No signing for free drinks, new policy?

[audcc77]

Onboard the Sunshine and I get free drinks in casino.  Each time, I always sign and add 1-2 $ tip.  However, the servers now don’t have me sign anything.  I will give paper $$ but is this a new thing?   I would think this would cut down on tips since you can’t add it to your S&S card.  
 

This must be a new thing?   I was here a month ago, and I’ve always signed a receipt. 

[csm5986142]

We just got off Mardi Gras Saturday, and no we did not encounter this.  I had free drinks in the casino and a family member had free drinks everywhere, and each time we were both given 0 dollar receipts to sign.  I'm thinking it it's a temporary glitch.

[vache]

I had free drinks everywhere courtesy of the casino last month on the Freedom. I had to sign each time cash tip or added to the bill. I always had to sign.

[mbarker10]

We didn't have to sign every time on the Magic a few weeks ago. This happened most commonly in the MDR, so idk what's up with that. 

[1kaper]

1 minute ago, mbarker10 said:

We didn't have to sign every time on the Magic a few weeks ago. This happened most commonly in the MDR, so idk what's up with that. 

We never had to sign in MDR on the Dream but did everywhere else. 

[csm5986142]

1 hour ago, 1kaper said:

We never had to sign in MDR on the Dream but did everywhere else. 

 

We noticed this on Mardi Gras last week too.  They get so busy they forget, but if you ask, they will immediately punch your table number into their computer and print out a receipt for you to sign (we wanted to make sure they got the tip).

[Elaine5715]

1 hour ago, mbarker10 said:

We didn't have to sign every time on the Magic a few weeks ago. This happened most commonly in the MDR, so idk what's up with that. 

 

1 hour ago, 1kaper said:

We never had to sign in MDR on the Dream but did everywhere else. 

You need to ask for it in the MDR.  When there was a separate drink runner, they usually handed it to you with your drink.  So few tip in the MDR, they just don't bother.

[cruiserbrianj]

There was a time or two on the Sunshine in March where they didn't give us a ticket.

There was also a few times on the Mardi Gras last week where they didn't as well.

In both instances we were either grabbing a bottle of water or soda.

[audcc77]

I’ll answer my own question. 
 

There were times I needed to sign in the casino, others not.   When I asked the guy, he said they’re “trying something”  where if you have free drinks, they don’t do receipts. 
 

This started 3 days ago.  We’ll see what happens.  🤷‍♀️

 

[mbarker10]

23 hours ago, Elaine5715 said:

 

You need to ask for it in the MDR.  When there was a separate drink runner, they usually handed it to you with your drink.  So few tip in the MDR, they just don't bother.

We didn't have to ask the first couple nights, but then we started to after that sort of hit and miss. So I'm not sure it's related to not bothering; I think they get busy. It was fine; we always asked so we could be sure to tip.

[susan1957]

On 4/12/2022 at 9:56 AM, audcc77 said:

Onboard the Sunshine and I get free drinks in casino.  Each time, I always sign and add 1-2 $ tip.  However, the servers now don’t have me sign anything.  I will give paper $$ but is this a new thing?   I would think this would cut down on tips since you can’t add it to your S&S card.  
 

This must be a new thing?   I was here a month ago, and I’ve always signed a receipt. 

Odd....just got off Freedom 2 weeks ago...had to sign for every free drink in the Casino but did not get a paper...lol

 

[txcruiser1234]

When in the casino and you have the option to tip for the free drinks via the receipt or in cash,

 

does anyone know if it makes any difference to the server?

 

i.e. Does the server get to keep cash tips - or do all the tips get pooled regardless?

Thanks much.

[audcc77]

On 4/13/2022 at 5:09 PM, txcruiser1234 said:

via the receipt

They had no receipt for me to sign half the time. 
I had to pay cash tip 50 percent of the time because of no receipt. 

[icft]

On 4/13/2022 at 4:09 PM, txcruiser1234 said:

When in the casino and you have the option to tip for the free drinks via the receipt or in cash,

 

does anyone know if it makes any difference to the server?

 

i.e. Does the server get to keep cash tips - or do all the tips get pooled regardless?

Thanks much.

As of two weeks ago, at least, it made no difference. In the past we had asked our servers and they said the tips on the receipt went directly to them. Since then we have only checked on the day before disembarkation when we give those who have been outstanding a big tip. But with the discussion above about no receipt things might be changing.

[Gambler458]

On 4/12/2022 at 4:39 PM, csm5986142 said:

 

We noticed this on Mardi Gras last week too.  They get so busy they forget, but if you ask, they will immediately punch your table number into their computer and print out a receipt for you to sign (we wanted to make sure they got the tip).

I will be sailing Mardi Gras July 16th through the casino.  I am new to Carnival (Usually sail Royal).  Are the free drinks just at the tables and slots while you're gambling or can you sit at the casino bar and rec free dinks?  This can help me decide if I should buy the drink package.

[txcruiser1234]

17 hours ago, icft said:

As of two weeks ago, at least, it made no difference. In the past we had asked our servers and they said the tips on the receipt went directly to them. Since then we have only checked on the day before disembarkation when we give those who have been outstanding a big tip. But with the discussion above about no receipt things might be changing.

 

Good to know. Thanks much for that info. We'll plan on having cash tips handy just in case receipts are not available.

[surfone]

We always ask the casino drink waiter on our cruises "do you keep 100 percent of the tips given directly to you?"  It has always been a consistent Yes.   Good to know, but we still ask each cruise.

[Bostwick girl]

Just off Spirit Thursday. Had DOU in the casino. Had to sign every time and added a tip. I also asked the server if they got the tips and answer was yes. No one gets an actual paper receipt anymore.

 

[Keepin_outOcold]

On 4/17/2022 at 7:26 AM, Gambler458 said:

I will be sailing Mardi Gras July 16th through the casino.  I am new to Carnival (Usually sail Royal).  Are the free drinks just at the tables and slots while you're gambling or can you sit at the casino bar and rec free dinks?  This can help me decide if I should buy the drink package.

I hope someone answers you question. We sail on the Legend in August and it’s our  first time with “Drinks on Us in Casino “too. Wondering the same question. Can you just go to the Casino bar and order a drink without sitting at a slot machine or table? 
We sailed on Mardi Gras in Sept with the Cheers Package and rarely saw any drink servers in the casino…it could be along time before you got a drink..if you had to wait. We signed a slip 90% of the time for our drinks everywhere and tipped on the slip. Only a few times did they not bother…mostly because we were getting water.

 

 

[icft]

On 4/17/2022 at 6:26 AM, Gambler458 said:

I will be sailing Mardi Gras July 16th through the casino.  I am new to Carnival (Usually sail Royal).  Are the free drinks just at the tables and slots while you're gambling or can you sit at the casino bar and rec free dinks?  This can help me decide if I should buy the drink package.

 

3 minutes ago, Keepin_outOcold said:

I hope someone answers you question. We sail on the Legend in August and it’s our  first time with “Drinks on Us in Casino “too. Wondering the same question. Can you just go to the Casino bar and order a drink without sitting at a slot machine or table? 
We sailed on Mardi Gras in Sept with the Cheers Package and rarely saw any drink servers in the casino…it could be along time before you got a drink..if you had to wait. We signed a slip 90% of the time for our drinks everywhere and tipped on the slip. Only a few times did they not bother…mostly because we were getting water.

 

 

Drinks on us in the casino is only for those "actively playing" slots or table games. So you can't order from the casino bar (but that does not mean it never happens, just that it is not supposed to happen). Don't worry about the "actively playing" too much. As a practical matter the drinks waiters don't want to be police. If you are sitting at a machine they assume you are playing, about to play, or just finished with that machine. When we don't have drinks on us everywhere and want a drink we often go to the casino, put some money on the machine, wait for a waiter, push the button every now and then and leave once our drinks arrive.

[Keepin_outOcold]

1 hour ago, icft said:

 

Drinks on us in the casino is only for those "actively playing" slots or table games. So you can't order from the casino bar (but that does not mean it never happens, just that it is not supposed to happen). Don't worry about the "actively playing" too much. As a practical matter the drinks waiters don't want to be police. If you are sitting at a machine they assume you are playing, about to play, or just finished with that machine. When we don't have drinks on us everywhere and want a drink we often go to the casino, put some money on the machine, wait for a waiter, push the button every now and then and leave once our drinks arrive.

Thank you for the tips and clarification. That’s why I come here for expert advice. Funny…I called Carnival and two separate people confirmed my Promo O1M and said I could go the Casino Bar and order my drink. I wanted that in writing, but they said they can’t email us..surprise…surprise.