Tipping issue - specifically for room steward

[SLCfirsttimer]

Can we work in something about the dress code in the MDR on formal night into the thread to really get everyone riled up? :D ;)

[papaflamingo]

What possible real basis would you have for this comment?:rolleyes: Yes "high maintenence" people demand more, but how would you make the connection to people who tip 5.00? Makes no sense whatsoever unless you've spent hundreds of hours studying this on cruises rather than enjoying your vacation. Sounds like you're really hung up on the word "bribe" for some reason.

 

 

 

We've never "tipped or bribed" up front and have always had great service on RCCL. I don't ever recall on our 9-10 cruises feeling like some guy who may have given 20.00 up front (or anyone else) got served before me:rolleyes: Keep it up though, the servers appreciate it:D

 

 

Reading comments on Cruise Critic. It's fairly obvious. And I will keep it up, and they do appreciate it. You can stop rolling your eyes now. I'll refrain from posting my thoughts about your arrogant and condescending attitude.

 

 

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[dorisis]

I know there are many threads on tipping. But this isn't about prepaid or cash for servers. And I know that room stewards get part of the prepaid, but here's my question:

 

Does anyone give their room stewards the cash up front? I read one person that said they did, but can't find a discuss on this. Do those of you who do tip up front feel you get better service? I'm pretty sure we did this 2 years ago on our last cruise and said we like to have ice in the room. We had new ice morning and night without asking again. I'm just trying to decide what is the right amount - I can't remember what we did. So, anyone out there with an opinion? Thanks!

 

I would consider giving the money at the beginning of the cruise a BRIBE not a gratuity. Extra gratuity is for service over and above what you expect that can only be determined later. Most stewards do give excellent service and deserve a reward.

[lsk]

What is it called when you give your cabin steward a tip upfront and apologize before hand for the state of your teenagers cabin? I don't call it a bribe. I call it an apology.

[mollyeilis]

But I don't understand the point of up front tipping being insulting in contrast to tipping in general.

 

Ok, one more comment. I know some of you think tipping up front is a bribe, so be it. I think that is absurd. These people live off their tips. Their families live off their tips. Is "pre-paid" tips a "bribe?" They are certainly paid up front, and the crew has a list of who has pre-paid. So they know that you have already tipped them.

 

 

I haven't worked on a ship, but I've worked as a "barmaid". Being handed money up front is absolutely an insult to me. It made me feel like they felt I wouldn't help them if they didn't pay me ahead of time. And it almost always meant, in my specific experience, that they were going to have SO many requests of me that ultimately their tip would be worth just as much as the quarter the friend-of-the-owner liked to leave. Yes it would be nicer for my wallet, but it wouldn't FEEL any nicer. I took care of everyone just the same. I didn't need to be given money up front to ensure a level of service. To think that I did was a slap in my face.

 

 

The pre-paid tips aren't given to the employees ahead of time, and even IF they know you've pre-paid, you can go and take them off at any time during the cruise. They are in no way guaranteed.

 

 

I'm one of those who actually WANTS the employees to just do their jobs and not make it a big "best buddies forever" moment. I actually do not want to meet my steward, just like I don't want to meet a housekeeper at a hotel. I don't need or want ice. I don't want a bartender to think that the drink I drank yesterday is the drink I want tonight, or even that I want a drink tonight.

 

I will admit that I was incredibly ipressed by this one bartender at the pub on FOS. Went there the first night and got Replenish bottles of water for me and DH, and bought a beer out of pocket. I think I tipped what i felt was a little bit extra on the beer. I didn't see him until the last or second to last night of the cruise, when I walked in, and he asked if I wanted the two bottles for me and my husband, before I even pulled out a seapass. And remembered the beer I had had. It was SO cool. I don't know how they do that! And I got that service with either just the included 15% or that and just a touch more for the beer....amazing.

[cruzincurt]

Where's the LIKE button?

[Melozone]

I'm one of those that likes to pay my tips when we pay for our cruise. We do tip extra to our room attendant and dining room staff at the end of the cruise. I'm curious how much extra people give, $10, $20, $50????

[Nebr.cruiser]

I'm one of those that likes to pay my tips when we pay for our cruise. We do tip extra to our room attendant and dining room staff at the end of the cruise. I'm curious how much extra people give, $10, $20, $50????

 

We almost always do Anytime dining and don't normally tip waiters extra. i like the auto tips and just leave them on. Unless the steward is really terrible, we tip $10-15 pp extra for a one week cruise, more proportionally for longer cruises.

[Melozone]

We almost always do Anytime dining and don't normally tip waiters extra. i like the auto tips and just leave them on. Unless the steward is really terrible, we tip $10-15 pp extra for a one week cruise, more proportionally for longer cruises.

 

Ok, that's in line with what we do too. When we have 4 in our group we do $50.

[flacplnj]

I personally would just prefer staff to be trained to serve everyone equally, and not serve those who tip more in a better way. I am sure staff have pride in what they do, and I would sooner see them paid a decent working salary so they don't have to choose who they serve.

 

There is something not nice, for all concerned, about treating people better just because they can afford to pay more. I certainly would expect exactly the same service as you, irrespective of how much I have tipped. Just like we all expect a high level of service from the captain.

 

So if I can afford a suite or first class anything I shouldn't be able to take advantage of the additional upgrades which include service. Ever heard of a concierge? They are not available to everyone and they provide a service. Not nice for all concerned? What is so wrong about receiving additional service for additional pay. There is an expectation there!

 

If I pay additional for anything I expect something more in return Unless I gift then the joy of giving is sufficient. Life is not fair or equal. It was never meant to be.:cool:

Edited August 5, 2014 by flacplnj

[fishtaco]

Judging my most recent cruise out of USA most of the staff would welcome a first day Bribe Tip given the never ending lines at GS to remove daily auto Grats:D:D:D

 

I am sure they much prefer being given a $20 per cabin on meeting and another $20 per cabin left on the bed last morning knowing full well recommended gratuity money is far better spent at the bar/ casino/onshore by the cruiser:D:D:D

[Wheeling_family_of_3]

I'm one of those that likes to pay my tips when we pay for our cruise. We do tip extra to our room attendant and dining room staff at the end of the cruise. I'm curious how much extra people give, $10, $20, $50????

 

In addition to auto tips:

 

We tipped the dining room bar service person $20 at the start of the cruise and $20 on the last day. Our bar server had our preferred drinks waiting for us at the table immediately as we sat down every night without waiting to even ask for them.

 

We tipped the servers in the restaurant (bread, waiter, head waiter, maitre 'd) each $20 at the end of the cruise.

 

We tipped the cabin steward $20 on day 1 and also left $20 most days for various extra little things he did for us, plus $20 and a nice note left at the guest services on the last day. Added up we left well over $100 for him over the course of the cruise.

[fishtaco]

In addition to auto tips:

 

We tipped the dining room bar service person $20 at the start of the cruise and $20 on the last day. Our bar server had our preferred drinks waiting for us at the table immediately as we sat down every night without waiting to even ask for them.

 

We tipped the servers in the restaurant (bread, waiter, head waiter, maitre 'd) each $20 at the end of the cruise.

 

We tipped the cabin steward $20 on day 1 and also left $20 most days for various extra little things he did for us, plus $20 and a nice note left at the guest services on the last day. Added up we left well over $100 for him over the course of the cruise.

 

I bet the staff loved you! $220 in extra tips, nothing like what I leave thats for sure! $20 per couple to be shared by all waitstaff last night and a $10 or $20 for steward if we see him much, dont see him at all then nothing extra. When I am a bit drunk I tend to sign a few extras for bar staff here and there but not often.I have already paid my tips so I think they are quite thankful of my extra generosity.

[robandana]

The thing about tipping upfront is your only as important as your tip....what I mean is you get to your room and slip the cabin steward a $20....but your neighbor a couple of doors down slips him a $50....:eek:

 

I would guess when Mr.$50 calls he will have the stewards undivided attention...using the logic of the pre-tip...to ensure great service!

 

We have always had great service, have never pre-tipped and always given extra for exceptional service and it seems to work fine.

 

Just an observation

[momof3cruisers]

On Royal Caribbean ice delivery is not a special request. Yes, you must request it, but that is simply to help them reduce waste as some people have no need or desire for ice delivery. It is a room amenity and there are signs in the room telling people to simply request it. There is absolutely nothing above and beyond about ice buckets. At that point if you personally wish to tip, go right ahead, but just want to be clear for others reading it is not a special request and should not be treated as such. The same goes for wine glasses, bottle opener, extra towels, hangars. All of those items are fully within the normal aspects of their job and provided free of charge by the cruise line and require nothing out of the ordinary for a room attendant.

 

Special requests would fall under the category of asking for a full size lounger for a balcony or requesting robes if you are not at the required level or asking for pool towels to be put in the room if you are not in a high enough category room. If one were to ask for any of those items I think an additional tip at the time may be warranted.

 

Some people just like to tip up front without asking for anything. That's fine for them. It's a personal choice.

 

Hmmm, I wonder if our room steward on Allure would have delivered the ice we asked for and the extra copy of the daily schedule we requested (one for a family of five really didn't cut it.) if only I had tipped ahead of time. Like you, I thought it was his job. Of course, I also thought it would be his job to make up my boys' beds each day, but it seems being behind the little curtain meant he didn't have to. ;) First time ever that I didn't leave extra for the room steward! But at the end....

[griffy116]

We've never tipped at the beginning of the cruise and we use the auto-tip. At the end of the cruise, I hand the cabin steward an extra (usually $20) and the waiter and asst. waiter in cash. I only ask for ice in the ice bucket. I've never made any additional request. We also keep the cabin very tidy. No clothes laying around. No shoes on the floor, no clutter on the dresser or the bathroom vanity. We've always had great service.

[FLACRUISER99]

Hmmm, I wonder if our room steward on Allure would have delivered the ice we asked for and the extra copy of the daily schedule we requested (one for a family of five really didn't cut it.) if only I had tipped ahead of time. Like you, I thought it was his job. Of course, I also thought it would be his job to make up my boys' beds each day, but it seems being behind the little curtain meant he didn't have to. ;) First time ever that I didn't leave extra for the room steward! But at the end....

Did you bring this to anyone's attention? Starting with the steward then the section supervisor.

[momof3cruisers]

Did you bring this to anyone's attention? Starting with the steward then the section supervisor.

 

We did talk to the steward a few times, yes. We were not in charge of tips or charges on this trip and due to being guests of someone else, didn't want to create any drama so we chuckled about it to ourselves. Not like my kid makes his bed at home every day.

 

I have never tipped up front and have always been confident that the stewards take pride in their jobs and have an excellent work ethic. In this case, I was joking in light of people thinking they get better service if they tip at the beginning of the ship.