Guidance on tipping?

[ChelseaMom]

We will be cruising southbound on the Jewel next week.  Our first time on NCL.  Can you give me guidance on tipping?  We booked a room in the Haven.  Steward, Butler, Concierge, etc.  any help would be appreciated.  I’ve enjoyed your blog and it has made me so excited for our trip.

 

 

[cruiseny4life]

On 5/15/2024 at 8:14 PM, ChelseaMom said:

We will be cruising southbound on the Jewel next week.  Our first time on NCL.  Can you give me guidance on tipping?  We booked a room in the Haven.  Steward, Butler, Concierge, etc.  any help would be appreciated.  I’ve enjoyed your blog and it has made me so excited for our trip.

If you haven't already, be sure to run through this thread. Since you're cruising next week, you might not have time to read it all. Lots of good advice. Skip to late 2023/2024 for most updated information. There are some conversations regarding tipping in the thread too. 

 

 

[PartyPlannerLady]

On 5/15/2024 at 8:14 PM, ChelseaMom said:

We will be cruising southbound on the Jewel next week.  Our first time on NCL.  Can you give me guidance on tipping?  We booked a room in the Haven.  Steward, Butler, Concierge, etc.  any help would be appreciated.  I’ve enjoyed your blog and it has made me so excited for our trip.

 

Read the FAQ on the NCL page.  The topic is directly and specifically addressed there.  Bottom line is that tipping is not at all required on NCL.  However. most people do tip something for personal service. I have seen it said here a few times and I 100% agree, there is no such thing as a 'usual'. 'recommended', or 'customary' amount to tip.  Simply tip anyone you want any amount you want, any time you want.  No oen will turn down your tip.  Enjoy your crusie.

 

[BirdTravels]

On 5/15/2024 at 8:14 PM, ChelseaMom said:

We will be cruising southbound on the Jewel next week.  Our first time on NCL.  Can you give me guidance on tipping?  We booked a room in the Haven.  Steward, Butler, Concierge, etc.  any help would be appreciated.  I’ve enjoyed your blog and it has made me so excited for our trip.

We tip

 

Steward $10-$20/day

Concierge $10-$20/day

Butler $20-$30/day. 

 

[ChiefMateJRK]

I don't tip the Concierge or Butler a dime!!  I do tip the Steward if the service is good.  Not as much as others do (or claim to do), but I don't stiff them.  I do tip the persons who prepare and bring me drinks, because they make me happy and I want them to be happy too.😎

[RocketMan275]

15 hours ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

I don't tip the Concierge or Butler a dime!!  I do tip the Steward if the service is good.  Not as much as others do (or claim to do), but I don't stiff them.  I do tip the persons who prepare and bring me drinks, because they make me happy and I want them to be happy too.😎

There are butlers and concierges in steerage?

[complawyer]

usually we give the cabin steward between 100-150

 

100-200 to the butler depending on the degree of service and the amount we utilized his services

 

100 to the concierge

 

also about $50 total to the haven restaurant maitre'd, or if youre in a suite with no designated haven area, $20-30 to the maitre'd in both cagney's and moderno.

[complawyer]

hey chief, ive always admired your posts, and point of view, and as longtime posters probably already know, my wife and i usually book a suite, and that you usually (if not always) book an indoor cabin.

 

consequently, your post that you "NEVER' tip a butler or concierge imho came across as just a bit snippy. for any other posters on whatever topic they choose on which to comment, if they're not booked into  a suite or higher, they dont get the services of either a butler or the concierge, so the tipping issue becomes irrelevant.

 

i guess you must have gotten up on the wrong side of steerage this morning (LOL)

[BirdTravels]

FWIW, we just got off the Joy this morning and tipped our balcony room steward $150. Despite the fact that he had 24 staterooms to service, he always gave us personalized service day and night. 

[IAcruising]

On 5/17/2024 at 11:18 PM, ChiefMateJRK said:

I don't tip the Concierge or Butler a dime!! 

 

Me neither! I've never seen one.

 

[MoCruiseFan]

On 5/15/2024 at 9:14 PM, ChelseaMom said:

We will be cruising southbound on the Jewel next week.  Our first time on NCL.  Can you give me guidance on tipping?  We booked a room in the Haven.  Steward, Butler, Concierge, etc.  any help would be appreciated.  I’ve enjoyed your blog and it has made me so excited for our trip.

 

 

 

As someone else stated, the ONLY valid guide on tipping s to tip anyone you want any amount you want any time you want.  What other people choose to do is not at all relevant as there is no suggestd amount and tipping is not required, however most people do choose to tip for personal service.  I normally tip the bar keep who gets my soda for me, I tip the servers any time I eat, and I tip the dealer if I win a hand in the casino, plus others.  How much I give is between me and the person I am tipping.

[ChiefMateJRK]

On 5/18/2024 at 1:53 PM, complawyer said:

hey chief, ive always admired your posts, and point of view, and as longtime posters probably already know, my wife and i usually book a suite, and that you usually (if not always) book an indoor cabin.

 

consequently, your post that you "NEVER' tip a butler or concierge imho came across as just a bit snippy. for any other posters on whatever topic they choose on which to comment, if they're not booked into  a suite or higher, they dont get the services of either a butler or the concierge, so the tipping issue becomes irrelevant.

 

i guess you must have gotten up on the wrong side of steerage this morning (LOL)

Nah.  I was just being a smart aleck.  I thought it would be obvious to many that as a frequent steerage passenger, I've never had the services of either.  So, I NEVER tip them.  @RocketMan275 apparently understood, so I've got that going for me.🤣

 

I've never found this "wrong side of steerage" of which you speak.  That said, I've seen folks that apparently got up on the wrong side of the fancy rooms a few times.

[RocketMan275]

23 minutes ago, ChiefMateJRK said:

Nah.  I was just being a smart aleck.  I thought it would be obvious to many that as a frequent steerage passenger, I've never had the services of either.  So, I NEVER tip them.  @RocketMan275 apparently understood, so I've got that going for me.🤣

If I, @Rocketman275, understood, then everyone should have.  

[Oakman58]

48 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

If I, @Rocketman275, understood, then everyone should have.  

 

Actually I thought it was just a troll post.

[chill6x6]

It depends... I've had concierges do next to nothing....and they got nothing.  We've had some check on us every night while dining and thru out the cruise.  They always had some one holding up a "The Haven" sign to offer us priority boarding at ports.  I can say Dilip Lopes got $200 from us b/c he and his staff absolutely made our vacation better and easier which is the most we've given a concierge.  I hope the concierge on the Bliss is as deserving or more.

 

Butler...The last two we've had have been excellent.  Generally $25-40/day for a job well done. Some go out of their way to serve and can't do enough for you and they get closer to the $40 mark.

 

Cabin steward...Again it depends.   Some go all out.  Straighten your shoes even,,,basically anything they can. Some do the bare minimum.  $15-25/day extra generally.