mama_2_boys Posted June 26, 2019 #1 Share Posted June 26, 2019 Trying to determine how much cash to take for tips. It's been a long time since we've cruised. We always tip extra for good service to our stewards, bartenders and wait staff. We make sure to tip porters and room service. Am I forgetting anyone obvious? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lottacruises Posted June 26, 2019 #2 Share Posted June 26, 2019 The auto gratuities takes most of the guess work out of it. Tip extra as you feel it's warranted, it's up to you. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sanmarcosman Posted June 26, 2019 #3 Share Posted June 26, 2019 (edited) 8 minutes ago, mama_2_boys said: Am I forgetting anyone obvious? The laundry workers and dishwashers. Edited June 26, 2019 by sanmarcosman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mama_2_boys Posted June 26, 2019 Author #4 Share Posted June 26, 2019 4 minutes ago, Lottacruises said: The auto gratuities takes most of the guess work out of it. Tip extra as you feel it's warranted, it's up to you. We prepay gratuities as well. Just trying to make sure we have enough extra cash to tip as needed or warranted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hockeyluver Posted June 26, 2019 #5 Share Posted June 26, 2019 (edited) We prepay our gratuities, and give extra to our room steward and dining team~ depending on the service. Also bring lots of $1's for room service, depending on what we order we usually tip $3or $4. We do not tip extra to the bar servers since the auto gratuities on drinks went up to 18% and the porter's Edited June 26, 2019 by hockeyluver 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted June 26, 2019 #6 Share Posted June 26, 2019 I leave auto tips alone, anyone who gets extra has done something to make my cruise extra special. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik101 Posted June 26, 2019 #7 Share Posted June 26, 2019 In no particular order: 1. The porter 2. The casino beverage server. I find one who looks after me throughout the cruise. He/she knows my name and knows what drinks I like. 3. The stateroom steward. Compared to the show performers, the steward is my star throughout the cruise and the one staff member I give an extra higher tip to. I’m always appreciative of their hard work, friendliness and willing to go beyond my expectations. 4. The speciality restaurant servers. Especially the ones from another country which is just about all of them. The ones who are smiling throughout the entire service and willing to talk to us about their experience on the ship and their culture. 5. MDR servers - no tip! Only because I don’t eat at the MDR. I decided a long time ago that I had no interest in having dinner there anymore due to the large crowds and noise. I’d rather pay the extra charge for the smaller, quieter settings at the specialty restaurants. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallivanting Souls Posted June 26, 2019 #8 Share Posted June 26, 2019 This past cruise our dining team got extra, but room steward only got auto. He didn't give poor service, he just didn't give anything extra. First cruise so far that I cannot even remember his name. Doing excursions and tours? Both the driver and guide. Also, a thank you, I had a great time and leaving a review on tripadvisor later means so much to them! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beshears Posted June 26, 2019 #9 Share Posted June 26, 2019 I have not read other postings on here, but I am like YOU! I tip extra (yes I know the tip is already on the bill), for those I have been in contact for the whole cruise and took good care of me! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mama_2_boys Posted June 26, 2019 Author #10 Share Posted June 26, 2019 6 hours ago, familyoutdoors said: This past cruise our dining team got extra, but room steward only got auto. He didn't give poor service, he just didn't give anything extra. First cruise so far that I cannot even remember his name. Doing excursions and tours? Both the driver and guide. Also, a thank you, I had a great time and leaving a review on tripadvisor later means so much to them! This is exactly why I asked...I was completely forgetting excursions and taxis in port. Thank you! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BNBR Posted June 26, 2019 #11 Share Posted June 26, 2019 6 hours ago, familyoutdoors said: This past cruise our dining team got extra, but room steward only got auto. He didn't give poor service, he just didn't give anything extra. First cruise so far that I cannot even remember his name. Doing excursions and tours? Both the driver and guide. Also, a thank you, I had a great time and leaving a review on tripadvisor later means so much to them! Same here. Especially now with once a day service, nothing extra for the stew. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdsgu Posted June 26, 2019 #12 Share Posted June 26, 2019 14 minutes ago, BNBR said: Same here. Especially now with once a day service, nothing extra for the stew. You can still request twice daily service -- we do, and we get it! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ishap Posted June 26, 2019 #13 Share Posted June 26, 2019 (edited) I take extra $1's for room service. Extra $10/$20s for MDR staff. I don't tip extra to bartenders or other wait staff as there is already the gratuity from each drink. I might tip extra if I had the same bartender over and over, but that's never been the case as I don't drink much. I would also tip the stew if I got exceptional service, but I don't ask for much so that's not usually the case. Edited June 26, 2019 by ishap 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loritd Posted June 26, 2019 #14 Share Posted June 26, 2019 $1.00 per room service, $1.00 per drinks-on-us in the casino and $20.00 for cabin steward because I want service twice a day. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BNBR Posted June 26, 2019 #15 Share Posted June 26, 2019 30 minutes ago, mdsgu said: You can still request twice daily service -- we do, and we get it! Correct. And the stewards soul left his body when I implied I'd prefer it. Id be uncomfortable requesting it. But that's just my personality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdsgu Posted June 26, 2019 #16 Share Posted June 26, 2019 2 minutes ago, BNBR said: Correct. And the stewards soul left his body when I implied I'd prefer it. Id be uncomfortable requesting it. But that's just my personality. Don't be shy about it! You're paying for it either way. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
courtlynndear Posted June 26, 2019 #17 Share Posted June 26, 2019 We prepay gratuities and tip $5/day to our steward and give room service $2-5 depending on how much we order. That's about all the extra tipping we do. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplephenom Posted June 26, 2019 #18 Share Posted June 26, 2019 Excursions- drivers/guide and helpers, if you're doing any. If you're just going to the beach, any one who sets up chairs/gets drinks/whatever is appropriate. People on the ship get something, but don't forget the people on shore,as you feel is appropriate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BNBR Posted June 26, 2019 #19 Share Posted June 26, 2019 33 minutes ago, mdsgu said: Don't be shy about it! You're paying for it either way. I'm not shy. I'm just not a jerk who is going to demand this poor overworked guy work even harder for me. Carnival clearly wants guests to do once a day, the steward clearly pushed the same thing. That's the product they want to provide. Fine. We take all of their shortcuts and budget cuts in to consideration when booking. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdsgu Posted June 26, 2019 #20 Share Posted June 26, 2019 27 minutes ago, BNBR said: I'm not shy. I'm just not a jerk who is going to demand this poor overworked guy work even harder for me. Carnival clearly wants guests to do once a day, the steward clearly pushed the same thing. That's the product they want to provide. Fine. We take all of their shortcuts and budget cuts in to consideration when booking. According to John Heald, your brilliant cabin steward is more than happy to put FUN into your cruise and service your cabin once or twice daily, whichever you would prefer. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruiser_1977 Posted June 26, 2019 #21 Share Posted June 26, 2019 On my most recent cruise: Van driver from airport to port. She was amazing! Bartenders that remembered me, knew my preferences and/or made suggestions based on my order history Room Service Steward - He was wonderful. Taxi Drivers to/from Nachi Cocum Van driver to the airport. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaxsMama Posted June 26, 2019 #22 Share Posted June 26, 2019 (edited) I leave auto grats in place then I tip in cash: porter who take my bags, $1 per round of drinks at the bar, room stew if good service (I've only had one terrible one), server in specialty restaurants (don't do mdr anymore), room service waiter and coffee shop person. Off the ship I tip taxi driver if we have one and the waiter if we go somewhere to eat or drink, uber driver to/from airport and the shuttle bus driver at the airport. Edited June 26, 2019 by JaxsMama 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darcy03231 Posted June 26, 2019 #23 Share Posted June 26, 2019 I prepay my gratuities and then tip extra for extra service. Depending on the cruise it could be waitstaff, room steward, bar tenders, etc. I also keep small bills to tip porters, excursion operators, cab drivers, etc. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BNBR Posted June 26, 2019 #24 Share Posted June 26, 2019 1 hour ago, fyree39 said: If a steward moans and groans about the 2x a day service, the steward is the jerk, not you. Actually, Carnival is the jerk for increasing the workload to new unheard of levels for these stewards. I still ask for 2x a day service (clean once, turn down later). Their increased workload is not my problem. It's between them and their employers. Whenever we cruise with another line, I'm reminded of what the cabin service used to be like on Carnival. They increase the workload because they have to cut costs. You know they have unheard of work levels, you know they are being abused, but dang it, you are getting your twice a day service, screw that overworked steward. Right? As I said, that's not my style. Carnival clearly is trying to go to once a day and navigate how to do that without upsetting entitled guests. While at the same time providing a much cheaper cruise experience compared to other lines... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdemps Posted June 26, 2019 #25 Share Posted June 26, 2019 You don't really need to worry about having cash to tip most people. I just add extra tips to checks and it all goes on my card on final bill so we don't have to put any thought into how much cash to bring for on the ship. We bring about $150 in small bills for off ship. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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