Tipping Question

[PiperG]

DH and I are wondering how most people handle the CM tips. Last year, we put cash in the tip envelopes, primarily because we had cash left from our 4 days at WDW. This year, we are planning to minimize the amount of cash we bring, since we will be on the Magic.

If memory serves, you can charge tips on the KTTW card and get a receipt to place in the envelope. Does anyone know if the CMs prefer straight cash over the credit receipts?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Michelle]

I think they actually prefer the charge tips, but either works fine. I have never given them cash (except to add to the charged tips) and no one has complained yet.

 

[Cruise]

Michelle,

Just for curiosity's sake... why do they prefer the charge tips? I would have thought cash in had would have been preferred, but there may be something to it that I don't know....

thanks,
Julie

 

[PiperG]

Bump. I am also curious.

My guess is that, since the crew is on board for long lengths of time, they "bank" their money until it is time to get off the ship and head home.

 

[TheTexasKid]

I don't know what they prefer, but, I prefer cash. First, I like to give out half of the amount I am going to tip at the start of the cruise, with a provisio that the other half of the amount comes at the end of the cruise, if I liked the service. Of course, I usually tip more then the recommended amount. At least some of the crew members seem to like this.
Second, though there is a service charge added to your bill, if one eats at Palo's, which serves in lieu of a tip, I like to tip over and above this amount. Again, I have been told the people working in Palo's appreciate this.
But, what do they appreciate most. That is, if one has had received good service from any crew member, that you mention that crew member specifically by name on the comment card, that you fill out at the end of each cruise.
Enjoy your next cruise.

 

[Chattyaholic]

On our first Magic cruise two years ago, we tipped in cash (gave more than the recommended amounts) but this time we didn't want to deal with cash as much, so we put the tips on our card. They make it very easy to do. You get a sheet of paper with spaces for the amounts for each person (server, assistant server, head server, and stateroom host/hostess) and you can write down any amount you wish to tip (they print the tipping guidelines on the paper too). Then you just take the paper to guest services and they will print out tickets right then and there. You tear them in half, put the half that goes with the corresponding person into their tip envelope and you keep the other half for your reference. Simple. I also wrote individual notes on the backs of each envelope, to personalize them a bit and let them know how much we appreciated them.