Hi all. I read the OP, but not the intervening 5 pages of posts. If my questions were already answered, feel free to tell me to go back and read through the thread.
We are pre-paying the "usual and customary" gratuities ($12/day per person), but plan to be prepared to tip over and above, as may be customary and/or warranted. My question is: do most people tip the "usual and customary" amount for standard/expected level of service, and then give over and above that amount for exceptional service? Or do most people give over and above for standard service? (This is our first cruise, so we have no idea what to expect. But, we want to be appropriately gracious toward those who make our cruise experience.)
Secondly, assuming that we will be giving cash in addition to the pre-paid gratuities, is the usual method to give the envelopes with the pre-paid vouchers, plus additional tips in cash?
And, indirectly related to the cruise: for shuttle service from MCO (our plan is to use our hotel's paid shuttle), what is the typical tipping rate? (When I travel for work, $1/bag is pretty typical from hotel to airport - or vice versa - for the hotel's complimentary shuttle. But this would be about a 45 minute, paid shuttle ride.)