Cabin steward tipping

[seemoreroyals]

21 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Holy Moly.....$700 in tips up front?  How long are you sailing?  A month?  In the Haven?

 

I've never paid more than $175 for the DSC/tip, and that's for staying in the Haven.  Admittedly, I'll add another couple hundred for additional tips for the Cabin attendant, Butler and Concierge, but that's still nowhere near $700.

 

WOW....you're a really good tipper.

 

See post #100 for further clarification.  

[yakcruiser]

1 hour ago, dlh015 said:

 

 

And I don't care who or when or how or how much others tip...or don't. It's none of my business and they ain't using my money. 

Amen!

[bkrickles1]

33 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

This whole "bribe" thing.  A bribe is a form of extortion.  That has nothing to do with a tip, which is a reward for a job well done.

 

 

Some of y'all are really stretching things towards the ridiculous.

I have to disagree.

I have previously mentioned in this thread that I "bribe" the cabin steward with a $20 bill on embarkation day when I hand him/her my list of common requests. I then tip another $20 on the 3rd day and another $20 on the last night.

That cannot be called a tip on the first day and is technically a bribe. And it's definitely not extortion.

Below is from Cambridge dictionary:

 

to give someone money or something else of value to persuade that person to do something you want

[seemoreroyals]

@tmal2 see what you started?  Are you still around to reap the benefits?  Since you are the OP I am curious what your plans are going to be for tipping the cabin steward and others.

Edited February 26 by seemoreroyals

[graphicguy]

9 minutes ago, ready2cruzagain said:

 

Actually he is not that far off. $20pp for 2 for a 7 day trip for DSC is $280. If he gets 3 specialty meals that is approx. $70 more for tips and drinks pkg tip is approx $300 so that is $650  for a 7 day cruise in a regular cabin, no haven. 

 

We paid approx. $1,800 in DSC and tips last month on a 21 day cruise. $1,800 is not cheap to me and if we had not paid that could have sailed another 7 days. That within itself is why I do not tip extra unless someone goes well and above what they should be doing and I have not seen that in a while. 

OK...but now you're talking about all the extras like specialty dining, drink packages, etc.  Doing apples to apples (7 nite cruise), and using Royal as a guide since they're probably the closest to NCL, their drink package alone (if you get it when it's on sale) is $780+ for 2.  I don't think that even includes tip.  That also doesn't include $250 DSC for two.  IIRC on my last Royal cruise (couple years ago) I bought a Chops and another specialty restaurant package (similar to NCL's FAS 2 SDPs) for $84 pp.  X2, that's $168.  

 

This is regardless of the cabin you book (except for STAR 
Class which is 5 figures and includes specialty dining and drinks).

 

Point being, and I preach this all the time, it's the total out of pocket that's important...not one or the other "package" costs, or DSC, etc.

 

 

 

[graphicguy]

9 minutes ago, bkrickles1 said:

I have to disagree.

I have previously mentioned in this thread that I "bribe" the cabin steward with a $20 bill on embarkation day when I hand him/her my list of common requests. I then tip another $20 on the 3rd day and another $20 on the last night.

That cannot be called a tip on the first day and is technically a bribe. And it's definitely not extortion.

Below is from Cambridge dictionary:

 

to give someone money or something else of value to persuade that person to do something you want

OK

 

Personally, I consider a bribe something unseemly.  A tip is a reward for good service.  But, that's just me.

[bkrickles1]

4 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

OK

 

Personally, I consider a bribe something unseemly.  A tip is a reward for good service.  But, that's just me.

Absolutely has a bad connotation but, technically, what I and others do on the first day of a cruise is a bribe. It certainly can't be called a tip.

[cruiseny4life]

13 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

 A tip is a reward for good service.

You answered the question. A tip is provided upon receiving good service. What other posters do is not a reward for good service, but providing cash upfront in hopes of receiving good service as a result of providing an upfront payment.  

 

*Please note I am not making a values judgment on the practice. I couldn't care less.*

[BirdTravels]

7 hours ago, zqvol said:

A bribe by any other name is still a bribe

And a bribe is a very effective way of getting what you want.

 

Personally, we tip after service. Find a good bartender and tip them $2-$5 per service on the first night and you will get priority service or even have your drinks ready when you get to the bar for the rest of the cruise. 

[graphicguy]

20 minutes ago, bkrickles1 said:

Absolutely has a bad connotation but, technically, what I and others do on the first day of a cruise is a bribe. It certainly can't be called a tip.

I call it a pre-cruise gratuity...."to insure (future) prompt service". 😉

 

I find tucking a $1 to $5 bill under the napkin of my first drink usually nets me face recognition and a drink waiting for me as I sit down.

 

So, let's say I'm leaving money for the service person to "recognize" me promptly.  That's not a bribe.

Edited February 26 by graphicguy

[bkrickles1]

2 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

I call it a pre-cruise gratuity...."to insure (future) prompt service". 😉

 

I find tucking a $1 to $5 bill under the napkin of my first drink usually nets me face recognition and a drink waiting for me as I sit down.

 

So, let's say I'm leaving money for the service person to "recognize" me promptly.  That's not a bribe.

I do the same on the first day or two as I'm determining which will be my go to bars. 

It's amazing what just a couple of dollars and a happy attitude will get you! 😜

[RocketMan275]

1 hour ago, ready2cruzagain said:

 

Actually he is not that far off. $20pp for 2 for a 7 day trip for DSC is $280. If he gets 3 specialty meals that is approx. $70 more for tips and drinks pkg tip is approx $300 so that is $650  for a 7 day cruise in a regular cabin, no haven. =

You're assuming the drinks and meals are free.  

[dmwnc1959]

1 hour ago, complawyer said:

Enjoy your 25 days of sailing ( while i envy you the days), i think my wife and i would be ready to slit each other throats if we were confined together for that long  LOL.

 

Bon Voyage!

That’s the BEST part about traveling solo - I’m my own best company and everything is a unanimous decision. 😉 Note to self: remember to download a book or two onto the iPad for those 9 glorious sea days. 🌎

 

✌️

[Greenpea2]

On 2/25/2024 at 10:07 AM, tmal2 said:

I have not cruised in years and was just looking for a ballpark figure. I understand that there are many variables.

My only advice is to tip them, unless they have been pretty much absent and done just the minimum, and/or have not in any way seemed helpful or friendly.

 

I have never had a room steward be that way--they have always (yes, always) been so nice and helpful and (in my opinion) gone above and beyond their basic duties. So I tip them. Because as has been said the paid gratuities are spread among a whole lotta other people.

 

I never have a set per/day amount. I give them what I feel like giving them, and you should too. That has ranged from $50 to $100 dollars for a week, based on what I felt right giving them. The $100 was for a 2 -bedroom cabin and an absolutely outstanding young woman. You do you.

 

P.S. And every time they have seemed sincerely very appreciative. 

Edited February 26 by Greenpea2

[Travelling2Some]

2 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

And a bribe is a very effective way of getting what you want.

 

Personally, we tip after service. Find a good bartender and tip them $2-$5 per service on the first night and you will get priority service or even have your drinks ready when you get to the bar for the rest of the cruise. 

We do the same and the priority service makes me think that not so many people do this.  People can be four deep at the bar but the bartender will give us a smile and a nod and start making what we usually ask for. 

[dmwnc1959]

1 hour ago, Greenpea2 said:

My only advice is to tip them, unless they have been pretty much absent and done just the minimum, and/or have not in any way seemed helpful or friendly.

 

You do you.

😁

[dmwnc1959]

14 minutes ago, Travelling2Some said:

We do the same and the priority service makes me think that not so many people do this.  People can be four deep at the bar but the bartender will give us a smile and a nod and start making what we usually ask for. 

Does this work at the burger grill too, because I’m all in if it does. 🤣 (adds the grill guys to my tip list). 😉

[dbrown84]

22 minutes ago, Travelling2Some said:

We do the same and the priority service makes me think that not so many people do this.  People can be four deep at the bar but the bartender will give us a smile and a nod and start making what we usually ask for. 

same here.  now my story is a little different since I drink at the casino bar and forgo the FAS drink package so I haven't pre-paid any gratuities.  But I live my life by "always take care of your bartender" 

[FPMoosally]

I have decided to call an obvious tip, a bribe.

It makes me feel naughty.

 

[PATRLR]

3 hours ago, dmwnc1959 said:

Does this work at the burger grill too, because I’m all in if it does. 🤣 (adds the grill guys to my tip list). 😉

I wonder if I could tip the grill guy to get me a burger that isn't over-cooked to the point of being nearly inedible?  

[complawyer]

if you ask nicely, and they arent very busy, the grill guy will probably be able to make the burger the way you like it cooked. of course if he does this for you ,dont you think a tip (or a bribe ) is then appropriate?

[ready2cruzagain]

After reading through this whole thread imo I think people are tip crazy these days. I thought a tip was for service well done (notice, well done, not prepaid).

 

According to this thread if I go to a restaurant and get crappy service, the waitress is slow, doesn't get the orders right etc, we should tip her before we even order so she will give us good service. 🤦‍♀️

Edited February 27 by ready2cruzagain

[dmwnc1959]

6 hours ago, PATRLR said:

I wonder if I could tip the grill guy to get me a burger that isn't over-cooked to the point of being nearly inedible?  

Sounds like you’ve been on Princess Cruises too, I’ve read that the burgers in the Salty Dog are virtual hockey pucks! We really need a Guy Fiero’s burger joint, but I’m not cruising Carnival just to get one, sorry. 🤣 😉

[PATRLR]

6 hours ago, complawyer said:

if you ask nicely, and they arent very busy, the grill guy will probably be able to make the burger the way you like it cooked. of course if he does this for you ,dont you think a tip (or a bribe ) is then appropriate?

My comment was tongue in cheek, sorry for not adding some emojis to make help make that more obvious.  

The fact of the matter is that I have asked the grill guy, nicely, if I could have one before it got to hockey puck state and was told "no".  The reason stated was food safety.  I've made this request on more than one occasion and received similar responses.

Edited February 27 by PATRLR

[d9704011]

1 hour ago, PATRLR said:

The reason stated was food safety

It's true.  Over the years, I've tasted any number of hockey pucks and have never had any related gastro-intestinal issues.