Extra tips for extra great service - cash, gift or ?

[bucky7680]

I always leave the autotip in place because some of it goes to the people who have done good service for me but I do not see. Then I BRIBE or what ever you want to call call pre-tipping. Sorry it makes me feel good and I know it makes those that recieve the money feel good also. I stopped at the bank today and got $200 in small bills just for tipping on our 15 night cruise. I pre-tip my Room Steward and my Waiter and tell both that I apreciate good service. I rather prime the pump rather than wait to the see if the service I recieved deserves a tip. If you want good service and to be treated well why does it matter when you tip? I even add a cash tip for my bartender above the 15% autotip. My drinks are never watered down and when the bartender sees me comming he has my drink ready by the time I reach the bar. Some people spend $200 of their money on jewelry, on bingo, or pictures, on overpriced excursions, on specialty restaurants, in the casino, on spa treatments, the Sanctuary or overpriced wine in the dinning room and never think anything of it. I like to spend my money on tipping.

 

Give cash, give prepaid debit cards, give candy or some other item. My suggestion on tipping is do whatever makes you feel good.

[donaldsc]

I have heard of many giving tips at the time they meet their room stewards and got better service! Although this shouldn't have to happen...we should ALL be getting great service from the get go, I do believe that they will take extra special care of you! I have done it on one cruise myself by slipping an extra $20 to the room steward and I always had plenty of ice, fruit, extra towels, extra shampoo, etc. in the room. They always seem to remember you better as you pass in the halls too. Just my opinion.

 

Do you have any evidence at all that your $20 bribe got you better service that what I get just by asking nicely and treating the steward with respect. I doubt it. I get fruit, towels, 2 ice buckets (one for the wine), clean wine glasses, and anything else that I want. I also request that the stuff they leave in the refrig be removed so that there is room for my wine.

 

The steward also always recognizes me as I see him in the hall, even though I have not bribed him.

 

BTW - I do tip for good service at the end of the cruise and have always gotten good service.

 

DON

[donaldsc]

We do not usually use the main dining room and when we do we usually see some dining room people only the night before the end of the cruise 'for some reason'.

 

Who do you think takes care of you in the buffet - the tooth fairy?

 

DON

[Ninja50]

We always tip the room steward and our dining room waiter at the end of the cruise as well as leaving the automatic tip in place. We also make a point of filling in cards from the pursers desk at the end of the cruise complimenting any great service we receive. These folks work long hours and most do it with a smile. We appreciate them!

[compozer]

we are listeners more than talkers so we really get to know the staff especially on the longer cruises. They love talking about their families. And they are very honest with us. You would be surprised at how many people stiff them and put nothing in the envelopes they hand out. These people are smart, they know an early tip is a bribe and several have told us that those people are the most demanding. And you know the old story about what happens to the food that people send food back to the kitchen.

All you have to do is tell them exactly what you need. We always say we want the ice bucket full of ice especially at 4pm. If we are having guests, we tell them we need more ice and glasses.

[iancal]

Cash is King!

[ONT-CA]

On our first Princess cruise, we appreciated our cabin stewart so much, that we inquired as to when he would have his day off in port. The evening before, we gave him some cash and suggested that he have a drink onshore "on us"...

 

I think he appreciated that! :)

 

We think this is a great idea. Thank you. We have on occasion picked up something ashore for our waiter when he could not disembark at a particular port. One waiter wanted a specific Hard Rock Cafe mug to add to his collection but unable to go ashore and his contract was coming to an end. You should have seen the beam on his face when he opened the box.