Did i Stiff the BUTLER/Concierge.

[GEORGET]

Ten day cruise

 

Have read plenty of threads on this subject, but as a Brit we are not use to tipping.

 

most brits would think that the Butler was covered by the increased suite cabin charge and the high price paid.

 

I know it is not

 

I prepaid our tips as usual, and gave the butler £80 /$120 approx and the Concierge £60/ $90.

On some threads Americans seem to give more than i earn just to them

 

the reason i am asking, we are returning to the same ship soon.

 

is this additonal total amount we gave ok for both of us?

 

the last total $ 500+ surcharge (including above), plus $100 in the specialist dinning grats and not including the 18% added to the drinks was more than twice my weekly pension.

 

To make it worse the TA'S in the UK ask if you want the tips added to save the above embarresment to us brits. Hence why some butlers may get nothing.

[ColinIllinois]

There is no "correct" amount. Give according to what YOU can afford and are comfortable with. I think the amounts you mentioned are just fine. Many posts on here about what people give are obvious exaggerations.

[rjm11]

Those are very reasonable tips. Don't worry at all!

[GEORGET]

thank you both was worried cheers j

[kcwingwalker]

thank you both was worried cheers j

 

No worries..............you are generous and fair. Most of all you have excellent manners!:)

[KeithJenner]

On some threads Americans seem to give more than i earn just to them

 

This is the key point. It just takes a bit of basic maths to work out that the amounts sometimes suggested as tips on here are very much the higher end of the range that they receive. I don't doubt that the people who suggest them pay that amount, but certainly not everyone does.

 

My guess is that what you gave was quite a bit above the average amount that they receive.

[hawkeyetlse]

Have read plenty of threads on this subject, but as a Brit we are not use to tipping.

To be honest, Americans are not used to tipping, either, in this particular situation. I mean, they understand spontaneously that tipping is expected here and they are quite happy to do it (whereas other nationalities can be clueless or resentful of the expectation), but they do not have a magic sixth sense that tells them how much to leave a cruise ship butler and concierge. They ask around for guidance from others, just as you have done. :)

[KeithJenner]

Of course, it's even harder for the OP, because he's from Yorkshire, so the idea of giving anyone any money will bring him out in a cold sweat.

 

I'm joking, of course. I'm typing this at home, about 10 miles from Sheffield, and in the same county. :)

[time2cruise1]

You did just fine.

[MMOMOM]

Gee, I'm American and never even thought about that. Probably because we've never used a Concierge or had a Butler while cruising. We have cruised mostly Royal Caribbean and some on Carnival, once on HAL and once on NCL and each time we've had a Junior Suite or comparable on the other lines. We are now seriously considering a cruise on Celebrity and looking at the Sky Suite which is pretty close to the JS on Royal. It includes a Butler and Concierge. We always pay our gratuities ahead, mostly because we do the MTD, and then at the end give additional cash to whoever we feel did an exceptional job. So, guess that means we need to figure what we should give, regardless of 'exceptional' or not ... but that something is expected additional to the gratuities for the Butler and Concierge? Glad I read this ... never gave it a thought and we really are pretty good tippers in general .... at least we think so! :) Thanx!

[Va. Plumber]

You may want to check Celebrity info to see what level of service they provide. It may no be as intensive as NCL.

 

The Celebrity boards would probably give you an idea.

[MMOMOM]

You may want to check Celebrity info to see what level of service they provide. It may no be as intensive as NCL.

 

The Celebrity boards would probably give you an idea.

 

Thanx, I will do that. I get 'board feeds' in my email and this just came in and I neglected to even look that it was from the NCL board .... sorry, I'll check in the other forum.

[maxwellito]

I think your tips were very reasonable

A tip should not depend on what others give but what you feel the service you received was worth

I give more when i feel the need and less if there is a reason.

[Scotchick]

I don't think that other nationalities are clueless about tipping at all. They just fundamentally believe that an employer should pay an employee's wages not the customer. Some North Americans feel that everybody else should do as they do. This is quite arrogant to think like this. To each their own. It is quite simple.

[mjkacmom]

I don't think that other nationalities are clueless about tipping at all. They just fundamentally believe that an employer should pay an employee's wages not the customer. Some North Americans feel that everybody else should do as they do. This is quite arrogant to think like this. To each their own. It is quite simple.

 

As an American, I have no problem with the tipping culture in other counties. I do have a problem with folks from overseas stiffing workers here because they don't like the salary structure. OP, in no way did you stiff anyone.

[insanemagnet]

As an American, I have no problem with the tipping culture in other counties. I do have a problem with folks from overseas stiffing workers here because they don't like the salary structure. OP, in no way did you stiff anyone.

 

So is an NCL cruise in Europe, is presumably 'there' not 'here'.

[jomf]

So is an NCL cruise in Europe, is presumably 'there' not 'here'.

 

To me NCL, Celebrity, Princess, RCL etc are all American ships , no matter where they are cruising to and from, whilst Thomson, P & O and Costa are all non USA.

 

To the OP, the amount you tipped seemed fine to me!

[mjkacmom]

So is an NCL cruise in Europe, is presumably 'there' not 'here'.

 

Something tells me the salary structure remains the same, so here.

[KyleClark]

I'm lost... Did he tip more than the $120 to the butler and $90 to the concierge?

 

"is this additonal total amount we gave ok for both of us?

 

the last total $ 500+ surcharge (including above), plus $100 in the specialist dinning grats and not including the 18% added to the drinks was more than twice my weekly pension".

[insanemagnet]

Something tells me the salary structure remains the same, so here.

 

But that could equally mean that 'here' should be treated as 'there'.

[GEORGET]

I'm lost... Did he tip more than the $120 to the butler and $90 to the concierge?

 

"is this additonal total amount we gave ok for both of us?

 

the last total $ 500+ surcharge (including above), plus $100 in the specialist dinning grats and not including the 18% added to the drinks was more than twice my weekly pension".

 

 

JUST again thank you for making me feel that it was ok.

 

just for the record $14 95 x 2 x 10 standard grats = $299, plus$120 B plus $90 C = $500 +

 

THANKS j

[cruzsnooze]

Ten day cruise

 

Have read plenty of threads on this subject, but as a Brit we are not use to tipping.

 

most brits would think that the Butler was covered by the increased suite cabin charge and the high price paid.

 

I know it is not

 

I prepaid our tips as usual, and gave the butler £80 /$120 approx and the Concierge £60/ $90.

On some threads Americans seem to give more than i earn just to them

 

the reason i am asking, we are returning to the same ship soon.

 

is this additonal total amount we gave ok for both of us?

 

the last total $ 500+ surcharge (including above), plus $100 in the specialist dinning grats and not including the 18% added to the drinks was more than twice my weekly pension.

 

To make it worse the TA'S in the UK ask if you want the tips added to save the above embarresment to us brits. Hence why some butlers may get nothing.

 

you did better then most so relax.

[GEORGET]

Of course, it's even harder for the OP, because he's from Yorkshire, so the idea of giving anyone any money will bring him out in a cold sweat.

 

I'm joking, of course. I'm typing this at home, about 10 miles from Sheffield, and in the same county. :)

 

to right

could you imagine what would happen in the pub if you gave 18% tip at the bar, the locals would lynch you.

how much!!!!! is the yorkshire war cry

thanks

j

[Love my butler]

Ten day cruise

 

Have read plenty of threads on this subject, but as a Brit we are not use to tipping.

 

most brits would think that the Butler was covered by the increased suite cabin charge and the high price paid.

 

I know it is not

 

I prepaid our tips as usual, and gave the butler £80 /$120 approx and the Concierge £60/ $90.

On some threads Americans seem to give more than i earn just to them

 

the reason i am asking, we are returning to the same ship soon.

 

is this additonal total amount we gave ok for both of us?

 

the last total $ 500+ surcharge (including above), plus $100 in the specialist dinning grats and not including the 18% added to the drinks was more than twice my weekly pension.

 

To make it worse the TA'S in the UK ask if you want the tips added to save the above embarresment to us brits. Hence why some butlers may get nothing.

 

The tips you left were very generous. No need to worry that you didn't tip enough. I wouldn't even give it a second thought.

[Medtech2]

I don't think that other nationalities are clueless about tipping at all. They just fundamentally believe that an employer should pay an employee's wages not the customer. Some North Americans feel that everybody else should do as they do. This is quite arrogant to think like this. To each their own. It is quite simple.

Nationality has nothing to do with how people feel about tipping. I'm from the USA and would prefer everyone be paid for their jobs and there be no tipping, but that's not the reality of the situation.

You also are a North American, are you not? So you're the arrogant one?

I must be tired because I am getting just a bit irritated when people start bashing whole groups of people...