mfs2k Posted February 13, 2019 #1 Share Posted February 13, 2019 (edited) How is poolside cocktail service on Celebrity Caribbean cruises? Are there enough servers circulating around the lounge chairs? Do you have to chase them down to get a drink or are they there when you want them? Do most of you give a cash tip to a cocktail server every time they bring you a drink, or you don't bother carrying cash to the pool and you assume the included gratuity is enough? I'm going on Celebrity (Equinox) for the first time next month. Thanks for your input. Edited February 13, 2019 by mfs2k Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pier290 Posted February 13, 2019 #2 Share Posted February 13, 2019 Pool service on Equinox, Silhouette and Summit was excellent! No chasing necessary. No tipping necessary. Just sit back, relax, and order away 🍹 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2711 Posted February 14, 2019 #3 Share Posted February 14, 2019 2018 on Silhouette the servers were scarce. Had to go to the poolside bar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davekathy Posted February 14, 2019 #4 Share Posted February 14, 2019 No matter the ship, I always sit on the deck above the pool deck and have always received prompt service. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCruisers Posted February 14, 2019 #5 Share Posted February 14, 2019 While sitting at shaded places on the pool deck, there were almost always bar servers who provided great service on Celebrity ships. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Alsmez Posted February 14, 2019 #6 Share Posted February 14, 2019 With regard to tips, it kind of depends whether you have a beverage package or not. If not, you will have to sign a slip after ordering and you can easily add an additional tip at that time. With the beverage package, a gratuity is already included with each drink. I almost never have cash with me on board now that we sail with the beverage package, so I go with the included gratuity and then visit my favorite bartenders with cash at the very end of the cruise to thank those that have provided exceptional service. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodScout Posted February 14, 2019 #7 Share Posted February 14, 2019 On Equinox, poolside drink service was good, but you had to wait a little more on busy sea days. If I was really, really desperate, I trucked myself up to the bar. But didn't have to do it too often. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PTC DAWG Posted February 14, 2019 #8 Share Posted February 14, 2019 I always take at least a hundred in ones, fives etc for tipping...drink package or not...but don’t remember the last time I sailed without a drink package. Service improves when the cash comes out, bank on that... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowhat Posted February 15, 2019 #9 Share Posted February 15, 2019 Down at Guest Services, you can pick up 'Comment Cards'..to complain or commend about service and/or staff. They are available every day of your cruise. A positive sunny comment about Crew will win them a extra hour sleep, half day off, etc. These comment cards are ready daily, and are worth their wealth in support and gold $$$ confirmation for the Crew. Your comments/confirmation about the crew is worth a million dollars!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiseLifeIsTheBest Posted February 15, 2019 #10 Share Posted February 15, 2019 4 hours ago, PTC DAWG said: I always take at least a hundred in ones, fives etc for tipping...drink package or not...but don’t remember the last time I sailed without a drink package. Service improves when the cash comes out, bank on that... Also bring extra smaller bills for tips and have had similar experience. Sure of this...DH is usually the “extra” tipper and he tends to get faster service than me if a bartender has not seen us together. As many have said...a personal choice whether to extra tip or not. A reasonable (yes, subjective) tip has always been well worth it to us. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampbabe Posted February 15, 2019 #11 Share Posted February 15, 2019 5 hours ago, Alsmez said: With regard to tips, it kind of depends whether you have a beverage package or not. If not, you will have to sign a slip after ordering and you can easily add an additional tip at that time. With the beverage package, a gratuity is already included with each drink. I almost never have cash with me on board now that we sail with the beverage package, so I go with the included gratuity and then visit my favorite bartenders with cash at the very end of the cruise to thank those that have provided exceptional service. If you got a drink package as a perk you really should tip on top of that, especially if you got good service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davekathy Posted February 15, 2019 #12 Share Posted February 15, 2019 6 minutes ago, Swampbabe said: If you got a drink package as a perk you really should tip on top of that, especially if you got good service. That's your opinion and your personal preference. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampbabe Posted February 15, 2019 #13 Share Posted February 15, 2019 2 minutes ago, davekathy said: That's your opinion and your personal preference. Indeed it is. It’s also my opinion that someone that doesn’t tip a server, especially when they have an unlimited, included beverage package is a cheap a**. YMMV, of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davekathy Posted February 15, 2019 #14 Share Posted February 15, 2019 1 minute ago, Swampbabe said: Indeed it is. It’s also my opinion that someone that doesn’t tip a server, especially when they have an unlimited, included beverage package is a cheap a**. YMMV, of course. How do you know who tips and doesn't. Or just assuming. Falls under the category of none of your business. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampbabe Posted February 15, 2019 #15 Share Posted February 15, 2019 Just now, davekathy said: How do you know who tips and doesn't. Or just assuming. Falls under the category of none of your business. I seem to have struck a nerve. I simply said that someone that doesn’t tip on a free drink package is cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrk2cruise Posted February 15, 2019 #16 Share Posted February 15, 2019 There is an 18% gratuity included on both the packages and if no package then on each individual drink. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davekathy Posted February 15, 2019 #17 Share Posted February 15, 2019 Just now, Swampbabe said: I seem to have struck a nerve. I simply said that someone that doesn’t tip on a free drink package is cheap. Nope. Only pointing out how very judgmental you are. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wrk2cruise Posted February 15, 2019 #18 Share Posted February 15, 2019 2 minutes ago, Swampbabe said: I seem to have struck a nerve. I simply said that someone that doesn’t tip on a free drink package is cheap. But the drink package is not free, it's included. If you are lucky enough to get an unbundled price you will see how "free" it is. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampbabe Posted February 15, 2019 #19 Share Posted February 15, 2019 3 minutes ago, wrk2cruise said: But the drink package is not free, it's included. If you are lucky enough to get an unbundled price you will see how "free" it is. It is still unlimited and if you purchased each of those drinks individually plus the 18% gratuity it would cost you quite a bit more than the package price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swampbabe Posted February 15, 2019 #20 Share Posted February 15, 2019 7 minutes ago, davekathy said: Nope. Only pointing out how very judgmental you are. And I’m okay with that. Some people need to be judged. Being a Floridian I have seen MORE than my fair share of cheap tourists treating servers like crap. You can always take the measure of a person by how they treat service workers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davekathy Posted February 15, 2019 #21 Share Posted February 15, 2019 1 minute ago, Swampbabe said: And I’m okay with that. Some people need to be judged. Being a Floridian I have seen MORE than my fair share of cheap tourists treating servers like crap. You can always take the measure of a person by how they treat service workers. Loud, rude and demanding people yes. I have yet to ever notice if someone hands a server a tip or not no matter where we are. Only speaking for myself I'm very discreet when I tip. I guarantee you'll never see the exchange take place so I guess you would assume I stiffed the server. All I'm saying its a personal preference which makes it no ones business. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pd7277 Posted February 15, 2019 #22 Share Posted February 15, 2019 I'm calling a time out!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Alsmez Posted February 15, 2019 #23 Share Posted February 15, 2019 51 minutes ago, Swampbabe said: If you got a drink package as a perk you really should tip on top of that, especially if you got good service. Perhaps you missed the part where I mentioned that I distribute tips at the end of the cruise to those who have provided exceptional service. Also, I never stated that I got the package as a perk, not that that really matters. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GACrusin Posted February 15, 2019 #24 Share Posted February 15, 2019 We spent a couple of days on the deck above the pool on the Equinox at Christmas. Drink service was pretty much nonexistent. We routinely went to the bar for drinks. I'd have been happy to provide some additional tips if we'd gotten initial service. Not sure what the problem was. Still had a great time, with plenty of drinks and got a few extra steps in! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvcrusn Posted February 15, 2019 #25 Share Posted February 15, 2019 7 hours ago, 2711 said: 2018 on Silhouette the servers were scarce. Had to go to the poolside bar We were on Silhouette in December 2018 and had excellent service around the pool deck. In fact we never had to look for a server since they were constantly circulating. In addition to cocktail servers constantly circulating taking and delivering drinks, there were servers with iced carts containing soda, water and beer readily available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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