Tipping "up front"

[Hawaiidan]

:rolleyes:

I dont care what you call it a bribe, kick back, payola, or tip.... the object is to get better service and performance.

I dont tip up front for waiters or cabin.... and let the $11 pp per day go the route

However, I do tip up front.. well several days into the cruise for selected bar staff.. after I have had a sample of their drinks to guage by. Then I quietly pass 20 to 40 to them and the results are very good. I dont mean I get to the hea of the line or the like ... I wait my turm but I usualy sit at the bar and am face to face with the guy I tipped . The result is way better drinks.... better pours, less ice... I have seen the producton drinks.. and they can get shall we say rather skimpy... heavu on the ice short on the booze.. Pre tipping in this fashion in productive and hardly insulting..... Sort of stupid to wait till the end because there isn no time for reverse appreciation. Heck I have even had bar managers buy me drinks. It is however critical that you uderstand who the top-dog at the bar is after careful observation.. and tip him

 

All this can be avoided however on Regent or Silver Seas which there are no tip... and unlimited drinks and wine including a stocked bar in your room ( replenished daily)

[Taxguy77]

I don't do it. I view it as a bribe. A gratuity is to reward for excellent service, not purchase it. JMO.

 

I totally agree with you, Mr Webster.

I think much of the world mad. Or uneducated.

[FrankNJ]

Trust me , the stewards are thrilled , not insulted when you tip them up front ( in addition to the standard auto tip ) They usually can't do enough for you. I also have a theory that it causes good Karma and provides luck in the casino ( it does for me ! )

( I know , there are some out there who don't want to tip at all , to each his own) .

[Westsail374]

Has anyone else been cruising on HAL long enough to remember when it was known as the "no tips" cruise line?????? :cool:

[babyher]

Trust me , the stewards are thrilled , not insulted when you tip them up front ( in addition to the standard auto tip ) They usually can't do enough for you. I also have a theory that it causes good Karma and provides luck in the casino ( it does for me ! )

( I know , there are some out there who don't want to tip at all , to each his own) .

 

 

I worked in the service industry for quite a few yeras and was always thrilled when someone slipped me a little something before , during or after.

 

And I definately went above and beyond for the good tippers.

 

We used to say "You want flowers you gotta make it rain. "

[Acklander]

Question for those who pre-tip, do you also leave the automatic pre-paid gratuaties on your account?

 

yes, we leave the automatic pre paid gratuities on our account, and usually leave a post tip at the end of the cruise as well. Don't worry, we're nice and friendly to the crew at the beginning/during/and end of our cruise in addition to tipping them.

So far, not one person has been insulted by our pre-tipping them.

[CowPrincess]

Has anyone else been cruising on HAL long enough to remember when it was known as the "no tips" cruise line?????? :cool:

 

It was referred to as "tipping not required", not "no tips" ;)

[Randyk47]

It was referred to as "tipping not required", not "no tips" ;)

 

Exactly. We stilled tipped back in those days though maybe not quite as much as we tip today with the auto-tip and the additional tips we give at the end of the cruise. I think even some of the high end lines like Seaborne who advertise no tipping still have passengers tipping staff at the end of a cruise.

[serendipity1499]

:rolleyes:

I dont care what you call it a bribe, kick back, payola, or tip.... the object is to get better service and performance.

I dont tip up front for waiters or cabin.... and let the $11 pp per day go the route

However, I do tip up front.. well several days into the cruise for selected bar staff.. after I have had a sample of their drinks to guage by. Then I quietly pass 20 to 40 to them and the results are very good. I dont mean I get to the hea of the line or the like ... I wait my turm but I usualy sit at the bar and am face to face with the guy I tipped . The result is way better drinks.... better pours, less ice... I have seen the producton drinks.. and they can get shall we say rather skimpy... heavu on the ice short on the booze.. Pre tipping in this fashion in productive and hardly insulting..... Sort of stupid to wait till the end because there isn no time for reverse appreciation. Heck I have even had bar managers buy me drinks. It is however critical that you uderstand who the top-dog at the bar is after careful observation.. and tip him

 

All this can be avoided however on Regent or Silver Seas which there are no tip... and unlimited drinks and wine including a stocked bar in your room ( replenished daily)

 

As mentioned in my previous post, we normally don't pre-tip our Room, DR, or Wine Stewards....

However, there might be one exception...I'm sure if DH were to frequent one Bar on a daily basis, he would tip the Bartender the first time & again at the end, as he was used to doing this when they went out after work....

Now our Bar Bill is mostly for wine with Dinner..We occassionally will go into different lounges if we're meeting friends for Happy Hour, or might stop in the Piano Bar or another lounge for dancing after dinner... If there is one particular Server which has helped to make our cruises extra special, we would give them a little extra at the end too..

In addition, DH often has requests of the various bands on board & always gives them a tip....

Cheers.....:)Betty