Cruise Talk: Tipping (Again)

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Topic: Tipping (Again)

Skyhawk
First Class Passenger
Member # 427

posted 05-05-2000 10:29 AM

I just read some suggestions on www.concierge.com about tipping on cruises. They said the standard is $3.50 for Cabin stewards and waiters and $2.00 for assistant waiters (busboy). I thought the going rate was $3 and $1.75. I am interested in the current standards since we will be leaving on May 19th. What is the current experience and suggestions from recent cruisers?

Posts: 54 | From: San Angelo, TX USA | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Ascendancy
First Class Passenger
Member # 840

posted 05-05-2000 02:13 PM

It was raised slightly from previous years.
Call it inflation or whatever, but I think it has a lot to do with new cruisers not tipping.
The difference has to be made up with those who do tip.

Posts: 354 | From: Aurora, CO | Registered: Oct 1999 | IP: Logged

LizKiddo
First Class Passenger
Member # 1167

posted 05-06-2000 02:24 AM

I went at the end of March and it was $3.50 per day for waiters and stewards and $2 for busboys.

Posts: 33 | From: Pasadena, CA, USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

CTrail
First Class Passenger
Member # 64

posted 05-06-2000 08:33 AM

In Carnival's brochure they state that tipping is at your discretion but the following is a suggested tipping guideline. $3.50 a day per guest for the Cabin Steward and Waiter and $2.00 a day per guest for the Busboy. They also state that the Daily tipping guidelines also apply regardless of the dining options. This last statement covers those that feel they can use the alternate dining arrangements and then stiff the waiter and busboy. Pretty rotten thing to do since these people depend on your tips in many cases but I'm sure there are people that will do that, as a matter of fact a couple of people have raised the question why should they pay for a service that they didn't use every night. I think that line of thought is absurd. You pay to heat, or cool your home when you are not in it. You tip the Waiter and Busboy that have been assigned to you when you cruise regardless of where you eat nor how many time you use their services. It is just a part of the cost of cruising.

Wishwecouldbetippingabusboythisweek.

Posts: 332 | From: Kitchener, ON Canada | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

Skyhawk
First Class Passenger
Member # 427

posted 05-06-2000 11:07 AM

Thanks for your comments. It looks like my thoughts were a little dated. I will now plan on the "suggested" new amounts. On our last cruise,in 1995, our travel agent said that, in her opinion, after receiving the quality of service that most waiters and cabin stewards give you feel good about tipping them. Our experience confirmed that. We received excellent service and the tips were well earned.

[This message has been edited by Skyhawk (edited 05-06-2000).]

Posts: 54 | From: San Angelo, TX USA | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

cncservo
First Class Passenger
Member # 532

posted 05-06-2000 01:11 PM

Whomever:
Why all the hype about this subject. I believe some people are obcessed with tipping on cruise ships. How many families of 4 take a vacation and leave two hundred and fifty plus dollars worth of tips for a weeks vacation. If you want to or can afford to thats great but do not judge everyones ability to tip, on your income or principles. If I am wrong have at it. How do you feel.

Posts: 170 | Registered: May 99 | IP: Logged

Skyhawk
First Class Passenger
Member # 427

posted 05-06-2000 02:37 PM

cnservo...I don't think people are obsessed by tipping or not tipping on a cruise ship vs any other tipping. My concern is to ensure that I tip at least the going rate so that those who serve me are properly compesentated. Those in my circle don't curise every day so we don't always know what is currently proper. In most cases at home 15 percent of the bill is standard so I abide by that with few exceptions. One being the occasion that I do truly receive much better that average service when I can be a bit more generous. The other when service is terrible at which time I reduce the amount but, only slightly. On a cruise I will tip the expected amount without hesitation unless that rare situation occurs that they just don't do their job.

[This message has been edited by Skyhawk (edited 05-06-2000).]

Posts: 54 | From: San Angelo, TX USA | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

CTrail
First Class Passenger
Member # 64

posted 05-06-2000 05:18 PM

Maybe a small example of how small a $250 tip really is for a family of 4.

Two adults at $1400 each = $2800
Two children in same cabin at $500 each = $1000
Port charges at $90 each = $270
Airfare at $150 each = $600
Total is $4670
$250 is 5.35%, not much of a tip for four.
Without airfare Total is $4070
$250 is 6.14%, again not very much for a family of four.

I also believe that my figures are rather conservative.

The going rate is 15% in most places. In other words about $750. The cruise guidelines for tipping are well under what would be expected in a hotel or restaurant.

I don't feel that they are out of line nor do I feel that anyone that can cruise cannot afford the appropriate tip.

Tipaway

Posts: 332 | From: Kitchener, ON Canada | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 05-06-2000 06:24 PM

CTrail - is this US or Cdn$'s? My last cruise cost me $3500.Cdn for l week on the Veendam and that was only for me. Granted my daughter an I had a Verandah cabin, but tell me where you got airfare for $150. and a cabin for $1400. My port charges were $224 Cdn and we only stopped at Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas and St. Croix.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

CTrail
First Class Passenger
Member # 64

posted 05-06-2000 08:37 PM

Sympatico. The person that prompted this reply was cnservo and they do not have a country listed in their profile so I thought that I would use very conservative US pricing (inside cabins) so that nobody could say that the figures I used where exaggerated and therefore my findings (percentages) would be suspect and only seen as manipulative. From my profile you can see that I also am Canadian and not living very far from you. As you suggest we are looking at approximately $15000 Cdn for our next cruise which will be a back to back doing both the Eastern and Western Carribean. It is for our 25th Anniversary. Our airfare was also about $500 Cdn each to Miami and the Port charges are also about $200 Cdn.

Unfortunatelynotfor2yearsthissummer.

Posts: 332 | From: Kitchener, ON Canada | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

JoeO
First Class Passenger
Member # 224

posted 05-06-2000 09:13 PM

Bravo for everyone who thinks it's right and wants to tip the proper amount.

I'm constantly stunned by the comments we've seen here about people who suggest, by their comments, that $100, or $200, or $450 is a lot (or too much) money for tipping.
It's as much the cost of the vacation as airfare.
Those who undertip or "stiff" their waiters, etc, ought to be ashamed of themselves. I don't know how they look at themselves in the mirror!
They can spend from $2000 (at least) to $5000 dollars for a large family and the can't find tip money for some very hard workers who do everything they can to make their trip enjoyable.
Shame on them!

Posts: 93 | From: St Aaugustine, Fl., U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 98 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 05-15-2000 03:16 PM

Hi CTrail Are you saying that you tip $750 for a weeks cruise? We just had our first cruise with Festival cruise line,the Bolero. We paid less than $5000 for a family of 4, if we had to pay the kind of money you expect to pay for your next cruise $15000, we would never be able to cruise again.We were in the cheapest cabin on the lowest deck and we have no compliants. We have nothing to compare it with but we know we loved it.This price included our air fare from Toronto to Santo domingo return all our food,coffee,tea and water important when your on a ship and you don't want to dehydrat. We also received a free satellite dish for booking through Thomas Cook. The topic of tipping though was solved for us as the tips were included altough we did tip our waiter and busboy on the last night since they made our dining experience a treat. I have to admit though we certainly did not tip %15 or anywhere near that amount. I wonder if the Festival cruise line is the only one who includes the tips in the price? Anyone know? I'll be honest CTrail the waiters would rather be serving at your table than ours. I hope your not like a friend of ours who complained one night while we were all at a soccer team dinner out that we were not tipping enough when we passed the hat around for the waitress. Then we found out that after everyone tipped a couple of bucks each [There was about 80 of us]his family went outside for a smoke avoding tipping altogether. Cheap or what?

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

CTrail
First Class Passenger
Member # 64

posted 05-15-2000 09:14 PM

Hooked on cruising. I never said that I tipped 15% on the cruise ship but rather that I at least tipped the going rate. I was making a comparison about the rates on ship versus what you would normally pay at a restaurant as some people feel that the $3.50 a day is to much.
As far as the $15,000 is concerned we are splurging and because it is our 25th anniversary we are getting one of the largest cabins for a lark. Remember that this is also a 14 day trip. I don't know if I will make it to our 50th so we'll have a ball now.

By the way, my goal is to live forever, and I'm doing great so far.

Gladyouhadsuchanicecruise.

[This message has been edited by CTrail (edited 05-15-2000).]

Posts: 332 | From: Kitchener, ON Canada | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 05-16-2000 08:59 PM

Hi CTrail Thanks for clearing the issue up about the tips. I hope you and wife have a wonderful cruise for your 25th. We just celebrated our 22nd. We talked about going on a cruise somewhere special for our 25th. We are hoping to go back on the Bolero in 2001 but now I hear that it is not sailing. I hope the azur or the Mistrel are as resonably priced or we may not be going anywhere. Who am I kidding we will be on a cruise next year if it is the last thing we do. In three years time we will do a lovely one just the two of us. Where are you going and with which cruise line?ship?

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

CTrail
First Class Passenger
Member # 64

posted 05-16-2000 10:24 PM

We will be gong on one of the larger Carnival ships, Triumph, Destiny or Victory. Not sure yet as it depends where they are located at the time. Bookings and itineries should be set this fall so that is when we will book. We are going for a cabin that has a queen size bed , not two twins and we also want a large balcony and there are only about four of these cabins on each ship. We want to do the Eastern Carribean for the first week as we have not done that route and then for the second week the Western Carribean which we have done before so we can relax a bit more before having to come back to w-o-r-k.

Tobadit'sstilltwoyearsaway.

Posts: 332 | From: Kitchener, ON Canada | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

hooked on cruising
First Class Passenger
Member # 1221

posted 05-17-2000 08:31 PM

hi CTrail, your cruise sounds lovely.What islands do you visit when you go on the Western Caribbean? Why do you want an extra large balcony? I have heard people say that they don't use the balcony because they enjoy socialising. Are you hoping to spend a quiter time on board without mingling to much with the other passengers?

Posts: 243 | From: London,Ontario,Canada | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

CTrail
First Class Passenger
Member # 64

posted 05-17-2000 09:52 PM

Hi hooked on cruising!
We would like to experience the balcony because we have never had one before and the normal balcony in apparently quite chincy. Hardly enough room for two to stretch out.
Note that almost everyone who says that you don't need a balcony are those that have already experienced it as many as three times...
We enjoy socializing and generally having a good time with others and certainly do our share but we also enjoy our quiet and private times. This way we are hoping for the best of both worlds.
If it works out and we feel it worthy we may do it again. As the famous saying goes nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Truehappinesscomesfromtheheart.

Posts: 332 | From: Kitchener, ON Canada | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

Skyhawk
First Class Passenger
Member # 427

posted 06-05-2000 03:50 PM

An update on the tipping issue. Crown Princess still recommends $3.00 USD for waiter and cabin attendant. $1.75 USD for Assistant waiter. Our recent trip May 21-31,00 was the first I heard a recommended tip amount for the head waiter. They recommended $1.50 USD per day per person. Our head waiter was exceptional and we felt a tip was certainly appropriate. We also tipped the Matire'd for getting us copies of the menus. This differs somewhat from some of the other messages but is current for Princess. Of course, any amount that you fell is fair for the service you received is the way to go.

Just had a fantastic voyage of the Baltics!

Posts: 54 | From: San Angelo, TX USA | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Terri Lee
First Class Passenger
Member # 942

posted 06-06-2000 08:18 PM

Skyhawk....

If you go to "Ocean Ships....." and click on the "Watch This" thread,there is a complete item on tipping....mind you,you have to look for it but it is very educational with regards to tipping. Please try it....

Posts: 292 | From: Burlington Ontario Canada | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

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