Cash for tipping question

We're a family of four about to go on our first cruise. We've prepaid gratuities, however I've read that others bringing cash for tips for extra good service, room steward, etc. I plan on tipping $1-2 porters in port, servers when we get a drink (which won't be often), but what about others, specifically our room steward? FWIW, we have booked two rooms, one for our kids, and one for us.

Also- what about in port? We've visited a few islands in the past where cash is king and credit cards are frowned upon (St. John, specifically). Currently our in port days don't have excursions planned, we plan on hitting a beach and doing some shopping/exploring on our own.

We're a family of four about to go on our first cruise. We've prepaid gratuities, however I've read that others bringing cash for tips for extra good service, room steward, etc. I plan on tipping $1-2 porters in port, servers when we get a drink (which won't be often), but what about others, specifically our room steward? FWIW, we have booked two rooms, one for our kids, and one for us.

 

Also- what about in port? We've visited a few islands in the past where cash is king and credit cards are frowned upon (St. John, specifically). Currently our in port days don't have excursions planned, we plan on hitting a beach and doing some shopping/exploring on our own.

1. Whatever you decide needn't be final. The ships I am familiar with in any case all have ATMs abroad so if you run short, withdraw more.

2. I don't tip servers at bars. I will sometimes tip the servers who roam large areas of the cafeteria. The bar-side servers who give exceptional service will get an envelope from me at the end of the cruise.

3. Assuming a 12-14 day cruise, I budget for $40-50 for the room steward, the same for the waiter, a bit less for the assistant waiter, maybe some for the sommelier if he/she is very responsive. Maybe $20 for the special bartender. And $10-20 total for other miscellaneous occasional tips. E.g., always $2-3 for room service. Some will say I am cheap, others will say I am extravagant. Do what feels right for you.

Stan

We're a family of four about to go on our first cruise. We've prepaid gratuities, however I've read that others bringing cash for tips for extra good service, room steward, etc. I plan on tipping $1-2 porters in port, servers when we get a drink (which won't be often), but what about others, specifically our room steward? FWIW, we have booked two rooms, one for our kids, and one for us.

 

Also- what about in port? We've visited a few islands in the past where cash is king and credit cards are frowned upon (St. John, specifically). Currently our in port days don't have excursions planned, we plan on hitting a beach and doing some shopping/exploring on our own.

You will need to decide what is right for you. Since you are on Carnival, your room steward and dining staff (both MDR and Lido) are taken care of with your pre-paid grats. Carnival adds a 15% gratuity to all drink purchases automatically.

We normally tip $2 per bag for the porters. I keep some money for room service tips (they are not part of the auto-grats pool) and tip $2-5, depending on how much they are bringing. As far as room stewards, MDR, and bar staff, we normally will tip extra for extraordinary service, but haven't had the need on the last couple of cruises as the service has been good, but not excellent.

In ports, your choice. I don't know where you are going, but I always prefer to use cash rather than credit/debit cards unless it is a large purchase. Bring smaller denomination bills, as they will often give you change in local currency.

I would bring more cash then you need or verify that your ship has an ATM.

Sometimes things happen and we just prefer some extra cash.

Keith

We give extra cash tips to cabin stewards and other front line service staff only when we are satisfied with the service.

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Agree, no need to tip for drinks. Every line I've been on adds 15% automatically.

Never been on a ship with an ATM, though I know there are some.

You can also add an extra tip on the bar slip for drinks if you want, no need to carry a pocketful of ones at the pool. I also tip on the slip for the rare occasions I get room service instead of cash.

Every ship I’ve been on has an ATM in the casino or just outside by guest services.

The only time I pull my wallet out of the safe is to go ashore or for extra room steward or dining tips the last day.

Edit: I also tip more than a buck for bags, maybe $10 for three, $5-6 or $10 if I’ve overpacked and it’s a long haul for two. The $1 per bag tip rule has been around at least 30 years when I remember first having to deal with it, everything else has gone way up.

I Was on Carnival last month. The first night I gave our cabin steward $20 and asked for ice for the whole cruise.

The next day we had a $50 gift card from him for our anniversary!! Coincidence??

I had him do our $15 laundry service and tipped him for that. Maybe $2.

Then on the last day I gave him another $20. We never had to ask for a single thing on the whole trip and he was very very nice and made our trip even more delightful.

I found the world's best bartender on the Serenity Deck. I gave her a $5 for our first two drinks for hubby and me. Then we went back and it was her birthday so I tipped her a couple dollars.

Maybe I over-tipped but I'm a former waitress with a Master's degree and great job now so I enjoy it. And my service was absolutely superb.

Many excursions have lots of opportunities for tips. In the Everglades for one single excursion we were invited to tip: 1) bus driver 2) tour guide 3) boat operator 4) alligator wrestler.

ATMs may charge fees and don't always work. I save my change year round and then cash it out and have plenty of ones for my cruise.

This is one of those things you'l KNOW when you need to. There is no need to tip more than what is charged to you...if someone goes "above and beyond"...you will know it!

And don't bring wads of small bills..too hard to carry...bring larger bills and the ship can break them down for you.

I plan on tipping $1-2 porters in port

Where are you embarking and disembarking? In most US ports if you present luggage for four to the porters and only proffer $1-2 you could end up spat upon. Or your luggage could be taking a wet detour before making it to your cabin. Especially if you want the porter's assistance through the ICE lines at disembarkation I personally would tip between $5 to $10 per person. Yes that sounds like a lot but a small price to pay if it gets you into the "porter line" especially with kids in tow.

Agree, no need to tip for drinks. Every line I've been on adds 15% automatically....

Royal Caribbean is 18% now and has been for a while. It's getting up there! :o

Where are you embarking and disembarking? In most US ports if you present luggage for four to the porters and only proffer $1-2 you could end up spat upon. Or your luggage could be taking a wet detour before making it to your cabin. Especially if you want the porter's assistance through the ICE lines at disembarkation I personally would tip between $5 to $10 per person. Yes that sounds like a lot but a small price to pay if it gets you into the "porter line" especially with kids in tow.

Isn't extortion illegal as is deliberately damaging another's property.

Isn't extortion illegal as is deliberately damaging another's property.

To join the longshoreman's union here in the US you are required to demonstrate proficiency in both those skills :evilsmile:

I tip extra for extraordinary service. I leave the auto gratuities in place for most.

Last cruise, I gave the room steward $20 on day 1, and got wonderful service. I tipped the pool bar $5 a couple of times, as they were very great.

And the blackjack dealer, when I was winning. :)

And the suite concierge upon leaving.

All for service above and beyond.

I totally forgot to tip the porters when arriving. Bags made it to the room, dry, but a bit later than the other suites. :)

For the porters, this is weird. Last week, the shuttle driver took my suitcases and put them on the luggage cart. I gave him $ 5.00 (2 small suit cases). A big guy from Carnival came over and asked for a tip! What for? He did not even look at my luggage. I did not give him anything but my wife was worried.

On a 6 day cruise, the cabin steward got about $ 5.00 a day and a brought us some freebies (water, cookies) and we always had ice. Room service $ 2 or 3.00. MDR waiter and sommelier got 10 or 20 each, I don't remember. Barmaid got a small tip when she was generous with my mixed drinks.

Now, I asked one of the restaurant staff about the automatic 15% and he said that he did not see one cent from that. He was paid US $ 70.00 a month plus room and board and some bonus that he could not explain.

Does anybody know if that is true? Does the 15% really go to the crew or is it just an add-on to the ticket price?

Not sure about other lines, but Royal Carib posts the gratuity distribution.

The automatic gratuity is $13.50 USD, or $16.50 USD for suite guests, applied to each guest's SeaPass® account on a daily basis. Yes, the gratuity applies to individual guests of all ages and stateroom categories. Our daily totals are in the middle range when compared to competitors' suggestions. Any modifications or adjustments to your gratuities are required to be requested before you depart your cruise. Here's how it is shared between your onboard service team:

Standard Staterooms:

$6.10 - Dining Services

$3.45 - Stateroom Attendant

$3.95 - Other Hotel Services

Suites:

$6.10 - Dining Services

$6.10 - Suite Attendant

$4.30 - Other Hotel Services

For the porters, this is weird. Last week, the shuttle driver took my suitcases and put them on the luggage cart. I gave him $ 5.00 (2 small suit cases). A big guy from Carnival came over and asked for a tip! What for? He did not even look at my luggage. I did not give him anything but my wife was worried.

 

 

 

On a 6 day cruise, the cabin steward got about $ 5.00 a day and a brought us some freebies (water, cookies) and we always had ice. Room service $ 2 or 3.00. MDR waiter and sommelier got 10 or 20 each, I don't remember. Barmaid got a small tip when she was generous with my mixed drinks.

 

 

 

Now, I asked one of the restaurant staff about the automatic 15% and he said that he did not see one cent from that. He was paid US $ 70.00 a month plus room and board and some bonus that he could not explain.

 

Does anybody know if that is true? Does the 15% really go to the crew or is it just an add-on to the ticket price?

Yes, the 15% goes to the crew. It goes into a pool and is distributed according to their contract stipulations. They are masters at trying to get additional tips.

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I think you are right. That guy was probably trying to get some extra tips.

Just a warning about using the ATMs aboard ship - they charge $5/$6 per transaction.

Don't tip in the bars, the tips are included in the cost of the drink. I tip my room steward extra if he's been attentive. Our last one didn't even bother to learn our name, so I didn't tip him. We don't normally tip our waiters unless they're exceptional.

We tipped our bartenders $1 every so often. We frequented the same bar and by day 3, they would remember our drinks and kept them coming. They would also give my son a "Kiddie Cocktail" without asking. So while we didn't have to tip, that extra $1 or 2, went a long way. We had the UBP on the Escape but would have technically had to pay for soda's for my kid. But maybe paid for 3 the whole trip because we got to know the bartenders and tipped them a few dollars each day.

You can get cash from Reception on most lines using your cruise card. If you get US$ you will not have a conversion charge as you do if you get foreign currency.

Regards John

Call us cheap, but as there's always 4 of us in our stateroom our stateroom attendant makes a significant chunk of change on our gratuities as it is, so I don't feel the need to tip over and above that at the end of a cruise. If we do it's a fairly small amount.

We don't drink much if at all on a cruise so tipping over and above is moot there for us.

We carry (a limited amount, we leave the rest in the stateroom safe) of cash off the ship at ports of call - everything is negotiable when you have cash, not so much if using plastic. We carry one single (intentionally low limit) credit card with us as well for unforeseen needs/wants, or emergencies.

As for getting cash onboard - use the casino trick instead of the shipboard ATM - go the casino and buy however much cash you want in chips using your credit or debit card, and then return later and flip the chips for cash. You've saved yourself the customary $6-$10 ATM service fee, on top of any extra fees your financial institution may tack on top of that - last time we took out cash onboard using the ATM (before we knew the casino routine) we ended up paying nearly $15 for the privilege after all the service fees were added up.

As for getting cash onboard - use the casino trick instead of the shipboard ATM - go the casino and buy however much cash you want in chips using your credit or debit card, and then return later and flip the chips for cash. You've saved yourself the customary $6-$10 ATM service fee, on top of any extra fees your financial institution may tack on top of that - last time we took out cash onboard using the ATM (before we knew the casino routine) we ended up paying nearly $15 for the privilege after all the service fees were added up.

You need a new bank.

My bank does not charge me a fee for "foreign" ATMs, and reimburses me if the ATM charges a fee.

My bank does not charge me a fee for "foreign" ATMs, and reimburses me if the ATM charges a fee.

Canadian banks are now just starting to do away with the foreign-brand surcharge, but the machine level surcharges are still fair game.

Interesting your bank reimburses those...but how do you prove the fee to them?