How to tip when dollar is not your currency?

[ditmar2007]

I live in Denmark. I will be cruising out of Copenhagen (Denmark) on Serenade of the Seas.

 

We use Danish kroner. I might be able to get my hands on dollars, but probably not small bills.

 

Can I tip in kroner? Also: All amounts below 50 kr ($7.5) are coins. I believe some pockets will get very heavy.

 

(This whole tipping thing is very confusing. We don't tip much in Denmark. We may round up, but often we just pay the bill. And drivers, masseuses and hair dressers never get tips)

[yuvraj]

The on board bill will include a daily service charge aka gratuities so tips for waiters, room stewards etc. are already included and there is no obligation to pay anything extra.

 

I am from the UK but I take dollars or euros with me. I usually have a few spare and if not then I simply buy some. This is so that I can tip in appreciation and at my discretion if I wish. Exceptional service and special requirements are two areas where I do tip. I don't tip the barman for simply pouring me a drink. It is a personal matter so don't feel obliged to do what others do.

[GUT2407]

In my experience the crew will take extra tips in any currency.

 

In a shop with some crew once one pulled out a wad of notes I know he had US$ pounds, euro, Aus$, NZ$, ¥en, Francs and numerous others I didn’t recognise.

 

They can deposit it through on board banking, though I have no idea how they get treated on exchange rates.

[grapau27]

I always take $200 for additional tips on RC.

Guest Services will exchange larger denomination notes for $1 notes if you explain they are for extra crew tips.

[ditmar2007]

I always take $200 for additional tips on RC.

Guest Services will exchange larger denomination notes for $1 notes if you explain they are for extra crew tips.

 

Thank you. That is nice to know.

[ditmar2007]

The on board bill will include a daily service charge aka gratuities so tips for waiters, room stewards etc. are already included and there is no obligation to pay anything extra.

 

That I know. I was more thinking of porters (luggage) and maybe spa treatments or extra tips for exeptional service (which I'm sure I'll receive on all Royal's ships :) )

[astangenes]

I`ve done some cruises out of Norway and Denmark (I also live in Denmark). And I have used DKK og NOK, and that was no problem :-)

[ditmar2007]

In my experience the crew will take extra tips in any currency.

 

Thanks. This handles the $ vs Kr problem. Not the coins vs bills issue. But if I can change on board I guess I'll manage.

[spookwife]

That I know. I was more thinking of porters (luggage) and maybe spa treatments or extra tips for exeptional service (which I'm sure I'll receive on all Royal's ships :) )

 

 

in most cases you can also choose to simply add additional gratuity on the bill. they always have an extra line just for that purpose. in fact, I know they can even print out a zero balance receipt for you to add a gratuity to. ( one cruise our favorite bartender would often surprise us with a special concoction and we didn't always have loose bills to leave )

 

the porters at least at embarkation( are you returning to the same point?) are locals so you can tip in local currency.

 

room service now incurs a fee in most cases( no charge for continental breakfast or if you are in a suite) so that too will have a bill to sign with a space to add a gratuity. of course that means your final bill will be higher....

 

if you were of a mind it is also possible to go down to Guest services and request additional gratuity be assigned to say your cabin steward which again, will be added to the final bill.

[Paulxyz2004]

I live in Denmark. I will be cruising out of Copenhagen (Denmark) on Serenade of the Seas.

 

We use Danish kroner. I might be able to get my hands on dollars, but probably not small bills.

 

Can I tip in kroner? Also: All amounts below 50 kr ($7.5) are coins. I believe some pockets will get very heavy.

 

(This whole tipping thing is very confusing. We don't tip much in Denmark. We may round up, but often we just pay the bill. And drivers, masseuses and hair dressers never get tips)

 

Tipping in Danish Kroner is not a good idea. Sure none of the crew will refuse any currency, but they would have to go through the burden of exchanging the money and as any of us be met with some exchange fees.

 

One very important thing to keep in mind is to never use coins for tips in a foregin currency. Coins can´t be exchanged !!!

 

Best is to get some USD, your concern about smaller bills can be easily solved by breaking larger bills to smaller ones at Guest Services or Casino Cashier.

[swoopy2110]

That I know. I was more thinking of porters (luggage) and maybe spa treatments or extra tips for exeptional service (which I'm sure I'll receive on all Royal's ships :) )

 

I wouldn't think the Porters in Copenhagen would expect any tip. The only place I've ever tipped a porter is in the USA.

 

For the Spa, you can add an extra tip on the receipt which you'll have to sign if you really want to

[kerryincork]

The crew will take any currency. They do get time of in port so would use local currency. Also in regards to spa's etc they automatically add a 20% tip on your bill. You can give extra if you want.

 

Also nearly all receipts you are given have an extra line to add additional tips if you want to.

 

I pay the daily charge and usually leave a bit extra to stewards. If I like bar tenders etc I will add extra to the tip line.

 

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[yuvraj]

That I know. I was more thinking of porters (luggage) and maybe spa treatments or extra tips for exeptional service (which I'm sure I'll receive on all Royal's ships :) )

 

 

Deleted.

[Paulxyz2004]

The crew will take any currency. They do get time of in port so would use local currency. Also in regards to spa's etc they automatically add a 20% tip on your bill. You can give extra if you want.

 

Also nearly all receipts you are given have an extra line to add additional tips if you want to.

 

I pay the daily charge and usually leave a bit extra to stewards. If I like bar tenders etc I will add extra to the tip line.

 

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The OP´s cruise has no other port stops in Denmark and the crew usually will not get any time off on turnaround day.

 

 

As for the porters mentiones upthread, I always tip them all over the world. They however will be folks living in Denmark and thus no problem for them with Danish Kroner as it would be their local currency.

[cb at sea]

You can break down your larger USD for smaller bills on the ship.

[samlomax]

That I know. I was more thinking of porters (luggage) and maybe spa treatments or extra tips for exeptional service (which I'm sure I'll receive on all Royal's ships :) )

If you don't have a drinks package then 18% tip is automatically added to every drink bill so no need for extra tip, the same with the on-board spa again 18% automatically added, if you don't normally tip locally then your porters won't expect a tip, with room service you tip a couple of $ normally for delivery person, you can exchange cash at guest relations for small bills but anything spent on-board including the auto tips for drinks and spa will go on your seapass card and get charged to your credit card.

 

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[Havingfun2010]

I live in Denmark. I will be cruising out of Copenhagen (Denmark) on Serenade of the Seas.

 

We use Danish kroner. I might be able to get my hands on dollars, but probably not small bills.

 

Can I tip in kroner? Also: All amounts below 50 kr ($7.5) are coins. I believe some pockets will get very heavy.

 

(This whole tipping thing is very confusing. We don't tip much in Denmark. We may round up, but often we just pay the bill. And drivers, masseuses and hair dressers never get tips)

 

You drinks will have the tip included. Most other things on the ship, will have the tip included. So, whether you are using kroner, USD or EUR, you really don't need much. Yes, many others like to tip more but 18% is way more than enough tip and is the customary amount.

 

I'm from the US and so I always have USD with me, but when I travel to Europe or Asia, I do have those currencies. In China, I had too much cash nearing the end and so I used that for extra tips to room steward and waiters. (not needed, but I usually give a small amount extra). On the ship, you can and is common to tip with the local currency or USD. Most of the crew will just deposit the currency into their onboard accounts and be appreciative with any currency!

[nealstuber]

You might consider what shore excursions you are taking and if tipping your guide/driver will be expected there.

 

 

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[Magster1987]

Please dont bring tipping, or even double tipping (you allready payed tips in your cruise fare) to Scandinavia :)

[ditmar2007]

Please dont bring tipping, or even double tipping (you allready payed tips in your cruise fare) to Scandinavia :)

 

I agree with you - sort of (I’m Danish myself). But the ship is a small US community with the rules&regs that apply. I don’t want to be the person who is the tight-purse, when I know the tips are a large part of the salary.

 

Skik følge eller land fly. In this case the country is the ship.

 

If the porters are Danish, and tips are added to my account automatically I guess I’m good.

[ditmar2007]

You might consider what shore excursions you are taking and if tipping your guide/driver will be expected.

 

They won’t. They are in Norway where people are paid a decent wage.

[Dixie1337]

I have no idea if you can do this in other countries, or even with other currencies, or if it's just possible because of Canada's proximity to the USA or because the bank I go to is nice, but whenever I go on a cruise or all inclusive trip in the Caribbean I go to the bank and order 200 $1 US bills. It takes about a week to come in, but it's doable.

[LMaxwell]

The crew will eagerly accept any additional amount in any format; don’t overthink this