Up Front tip for Steward? Yes or No? How much?

[Tbay-eh]

We always pay the pretipping and then as we see fit. If I ask for anything extra and it is delivered I will tip, if steward goes out of his way to do something for me I will tip. If at the end I really feel they have exceeded what I expect then I will tip on the last evening. I have been burned by tipping up front and have received superior service without tipping upfront - so it can go either way. I PERSONALLY see tipping upfront as a bribe - like saying "I am giving you money and expect to be treated better", when they are probably giving all that they can as it is, they are so busy. I remember a thread a while ago where one arrogant jerk took a $50 bill and tore it in half and gave part to the steward and told him he would get the second half if he looked after him well. If I were that steward I would have torn the one half into a million pieces and walked out - it was such a demeaning act. So they are both out $50 but at least the steward wouldn't have to act like a trained monkey to earn it.

[lola61]

Have seen some mention this, just wondering.

 

 

Yes, $20, and have never wanted for anything on any cruise.:D

[Tbay-eh]

Yes, $20, and have never wanted for anything on any cruise.:D

 

just out of curiosity - do you also tip at the end if they are really good (I am not referring to auto tip as I think you leave this on). Did you always do this or started doing it later on and did you notice a difference service

[Tutankhamen]

I do not feel like acting like a Tony Soprano or a Henry Hill.

 

I can see it now, a guy with a silk suit, cigar stuffed in the edge of the mouth, teeth lightly clenching it, tucking a Finsky into the lapel pocket of the Steward while mumbling the words "there's more where that came from", with a wink and pat on the back and the Mrs. in her place standing 5 feet behind. Hahahah. Makes me laugh.

 

No, for me I always tip. The amount or size of the tip is really not something I feel the need to brag about. Love it when people here feel the need to say I tip a lot, or huge, or generous or what have you. Not sure if it is meant to impress but it certainly does not.

[browneyedwoman]

We give the room steward a twenty when we meet him. We also leave all of our tips on. My husband always puts an extra amount on when we order drinks and service is usually good. I always ask to keep the towel animals and make sure we have extra towels for my hair. This time the steward put ice in our room without us asking. I didn't ask for ice and we didn't use it. I felt bad that it wasn't until the end of the cruise that we even noticed it.

[vols_159]

We bring the full # of sodas and bottles of wine in our carry-on. I also pack a soft sided cooler. After several cruises where we ran out of ice and had warm drinks in the room we started pointing out the cooler on the 1st day as we handed the steward a $20. From that point on we have had no further ice issues in our room, and in some cases the service was so far above and beyond that we tipped the steward again as we left the ship.

 

 

Please know ive yet to step foot on a carnival ship but on my 4 ncl cruisers ive have brought my own soda and just used the ref. in the stateroom to keep my drinks cold.. i ask the room steward to remove the "mini bar" set up in the fridge and then place my stuff in the ref

[Quilting_Cruiser]

Please know ive yet to step foot on a carnival ship but on my 4 ncl cruisers ive have brought my own soda and just used the ref. in the stateroom to keep my drinks cold.. i ask the room steward to remove the "mini bar" set up in the fridge and then place my stuff in the ref

 

 

That would work if you want them slightly below room temp, but I've never had a fridge on a Carnival ship that actually kept anything cold.

[vols_159]

That would work if you want them slightly below room temp, but I've never had a fridge on a Carnival ship that actually kept anything cold.

 

Usually there's a adjustment somewhere inside or on the back of the unit

[fireofficer5]

When some of you tip up front, what extras do you get?

Clean cabin x2, ice x2,turn down service, clean out mini bar(if available), towel animals (not needed),what extras do you expect?

When I leave my room, I put the make up room sign out.

Magic the room is made up within 20 mins (during the room attendents

on duty hours).

[Velvetwater]

Never tipped up front as I see it as a bribe.

 

I have to see the service first, where ever I am.

[MRVEGAS711]

We do $2 per day on the pillow. $5 Before disembark.

[irishnyc]

I'll add that exceptional service is when the cabin steward calls me by name, sees me coming and runs down and opens the door for me, asks me if he can get me anything, realizes that I bring my own pillow and still has the pillow case cleaned, always has my cooler iced and smiles, smiles, smiles.

 

None of this is asked for - that's the difference.

 

I've never "asked" for that, never tipped any cash up front, yet I've always gotten the same service as you.

[sjcruiser]

Several cruises we pre-tipping upon meeting our steward, but now we don't. Still received great service, and have always been asked in advanced if we have any requests, etc. We're low maintenance and usually make our beds in the morning and straighten up the room (neat freaks and some habits are hard to break), so as along as we have ice and the bathroom is clean we're ok. We also tend to reuse the towels for eco-friendly purposes.

[MrPete]

One thing I have been thinking about doing, was bringing some local made candy, the kinda stuff you can't get unless you live in the area. Something that we enjoy at home and wanted to share with someone who's gonna be dealing with us for a week. What do you guys think of that?

 

Actually, "they" don't even understand "our" like for candy. They want your money, nothing more.

[moxie99]

When we first meet ... hubby tells our cabin steward to make sure he takes care of me, keep the ice bucket full.... and gives him an extra $20 . Then we tip again mid week, and extra at the end - I love it when I am remembered by name and my cabin door is opened for me, etc.

 

We always give our bartender at least an extra $1 per drink - more if they are attentive and keep out drinks flowing when at the casino.

 

Now, last June we were on the Breeze in the Med.... we felt so bad in the casino as the Europeans do NOT trip their dealers.... in fact most were RUDE to them. I was on a great winning streak playing 3-card poker and had a royal, followed by three of a kind (within 3-4 deals of each other). I told the dealer if I did it again it was his... well you guessed it - another three of a kind - I pushed it all to the dealer - the place went wild... except for, you guessed it -- my comment when asked why I would do such a thing was "it's only money" and it was a fun thing to do!

[Rockee4055]

No, for us. Tipping is in response to good service, not to coax good service. I do make sure that we meet our cabin steward the first day, shake hands, and learn his or her name. I find taking a moment to say hello and make a connection is just as effective as tipping beforehand.

 

I agree 100%. We've tipped beforehand twice and I don't think the service was any better then not tipping. Always had great service either way.

 

I think the personal touch with some eye to eye contact, getting to know them a little goes a long way.

[Lil_One]

We have had excellent service every cruise. We always tip extra at the end.

[Seago2]

I will give an upfront tip if I need him to get me something. Egg crate mattress, extra robe, if the pillows reek of smoke and I need new ones- I'll give him a $20. Anything I think he has to "buy" on the black market I will tip a lot for, and any other pain in the neck request I make sure I really tip him well for. That way he knows that I will recognize his service. It always helps to remember his name right away and to look him in the eye and greet him every single time I see him.

 

If I'm traveling with a bunch of kids, like when I was the only adult with four of my kids in a quad cabin with a rollaway :o, I definitely tip him surreptitiously the first time I see him. I think it's important for him to know that his worst nightmare has not just boarded the ship. If it's too awkward to tip like that I leave ten singles on the bed the first day. Most days I leave 3 or 4 singles on the bed. If I have a bunch of kids? 5-10.

 

Love my Carnival cabin stewards.

[JP4GA]

We never tip ahead of time. Our stewarts have always known our names, our kids names and have provided excellent service. On our last trip the room stewart always paid attention to our daughter and did not "dismiss" her as she talked about her day and how much fun she was having. Also always left an extra towel animal on her bed-- usually a baby version of the main one.

 

On the last morning of the cruise we tip extra, and it has always been appricated and brought a smile to the room stewart face. I don't see the point in tipping early, but once again to each his own, its your vacation do what you want to and have a blast doing it.

[Reese1203]

What kinds of things would a steward be "buying" on the black market for you???

[BeachChik]

When we first meet ... hubby tells our cabin steward to make sure he takes care of me, keep the ice bucket full.... and gives him an extra $20 . Then we tip again mid week, and extra at the end - I love it when I am remembered by name and my cabin door is opened for me, etc.

 

We always give our bartender at least an extra $1 per drink - more if they are attentive and keep out drinks flowing when at the casino.

 

Now, last June we were on the Breeze in the Med.... we felt so bad in the casino as the Europeans do NOT trip their dealers.... in fact most were RUDE to them. I was on a great winning streak playing 3-card poker and had a royal, followed by three of a kind (within 3-4 deals of each other). I told the dealer if I did it again it was his... well you guessed it - another three of a kind - I pushed it all to the dealer - the place went wild... except for, you guessed it -- my comment when asked why I would do such a thing was "it's only money" and it was a fun thing to do!

 

We don't tip upfront and our service is the same as what you experienced. I don't think they need to be bribed to do a good job. If you want to go for it but IMO it makes no difference on the service.

 

We did tip extra on drinks because the auto tip on those was so small.

[Seago2]

What kinds of things would a steward be "buying" on the black market for you???

 

Egg crates mattresses, duvets- I mean shipboard black market. Just like waiting tables in a high end restaurant, if you want the best things for your tables you have to pay off the bus boys or expediters or even cooks in some way. If you read Cruise Confidential he gets into it very well.

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Cruise-Confidential-Waterline-Parties-Travelers/dp/193236160X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369142920&sr=1-1&keywords=Cruise+ship+confidential

[cattipillar]

My husband and I always tip a 20 dollar bill as soon as we meet our cabin steward......this is just our CHOICE and it makes them light up with a big, WOW!!! That's what we like, the "wow" factor!! SMILES are contagious!! We appreciate all of their hard work BEFORE we board as well as WHILE we are on board and I do not feel as though 20 dollars is going to make us or brake us and I, for one, enjoy seeing the JOY it gives by such a simple gesture.

 

When the cruise is over, we tip extra if warranted and after 15 cruises, we only did not tip extra 1 time........:D Not bad.....

 

Hakuna Ma-ta-ta........means no worries.......

[Rottweiler Puppy]

Have seen some mention this, just wondering.

 

No need. I get the same service that others do when they prepay.

[Rottweiler Puppy]

Some will advocate this, but I've never done it and received the same service they say it gets them. :D IMHO, it's not a tip when you give it before service is performed, it's a bribe. I always leave the auto tips in place and, if I feel my room steward went above the basics to help provide a great experience for my family, I tip extra at the end.

 

Exactly. The only people worth bribing are your bartenders.