Concierge - What do they do? Do you tip them?

[mdjohn5]

We use the Concierge as our "first line of defense" when something does not go as planned.

 

I could walk down and stand in line at guest services or pick up the phone and wait on hold and do it myself...but many times it is easier to mention it to the concierge and see if he can fix it for me, without my investment in time.

 

For instance, on our last cruise, my son pulled off is muster station wrist band..I could have taken the 15-30 mins to go get a new one myself, but I just mentioned it to the concierge and he gave me a new one the next time he saw me...he even grabbed a few extra in case it happened again.

 

9 times out of 10, it is just samll things like that, that they can take care of to make your vacation a little nicer.

[cb at sea]

If you use their services, a small tip is a nice gesture. If you don't...then no tip is needed!

[mo&fran]

I would like to share my experience with using the Concierge, or in my case, not. We were on the January Explorer cruise, maybe better known as the Noro cruise. And, I got sick, and was quarantined for three days, which happens. Numerous problems, like trying to get something to eat, when the room service folks were too busy to answer the phone. I thought that had to order from the room service menu. I didn’t, I could get anything from the dining room I wanted. I won’t get into everything else that happened. But I did not want to ask the concierge, I did not want to bother him.

We were B2B, so the following cruise, I went to see him.

 

I had received a letter from the Guest Services manager saying I had been quarantined for one day, which was not true. Three days after I got sick, medical contacted me and said I was released from quarantine.

 

The next cruise, I went to the concierge, and explained that I wanted the record to show the three days,

 

He said, why did you not let me know you were sick. I said I did not want to be a bother. Never do that again, that is what I am here for.

 

I got my letter and it worked out.

 

And I learned my lesson.

I was not in a suite, but am D+ , and if it happens again, I know what I will do immediately.

 

Trust me, he got a handsome tip.

 

Both for the letter, and the education.

 

Francis,

[Videophile]

We use the Concierge as our "first line of defense" when something does not go as planned.

 

 

That's exactly what I do. One of the great things about a concierge is that they know how the rules apply to guest with high loyalty levels and in suites. Not all of the other crew members do.

 

Our last cruise was on Princess (our first time with them) and they don't have a concierge for suite guests. There were several times that we were given conflicting information from different crew members (including guest services who had a pretty horrible record for giving correct information) and it would have been great if there was one person that we could call who would give us a correct answer and help deal with any minor problems.

 

One example: suites guests on Princess get a free dinner at a specialty restaurant on the embarkation night. I asked at guest services how we go about booking for the evening and he said that we could dine any night for free once. I asked him if he was sure twice, and he was absolutely positive. Later we were walking by Sabatino's and decided to book for later in the week and the gentleman there informed us that I we could only get a free meal that evening. Naturally we jumped on it, but had we not stopped while passing by we would have lost out. The concierges I have dealt with on RCI would have

known the rules and how things worked.

[GenHawk]

Last year in November we were on the Oasis of the Seas and we had stopped in Saint Thomas and we had a problem on our excursion to Coral World. Our Driver failed to come and pick us up and left about 15 of us stranded. When we finally got back to the ship I went straight to the Concierge Lounge and spoke to the Concierge there and told him what had happen,. He contacted Guest services and told them the problem and also arrange a meeting with one so I could tell him what happened. The Concierge got a very good tip for helping us out.

[DebJ14]

In the past I have used the Concierge to get me spa appointments and dinner reservations that I was not able to get myself by calling the Spa or Chops directly. They told me they were completely booked when I wanted to go. Not only did he get me the times desired in both spa and restaurant, but he also got me the specific table I wanted. He called them while I waited and they magically had availability. This was about 10 minutes after I called and got nowhere.

 

The Concierge also met us and led us down to the front of the line for the priority tendering. He tracked down the wine our TA sent was when it was not delivered (our TA provided us with her confirmation as she had been having problems with delivery onboard so we knew we should have received it). The Concierge also took care of an issue with the outlets in our cabin. We first asked our steward to arrange for a repair, but nothing was done. Once the concierge called, the electrician was there in minutes. He also escorted us to the gangway after our debarkation breakfast in Chops. The concierge can take care of lots of the little annoying details.

 

We generously tip the Concierge and the Bar Waiters in the CL and consider it just a cost of having a suite, like the increased gratuities. Please don't forget to tip the bar waiters in the CL - they do a great job.

 

Don't hold your breath waiting for the Concierge to contact you. We always take a suite and have never received an e-mail in advance of any cruise on RCCL.

 

I also hope that you take care of the waiters in the specialty restaurants on some ships where Suite guests eat breakfast and lunch. They can really make your trip special. I just wish we could sail again with Mark de los Santos - he was the best in Chops.

Edited July 23, 2014 by DebJ14

[JimAOk1945]

We always book a full suite when we sail on Royal Caribbean. Last year we were in an OS on Adventure of the Seas. It was the first time we received an email from the Concierge.

 

We have used the CL a lot on all of our cruises. We have experienced most of the benefits mentioned on this thread.

 

Whether or not you use the CL is up to you. It's not a requirement. It's a perk/benefit of having booked a full suite.

 

Happy cruising!

[SherriZ366]

We tip based on how much a concierge has done for us and I often ask for reservations, spa appointments etc. I am in the lounge for breakfast and we always do Happy Hour there. A few cruises ago the concierge went over and above and worked for 2 weeks to get a party of 7 a My Time table at at acceptable time with the same waiters.

[SherriZ366]

Here is a link to a Google Doc Spread Sheet that has info. on who is and will be Concierges in the CL and DL - it is a work in progress and we will be filling it in: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hKBiGZ9Gqcp2G2owtX3RyQy7yQ0ijgxCL0nPjQKK8j4/edit?pli=1#gid=0

Click on the link in the Column marked "Contact the Concierge" to email the Concierge.

[Caribbeansunrise]

For drinks, we tip as we go, a buck a drink, to the bar server. If the Concierge is also serving drinks (which doesn't happen much any more),

 

You obviously have never had Ricardo Mock for your Concierge!

[Life is Good Cruising]

And you also never had Denzil for your Concierge.

Edited July 23, 2014 by Life is Good Cruising

[EmpressofPurple]

Once you get onboard, turn the question around. Look for reasons to tip the Concierge, and not for reasons NOT to tip. You may find yourself enjoying the specialty coffee machine on a regular basis, or snacking on the food that is available for several hours during the day. If you don't like standing in line, the Concierge is your go-to person for any onboard issues you have (other than those involving cash). If the Concierge offers priority escort to tenders, or any other service that you might end up using, take that into consideration, as well.

 

If you truly do not use the lounge or the Concierge services at all, then there is no reason to tip. Otherwise, I consider it customary. (Since we are always welcomed back by Concierges that we know, the tip is much appreciated.)

 

So, if you don't use the Concierge services but you DO use the lounge (even though you provide your own service)... should you still tip them? Just for maintaining the availability of the food and coffee?

 

I ask because I experienced the Diamond Lounge for the first time on the Oasis... I don't drink, so no one fixed me a drink, and I therefore didn't tip the server... and I didn't ask the concierge to provide any services... but I did go in to take breakfast in the morning, and specialty coffee throughout the day... in fact, several times I had to call guest services to let them know that the coffee machine was empty! (Maybe someone should have tipped me!!) Or perhaps, if I ever experience that the coffee machine is always full, I should tip the concierge and server just for ensuring that everything is ready?

 

I'm asking quite sincerely; I don't want to take advantage of anyone's hard work on my behalf if they rely on tips as part of their salary... somehow I had thought that the food replenishment was done by the kitchen staff, and I don't tip them in the Windjammer or elsewhere for stocking the buffet where I also serve myself... and I only learned about tipping for bar service by reading it on these boards, NOWHERE in the C&A material are you advised to tip the waitstaff in the lounges for your free drink service (or, in its latest incarnation, on the free drinks provided during happy hour on the D+ cards in any bar).

 

Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge about this!

[RCI Cruisers 004]

On one of our formal nights, we still hadn't gotten our clothes back from being pressed, with about 30 minutes to go before our reservations. I made a call to our concierge and within minutes, the doorbell rang and we had our clothes ! Other than that we usually just use the concierge to be escorted off the ship for tenders or excursions ! And yes, we tip him !

[LoveyHowell]

So, if you don't use the Concierge services but you DO use the lounge (even though you provide your own service)... should you still tip them? Just for maintaining the availability of the food and coffee?

 

 

By cruising in a suite I am already paying quite a bit more for these amenities. I am quite happy to tip service staff that are providing us with actual service.

 

I have decided that if I need to engage / make use of the concierge I will tip in line with the service(s) rendered. If I do not use the concierge, I may not tip him or her.

 

I do not consider merely accessing a lounge I have paid for to be worthy of tipping additional to the concierge. Royal has told me the lounge is there for my use and what amenities I am to expect. If a coffee machine and nightly appetizers are what is expected then that is the baseline. If the concierge sees me coming and prepares my coffee or sets a place for us, etc., yes, that is service above what is advertised. I would tip. If the concierge says hello and I help myself to the amenities, probably would not tip. If the lounge is not properly stocked during daytime, I certainly would not think a tip was appropriate.

[dancinman66]

The concierge can do a lot for you and probably does a lot of things you don't realise, like booking bridge tours etc, dinner reservations, captains table invites, your bookings and sort problems out.

 

Plus they can make your cruise enjoyable or relaxing

 

A good concierge is worth their weight in gold and I tip accordingly

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[cruzsnooze]

I do not ask the concierge for anything and I don't feel the need to tip for nothing. If I have a glass of wine in the CL I will put a dollar into the glass tip bowl. If there is no tip bowl I will hand the server a dollar.

[travelgoddess1]

Oops

Edited July 24, 2014 by travelgoddess1

[marci22]

In my experience, the concierge knows that their tip is based on service. Most have at least tried to offer me some assistance during the trip, even if I don't ask. They are working for their tips.

 

If you do not use the concierge for anything at all, for ex if you just use the lounge and are tipping the servers, I don't think it is terrible to not tip the concierge. Some people will tip anyway and that is fine too. But in most cases, the concierge has provided us some amount of personal service and I usually tip them.

[BillB48]

I look at the concierge in a similar light as your head waiter... sometimes they do some things for you and sometimes they are in the background just making sure everything is running correctly. I am always grateful when I can just ask him something instead of going down to Guest Relations or pick up a shorex from them. I almost always tip.

[PerferWarmWeather]

I find it easier for the concierge to make dinner reservations, change reservations or perform another service so I don't have to. For that we usually give them $20.00. JMO

[webteach]

Our concierge in the CL helped us get a refund when we didn't use some transport tickets in Port Canaveral. Surprised and very happy with his service.

[sail7seas]

The concierge can do a lot for you and probably does a lot of things you don't realise, like booking bridge tours etc, dinner reservations, captains table invites, your bookings and sort problems out.

 

Plus they can make your cruise enjoyable or relaxing

 

A good concierge is worth their weight in gold and I tip accordingly

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

 

A good Concierge can make a big difference in one's enjoyment of cruise ship suite or hotel services. They mean very much more to me than any butler ever did.

 

I like HAL's combination of Concierges and great cabin stewards far more than the mostly superfluous butlers on some cruise lines. JMO.......

 

[LMaxwell]

I think while it is true that a GOOD concierge can help resolve issues or "make things happen" an average concierge is more like a sales agent; someone who inserts themselves in the middle to make a deal take more steps in order to prove their worth (tip). When you have a great concierge with great connections and services it is worth it and you will feel it. When you have an average one you will know it (glad hands you one or two evenings at cocktail hour, does nothing else)