which currency for gratuities ex Southampton

[Babiesmummy]

We are travelling on 31st May from Southampton on Indy and we are not pre-paying our gratuities.

 

Which is the best currency to take for when we pay the gratuities at the end of our cruise, dollar / Euro / Sterling.

 

TIA

 

Kelly

[little britain]

We are travelling on 31st May from Southampton on Indy and we are not pre-paying our gratuities.

 

Which is the best currency to take for when we pay the gratuities at the end of our cruise, dollar / Euro / Sterling.

 

TIA

 

Kelly

All prices on board are in US$. If you have not prepaid the grats when you booked the cruise then they will be automatically added on to your account daily.

[davenew]

We are travelling on 31st May from Southampton on Indy and we are not pre-paying our gratuities.

 

Which is the best currency to take for when we pay the gratuities at the end of our cruise, dollar / Euro / Sterling.

 

TIA

 

Kelly

We prepaid and £'s were added, but as quoted, it will be addeed to your account in US on the ship.

We always put UK in the "extra tip" envelopes when on European cruises.

[Mark_K]

All prices on board are in US$. If you have not prepaid the grats when you booked the cruise then they will be automatically added on to your account daily.

Perhaps, they're planning on having the daily tips removed and paying at the end. In that case, they can tip in whatever currency they choose.

 

As far as what the staff prefers, US$ is the currency of the ship. I'm sure, though, they would be happy to accept anything.

 

 

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[Missus Makkem]

Perhaps, they're planning on having the daily tips removed and paying at the end. In that case, they can tip in whatever currency they choose.

 

As far as what the staff prefers, US$ is the currency of the ship. I'm sure, though, they would be happy to accept anything.

 

 

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not on the Indie or Adventure in UK, a lot of the staff like pounds as they are back in Southampton every 2 weeks or so and they can do their shopping without losing any thing on an exchange rate.

[besberry]

On both my Indie and Adventure cruises I asked them what they wanted. Nobody wanted dollars, a couple wanted sterling and another wanted euros! If they're sailing out of the UK for the season, they prefer sterling, that way it's easier to send home, no conversion from dollars to sterling then conversion to their home currency. Plus of course they can spend them onshore too.

[Babiesmummy]

not on the Indie or Adventure in UK, a lot of the staff like pounds as they are back in Southampton every 2 weeks or so and they can do their shopping without losing any thing on an exchange rate.

 

On both my Indie and Adventure cruises I asked them what they wanted. Nobody wanted dollars, a couple wanted sterling and another wanted euros! If they're sailing out of the UK for the season, they prefer sterling, that way it's easier to send home, no conversion from dollars to sterling then conversion to their home currency. Plus of course they can spend them onshore too.

 

This is what I was hoping. I will take a combination of Sterling & Euro's.

 

Thanks

[yolanda1]

When I asked the question about preferred currency of tips, I was told that $US was the preferred currency as all of the employees have American bank accounts, but on European cruises Euros are useful for spending.

 

£s were less desirable because they wouldn't have much time on land in the UK and would have to convert them. I imagine that any of the 3 would be welcome though :)

[Missus Makkem]

They have more time in Southampton than any other European port I can think of if that is where their turnaround day is.

The shops are pretty near too.

Try going into Poundland and Primark in Southampton and see the crew members buying their necessities there.Not to mention Boots.

[cariad1000]

I'm still leaning towards USD for our extra tips as our cruise gets back to Southampton on 29th August and Adventure is sailing out of San Juan on 5th September! It seems that the crew wouldn't have much opportunity to get rid of their pounds/euros before returning to San Juan. Also, if they want to send money home isn't it easier for them to do so with dollars as they don't have to pay to exchange currencies.

 

As always, I'm grateful for any advice from you experienced cruisers.

[Missus Makkem]

I'm still leaning towards USD for our extra tips as our cruise gets back to Southampton on 29th August and Adventure is sailing out of San Juan on 5th September! It seems that the crew wouldn't have much opportunity to get rid of their pounds/euros before returning to San Juan. Also, if they want to send money home isn't it easier for them to do so with dollars as they don't have to pay to exchange currencies.

 

As always, I'm grateful for any advice from you experienced cruisers.

 

 

Not sure where you get idea the AOS goes to San Juan in Sept.

It returns there 2nd of November 2014 so they have over 2 months to spend there extra tip money.

[londongal796]

Just want to point something fairly obvious out that no one seems to be picking up on here:

 

They want £'s because they are worth more than €'s and $'s. If you give £1, it's worth €1.23 or $1.69 (currently). So of COURSE they want a tip that is worth more. If you were going to tip $5, and instead tip £5, that is $8.43 instead -- $3.43 more than your intention.

 

Do they deserve it? Of course. But I'm not planning on carrying around tons of £1 coins as they weigh too much, and I'm unlikely to be giving out £5 tips left right and centre, so I will probably convert some money to $USD and change it at the casino for smaller denominations so that I can give tips without breaking the bank :)

[cariad1000]

Not sure where you get idea the AOS goes to San Juan in Sept.

It returns there 2nd of November 2014 so they have over 2 months to spend there extra tip money.

 

Apologies, I mistook September 2015 for 2014!!

 

Londongal, you have a good point about Euros and £ being coinage up to quite a high value, and as such would be very inconvenient to carry around and probably a nuisance for the staff to have to change into notes. I also agree that to tip a £5 note every time you want to give a little extra would be far too expensive.

[lucysmommy1]

We are on the same cruise :-). good to know what to take for tipping staff as well - I just assumed it would be dollars! Will give sterling instead

 

 

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