Tipping at the start of the cruise

[Carolin]

I give a tip to my steward when I ask for extra services. Opening my balcony divider and please keep my cooler filled with ice. It's extra work for them and I really appreciate it. So yeah, I give extra tip up front.

[donaldsc]

On a recent cruise some CCers suggested gifts like ball caps or tshirts. We did give our stateroom attendant a ball cap and thought the service was probably no better, no worse. Will skip it in the future.

 

Lets do the math. Assume that the attendant has 20 cabins per cruise and he is working 48 weeks per year. That is a total of 960 cabins per year. Assume that 50% of his cabins really think that he wants a cap from your home town or from your favorite beer or sports team.

 

That means that he will be getting 480 caps from towns that he has never heard of from people he will never meet again and who he will totally forget once you leave at then end of your cruise.

 

His cabin is really really small. Google "Cruise Ship Crew Cabin Pictures". Do you think that he really wants to litter up the limited space with 480 caps? Do you think that his roommate wants to share his half of the limited space w 480 caps? If he is a professional cruise ship staff member who is is working to support his family back home, do you think that bribing him with a cap will get you better service?

 

Treat him with respect. Don't over burden him with trivial demands. Tip him appropriately at the end of the cruise. Be nice to him.

 

That is all that he expects and all that he wants.

 

DON

[navybankerteacher]

Tipping at the beginning is reminiscent of "Goodfella" Henry Hill handing out twenties as he strutted into nightclubs: cheesy!

 

Having a clean cabin with a made bed when you board is what your fare covers. Leaving the service charge in place unless you have had good (and explained) reason to object to poor service is reasonable recognition for reasonable service. Tipping extra at the end for superior service is a reasonable expression of appreciation for that superior service.

 

Tipping in advance (certainly as it would be perceived in certain Asian societies - such as those home to many of ships' staff) can be seen as a contemptuous effort to bribe.

 

Certainly receiving some cheap "gift" would hardly thrill a cabin steward who is there to be able to send money home, not to collect baseball caps, etc.

[NLH Arizona]

How is it that folks do not think that their cabin steward has not done anything for them at the beginning of the cruise? You have a completely turned over room with all fresh linens, scrubbed from top to bottom and with luggage mat ready to receive your luggage. In some cases, you find your luggage in your cabin, placed there by the steward not the luggage people.

Please show me where I said that a cabin steward didn't do anything for me at the beginning of a cruise. Because I think you are putting words into my post. Here is what I said and the post you referred to: I think tipping at the beginning of a cruise is rather gauche (even worse when they slap the crew member on the back and say "there is more where that comes from if you take good care of me"), thus I've never tipped at the beginning of a cruise. I have never received anything but excellent service.

 

What I think is that it is gauche to give a tip at the beginning of a cruise, because in my opinion (and only my opinion), it seems like you are giving it because you don't feel you will get good service if you don't give it, kinda like a bribe.

 

Again, if you are going to imply that I said something, please point out where I said anything about the cabin steward not doing something for me at the beginning of my cruise. I will always own what I say, but get really ticked off when others imply that I said something I didn't.

[smeyer418]

But that is their job! For that service they get a salary and the "required" tip at the end of the cruise.

 

Don't understand me wrong. I appreciate good service and I often give an additional tip. But I just give extra for extra or outstanding service.

 

 

I don't receive extra money if I only do my job. Or before I have done it. Do you?

unfortunately because the way cruise fares are structured they are NOT paid a salary for this. They are paid out of tips or the Daily charge(whatever the cruise line calls it-hotel charge-dsc etc). The base salary of cruise line normally tipped employees is about a $100 per month plus room and board. yes because of the daily charge they are paid a draw against expected tips that is higher. Most cruise lines if you remove the daily charge they are required to turn into the pool all you give them. You are of course free to do what you want but its helpful to understand the custom. I personally would never tip up front but only after the service is rendered. I consider the base daily amount the base to be given except for poor service....which I have never gotten on the ship. I normally leave some extra but on a couple of cruises the service was just ok so I didn't leave extra.

[mikel24m]

We have read posts by some people who are inclined to tip and even provide a gift of chocolate or some other treat to their steward at the beginning of a cruise. I'm sure the service will be great either way, but this seems like a nice gesture & I'm wondering what experienced cruisers think about this.

 

I will not get into another tipping debate ,but will tell you I have worked for tips for over 20 years and it is appreciated along with some respect and a hand shake

 

I usually give a $20 when we meet our cabin steward and introduce ourselves with a hand shake.Service has always been great and im sure it would be regardless of if we pre bribe or not

 

BUT :)

 

Being a bartender for so long if someone walks into where I work and hands me a $20 for me and says remember what I drink or like ,I will

 

Hope this helps

[EmJakeBubbie]

Cash is always the right color and size - anytime, to anybody, on board.

 

The gratuity recommendations are appropriate. You may wish to - or not - give add'l. (I have heard some folks gift those long distance for oversees calling cards)

The service is always great, no matter how you tip. They work hard to make sure our holidays are Excellent.

 

Bon voyage.

[NLH Arizona]

I will not get into another tipping debate ,but will tell you I have worked for tips for over 20 years and it is appreciated along with some respect and a hand shake

 

I usually give a $20 when we meet our cabin steward and introduce ourselves with a hand shake.Service has always been great and im sure it would be regardless of if we pre bribe or not

 

BUT :)

 

Being a bartender for so long if someone walks into where I work and hands me a $20 for me and says remember what I drink or like ,I will

 

Hope this helps

Just wondering, if someone doesn't slip you a $20, do you not remember what they are drinking?

[swoonx]

A short story: On one cruise we had a nice waiter like on every cruise before. It was not the best service ever, but we had some great nights and gave some extra tip. On disembarkation day we met him in the port's shuttle bus. We said hi and wanted to start a talk, but he was not interested and ignored us the whole way and left without saying anything.

 

So don't think the room attendants/waiters are your friends and will remember you forever like the other way around. They try their best to provide you a great time, but they will forget you after leaving and do their best to handle the next guests.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[mikel24m]

Just wondering, if someone doesn't slip you a $20, do you not remember what they are drinking?

 

This may be a trick question lol

 

If a person walks up to me and says hello my name is .... this is for you remember me(us)

 

Works every single time . that's why I do the same thing ;)

 

And some will argue that if I am good at my job I will remember what all of my customers drink and for the most part I do BUT will stop whatever I am doing for my tippers. I like to cater to the big shots :)

[mikel24m]

Tipping at the beginning is reminiscent of "Goodfella" Henry Hill handing out twenties as he strutted into nightclubs: cheesy!

 

Having a clean cabin with a made bed when you board is what your fare covers. Leaving the service charge in place unless you have had good (and explained) reason to object to poor service is reasonable recognition for reasonable service. Tipping extra at the end for superior service is a reasonable expression of appreciation for that superior service.

 

Tipping in advance (certainly as it would be perceived in certain Asian societies - such as those home to many of ships' staff) can be seen as a contemptuous effort to bribe.

 

Certainly receiving some cheap "gift" would hardly thrill a cabin steward who is there to be able to send money home, not to collect baseball caps, etc.

 

Cheesy to someone who does not work for tips ;)

 

For those of us who rely on tips those $20s make our night

[Cruisin' Chick]

Do you tip before your meal at a restaurant? Do you tip at a car wash before they wash your car? Do you tip at the hairdresser before they start working on your hair? Why then would you think of tipping at the start of the cruise?

 

They are paid to give you good service and you can be sure that you will be amazed at the level of service that they provide. Tip at the end of the cruise if you wish.

 

DON

 

Do you reply to your wife like that? Do you reply to your boss like that? Do you reply to your mother like that? Why then would you take that sarcastic approach with a complete stranger?

 

I asked a simple question based on something that I had read. Reply with a non sarcastic reasonable response and you will be amazed at how much better your words are appreciated.

 

I didn't get the feeling he was being sarcastic as I was nodding as I read his post.

 

I feel that giving money ahead of time is like saying oh, I expect to have all my needs taken care of ASAP no matter what. But, in reality, none of us are the exclusive patrons of a cabin steward or waitstaff, are we? The cabin steward is very busy that first day, so my hubby will check the plumbing, etc., to make sure that's in order. Things like robes, ice, etc., is not as important, right? Now, if there's something we want, such as a tray (hubby will often make his girls a breakfast tray if my daughter and I sleep in -- and the buffet on Princess ships do not have trays), but he'll wait on that.

 

We keep our auto-tips on, and like many others have stated, will tip extra if the service if exceptional. We'll also fill out the made-a-difference cards.

[NLH Arizona]

This may be a trick question lol

 

If a person walks up to me and says hello my name is .... this is for you remember me(us)

 

Works every single time . that's why I do the same thing ;)

 

And some will argue that if I am good at my job I will remember what all of my customers drink and for the most part I do BUT will stop whatever I am doing for my tippers. I like to cater to the big shots :)

Wasn't a trick question. Just wondering if you give all your customers good customer service or only those that tipped you upfront and you answered it, thank you.

 

Glad you cater to the big shots, but happier that the cruise employees treat all customers equally, at least in my experience. Maybe their treatment has more to do with how passengers treat them, than an upfront tip.

[mikel24m]

Wasn't a trick question. Just wondering if you give all your customers good customer service or only those that tipped you upfront and you answered it, thank you.

 

Glad you cater to the big shots, but happier that the cruise employees treat all customers equally, at least in my experience. Maybe their treatment has more to do with how passengers treat them, than an upfront tip.

 

Sorry to inform you but cruise employees and everyone in the world loves $$$

 

Very universal :)

 

Cruise staff just hopes that people will just leave the auto tips on

[navybankerteacher]

Cheesy to someone who does not work for tips ;)

 

For those of us who rely on tips those $20s make our night

 

We are talking about advance tips (which are comparable to petty bribes), and not genuine tips , given as expressions of appreciation for good service.

 

You should not assume that you are the only one who has ever worked for tips.

[mikel24m]

We are talking about advance tips (which are comparable to petty bribes), and not genuine tips , given as expressions of appreciation for good service.

 

You should not assume that you are the only one who has ever worked for tips.

 

I don't assume.

 

But its very easy to read those that have never worked for tips or petty bribes

[NLH Arizona]

Sorry to inform you but cruise employees and everyone in the world loves $$$

 

Very universal :)

 

Cruise staff just hopes that people will just leave the auto tips on

Never said they didn't love money, where is that coming from, please advise where you thought I said that.

 

Just happy to see that cruise ship staff treats everyone the same, at least that is my experience, no matter if you tip at the beginning or at the end (which was the subject we were addressing). Many of us not only leave the auto tip in place, but tip on top of that, it just happens to be at the end of the cruise.

 

BTW, what does it matter if someone has worked for tips or not? Many who have never worked for tip in their life are very generous tippers.

[Elaine5715]

I don't assume.

 

But its very easy to read those that have never worked for tips or petty bribes

 

Mikel, how do you think these folks would survive in business cultures where ALL transactions begin with a gift? Given, not received...

[NLH Arizona]

Mikel, how do you think these folks would survive in business cultures where ALL transactions begin with a gift? Given, not received...

What does this have to do with tipping on a cruise ship? I give an additional tip (over and above the daily service charge/auto tip) to thank the crew member for their service. I don't give a tip upfront in anticipation of them treating me better than another passenger or to stop what they are doing to service me.

 

BTW, I worked for a company owned by the Japanese, so I'm very familiar with gift giving in business.

[Elaine5715]

What does this have to do with tipping on a cruise ship? I give an additional tip (over and above the daily service charge/auto tip) to thank the crew member for their service. I don't give a tip upfront in anticipation of them treating me better than another passenger or to stop what they are doing to service me.

 

BTW, I worked for a company owned by the Japanese, so I'm very familiar with gift giving in business.

 

Aren't you entering into a business relationship with your cabin steward and wait staff? And yes, I receive better service in most situations because I am a better customer. The hospitality industry is run on capitalist principles, not socialistic.

[NLH Arizona]

Aren't you entering into a business relationship with your cabin steward and wait staff? And yes, I receive better service in most situations because I am a better customer. The hospitality industry is run on capitalist principles, not socialistic.

No, I'm not entering into a business relationship with my cabin steward and wait staff nor am I entering a business relationship with a server in a land restaurant. I tip them because of the service that they have rendered to me, I don't tip them in anticipation of what they will do.

 

I guess we all think that we are treated better than other customers, but unless we see how everyone is treated, we will never know. I have always received exceptional service on my cruises, not because I tip upfront, but because I treat the staff with respect.

 

BTW, in Japan, contrary to what many think, it is proper etiquette to give the gift in private at the end of the meeting. And if you are ever in that situation, please make sure it is in a gift box or gift wrapped and present it with two hands.

[cstrycha]

I find these threads comical. Commenters fall into 3 categories, 1 is those who tip extra up front, 2 is those who tip extra at the end, and 3 is those who find the auto tip sufficient. Commenters in the first category don't write up opinions about the practice of those in the 2nd and 3rd. But some commenters from the 2nd or 3rd have a host of issues with the 1st. It's too much, it's unfair, it's offensive, it's a gangster move, it's a bribe.

 

I don't think anyone from group 2 or 3 would have such a passionate response if I planned to slip a 50 into a slot machine in the casino, but some are sure bothered if instead I slip it into the hand of the person who makes up my room on the day I meet him or her. we humans are a curious bunch. :)

[navybankerteacher]

Aren't you entering into a business relationship with your cabin steward and wait staff? And yes, I receive better service in most situations because I am a better customer. The hospitality industry is run on capitalist principles, not socialistic.

 

No, I am not entering into a business relationship with staff. I am entering into a business relationship with a cruise line which, in return for my fare, hires staff. To the extent the staff perform in a generally satisfactory fashion, I will follow the line's recommendation that I leave the service charge in place. To the extent the staff has performed better than that, I will provide a tip.

[Elaine5715]

My comments were is response to the judgments of giving a cash gift at introduction is "gauche, tacky, belittling, gangster, etc."

Try generous, thoughtful, kind, appreciative..

There are folks who are self-aware of their high maintenance and that gift upfront is acknowledgment.

Those umpteen requests (or not) then go much easier on service personnel. Most hospitality folks will tell you that upfront tippers tip in the end but most mr/ms fussypants leave spare change.

Not supplementing the recommendation auto tips is fine for the average cruiser.

[NLH Arizona]

My comments were is response to the judgments of giving a cash gift at introduction is "gauche, tacky, belittling, gangster, etc."

 

Try generous, thoughtful, kind, appreciative..

There are folks who are self-aware of their high maintenance and that gift upfront is acknowledgment.

 

Those umpteen requests (or not) then go much easier on service personnel. Most hospitality folks will tell you that upfront tippers tip in the end but most mr/ms fussypants leave spare change.

 

Not supplementing the recommendation auto tips is fine for the average cruiser.

 

I think that it is generous, thoughtful, kind and appreciative to give an extra tip, in addition to the DSC or auto tip, at the end to say thank you for all you've done for me. Not a small upfront tip, that is saying that you expect them to do their job or expect to be treated differently than another.

 

I would say that your hospitality folks have it wrong. From what I've seen, those that tip upfront give little amounts here and there and expect more from the staff, but those that tip extra at the end are usually more generous and expect them only to do their job.

 

I guess we will have to agree to disagree on the subject.