Are you going to be giving more & bigger tips on your upcoming cruises?

[Dat Cruisin Couple]

We plan on tipping more and spreading it around more since the people making our vacation 1) are dealing with smaller tip pools because of fewer passengers 2) they have probably suffered more with being out of their jobs for 16 months that those of us hopping on ships as soon as we can.

[billslowsky]

NO

[LEMJMcC]

Only on a couple conditions:

1)  We are NOT charged gratuities upfront for any purchased services such as spa services, drink packages, etc. (exception being for anything covered by the "prepaid gratuities").

2) We do receive good service.

 

Even if we opt for prepaid gratuities, I like to leave cash on the bed for the cabin attendant each morning when we've received good service, which has been the case for all of our cruises, I'm glad to report.

[florida eagle]

Another angle. I am a grandfather. Probably no cruises with grandchildren for a few years. If you bring a couple of pre school children older then two and younger then first grade should you pay gratuities?  I do not believe the mom would bring them on younger as one is not born yet. p.s....I would still have to be alive when this happens.

[Dat Cruisin Couple]

57 minutes ago, LEMJMcC said:

Only on a couple conditions:

1)  We are NOT charged gratuities upfront for any purchased services such as spa services, drink packages, etc. (exception being for anything covered by the "prepaid gratuities").

2) We do receive good service.

 

Even if we opt for prepaid gratuities, I like to leave cash on the bed for the cabin attendant each morning when we've received good service, which has been the case for all of our cruises, I'm glad to report.

 

Yes, sorry I wasn't clearer (my bad). I wasn't suggesting tips for bad or mediocre service. It still has to be good service. I was thinking more like I used tip $5/day for the stateroom attendant and now I'll do $6/day, or something like that.

[time4u2go]

1 hour ago, Dat Cruisin Couple said:

are dealing with smaller tip pools because of fewer passengers

Aren't there also fewer crew members with which to split the tip pool? 

[trippintex]

5 minutes ago, time4u2go said:

Aren't there also fewer crew members with which to split the tip pool? 

there will be fewer passengers also smaller tip pool

[time4u2go]

2 minutes ago, trippintex said:

there will be fewer passengers also smaller tip pool

Yes, that's what I was responding to. 

[smplybcause]

29 minutes ago, florida eagle said:

Another angle. I am a grandfather. Probably no cruises with grandchildren for a few years. If you bring a couple of pre school children older then two and younger then first grade should you pay gratuities?  I do not believe the mom would bring them on younger as one is not born yet. p.s....I would still have to be alive when this happens.

 

I know some don't. But my nieces sure made work for the room steward - their beds were a mess each morning and their toys and stuff across the the room that had to be picked up in order for the room to be cleaned. The stewed without a doubt was doing more work than if it was just a couple in the room. They didn't like the kids menus so they ordered off the regular menu but because they're little kids they needed their food out asap so the waiters were essentially doing two services - the adults at a regular pace and pushing through the girls orders asap. They also had fruit and such at the table when we arrived each time (though I know things like that are done for adults). And on more than one occasion one decided they didn't want what they ordered and would start eating off an adults plate so the waiters would bring out another plate of that. One night the youngest fell asleep before her meal came - they refired a meal so it was hot in case she woke up by the time they got back to the room and was hungry. 

 

Little kids still eat meals and still sleep and make messes in the stateroom that they're cleaned up after. I could see cutting them down if it was an infant that wasn't eating regular food so parents brought all their food on board.

 

If you go to a restaurant do you not tip on your grandchildren's meals? Heck at most restaurants you should tip more for little kids because they leave the table a mess with food and spills that just don't happen when (most) adults dine. 

Edited July 12, 2021 by smplybcause

[Mary229]

Same as ever but I am not sailing until the spring when passenger loads should be fairly normal. 

[Itchy&Scratchy]

38 minutes ago, florida eagle said:

If you bring a couple of pre school children older then two and younger then first grade should you pay gratuities?

your question doesn't have to do anything with the thread, but still... Do you think children between 2 and 6 do not produce any waste, do not have the waiter bring their food out, do not have the cabin attendant throw away soiled diapers, vacuum a ton of crumbs toddlers leave behind, clean up all the messes they make, etc.? Toddlers are a lot messier than 10 yo kids, imho. 

DS started cruising at 3. Of course, we pay gratuities for him - he is consuming the same services as any adult.

 

To answer the original question: we always tip a bit extra if we receive great service. Even if the service is good. We don't tip extra if the person is just doing the bare minimum. Considering that ships haven't sailed for a very long time, we will definitely tip extra for better service.

Edited July 12, 2021 by Itchy&Scratchy

[dominicr]

22 minutes ago, ramja96 said:

 

How about tipping more because these people - who rely on the income to support their families back home - have been out of work for 15 months??? Does that work for you?

Which goes to government incompetence.  Cruising should not of been shut down for 15 months putting people out of work.  That’s not my fault and it’s not my problem.  If you want to give your money away and buy into socialistic behavior then more power to you. I will continue to tip well and reward good service.  I’d the service is standard then it’s a standard tip. 
 

every year people do their taxes.  That’s just a minimum amount due.  Nothing says you can’t pay more than that.  Do you give the government more of your money? 

[orville99]

30 minutes ago, ramja96 said:

 

How about tipping more because these people - who rely on the income to support their families back home - have been out of work for 15 months??? Does that work for you?

Nope. I'm on hold with c&a trying to get almost $10,000 back for cruises they cancelled. Should I just tell them to keep it all to support their families because they have been shut down for 16 months.

Edited July 12, 2021 by orville99

[MommaBear55]

44 minutes ago, florida eagle said:

Another angle. I am a grandfather. Probably no cruises with grandchildren for a few years. If you bring a couple of pre school children older then two and younger then first grade should you pay gratuities?  I do not believe the mom would bring them on younger as one is not born yet. p.s....I would still have to be alive when this happens.

Absolutely pay gratuities on kids. Beds are made up and put away every day, the staff dispose of diapers, their meals come out more quickly than yours in the MDR, they make a bigger mess while eating... 

[Biker19]

8 minutes ago, dominicr said:

Do you give the government more of your money? 

How do you define going above and beyond to warrant extra money to the gov't?

 

Biker, who can't recall anyone using the gov't example within a tipping thread.

Edited July 12, 2021 by Biker19

[karmamule]

34 minutes ago, ramja96 said:

 

How about tipping more because these people - who rely on the income to support their families back home - have been out of work for 15 months??? Does that work for you?

 

We're definitely going to be biased towards tipping more for excellent service on our October 2021 cruise for exactly this reason.

[Dat Cruisin Couple]

34 minutes ago, time4u2go said:

Aren't there also fewer crew members with which to split the tip pool? 

 

I hadn't really thought about that, fewer people to split the tips/gratuities. +1

[firefly333]

I came to read as I always wonder who would post in public how they tip. Seems odd. A private thing.

[MikeBayAreaCa]

Tipping can be more expensive than that inside cabin for many people.  Tipping above and beyond may not be possible for many people, especially when you consider all the possible people that we usually are supposed to tip on a vacation.

 

The pre-paid gratuities are supposed to cover all tips for the normal cabin and complimentary restaurant service.  All drinks are charge 18%.   All of those tips are pooled and distributed to staff.

 

I don't have an issue with anyone just paying that and I believe the majority of  people on a cruise  do just that.  Why pay more than the accepted amount when you may have been saving for a long time to cruise?  Not everyone is loaded with disposable income.  I'm retired and planned my life well so I tip well for good service.  Others may not be in such a position and they should only tip extra if they can actually afford it and if they can't they are still tipping the recommended amount.  

 

For our next cruise we plan to eat all of our dinners in specialty restaurants.  We'll tip extra, but not  the customary 20% we tip on land.  Now if the service is poor we won't.  That has never happened on a cruise ship. The service charge for the restaurant  is supposed to include the tip. If someone does not want to tip in the specialty restaurant I completely understand.  It's double tipping.  

 

If you have the drink package you've already paid your tip.  If I'm grabbing  a to go beer or other drink I usually don't tip extra.  If I'm at the pool I usually don't have any cash on me anyway.  If I'm sitting at a bar and having several and the service is good I will  usually tip an extra dollar a round.  If I get the drink and  I'm wondering where the alcohol is I won't tip extra.

 

Remember there are lots of people to tip on a cruise, starting at the airport if you fly.

 

We are driving for our next cruise so Im tipping myself.  🙂

 

Before we set foot on the ship I tip the cab, Uber, or hotel shuttle driver and the baggage handlers at the terminal.  

 

Since we usually stay in a suite  I make sure I tip the concierge  and the suite lounge servers at the end of the cruise.  However we only tip if we have used their service and we always do.  I am sure there are some suite guests, especially those with families who may never set foot in the suite lounge.  

 

When I first meet our room steward on the first day I give him or her a twenty.  I don't know if it results in better service, but these are the people cleaning our bathroom and they deserve it just for that.

 

If you do plan to tip extra come prepared.  I hate carrying about a bunch or one dollar bills, but will go to the bank and get a bunch of two dollar bills for bar tips.  It works better since I'm with my wife and I can tip for both drinks with one bill.  

 

 

 

[Arzeena]

How much one tips (and their reasoning for one or the other) is really one's personal business.

 

[mrpayroll]

15 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I came to read as I always wonder who would post in public how they tip. Seems odd. A private thing.

I agree. 

[matj2000]

10 minutes ago, MikeBayAreaCa said:

 

 

If you do plan to tip extra come prepared.  I hate carrying about a bunch or one dollar bills, but will go to the bank and get a bunch of two dollar bills for bar tips.  It works better since I'm with my wife and I can tip for both drinks with one bill.  

 

 

 

I don't know though it would be a cute idea giving $2 bills.

 

Actually it is one of the dumbest things to do.

 

It is difficult for staff because many stores don't won't take them. 

 

Many cashiers think they are fake because they never seen them.

 

They don't have time to go to the bank and get them exchanged.

 

I have a clever idea.   On my next cruise I am going to give "rolls of pennies"  instead of bills.    I bet the staff would love that..

 

 

 

 

[Cigar King]

I think I'm likely to do so.  We have been tipping extra since things started to open here.  I'm guessing those who work in the service industry could use a little extra appreciation.

 

Besides, lets say I doubled the tips.  I don't know what that figure is, but, just for the sake of argument lets say it's a thousand bucks.  (I'm guessing that's high, but I don't know)  If a thousand bucks was going to make a difference to my lifestyle, I would not cruise.  It's a luxury after all.  OTOH, to the staff, that extra money may make a difference.  

[Itchy&Scratchy]

49 minutes ago, dominicr said:

 Cruising should not of been shut down for 15 months putting people out of work.

bs, imho.

even the libraries, DMVs, SSA offices, schools, restaurants, workplaces, etc. were closed, but you wanted cruises with 9,000 people to keep sailing during the pandemic? And that's after a bunch of people died on the Diamond Princess? And with millions dead worldwide, including 2 of my YOUNG relatives?

that's insane.

 

P.S. Some of the huge outbreaks in my state was in a middle of nowhere counties far from any metro areas. When one looked into it, it was clear that the outbreaks were among the meat plants, where workers work shoulder to shoulder in pretty cramped conditions. If you think of the cruse ship workers who work in similar conditions and not only about the customers having fun by the pool, you will hopefully realize that cruises could not continue to operate during the pandemic.

Edited July 12, 2021 by Itchy&Scratchy

[RedIguana]

1 hour ago, dominicr said:

 Giving more of my money because of the incompetence of government isn’t something I’m going to do. 

Which government was incompetent? The US? The Trump admin? The Biden admin? What part of government do you not like? Common money? A legal system? The ability to own land? The ability to open a business? Roads, police, fire, schools, building codes? The ability to take a cruise? Internet?  Safe food and water? Please get a little education if you are capable.