Tipping Stateroom Host Before Cruise Starts

[Starwind]

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.

Similar to our experience.

On a previous Disney cruise we had some happy birthday decorations, some unopened food (yes, I bring some of my own due to food allergies) and non-alcohol drinks and some non-food unused items left at the end of the cruise. I asked our stateroom host if he would like them and he was very happy and appreciative to accept (after asking if we were sure). But he also explained that if we wanted to give them to him then we had to write a note explaining it was a GIFT from us and listing the items, which would be shown to the supervisor. So I handwrote a note thanking for exceptional service and gifting the listed items. This was entirely separate from our additional tip, which we had gone to guest services earlier in the day to increase the amounts for, and already given the "receipt slip" to the host.

SW

 

[Jennifer777]

But he also explained that if we wanted to give them to him then we had to write a note explaining it was a GIFT from us and listing the items, which would be shown to the supervisor.

This makes sense and probably protects the CM from theft accusations.

 

[m&m's mom]

I always slip the stateroom host/ess a $20 on the 1st day. My reasoning is I would not want to have to wonder if I was getting paid for 2 weeks (longer cruises) and I don't want them to either. I always something like "I have prepaid tips but want you to have something upfront". Granted, it's less of an issue now that they automatically charge you the tips but I started it way before then.
My general rule of thing is to tip for at least 1 extra person at the end. It's just an easy way to calculate how much extra I will need. I tip the upfront and end-of-cruise in cash si they get a combo of cash and put on their acct.

 

[tinkerone]

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.

You are correct that sometimes they need a form signed but there is still no rule that they can not except gifts. They absolutely can even if they do need a document to state it was a gift. We have given bottles of wine to our room host and its a 50/50 chance they bother with wanting us to produce anything written for them. They also have to be very careful with liquor as there are strict rules they have to adhere to. Wine is fine, liquor is a different animal.
But there is no rule to state they can not except gifts. They can.

 

[wcw57]

geopolitical social-economic observations aside, the harsh reality is that we are a society that rewards service....from giving the Western Union boy a nickel to slipping a buck to a bartender for pouring a bar in a glass to stuffing a bill in a brandy snifter in order to hear our favorite song from the keyboardist.

 

[MPS516]

You are correct that sometimes they need a form signed but there is still no rule that they can not except gifts. They absolutely can even if they do need a document to state it was a gift. We have given bottles of wine to our room host and its a 50/50 chance they bother with wanting us to produce anything written for them. They also have to be very careful with liquor as there are strict rules they have to adhere to. Wine is fine, liquor is a different animal.
But there is no rule to state they can not except gifts. They can.

Just wanted to add the information, not trying to discourage gifts. Your friend may have worked in a area where tips and gifts are acceptable, my niece worked in the kids clubs on the Wonder and they had a very specific list of gift and tipping rules, what is acceptable, how it is shared (if it is shared) and how to properly decline. The items that were prohibited could still be gifted but you would have to go through a supervisor instead of the cast member. Again, this was merely her experience on the Wonder for her 3 contracts and is likely different for other areas of the ship.

 

[Hundredacre]

Tipping up front is pretty common in the service industry. That does not mean you have to do it or that it is standard. But there is nothing more motivating than getting a tip up front. People working in service LOVE it. They work for tips so they are definitely not offended by them!! Regardless of when they get them!!

 

[Hundredacre]

We have tipped at the kids club most times and never been rejected!! They love it!! Who doesn't love money or giftcards!! They usually give our kids big kisses or high fives, even the "difficult" one who tortures them all week. After a week of our kids they deserve an extra thank you!!

 

[tinkerone]

Just wanted to add the information, not trying to discourage gifts. Your friend may have worked in a area where tips and gifts are acceptable, my niece worked in the kids clubs on the Wonder and they had a very specific list of gift and tipping rules, what is acceptable, how it is shared (if it is shared) and how to properly decline. The items that were prohibited could still be gifted but you would have to go through a supervisor instead of the cast member. Again, this was merely her experience on the Wonder for her 3 contracts and is likely different for other areas of the ship.

Okay, however if you read the past posts and specifically mine, they were talking about room hosts. My comments could be extended to any tipping position but I certainly was not talking about non tipping services which your niece would be in. They have a completely separate set of rules.
Sorry for the confusion.

 

[bakerworld]

We tip at the end basically because the gratitude can be a bit ... effusive = embarrassing. I've read various tip lines and am sure we do not over tip. Frankly, I have a hard time giving that guy at dinner who asks if everything's OK a tip - for what? He should tip me - he's making me think.

We do tip room service and bartenders as we go. If the 'tenders keep lowering the per drink price we keep raising the tip. Frankly, if the room host can take care of my room early and do it without me seeing them - for every day I don't see 'em and my rooms done their tip is doubled. I consider the mystery room host 'magical'.

 

[belac]

We have always brought $5-$10 phone cards and Chocolates/candy for the Children's Counselors on board. We usually know which ones are there when DS is in club. The Candy is given early on as a general gift to all. The cards are given discretely to the ones we see that have interacted with our DS. He tells us in any case.
We have given bartenders cash tips ahead of time like on CC, when we know we will be back at that bar, or out for the evening on the ship. It helps with not having to carry wallet with us and not adding it to our on board account.

We have bought gifts for our stateroom attendants (we usually pick something up at a port for them). I like to find out where they are from and sometimes ask what they miss most (besides family) on the ship. Literally got powdered iced tea mix for one host that hated the ices tea they had on board and that is what he missed most, he loved that. Never had to fill out anything for them. We normally tip at the end as expected and then some in cash if they offered us exceptional service, which we usually have always gotten.

I don't think we were ever told they would't accept things we have given. I even brought 2 pizzas from the upper deck to kids club counselors late night and they were quite thankful, said they would take it in the back to eat after shift since it was almost over. We had a few kids (8) from our group there all night. They deserved that, albeit Pinocchio's pizza.

 

[wombat_5606]

We do tip room service and bartenders as we go

There is already a gratuity included for your bartender. Do you tip extra per drink order?

 

[Evoga]

I don't know how people in America can ever leave home without a big wad of dollar bills in their pocket as the amount of workers that seem to get tipped grows by the day

 

[Starwind]

This makes sense and probably protects the CM from theft accusations.

That was my understanding of the reasoning... that it was so it was clear this was a gift from the guest to the CM and that the items had not been stolen. Or just taken when left behind.

SW

 

[bakerworld]

There is already a gratuity included for your bartender. Do you tip extra per drink order?

Yes as we're use to tipping at least 18% and the auto gratuity is 15% so we'll add to it

 

[Little Doe]

I love the towel animals. I leave them up around the room. Often I will stuff a little money in one or two to say thank you. This gives me joy to share back the joy they gave me. I do not think of it as a bribe but a thank you.

 

[wombat_5606]

Yes as we're use to tipping at least 18% and the auto gratuity is 15% so we'll add to it

Wow, in my world you are mighty generous! Maybe if I was ordering a complicated drink with a lot of ingredients, but just to draw a beer, pour a wine or throw some tonic on some gin......that's a lot of cash.

I have had the experience where a bartender will fill a glass with more than a standard pour and in that case, I will tip more. But, I can say that I've never experienced that on DCL.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I love the towel animals. I leave them up around the room. Often I will stuff a little money in one or two to say thank you. This gives me joy to share back the joy they gave me. I do not think of it as a bribe but a thank you.

This one was my favorite:

 

[ScottishMickeyFan]

Wow, in my world you are mighty generous! Maybe if I was ordering a complicated drink with a lot of ingredients, but just to draw a beer, pour a wine or throw some tonic on some gin......that's a lot of cash.

I have had the experience where a bartender will fill a glass with more than a standard pour and in that case, I will tip more. But, I can say that I've never experienced that on DCL.

Having never cruised before or bought from a bar in the US this is new to me,, possibly if someone is making a cocktail that's $10 that takes a minute then maybe $1 but by what I'm reading I would be made to pay an extra $1.50 ,, fine if that's the normal & you get good quick service

But what if I wanted a can of Diet Coke,, where they are taking it from the fridge & possibly throwing ice in a glass,, would gratuity be automatically added to that bill?

& on the bartender giving more of a measure in a drink,, I hate that,, they fill it with Ice, took much alcohol then a tiny amount of soda,, drink is ruined & I end up buying another soda just to dilute it properly,, experienced this in London recently,, paid about £2 for a little bottle of lemonade to be added to my gin,, because there was so much ice he only gave me about 1/4 of the bottle , I'm sure he would have used this for the next customer if I didn't ask for it..

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Having never cruised before or bought from a bar in the US this is new to me,, possibly if someone is making a cocktail that's $10 that takes a minute then maybe $1 but by what I'm reading I would be made to pay an extra $1.50 ,, fine if that's the normal & you get good quick service

But what if I wanted a can of Diet Coke,, where they are taking it from the fridge & possibly throwing ice in a glass,, would gratuity be automatically added to that bill?

& on the bartender giving more of a measure in a drink,, I hate that,, they fill it with Ice, took much alcohol then a tiny amount of soda,, drink is ruined & I end up buying another soda just to dilute it properly,, experienced this in London recently,, paid about £2 for a little bottle of lemonade to be added to my gin,, because there was so much ice he only gave me about 1/4 of the bottle , I'm sure he would have used this for the next customer if I didn't ask for it..

If you order a soda in the bars/lounges or from a poolside or theater server, they bring you a glass with ice and the can. Usually the server will open the can and pour it into the glass, leaving the remainder of the can for you to top off your drink.

All beverages ordered in the bars/lounges or from poolside and theater servers have an automatic 15% gratuity added.