Cruise fare / Gratuities for Infants/Toddlers

[dalitos]

Just wondering what you guys are thinking of the full gratuities for infant/toddlers. To me, personally, to charge a 1 year old infant the same cruise fare as a child is kind of steep (how much does a 1 year old really eat or use the facilities?), and to charge same amount of gratuities as an adult is too high as well... I know a toddler will get service and will get messes cleaned up after at mealtimes... but still, not comperable to an adult.

Appreciate opinions.

[Queen of Oakville]

I have two kids, so I feel your pain.

 

But I don't think you can argue either that an adult makes a bigger mess than a kid.

 

When you're paying 4 gratuities per cabin ... it adds up!

[cb at sea]

On almost every line, every passenger (no matter the age) is supposed to pay the recommended gratuity. I think just the fact that the room attendant will have to get rid of those dirty diapers is ample reason to tip for the child!!!!

[Kerry's Girls]

Just wondering what you guys are thinking of the full gratuities for infant/toddlers. To me, personally, to charge a 1 year old infant the same cruise fare as a child is kind of steep (how much does a 1 year old really eat or use the facilities?), and to charge same amount of gratuities as an adult is too high as well... I know a toddler will get service and will get messes cleaned up after at mealtimes... but still, not comperable to an adult.

Appreciate opinions.

 

For me, if I can't afford the full gratuities, I'm not going - it's part of the price of the cruise. In my opinion, children create as much - if not more- work in front and behind the scenes as adults. When I go to a restaurant, I tip more than I used to pre-kids, not less. Same goes with cruising. (And I've been paying the full adult/2nd passenger price for one of my twins since they were 13 months old, since it's just me and two kids - it's still a MUCH better deal than any other kind of vacation we've ever taken.).

 

Lots of elderly and ill people go on cruises who could also say they don't eat much or use any of the facilities - everyone pays the same, it's just the nature of cruising. I think once you're on board, you'll see how hard the crew works to keep your family happy and comfortable.

 

Best,

Mia

[gerif]

Just wondering what you guys are thinking of the full gratuities for infant/toddlers. To me, personally, to charge a 1 year old infant the same cruise fare as a child is kind of steep (how much does a 1 year old really eat or use the facilities?), and to charge same amount of gratuities as an adult is too high as well... I know a toddler will get service and will get messes cleaned up after at mealtimes... but still, not comperable to an adult.

Appreciate opinions.

 

A 1-year old might not eat much (and, actually, a very small amount is budgeted for food per passenger) or use the facilities, BUT it will also not be purchasing alcohol, playing bingo or gambling in the casino - and this is where the cruiseline makes it's money, so the 1-year old is actually a loss for the ship. I've never known a toddler who does not make a MUCH bigger mess than your average adult and should probably pay more in gratuities.

[Missa]

I used to have a link to an AOL site i think, where you input the cruise line, length of cruise, type of guest (adult or child) and how many, and it gave you an estimated outcome of what that total gratuities you need will be, and also broke down steward, waiter, head waiter and so on. I just have to find it, anyways it may show an adjusted gratuity for 3rd & 4th passenger, just like you don't pay full price for the 3rd & 4th passengers.

 

First tiem we cruised with our 12 months old, we tipped extra waiters that saw to my daughter in the windjammer, they were just extra pleasent waiters and deserved it for being so kind to us and playing peek a boo with our daughter :)

 

Found it, try this: http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/

[crusinmama06]

I know it's steep but I can tell you -- when you actually experience the service that the 1 year old gets and the attention that the crew pays to the children, you will have no problem paying the gratuities. ;)

 

My kids get more attention than I do. They always have. When the crew walk past them, the crew always goes out of their way to address the kids directly.

 

When my youngest was upset because "baby bunny" - the towel animal disappeared from the cabin the one night -- we returned the next night to an entire towel animal ZOO. (My youngest was leaving the cabin when the cabin attendant asked "why the sad face?" and the 4 year old said that bunny towel animal was missing -- I explained that bunny had been turned into a cool hanging towel monkey -- but the 4 year old didn't understand -- when we came back to the cabin, the whole place was transformed into a ZOO. :D) At that moment, we went and found the cabin attendant and thanked her and gave her a cash tip immediatly for going above and BEYOND. :eek:

 

I've had the waiters turn the straw papers into hearts for the kids.The napkins into frogs, swans and bunnies. They've even done magic tricks at the tables. This isn't just ONE cruise line. This was pretty much every cruise line.

 

So after you see how much they go out of their way to entertain the kids during dinner and just make your life easier -- you won't mind paying the $10/day.

 

With that being said, if anyone is reading this and is going on Carnival, they do not charge tips for those UNDER 2. So it is up to you to add it on if you wish.

[Kidsx5]

Can you pre-pay gratuities when you get on the ship? I know when you book the cruise (at least with carnival) it gives you the option to pre-pay gratuities, but how about when you get on board?

 

Also, how much do you typically tip the youth staff? I know it goes into a pool for them to share, does that include all the different programs? What I mean is I will have Camp Carnival and Circle C being used. I'd want to make sure Circle C staff gets the tip as well. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

[dalitos]

Thank you very much everybody for all your replies.

I agree with many of you that maybe when we see the service our son gets we will be more than happy to pay the full gratuities.. I hope it is so as I would love my son to get attention, good service, and have the best time.

Missa, I saw the site you are talking about and found it very useful, but no adjusted gratuities for 3rd guests.. also on Celebrities website we got full quote of gratuties for 3rd pax.

I still (pre-cruise) personally believe that full gratuities is a bit high.. especially since we are not the type to leave messes at all, would never leave dirty diapers or dirty clothes lying around. We pick up after ourselves very well, especially after our son.

With that being said, I agree that gratuities are part of the cruise and if we can afford cruising we should include into our budget suggested gratuities as well.

Thanks again.

[sas80]

Just wondering what you guys are thinking of the full gratuities for infant/toddlers. To me, personally, to charge a 1 year old infant the same cruise fare as a child is kind of steep (how much does a 1 year old really eat or use the facilities?), and to charge same amount of gratuities as an adult is too high as well... I know a toddler will get service and will get messes cleaned up after at mealtimes... but still, not comperable to an adult.

Appreciate opinions.

 

We take it on a per cruise basis. When our kids were under 1, and didnt make a huge impact, we tipped the cabin steward what we felt was proper. Now that they are older (1 & 3) I can see how the impact the cabin so we tip the cabin steward 100%

 

Our kids don't eat in the dining room so the dining room staff does not get tipped for them. As a family we tend to eat breakfast in the room (it's just easier) and we always tip the room service server.

 

That is how we handle tips.

[dalitos]

Sas, this makes sense, and kind of along the lines of what I was thinking.. if we end up not eating in the dinning room then I won't tip.. I am sorry they lose the tips from our group, but hey. On the other hand I would tip the servers in the buffet, even if it's not the same server every day.

Cabin stewards definitely deserve tips, not sure if the full amount for the kid but maybe yes.. maybe more than the full amount! :)

[cruisinmel]

My one year old puts away more food then I do! We prepaid for our tips but I see where crusinmama06 said carnival doesn't charge for under 2...I was just wondering if this is true? Although I do believe they deserve to be tipped well for good service!

[sas80]

Sas, this makes sense, and kind of along the lines of what I was thinking.. if we end up not eating in the dinning room then I won't tip.. I am sorry they lose the tips from our group, but hey. On the other hand I would tip the servers in the buffet, even if it's not the same server every day.

Cabin stewards definitely deserve tips, not sure if the full amount for the kid but maybe yes.. maybe more than the full amount! :)

 

Dont let people bully you on these boards. You asked the question because you were not feeling comfortable when you considered tipping the full amount. People have different perceptions on everything and we all need to do what makes us comfortable.

 

Honestly, people have jumped all over my case because I don't tip the MDR servers for my kids. However, being a software engineer, I know how EASY it would be to alter the booking system so that you could opt out of MDR dining. The reason why we don't have that option is because the cruiselines relies on tips as part of their servers wages. I just fail to see how this becomes my responsibility.

 

Assuming that you are a reasonable human being just do what you are comfortable with and what feels fair.

[tankersbabe]

The dining staff works the buffet too...just remember that.

 

Just tip the $10 per person per day...geesh. If you are squeamish about that, then you may want to look into another kind of vacation.

I prepay my tips when I pay my cruise in full. Yes, it adds up, but I consider it part of the cost of the cruise.

 

I have a toddler on this one...and guess what, I am not even second guessing his rate (reduced for a 3rd passenger on RCL) or his tips. It's part of cruising. If Celebrity is charging you full price, then maybe you ought to research other lines.

 

Pour your own beer and tell the bartender no tip, watch what happens...cruises are not self service...these people work hard...all day...all over the ship.

[sas80]

I know it's steep but I can tell you -- when you actually experience the service that the 1 year old gets and the attention that the crew pays to the children, you will have no problem paying the gratuities. ;)

 

My kids get more attention than I do. They always have. When the crew walk past them, the crew always goes out of their way to address the kids directly.

 

When my youngest was upset because "baby bunny" - the towel animal disappeared from the cabin the one night -- we returned the next night to an entire towel animal ZOO. (My youngest was leaving the cabin when the cabin attendant asked "why the sad face?" and the 4 year old said that bunny towel animal was missing -- I explained that bunny had been turned into a cool hanging towel monkey -- but the 4 year old didn't understand -- when we came back to the cabin, the whole place was transformed into a ZOO. :D) At that moment, we went and found the cabin attendant and thanked her and gave her a cash tip immediatly for going above and BEYOND. :eek:

 

I've had the waiters turn the straw papers into hearts for the kids.The napkins into frogs, swans and bunnies. They've even done magic tricks at the tables. This isn't just ONE cruise line. This was pretty much every cruise line.

 

So after you see how much they go out of their way to entertain the kids during dinner and just make your life easier -- you won't mind paying the $10/day.

 

With that being said, if anyone is reading this and is going on Carnival, they do not charge tips for those UNDER 2. So it is up to you to add it on if you wish.

 

I have heard people say this many times, about how their kids get extra attention and stuff in general. I cant say that I have ever experienced a situation where I felt like my kids were actually being doted on by a ship employee.

 

Maybe I just don't give off the vibe that says "dote on my kid because I eat that kind of stuff up"? Who knows. Crew members (mostly women) do pay attention to my kids but it's never an abundance of people and it always seems to fall in line with the typical kind of attention that I would give a freinds child and/or how their daycare providers treat them. TTYTT, if no crew members gave my kids a second glance I wouldn't care one way or the other - I would just assume that they were busy focusing on their jobs....

[sas80]

The dining staff works the buffet too...just remember that.

 

Just tip the $10 per person per day...geesh. If you are squeamish about that, then you may want to look into another kind of vacation.

I prepay my tips when I pay my cruise in full. Yes, it adds up, but I consider it part of the cost of the cruise.

 

I have a toddler on this one...and guess what, I am not even second guessing his rate (reduced for a 3rd passenger on RCL) or his tips. It's part of cruising. If Celebrity is charging you full price, then maybe you ought to research other lines.

 

Pour your own beer and tell the bartender no tip, watch what happens...cruises are not self service...these people work hard...all day...all over the ship.

 

I will never understand how anyone on these boards feels that it is correct to judge someone like this. Really, who do you think you are to tell someone

 

Just tip the $10 per person per day...geesh. If you are squeamish about that, then you may want to look into another kind of vacation.

 

It's akin to calling them "cheap" and where do you get the idea that you have the authority to do this?

 

I'm not trying to pick a fight, but why not just post what YOUR approach is and your logic for that approach leave it at that? Why make the "geesh" comment and then go on to tell OP that they might "want to consider finding another kind of vacation", "pour your own beer" etc ???

 

I feel like I want to say "how dare you?" Your entire post is just rude.

[dalitos]

Sas, thank you for your post, I posted my original message reluctantly, as I knew I might get flames my way.. but eventually figured that if I am wondering about this, might as well ask... regardless of the criticism I might get.

I am still partly thinking what I thought before, and partly considering what other people who have cruised with kids already told me.

[dalitos]

The dining staff works the buffet too...just remember that.

 

Just tip the $10 per person per day...geesh. If you are squeamish about that, then you may want to look into another kind of vacation.

I prepay my tips when I pay my cruise in full. Yes, it adds up, but I consider it part of the cost of the cruise.

 

I have a toddler on this one...and guess what, I am not even second guessing his rate (reduced for a 3rd passenger on RCL) or his tips. It's part of cruising. If Celebrity is charging you full price, then maybe you ought to research other lines.

 

Pour your own beer and tell the bartender no tip, watch what happens...cruises are not self service...these people work hard...all day...all over the ship.

 

Thanks for the suggestions, very nice of you.

[shortm]

I was quite surprised when I found out that we pay full gratuities and not much fare reduction too.

 

Saying that, I'm from the UK, and we really don't have the same tipping culture at all so it's hard to switch the mental attitude. A tip is generally left if someone goes way above the normal standard of service, but I'm aware that in the US tipping is expected so we'll do it.

[dalitos]

I was quite surprised when I found out that we pay full gratuities and not much fare reduction too.

 

Saying that, I'm from the UK, and we really don't have the same tipping culture at all so it's hard to switch the mental attitude. A tip is generally left if someone goes way above the normal standard of service, but I'm aware that in the US tipping is expected so we'll do it.

 

Shortm, same here, I live in Israel (although born and raised in Uruguay) and even though tipping is expected, it usually wouldn't amount to such large sums... USD 80 is a much larger sum here than it is in the US.

[bplazo]

I have never had an issue paying full price or for third person in the cabin for my daughter or paying full gratuities for her. She has always been well taken care of on every cruise we have been on and the crew deserve every cent.

[Berk987]

we travel with 4 kids (age 5 to 1.5). we tip per person the required amount $11/day. that is nothing compare to the amount of food we eat which is sooooooooooo much cheaper than eating in a restaurant back in Chicago. we tip the room steward at least $100 extra in cash ($50 to start and $50 at end if he is good). we tip the dining room waiter we get nightly $50 on the second night - he brings our food quickly and extras, he remembers our drinks and what we want in our coffee. then we throw in some more for the Club Hal folks. we're well taken care of, enjoy our cruise and tip accordingly. you do what is most comfortable for you.

[drblue]

Just wondering what you guys are thinking of the full gratuities for infant/toddlers. To me, personally, to charge a 1 year old infant the same cruise fare as a child is kind of steep (how much does a 1 year old really eat or use the facilities?), and to charge same amount of gratuities as an adult is too high as well... I know a toddler will get service and will get messes cleaned up after at mealtimes... but still, not comperable to an adult.

Appreciate opinions.

We just sailed on the Celebrity Equinox, and X charged us the same amount for an adult and our 2 year-old child. We just accepted it. However, our son had a fabulous time at the Fun Factory, whose personnell does not necessarily receive extra gratuities. In addition, our cabin attendants were very accomodating to the needs of my son. For example, I asked the cabin attendant for a few items, and he made them available every day in the cabin (2 small containers of fresh milk, some fresh fruit, and 2 cups of yogurt). So, I did not mind that the tips were added for the cabin attendants.

However, we always ate at the dinner buffet becasuse it was faster and less formal. It wa also more managable with a 2 year old. So, we went to the Reception Desk and adjusted the gratuities for the restaurant staff - since we were never there. The staff had no problem with doing this at all.

 

Now, every ship and cruiseline is different. WE are sailing MSC Magnifica to the Eastern Mediterranean in a few months, adn children only paty 50% of the gratuity amount - compared to adult rates.

 

I hop you can enjoy your cruise. Celebrity was a sucessful experience for us (with 2 year old).

[imsulin]

Thank you very much everybody for all your replies.

I agree with many of you that maybe when we see the service our son gets we will be more than happy to pay the full gratuities.. I hope it is so as I would love my son to get attention, good service, and have the best time.

Missa, I saw the site you are talking about and found it very useful, but no adjusted gratuities for 3rd guests.. also on Celebrities website we got full quote of gratuties for 3rd pax.

I still (pre-cruise) personally believe that full gratuities is a bit high.. especially since we are not the type to leave messes at all, would never leave dirty diapers or dirty clothes lying around. We pick up after ourselves very well, especially after our son.

With that being said, I agree that gratuities are part of the cruise and if we can afford cruising we should include into our budget suggested gratuities as well.

Thanks again.

 

I don't think that you would leave used diapers just lying around, either, but where WOULD you leave them? Who would dispose of them? Where would that person put them as opposed to regular trash? Does a baby require extra towels or washcloths? Clean crib sheets? Who takes care of that? What about disposal of left-over baby food - whether you bring it or the ship provides it? What about the staff who provide you with a high chair upon request? You pay full gratuities, and so should your child.

[CruizinMom2c]

We pay the prepaid tips for everyone including our toddler...and then tip extra at the end...you will see how helpful the crew members are with your toddler. Even when our son was 9 months old...the waiters were so helpful with keeping him entertained..and they were all so nice to us the whole trip.