Amount to tip the concierge per request.

[20165]

On 3/31/2024 at 6:49 PM, Snaxmuppet said:

Yes it is and I hope that over-tipping doesn't mean that it becomes less of a choice for everyone else. There is a lot of pressure on people to tip even when they don't want to and that is made worse when others tip excessively.

 

Am I judging? Probably but not as you suggest. If I am judging it is not that I don't think people should tip what they think it is worth to them. That is their choice. Any judgement I make is directed squarely at people that tip for no apparent reason for things they have already paid for or tip way over the odds just because they can afford it... or just out of habit. Sorry for that but it spoils it for everyone else as these high tips come to be expected.

 

You could say I am also judging people that tip in advance. That is not a tip... it is a bribe and not related to anything they have done (yet!). It has the potential to mean that the service giver gives preference to the tipper at the expense of those that don't tip in advance. That is why they do it of course but IMO that isn't right IMO.

This article i came across today reminded me of this post and maybe one of the reasons Snaxmuppet is passionate about the topic.  And i do admit, when im in europe i get funny looks when i tip the way i do in the US.  However, im pretty sure the cruise ship employees, at least the ones serving the passengers, do not get a fair wage and tips are an important part of their salary. Probably not  a reason to over tip, but i would at least tip the way i do in the US.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/05/mom-who-left-us-for-denmark-why-tipping-is-different-here.html

 

[Potstech]

On 3/31/2024 at 7:25 PM, Host CJSKIDS said:

The OP has asked a simple question for those who have used the concierge on the ship and how much they have tipped them, simply looking for some direction on what others have done under these circumstances.  Let's try and not turn it into a full debate on tipping in general or outside of this scenario so it stays on track and they can get some answers.

Too late

[Guest Snaxmuppet]

36 minutes ago, 20165 said:

This article i came across today reminded me of this post and maybe one of the reasons Snaxmuppet is passionate about the topic.  And i do admit, when im in europe i get funny looks when i tip the way i do in the US.  However, im pretty sure the cruise ship employees, at least the ones serving the passengers, do not get a fair wage and tips are an important part of their salary. Probably not  a reason to over tip, but i would at least tip the way i do in the US.

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/04/05/mom-who-left-us-for-denmark-why-tipping-is-different-here.html

 

I respect that and I respect anyone that wants to tip in any way they wish. But it can have consequences... it comes to be expected even when it isn't necessary... that was kind of my point.

Believe me, the crew (at least the customer-facing crew that often get extra tips) are not as bad off as we make them out to be IMO. With so many people that want to throw money at them I am certain they are on a pretty good whack. Having said that, they work hard for the money they do get and I recognise that.

[cruzsnooze]

On 3/29/2024 at 5:57 AM, 20165 said:

Does anyone have recommendations or history tipping the concierge on a per request bases and how much per request?  We are sailing next month on Enchanted and will most likely use them quite a bit given we are having a hard time getting dinner reservation, the spa times we want,  and we are going to ask them if they can get us a cabana which i know is a tall order but if they are successful, how much would you tip for that kind of request?

I read online that the recommendation for a regular concierge at a hotel is $5-20 depending on complexity of the request so would that apply here?

And before we go down a rabbit hole, i know some people dont use or tip the concierge, we are going to and would like to try per request this time vs. the end of the cruise tip like we usually do.

thanks

 

I feel that I've already paid for the concierge service by paying a significant price for the suite. This is a suite benefit. No more tipping is how I feel. Tipping is out of hand and I resent everyone with their hand out. 

[ldubs]

The idea of having to tip the suite concierge at every encounter is kind of a turn-off.  If an extra tip is expected, I would much prefer one time at the end.  I sure don't tip my cabin steward every time I make a request.   Maybe I'm not cut out to be a suite!  Lol.  

[555]

2 hours ago, cruzsnooze said:

I feel that I've already paid for the concierge service by paying a significant price for the suite.

I suppose lots of people could say the same thing about a standard balcony cabin compared to an inside cabin. 

[cruzsnooze]

53 minutes ago, memoak said:

I agree with the concierge but I had thought you were referring to tipping in general on board

I could see why you thought that. I try to follow the custom of the country I am visiting. Multiple articles have been making the news this month about how tipping has gotten out of control. Once in Australia as a newbie I left a tip in a restaurant. The server confronted me and said she didn't need money to do her job. Of course I apologized and learned to do my homework before a trip abroad. That was decades ago but I learned a lesson. 

[MacMadame]

I do agree that tipping culture in the US is out of control. Part of me rejects all these new places to tip and these new base amounts. But I don't want to be one of those "when I was a kid....!" people who complain about tipping the counter person at McDonalds (I never had to do that before!) and how can the basic tip be 18% and not 10% like it used to be when I was a kid? Things change. Bread is no longer 25¢ a loaf either. 🤷‍♂️

[ldubs]

6 hours ago, cruzsnooze said:

I feel that I've already paid for the concierge service by paying a significant price for the suite. This is a suite benefit. No more tipping is how I feel. Tipping is out of hand and I resent everyone with their hand out. 

 

4 hours ago, 555 said:

I suppose lots of people could say the same thing about a standard balcony cabin compared to an inside cabin. 

 

I think you could say that about any cabin. But then those cabin stewards share in the daily gratuity.  Which brings the question, do the concierge share in the daily grats?  

[cruzsnooze]

8 hours ago, 555 said:

I suppose lots of people could say the same thing about a standard balcony cabin compared to an inside cabin. 

Not a comparison because the perk of a concierge isn't available to a balcony or  an inside cabin. People can tip or not, individual choices and luckily it's an option not mandatory. 

[555]

8 hours ago, cruzsnooze said:

Not a comparison because the perk of a concierge isn't available to a balcony or  an inside cabin. People can tip or not, individual choices and luckily it's an option not mandatory. 

I'm sure there are some people who still don't tip even in a standard cabin. There are many things our standard tip goes to that we don't utilize on a cruise- Room service, table delivery, sometimes laundry. 

[HaveDogWillTravel]

On 3/29/2024 at 5:57 AM, 20165 said:

Does anyone have recommendations or history tipping the concierge on a per request bases and how much per request?  We are sailing next month on Enchanted and will most likely use them quite a bit given we are having a hard time getting dinner reservation, the spa times we want,  and we are going to ask them if they can get us a cabana which i know is a tall order but if they are successful, how much would you tip for that kind of request?

I read online that the recommendation for a regular concierge at a hotel is $5-20 depending on complexity of the request so would that apply here?

And before we go down a rabbit hole, i know some people dont use or tip the concierge, we are going to and would like to try per request this time vs. the end of the cruise tip like we usually do.

thanks

 

The concierge expects to make your specialty dining reservations, be your go to instead of you having to go to guest services and stand in line, arranging a tea for you and your cabin mates to be delivered and other small asks.  If these are the only requests I make then I do not tip extra.

 

These are the requests I’ve made that I feel go above and beyond

 

1. Arranging for MDR chicken korma lunch (with all the toppings) to be sent up for us and 6 friends.  Timed perfectly to be waiting in the cabin fresh and hot when we all returned from a lecture we didn’t want to miss as it ran during lunch time. 
2. Arranging an afternoon tea for 10 people with customized requests for sandwiches, cookies & pastries

3. Arranging for MDR dinners for us and several guests to be sent up to our suite. 

For these I tip at the end (always with an handwritten thank you) and it averages out to about $20 per request. Just depends on how many times I ask for extras like this. 
 

I just posted an extensive list of things that our suite experience manager, Ivan, has arranged for us on the Sky Princess Sky Suite thread (we are on Discovery but that thread has evolved into all things Sky Suite). When you read that list you might understand why his tip will easily far exceed $100.  

 

Edited April 6 by HaveDogWillTravel

[memoak]

5 hours ago, 555 said:

I'm sure there are some people who still don't tip even in a standard cabin. There are many things our standard tip goes to that we don't utilize on a cruise- Room service, table delivery, sometimes laundry. 

What is table delivery ?  Do you not eat in the MDR ?  I don’t think anyone uses services that the crew appreciation goes to but all of us use some if not most of the services so no need to remove or reduce tips

[donaldsc]

On 3/29/2024 at 4:06 PM, Mark_K said:

I don’t know about Princess, but on some cruise lines the monetary tips are all pooled, and the only way to ensure a tip gets to the person you want to give it to, is to do it in the form of a gift.  
 

Also, I seriously doubt that a person, when given a bottle of wine as a thank you, will say to themselves, boy do I feel de-humanised and demeaned.

 

Many of them come from non-drinking cultures or do not drink alcoholic drinks.  What are they going to do with the stuff - trade it for something they want in the crew tip gift exchange.

 

DON

[memoak]

We have not tipped a concierge however we usually sail Grand Class. On the 3 times we have traveled Royal Class all we asked them to do is make specialty dinner reservations did not feel any need to tip on those occasions 

[rbtan]

On 3/29/2024 at 8:57 AM, 20165 said:

Does anyone have recommendations or history tipping the concierge on a per request bases and how much per request?  We are sailing next month on Enchanted and will most likely use them quite a bit given we are having a hard time getting dinner reservation, the spa times we want,  and we are going to ask them if they can get us a cabana which i know is a tall order but if they are successful, how much would you tip for that kind of request?

I read online that the recommendation for a regular concierge at a hotel is $5-20 depending on complexity of the request so would that apply here?

And before we go down a rabbit hole, i know some people dont use or tip the concierge, we are going to and would like to try per request this time vs. the end of the cruise tip like we usually do.

thanks

 

We usually tip $25. Your choice however. We're in the hospitality field so we tip over and above the usual.

[cruzsnooze]

The concierge is there to "cater" to the suite guests so I don't know what  is above and beyond. The concierge lounge is a very quiet and nice place staffed by the concierge to help the suite passenger enjoy their journey in way they can help. 

[Guest Snaxmuppet]

OK... here is a question for you all...

 

I am on Sky at the end of April. We are in a Penthouse Suite. I have tried to book speciality dining on the app but all nights of the cruise are booked. When we board I am going to ask the concierge to see if he/she (I'll just use he for simplicity)  could find a couple of speciality dining slots for us. If he manages it is that "over and above" and does it warrant an extra tip?

 

I am in two minds over it tbh.

[memoak]

13 minutes ago, Snaxmuppet said:

OK... here is a question for you all...

 

I am on Sky at the end of April. We are in a Penthouse Suite. I have tried to book speciality dining on the app but all nights of the cruise are booked. When we board I am going to ask the concierge to see if he/she (I'll just use he for simplicity)  could find a couple of speciality dining slots for us. If he manages it is that "over and above" and does it warrant an extra tip?

 

I am in two minds over it tbh.

That would not be over the top. They never book every table. If you are in a full suite you will eat for free in a specialty restaurant just ask the concierge or call the dine line. It is a guaranteed perk. For other nights the concierge can help you or what we do is talk to the manager at Sabatini’s breakfast and they can usually get us reservations especially since we like to eat after 7:30   None of these things would call for extra tips in my opinion they are perks. If you ask them to arrange large cocktail parties etc that would be something different 

[Guest Snaxmuppet]

I managed to get the night of embarkation booked which is probably the one I least needed to book in advance because I know they make allowances for that first night for suite guests. But it is the other 2 meals that are included in the Premier package that I am having difficulty with. We like to eat around 7ish if poss.

[voljeep]

37 minutes ago, Snaxmuppet said:

I managed to get the night of embarkation booked which is probably the one I least needed to book in advance because I know they make allowances for that first night for suite guests. But it is the other 2 meals that are included in the Premier package that I am having difficulty with. We like to eat around 7ish if poss.

how long is your cruise?

 

I'm getting close to re-thinking our cruise on the SUN P with Premier in Oct.  Just a little 5 day in a balcony - no casino benefits, no suite

 

unlimited casual dining? - 

2 specialty dinners? - 

[Guest Snaxmuppet]

2 hours ago, voljeep said:

how long is your cruise?

 

I'm getting close to re-thinking our cruise on the SUN P with Premier in Oct.  Just a little 5 day in a balcony - no casino benefits, no suite

 

unlimited casual dining? - 

2 specialty dinners? - 

Ours is 8 days.

 

Personally, for a 5 day cruise I wouldn't do Premier. I like the MDR and with a 5 day cruise and 2 nights in speciality dining I wouldn't be happy. For 5 nights I would want to eat in the MDR all nights.

 

I have watched a couple of review videos of SUN now... I am not impressed with it and won't be booking anything on SUN.