Tipping...another few questions!

[purrfect007]

Bar bills include the 18% gratituity? Is it like a credit card slip where I can add extra (for exceptional service) if I wanted, or do I need cash?

I've read people COMPLAIN :eek::eek: about poor service in the dining rooms because the servers get their tip either way. I imagine anyone can have a bad experience, and if you are nice generally people are nice to you, also.

Just wondering if anyone has any recent input on this.

Wise to keep a roll of dollar bills handy for tipping? For room service, perhaps?

Does the butler bring your room service items, or do you handle that separately?

Don't know what the consierge can do for us, other than a couple dinner reservations to change times on and a tender one day. What do you use your consierge for, mostly?
:)
Can't wait to book the next cruise.

[sdmike]

You can add an additional tip to a bar bill and have it charged to your account if you want.

Tipping is a matter of personal preference. The Daily Service Charge, while not a tip, is intended to replace the "last night" tip envelopes of old. Based on most of the posts on the topic here, it's about a 50/50 split between those that tip their room steward or restaurant staff a little more, but it's not expected or required (but is appreciated, I'm sure)

As a rule of thumb, the butler handles requests for things in your room, and the concierge handles requests for things outside your room. The butler would handle any in-room food requests and deliver it to you. Neither the butler or concierge are included in the DSC pool, so tip them accordingly. You can do this at the end of the cruise (cash or account) or as services are provided (cash)

I would think at some point the butler has to sleep, so personally if I were ordering some chili cheese fries at 3am I might just call 24 hour room service and tip them a few bucks instead of bothering a sleeping butler. :)

[purrfect007]

[quote name='sdmike']You can add an additional tip to a bar bill and have it charged to your account if you want.

Tipping is a matter of personal preference. The Daily Service Charge, while not a tip, is intended to replace the "last night" tip envelopes of old. Based on most of the posts on the topic here, it's about a 50/50 split between those that tip their room steward or restaurant staff a little more, but it's not expected or required (but is appreciated, I'm sure)

As a rule of thumb, the butler handles requests for things in your room, and the concierge handles requests for things outside your room. The butler would handle any in-room food requests and deliver it to you. Neither the butler or concierge are included in the DSC pool, so tip them accordingly. You can do this at the end of the cruise (cash or account) or as services are provided (cash)

I would think at some point the butler has to sleep, so personally if I were ordering some chili cheese fries at 3am I might just call 24 hour room service and tip them a few bucks instead of bothering a sleeping butler. :)[/quote]

Thanks, all of what you said is pretty much common sense, I think I am just trying really hard to make this a really smooth trip. I would love to come away feeling like I didn't get sideswiped by some unexpected expense, or expectation.
I do ALWAYS :D make sure I pack the good time in my suitcase, to bring along with me!

[sdmike]

You shouldn't have any surprises if you are of the items I mentioned above. You'll find some surprised by the $12 per person/day DSC and frantically try to remove it from their bill the last day, but if you're aware of that and the fact the butler, concierge and kid's club staff are not in that DSC pool, you've handled most of the "surprises". In fact you don't need cash on the ship at all. You can even leave those tips beyond the DSC on your cruise account by going to the customer service desk. They'll give you a receipt/voucher that you can hand your steward, concierge, butler, etc. Never a bad idea to have SOME cash on hand, but there are ways to handle tipping without it.

Have a great trip!

[johnql]

For the record:

Bar bills = 15% auto-gratuity
Spa treatments = 18% auto-gratuity

The slip that you will sign will have the auto-gratuity already included, but there will be a blank line allowing you to add an additional tip if you feel it is deserved. You can either add more or draw a line through it and simply sign the slip.

I do find having some singles convenient when ordering room service. There's usually no slip to sign unless you have ordered something that carries a charge. Without a slip to sign, I simply hand the delivery person a couple bucks.

[cabincop]

I had my regular day butler but at nite after the casino around 2ish I had Tony the nite butler he would bring me my wings and chips, I always tipped him 3-5dollars. On the last nite he came and I gave him another 25 he was so happy he said he was going home after this cruise and he really appreiated my tips said they were going to help him enjoy himself more when he got home. I of course also tipped my main butler, but Tony didn't even wait for a call from me, like clockwork he was at my suite at2 with my stuff. He even helped me put in dvd's great guy. In the casino I gave the one man who always brought me pellegrino or cappuchino as soon as he saw me a $25 dollar tip he was so happy. These people work hard for us and it doesn;t kill me to give back I love making therm happuy

[marelind]

[quote name='sdmike']I would think at some point the butler has to sleep, so personally if I were ordering some chili cheese fries at 3am I might just call 24 hour room service and tip them a few bucks instead of bothering a sleeping butler. :)[/QUOTE]

You don't need to call a different number. When the butler goes off duty he forwards his calls to the appropriate person or department, either the night butler or the room service department.

[che5904]

[quote name='purrfect007']I've read people COMPLAIN :eek::eek: about poor service in the dining rooms because the servers get their tip either way. I imagine anyone can have a bad experience, and if you are nice generally people are nice to you, also. [/quote]

You are very right about being nice and people being nice back.

Everyone, I'm sure, has their own ideas and opinion on why something is like it is. IMO, the DSC is put in place only to help alleviate poor service. It is split between all of your servers, so if your server is busy or whatever, another server will gladly help you because they are not 'losing out' on any tip you are giving.

If you happen to get bad service, which again IMO is unlikely, it will be because thats life and you get good and bad service everywhere in life. If you have an issue that you think needs attention (such as a bad server) take it higher up the chain of command, they will see that it gets fixed.