Quick ?: cash tips to barttenders or sign addt'l gratuity to the paper check

[Marylebone37]

I know it's not necessary to tip extra, but I know these hard working bartenders appreciate a little extra with each drink if their services warrant it. Question: is it better to leave a buck or two in cash, or just handwrite that extra gratuity on the paper check/slip? Just concerned that they may not receive the full amount if adding it to the check vs. cold hard cash. Appreciate your thoughts.

[NLH Arizona]

IMHO, cash is best.

[Two Wheels Only]

Give cash. You may not even see a paper receipt during your cruise.

[rwslv]

Give cash. You may not even see a paper receipt during your cruise.

 

Agree there are no longer receipts to sign at the bar. Although we we able to add a tip for Speciality Meals

[beerman2]

[emoji385] is the way to go!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[txagfan]

Cash. I bring a stack of 1’s...they go a long way IMO when at the pool too.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[bbryan5]

Cash. I bring a stack of 1’s...they go a long way IMO when at the pool too.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

 

This!

 

Give the server a buck (or $2 if they are REALLY GREAT) each drink, or every other you get, and they will remember your name, your drink, and will go out of their way to find you, and give you great service. Follow these guidelines, and you won't ever go too long without a drink ;)

[Wpf0831]

always cash. I knew someone whomhad 100 $1's made into a pad and just peeled off the bills. convenient abgreat conversation starter.

[Gershep]

Cash so they are guaranteed to get it.

[newmexicoNita]

I know it's not necessary to tip extra, but I know these hard working bartenders appreciate a little extra with each drink if their services warrant it. Question: is it better to leave a buck or two in cash, or just handwrite that extra gratuity on the paper check/slip? Just concerned that they may not receive the full amount if adding it to the check vs. cold hard cash. Appreciate your thoughts.

no question: CASH

[ray98]

Cash....I didn't even have to sign paper receipts last cruise.

[zqvol]

It doesn't matter which way you do it. It all goes into the tip pool, and is shared.

[BaWBarmy]

Why?

 

You pay a 20% gratuity already on NCL's inflated prices.

 

I haven't seen any preferential service when I've been at the bars on board, the bar staff are usually very good at knowing who is next and no amount of furtive cash exchanges seem to alter that, added to the fact that I'm on holiday and really don't mind waiting too much.

 

I really don't see what else a bartender can do that could be called exceptional service. I order a drink, they fix that drink, I drink the drink. Unless they are going to hang off the front of ship collecting special dolphin hormones by hand for use in some exotic cocktail.

 

I don't tip when I go to the pub, nobody does. Yet once on a cruise everybody seems to want to tip twice.

[gymbomb]

Why?

 

You pay a 20% gratuity already on NCL's inflated prices.

 

I haven't seen any preferential service when I've been at the bars on board, the bar staff are usually very good at knowing who is next and no amount of furtive cash exchanges seem to alter that, added to the fact that I'm on holiday and really don't mind waiting too much.

 

I really don't see what else a bartender can do that could be called exceptional service. I order a drink, they fix that drink, I drink the drink. Unless they are going to hang off the front of ship collecting special dolphin hormones by hand for use in some exotic cocktail.

 

I don't tip when I go to the pub, nobody does. Yet once on a cruise everybody seems to want to tip twice.

 

 

 

I think this is a cultural difference thing. In the US pretty much everyone tips a minimum of a dollar per drink at a bar.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BaWBarmy]

I think this is a cultural difference thing. In the US pretty much everyone tips a minimum of a dollar per drink at a bar.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Its almost Pavlovian. I've got a drink I must tip a dollar. I don't have a problem with it, I just don't understand why it's done when a 20% gratuity is already included.

 

:confused:

[txagfan]

It’s ok...I’m not asking you for permission to pass out $50 in ones. [emoji6]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BaWBarmy]

It’s ok...I’m not asking you for permission to pass out $50 in ones. [emoji6]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Do what you want mate. It's your money.

 

;)

[Oakman58]

On our 14 day PC cruise I saw very few people tipping the bartender or the server, very few. There were no paper receipts unless you didn't have the UBP and I think almost everyone had the UBP.

[hrmkr]

I was recently on a Carnival cruise where I purchased the beverage package. I kept going to the same bars and the same bartenders were helping me. I occasionally gave a $1 tip and toward the end of the cruise, the pours got a little heavier and when the bar was crowded, they would come up to me first even if I just arrived at the bar and others were there before me.

 

The automatic gratuity that is added to every drink is split among all of the bartenders, servers, waiters, etc. When you give a cash tip directly to someone, it goes right into their pocket. They remember you.

[BaWBarmy]

I was recently on a Carnival cruise where I purchased the beverage package. I kept going to the same bars and the same bartenders were helping me. I occasionally gave a $1 tip and toward the end of the cruise, the pours got a little heavier and when the bar was crowded, they would come up to me first even if I just arrived at the bar and others were there before me.

 

The automatic gratuity that is added to every drink is split among all of the bartenders, servers, waiters, etc. When you give a cash tip directly to someone, it goes right into their pocket. They remember you.

 

Wouldn't happen if there was a Brit at the bar.

[KeithJenner]

Wouldn't happen if there was a Brit at the bar.

 

And would embarrass me if I was the one getting served in front of others.

 

If that is the reward you get for tipping then it would be an incentive to me not to tip.

 

Luckily, I've found that it doesn't seem to have that effect. In fact, I can honestly say that I don't notice any special service that giving a tip on an NCL ship gives me that I don't also get just from being polite to the staff and chatting to them whilst I am at the bar. They do look out for you, tend to get your next drink ready when you are getting towards the end of the last one, that sort of thing, but if someone else has been waiting longer than I have then they'd better serve them first.

[weltek]

Why?

 

You pay a 20% gratuity already on NCL's inflated prices.

 

I haven't seen any preferential service when I've been at the bars on board, the bar staff are usually very good at knowing who is next and no amount of furtive cash exchanges seem to alter that, added to the fact that I'm on holiday and really don't mind waiting too much.

 

I really don't see what else a bartender can do that could be called exceptional service. I order a drink, they fix that drink, I drink the drink. Unless they are going to hang off the front of ship collecting special dolphin hormones by hand for use in some exotic cocktail.

 

I don't tip when I go to the pub, nobody does. Yet once on a cruise everybody seems to want to tip twice.

 

A great bartender will earn additional tips from me based on what I really value:

-A good conversation

-Good suggestions

-Making drinks with a special request they have to go source ingredients for elsewhere (e.g., fresh herbs)

-Generous samples when I'm unsure

-Larger pours, or including something premium when they aren't supposed to.

 

Given the gratuities are now at 20%, they have to really go above and beyond for me to give additional cash. Likely it'll just go to bartenders I frequent very often and do any of the above.

[hrmkr]

I usually had the same drink. What am I supposed to do when they would just bring the drink to me when I would come up to the bar? Turn it away? They would see me and just make it knowing I was going to order it. As Keith Jenner said, I would always be polite and talk to them if they were not busy. They do take care of you. Not my fault.

 

For example, When i first got on the ship and went to the lido deck bar, I said hello to the bartender and saw she was from St. Lucia (reading her name tag). i told her that I was recently there and we talked for a moment about her country. She loved it that I was talking to her about home. Being nice and giving her an extra tip went a long way.

 

By the way, there were Brits and everyone else probably on the cruise... LOL

[Something fun!]

Why?

 

You pay a 20% gratuity already on NCL's inflated prices.

 

I haven't seen any preferential service when I've been at the bars on board, the bar staff are usually very good at knowing who is next and no amount of furtive cash exchanges seem to alter that, added to the fact that I'm on holiday and really don't mind waiting too much.

 

I really don't see what else a bartender can do that could be called exceptional service. I order a drink, they fix that drink, I drink the drink. Unless they are going to hang off the front of ship collecting special dolphin hormones by hand for use in some exotic cocktail.

 

I don't tip when I go to the pub, nobody does. Yet once on a cruise everybody seems to want to tip twice.

 

 

Wrong. If you tip extra cash they most certainly give you preferential treatment. They will go out of their way to bring you drinks anywhere on deck or the theater without you even asking. They will not make you wait in line either. The bartenders whole job is a hustle for tips. Yes, they will serve everyone, but will serve those tipping EXTRA much, much better. And I thank them for their service!!!!

[KeithJenner]

It also depends on how it’s done. I tend towards less busy bars, and I often have a simple drink (a beer).

 

Usually when I get to the bar, the we say hi, and they ask if I want a beer. If I do then they will often grab one for me whilst serving other people. I don’t see any problem with that.

 

If I say that I fancy something a bit more time consuming, like a cocktail, then they should serve the others at the bar before me, and that is what they do.

 

At a crowded bar, if you have been there for a while then good bar staff should keep an eye on your drink and offer you a refill at the appropriate time. Again I find that they do that.

 

In my experience, all of that generally happens regardless of tipping if you get to know the bar staff.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk