Tipping Stateroom Host Before Cruise Starts

[tinkerone]

We are talking about slipping them extra money before the cruise starts to hopefully guarantee exceptional service and to get what we want. Maybe everyone should do this so that we will all get exceptional service and what we want!!

Maybe I'm not explaining this well and for that I apologize. I do not tip up front to hopefully guarantee exceptional service or to get what I want. I know I will get exceptional service and get what I want within reason with out giving extra monies up front. I tip up front to say thank you for doing extra things that I will be requesting during the cruise. I may not be around when these things are done and I prefer to say thank you asap. Make no mistake, it is not a bribe, its a thank you. I'm sure that others who do this don't look at it as a bribe either. People will look at it however they want, I can't change that. I also am not willing to change the fact I do it or be embarrassed by doing it. If others choose not to that is fine. I will not make a fuss about that, its a choice. My choice is to pre-tip as a thank you at the beginning of the sailing and at the end.
It is what it is.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

It has never occured to me to tip at front. Being European we have strong anti bribery laws I would be too afriad it would be seen as this. Maybe wrong of me. But that would make me feel reallt uncomftable like it was conditional and the host had no choice. What if they then spend the next 4 days in a panic trying to fulful my request? But if others do it I won't judge but I wouldn't do it myself. Too much pressure on them.

 

[Vijoge]

Wait a minute, really? We always bring little gifts for our stateroom host (chocolate bars, etc.) that we leave them each evening when we go to dinner. They've always been very appreciative, and never mentioned that they could get into trouble for accepting them.

No, they won't get in trouble.

 

[CesD]

Do you bring your own food too?

Sort of-- I bring my own coffee creamer in those little shot cups because I like a certain flavor. we have also brought on our allowed carry on alcohol.

My daughter has sensitive skin so i bring her unscented soap from home and Cetaphil lotion which helps her skin. I find that switching shampoos sometimes dries my hair out or gives me dandruff so I bring shampoo from home.

 

[MUN]

Sort of-- I bring my own coffee creamer in those little shot cups because I like a certain flavor. we have also brought on our allowed carry on alcohol.

My daughter has sensitive skin so i bring her unscented soap from home and Cetaphil lotion which helps her skin. I find that switching shampoos sometimes dries my hair out or gives me dandruff so I bring shampoo from home.

I used to love bringing my rum on, much cheaper than buying drinks. Oh well, I'm too much a rule follower to try to sneak it on. However, I am one who likes to hoard and then bring home the shampoos, soaps and lotions. It reminds me of the ship when I'm stuck on land.

MUN

 

[Chernabog#1fan]

I guess I still do not understand the idea of tipping extra in advance as a thank you, because the person has not done anything yet to be thanked for. But to each their own.

 

[Maddysdaddy]

I don't tip up front either, but in what may be a somewhat analogous situation to the OP, on my recent NCL cruise, my family had a 'large balcony' room where there were two loungers, two chairs and a table on the balcony.

I asked our steward if there was any possibility of getting a third lounger, and he said (with a smile) that he would. I thanked him and slipped him a $20, since I felt that he was going above and beyond the call of duty.

Did I still tip him at the end of the cruise, yes - but I also wanted to give him a tangible expression of my appreciation at the time as well.

 

[Chernabog#1fan]

I don't tip up front either, but in what may be a somewhat analogous situation to the OP, on my recent NCL cruise, my family had a 'large balcony' room where there were two loungers, two chairs and a table on the balcony.

I asked our steward if there was any possibility of getting a third lounger, and he said (with a smile) that he would. I thanked him and slipped him a $20, since I felt that he was going above and beyond the call of duty.

Did I still tip him at the end of the cruise, yes - but I also wanted to give him a tangible expression of my appreciation at the time as well.

That is very different in my opinion because you asked and he took care of it, so you were thanking him. But to thank in advance of something they may never do for you does not make sense to me, but that is just me.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

We certainly don't tip upfront. That is definitely a bribe in my eyes. I wonder how some of the staff feel about it even. It assumes to me that this person thinks that "I" can be bought. Not a good feeling.

 

[Jennifer777]

I used to love bringing my rum on, much cheaper than buying drinks.

*sigh* I miss those days.

I also bring my own shampoo, conditioner and liquid hand soap - protein shakes to mix in my coffee (in lieu of creamer). We also bring candy sometimes to mix in with our soft serve and of course wine. We don't ask much of our stateroom host. We get our own ice and try to keep the room as tidy as possible so I can't imagine a scenario where I would need to tip in advance for any special requests but I wouldn't get offended if someone else did this. That's a transaction between the stateroom host and the person doing the tipping. To each their own.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Maybe I'm not explaining this well and for that I apologize. I do not tip up front to hopefully guarantee exceptional service or to get what I want. I know I will get exceptional service and get what I want within reason with out giving extra monies up front. I tip up front to say thank you for doing extra things that I will be requesting during the cruise. I may not be around when these things are done and I prefer to say thank you asap. Make no mistake, it is not a bribe, its a thank you. I'm sure that others who do this don't look at it as a bribe either. People will look at it however they want, I can't change that. I also am not willing to change the fact I do it or be embarrassed by doing it. If others choose not to that is fine. I will not make a fuss about that, its a choice. My choice is to pre-tip as a thank you at the beginning of the sailing and at the end.
It is what it is.

It certainly sounds like your intentions are very honest and you are certainly not bribing, but showing appreciation. The only question is whether the attendant, who doesn't know you when you are giving the tip, will take it as just your generosity, or as an indicator of expected service, like a bribe. If they are cool with it (and who's going to say no), then it's your choice, but I guess you just have to be clear when giving it, so they don't take your gesture the wrong way.

 

[MUN]

*sigh* I miss those days.

I also bring my own shampoo, conditioner and liquid hand soap - protein shakes to mix in my coffee (in lieu of creamer). We also bring candy sometimes to mix in with our soft serve and of course wine. We don't ask much of our stateroom host. We get our own ice and try to keep the room as tidy as possible so I can't imagine a scenario where I would need to tip in advance for any special requests but I wouldn't get offended if someone else did this. That's a transaction between the stateroom host and the person doing the tipping. To each their own.

If I was a stateroom host, I wouldn't be offended if someone tipped me extra in advance.

 

[mmouse37]

I don't see anything wrong with a pretip. I would consider it a bonus, though and still give the normal tip at the end. My brother says he always gives $20 to his stateroom host on Carnival the first day and says he like to always have ice. He always has ice. I know the hosts don't do ice on DCL, but I don't see anything wrong with a pretip and a special request.

Room hosts absolutely provide ice on DCL. They automatically fill the ice bucket each evening and I politely ask for ice 2x a day (morning and evening) on every cruise and never have been without it.

MJ

 

[ludari]

It depends for me. If I have a special request for something I might slip them a little cash but I typically wait until the end of the cruise.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Room hosts absolutely provide ice on DCL. They automatically fill the ice bucket each evening and I politely ask for ice 2x a day (morning and evening) on every cruise and never have been without it.

MJ

This is my experience, also.

 

[Sytrace]

We always request ice because the first and only time I asked where I could get it, the room hostess told me that she would be sure to bring it to us everyday. I did not tip extra.

 

[John VN]

Seriously, tipping bar tender in concierge to keep the glass filled?????

 

[MPS516]

There is no rule that they can not except gifts. They are not supposed to eat food from the dinning rooms but you can give them any gift you want and they do not have to report it. They do not like to get large gifts because of small cabins but they love to get things like books and magazines, candy, and gift cards. They prefer cash but will accept almost anything and they appreciate it. This I know because I asked a friend who worked on the Magic for quite some time.

This depends ! We have had the opportunity to bring a wine from a grape found only in Lake City MN, taster bottles of 9yr old Jack Daniels from Lynchberg, a Grand Ole Opry candy from Nashville TN, or a specialty molded chocolate from Hersey PA, for some we have had to sign an intent form for the Stateroom supervisor for our section or in one case the Hotel Officer. I travel a lot and often receive give away's from the local area, I tend to collect them and if I have room in our luggage bring them to pass along. In addition to the stateroom host or other person we may give them to, we often are approached by other cast members who got to share, thanking us or asking about where it comes from. We always tell the crew member we would like to given them something unique to a particular area of the US and they tell us right away if it requires supervisor permission.

 

[Minnmom]

Learned my lesson long ago in regards to "pre-tipping".......
Of course we were in Acapulco on Spring Break in college at an "all you can drink" bar event. We pooled our money together to "pre-tip" the waiter a LOT of money to keep us hydrated for the evening. Unfortunately, he apparently decided that was good enough for the night and skipped out on his shift and left us to fend for ourselves at the bar. Ha! (ultimately we were probably better off in the long run)
No more pre-tips for me. (and that was 20 years ago!)

 

[Control4Hermosa]

When the fella comes to clean/service my oil burner, I tip up front. The thought is that he might be inspired to provide excellent service. Once he is done and I give him the same tip...

Absolutely ridiculous. This is what has been wrong with the American workforce since the fall of Detroit in the 70s. The Japanese tromped on us with the workforce that thinks performing to the best of your ability then being rewarded (or not) is the best way to ensure highest quality all of the time.