Tipping

[HBE4]

17 minutes ago, Yorkvillain said:

58 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

Despite @HBE4's dirty attempt 🤪to derail my beautiful and perfect thread about tipping.

 

A beautiful and perfect thread about tipping!

 

 

LOL 😄

 

In my defense, I wasn't the first to venture off-topic (see post #48 as I throw @Seville2Cabo under the bus 😉 ) 

 

But I'd like to amend my previous answer. I had stated I'd tip as I always do - autograts and then extra where I see fit. But my first cruise back, I'll probably be so happy and engaging in a few extra adult beverages, I'll probably tip a lot more!  I admit - I'm a drunk tipper.

 

On second thought, that is what I always do. 😁

 

 

[Ocean Boy]

26 minutes ago, HBE4 said:

 

LOL 😄

 

In my defense, I wasn't the first to venture off-topic (see post #48 as I throw @Seville2Cabo under the bus 😉 ) 

 

But I'd like to amend my previous answer. I had stated I'd tip as I always do - autograts and then extra where I see fit. But my first cruise back, I'll probably be so happy and engaging in a few extra adult beverages, I'll probably tip a lot more!  I admit - I'm a drunk tipper.

 

On second thought, that is what I always do. 😁

 

 

I am thinking about reconsidering my ways too because @pcur doesn't like me any more.😞

[pcur]

18 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

I am thinking about reconsidering my ways too because @pcur doesn't like me any more.😞

 

I like you, Ocean Boy.  I just liked the old you better.  😷

[Ocean Boy]

2 minutes ago, pcur said:

 

I like you, Ocean Boy.  I just liked the old you better.  😷

😊😇

[Iamcruzin]

4 hours ago, marci22 said:

 I mention because some businesses here will state 'prefer cc to cash' to avoid unnecessary contact. I am in NJ and realize that people in Texas, etc have different perspectives. My UPS driver will not make me sign for signature required packages so I do not have to come near him or touch his pen. One takeout place tells you to 'bring your own pen' to sign the cc slip. So that's what I am used to. I wonder if it is like that in other states.

I'm in NY and it's nothing like that here. The cashiers are all wearing gloves so that's not an issue for them but if you get back change then it's a issue for you.  I always use a debit card and save a trip to the cash machine by asking for cash back at the supermarket.  For the life of me I don't understand the the plastic on the pin pad. What's the difference if you touch the keys or the plastic?  

[molly361]

deleted wrong quote

Edited May 28, 2020 by molly361

[billslowsky]

1 hour ago, Iamcruzin said:

I'm in NY and it's nothing like that here. The cashiers are all wearing gloves so that's not an issue for them but if you get back change then it's a issue for you.  I always use a debit card and save a trip to the cash machine by asking for cash back at the supermarket.  For the life of me I don't understand the the plastic on the pin pad. What's the difference if you touch the keys or the plastic?  

When you spray or wipe chemicals on the plastic less seeps into the pin pad.

[Iamcruzin]

7 minutes ago, billslowsky said:

When you spray or wipe chemicals on the plastic less seeps into the pin pad.

Thank you. That makes sense. I was focusing on the disinfectant aspect.  I will say the that supermarket checkout conveyor belts have never been cleaner. I think the supermarkets are using up all of the paper towels and disinfectants before they make it to the shelves. 

[marci22]

5 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

I'm in NY and it's nothing like that here. The cashiers are all wearing gloves so that's not an issue for them but if you get back change then it's a issue for you.  I always use a debit card and save a trip to the cash machine by asking for cash back at the supermarket.  For the life of me I don't understand the the plastic on the pin pad. What's the difference if you touch the keys or the plastic?  

I was at the pharmacy today, wearing a mask, as was the cashier, and I stepped forward to give my name and address. about 4 feet away, and she said, 'could you step back please?' Maybe it's my area. They did sanitize the pad between customers. I stopped sanitizing my groceries a few weeks ago but I still feel like money is dirty and I haven't gone to the ATM since March.

[Iamcruzin]

24 minutes ago, marci22 said:

I was at the pharmacy today, wearing a mask, as was the cashier, and I stepped forward to give my name and address. about 4 feet away, and she said, 'could you step back please?' Maybe it's my area. They did sanitize the pad between customers. I stopped sanitizing my groceries a few weeks ago but I still feel like money is dirty and I haven't gone to the ATM since March.

Money is probably the dirtiest thing we touch. I think I have a strong immune system because I have always had a job where I had to handle money. It's like anything else you just have to wash your hands. I keep wipes and sanitizer in the car just for shopping trips. 

 

[Tree_skier]

So back to tipping...

 

How many people miss the old days where you get vouchers from GS and put them in envelopes to hand to your various crew members who served you  instead of auto-gratuities.

 

I actually prefer this way better now.  It provides a suggested minimum (14.50 pppd) that covers everyone and you can add as much as wish on top of that to whatever staff really impressed you.

 

In the old days I begrudged the envelope I handed to the head waiter. He very rarely did anything more than drop by the table and say hello.  We had no use for him and felt like I was just throwing money away.  Now with DW developing several food allergies we require a certain level of customization of the menu and the HW handles that now.  I certainly don't begrudge what I tip him/her now.  They do great work.

[LibertyBella]

I always do the automatic tipping and I just consider it a regular part of the cruise cost. However, I am never really sure how it is divided among staff. Some Americans seem to  complain a lot about the tipping charges, and some people from other cultures do not even tip, and do not want to. I think the tipping prices are quite reasonable.

 

Once on board I ask for envelopes from the purser's office and give a nice extra cash tip on the last day to my head waiter, second waiter, wine person, Maitre' D, and my room steward.  The amount depends on the cruise length, and service expertise,  but usually no less than a $20.00 dollar bill (except for the Maitre D'.). 

 

I always do sit-down formal dining only, so I get to know my dining room team quite well. I have never had a complaint about a room steward--they work so hard!

 

Will people still want cash after this virus experience?  

 

Yes, I will definitely tip more because I am blessed to be a cruise passenger, not a worker, and the virus did not significantly affect my income (yet). 

 

 

[Computer Nerd]

On 5/27/2020 at 2:21 PM, Tree_skier said:

Traditionally we have always tried to tip a little better than average.  We keep autograts on our account.  To me that is the baseline standard for acceptable tipping.  After that, we add cash to our cabin steward before and at the end of the cruise, we tip our waiter and asst. waiter at the end of the cruise and I tip the bartender a buck or two with each drink.  I'll usually tip a bit at the end of the cruise to a favorite bartender or two who went above and beyond.  While I'm sure that there are many who tip more generously than we do I think we have been more than fair with staff we interact with.  

 

When cruising restarts and you get back on board the ship will you tip more to help staff who have lost a significant portion of income by not being able to be employed? Will you tip less because your own personal finances have been impacted and you just can't afford to tip as much as you used to? Or will you tip about the same?

 

I'm hoping to up my tip game.  What about you?

Nope. If the autograts go up we will pay that but I see no need for additional tips above the autograts.

ETA: I guess if I had 7+ digit savings accounts as some of y'all seem to have I'd probably be throwing money around left and right as well but alas, that wasn't in the cards for me so that's why I stick with the autograts.

Edited May 29, 2020 by Computer Nerd

[Computer Nerd]

7 hours ago, LibertyBella said:

I always do the automatic tipping and I just consider it a regular part of the cruise cost. However, I am never really sure how it is divided among staff.

 

That's the beauty of the autograts. One doesn't needed to know what happens to it, only that it's paid and Royal when then do their thing.

[cb at sea]

Your daily tips (that they charge to your account) cover ALL meals...we don't carry money about the ship, unless we're going to the casino, so if we pay for a drink, we may add extra tip.   I think the  18% added to the bill is more than sufficient for opening a beer!  

We will also tip extra on the last evening, as is customary on a cruise....we generally do not tip "as we go".....

[PhillyFan33579]

We have always tipped our cabin steward and MDR wait staff at the end of the cruise. The amount varies based on the length of the cruise and the service we receive.  We always buy the drink package, but normally tip an additional $1-2 per drink, or if we are sitting at one bar for awhile, we will usually leave a larger tip when we leave. To address the OP’s original post, our plan is to continue tipping the same way we did in the past. 

[pcur]

23 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

I'm in NY and it's nothing like that here. The cashiers are all wearing gloves so that's not an issue for them but if you get back change then it's a issue for you.  I always use a debit card and save a trip to the cash machine by asking for cash back at the supermarket.  For the life of me I don't understand the the plastic on the pin pad. What's the difference if you touch the keys or the plastic?  

No difference:  touching is touching.  That's why when I go out grocery shopping I wear gloves until I get home, strip them off at the wrist, and put them in the washer.  Then, I don't have to think about what I'm touching.  I figure the "hard surface survival time of the little COVID-19 beasties" takes care of the inside of my car, since we only drive it about every 3-5 days.

[Lady Chew]

7 hours ago, Computer Nerd said:

Nope. If the autograts go up we will pay that but I see no need for additional tips above the autograts.

 

 

There is certainly nothing wrong with that!!  Tipping isn't mandatory for anyone ... 

[Milwaukee Eight]

17 hours ago, LibertyBella said:

Some Americans seem to  complain a lot about the tipping charges,

I sure haven’t found this to be the case for the Americans I know. 

[Milwaukee Eight]

10 hours ago, Computer Nerd said:

Nope. If the autograts go up we will pay that but I see no need for additional tips above the autograts.

Figures

[deliver42]

That's OK. Extra tipping isn't necessary, though I'm one that does. My beef is with the people that take off the auto grats.

[amurray88]

@deliver42 I am one of those *gulp*.

It depends how much money I have to spend that year but holiday comes first and if I've got enough left over I will leave the autograts on.

 

I wouldn't typically tip here in the UK for things either. I've never had a job where I get tipped so maybe just don't appreciate it however I've always just went on the basis of if I pay for a cruise, that includes the staff. I don't tip the conductor on a train who helps me travel, I don't tip the checkout assistant at a supermarket so don't really understand the whole tipping certain people and not tipping others.

[LXA350]

2 hours ago, deliver42 said:

That's OK. Extra tipping isn't necessary, though I'm one that does. My beef is with the people that take off the auto grats.

 

This is really not fair towards the crew members and actually quite often the case outside of the US, especiall in Europe and Australia. This  has more to do with the tipping culture, which probably in the US is  one of the most common worldwide and makes up a significnat part of the salary of service workers, which is not the case in most other countries of the world. Hence, tipping is still common but in many countries but it's more about rounding up a bill or adding max 10% of a restaurant bill.

 

Since the crew are the ones suffering from that RCL should think of a way to price cruises in markets outside of the US different where the gratuities are integrated in the regular cruise fare and they should take care of allocating the needed amounts.

[amurray88]

3 minutes ago, LXA350 said:

 

This is really not fair towards the crew members and actually quite often the case outside of the US, especiall in Europe and Australia. This  has more to do with the tipping culture, which probably in the US is  one of the most common worldwide and makes up a significnat part of the salary of service workers, which is not the case in most other countries of the world. Hence, tipping is still common but in many countries but it's more about rounding up a bill or adding max 10% of a restaurant bill.

 

Since the crew are the ones suffering from that RCL should think of a way to price cruises in markets outside of the US different where the gratuities are integrated in the regular cruise fare and they should take care of allocating the needed amounts.

@LXA350 I'm not a mean or nasty person and I understand in America people tip for a lot of things. I guess I just don't understand why for certain people..take a typical cruise for me and correct me if I'm wrong but this is what most people would expect...?

Taxi to the airport (tip driver)

Check in staff (don't tip)

Security staff (don't tip)

Pilot (don't tip)

Air hostess/stewards (don't tip...and yet they clean up after you, make you drinks and serve you meals?)

Baggage handlers (don't tip)

Taxi to hotel (tip)

Hotel desk (don't tip)

Hotel cleaner (tip)

Taxi to port (tip)

Check in staff (don't tip)

Port staff (don't tip)

Cruise staff - room stewards, bar staff, waiters(tip and then tip again?)

Cruise staff (entertainers, Life guards, retail staff) - (possibly tipped via autograts but may not be).

 

For me, it doesn't make sense? They all play a massive part in my holiday so why tip some and not others and vice versa?

[LXA350]

3 minutes ago, amurray88 said:

@LXA350 I'm not a mean or nasty person and I understand in America people tip for a lot of things. I guess I just don't understand why for certain people..take a typical cruise for me and correct me if I'm wrong but this is what most people would expect...?

Taxi to the airport (tip driver)

Check in staff (don't tip)

Security staff (don't tip)

Pilot (don't tip)

Air hostess/stewards (don't tip...and yet they clean up after you, make you drinks and serve you meals?)

Baggage handlers (don't tip)

Taxi to hotel (tip)

Hotel desk (don't tip)

Hotel cleaner (tip)

Taxi to port (tip)

Check in staff (don't tip)

Port staff (don't tip)

Cruise staff - room stewards, bar staff, waiters(tip and then tip again?)

Cruise staff (entertainers, Life guards, retail staff) - (possibly tipped via autograts but may not be).

 

For me, it doesn't make sense? They all play a massive part in my holiday so why tip some and not others and vice versa?

 

This whole tipping thing is just another example of a system in the US that is messed up. All the things that you listed we should pay for it and the service provider whom we pay should pay his employees for providing us this service we again paid for.

 

In most countries of this world, people who do a job get a salary for it. In the US, with their developing country system where employer rights don't really exist the menatlity is that a client should pay a significant part of the salary. Hence, with this tipping setup in the US, you are not giving a guesture you are almost forced because if you don't tip, it's lik not paying the salary of the employee for the service he provided. In most countries of the world tipping is actually a appreciated guestrue, in the US, no matter if service is good or not it's a must / expected from you