Tipping for Room Service??

[luv2cruz62]

Just wondering......are you required to tip the person who brings you your

room service order (breakfast etc.)?? I know it would be a nice gesture, but is it expected?

Leaving on the Sun on Aug. 19.....just one of many questions I have/will have prior to our departure! (can't wait....:p )

Thanks!

[RDSLS]

I always tip room service. Not sure if it is expected, but it is the right thing to do - imho.

[7SeasLover]

They should be tipped with each delivery they make.

[watchdiva]

DH and I always tip for room service delivery - on HAL ships they don't have butlers (which is why we're back sailing on NCL:D ). I don't know if it's "expected" but we've always felt those who make our cruise so enjoyable should be acknowledged with a small tip. We bring lots of singles on board for just that purpose.........

[2Scots]

Hi - we always tip for room service mostly $$ (ones) which we bring plenty of. We also tip for special extras that we ask for such as: bathrobes, foam topper for the bed. Just as a gesture that we appreciate good service. We leave a thank you note in the room sometimes when we think the cabin steward has done something exceptionally well... such as leaving a special towel animal, or anticipating a need.

 

I don't think it is absolutely necessary but why not...... make someone's day.

 

2Scots

[Velvet Teddy Bear]

HI..... There are 3 of us traveling together, and when we board the ship, one of the first things I do is tip the room steward 10.00.....as we want 2 copies of the daily schedule, and always ice in the room, and other little things like that....when we get off the ship at the end, there is another 10/20 dollars......also we have room service every morning....they get a 2.00 tip....coffee, juice, rolls.......I board ship with 50.00 in ones, and 100.00 in fives....just to be safe....yes I know about the 10.00 per day added...but that is split among so many.....We also tip extra daily, in the dinning room.....:)

 

till we all sail again....jus' me...jim...the velvet teddy bear :cool:

[Cosmopolitan]

Just wondering......are you required to tip the person who brings you your

room service order (breakfast etc.)?? I know it would be a nice gesture, but is it expected?

Leaving on the Sun on Aug. 19.....just one of many questions I have/will have prior to our departure! (can't wait....:p )

Thanks!

 

Not expected but appreciated;)

 

Ask away....your ? can all be answered.

Have a wonderful cruise:)

[Kathy Q]

Not expected but appreciated;)

 

Ask away....your ? can all be answered.

Have a wonderful cruise:)

 

How much would you tip for a room service breakfast in a penthouse suite? Would you tip differently for room service dinner? I know the butler and concierge are outside the $10 a day tip pool and are generally tipped separately at the end of the cruise (in addition to the $10 a day for the rest of the service crew). For the suites, would you tip as you go and give a lump sum at the end? Just want to do the right thing...

 

Less than two weeks to go!

 

Kathy Q

[Baitman19]

How much would you tip for a room service breakfast in a penthouse suite? Would you tip differently for room service dinner? I know the butler and concierge are outside the $10 a day tip pool and are generally tipped separately at the end of the cruise (in addition to the $10 a day for the rest of the service crew). For the suites, would you tip as you go and give a lump sum at the end? Just want to do the right thing...

 

Less than two weeks to go!

 

Kathy Q

 

The Butler & Concierge don't need an incentive to give great service. They don't expect to be tipped as you go, in fact, most refuse to take the tip until the end of the cruise.

 

The tip is related to how much you use them. There is NO set policy for tipping. It's to your own discretion.

 

Happy Sailing,

Monty

[Kathy Q]

Thanks Monty! I didn't realize until a couple of weeks ago that the Butler and Concierge weren't in the daily tipping pool. I know everyone says it's up to the individual, but there must be a range, like $100 for ok service, $200 for above average service and $$$$ if you win at the casino, right? :D

 

I haven't gotten a sense yet what the anticipated range is for the Butler and Consierge, from their point of view. We're going to be with a large group (have 40 cabins booked) and we will have at least two cocktail parties in our suite during the cruise and two parties in one of the other suites. What kind of support should we ask the butler for? Since it's an extra effort, should we tip after the party just to say thanks?

 

Kathy Q

[BarbCT605]

How much would you tip for a room service breakfast in a penthouse suite? Would you tip differently for room service dinner? I know the butler and concierge are outside the $10 a day tip pool and are generally tipped separately at the end of the cruise (in addition to the $10 a day for the rest of the service crew). For the suites, would you tip as you go and give a lump sum at the end? Just want to do the right thing...

 

Less than two weeks to go!

 

Kathy Q

I called room service from a suite and they forwarded my request to the butler anyway:rolleyes: . (I've forgotten why I tried to do this...maybe it was very late or very early.)

 

So, the butler will be your "room service." The butler will definitely be the one who will serve you dinner in yhour suite.

 

Don't tip the butler as you go. I think that tipping the butler is best at the end of the cruise.

 

The reason pax tip for each visit from room service: different people may be delivering room service throughout the cruise, so they tip as they go.

[98Charlie]

We generally call for coffee and danish each morning. On several occasions the room service person has set down the tray and turned for the door so fast I would have to stop them to give them a tip.

 

Some have seemed almost surprised to recieve a gratuity at all.

 

We usually tip $2 wrapped around a mini candy bar. One room service steward looked at the candy bar, then at DW & I and said, "I remember you". She had done room service on a previous ship we had been on:D

 

Charlie

[sweetpea-2]

Just wondering......are you required to tip the person who brings you your

room service order (breakfast etc.)?? I know it would be a nice gesture, but is it expected?

Leaving on the Sun on Aug. 19.....just one of many questions I have/will have prior to our departure! (can't wait....:p )

Thanks!

 

;) IMHO yes one should tip room service.....$2.00 is not enough to hurt anyone and it's a nice gesture on your part...have fun

[NJBear]

Just wondering......are you required to tip the person who brings you your

room service order (breakfast etc.)?? I know it would be a nice gesture, but is it expected?

Leaving on the Sun on Aug. 19.....just one of many questions I have/will have prior to our departure! (can't wait....:p )

Thanks!

 

Definitely not required and I've never experienced a room service server "lingering" for an "expected" tip. Actually more than once as I was 1/2 asleep and pre coffee I had to stop them at the door on their way out to call them back to give them a tip.

I usually tip $2 for morning coffee and a danish.

[kokosmama]

I too will be facing the "how much to tip" question for a butler & concierge on the Sun on 8/12. We will be in an AD Penthouse and I want to do the right thing. Does anyone know how much money these individuals are paid by the cruise line? There will be 3 of us in the room.

[98Charlie]

I too will be facing the "how much to tip" question for a butler & concierge on the Sun on 8/12. We will be in an AD Penthouse and I want to do the right thing. Does anyone know how much money these individuals are paid by the cruise line? There will be 3 of us in the room.

Should tipping be relative to how much they make in salary?

 

We've never been in a category higher than Oceanview (although the next 3 are balconies). However, I believe that there is a suggested amount for the butler and concierge. Follow that and you will be correct.

 

On each of our previous cruises we have tipped the minimum plus extra for the WOW Factor. (Wow, I didn't expect that:D ) Only once did we give a minimum tip. It was to our room steward on the Sea. We worked with him and talked to his supervisor but bare minimum service was his best day:(

 

Charlie

[watchdiva]

I'm with 98Charlie - to us it makes NO difference how much the butler and concierge are paid by NCL. We make extensive use of both individuals and tip them accordingly. The butler will bring all your meals, get DVDs for you, serve at private functions held in your suite, oversee housekeeping (at least Denny did this for us on the Dawn) and just about anything else you can wish for. I think ShoreGuy put it best, the butler does things and the concierge arranges things. We have had the concierge make all our dinner reservations (we try to meet with him/her shortly after we embark), spa appointments, etc.

 

Since we make full use of their services - you can believe that we tip them accordingly. If I recall correctly, on one trip our butler received either $250-300 for the week and the concierge received $100. If I could have found a way to smuggle our butler home with us - I'd have done it in a nano-second.

 

Do what makes you comfortable - that's what we do and it works for us.

[amy86]

We have an AD cabin booked on the Spirit for 11 nights. I plan to tip a minimum of $200 for the butler and $100 for conceirge, and those figures will likely go up depending on how often they go above and beyond. And because it's our honeymoon, and we plan to dine in the room quite often, so likely more for the butler regardless.

[luv2cruz62]

Thanks for all your replies.......I will be sure to have a wallet full of dollar bills (will be strange when I'm used to carrying CDN loonies!!)

I have been away camping for a couple of weeks and forgot about posting my original message! I was quite surprised with all the info that you all supplied!

 

thanks again.......

 

oh ya....one more question.....does anyone know how to contact someone who is sailing on the same date via the roll call?? There is FINALLY someone who is sailing on Aug. 19 on the Sun....now I know that there will be at least a few other people on the ship!!;)

[98Charlie]

.....does anyone know how to contact someone who is sailing on the same date via the roll call?? There is FINALLY someone who is sailing on Aug. 19 on the Sun....now I know that there will be at least a few other people on the ship!!;)

If you have already found a roll call listing, just post a reply. There is no way to contact others privately unless they have posted their email address.

 

Charlie

[newmexicoNita]

Just wondering......are you required to tip the person who brings you your

room service order (breakfast etc.)?? I know it would be a nice gesture, but is it expected?

Leaving on the Sun on Aug. 19.....just one of many questions I have/will have prior to our departure! (can't wait....:p )

Thanks!

I have not read the answers yet, but am pretty sure they will all be about the same: yes, it is expected, a large tip? No, but certainly a buck or two. Of course this is still a personal matter and you have to do what you feel is right, but most do tip something. NMNita