Hotel Room Service Tipping

[Scott Cyn]

I'm going off-topic here, but since most of us use hotels on the way to our cruises, I figure I'm close enough.

 

We really like to use room service when we are in a hotel. These days, virtually every hotel adds a 15-17% upcharge to the tab. It's usually labeled something like "service charge" or "gratuity". I never know if I'm supposed to tip the server on top of that. Sometimes I will look at the charge slip and say to the server, "Oh, this already has a gratuity in it?" But I always feel like a cheapskate if I don't add something on.

 

I would really like some input from my fellow travelers so I can know if I'm sticking out like a sore thumb. Do you add a tip on top of the service charge? If so, how much?

 

Scott

[smeyer418]

rarely do I add something. 15-17% is enough. If it is just a pot of coffee and the 15% is less than a buck I probably give an extra dollar.

[flagger]

Do you add a tip on top of the service charge?

No I do not.

[tuggers]

Can't believe I agree with Flagger about tipping! LOL!

 

No, I do not.

[bplazo]

I wonder how long it will be before cruiselines will start adding a service charge because there are alot of people who stiff the staff who work so hard.

[CaptData]

NCL did but I don't know if it is still in force.

[smeyer418]

NCL adds daily service charge but not an amount for room service. Not all passengers use room service and unlike other thing most people do tip for room service. I don't want to get into a general tipping discussion but with freestyle unless you tip eveyday you don't have the same waiters so a reasonable service charge makes sense to me....but reasonable people can disagree.