Prepaid Gratuity???

[ricecake]

Hello all,

I just recently booked my first cruise! Round of applause for that :) Although I won't be setting sail for a while now. We will be sailing out of Galveston in July 2017 on the Freedom.

 

Can someone please explain prepaid gratuities to me? At booking I did select this option. I would like to know to who these tips go to? Are there still people that we will need to tip? Does the staff know that we have prepaid gratuities? I would hate for someone to think we aren't tipping them for their services. I need info for this! Thanks!

[naz022292]

There is a breakdown on the Carnival site that has the whole breakdown. These tips cover the tips for your cabin steward, waiters, activities, etc... It doesn't include room service so, if you order that, you would want to give them a little. Many people tip a little above and beyond at the end of the cruise if you receive great service.

[ricecake]

Thank you! I'll check that out.

 

 

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[swscruiser]

The staff does know that you have prepaid your tips. if you change your mind at do not prepay the same amount will be added to your sign and sail account. as stated above room service is not included in these tips, and you can tip ($2-$5 depending on the amount of food ordered) or you can not tip at all. Also all Drinks will incur a 15% gratuity at time of ordering.

[ricecake]

If 15% gratuity is charged are we still expected to tip the bartenders and/or wait staff?

 

 

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[Trumpster]

Hello all,

I just recently booked my first cruise! Round of applause for that :) Although I won't be setting sail for a while now. We will be sailing out of Galveston in July 2017 on the Freedom.

 

Can someone please explain prepaid gratuities to me? These are tips paid to different members of the crew, some you see, most you don't At booking I did select this option. I would like to know to who these tips go to? Carnival has a breakdown Are there still people that we will need to tip? Technically, No but you always can Does the staff know that we have prepaid gratuities? They are not suppose to know, since you don't have to pre pay them, many simply have them deducted from their sail and sign account I would hate for someone to think we aren't tipping them for their services. No the staff knows the game I need info for this! Thanks!

 

Be advised to bring some cash $5's and $1's to tip porters at the port if they help you with luggage and room service waiters if you order RS.

[Trumpster]

If 15% gratuity is charged are we still expected to tip the bartenders and/or wait staff?

 

 

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No, unless you want to.

[Trumpster]

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1123/~/service-gratuities-(tips)

 

 

Basically:

 

$6.10 per guest, per day for dining room services

$3.90 per guest, per day for stateroom services

$2.00 per guest per day for alternate services which is distributed to kitchen, entertainment, guest services and other hotel staff members.

[cruiseonthebrain]

Be advised to bring some cash $5's and $1's to tip porters at the port if they help you with luggage and room service waiters if you order RS.

 

Completely agree with this. While by no means mandatory, we cash tip luggage porters, room service delivery folks and the maitre de. We also (normally) cash tip bartenders, our cabin steward and MDR servers. If we have a bunch of checked luggage we always tip the lady or gent delivering our bags.

[cruiseonthebrain]

Completely agree with this. While by no means mandatory, we cash tip luggage porters, room service delivery folks and the maitre de. We also (normally) cash tip bartenders, our cabin steward and MDR servers. If we have a bunch of checked luggage we always tip the lady or gent delivering our bags.

 

But we also leave the pre paid gratuities as well.

[Hog Rider]

If 15% gratuity is charged are we still expected to tip the bartenders and/or wait staff?

 

 

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No!

[naz022292]

You don't have to tip the bartenders/waiters in addition to the 15% already added to your drink. If you go to a specialty restaurant (additional charge), the tip is also included in that fee. Unless you want to give EXTRA, you don't have to feel obligated to tip additional. We've never tipped the maitre de. We have never had any special requests of him, and it three cruises we have only met one of them one time. He went around to each table and introduced himself one night.

Hope you enjoy your cruise!!!

Edited April 4, 2016 by naz022292

[cruzelover55]

Completely agree with this. While by no means mandatory, we cash tip luggage porters, room service delivery folks and the maitre de. We also (normally) cash tip bartenders, our cabin steward and MDR servers. If we have a bunch of checked luggage we always tip the lady or gent delivering our bags.

 

We prepay, but porters for your luggage don't even work for Carnival, at least in Galveston port. We tip $3- $4 a bag, as we travel heavy, and I have seen how often they get stiffed and see them shaking their heads. Makes me nervous as to how those bags are treated! Until you brought it up I have never even thought about the person that brings the bags to the room. My bad. But, have never seen them, and have sometimes seen some of our luggage about 20 rooms further down the hall. We give the room steward $30. 1st day, and indicate more will be coming if it is warranted. We do Cheers! but usually tip $1 extra every other drink. When on that program, they lose on tips as gratuities are included in the package instead of each drink. Room service should always get tips as they don't receive any from the automatic grats. At least, we think they should. We do anytime dining, and have never even seen a maitre de,(I can't spell it either) but we tip extra for good service to the servers. Workers get paid such a terrible salary, they really rely on tips. Some people take off the charges, saying they tip where they choose to, but that is hurting the behind the scenes people we never even see. I consider all this just a part of my vacation money I have to plan ahead for. Here's to great cruises for all of us!!!

[rudechuck]

I don't add extra tip (on top of 15%) on every drink, but if I have a particular bartender or server who has been friendly and attentive, I will add a little something extra before I leave the bar/pool/casino.

 

Tipping is personal. You've prepaid the automatic gratuities. Anything extra should be for exemplary service, not expected service.

Edited April 4, 2016 by rudechuck

[firemanbobswife]

They DO know who has prepaid. I saw the sheet again the last 2 times I sailed from my room steward. It says "PREPAID" on the very right hand column of their paper. If anyone doubts this, just ask them or take a look at their clipboard when it's on the cart. My guys straight up showed it to me when confirming my name, how many were in my cabin, and bed configuration (because mine was wrong and I told him I had specified a king online. It was right on the paper but he took it upon himself to make my bed into 2 twins since there were 2 females listed in my cabin. What he didn't know was that we had to play musical cabins for special rate purposes and the other cabin wasn't in the same area).

 

You don't have to give bartenders anything additional besides the 15% if you don't want to. But I'll usually pick a couple bars I want to frequent and tip a little extra upfront. You take care of them, they take care of you ;)

 

If your room steward or waitstaff do an exceptional job (by your standards), you can give extra too - but it is TOTALLY optional.

 

Room service, a couple bucks. Bag Porters if you use them, couple bucks per bag.

[cruzelover55]

They DO know who has prepaid. I saw the sheet again the last 2 times I sailed from my room steward. It says "PREPAID" on the very right hand column of their paper. If anyone doubts this, just ask them or take a look at their clipboard when it's on the cart. My guys straight up showed it to me when confirming my name, how many were in my cabin, and bed configuration (because mine was wrong and I told him I had specified a king online. It was right on the paper but he took it upon himself to make my bed into 2 twins since there were 2 females listed in my cabin. What he didn't know was that we had to play musical cabins for special rate purposes and the other cabin wasn't in the same area).

 

You don't have to give bartenders anything additional besides the 15% if you don't want to. But I'll usually pick a couple bars I want to frequent and tip a little extra upfront. You take care of them, they take care of you ;)

 

If your room steward or waitstaff do an exceptional job (by your standards), you can give extra too - but it is TOTALLY optional.

 

Room service, a couple bucks. Bag Porters if you use them, couple bucks per bag.

 

You are 100% correct. They DO know who has taken off the auto tips!

[cruzelover55]

I don't add extra tip (on top of 15%) on every drink, but if I have a particular bartender or server who has been friendly and attentive, I will add a little something extra before I leave the bar/pool/casino.

 

Tipping is personal. You've prepaid the automatic gratuities. Anything extra should be for exemplary service, not expected service.

 

You are right, tipping is most certainly personal. But, when an OP asks our opinion, no harm in saying how we do so. I agree on land with your premise that extra should be for exemplary service, not expected. But, on a cruise, knock wood, it has always worked out to our benefit to tip the steward "some" in advance.

[ricecake]

Thank you for all your responses! I definitely will take all this into account. I want to make sure I was doing things right and didn't want to leave anyone out! [emoji3]

 

 

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[cruzelover55]

Thank you for all your responses! I definitely will take all this into account. I want to make sure I was doing things right and didn't want to leave anyone out! [emoji3]

 

 

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Tipping or not to tip is always a HOT topic on these boards. Don't let us scare you off. The one time I totally agree about not adding extra is if you don't buy Cheers! and are paying by the drink. I feel 15% is adequate per drink. I guess if you had a bartender that was giving you double shots or something, that might warrant an extra tip. But, say you get a $10. drink, and they get $1.50. Geez, that's enough. At our local bar we tip about $1. a round (2 of us) but the 2 drinks are less than $5. You will have a great cruise! The 1st one is always the best one! Have fun!!!

[LMaxwell]

I would not prepay because there are ways you can save some money and when the charges are applied on the cruise come out ahead.

 

Open a Carnival credit card and get 10K points; can be used for Onboard Credit.

Purchase Carnival giftcards at 90 cents on the dollar; use them for onboard charges. like getting a 10% discount.

 

Etc.

 

So I'm not saying don't pay them; I am just saying shop around and find out how to maximize onboard credits for minimum dollars out of pocket prior to the cruise and let the charges fall against those.

[firemanbobswife]

I would not prepay because there are ways you can save some money and when the charges are applied on the cruise come out ahead.

 

Open a Carnival credit card and get 10K points; can be used for Onboard Credit.

Purchase Carnival giftcards at 90 cents on the dollar; use them for onboard charges. like getting a 10% discount.

 

Etc.

 

So I'm not saying don't pay them; I am just saying shop around and find out how to maximize onboard credits for minimum dollars out of pocket prior to the cruise and let the charges fall against those.

 

Or buy gift cards at 10-20% off and use them to pay off your cruise with the gratuities. In that case it doesn't matter when you pay because you already have the GCs. I like having everything paid for when I get onboard. But let's not get into that debate. I have a bunch of gift cards just waiting for me to book a cruise :D

 

Have a great cruise, OP!

Edited April 5, 2016 by firemanbobswife

[Elaine5715]

Thank you for all your responses! I definitely will take all this into account. I want to make sure I was doing things right and didn't want to leave anyone out! [emoji3]

 

 

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Just FYI, the crew doesn't get the prepaid gratuities until after your cruise. And extra dollar or two for the deck drink crew will assure you never go thirsty.

[Trumpster]

You are 100% correct. They DO know who has taken off the auto tips!

 

Which they won't know until the end of the cruise, since you could remove them the last night (which is common)

[Hog Rider]

Which they won't know until the end of the cruise, since you could remove them the last night (which is common)

 

Bad service requires NO tip. Heald states tipping is optional.

[Hog Rider]

You are 100% correct. They DO know who has taken off the auto tips!

 

No they don't. A myth per Heald.