Delicate Question

[pvbmom]

This may be a delicate question, but want to do things correctly.  I know that gratuities are included, but is it customary to give a bit more at the end of the cruise?

Thank you for your insight.

[Tothesunset]

Can open. 

 

Worms everywhere! 

[dawntrdr]

Customary, no.  In fact, I'd venture that it's a rather small minority who give an extra tip to a particular crew member.  Some people elect to make a donation to the crew welfare fund, which benefits all crew including those behind the scenes.  This can be done at the guest services desk.  

[Tothesunset]

It's not customary; a matter of personal choice. SS operates a Crew Welfare Fund to which you can donate to recognise the efforts of all staff including those we never really see - deckhands, launderers, engineers etc. 

 

Edited February 22, 2023 by Tothesunset
Beaten to the button by dwntrdr. Damn you, Red Baron!

[Observer]

5 hours ago, Tothesunset said:

It's not customary; a matter of personal choice. SS operates a Crew Welfare Fund to which you can donate to recognise the efforts of all staff including those we never really see - deckhands, launderers, engineers etc. 

 

I have often championed the crew welfare fund, and I consistently contribute to it.

 

however, it is important to understand that it in no way helps crewmembers feed their families or school their children in the Philippines or Zimbabwe or Kerala or wherever. This is the reason the crew are working on the ship.  

 

The crew welfare fund supports parties and tours and recreational equipment for crew during their contract. It is not like a tip, with money in the pocket.

 

I think that the ambiguous situation regarding tipping on Silversea presents challenges both to the cruise line and the employees.  Notwithstanding statements by the cruise line, guest – facing staff hope desperately for tips to supplement their meager salaries.

 

I keep in touch with many staff I have met over the years on Silversea. A couple of butlers are going to MSC yacht club. I know a suite attendant who went to Cunard.  I know a middle of management employee who is likely to go back to Crystal.   In all of these cases, the move was a large part driven by matters of compensation and by the fact that the Silversea salary without tips does not approach what one can hope to earn on other lines with tips.  

[drron29]

It certainly isn't customary. We always contribute to the crew fund and it does mean something to the crew we are often told that it was appreciated. Once even by a fellow mopping the deck and I appreciated this thank you greatly.

 

Now we are in the minority and do tip our butler and room attendant. Again obviously appreciated and we kept in touch with our first butler for a long time. Unfortunately he is now busy being a VP at another cruise line. We knew he was motivated which is why we tipped on our first cruise.

[CruisinPashmina]

I always contribute to the Crew Fund. It doesn’t just pay for parties, My understanding is that it also tapped for crew emergencies.

i also just about always tip both the butler and suite attendant. Only once in the last many years have I not tipped this team. In this one case, the butler was sloppy, and kept telling me to give him a great review. Total turn off so he got no tip and no recommendation.This was such an aberration from the usual wonderful service that it stood out. My advice is to always contribute to the crew fund, and to tip the butler and the suite attendant if you get especially excellent personal service.
What I do not like to see is passengers slipping cash to bartenders or other service crew. This changes the atmosphere,… and not in a good way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gcornell]

I don’t.  To each their own but if something is included I feel like I already paid for it and not going to pay twice.  

[Silver Spectre]

We will never tip, the crew welfare fund does do more than @Observerbelieves, and any contribution is appreciated by most of the crew, especially those who you do not see.

[Jonesy333]

We tipped our Butler and the Cabin steward for good service at the end of the trip .

[TheRampantSnail]

Don't forget that mentioning particular staff on feedback forms is also a good way of rewarding exceptional service. It helps their career development.

Also, you don't need to wait for feedback forms. On out last cruise on the Moon one of the wine waiters excelled in getting certain (included) wines for us and had them ready next time we ate in SALT. I wrote a note to the Bar Manager about this. The Bar Manager sought me out and thanked me and then the waiter in question came over and he was totally delighted.

[Observer]

9 hours ago, Silver Spectre said:

We will never tip, the crew welfare fund does do more than @Observerbelieves, and any contribution is appreciated by most of the crew, especially those who you do not see.

Please do not think that a contribution to the crew welfare fund is a substitute for tipping.

 

Here is the core of the thank you letter I received within the past year for a contribution to the crew welfare fund:

 

The fund is generally used on board to finance additional activities for the entire crew. These may range from shore excursions, to crew parties and equipment for the various crew sports and entertainment. Your donation will play an important role in this and is much appreciated.

 

There is nothing about the funds being used for crew emergencies or suggestions that crew members benefit directly and financially from contributions.

[zqtchas]

I had noticed on our last cruise that some of the newer wait staff who were not serving us would linger by our table for awhile often.

[Stumblefoot]

42 minutes ago, zqtchas said:

I had noticed on our last cruise that some of the newer wait staff who were not serving us would linger by our table for awhile often.

Well, you are a handsome devil.

[saminina]

1 hour ago, Observer said:

Please do not think that a contribution to the crew welfare fund is a substitute for tipping.

 

Here is the core of the thank you letter I received within the past year for a contribution to the crew welfare fund:

 

The fund is generally used on board to finance additional activities for the entire crew. These may range from shore excursions, to crew parties and equipment for the various crew sports and entertainment. Your donation will play an important role in this and is much appreciated.

 

There is nothing about the funds being used for crew emergencies or suggestions that crew members benefit directly and financially from contributions.

Seriously?   I've listened to a recipient of aid from crew fund for getting home for family emergency.

That letter has not been changed since 1996.   Times have, and now some passengers even tip individual crew. 

[gcornell]

Ugh. These threads make me confused.  Honest question.  If tips are included and I’m clearly paying for 6* service or whatever they call it why would I tip for “good service”?   I’m currently traveling around Egypt and tip stressing takes away from some of my enjoyment here and personally I’ve loved SS because the “tips are included”.  😫

[saminina]

18 minutes ago, gcornell said:

Ugh. These threads make me confused.  Honest question.  If tips are included and I’m clearly paying for 6* service or whatever they call it why would I tip for “good service”? 

 

You wouldn't.

[cruiseej]

12 hours ago, Jonesy333 said:

We tipped our Butler and the Cabin steward for good service at the end of the trip .

 

Not criticizing in any way, but asking a real question: why tip these two people, when the many waiters and bartenders who smile and remember your name and preferences, are also hard-working and contributing to your enjoyment of your cruise? What about the laundry staff? The deck hands who get you securely on and off tenders and zodiacs? The excursion team who work hard to deal with inevitable changes and complications with off-ship excursions? The customer service and back-office staff who handle accounting and printing Chronicles and other printed materials? And so on.

 

In the US, restaurant waiters and bartenders are typically paid a very minimum wage because they are expected to pull in enough tips to get them up to good overall compensation. If you told me that a SS worker in the ship's laundry gets paid more than a butler, because the butler is expected to supplement their salary with tips, then I would absolutely understand tipping them — but I don't believe that's the case. 

[Mr Luxury]

On 2/22/2023 at 6:59 PM, pvbmom said:

This may be a delicate question, but want to do things correctly.  I know that gratuities are included, but is it customary to give a bit more at the end of the cruise?

Thank you for your insight.

No,that's bad form.

Give a donation to the crew welfare fund so that all crew benefit.

[drron29]

3 hours ago, cruiseej said:

 

Not criticizing in any way, but asking a real question: why tip these two people, when the many waiters and bartenders who smile and remember your name and preferences, are also hard-working and contributing to your enjoyment of your cruise? What about the laundry staff? The deck hands who get you securely on and off tenders and zodiacs? The excursion team who work hard to deal with inevitable changes and complications with off-ship excursions? The customer service and back-office staff who handle accounting and printing Chronicles and other printed materials? And so on.

 

In the US, restaurant waiters and bartenders are typically paid a very minimum wage because they are expected to pull in enough tips to get them up to good overall compensation. If you told me that a SS worker in the ship's laundry gets paid more than a butler, because the butler is expected to supplement their salary with tips, then I would absolutely understand tipping them — but I don't believe that's the case. 

Basically because you interact with your butler and room attendant on a daily basis. We do not go to bars very frequently at all. Those waiters etc that are good are all mentioned in our cruise questionnaire.

But I do admit to once tipping a waiter. If you remember those days of cruising SS and a waiter would take a ladies arm and lead her to the table while the gentlemen went unescorted. But I do remember on our Amazon cruise a waiter, Cherry , A Chinese woman. We got on famously so whenever we entered the MDR she would literally run to my side and take my arm. She was a delight.