Tipping in the YC lounge?

[frank808]

I agree and tipped on your scale. We sail NCL Haven and the YC is so much more attentive. We did also tip Onil the young guy at the pool. He was very attentive to us.

 

 

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Onil was on vacation when were were on seaside. But there was an attendant named Sergi. From the time I spent floating in pool (probably 3 times in 14 days) he was always doing something for a guest. He was bringing towels, setting up their loungers and he was working hard in the hot sun with a smile.

 

We used the spa every day though and had the most massages ever on a cruise ship. We were able to pre buy the 3 massage couple package for both weeks. This was before the price increase. The packages doubled in price about 3 months before the cruise. Glad we were able to pre buy them at the lower price.

 

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[Best Cat Mom]

Butler $100, asst butler $80, waiter $100, asst waiter $80, maitre d $40, bartender $50 each, four butlers working lounge $20 each, concierges $20 each.

 

Who is "asst butler?" Is that the person who cleans the cabin? You did not mention sommelier -- yet some others did. We never met anyone who called themselves a sommelier. Could that be the same as "asst waiter?"

 

We just cruised MSC Seaside last week. Wish I'd seen this thread then...

[Beamafar]

The asst butler is, as you said, the person who cleans the cabin along with your butler. The sommelier is the wine steward (certainly not an asst waiter!) and is usually very visible in the YC restaurant.

[Best Cat Mom]

We interacted with our waiter and assistant waiter all the time -- but never saw a sommelier. I wonder if that is because we always knew what wine we wanted? Maybe if they had seen us struggle to choose, they would have sent the sommelier over to us?

 

By the way, our waiter Andre and his assistant Bene were excellent! We sat on the Port side by the windows in a table for two every day. Guiseppe was always very accommodating when we entered and made sure that we could pick which table we wanted. Andre was fantastic! We never even noticed the (famous) Arthur. I wondered if Arthur had the middle section which seemed to have the larger tables for big groups.

[mickey89]

Wow $610/week tipping on top of $12.5/pn/pp equals a total of over $1500 for a 2week cruise. This thread is unreal

[mizzoufinal4]

FYI...There was NO sommelier in the YC restaurant on the June 2nd sailing.

[Beamafar]

We had a wonderful, attentive sommelier in YC on Splendida for the 28 night crossing from Dubai to Yokohama, Japan and tipped him well as a result.

[Best Cat Mom]

Our cruise last week was in the Caribbean. Maybe the sommelier is not in the YC for Caribbean cruises?

[kelleherdl]

 

By the way, our waiter Andre and his assistant Bene were excellent! We sat on the Port side by the windows in a table for two every day. Guiseppe was always very accommodating when we entered and made sure that we could pick which table we wanted. Andre was fantastic! We never even noticed the (famous) Arthur. I wondered if Arthur had the middle section which seemed to have the larger tables for big groups.

 

Arthur was on the starboard side window area for our cruise in July. Absolutely one of the best waiters we have ever had on a ship.

 

Dennis

[EMc&DrS]

Our cruise last week was in the Caribbean. Maybe the sommelier is not in the YC for Caribbean cruises?

 

We were on Divina last summer in the Caribbean and visited with the sommelier every night in the YC dining room. She was fantastic. I read on a different thread recently that MSC has removed all sommeliers. Not sure if that's true.

[DMH15]

I guess I would have to tip my sister as she (thinks she) is a wine authority. [emoji849]

 

 

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[pvondach]

The asst butler is, as you said, the person who cleans the cabin along with your butler. The sommelier is the wine steward (certainly not an asst waiter!) and is usually very visible in the YC restaurant.

Have been on the Seaside week of Aug 11. Definetely no more sommelier present in Yacht Club.

 

Rgds, Pat

[Beamafar]

Have been on the Seaside week of Aug 11. Definetely no more sommelier present in Yacht Club.

 

You mean YC on Seaside! Do you know, for sure, that there is categorically "no more sommelier in YC"? There are 6 other ships with a YC enclave!

[mizzoufinal4]

You mean YC on Seaside! Do you know, for sure, that there is categorically "no more sommelier in YC"? There are 6 other ships with a YC enclave!

I believe he was referring to the Seaside YC since he stated that is the ship he was on.

[pvondach]

You mean YC on Seaside! Do you know, for sure, that there is categorically "no more sommelier in YC"? There are 6 other ships with a YC enclave!

 

Cannot speak for the YC on all ships. But on the Seaside, no Sommelier was present.

 

Rgds

Pat

[Oppyguy]

Butler $100, asst butler $80, waiter $100, asst waiter $80, maitre d $40, bartender $50 each, four butlers working lounge $20 each, concierges $20 each. That is what we tipped the staff each week but tip what you feel confortable with. Way more than i have tipped sailing in suites on royal. The service is that much more attentive and pampering in yacht club.

 

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I'm about with you on amounts, but with a big caveat. For me it's all about the service, and the genuine way it is offered. I have been very impressed by YC staff on 3 cruises, and never felt that the conversation, service and overall friendliness was provided with any expectation. It is for just that reason that I tipped more people larger amounts than I have on other cruises. I was just on HA in the Med for 12 days in May and only tipped Room Steward and Assistant. We seldom interacted with other staff as we at different tables each night for dinner, and were off the boat most of the rest of the time. So no hard and fast rules. Just as I overtip the bartenders at my post work hangout because I know and like them, cruise service is the same way. Also, I agree that if you are tipping because you appreciated their service, a nice note is a great way to have them remember you.

We will be back on Seaside in November, hoping to see a few of my favorites, Sad there is no more Sommelier - Dechen was awesome on two previous MSC cruises.

[jules815]

I wonder why they got rid of the Sommelier? We enjoy wine with dinner and always appreciate their recommendations.

[Teacher42]

We wish to take this tipping matter one step beyond the on-board experience. Having toured the world, we have as Americans come to learn the importance of a small "bakshish" or tip. If only to try to ward off some unpleasantness, or worse. We are referring to our habit of tipping $5 US dollars to all our tour bus drivers in the very beginning of our tour. Many times we have asked our tour guide to translate to our driver our wish for him to buy himself a coffee so we all have a safe trip. We always do this with a big smile, like we are joking...NOT. We were on a bus tour in Limon Costa Rica when our driver veered off the road side swiping a truck, the buses side mirror shattering and pieces flying past my head. The windows were all open because this bus was third world with no air conditioning. Another time while touring in Indonesia we heard of a tourist bus driver falling asleep at the wheel, plunging off a cliff, all passengers died. Would it hurt to tip in Australia, if when trying to climb Ayers Rock you collapse and the only people that might be close by are your tour guide and driver. (The tour to Ayers Rock includes a mandatory film aimed to detour you from climbing the Rock, even threatening you with possible collapse and we remember this from 30 years ago). All we are saying is a small tip here and there can go a long way somehow.

[cruiser man 60]

Tipping everyone you speak to is a very American thing and not understood by most of the world who don't! Climbing Ayers Rock will be banned shortly as it goes against all the indigenous people's religion and frowned upon by most and I doubt the coach driver would be climbing the rock !!!

[Teacher42]

Dear 60, They have been talking about a ban for 30 years at Ayers Rock. We are surprised it still has not taken effect. As for the tipping our tour guide and driver, we witnessed this from our fellow passengers, much more traveled and seasoned than we were at the time. Once, we traveled on a French Visa, sailed up the Saigon river and docked at Saigon within walking distance from the Floating Hotel. All passengers were on tour buses. Strange thing happened, there were teams of pickpockets following every bus. We were attacked by a group of four young men I caught one with his hand in my wife's fanny pack and swatted him away and we ran for the tour bus. Another of our coach passengers was not so lucky, they stole his wallet and his passports. The tour guide went back to the scene of the crime and retrieved the passengers passports but not his wallet. In cohoots ? This occurred at every tour stop. All we are saying is that a little extra tipping "may" go a long way in helping you avoid being a "mark". Capiche?

[JPMoore]

Dear 60, They have been talking about a ban for 30 years at Ayers Rock. We are surprised it still has not taken effect. As for the tipping our tour guide and driver, we witnessed this from our fellow passengers, much more traveled and seasoned than we were at the time. Once, we traveled on a French Visa, sailed up the Saigon river and docked at Saigon within walking distance from the Floating Hotel. All passengers were on tour buses. Strange thing happened, there were teams of pickpockets following every bus. We were attacked by a group of four young men I caught one with his hand in my wife's fanny pack and swatted him away and we ran for the tour bus. Another of our coach passengers was not so lucky, they stole his wallet and his passports. The tour guide went back to the scene of the crime and retrieved the passengers passports but not his wallet. In cohoots ? This occurred at every tour stop. All we are saying is that a little extra tipping "may" go a long way in helping you avoid being a "mark". Capiche?

 

More likely to present you as a sitting duck who is clearly laden with spare cash!

[Teacher42]

Dear JPM, That is exactly our point. Just being American tourists we are all considered "rich" by their standards and therefore "targets" or "sitting ducks". In many ports of call sites and shopping are within walking distance of the ship. We have discovered it most advantageous to take advantage of the locals recommended by the ship staff. On our return to Saigon a few years later, we skipped the "guided tour buses" and asked our cruise staff about the safety of taking individual rickshaws instead of walking the short distances to town and about. It was the best time we ever had. These rickshaw guys protected us from the pickpockets, swatting them away when they approached us. Is it not better to give just a little, than have it all taken away. A couple of bucks here and there is cheap protection. Yes, in case you are wondering, reports came back of pickpocketed passengers that took the tour buses. We did circulate our story on the ship before the port, but as you all know "you can lead a horse to water..."

[cruiser man 60]

Toured all of over the world including South America and most Caribbean countries and never tipped coach drivers unless on small individual tour where they are also guide. Never had any problems with pick pockets yet and doubt tipping a coach driver would offer protection!

Just be careful and don't flash cash around.

[Toofarfromthesea]

What do these excursion and tour guide stories have to do with Yacht Club tipping?

 

FWIW, we just got off our Divina Yacht Club cruise a couple of days ago. In addition to paying the auto-grats we gave our waiter 40 euro, his assistant 20 euro, and our butler 10 euro. The waiter and his assistant were outstanding. I wouldn't have tipped the butler, but my wife wanted to so we did. I didn't think our overall butler service, while very good, exceeded my expectations. Butlers make significantly more than the other staff and have a lighter workload. Which is what my waiter told me when he said yes to my question about whether he would like to become one. He also told me that working the Caribbean where there are a lot more Americans is prized, because they do extra tipping way more than cruises with predominantly Europeans.

[Beamafar]

... working the Caribbean where there are a lot more Americans is prized, because they do extra tipping way more than cruises with predominantly Europeans.

 

When embarking Meraviglia last year, I got chatting with the butler who was escorting us onboard. He told me he had been transferred from Divina to which I reacted "Oh, that must have been a sickener!" The poor guy tried (without success) to keep his solemn composure - but couldn't help himself and fell about laughing; he certainly wasn't expecting that!