sarahjaneb Posted August 11, 2023 #1 Share Posted August 11, 2023 Hello, We are sailing on the Sirena from Rome to Barcelona and typically like to leave cash tips. Wondering if Euros would be better for staff or USD. Thanks in advance, Sarah 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wynterwynd Posted August 11, 2023 #2 Share Posted August 11, 2023 We’ve never had anyone turn down USD. OTOH, if you have Euros you want to ‘get rid of,’ this would be an option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 11, 2023 #3 Share Posted August 11, 2023 it does not matter they have to turn them in If you do not remove the auto tips then staff member will get the $ back We usually give the staff an envelope with a note of thanks & cabin # so the Purser can check for auto tips Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahjaneb Posted August 11, 2023 Author #4 Share Posted August 11, 2023 24 minutes ago, LHT28 said: it does not matter they have to turn them in If you do not remove the auto tips then staff member will get the $ back We usually give the staff an envelope with a note of thanks & cabin # so the Purser can check for auto tips Interesting. I did not know they had to turn them in. I’ve always tipped as I go along for exceptional service in addition to the auto tips. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 11, 2023 #5 Share Posted August 11, 2023 5 minutes ago, sarahjaneb said: Interesting. I did not know they had to turn them in. I’ve always tipped as I go along for exceptional service in addition to the auto tips. I have heard they have to Those that remove the auto tip & tip privately that money goes into the POOL to be shared Once it is established you did not remove the auto tip they get the money back that is why I put our cabin number on the envelope Now whether the staff member turns it in is another story 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pinotlover Posted August 11, 2023 #6 Share Posted August 11, 2023 (edited) We have been told by a couple butlers and different staff that any money given directly to any employee remains with that employee. There is no pooling of tips except for standard gratuity. Edited August 11, 2023 by pinotlover 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahjaneb Posted August 11, 2023 Author #7 Share Posted August 11, 2023 45 minutes ago, pinotlover said: We have been told by a couple butlers and different staff that any money given directly to any employee remains with that employee. There is no pooling of tips except for standard gratuity. If true, that is good news indeed. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SATaxman Posted August 11, 2023 #8 Share Posted August 11, 2023 We are taking our first Oceania cruise this Fall. This issue of tipping seem to me an example of lack of transparency. Either tips are pooled, or they are not. Individuals who receive tips can either keep them or not. We as consumers can include the gratuity to our bill or not. Somewhere the facts need to be presented. If someone really knows, please post it. Thank you 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shepherd really Posted August 11, 2023 #9 Share Posted August 11, 2023 24 minutes ago, SATaxman said: We are taking our first Oceania cruise this Fall. This issue of tipping seem to me an example of lack of transparency. Either tips are pooled, or they are not. Individuals who receive tips can either keep them or not. We as consumers can include the gratuity to our bill or not. Somewhere the facts need to be presented. If someone really knows, please post it. Thank you If you want facts, ask Oceania. If you want opinions, many of dubious value, you've come to the right place. 6 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 11, 2023 #10 Share Posted August 11, 2023 26 minutes ago, SATaxman said: We are taking our first Oceania cruise this Fall. This issue of tipping seem to me an example of lack of transparency. Either tips are pooled, or they are not. Individuals who receive tips can either keep them or not. We as consumers can include the gratuity to our bill or not. Somewhere the facts need to be presented. If someone really knows, please post it. Thank you The auto tips are pooled If you remove the auto tips then anything you give the staff is supposed to be turned into the POOL It is up to the staff to deal with the cash tips so I would not worry about it JMO 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halfapair Posted August 11, 2023 #11 Share Posted August 11, 2023 For me, I like to give cash tips in addition to the gratuities we pay into the pool. And I think it would be nice to give the cash tip in the currency of where the ship is when disembark, if at all possible. That way, if the crew member is departing at that port, they have something in their pocket they can use at the airport, or shopping in port, etc. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pinotlover Posted August 11, 2023 #12 Share Posted August 11, 2023 1 hour ago, halfapair said: For me, I like to give cash tips in addition to the gratuities we pay into the pool. And I think it would be nice to give the cash tip in the currency of where the ship is when disembark, if at all possible. That way, if the crew member is departing at that port, they have something in their pocket they can use at the airport, or shopping in port, etc. I mostly disagree. We give our tips either US dollars or Euros, most typically dollars that are easy to spend and/or convert as needed. I seriously doubt the crew really prefers your left over Argentinan , Turkish, or a host of other countries currency. Look at the beating they’d take disembarking in Miami with your left over Argentinan money! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vertygo Posted August 11, 2023 #13 Share Posted August 11, 2023 2 hours ago, halfapair said: For me, I like to give cash tips in addition to the gratuities we pay into the pool. And I think it would be nice to give the cash tip in the currency of where the ship is when disembark, if at all possible. That way, if the crew member is departing at that port, they have something in their pocket they can use at the airport, or shopping in port, etc. 57 minutes ago, pinotlover said: I mostly disagree. We give our tips either US dollars or Euros, most typically dollars that are easy to spend and/or convert as needed. I seriously doubt the crew really prefers your left over Argentinan , Turkish, or a host of other countries currency. Look at the beating they’d take disembarking in Miami with your left over Argentinan money! But if disembarking in Miami, halfapair’s tips would be in $ per the post, not other foreign currency. So no beating after all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEFIowa Posted August 11, 2023 #14 Share Posted August 11, 2023 We tip our Oceania room steward & attendant in dollars only. Walking around the old town sections of Asuncion, Paraguay in April-May 2022 the ONE thing I couldn't miss were the lighted signs of the currency exchange stores on street corners and main streets listing the exchange rates if you bought or sold US dollars or Euros. (They also listed the currencies for Argentina and Brazil). Walked around to compare about 4 or 5 of them within easy walking distance to compare "rates". Walked into one I thought had the best (Cambios Norte on Palma) and turned $400 into Guarani 2,700,000. Took me about 10 minutes. Kept the exchange paperwork as a souvenir. Pretty much every 2nd or 3rd world country around the world will make it rather easy to exchange dollars and euros. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare pinotlover Posted August 11, 2023 #15 Share Posted August 11, 2023 4 minutes ago, Vertygo said: But if disembarking in Miami, halfapair’s tips would be in $ per the post, not other foreign currency. So no beating after all. Just tip freely ! I read his reply as tipping in the currency when he disembarked. He’s not going to disembark in BA and have Peruvian money for the staff if they disembark there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamaclark Posted August 12, 2023 #16 Share Posted August 12, 2023 10 hours ago, LHT28 said: it does not matter they have to turn them in If you do not remove the auto tips then staff member will get the $ back We usually give the staff an envelope with a note of thanks & cabin # so the Purser can check for auto tips Really? I cannot leave our wonderful cabin steward a little something extra? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jancruz Posted August 12, 2023 #17 Share Posted August 12, 2023 7 hours ago, shepherd really said: If you want facts, ask Oceania. If you want opinions, many of dubious value, you've come to the right place. Plus 1 Jancruz1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LHT28 Posted August 12, 2023 #18 Share Posted August 12, 2023 24 minutes ago, mamaclark said: Really? I cannot leave our wonderful cabin steward a little something extra? Sure you can you can leave as much as you like 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classiccruiser777 Posted August 12, 2023 #19 Share Posted August 12, 2023 19 hours ago, LHT28 said: it does not matter they have to turn them in How do you know this? Who told you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shepherd really Posted August 12, 2023 #20 Share Posted August 12, 2023 2 hours ago, Classiccruiser777 said: How do you know this? Who told you? Excellent question, my guess is that's an opinion unbounded by actual facts. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonthomas Posted August 12, 2023 #21 Share Posted August 12, 2023 I don't understand any of this. The automatic gratuity is a large amount, I give that freely. To worry about what to leave on top of that is absurd. But of course to each his own. No wonder the hefty automatic gratuities are now seen as not enough. Unless of course they are pulling the automatic ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hambagahle Posted August 12, 2023 #22 Share Posted August 12, 2023 I tip in Swiss francs (my home currency and far more solid than the Euro or the dollar) and also in Euros. Dollars - only if I have been in the US before the cruise. (Otherwise I wouldn't have any). Basically as long as you choose a respectable currency (maybe not Zimbabwe dollars!) the crew member has to convert them to her/his home currency anyway. (Unless they have an external bank account...unlikely!) Tips are welcome even if in USD! 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahjaneb Posted August 13, 2023 Author #23 Share Posted August 13, 2023 10 hours ago, Hambagahle said: I tip in Swiss francs (my home currency and far more solid than the Euro or the dollar) and also in Euros. Dollars - only if I have been in the US before the cruise. (Otherwise I wouldn't have any). Basically as long as you choose a respectable currency (maybe not Zimbabwe dollars!) the crew member has to convert them to her/his home currency anyway. (Unless they have an external bank account...unlikely!) Tips are welcome even if in USD! Thank you! My original question was regarding cash currency and what is most appreciated by the hard working staff so I appreciate your input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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