Our Pre-paid Gratuities snafu

[Muushka]

On our recent Silhouette cruise we did Select Dining so paid the gratuities in advance.

 

We had 3 people that we wanted to give extra to.

So we figured that we could add to their tips on the last evening from our OBC.

 

Wrong! We went to the Concierge desk on the last night to see about doing it.

They told us that we should have done it 3 days prior and the last evening is too late.

 

Not a big deal, a quick trip to the casino sans 5% and it was all set. Just a little irritating.

 

Plus they no longer give you envelopes to give. I am not crazy about it.

 

We have done it twice before and I am pretty sure they gave us envelopes to hand out.:rolleyes:

[cruisestitch]

Ask for envelopes at Guest Relations -- they will give them to you any time, also stationery. The tip adjustment deadline is printed in the Daily -- maybe you missed it?

[jcrandle]

On our recent Silhouette cruise we did Select Dining so paid the gratuities in advance.

 

We had 3 people that we wanted to give extra to.

So we figured that we could add to their tips on the last evening from our OBC.

 

Wrong! We went to the Concierge desk on the last night to see about doing it.

They told us that we should have done it 3 days prior and the last evening is too late.

 

Not a big deal, a quick trip to the casino sans 5% and it was all set. Just a little irritating.

 

Plus they no longer give you envelopes to give. I am not crazy about it.

 

We have done it twice before and I am pretty sure they gave us envelopes to hand out.:rolleyes:

 

So sorry about the miscommunication on gratuities. I'll confess, that we have never tried to use OBC to recognize specific service personnel, as we have always used cash that w brought on board, for that specific purpose. I'd love to hear more about how that can be done early in the cruise, without it being general, across the board into the tipping pool.

 

As to the issue with there not being envelopes available, I am at a total loss. There have always been stationery and envelopes in the stateroom, which we have used to write thank you notes to those that have made our cruise so special, and to include a cash gratuity. The supply in the desk is usually limited, but we have never been refused extra ones at the front desk. I'm wondering if they thought you were asking for something other than envelopes and stationery to convey your appreciation?

[Muushka]

In the past 2 cruises, on the last evening, we were given envelopes with the title of the person we were tipping. Inside the envelope was a statement of the amount that we were tipping. It was nice to be able to hand them the envelope. Yes, we had stationary in our room and we did use the envelopes to hand them the cash.

 

The OBC is worth cash, they appreciate that too!

 

I'd love to hear more about how that can be done early in the cruise, without it being general, across the board into the tipping pool.

 

I'm not quite sure what you mean. In the past when we gave extra gratuities, I was under the impression that it went to that person. Are you implying that it does not? We always gave extra to the butler, and 2 cabin stewards. Not the dining room staff because we never saw the same waiter twice and only ate there half the time.

[Muushka]

Ask for envelopes at Guest Relations -- they will give them to you any time, also stationery. The tip adjustment deadline is printed in the Daily -- maybe you missed it?

 

Yup, I missed it. I was going by the previous cruises, silly me.:eek:

[GiannaD]

On our recent Silhouette cruise we did Select Dining so paid the gratuities in advance.

 

We had 3 people that we wanted to give extra to.

So we figured that we could add to their tips on the last evening from our OBC.

 

Wrong! We went to the Concierge desk on the last night to see about doing it.

They told us that we should have done it 3 days prior and the last evening is too late.

 

Not a big deal, a quick trip to the casino sans 5% and it was all set. Just a little irritating.

 

Plus they no longer give you envelopes to give. I am not crazy about it.

 

We have done it twice before and I am pretty sure they gave us envelopes to hand out.:rolleyes:

 

 

We were on the Celebrity Equinox last week and in 2011 and there were envelopes in a folder in the cabin and at guest relations. We were not given pre labeled envelopes as we were many years ago.

 

If you use your OBC for extra tips the funds go into a pool and not to a specific waiter or room steward. The deadline is in the daily but easy to overlook. It is best to reward good service with cash given directly to the person.

[Muushka]

We were on the Celebrity Equinox last week and in 2011 and there were envelopes in a folder in the cabin and at guest relations. We were not given pre labeled envelopes as we were many years ago.

 

If you use your OBC for extra tips the funds go into a pool and not to a specific waiter or room steward. The deadline is in the daily but easy to overlook. It is best to reward good service with cash given directly to the person.

 

I had no idea. I will always give cash from now on! Glad I didn't read the Dailies (Dailys?) and missed that deadline!

[ETski]

Tipping question. After reading these posts I am a little confused:confused: On Celebrity if dinning select tips are pre paid. If not select dinning aren't the tips put on to your account automatic,without even requesting. I know you can adjust the tips it desired or in our case have just given additional money(Cash) to steward, dinning staff etc. Is this correct? Recently we cruised on Royal and they still tip the old fashion way (envelopes) On Royal ships if you want to put it on your sea pass you must go down to guest relations and request it. Its not automatically done on Royal.

[cruisestitch]

You have it right --

 

if Select, tips are pre-paid with your cruise fare; if Traditional, tips are added automatically to your SeaPass account on a daily basis

 

The OP was wanting to add extra tip money, on his SeaPass account rather than in cash. There is a deadline for changing the SeaPass account tip amounts, either upward or downward. Otherwise the standard amounts are charged.

 

You always have the option of giving extra cash to servers if you choose.

[Turtles06]

Plus they no longer give you envelopes to give. I am not crazy about it.

 

We have done it twice before and I am pretty sure they gave us envelopes to hand out.:rolleyes:

 

We always bring some Thank You cards (and envelopes) when we travel....

[Muushka]

We always bring some Thank You cards (and envelopes) when we travel....

 

Just to be clear, my problem was not the actual "envelopes" per se. Although I didn't bring actual "Thank You cards and envelopes" I did have access to note paper and envelopes in the cabin. On which I wrote my own thank you. The envelopes I am talking about the ones that have the person's position on the front and the amount that I am tipping inside.

 

I am glad I posted this because I had no idea that when you give from your OBC it goes into the pool. Live and learn.

[Phxazzcruisers]

I do not nbelieve that is totally correct. If your tips are "automatic" you have the ability, before the deadline to increase them. However, if you want to increase them, it doesn't go into a pool, per se, you just have to increase everyones, you cannot "pick and chose". If you do it this way, you are able to use OBC's as it just adds to your room bill for the cruise. Since we tip extra to certain people only, the ones that gave above and beyond service, and there are always some, we always bring extra cash and thnak you cards and envelopes just for that purpose.

[ORV]

I do not nbelieve that is totally correct. If your tips are "automatic" you have the ability, before the deadline to increase them. However, if you want to increase them, it doesn't go into a pool, per se, you just have to increase everyones, you cannot "pick and chose". If you do it this way, you are able to use OBC's as it just adds to your room bill for the cruise. Since we tip extra to certain people only, the ones that gave above and beyond service, and there are always some, we always bring extra cash and thnak you cards and envelopes just for that purpose.

 

There seems to be some confusion in your statement, or I'm misreading it.

 

It everyone's increases then wouldn't that be the same as going into the pool?