Bartenders---Sign on dotted line or................

[UNV-IT!!!]

In the states and on the ships, alcohol is not measured like it is in Australia and Canada. The alcohol is much, much cheaper because it isn't priced full of outrageous government taxes. There is no set punt of drinks that must come out of a cheap bottle.

 

There is also something in the hospitality industry that is called, on the ship, "guest satisfaction". This gives them the ability and permission to do that little "extra" to keep the guest happy. It happens all the time - extra Internet minutes, laundry vouchers, a meal in a specialty restaurant , and yes...a more generous pour...for whatever reason.

 

And many Americans like handing out dollar bills. It's just not the same when it's 15% on paper.

 

John Travolta handed my daughter a $10 bill for serving him a glass of wine at the Ritz Carlton. The cheapskate! ;)

Where does your daughter work for ritz? Ft lauderdale? I have family there.

[SPacificbound]

 

How do you feel about being part of a little scam where you give money and the bartender over pours his bosses liquor?

 

When you are in the grocery store do you encourage the cashier to not ring up all your purchases?

 

How about giving the bartender $50 and he slips you a bottle of rum that you can take up to your cabin....?

 

Your comment is way out of line. :rolleyes:

[mayabandu]

I like the tipping up front idea. In the past I've always just made sure to have money in my shorts pocket when I go to the pool. I'm heading out on this cruise to Hawaii with YMT next spring and I think I'm going to tip up front. I'd like to see if it changes the service I get overall... thanks for the suggestion!

[jabo73]

 

How do you feel about being part of a little scam where you give money and the bartender over pours his bosses liquor?

 

When you are in the grocery store do you encourage the cashier to not ring up all your purchases?

 

How about giving the bartender $50 and he slips you a bottle of rum that you can take up to your cabin....?

 

Wow do you think they'd do that? That would be great! But $50 is kind of high for a bottle of rum. I'll just take mine in my rum runnners. :rolleyes:

[Stennsan]

We usually just sign on the line. But I like the dollar idea, specially with the coins as they're more waterproof than bills. :) We'll try that on the next cruise.

[mommabean]

Where does your daughter work for ritz? Ft lauderdale? I have family there.

 

It was in the past during her college years as a hospitality management major - Grande Lakes.

[UNV-IT!!!]

It was in the past during her college years as a hospitality management major - Grande Lakes.

 

I love grande lakes. I usually stay there a few times a years for golf,universal, and sea world trips. Always take full advantage of that friends and familys discounts. ;)

[cruiseguy4567]

Wow do you think they'd do that? That would be great! But $50 is kind of high for a bottle of rum. I'll just take mine in my rum runnners. :rolleyes:

 

Rum Runners? Don't get him started. :p

[joe6666]

Joe - if you really believe this is theft, then it's your duty to point it out to the proper authorities. You're failure to do so makes you a willing accomplice.

 

BTW - Yes, I think the cruise line if fine with giving that free drink, or bottle of beer. You don't think their computer knows exactly how many bottles they sold, and have in stock?

 

 

You seem to go back and forth.

On the one hand you think management is ok with the bartender giving free drinks in exchange for tips pocketed.

And then you claim that management will never be able to detect your scam.

Which is it?

Look…. Here’s the way I look at it.

If you want to tip above the automatic 15% because the bartender remembers your name and what you drink….

Or the young lady who makes sure you get the drink you want right away…. That kind of thing.

That’s tipping for good service, and that’s a ok.

But when you are tipping extra in order to get the employee to give you extra drinks or stronger drinks…… that’s a scam that you and the employee are perpetrating on the cruise line.

[lampskies]

Actually if you read his post carefully he implied it went on for 5 hours and he got 15-20+ beers for 9.49 and had many delivered to the casino from a different bar two at a time. Right. I highly doubt it:rolleyes: No way a server from a different bar on the ship is carrying beers into the casino even once, let alone multiple times "every 25 minutes". A free drink here and there is one thing, but way too much in that story to believe.

 

From 11-6 is correct. And the bartender WAS the bar Mgr. When we sail Carnival (which we don't do much anymore) there was and unwritten happy hour at different bars around the ship. Find the bar Mgr. at on of the larger bars near the middle of the ship and they'll let you know where and when. On DCL buy our third sailing we met a bartender (which has since become Mgr on the Fantacy) he had a Mojito waiting for me at dinner at each of our next 7 sailings he was on.......when you hit the emerald and platinum and they see it on your room card things will change. Remember your first purchase at a bar on your second sailing? "welcome back" I thought howd they know? Then I saw the gold stamp in the corner of the card. Daaaaaaaa that probably has a lot to do with it too...

[cruisegirl1]

Maybe a little off topic, but on a recent Freedom cruise, I was really distressed to see that on embarkation day, the drink cost signs on the tray of “umbrella drinks” was turned around so that many passengers thought they were free. The servers “offer” you a drink, the sign indicating that there is a cost is turned away from the passenger, the passenger picks up the drink takes a sip and the server ask for the seapass. Many do not have a happy look after being tricked into buying a drink.

 

Perhaps this is some sort of new cruiser initiation. :)

m

[Cigar King]

Things may not be the way you would like them to be.

Look at the guy above..."He gave me a bucket of 6 and my tab......$9.49!"

 

Think the bar manager knew about that one?

 

Yes Joe, I do. There are these little things called computers today, perhaps you have heard of them? They track all sorts of information. At the end of the day, missing inventory should equal am expected profit. If it does not, then we find out why. And come on, this is old school scamming...I'll give top shelf, but charge the off brand price nonsense...we could catch that and we didn't have computers to track it either.

[Aquahound]

Well, that's pretty much what I expected from some CC members on a thread like this. A tried and true practice that has gone on in bars for generations....an extra pour or a free drink....is bashed, called theft, etc. Good Lord. :rolleyes:

[joe6666]

Maybe a little off topic, but on a recent Freedom cruise, I was really distressed to see that on embarkation day, the drink cost signs on the tray of “umbrella drinks” was turned around so that many passengers thought they were free. The servers “offer” you a drink, the sign indicating that there is a cost is turned away from the passenger, the passenger picks up the drink takes a sip and the server ask for the seapass. Many do not have a happy look after being tricked into buying a drink.

 

Perhaps this is some sort of new cruiser initiation. :)

m

 

Of course its no accident that some rookie cruisers think they are being offered a free drink.

I see the same thing happening with the fresh squeezed orange juice in the MDR at breakfast.

And yes, you can tell by their reaction that they didn’t understand that there was a cost involved.

[lampskies]

Well, that's pretty much what I expected from some CC members on a thread like this. A tried and true practice that has gone on in bars for generations....an extra pour or a free drink....is bashed, called theft, etc. Good Lord. :rolleyes:

 

I figured as much too.....lurked a little before throwing my hat in the ring. But we sailed January, March, April our DDs sailed March and May, we are going a back to back in October, a western in November and the Oasis in January......that's 9 sailings in 12 months......heck, I deserve a free drink or two for my support.....lol. And we are not Florida residents, we fly from Chicago!

[mommabean]

Well, that's pretty much what I expected from some CC members on a thread like this. A tried and true practice that has gone on in bars for generations....an extra pour or a free drink....is bashed, called theft, etc. Good Lord. :rolleyes:

 

I guess we should try to be understanding of people who come from countries where the bottle has a spout with an exact cutoff, extremely high alcohol taxes, and glasses with lines on them which require the bartender to not pour a drop higher than the line. We live in a great country in more ways than one. Better bars, better prices, better service - ships included.

 

Gina

[Aquahound]

I guess we should try to be understanding of people who come from countries where the bottle has a spout with an exact cutoff, extremely high alcohol taxes, and glasses with lines on them which require the bartender to not pour a drop higher than the line. We live in a great country in more ways than one. Better bars, better prices, better service - ships included.

 

Amen to that, Gina. :)

[teajak]

Maybe a little off topic, but on a recent Freedom cruise, I was really distressed to see that on embarkation day, the drink cost signs on the tray of “umbrella drinks” was turned around so that many passengers thought they were free. The servers “offer” you a drink, the sign indicating that there is a cost is turned away from the passenger, the passenger picks up the drink takes a sip and the server ask for the seapass. Many do not have a happy look after being tricked into buying a drink.

 

Perhaps this is some sort of new cruiser initiation. :)

m

Several years ago I saw this, soon after boarding,by the pool a very elderly lady was approached by the waiter with a tray of pretty drinks, would you care for one,yes, thank you and took a sip.Sea pass card please, oh no I thought they were free.She put the glass back on the tray and walked away.Loved it.

[GunsaMucha]

Note to the spending police, cruisers get to spend THEIR money in any way they see fit;)

 

Yes, and in a general discussion we are all entitled to our opinions, which this forum invites us to share, not to be silenced because it is at odds with your view