I was wondering.....

[lindabelll]

When you purchase a drink from somone at the pool, in the dining room, from room service or at the bar, isn't 15% added on to the cost of the drink? What is that 15% for? Is it tip? If it is tip do we have to tip again when the person gives us the drink. We're not trying to be cheap, just informed. I usually over tip. It's just a question. Thanks.:)

[big_duck]

It's a tip. If you want to make sure the waiter/waitress comes back at a decent interval, you may want to slip them a couple of extra bucks.

[serene56]

I dont tip above the 15% is its a one time service. If I expect to visit the same place-- tomorrow at the same time-- I will tip another buck. (sine I want the waiter to remember me tomorrow.

In the show lounge we seem to always sit in the same seats....so I will tip a buck on top of two drinks.

For dinner we usually get two cans of soda.. again we tip1.00 on top of that.

[Maryandi]

Yes, that is the tip, you don't have to do any more. I would not consider you cheap and no one else should either.

 

Totally optional, is leaving more money if you wanted to.

 

You can tip casino employees, as there is no money added to your gambling. But again, that is optional.

 

You have to tip the room service but the food they bring you is no charge.

 

Have fun:)

[Sablerose]

I tip. I'm a tipper. So, I would probably, at least every now and then, throw another buck or so on top of the gratuity that's attached.

 

Funny story, not quite related, and yet somehow related, so I feel the urge to share...

 

We went on a weekend trip in Las Vegas with some friends a couple of years ago. We were all sitting at Video Poker machines, and were kind of at a "bank" of machines so some of us were on one side and some of us were on the other side.

 

The waitress came to bring us our "complimentary" drinks, and when she got back, my husband tipped her a dollar a drink (there were three or four of us at the "bank" of machines at the time). Seemed inexpensive considering they might could have been $5 a drink, if we weren't gambling. Did it so she'd remember where we were.

 

We were barely halfway through with our first round of drinks when she came back by. We didn't expect to see her but didn't know when we'd see her again, so we all put in another order (same waitress was handling our small group). She came RIGHT back with beverages, and again, we tipped her a dollar a drink.

 

This went on for another half an hour, when I suddenly realized I was getting absolutely schnockered. The drinks were small but strong, and she just kept bringing them about as fast as we could drink them.

 

My husband pointed out that he was sure she was coming back so often because he was tipping her a dollar a drink.

 

My friend popped his head over the bank of machines and said, "You're tipping her? I'm tipping her."

 

She was getting $4.00 from our side of the machines, and $2.00 from their side of the machines, every time she came over. No wonder she came back so fast and so often!!!

 

Any time we were in that part of the casino for the rest of the weekend, we were not lacking for beverage service.

[lindabelll]

Good story Rose....I probably would have done the same thing...LOL:)

[momof4boys]

Funny story! Just back from the Elation-detour cruise to the Bahamas. I will verify that the crew works very hard! Every person I encountered had a genuine smile of his/her face and was working very hard. We tipped big but the workers really deserved it. I tell you....the bartender in the Imagination dining room knew how to make a magnificent margarita!:D

[jimbug]

Here's a related question...I've been on 2 cruises and still don't know the correct answer to this...

 

If I do receive exceptional service from a bartender or bar waiter, and I wanted to tip in addition to the 15% auto-tip, how would I do it? Is it appropriate to give cash, or can you add it on your sail & sign bill? I hate carrying cash around with me on the ship...kind of the whole point of "Cashless Cruising". To be quite honest, I've never tipped above the 15% for drinks because I wasn't sure how to do so.

[Eliot Ness]

.....If I do receive exceptional service from a bartender or bar waiter, and I wanted to tip in addition to the 15% auto-tip, how would I do it? Is it appropriate to give cash, or can you add it on your sail & sign bill? .....

There really isn't a way to put a tip on your S&S for a bartender/waiter that I know of. I brought a bundle of 50 $1 bills and used them for tips on the ship last month. A waitress in one of the lounges said I didn't have to tip her, but she was good and working her poor legs off. I'd also slip the waiter/waitress in the casino an extra buck here and there.

 

The only thing I'm not sure of is if the bartender gets a part of the 15% tip when a waiter/waitress brings the drink.

[dms_cruisers04]

Rose, great story. Doing Vegas again real soon (as you can see), will have to keep your story in mind.

 

Mom, don't you just love a truly good margarita?

 

jimbug, I think you can add the additional tip on to the slip and retotal it when you sign.