Tipping per drink on top of gratuities?

[Wennfred]

Also the Cabin steward Name that was on his business card “Eman” left in the cabin wasn’t my cabin steward at all, never seen him the whole week but someone else, so I wait till the last day to tip the correct person.

[cmukid87]

My suggestion is to have some cash on you.  I'm fairly certain the tips that get added to your S&S account are put in a pool.  If you hand a runner or bartender a few dollar bills they can easily take that as their own tip.  Not sure if it is in their employment rules to share cash tips but I always feel like they can keep those as their own.

[Pellaz]

53 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

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.

 

I'm sure this depends on the bartender, and probably on how busy they are at that time.  

I've seen bartenders look at my $0.00 receipt for a soda on Cheers (or Bottomless Bubbles), see my written-in 50-cent tip, and break into a wide smile.  It pretty much makes it all worthwhile.

[Crismess669]

34 minutes ago, ColeThornton said:

 

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.

Thanks. This is my first cruise so I’m just seeing what should be done. A lot of the Youtubers I’ve seen doing stuff like this are on a Carnival ship acting like they have a Crystal budget. I suspect we’ll barely talk to our steward. 

[lobster1313]

If 18% was added at your local restaurant would tip extra?  I typically do but most people don't so why would you do on a cruise if you're not doing it at home.

[SNJCruisers]

1 hour ago, Crismess669 said:

Thanks. This is my first cruise so I’m just seeing what should be done. A lot of the Youtubers I’ve seen doing stuff like this are on a Carnival ship acting like they have a Crystal budget. I suspect we’ll barely talk to our steward. 

You don't need to talk to your steward unless you have a special request.  Just because you don't talk to your steward doesn't mean they are not doing their job.  DO NOT remove your tips. Don't add to the nonsense about Carnival being the Walmart of the Seas.

[Elaine5715]

8 hours ago, May1cruiser said:

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 toon each  us before we sit down. 

 

That is because they are only getting about 50 cents per free drink under the casino DOU

[Elaine5715]

2 hours ago, Wennfred said:

Also the Cabin steward Name that was on his business card “Eman” left in the cabin wasn’t my cabin steward at all, never seen him the whole week but someone else, so I wait till the last day to tip the correct person.

There are two stewards assigned to your stateroom and only the senior steward gets cards.  You saw the assistant steward and you can be sure they share all tips.  The best stewards are the ninjas who you only see their results.

[Elaine5715]

5 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.

They don't need to look at the receipt.  They watched you sign it.

[Joebucks]

3 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

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.

 

I agree. In some rare instances, you can get RCI's cheaper than Cheers, but it can often be more. In the end, I think people overpay for alcohol in the majority of scenarios. They overpay on packages, they overpay on other trips that "include alcohol", they overpay on the drinks themselves. Then you have some people throwing more money in tips because they want more alcohol. Every restaurant in the world wants to sell you a cocktail because of the massive margins. Yet on vacation, we think it is liquid gold being given away.

 

I get it, it's part of the fun. It's also a lot of money. I've done Cheers 2 times. Both times I forced myself to drink too much. Both times I felt floated from all of the sugars and fillers. Both times I spent more than I would have. 

[SNJCruisers]

30 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

  The best stewards are the ninjas who you only see their results.

👍👍👍

[Drazil65]

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

 

Call it what you want but we always ask for ice in our ice bucket to be kept at all times during the day.  We ask them politely on the first day if it is possible and as a thank you/courtesy we tip them up front for the anticipated extra attention/service. We have never had an issue with not having ice or having to ask for it during the cruise.  If they say its not possible to do up front then that is ok too, rather have the honesty. 

 

Its the least we can do especially when we know they have more than enough to do on any given day.  We tend to appreciate and show gratitude within all aspects of our lives if we ask someone to go out of their way or if someone is exceptional at their job.  

 

[urbanhawk]

Tipping is always a personal choice.. What works for me is giving the bartender/runner a ca$h gratuity on a comped drink, or even for Cheers. I see it as paying something for the service provided,  and not  the drink.. (Same as I would do in the Steakhouse). I think those of us, who have worked, as a bartender/waiter/busser  might have a better  appreciation/understanding of tipping. 

[Denise72]

4 hours ago, firefly333 said:

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.

I feel like they probably noticed, and are just trying to be professional by not checking the tip in front of the customer. I never did when I was a server.

[famof4togo]

4 hours 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?

We hand our steward a $20.00 upon introduction....I find it helps them expedite our requests or always have our ice stocked etc....but totally not required and to each their own...every cruise we bring $100.00 in ones and $100.00 in fives for tipping.

[famof4togo]

48 minutes ago, urbanhawk said:

 I think those of us, who have worked, as a bartender/waiter/busser  might have a better  appreciation/understanding of tipping. 

I think you are totally correct, my BFF growing ups mom was a waitress and since the age of 6 I have had good tipping imbedded in my brain from all her hard work she did....so 40 years later I still tip well.....

[linbobky]

14 hours 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.

You are right on! Tip the bar runner an extra buck and when they see you, they know what you want and it will be delivered before you ask! And same for a certain bar tender that you like.

[Elaine5715]

5 hours ago, cmukid87 said:

My suggestion is to have some cash on you.  I'm fairly certain the tips that get added to your S&S account are put in a pool.  If you hand a runner or bartender a few dollar bills they can easily take that as their own tip. t sure if it is in their employment rules to share cash tips but I always feel like they can keep those as their own.

They aren't pooled in the idea that everyone who serves drinks onboard get a share but there two people involved when you get a drink from a wait staff so the tips are split between the person who makes the drink and the person who delivers it.  

[icft]

9 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

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.

 

15 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.

I know English can be a tough language, so let me dissect the sentence: "But since we get our drinks free in the casino, and not being charged full price tip, I can't swear to that."

 

The words "But since we get out drinks free in the casino..." means we don't get charged for our drinks in the casino. The words "and not being charged full price tip" means that since we are not being charged full price we tip the waiter. Tipping the waiter is necessary in that situation because there is not a tip on the bill. 18% of zero is zero. The words "I can't swear to that" means that since we always tip in excess of the zero tip included on the bill for a free drink I can't know if we would get worse or no service if we did not tip in excess of the 18% tip automatically added to the bill for a full priced drink.

[urbanhawk]

Free drinks aren't really "free" are they? !. We pay for those comps. I believe if I can afford to take a cruise and to play in the casino, I can budget the few extra dollars to tip. Of course, this is just my opinion. Happy cruising!

[Don Kehote]

1 hour ago, icft said:

 

I know English can be a tough language, so let me dissect the sentence: "But since we get our drinks free in the casino, and not being charged full price tip, I can't swear to that."

 

The words "But since we get out drinks free in the casino..." means we don't get charged for our drinks in the casino. The words "and not being charged full price tip" means that since we are not being charged full price we tip the waiter. Tipping the waiter is necessary in that situation because there is not a tip on the bill. 18% of zero is zero. The words "I can't swear to that" means that since we always tip in excess of the zero tip included on the bill for a free drink I can't know if we would get worse or no service if we did not tip in excess of the 18% tip automatically added to the bill for a full priced drink.

Can you please explain the blackmail portion that you have carefully avoided here?  Seems to me that it is relevant to the discussion, even if you don't want it to be.  

[ray98]

I don't tip extra on every drink.  Most people wouldn't tip extra on land when their purchase had an 18% gratuity on it but for some reason they do on a cruise ship. 

 

If the bartender simply hands me a beer the $1.17ish tip accessed is sufficient in my opinion.  If they are really busy and make me a great mixed drink then it is worth a $1 or $2.  If I am in a seating area and a server seeks me out for drinks so I don't have to walk to the bar they get tipped every time.

[icft]

14 minutes ago, Don Kehote said:

Can you please explain the blackmail portion that you have carefully avoided here?  Seems to me that it is relevant to the discussion, even if you don't want it to be.  

I didn't carefully avoid it. I outright said it, but then I had to explain to someone that when I said we tip on free drinks it did not mean that we don't tip on free drinks.

 

This started with the inference that if you do not tip in addition to the 18% tip that is already included on the bill for a full priced drink you will receive lesser quality of product and inferior service. If that were the case then the customer would be required to pay blackmail, bribe or whatever you want to call it in order to receive good product and service - an 18% tip is fair in itself. I disagreed with the notion that Carnival crew engage in that racket and said I would not only not pay blackmail but would not tip someone who tried to extort me in that manner. It is a simple as that.

[wgeddings]

To the OP, remember that talk is cheap.  You will see a lot people claiming they tip like rock stars but ask yourself if their bragging is intended to be helpful to you or just attempting to make appear important. Who knows what we each tip in reality.  I normally tip $100 per soda and pass out $50 bills like candy.  I don’t but I can claim that I do.  
 

the bottom line is what do YOU want to do.  Asking the common practice is wise.  Obviously some do genuinely tip in addition to the auto 18%.  Personally I do not and from watching others at the bars while waiting on my drinks or for my order to be taken (usually by different waiters before someone says I would quicker service if I tipped extra 😊) most receipts I see do not have extra tips.  I do like the idea of having a few $1s handy to give as tips and think that would be better than writing it on the receipts but that is just my personal thought.  
 

Probably the best advice I saw is to compare it to a restaurant who adds 18% (or 20%) to you bill.  Few people tip extra knowingly but a lot do unknowingly.  What you would do on land is probably a good guide for on the cruise.  I would say that the norm is no additional tip but if you choose to do so, that’s fine.  You be you.  

[karma459]

7 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

There are two stewards assigned to your stateroom and only the senior steward gets cards.  You saw the assistant steward and you can be sure they share all tips.  The best stewards are the ninjas who you only see their results.

yes!!!  I remember noticing this early in a cruise once, and then made a point to LOOK for him again the subsequent days and NEVER could spot him (didn't "need" anything, it was just a little game we were playing).

But we *always* had fresh ice (because we asked for it to be filled daily, on Day 1, and gave a little tip as a "thank you"), our room was immaculate when we came back from a port call, and our particular "ninja" had a love of towel animals!  It was like he somehow "knew" when we were/were not in the cabin - and we kept "odd" hours; up early and back for morning naps or out crazy late and sleeping in, or skipping a port and coming/going throughout the day..... That steward was ON HIS GAME, I tell ya!

 

We would joke around that he must be flying around the corridors like Spiderman working his magic! 😄 

 

Edited January 4, 2022 by karma459
clarification