help with tipping ?

[lucymorgan]

we leave the standard tips in place and for good service give an envelope at the end of the cruise.  Our last cruise on celebrity a couple of weeks ago, our waiter and assistant waiter gave great service and we tipped them an additional $100 each.  We tipped our room attendant an extra $50.  Our sommelier for the first few days was lovely and even though we moved tables on day 4 (same waiters but different sommelier) we tipped her $20 but the new one who was far less attentive an extra $0.   I also gave envelopes to a few bartenders around the ship - 2 guys in the captains club nightly event and two in the casino.   As this ship was remaining in the area for a number of months, I used whatever currency I had (mainly Aus and NZ dollars) as the crew members were likely to have time ashore in both countries.  I saw a number of the crew later and they were very happy and made a point of coming up.  I usually keep my USD for future US trips - particularly when the AUD is low compared to the USD.   

edit:  it is also important to them to mention the great ones in the survey if you are very happy!

Edited February 16, 2020 by lucymorgan

[cb at sea]

The appropriate tip is added to your bill daily...no need to worry about who to tip or how much!

[GastroGnome]

16 minutes ago, NewWestwardbound said:

 

No comment cards, at least on on Silhouette last September. I was told to use the post-cruise e-mail questionnaire to mention staff for particular service - and did so. Other staff mentioned the questionnaire "score" for their restaurant/bar was as important to their future as cash tips. 

 

You do sometimes have to ask for them.  We were on Sihouette in August and  October 2019.  In August they were in the racks outside guest services but in October we had to ask for them.  The post cruise questionnaire works as well - but there isn't as much scope to be descritptive or to name a wide range of people.

[NewWestwardbound]

1 minute ago, GastroGnome said:

You do sometimes have to ask for them.

I did (at Guest Relations). Was told they were discontinued, and to use the questionnaire. 

[az_tchr]

On 2/10/2020 at 1:58 PM, jb008 said:

The cruise line strongly recommends $15.50/per person per day to cover both stateroom attendant and food service personnel (e.g., waiter and assistant waiter). 

 

If it were me, I'd just leave auto-tipping in place.  If you feel someone(s) deserved it, give them a short thank you note and some additional cash directly to them.  We generally tip extra to both our stateroom attendant and food servers and try to recognize good service with either a comment card or by name in our post-cruise surveys.

Naming an employee is probably more beneficial than a small additional gratuity. Positive comments help with better assignments, raises etc.

[Eglesbrech]

1 hour ago, groryjm said:

One thing you rarely see accounted for on these threads is non Americans. For those whose native currancy is dollars bringing a little extra cash is fairly straight forward as is obtaining $1 notes. 

 

When we cruise as a Brit I have to anticipate the maximum amount I might require and buy it in advance taking a hit in commission and exchange rate on the transaction. I have to account for the fact that if I buy too much I will lose again trying to sell it back or have that money out of circulation for possibly another year until we sail again. 

 

Crew are not usually as happy with stirling and for Euros I have the same conundrum with having to buy money for tips.

 

The auto tips are different as I pay them in one hit 57 days before sailing and is not a problem.  

 

I'm not saying I don't tip extra but getting out $200 or so before cruising is one thing $1 or $2 tips with each drink is unreasonable for most non US cruisers

 

Awaiting 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

I know what you mean it’s not so convenient for folks in the UK . We have now discovered however that a major supermarket currency exchange does ready made up cruise tipping packs in small dollars denominations. The minimum pack size is a £20 pack. 

[jb008]

On 2/16/2020 at 11:01 AM, Eglesbrech said:

I know what you mean it’s not so convenient for folks in the UK . We have now discovered however that a major supermarket currency exchange does ready made up cruise tipping packs in small dollars denominations. The minimum pack size is a £20 pack. 

 

You can tip in Euros or Pounds and the crew won't mind.  From what I've been told, they often end up exchanging cash to electronic form and they get pretty good exchange rates from the company (generally better than what we as average consumers would get at our local currency exchange or banks).

 

That actually cut the other way when the USD was so low relative to EUD 4 or so years ago... tipping a couple USD in Europe was a thinner tip than in the caribbean (e.g., help w/bag).  

[Paulras]

On 2/10/2020 at 10:54 AM, t00thpix said:

Can anyone suggest tipping amount per day to the room steward for a veranda room. Will give as a lump sum at end of cruise. Thank you!

 

Not necessarily accusing you of purposely bringing up a sore subject like tipping, but you posted in January of 2019 saying you're experienced cruisers with many cruises on Celebrity. I'm not understanding why you're asking a question like this now. And on a topic that's on these boards almost weekly, when you've been on Cruise Critic since 2012.

[Pinboy]

On 2/16/2020 at 9:55 AM, az_tchr said:

Naming an employee is probably more beneficial than a small additional gratuity. Positive comments help with better assignments, raises etc.

All pretty true with the comment card and/or the email survey " down the road " . 

In addition, we always use the direct, into the hand, gratuity " system "  which has an immediate direct benefit to the employee and their " Thank You " also makes us feel good. 

LOL----( Never had our luggage tags removed on debarkation ) .