$2 bills

[longislandcruisers]

I'm embarrassed to say I would get them specifically to bring on board for tips. I would tip the pool bartender(I know 15% is added to my beer, but I felt they would remember and perhaps know when I went back again would promptly serve me and tip them at that time as well. TIPS ....to insure prompt service.

But having read the aforementioned I will use singles as I was unaware of the difficulty the crew experienced. Thanks for the info

[July4]

I tipped with $2.00 bills on the last 2 cruises. My DW and I both had a beverage package. I gave at the bars and/or to waiters or waitress that I thought we would see for the whole cruise. I must believe they like them as we did receive good service for the entire cruise. Plan on doing again real soon.:)

[Merion_Mom]

Oh Em Gee.

 

You people who are saying, "I used them and the bartender LOVED them."

 

Seriously.

 

Do you think that the bartender is going to say to you, "Ick. What the HE!! is this? Gimme some REAL money."

 

:eek:

[WpgCruise]

My understanding (and I may be wrong as I've only been cruising since 1998) is the crew has a Pursers desk, and at the Crew Pursers Desk. they have the option to do their banking. They can convert currency, arrange to send money home, buy internet time, pretty much all of their personal financial needs are met. They can also exchange large bills for small, small for large, coin for paper....................I'm sure you get the point.

 

Tipping with a $2.00 bill is not a problem for any crew I have ever encountered on any ship.

 

Come time for a crew member to go ashore all they do is stop at their Pursers desk, convert the coin, currency and the odd $2.00 into fresh bills of the denomination they want and off to Wal-Mart for their stuff.

[jonbgd]

If someone would choose to take a $2 tip over a $5 tip

they saw the 2 and thought it was $20:rolleyes:

Edited August 17, 2014 by jonbgd

[Illyria]

My understanding (and I may be wrong as I've only been cruising since 1998) is the crew has a Pursers desk, and at the Crew Pursers Desk. they have the option to do their banking. They can convert currency, arrange to send money home, buy internet time, pretty much all of their personal financial needs are met. They can also exchange large bills for small, small for large, coin for paper....................I'm sure you get the point.

 

Tipping with a $2.00 bill is not a problem for any crew I have ever encountered on any ship.

 

Come time for a crew member to go ashore all they do is stop at their Pursers desk, convert the coin, currency and the odd $2.00 into fresh bills of the denomination they want and off to Wal-Mart for their stuff.

I agree, I doubt crew members deal with stacks and stacks of small bills that they accumulate (bartender tips, room service tips, etc.) plus coins (if tipped in euros - small denominations are coins). I'm sure they periodically have the purser exchange it up for larger bills.

[cruzincurt]

I ALWAYS tip with $2 bills. I find that people love them. When I travel and a bellmen brings my bags to my room I give them the option of the $2 bill or a five. Over half the time they take the $2. Valet/bartenders/maids seem to give me better service since I switched several years ago.

 

To each their own

I guess that is why they are still bellmen.:rolleyes:

[train460]

Its amazing what some peoples opinions can be so far from actual truth.

[Guest maddycat]

I did that on a cruise 6 years ago. The bartenders liked them. I asked a few weeks ago on CC if people still tip with $1.00 coins today and was told staff won't like it. I was disappointed. I think it's a good way for the staff to remember you. :rolleyes:

 

About a year ago I got $1 coins for change here in NJ. It was on the Garden State Parkway. I was in a rental car while my car was being repaired so I couldn't use my E-Z Pass. I told the attendant that he gave me the wrong change. I thought that they were quarters. He told me that they were $1 coins. They were the first that I had ever seen. I couldn't wait to get rid of them. They're heavy and no one really wants them. I finally donated them to a animal rescue group at PetsMart.

 

I feel the same way about $2 bills. No one really wants them.

[Breucklin]

oh em gee.

 

You people who are saying, "i used them and the bartender loved them."

 

seriously.

 

Do you think that the bartender is going to say to you, "ick. What the he!! Is this? Gimme some real money."

 

:eek:

 

so true!!! Lol

[cle-guy]

Give out the $2 bills. I think it's cool. :)

 

If they have issue spending, they can always change them out at the casino or front desk and then the line can can deposit with their normal ginormous currency bank deposits.

 

No big deal.

[Illyria]

About a year ago I got $1 coins for change here in NJ. It was on the Garden State Parkway. I was in a rental car while my car was being repaired so I couldn't use my E-Z Pass. I told the attendant that he gave me the wrong change. I thought that they were quarters. He told me that they were $1 coins. They were the first that I had ever seen. I couldn't wait to get rid of them. They're heavy and no one really wants them. I finally donated them to a animal rescue group at PetsMart.

 

I feel the same way about $2 bills. No one really wants them.

They're money. I don't care what someone wants, when I have them, I use them. I don't usually have many $2 bills but I do end up with dollar coins because the stamp machine at the post office gives them out as change. A cashier doesn't have an option to tell me that they will not accept legal U.S. tender (it's not the same as, say, not accepting $50 and $100 bills; they may legitimately not be able to give that much change, but they don't have an excuse for $1 coin or $2 bill).

 

So when you say "no one really wants them", you really mean you chose not to pay with them.

Edited August 18, 2014 by Illyria

[kirian]

When I was a server...back in the day.... I used to love when people left me a tip that consisted of $2 bills and/or $1 coins. As long as it added up to 15-20%, I was fine and thought it was a nice gesture.

 

I can see that some foreigners might not understand that this is "real" money, but honestly, as others have said, they can easily exchange it for whatever denominations they prefer. If the OP wants to use $2 bills to tip, I say go for it... it's legal tender and in the end, that's what really matters (and although someone on shore might not know that, the pursers desk will, so it's not like the staff will be cheated out of any funds... they just need to exchange it same as they would if someone from Italy tipped them in Euros while sailing in the Caribbean... in fact, it's even less of a big deal since there is no exchange rate)

 

If you want to tip using $2 bills - great! If you think it is the most ridiculous thing in the world and you want to use 2 $1 bills... great! To each their own :)

[cle-guy]

No one is required to accept a denomination of money in any quantity that exceed another denomination if they so choose. In other words, no more than four pennies, one, nickel, two two dimes, three quarters, four dollars, etc...

 

Huh? I dont understand... :confused:

 

Are you saying if I owe someone $50, I HAVE to pay them with 2 $20's and a $10 if they INSIST, I can't pay them with 5 $10's?

Edited August 18, 2014 by cle-guy

[Charles4515]

Give out the $2 bills. I think it's cool. :)

 

If they have issue spending, they can always change them out at the casino or front desk and then the line can can deposit with their normal ginormous currency bank deposits.

 

No big deal.

 

I think giving out $2 bills is lame on a cruise ship........not cool.

 

Also while I am certain the crew can find a way to convert the $2 bills into currency they can spend......it is also lame to inconvenience them. Which is what an extra step like going to the casino, front desk or whatever entails.

[cle-guy]

I think giving out $2 bills is lame on a cruise ship........not cool.

 

Also while I am certain the crew can find a way to convert the $2 bills into currency they can spend......it is also lame to inconvenience them. Which is what an extra step like going to the casino, front desk or whatever entails.

 

They are likely going there anyway to change up all the singles they get all day long. Probably not walking off the ship with 300 $1 bills in their pocket, more than likely made a stop at the purser too get 15 $20 bills, so during that transaction can easily make them $1's or whatever works.

 

Not an inconvenience, it's just part of the job. Until people start tipping with $20's and $100's (and $50 ad $100's can be difficult to tender too, many places even in the USA won't take those and there was a time in the UK a few years back where GBP 20 notes were suspect.)

[WpgCruise]

I think giving out $2 bills is lame on a cruise ship........not cool.

 

Also while I am certain the crew can find a way to convert the $2 bills into currency they can spend......it is also lame to inconvenience them. Which is what an extra step like going to the casino, front desk or whatever entails.

 

And you're entitled to your opinion, which after all is no less valid than anyone else's.

 

If the best that can be added as an argument against tipping with $2.00 bills is, labeling someone's choices as "Lame" or "Not Cool", I hope you can understand that not too many will be swayed.

[Charles4515]

And you're entitled to your opinion, which after all is no less valid than anyone else's.

 

If the best that can be added as an argument against tipping with $2.00 bills is, labeling someone's choices as "Lame" or "Not Cool", I hope you can understand that not too many will be swayed.

 

He said he thought it was cool to hand out $2 bills. I was throwing it back at him, indicating that he did not sway me.

Edited August 18, 2014 by Charles4515

[Woe is me]

I'll go along with 2 being more than 1!;)

[Biker19]

Look ma, another thread about first world problems. :cool:

Edited August 18, 2014 by kemenyg

[delirious9876]

Its amazing what some peoples opinions can be so far from actual truth.

Well said !

[delirious9876]

About a year ago I got $1 coins for change here in NJ. It was on the Garden State Parkway. I was in a rental car while my car was being repaired so I couldn't use my E-Z Pass. I told the attendant that he gave me the wrong change. I thought that they were quarters. He told me that they were $1 coins. They were the first that I had ever seen. I couldn't wait to get rid of them. They're heavy and no one really wants them. I finally donated them to a animal rescue group at PetsMart.

 

I feel the same way about $2 bills. No one really wants them.

What you mean is you clearly don't want them, not "no one" - as evidenced by this thread clearly some people do want them and like them.

 

:-)

[lexxfield]

Not only have I used $2 bills for the last 15 years as tips on cruise ships, I also use them to make purchases back home on a regular basis. I also consistently use half dollar coins.

[cruisinfanatic]

so what do they then do with the OTHER american dollars that they get?

It seems that most here seem to think that they are not real us currency as they are. but whatever.

i was just asking as in MY experience everyone that i have given them to have liked them. I have had several times where i was asked if i had any more.

no big deal. just asking.

Michael

Did you think they'd tell you they don't like or want money? I'm sure they'd rather have currency that they don't have to exchange somewhere to spend.

[nc2sc]

Huh? I dont understand... :confused:

 

Are you saying if I owe someone $50, I HAVE to pay them with 2 $20's and a $10 if they INSIST, I can't pay them with 5 $10's?

 

Umm, I think technically they are saying you would need to pay in a single $50 bill if so insisted. I have never heard of that rule.

 

About 30 years ago by now, one of the colleges who attended a local basketball tournament was insulted by newspaper commentary on the class of fans that came. The next year, every one of their fans paid for EVERYTHING (hotel, tips, bar tabs, etc) with $2 bills, just to show the city how much money they brought to the tourney. Those bills were floating around for weeks after... I personally have no problem paying or getting $2 bills, $1 coins, or any other oddity as long as it is legal.