Paying tips in cash...question

[Riley's Mom]

I know everyone has an opinion about this but we have always paid our tips in cash and that is the way we like to do it. I already have the $300 put back for the tips for the 4 of us but have a question.

How soon after boarding can we go to the pursers office/desk to have the tips removed from our S & S account???

Thanks as always,

Carla

[jckvpa0]

I would think as soon as you board.

 

Yes most people do have an opinion on this. I for one would not take the tips off because I do not want the people that have worked hard for me all week long to get less than what they are due.

 

I too like to tip in cash, that Is why at the end of the cruise I give them an extra tip !

[vesw01]

Personally we try to leave as much off our S&S card as possible. We aren't big drinkers and we don't need their 4000000 pictures. It is great to leave the ship without worrying about how much we charge. I took mine off the 2nd day - no questions asked.

[shallwechat]

i take mine off as soon as i get onboard. that way, i have nothing to worry about. i am a large tipper and like to hand it to them personally....and i make sure they do have the money they deserve.

 

these people work hard for what money they get. i have come across some who aren't worth anything but i have learned that on the whole, most of them deserve the tip and i do tip them.

 

what gets me is the automatic tip on the bar tab. i went on elation last month and had numerous bartenders with attitudes....one was so rude to the man next to me it left him speechless......he tried to get rude with me but of course, as usual, i spoke up for myself and copped the attitude back (politely lol) and he got the message. when we walked away, the man next to me said, "i wish i would have said something, he didn't have to be so rude."

 

i am not a trouble maker and am not hard to please on a cruise. if i have clean towels daily, i am happy. i don't need the frills of towel animals and mints....just clean towels.

 

it's up to you about the tips but i bring extra cash just for tips....and get an envelope at the end of the cruise to hand it to them personally and thank them for the good time.

[shallwechat]

i was on elation 2/20 and i complained to carnival about the bartenders. they were very very very rude...some of them...and i did make a point to get their names.

 

and, like you, i can "cop" my attitude back, politely. i don't like the tipping thing automatically to them either. they were definately with attitude for the week.....and my poor little cabin stewart was very nice and worked his little buns off....i gave him a big fat tip, above and beyond what was due, for his services.

 

take me of me, i will take care of you!

[VentureMan_2000]

I would like to ask a question back...

 

I don't understand the need to tip in cash... why do it...?

[Riley's Mom]

Venture,

I will try and explain in my "own logic".. I think of the S &S account and the cash I bring on board as 2 completely separate accounts... I already have the cash put aside in envelopes for tips, how much to spend in each port, for shore excursions,etc. The S & S account I like to keep solely for the purpose of alcohol, onboard shopping, casino and pictures...

This is just my way of doing things and have always done it this way.

Am glad I have the option to do so..

P>S> I NEVER SKIP out on paying the tips...if this was what you were thinking....

Carla

[PaulMedik]

I would like to ask a question back...

 

I don't understand the need to tip in cash... why do it...?

 

 

 

VentureMan,

 

I like to also.

 

I leave the auto tips unless there's a major reason to adjust them, but a tip is from me to the person and I prefer to give them ca$h.

 

I look at the auto tip system as being their payment from Carnival on everyone's behalf and my ca$h is my payment on my behalf. :)

[dan40]

Just a thought for you "cash" tippers. The cruiselines already know that 92% of those that remove their tips from the S&S [to pay in cash, ho, ho]--STIFF-- the workers.

Not saying thats what you're going to do. But thats what the servers will be thinking about you all week.

Also if you tip in cash only, they have to put the money in the tip pool. [They will be asked why you removed the tip and they will tell you tipped in cash or they must explain why you were unhappy]

If you leave it on the S&S plus add some cash at the end [or beginning], they can keep all that cash.

Plus money is money, whats the big deal about making them aknowledge your generousity with cash. Leave it on the S&S.

 

About the bartenders, 46 cruises, never had a rude one. But you can tell them to take off the tip. [it is optional, same as any other tip]

 

Not that it matters to anybody but I think all tip questions are really asking how to get out of tipping. Just my opinion.

 

Dan

[PaulMedik]

Just a thought for you "cash" tippers. The cruiselines already know that 92% of those that remove their tips from the S&S [to pay in cash, ho, ho]--STIFF-- the workers.

..............

 

Dan

 

 

Dan,

 

If I remove an auto tip, it won't be to 'stiff' the worker, it will be to avoid encouraging poor service by tipping regardless. If I remove an auto tip, I do hope they investigate or inquire as to why, because there WILL be a reason. ;)

 

Yeah, I know that some people view the tips as the workers pay and I know that some feel they are way underpaid etc, but the fact is that a tip is not a wage and should not be construed as such by those who are actually paying. If the cruiseline makes it their wage, so be it; that does not mean that we must follow suit.

 

I've never had a rude bartender either and find it hard to imagine how a bartender could actually be rude such that I'd notice. As long as they provide what I request, they'll get a tip in addition to the built in tip. :)

 

When I tip additional amounts in ca$h, I prefer to use an envelope so there's no uncomfortable emotion on their part relevant to the tip. I also don't like to make a production about it.

 

Personally, I like the auto tip mainly because it saves time and effort on my part by making sure that everyone is taken care of. I liked the old way of filling the envelopes and passing them out on the last night, but the new way gives me more time to relax and I don't have to plan something out.....which is why it has to be something real bad for me to remove an auto tip; laziness on my part ;)

[buftravel]

Ask at the Pier to have them removed and then reiterate this to the front desk as soone as you can get there. Be sure to get the name of the person you gave the request to and write down. Also, check after a few days, on your TV , to make sure the amount is removed from your sign/sail account.

Have agreat cruise!

[Cotton]

I am of the same mindset, Dan. I'm not saying the posters on this thread do this....but I think that MOST of the folks who remove their tips either tip very little or not at all. I guess they leave the ship thinking they really pulled a fast one. Shame.:p

 

Then, there's another little theory I have... I think by handing the tips out, it makes some folks feel important. Like "Look what I'm doing for you! Now you may thank me in person."

 

I guess it's not widely known - but the waiters and the cabin stewards get a list of who has left their auto tips in place and who has removed them. So they are already well aware that YOU have tipped them.

 

You're also correct about what happens when tips are removed. Those individuals are called in and talked with to see what the problem must have been for passengers to remove their tips!:eek: Then they have to defend themselves and say they did nothing wrong.

 

And yes, last but not least, whatever cash tips they have been given must be turned in and pooled (IF they have been removed from the S&S account).

 

How unfortunate that folks don't realize the injustice they are doing to the crew members.:(

[tiffyms02]

Dan- So you're saying that you actually have the option to remove the automatic 15% gratuity if you are dissatisfied with the bartender? If so, I never realized this before. I've never had a rude bartender, I was just curious.

[Cotton]

Ask at the Pier to have them removed and then reiterate this to the front desk as soone as you can get there. Be sure to get the name of the person you gave the request to and write down. Also, check after a few days, on your TV , to make sure the amount is removed from your sign/sail account.

Have agreat cruise!

 

Boy, you really go out of your way to make sure the tips are removed, don't you?

 

In the first place, the only way is to tell them at the purser's desk, not at the pier. And why would you get 'names'...? If you ask at the purser's desk, they'll remove them. Not very trusting, are you?

 

Thx, you have a great cruise, too.

[VentureMan_2000]

Ask at the Pier to have them removed and then reiterate this to the front desk as soone as you can get there. Be sure to get the name of the person you gave the request to and write down. Also, check after a few days, on your TV , to make sure the amount is removed from your sign/sail account.

 

 

Doesn't this just sound like too much work... ?

 

It almost has a negative feel to it. This is a lot of work to make sure Carnival doesn't leave the TIP on the S&S...

 

 

TIPping can get very philosophical, but the statistics speak for themselves...

 

A ship with 1300 cabins will have 51 cabins that will want their TIPs removed under the guise that they will only TIP in cash. But only 17 of those 51 cabins will actually tip in cash, and the other 34 will not TIP a penny.

[VentureMan_2000]

Venture' date='[/color']

 

I will try and explain in my "own logic".. I think of the S &S account and the cash I bring on board as 2 completely separate accounts... I already have the cash put aside in envelopes for tips, how much to spend in each port, for shore excursions,etc. The S & S account I like to keep solely for the purpose of alcohol, onboard shopping, casino and pictures...

 

This is just my way of doing things and have always done it this way.

 

Am glad I have the option to do so..

 

 

 

Thanks Carla for an sincere answer...

 

Would it be almost as easy that when you visit the Pursers desk to have TIPs removed, to apply your cash TIP money to your S&S and be done with it...?

 

I love the "good-to-go" feeling of not having to deal with TIPping myself... by having it on my S&S card.

 

But your way makes sense too...!

[aggieastrosfan]

Could those of you that are one of the posters above please check your signatures? Someone's got a signature that is crashing IE every time you try to open the thread. I turned off the siggys and was finally able to view the thread.

 

TIA. :)

[mrdood]

Two things I hate about removing the tips:

 

1) Terrible hassle to actually go through the process of doing this AND (worst part) having to fill out envelopes and allocate the money and actually have the cash to match.

 

2) I am not capable of dividing the tips up among all the people that deserve it, I don't know how to hand the guy at the buffet that makes those wonderful omelettes and slices the roast beef his share of my money, because he deserves some, and the person that cleans and buses my tables, they deserves some too. I also don't know if I should give the Cabin steward all the money or if I should divide it somehow between that person and the two helpers that actually do most of the work.

 

In fact, I have never downgraded anyone's tips from my sign and sail even with minor glitches. For our cruise in May, we have family and five rooms, I did all the booking and all the rooms have tips pre-paid so all the first time cruisers do not have to worry about the money or the hassle. This is the first time I have pre-paid the tips - but will probably be the wave of the future for me - they can't be adjusted if you do this, but never needed to...

[SeaBrz]

True story from 3 weeks ago on Fantasy:

 

Two days before arriving home, 3 people working Purser's Desk, no line:

 

Me: "Umm, excuse me ... I checked the TV but cannot seem to find the channel that shows my online account."

 

Purser Rep: "Oh I'm sorry, the Fantasy doesn't have that system installed. Do you have a question about a particular charge that I can look up?"

 

Me: "Well, no, actually I just wanted to see what I was tipping my Cabin Steward and his assistant."

 

Purser Rep: (worried look) "You are tipping them a total of $28 for the two of you. Do you want to adjust that?"

 

Me: "Yes, I'd like to add to that because they have gone totally out of their way to please my 6-yr-old grandson. This S&S tip thing is new to me so I'm not sure if I have to add that on my card or can actually give them cash."

 

Purser Rep: (total shock on face) "Oh that is so nice! You can do it either way. Here are envelopes if you'd rather give cash. Do you need any change? They will appreciate this sooooo much." States louder assumably for other reps to hear: "This lady wants to ADD to her gratuities."

 

Not sure if they'd had a rush of cruisers cancelling out their S&S tips that day, but I'm sure this is more common on the shorter (cheaper) 3/4 night cruises.

[I Luv Crusin]

On my next cruise I'm even going to do something more radical!!! I've PREPAID the tips!:eek: I figure that the 10.00 per day per person is the minimum that I will tip I'd tip. If service is exceeded I will tip the guilty parties!

[cruzincurt]

If the room steward gets a printout that you've removed the auto tip, I wonder where your toothbrush might visit.

[babyclaytonmom]

My ex-husband and several of my best friends currently or in the past have worked on multiple cruiselines. Believe me they dont always get their fair share from pre-paid gratuities. Some lines are better than others. Most employees like the cash so they have it quicker to send to their families etc...