Cruise Talk: tipping info

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Topic: tipping info

carlp
First Class Passenger
Member # 5480

posted 09-12-2005 03:38 PM

will be going our our 1st RCCL cruise in 8 weeks
i have know idea on how much to tip. we have two
rooms with a 8yr old staying in one room. can anyone give me some pointers on how much should be giver & to who
thanks

Posts: 13 | From: US | Registered: Mar 2005 | IP: Logged

Linerrich
First Class Passenger
Member # 4864

posted 09-12-2005 04:01 PM

Most cruise lines will automatically put your gratuities onto your shipboard account, so no more fumbling with tip envelopes and getting large bills broken into smaller ones the last day of the cruise.

A rule of thumb is $10 per person per day for each of you (regardless of age) will cover gratuities to the cabin steward, dining room waiter, busboy and maitre d'. Any bar beverages automatically have a 15% gratuity included in the bill.

Rich

Posts: 4210 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: Jul 2004 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 09-12-2005 04:41 PM

Don't worry RCI will inform you of the suggested amount.

With RCI you have the option of having the fixed amount deducted from your cashless account (Credit card). They then give you vouchures to present to the staff.

If you wish you can put money in envelopes instead.

[ 09-12-2005: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

sunniebgi
First Class Passenger
Member # 2513

posted 09-12-2005 09:28 PM

HI Carlp.. just curious.. did you book this through a travel agent/cruise consultant.. online direct. or online agent or direct calling the cruise line.

I'm curious, because all of the people mentioned above should have told you from the start about the tipping. At least pointed it out on the brochure or on the RCI website.

Thats all part of the job.

Have a great trip and enjoy

Posts: 11 | From: Barbados | Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

Tom Burke
First Class Passenger
Member # 5238

posted 09-13-2005 10:44 AM

I feel that just adding [an amount] to your shipboard account takes away any possibility of personal touch. This was what NCL did on the August mini-cruise, and it was very mechanical. Whereas on MSC Sinfonia we all did the envelope thing, which on the whole I preferred. Also you can weight the balance of the gratuity as think appropriate - more heavily towards your cabin steward, or towards your table waiter perhaps.

In fact, thinking about it, given that NCL practised Freestyle Dining we didn't have a 'table waiter' to whom we ever felt like giving a gratuity - we sat at a different table for each meal and saw different waiters. At least on Sinfonia Lorenzo got to know us, and we him, during the week and he knew what we wanted and liked.

Posts: 1469 | From: Sheffield, UK | Registered: Dec 2004 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 09-13-2005 10:59 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Tom Burke:
I feel that just adding [an amount] to your shipboard account takes away any possibility of personal touch.

Agreed, it become a service charge then. However, it does save messing about with cash and envelopes. I like the ease of having it added to your account.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Frosty 4
First Class Passenger
Member # 5826

posted 09-15-2005 12:47 PM

TIPS: Definition--To Insure Prompt Service. I like the envelope idea better. That way the person recieving it get's it right away with out have to wait for what could be the standard amount if taken from your account. Besides for outstandng service more can be given.
Eg. Our cabin steward on Monarch OTS would run to open our cabin door every time he saw us approach. I had asked him if he could get a few munchies(pretzels,chips from the bar areas for our stateroom) He actually went ashore and bought us these items -- He got a very good TIP for his thoughtfulness.
F4

Posts: 2531 | From: Illinois | Registered: Jul 2005 | IP: Logged

Globaliser
First Class Passenger
Member # 4153

posted 09-16-2005 11:06 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Frosty 4:
TIPS: Definition--To Insure Prompt Service.

Alas, that's mere urban legend.

If you tip automatically through the shipboard account, you can still tip extra if the service has been particularly good.

People's reactions to service personnel can be so different. If my cabin steward had done that when I'd made a different request, I'd have suspected it to be an attempt to blackmail me for a bigger "tip".

For the OP, this webpage may be useful for calculating tips.

Posts: 1869 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

Hawthorn Cottage
Just Boarded
Member # 5920

posted 09-20-2005 06:25 AM

Is there any way, to not have it automatically taken from you? It appears there is no option, on Splendour of the Seas, l want to do my own tipping, l am not mean, but resent what they are doing.l understand you can protest at the Pursers' desk on Princess, and they do not then take any, but does anyone know if this is the case with Royal Caribbean?

Posts: 2 | From: Staffordshire | Registered: Sep 2005 | IP: Logged

WhiteStar
First Class Passenger
Member # 2740

posted 09-21-2005 05:11 PM

I always tip the suggested amount in the envelopes provided. If I received great service from my cabin steward or dining room server I always give them an extra 20 to 50 dollars cash in private so they don't have to share it with anyone else.

An extra 50 dollar tip on a one or two week cruise is nothing. They will remember you next time if you cruise with them again.

Remember, tips are what they live on, not the pittance the cruise line pays them.

Posts: 668 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jan 2002 | IP: Logged

Jonathan
First Class Passenger
Member # 5201

posted 09-21-2005 05:28 PM

In my many years of traveling on RCCL we have never incountered the pre-paid tip from your ship board account. The night before they just left us envelopes on our beds and you put the money inside and give it to the person.

Jonathan

[ 09-21-2005: Message edited by: Jonathan ]

Posts: 559 | From: Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida | Registered: Nov 2004 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 09-21-2005 05:53 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Jonathan:
In my many years of traveling on RCCL we have never incountered the pre-paid tip from your ship board account.

Well I did with RCCL, three weeks ago! It is optional, you can still use 'cash' and envelopes, whatever 'cash' is?

[ 09-21-2005: Message edited by: Malcolm @ cruisepage ]

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Jepp
First Class Passenger
Member # 5576

posted 09-21-2005 07:39 PM

With the envelope-system you also have the possibility to tip persons that normally don´t get tip. Deck crew for instance.
/Jepp

Posts: 158 | From: Stockholm, Sweden | Registered: Apr 2005 | IP: Logged

Meldrew of the Seas
First Class Passenger
Member # 5298

posted 09-22-2005 07:20 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Malcolm @ cruisepage:
Don't worry RCI will inform you of the suggested amount.

Yep. They will remind you............ and remind you.......... and remind you..........
and remind you.......... and remind you.......... and remind you..........

Seriously, don't panic. RCI vouchers are easy, you just put them in the envelopes and hand them out, but I think that the crew usually prefer real money.

Posts: 71 | From: Southport, UK | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Meldrew of the Seas
First Class Passenger
Member # 5298

posted 09-22-2005 07:23 AM

quote:
Originally posted by carlp:
a 8yr old staying in one room.................

Maybe yuo might wish to tip for the Adult passengers and not the children; however I find that my daughter leaves more mess and orders room service more ofen than we adults.

I tip for myself and my wife, but I give my daughter some money to tip personally.

It always seems more appreciated that way.

Posts: 71 | From: Southport, UK | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Frosty 4
First Class Passenger
Member # 5826

posted 09-22-2005 09:57 AM

You can request that the tips be placed on your account if you wish but envelopes are still handed out on RCI. Just go to Guest Relations and they will take care of it. I saw this on the Jewel OTS.
F4

Posts: 2531 | From: Illinois | Registered: Jul 2005 | IP: Logged

Globaliser
First Class Passenger
Member # 4153

posted 09-22-2005 11:13 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Jepp:
With the envelope-system you also have the possibility to tip persons that normally don´t get tip. Deck crew for instance.

You can still tip other people even if standard tips are added to a shipboard account. But at least if it's on the account you (a) don't have to remember to bring that much folding stuff on board (b) don't have to make sure you find the right people at the right time just to give them their standard tips and (c) find the charge conveniently on a credit card bill, which is where I try to put as much of my spending as possible anyway.

Posts: 1869 | From: UK | Registered: Sep 2003 | IP: Logged

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