Tipping per drink on top of gratuities?

[Crismess669]

I won’t be getting the drink package. My friend and cabinmate think it’s overpriced and unfortunately it will keep me from living my best life.

 

I’ll be paying for each drink. I watched a Cruisetuber video and they claimed they were tipping $5 for every two drinks. Some questions:

 

- Is it standard to leave a tip on top of 18% gratuity?

- Is 18% gratuity automatically added to the price of the drink?

-$5?!

Edited January 3, 2022 by Crismess669

[Pellaz]

11 minutes ago, Crismess669 said:

I won’t be getting the drink package. My friend and cabinmate think it’s overpriced and unfortunately it will keep me from living my best life.

 

I’ll be paying for each drink. I watched a Cruisetuber video and they claimed they were tipping $5 for every two drinks. Some questions:

 

- Is it standard to leave a tip on top of 18% gratuity?

No, but if you get good, friendly service from your bartender they certainly appreciate it.  That extra tip goes to them.  

11 minutes ago, Crismess669 said:

- Is 18% gratuity automatically added to the price of the drink?

For regular-priced drinks (not Cheers), yes, I believe it is.  

11 minutes ago, Crismess669 said:

-$5?!

I have had the Cheers program on my last several cruises, only because my friends get it, and therefore I have to since I'm in the same stateroom.    I typically tip $1 extra for alcohol, 50 cents extra for sodas, and $2 extra for drinks that require extra effort and some finesse, like a Miami Vice or a Mango Swirl.   Of course, everyone's mileage will vary. 

I do love seeing the bartenders' faces light up when they see that extra tip on a Cheers receipt, though!  

 

[icft]

When you are paying full price for the drink it makes no sense to me to add to an 18% tip.

[Wennfred]

When I get the same person serving me like at the comedy show every night I do tip a dollar or give them a $20 on the last night. That’s me and everyone is different.

 

Fred

[cruisingguy007]

59 minutes ago, icft said:

When you are paying full price for the drink it makes no sense to me to add to an 18% tip.

 

On a beer or fixed drink maybe. On the other hand, It has been known to increase your drink potency for mixed drinks; and if you are getting drinks via bar runners, they will not let your drink get empty if you are tipping cash. Just sayin.

Edited January 3, 2022 by cruisingguy007

[icft]

5 minutes ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

On a beer or fixed drink maybe. On the other hand, It has been known to increase your drink potency for mixed drinks; and if you are getting drinks via bar runners, they will not let your drink get empty if you are tipping cash. Just sayin.

I really don't think the Carnival staff engage in blackmail. But since we get our drinks free in the casino, and not being charged full price tip, I can't swear to that. But if faced with blackmail I would tip zero. I have a spine.

[cruisingguy007]

2 minutes ago, icft said:

I really don't think the Carnival staff engage in blackmail. But since we get our drinks free in the casino, and not being charged full price tip, I can't swear to that. But if faced with blackmail I would tip zero. I have a spine.

 

Blackmail? Not sure how you came to that conclusion. Motivation is more like it. 

[momof3cruisers]

56 minutes ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

On a beer or fixed drink maybe. On the other hand, It has been known to increase your drink potency for mixed drinks; and if you are getting drinks via bar runners, they will not let your drink get empty if you are tipping cash. Just sayin.

Depends on the drink runner and bartender. I frequently tip cash. In the comedy club on Freedom in Oct, one dude completely ignored me when I asked for a bottle of water. I had already given him extra for a mixed drink earlier that night and the night before. One cruise my husband and I were on, the bar tender at the Red Frog out on Lido was really grumpy. We figured he was probably tired so we tipped him an extra $5. No reaction at all. Just as cranky when we saw him later that same day. So, we tipped him again. Lol. Still nothing. We did this a few more times and he never acknowledged it or cheered up. For some reason it was just cracking us up. 

[May1cruiser]

We have found giving a little extra tip goes a long way. Usually, $1 or $2. Many times, we have free drinks in casino from a premier or other casino deal. The little extra tip really increases service. Also, towards the end of the night, they usually bring us a water or two to take back to the room. Have observed waiters competing over our drink orders and sometimes they have drink to us before we sit down. 

 

[msmayor]

It doesn't matter whether we have a package or not, we always give an additional $1-2 per drink delivery on any line, and if we sit at a bar for any period of time? An extra $5-10.  We've never been pressured for it, and find that the servers not only appreciate it but we are remembered with smiles when we return.

[SNJCruisers]

5 hours ago, icft said:

I really don't think the Carnival staff engage in blackmail. But since we get our drinks free in the casino, and not being charged full price tip, I can't swear to that. But if faced with blackmail I would tip zero. I have a spine.

Can I retract my like on your last post?  You are drinking for free in the casino and you're not giving the runner a buck?  You sir/madam are a very cheap SOB who is indeed spineless.

[Joebucks]

The thinking is that the extra tips get you VIP service and heavy pours. Are you more likely to receive some sort of better treatment than someone who doesn't add the extra tip? Maybe. However, you are not always getting double pours and the red carpet rolled out. This topic is centered around a lot of people who want to brag and/or feel special. However, it is a great thing to see the staff tipped well because of their hard work or some people are just generous by nature. These cruise employees work very hard and put up with a lot of crap.

 

If you think Cheers is overpriced (which it is), meet buying a bunch of drinks out of pocket and paying 35%+ in tips.

[LatinaInTexas]

Hmmmm last cruise had drink package for first time and tipped a dollar extra for every drink on my receipt. Can't honestly say I ever saw anyone even look at it. Usually they just gathered it up adlnd added it to the pile. Definitely never got stronger drinks or better service for it. Guess it has to be cash lol.

[Cushing985]

I trpically add $1.00 for a coke (now Pepsi) and $2.00 for a mixed drink.

[famof4togo]

We always get Cheers and we always tip $2 cash when ordering a drink.  We do it because that's what we feel is right but I do believe it gets us better service.  We have had many times been at a crowded pool bar in which the bartender calls us out by name and takes our order over others waiting to place their order etc...but that is not why we do it just an added bonus.

[SNJCruisers]

2 hours ago, Joebucks said:

 

If you think Cheers is overpriced (which it is), meet buying a bunch of drinks out of pocket and paying 35%+ in tips.

If you think Cheers is overpriced, how about RCI and their dynamic pricing which discounts depending upon which ship and the time of year you sail.  Their full price is 88.00 plus 20% gratuity.  Even at a 30% discount, it's 74 pp after tip.

Edited January 3, 2022 by SNJCruisers

[Cruise, J.D.]

I don't think it is "standard practice". Sometimes we will, especially if getting multiple waters along with the drinks or for really good service. On our recent cruise the bartenders were often slammed and I felt they deserved an occasional extra tip.

 

I always add a tip for a free drink, such as the free drink for past guests.

[CookieShip]

Ouch, so much tipping for drinks. I imagine a few bucks here and there probably gets you better attention from the bar tender. 

I don't really drink but wanted to try out something with my gold vifp benefit free drink, took forever to get the bar tender's attention. They focused on "regulars" whom still had drinks in front of them!

 

I'll have cheers next cruise, how does tipping work for a bar runner (or the person that brings you the drink), is there separate tipping for the bar tender and the bar runner? Or do they kind of split it?

[Crismess669]

Thanks for the tips! I’ll bring a stack of $1s so I can throw a buck down for each drink. 

Is tipping the room steward in cash at the start of the cruise a good idea?

Edited January 3, 2022 by Crismess669

[SNJCruisers]

3 minutes ago, Crismess669 said:

Is tipping the room steward in cash at the start of the cruise a good idea?

Only if you need something out of the ordinary done.  Otherwise you can wait till the last day and determine if extraordinary service warrants an extra tip.

[Cruise, J.D.]

2 minutes ago, Crismess669 said:

Thanks for the tips! I’ll bring a stack of $1s so I can throw a buck down for each drink. 

Is tipping the room steward in cash at the start of the cruise a good idea?

 

Completely up to you. I've never done that and it is not expected by them. I tip the cabin steward extra for special requests like icing down a bottle.

[firefly333]

2 hours ago, LatinaInTexas said:

Hmmmm last cruise had drink package for first time and tipped a dollar extra for every drink on my receipt. Can't honestly say I ever saw anyone even look at it. Usually they just gathered it up adlnd added it to the pile. Definitely never got stronger drinks or better service for it. Guess it has to be cash lol.

Same here. I saw the slip just swept up and never looked at. Didnt make me feel like they cared if I tipped or not. .. or  noticed.

[Ilovesailaway]

Does anyone else think the tipping thing is getting out of hand? Every time you swipe your card at a register the tip screen pops up. It can be something as simple as handing me a prepared item out of a case right in front of me. I know this is more of an example of what's happening on land but are we becoming too comfortable with tipping after we have already tipped? On a ship you are automatically charged a tip yet everyone seems to happily tip above that.

Should I post on here that I tip a crisp $20 every time I am handed anything? I know I am just rambling on but where does it become too much?

I am more of a traditional tipper. I will go as high as 25% when the check arrives if I received great service. Less if the service was less. 

I know it's a personal choice and I do sometimes tip additional on board but I also keep in mind the automatic tip I already paid. If we all continue down this road of tipping on top of our tipping and tipping in the beginning to try to increase our chances of better service I don't think we will like the new norm we will build for ourselves.

[Wennfred]

6 minutes ago, Ilovesailaway said:

Does anyone else think the tipping thing is getting out of hand? Every time you swipe your card at a register the tip screen pops up. It can be something as simple as handing me a prepared item out of a case right in front of me. I know this is more of an example of what's happening on land but are we becoming too comfortable with tipping after we have already tipped? On a ship you are automatically charged a tip yet everyone seems to happily tip above that.

Should I post on here that I tip a crisp $20 every time I am handed anything? I know I am just rambling on but where does it become too much?

I am more of a traditional tipper. I will go as high as 25% when the check arrives if I received great service. Less if the service was less. 

I know it's a personal choice and I do sometimes tip additional on board but I also keep in mind the automatic tip I already paid. If we all continue down this road of tipping on top of our tipping and tipping in the beginning to try to increase our chances of better service I don't think we will like the new norm we will build for ourselves.

For those types of transactions, I just write a Zero with the line going across it and continue with the total.

 

Here’s a story, went to Universal Studios in L.A. at a Tony Roma’s restaurant. First day service and food amazing and I tip very well to this waiter. 
 

2nd day we go back, service was just ok and the food was great but this lady CIRCLED the tip area!!!!   I was shocked. Did she get a TIP hell no, contacted the general manager when I got home and he apparently gave this waitress some training, I told him to pull all of the receipts from her tables so he can see.

 

From the way she was babbling her mouth, sounds like she was new there and came from a Dennys type restaurant.

 

Fred

[ColeThornton]

40 minutes ago, Crismess669 said:

 

Is tipping the room steward in cash at the start of the cruise a good idea?

 

I wouldn't.  To me, that's a bribe, not a reward for good service which they haven't provided yet.  Actually almost insulting.

 

But...to each their own as the saying goes.