When Do You Tip the Bartenders?

[inkkognito]

In all my cruises, this is the only thing that still confuses me. Here's how I do it...I'd be curious to see what the rest of you do. A tip is automatically added (I think it's 15%), but there is a space to add more. If we're in a bar or club, we don't add anything additional because we figure the standard tip is plenty. If I am in a chair on CC and the server brings me a drink, I add some because he had to plow through the sand to reach me! When my husband gets a drink with dinner, we don't add any onto the receipt that the assistant server brings (however, we do typically give him/her more than the recommended amount at the end of the cruise, whether we had alcohol or not).

Barb

 

[SweetSpot]

Most of the time we add additional even though the 15% is there already. We also add more for the asst. server at dinner and tip them more than the recommended amount (mostly because 3 of 4 assts have been better than the server). They work so hard and so many hours I just don't feel right not adding more after reading that their tips are pooled.

I have been reading up for our RCL cruise and people at cruise critic say you need to tip cash early on to get good service. Anyone know if that's true? One thing I like about DCL is that you get the same service whether you tip the minimum or more.

 

[DrCavin]

Barb:

If I go to the bar, I don't add anything. If someone comes & takes my order, then I will add a $1 or so.... I don't remember seeing that many people coming around taking drink orders last cruise, did I just not see them or are they just few & far between?

 

[pearlieq]

My policy is pretty much like yours. I'll tip for a server to trudge through the sand at CC, and I would tip if the bartender provided some extraordinary extra service, but otherwise I don't tip above the gratuity is already added.

I actually think it's a little sleazy for DCL to put a tip line on the bar bills--I'm sure they rack up tons of double tips from people who are either so habituated to adding a gratuity on the line or don't realize that the tip is already added.

 

[tvguy]

Everyone should tip, but everyone should have a right to decide what the correct tip is. I hate automatic gratuities.

Why does the wine steward deserve an automatic $15 tip on a $100 bottle of wine, when he provides the same level of service for an automatic $3.75 tip on a $25 dollar bottle of wine?

 

[KaitlinsMom]

I had it explained to me by a CM once - At the bar, the bartender gets the full 15% tip - If it is a server, (server in a bar, on the beach, etc) then they SPLIT the tip - 7 1/2% goes to the server, 7 1/2% goes to the bartender -

What ever amount you put extra - 100% of that goes to the server -

When dining in the dining rooms - the 15% gets split between both servers (main server and ***'t) and the bartender - anything extra you put - gets split between both servers (main and ***'t)

So when we receive a drink from a server, we always tip extra -

Karen

 

[wackywexler]

Wow, very informative, I had no idea, thanks!

 

[Scratch42]

When buying an individual drink, I usually leave an extra $1.00. Worth it since I don't have to get up to get it!

janet

 

[ricka47]

If you use a pool bar or any other one and plan to return, tip the guy at the bar a few bucks your first drink as well as the 15% gratuity. He will love you forever and take care of you the entire trip. You could add a few more bucks along the way.

This has paid off in free drinks, bigger drinks, and better drinks all for a few dollars!

 

[michelle9343]

Question ...If you give the bartender a tip in CASH he will get to keep it??? I have a freind going with us in Nov and he always likes to take care of the bartender. I thought he was better off adding an addition tip on his first tip but he said " everyone likes cash better." I was under the understanding that cash tips were pooled. so confused