally 20% of the total bill. Disney charges 18% for almost all other purchases across the board. These people rely mostly on tips. They are there to help you with every move and people do take advantage. One person will book concierge while there entire group purchases the cheaper rooms to take advantage of the perks. The tip is distributed to all concierge attendants during your cruise (you don't just have one - they do take breaks) and staff in the lounge. If you can afford a concierge room - you can afford the tip.

I understand there are times that people don't get the attention - then you tip accordingly. However, if the staff went above a beyond for you - it should be guaranteed!!

It's just like butlers in high end hotels, private drivers, personal assistants, etc. Tipping is always at least 10% of the bill.

We are a tipping society and it angers me how many people on the last night or morning are at guest services disputing charges. If you can't afford to tip - then you can't afford to go. Sorry.

Doesn't quite compare or work like that. Even Disney set recommended regular tips for cruise staff at 3-4% of the cost of the cruise and that is the maximum rate using a lower cost inner stateroom rate. At a higher room costs Disney 'recommended" tip works out to even less of a percentage of the total cost of the cruise for the staff. At the top concierge rate the recommend tip amount for staff is only 1% of the entire cruise cost. Tipping the difference 2-3% to the concierge staff is more realistic.

I appreciate good service and tip well for it, it is just the 10% multiplier is a bit excessive but if you feel like tipping that much go right ahead.