Gratuity Question

[KPtoronto]

I am going on my Sixth cruise , 5th on Carnival, Gratuities are usually added to my Sail and Sign account @ $11 or 12 something dollars per person per night. I travel with wife and kids usually 5 of us. (2 cabins). average cruise id 7 nights. so I pay around 400$ in prepaid gratuities PLUS

 

I also tip cash to our room steward about $70-$80 in increments of 10 0r 20 $ whenever I see him or her. In the dining room same thing $100 to $120 in increments of 10 0r 20 $. I also tip cash to waitstaff in casino where I always have Drink on Us card a buck or 2 for every drink I order . If we are dining in The buffet during lunch or breakfast hours I live a 5$ bill on the table for servers who clean the table and pick our plates behind us.

 

If we go to Pizza station late at night again I tip the order taker $5 everytime I order Pizza,s . Same thing at the Tandoor restaurant I tip the attendents $ 5 everytime I dine from tandoor.

I was wondering If I should stop prepaying my gratuities and increase the Cash tips to the dining room staff and Room steward, am I going overboard or am I am undertipping .

 

How much do you guys normally tip what is the average. your input will be highly appreciated.

 

Thanks

[sparks1093]

I am going on my Sixth cruise , 5th on Carnival, Gratuities are usually added to my Sail and Sign account @ $11 or 12 something dollars per person per night. I travel with wife and kids usually 5 of us. (2 cabins). average cruise id 7 nights. so I pay around 400$ in prepaid gratuities PLUS

 

I also tip cash to our room steward about $70-$80 in increments of 10 0r 20 $ whenever I see him or her. In the dining room same thing $100 to $120 in increments of 10 0r 20 $. I also tip cash to waitstaff in casino where I always have Drink on Us card a buck or 2 for every drink I order . If we are dining in The buffet during lunch or breakfast hours I live a 5$ bill on the table for servers who clean the table and pick our plates behind us.

 

If we go to Pizza station late at night again I tip the order taker $5 everytime I order Pizza,s . Same thing at the Tandoor restaurant I tip the attendents $ 5 everytime I dine from tandoor.

I was wondering If I should stop prepaying my gratuities and increase the Cash tips to the dining room staff and Room steward, am I going overboard or am I am undertipping .

 

How much do you guys normally tip what is the average. your input will be highly appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

Personally I would cut way back on the cash tipping and leave the pre-paid gratuities in place. I am not going to say that you are overdoing it, but you are certainly making the rest of us look bad;).

[RubyGold]

Personally, I'd say keep the pre paid. They cover back of house staff too who you might not see. If you feel you can afford to tip the way you do and consider it a part of your cruise expenditure, then carry on. I think you're very generous and I'm certain that the people receiving the tips are more than happy. If you feel like you can't quite afford to continue with your tipping like this, then by all means maybe reduce the tips in the mdr and cabin steward but then give them the whole amount of what you're willing to pay in an envelope on the last night.

 

I've never thought of tipping the pizza people, or table cleaners. I'm sure that's a position that gets overlooked all the time.

 

When cruising I always set aside a couple of hundred dollars for tipping, along with pre paid grats. I spend a lot of time saving for my trips, but do factor in money for tips and will throw in extra if I end a trip and have cash left over (I live in the UK, no point taking just the odd $30 back home)

[love my grandkids]

Wow OP if on the level you are over tipping.

 

Autotips with some extras for great service are plenty

[ohioblue52]

I would keep doing what your doing, we do about the same.

[Cruisertommyboy]

OP you are very generous and I am not saying this in a bad way. I usually give the cabin steward and wait staff an envelope at the end of the week. Even though I get the Cheers program, I give a favorite bartender a few bucks every few drinks during the cruise. Also cant forget money in the Piano Bar.

Tom

[riffatsea]

You tip waay more than we do!

We leave the auto tips in place.

We give the room steward $20 if we like them.

We give the head waiter $20 if we like them.

DH has an omelet every morning and usually uses the same person each day at the bkfst buffet so he tips him too , not sure how much?

Other than that we don't give out extra tips on the ship.

IF we had children in the camp we'd give the counselors something extra but no one else.

[loubetti]

OP, with your tipping, go no Cunard or Celebrity!:D

[serene56]

I do not tip like that-- Id be broke just paying the workers I come across.

 

I would not tip the workers working the buffet area.

unless i had a specific request--- ex-is the omlet station.

 

is the guy at Tandori fixing your dishes?

I have never tipped the pizza people unless then could do a specific request-

 

Personally you are way over tipping

[RubyGold]

OP, with your tipping, go no Cunard or Celebrity!:D

 

 

Maybe the reason he can afford to tip so well is the bargain prices of carnival!

 

To be fair though, I don't see it as over tipping. When travelling, I do tip similarly if the quality of service is up to it. And really, if you're not in debt when you get home then why not??

 

There seem to be quite a few responses of the OP is over tipping, when a person posts to ask about removing grats they get an earful too. There is no right or wrong with tipping, it is all personal.

[Velvetwater]

I hope this is a genuine query instead of a boast.

 

The pre-paid tips are enough....they are added for ease. I still remember how lovely our first room steward was and we did not give him any cash tips at all, Just the normal amount at the end.

 

Although I did tip the room service people $1 for each plate.

[love my grandkids]

I hope this is a genuine query instead of a boast.

 

The pre-paid tips are enough....they are added for ease. I still remember how lovely our first room steward was and we did not give him any cash tips at all, Just the normal amount at the end.

 

Although I did tip the room service people $1 for each plate.

 

Thinking more and more our collective legs are being pulled here by the OP.

[Purvis1231]

I have never scene anyone tipping at the buffet area or really in where on a Carnival ship so the prepaid tips must be enough to keep the crew working hard. I generally allocate $50.00 for extra tipping and to be honest sometimes I did not use all of this. So I guess I am cheap compared to the OP.

[cb at sea]

As long as you pay the "suggested" tips, you're done. I think $10-20 TOTAL above what the cabin attendant gets is ample. Same for your dinner waiter.... You do NOT need to tip in the buffet.

 

We do tip room service, if we use it, about $2 for coffee/danish.....we would tip about $5 if we ordered a full meal..but we don't really enjoy eating in the cabin.

[KPtoronto]

No Boasting Guys,

I have my reasons to tip the way I do

1) No matter what people say My experience with Carnival has been great the staff goes overboard most of the time and are very polite and courteous.

 

2) Tips are all they make really, the cruises are so cheap because they pay the staff minimal like 150$ a month or less.

 

3) I am a Casino VIP , So my Drinks are on the house, Steakhouse with wine is complimentary. I pay almost nothing for my first cabin. (Taxes Only) Casino Cash, Spa Vouchers etc etc.

 

I Tip the people at Pizza and tandoori as they do comply with our special requests. Also I believe Tandoori serves the most authentic Indian Food in continental USA ( I am of East Indian Descent I know what I am talking about)

 

Room Service I never order., the Kids do and they always tip a couple bucks for Cookies and milk or desserts etc.

 

and I prefer to tip upfront as I think it makes them give us special attention wether its the room steward or the dining staff.

 

In the buffet areas I tip cos I think the Kids make a huge mess and our tables is so full of plates, left over food etc etc.

 

I tip cash for drinks in the casino cos I aint paying for the drinks and the servers are so attentive in the casino.

 

and the reason for my first post was just if I could take my prepay gratuities out and add that amount to my cash tipping as well. But I guess you are right I will be taking it away from the people ,I never see such as kitchen staff etc.

 

I hope you all got it.

 

Thanks for your contributions

[love my grandkids]

No Boasting Guys,

I have my reasons to tip the way I do

1) No matter what people say My experience with Carnival has been great the staff goes overboard most of the time and are very polite and courteous.

 

2) Tips are all they make really, the cruises are so cheap because they pay the staff minimal like 150$ a month or less.

 

3) I am a Casino VIP , So my Drinks are on the house, Steakhouse with wine is complimentary. I pay almost nothing for my first cabin. (Taxes Only) Casino Cash, Spa Vouchers etc etc.

 

I Tip the people at Pizza and tandoori as they do comply with our special requests. Also I believe Tandoori serves the most authentic Indian Food in continental USA ( I am of East Indian Descent I know what I am talking about)

 

Room Service I never order., the Kids do and they always tip a couple bucks for Cookies and milk or desserts etc.

 

and I prefer to tip upfront as I think it makes them give us special attention wether its the room steward or the dining staff.

 

In the buffet areas I tip cos I think the Kids make a huge mess and our tables is so full of plates, left over food etc etc.

 

I tip cash for drinks in the casino cos I aint paying for the drinks and the servers are so attentive in the casino.

 

and the reason for my first post was just if I could take my prepay gratuities out and add that amount to my cash tipping as well. But I guess you are right I will be taking it away from the people ,I never see such as kitchen staff etc.

 

I hope you all got it.

 

Thanks for your contributions

 

I stand corrected thanks for coming back and pointing this out to us

[cruzincurt]

I am going on my Sixth cruise , 5th on Carnival, Gratuities are usually added to my Sail and Sign account @ $11 or 12 something dollars per person per night. I travel with wife and kids usually 5 of us. (2 cabins). average cruise id 7 nights. so I pay around 400$ in prepaid gratuities PLUS

 

I also tip cash to our room steward about $70-$80 in increments of 10 0r 20 $ whenever I see him or her. In the dining room same thing $100 to $120 in increments of 10 0r 20 $. I also tip cash to waitstaff in casino where I always have Drink on Us card a buck or 2 for every drink I order . If we are dining in The buffet during lunch or breakfast hours I live a 5$ bill on the table for servers who clean the table and pick our plates behind us.

 

If we go to Pizza station late at night again I tip the order taker $5 everytime I order Pizza,s . Same thing at the Tandoor restaurant I tip the attendents $ 5 everytime I dine from tandoor.

I was wondering If I should stop prepaying my gratuities and increase the Cash tips to the dining room staff and Room steward, am I going overboard or am I am undertipping .

 

How much do you guys normally tip what is the average. your input will be highly appreciated.

 

Thanks

You are extremely generous, probably in the top 10% of tippers. IMO you are nowhere close to undertipping.

Edited January 10, 2015 by cruzincurt

[rugbykat2010]

I always prepay my gratuities and normally I will not tip extra for short trips but I did top some bartenders and one of the workers at the deli during my 2 weeks on the Splendor.

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[nissach]

Maybe the reason he can afford to tip so well is the bargain prices of carnival!

 

To be fair though, I don't see it as over tipping. When travelling, I do tip similarly if the quality of service is up to it. And really, if you're not in debt when you get home then why not??

 

There seem to be quite a few responses of the OP is over tipping, when a person posts to ask about removing grats they get an earful too. There is no right or wrong with tipping, it is all personal.

 

I agree, tipping is a personal choice. Both on whether to tip and then on how much. We have done many options; left the gratuities and tipped nothing else, cancelled gratuities and tipped for services we received, and done both gratuities and extra tipping. In the end we have paid tips/gratuities for the services we have received.

 

I agree it is a lot, but if he wants to tip that much, good for him

[HawkIVette]

 

I tip cash for drinks in the casino cos I aint paying for the drinks and the servers are so attentive in the casino.

 

I agree with most people here that the pre-paid gratuities are enough with an added $20 or $40 for the wait staff and room steward each for exceptional service.

 

But I also agree with you on the casino bar staff. I usually tip a $5 chip each time when I get drink in the casino with the Drinks On Us card. That's about half price of the cost of a drink and I have never had to wait to get another drink. The little girl I had on the Conquest a year ago never bothered to ask me if I wanted another drink, she just made sure my glass never got empty.

 

Besides, if you don't tip them, I don't think they get anything out of the drink as usual because the casino pays for the drink and it doesn't show an automatic tip for the staff.

Edited January 10, 2015 by HawkIVette

[simplelife]

We always leave the auto-tips in place - I think that to do otherwise is simply being cheap. On the last night we give something extra to our cabin steward and to our waitstaff (we use traditional dining and almost always eat in the MDR). Occasionally we tip during the cruise, such as if the Maitre 'd helps with a table change etc, a bartender has been particularly helpful (If they keep me supplied with water I tip them), and the rare situation that we use room service.

[tatelek]

I always pre pay tips to get it out of the way and I always leave more to my waiters and room steward I also tip more on drinks I over tip I'm sure but hey that's how ppl make they're living

 

 

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[kc13]

OP, I think it's very generous of you but I think it's good that you do that. If you get good service and can afford to then they 100% deserve it! I wouldn't get rid of the gratuities though. We normally tip $20+ to room steward on last day, tip a few $$ for room service and if dining is good tip them $10-20 as well. We're not big drinkers so we kind of skip waiters and bars. Funny though, we sailed MSC Divina in September and they demand that you don't tip anyone on the ship. We didn't have the greatest service so we didn't really argue BUT still found it odd since they really are 'waiting' on you if they do a good job I don't see why someone shouldn't tip. JMO though.

Edited January 11, 2015 by kc13

[sparks1093]

OP, I think it's very generous of you but I think it's good that you do that. If you get good service and can afford to then they 100% deserve it! I wouldn't get rid of the gratuities though. We normally tip $20+ to room steward on last day, tip a few $$ for room service and if dining is good tip them $10-20 as well. We're not big drinkers so we kind of skip waiters and bars. Funny though, we sailed MSC Divina in September and they demand that you don't tip anyone on the ship. We didn't have the greatest service so we didn't really argue BUT still found it odd since they really are 'waiting' on you if they do a good job I don't see why someone shouldn't tip. JMO though.

 

Are the tips covered in the fare on MSC? If they are that is probably why they said don't tip.

[JStarbrite]

I tip the maître d’ if he or she helped seating us to a desired location, or was entertaining and attenitive to out satisfaction. From what I understand, the maître d’ is not included in the tip pool. I wonder if Ken, the singing maître d’ is still around?