First timer for cruise

[Gulia35]

My husband and I are going on our first cruise out of Galveston in May on Liberty of the Seas. Was wondering when tipping waiters and cabin workers how much is average to tip and should you tip every night or at the end of the cruise. Also, if you buy drinks should you tip on top of the gratuity in the price each drink or what? And if so how much should you tip on top of the price.

We are driving from Kansas 11.5 hour drive since it is way cheaper than flying but wanting to know if we should do self check at disembarkment or leave our luggage out the night before and wait for it the next morning. Is it really hard to carry two pieces of luggage around all morning or what. Want to get out asap since we have such a long drive afterwards. Any input is appreciated. Thanks.

[LHT28]

Usually most cruise line will add the daily gratuity to your onboard account & will go on your credit card at the end of the cruise

When you buy a drink the gratuity will be added at the time of purchase

 

If you are not in a rush then just put your bags out the nice before

[Grandma Dazzles]

Welcome to Cruise Critic. You may find more in depth answers if you post on the RC board.

 

Your on board account will be billed for your gratuities each day. For a standard cabin I think it's around $12.50 per person per day. It is slightly higher for full suites. This covers all your dining venues, room steward and incidental personnel. All drinks have an 18% tip added per purchase. Drink packages have the 18% added. Any other tips you wish to give are at your discretion. You should tip room service and concierge staff (should you have concierge access) as they are not included in the daily tips.

 

You will find tipping to be very controversial on these boards. Many people like to top extra on top of the daily billed tips. Staff work very hard to please you. Again, very personal and your choice. If you wish to give an extra $10 or $20 you can give at the end of the cruise.

 

Have not done self-disembarkation in Galveston so I can't comment. At most ports people who want to get on the road, or have early flights, like to do self-disembarkation. However, you have to handle the bags yourself. Otherwise you just pick them up in terminal. Perhaps someone can give you more info on Galveston.

[Krazy Kruizers]

When you get to the pier -- hand your larger pieces of luggage to the porters. Take your carry-ons with your valuables onto the ship with you. Your larger pieces of luggage will be x-rayed before being put into bins and loaded onto the ship and eventually taken to your cabin.

Do not put anything valuable into your checked luggage and make certain your suitcases are locked. I trust no one.

Your carry-ons must be able to fit through the scanners as you enter the building -- the scanners are the same size as those in the airport.

If you are able to carry off all your luggage yourselves -- then go for it since you have an 11 1/2 hour drive home.

Each day gratuities or hotel service charge per person is added onto your shipboard account -- these tips are divided among your cabin stewards and dining room staff as well as people behind the scenes like the kitchen staff, laundry people, etc. An automatic gratuity is added onto all drinks, bottled water, sodas, etc. when you purchase those items.

We always leave those tips in place and if we feel that someone has given us extra service, we do tip them extra at the end of the cruise.

To find out more about RCI's tipping -- ask questions on the RCI board at this link:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=83

[cb at sea]

On cruises, tips are traditionally extended on the LAST evening. Nowadays, the ship's charge your gratuities daily...and they are distributed at the end of the cruise. You need do nothing. When you buy a drink, 18% is added to the cost, so there's the tip!

 

The only exception is room service. They are NOT included in the tipping you pay, so figure on $1-5 per visit, depending on how much they have to carry to you! Tip at time of service.

 

There is no need to tip additionally, unless you feel someone went "over and above"...if that happens, you'll know it. No worries!

[Dayenu]

My husband and I are going on our first cruise out of Galveston in May on Liberty of the Seas. Was wondering when tipping waiters and cabin workers how much is average to tip and should you tip every night or at the end of the cruise. Also, if you buy drinks should you tip on top of the gratuity in the price each drink or what? And if so how much should you tip on top of the price. Thanks.

 

They will charge your shipboard account every day, at the end you can pay with a credit card (or cash if you want to stand in line to pay)

 

You can tip additional if you want, but don't stop the charge to give cash instead - they have to put the cash in the poll anyway, so it won't make sense. Only if you tip additional, they get to keep it. Some people give additional cash, some just pay the daily charge, and that's it.

 

When you order drinks, 15% or 18% tips added to the bill. If you go to pay restaurant, the tips are included. Only if you order room service they expect a few dollars.

[GUT2407]

Any thre use tins please ask.

[Keith1010]

You have been given good advice on tipping.

 

I would just add as a couple mentioned that you can get all of your RCI questions answered on the RCI Board.

 

Keith