On board tipping

I've been reading a lot on this forum and often saw a recommandation to tip crew members generously. What about the gratuities we have to pay before the cruise? I'm a little confused.

On the Princess Cruise website they say: "This gratuity will be shared amongst those staff who have helped provide and support your cruise experience, including all waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, and housekeeping staff across the fleet. A 15% gratuity is added to bar charges and dining room wine accounts."

Do I really have to tip again each day???

No. We sail Princess and only give extra tips if someone goes above and beyond for us.

Thanks Paul!!! We will do just the same.

Usually the auto gratuities are sufficient. However it's usually customary to tip (in cash) at the time for any room service delivery.

I've been reading a lot on this forum and often saw a recommandation to tip crew members generously. What about the gratuities we have to pay before the cruise? I'm a little confused.

 

On the Princess Cruise website they say: "This gratuity will be shared amongst those staff who have helped provide and support your cruise experience, including all waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, and housekeeping staff across the fleet. A 15% gratuity is added to bar charges and dining room wine accounts."

 

Do I really have to tip again each day???

It is not necessary to leave any additional gratuities. People think that tipping on the go gets you better service, and it might from a bar tender or bar server, but it is not necessary nor required, nor expected.

As stated in earlier posts, extra tipping is not necessary. However, on each of our cruises thus far, we have countered truly exceptional service from at least one crew member, and have demonstrated our appreciation with an extra tip. Sometimes it is the steward and/or assistant steward. Last cruise, it was our waitstaff (we chose to request their table after the first night!)

We have been told, though, that NAMING those superb workers to the management in writing serves them even more--that is how promotions are decided!

Room service, luggage porters, spa therapists, and tour guides/drivers are not in that tip pool. You will also most likely find a crew member or two who go above and beyond for you, and handing them an extra tip in cash is always appropriate.

Thanks a lot for all your input. We will keep that in mind on our next cruise. It is now clear.

The tips they include or add to your daily account are sufficient. Some will tip a bit over that, for really good service, but most just leave the tips "as is"...and you're done with it. Gone are the "cash in an envelope" days of cash tipping.

The folks who are included in the tips are: cabin attendant, waiter, ass't waiters and head waiter.

Bartenders will add 18% to each tab. If you buy a drink package, 18% is added to the cost of the package.

Room service isn't included.

I've been reading a lot on this forum and often saw a recommandation to tip crew members generously. What about the gratuities we have to pay before the cruise? I'm a little confused.

 

On the Princess Cruise website they say: "This gratuity will be shared amongst those staff who have helped provide and support your cruise experience, including all waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, and housekeeping staff across the fleet. A 15% gratuity is added to bar charges and dining room wine accounts."

 

Do I really have to tip again each day???

When you check in your suitcase, they expect a small tip. If you order room service, they expect a small tip. Other than that, it's up to you - you may tip, but not necessary.

With all your answers I now know how to handle tipping on the cruise! Thanks so much for all your answers!!!

I've been reading a lot on this forum and often saw a recommandation to tip crew members generously. What about the gratuities we have to pay before the cruise? I'm a little confused.

 

On the Princess Cruise website they say: "This gratuity will be shared amongst those staff who have helped provide and support your cruise experience, including all waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, and housekeeping staff across the fleet. A 15% gratuity is added to bar charges and dining room wine accounts."

 

Do I really have to tip again each day???

Just to clarify, generally the auto-gratuities on Princess are put on your folio each night (for that day). In the case when you're paying before the cruise, it's the total amount that's put on your credit card.....but for most passengers, it's divided up on put on your account daily. This amount is put in a pool from which the cabin stewards, their helpers, and the waitstaff in the dining rooms/buffet are paid their share of the tips.

this amount doesn't include tipping for a room service delivery, bar service (as stated above that tip is added to your amount for any beverages you may buy), child program staff, casino staff. This is because not every passenger uses these particular services.

If you decide your cabin steward or waitstaff at meals has given exceptional service, you can give them extra cash if you want. You can also fill out a card available at the front desk with the crew member's name and this will be put in their personnel folder to help with future promotions and raises.

You can also fill out a card available at the front desk with the crew member's name and this will be put in their personnel folder to help with future promotions and raises.

Thanks for that tip Cruisin, Chick!!!

Just to clarify' date=' generally the auto-gratuities on Princess are put on your folio each night (for that day). In the case when you're paying before the cruise, it's the total amount that's put on your credit card.....but for most passengers, it's divided up on put on your account daily. This amount is put in a pool from which the cabin stewards, their helpers, and the waitstaff in the dining rooms/buffet are paid their share of the tips.

 

this amount doesn't include tipping for a room service delivery, bar service (as stated above that tip is added to your amount for any beverages you may buy), child program staff, casino staff. This is because not every passenger uses these particular services.

 

If you decide your cabin steward or waitstaff at meals has given exceptional service, you can give them extra cash if you want. You can also fill out a card available at the front desk with the crew member's name and this will be put in their personnel folder to help with future promotions and raises.[/quote']

 

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Fellow Cruisers. INCLUDED tipping by the cruise lines MAY be a scam to add a surcharge to your trip with a guilt trip!! Who says the money you pay to the cruise line goes to the folks you really want to receive it goes to them. I PREFER TO ESTABLISH A PERSONAL RELARIONSHIP WITH THE FOLKS WHO HELP US ON A CRUISE. MANY cruisers don't do THAT! They treat the staff as furniture or SERVANTS, and never ask their name. How sad. We ALWAYS try and ask all the folks that are helping us on our cruise their name and background and try and get to know them. THEY ARE not furniture. The results are FREAKIN' amazing. By the end of the cruise they would do anything for us. Therefore, I minimize the POOLED tips CHARGED by the cruise line and put CASH in envelopes to EACH of my new friends with a personal note. We get a lot of hugs. (After all, I don't want to give my tips on Murray and Sophie's dime for someone on the other side of the boat!) :eek:

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Fellow Cruisers. INCLUDED tipping by the cruise lines MAY be a scam to add a surcharge to your trip with a guilt trip!! Who says the money you pay to the cruise line goes to the folks you really want to receive it goes to them. I PREFER TO ESTABLISH A PERSONAL RELARIONSHIP WITH THE FOLKS WHO HELP US ON A CRUISE. MANY cruisers don't do THAT! They treat the staff as furniture or SERVANTS, and never ask their name. How sad. We ALWAYS try and ask all the folks that are helping us on our cruise their name and background and try and get to know them. THEY ARE not furniture. The results are FREAKIN' amazing. By the end of the cruise they would do anything for us. Therefore, I minimize the POOLED tips CHARGED by the cruise line and put CASH in envelopes to EACH of my new friends with a personal note. We get a lot of hugs. (After all, I don't want to give my tips on Murray and Sophie's dime for someone on the other side of the boat!) :eek:

We greet them by name, but don't ask personal questions of them any more than we would the person working the counter at Starbucks or sitting in the lobby of our office building. Just because they work for the cruise line, we are not entitled to know their life story, and it is RUDE to ask a stranger personal information.

They are your friends? Uh, I don't think so.

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