Room Service Tipping

[NaplesCruiser]

Is there a "standard" or "suggested" tip for Room/Cabin service?

[jtl513]

I can't say, but we usually give $3 to $5 depending on how close they are to the requested time!!

[lougee1043]

depends on what is delivered --- coffee etc in the am - give a buck- for breakfast i give 3 or 4 depending on what was ordered--- in some rare instances your cabin steward may deliver the food and if thats the case i dont tip him --i just add on to the extra tip at the end of the cruise

[Maryandi]

Most people on this forum do tip when the room service waiter shows up. However, it is voluntary as his tip is included in the $10pp, pd gratuity that is automatically added you your room charges.

[Lynne Myrna]

NaplesCruiser....make sure that you bring plenty of one dollar bills with you...it makes it easy.....3 to $4.00 is usually the rate for a meal.....happy cruising!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

The amount of money that a server gets from that $10 per person auto is but cents!!!

 

$3.50 goes to the cabin steward (who does not bring you anything you order), $3.50 goes to your waitstaff in the dining room. And the other $3 is divided among many, many other crew members.

 

Tips depends upon how much order and good you thought the service was.

 

You can always get change at the front office.

[hammybee]

We leave $2-3, usually for some treat DD ordered.

[kryos]

Most people on this forum do tip when the room service waiter shows up. However, it is voluntary as his tip is included in the $10pp, pd gratuity that is automatically added you your room charges.

I've only ordered room service once ... just a small order when I wasn't feeling up to leaving the cabin one day on a cruise. I gave the room service waiter two bucks for his trouble. I think that was more than adequate.

 

Of course, if I ordered a whole breakfast for a couple of people in the cabin, I would probably increase or double that amount.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[AlohaPride]

The amount of money that a server gets from that $10 per person auto is but cents!!!

 

$3.50 goes to the cabin steward (who does not bring you anything you order), $3.50 goes to your waitstaff in the dining room. And the other $3 is divided among many, many other crew members.

 

Tips depends upon how much order and good you thought the service was.

 

You can always get change at the front office.

 

When did we find this out? I remember a few months ago we were "debating" if this was true. At that point, I lost interest. Did someone from HAL explain this to be true? If so, it's great that we finally got it sorted out.

 

Also, do those crew members who deliver room service also have other jobs on board? Just curious :p

[Pudgesmom]

We do not tip for standard room service, as it is included in the $10 per person, per day service charge.

 

Beth

[bottomrung]

I usually save the chocolates from the prior cruise and leave them on the night stand when he/she turns down the bed. Some though are quite bitter after 5 years.;)

[hammybee]

When did we find this out? I remember a few months ago we were "debating" if this was true. At that point, I lost interest. Did someone from HAL explain this to be true? If so, it's great that we finally got it sorted out.

 

Also, do those crew members who deliver room service also have other jobs on board? Just curious :p

 

Mary,

I think the summary was that they share in the pool to what degree, I do not know or care. They most definitely have other jobs on board. Everyone does what they are comfortable doing.

[hammybee]

I think I may have more time logged in Marriott and Hyatt beds than my own. They automatically charge about 18% plus a $2-3 per person service charge on top of the marked-up cost of food delievered to the room. I have had many a hotel waiter tell me that they do not get any of the gratutity or service charge. I don't know or care. $6-7 is enough for a burger and ice water, in a hotel room.

 

Based upon this, I have no problem tipping for room service on a ship. It's relative. We all do what we are comfortable doing.

[sail7seas]

When did we find this out? I remember a few months ago we were "debating" if this was true. At that point, I lost interest. Did someone from HAL explain this to be true? If so, it's great that we finally got it sorted out.

 

Also, do those crew members who deliver room service also have other jobs on board? Just curious :p

 

We have been told exactly the breakdown that KK posted.

We have been told that by every CD on every cruise we have sailed since the automatic tip went into effect......and that's a lot of cruises. :)

 

$3.50 to cabin steward

$3.50 to dining team

Balance distributed among MANY people to the end result Room Service Stewards/Pinnacle Grill Stewards get very little of it.

 

Perhaps every one of those CD's has given us incorrect info? I don't think so.

[hammybee]

Perhaps every one of those CD's has given us incorrect info? I don't think so.[/b]

 

I agree with you Sail. We have heard the same story. It would be counter-productive for a CD to give out erroneous information.

[sail7seas]

This is one of those 'Internet Moments' when I wish I could see body language and facial expression. :)

 

[AlohaPride]

 

Perhaps every one of those CD's has given us incorrect info? I don't think so.

 

I wasn't doubting you, I had just missed that part of the last debate. It was just a question...:o

 

So, let me see. On our Christmas cruise, each passenger will tip approximately $10 pp pd. The Noordam can hold 1,918 passengers. I'm assuming (and we all know what THAT leads to) the ship will be full due to the season and all. Therefore, this equals approximately $19,180 per day. On our 11 day cruise this total in gratuity equals $210,980.

The HAL website lists 800 crew members. Of this number, I'm not sure of a few things: 1) How many are officers and cannot receive part of any tip; 2) How many are Cabin Stewards; and 3) How many are on the dining team.

Also, are those who deliver room service considered part of the dining team? They serve food, so I would think that maybe they are....again, just an assumption.

Honestly, I don't really care. If I receive bad service, I'll let the manager know. If I receive good service I'll let the $10 pp/day suffice, and if I receive excellent service (which I believe I will) I'll probably bump the $10 pp/day up to maybe $12 or $15 in order that ALL crew members are awarded and not just those who bring the meal.

[Grumpy1]

Our breakfast on Prinsendam was delivered by our assistant waiter. When he delivered breakfast on the last morning, he did not want to accept a tip as he said we had given him more than enough the night before in the dining room. We forced a few dollars on him though...

[AAAAmerican]

Even in the days, not very long past, Holland America was one of the 5 Star Premier Lines which INCLUDED TIPPAGE.. having that we still added to the included amounts as when somone goes above and beyond there duties it is fair to share a reward of sorts with them..

 

If HAL went back to this it may be well and thye could raise the fares accordingly and the same tippers would still tip..

 

Seeing different bb threads on this TIPping matter all the time is going to be a norm.

 

Always a differnce in opinion as we all have them:::

 

 

HammyBee

Based upon this, I have no problem tipping for room service on a ship. It's relative. We all do what we are comfortable doing

 

 

sail7seas We have been told that by every CD on every cruise we have sailed since the automatic tip went into effect......and that's a lot of cruises.

 

$3.50 to cabin steward

$3.50 to dining team

Balance distributed among MANY people to the end result Room Service Stewards/Pinnacle Grill Stewards get very little of it.

 

Perhaps every one of those CD's has given us incorrect info? I don't think so.

 

 

 

Pudgesmom We do not tip for standard room service, as it is included in the $10 per person, per day service charge.

 

Beth

 

 

bottomrung I usually save the chocolates from the prior cruise and leave them on the night stand when he/she turns down the bed. Some though are quite bitter after 5 years.

 

 

 

wowzo Most people on this forum do tip when the room service waiter shows up. However, it is voluntary as his tip is included in the $10pp, pd gratuity that is automatically added you your room charges.

 

So yes it is actually still an American Personal Choice. Even the US Court in White Plains, thats the County seat over in Westchester Co, NY ruled on Tipping at banquets in the defendants behalf saying it was the payees discretion to pay or not to pay... not the Caterer calling it a mandatory 15-18-20 % gratuity./..tip... added fee... etc..

 

The bottom Line

_______________________________________________

:cool:

[sail7seas]

To the best of my knowledge, Tipping was never included on HAL. As long as we have been sailing, tipping was called 'optional' but never included.

 

It is because so many people 'opted' to not tip that they began the automatic tipping system.

 

[cruzincurt]

Here we go with the in-depth analysis of who gets what and when and who told you so. You'd think only accountants and penny pinchers cruised on HAL. Perhaps someone could provide us with an Excel spreadsheet to calculate the tip distribution.

 

Two or three $1 bills for a light breakfast or afternoon sandwich (not $1 coins or $2 bills). It's a personal thing for personal services rendered. Now to really upset the apple cart so to speak, if a white gloved cruise member escorts us to our cabin, that's worth $2 at least. Makes me feel like royality. I know where the cabin is by heart by the time the cruise comes around, but we act like we don't to allow the escort feel like he/she is doing their job. It's part of the ritual.

 

IMO, I really don't care who the CD is, or what the CD says. I have a mind of my own to decide what I want to do with my money, after all, I'm the one who earned it.

[OldCodger73]

There's a whole philosophical question about tipping, with servers in restaurants expecting a tip as their right no matter how bad the service is. But that's not the question poses by the original poster. We stock up on $2.00 bills prior to the cruise and use these to tip room service. Since tipping is a personal choice what you care to give or not give is up to you. There is no right answer.

[hammybee]

This is one of those 'Internet Moments' when I wish I could see body language and facial expression. :)

 

 

Well I am laughing and shaking my head imagining what the OP must be thinking. :)

[AAAAmerican]

To the best of my knowledge, Tipping was never included on HAL. As long as we have been sailing, tipping was called 'optional' but never included.

 

It is because so many people 'opted' to not tip that they began the automatic tipping system.

 

 

HAL had the:

And our ""Tipping Not Required"" policy means service is always genuine, gracious and unconditional.

 

SO yes to most people the ( NOT REQUIRED) wording was included.

 

HAL once bought by Carnival,after, prior to going CH 11 and 7 as you know now has instituted the tippage procedures more consitant as all the other lines have this method as well on them.

[lougee1043]

Even in the days, not very long past, Holland America was one of the 5 Star Premier Lines which INCLUDED TIPPAGE.. having that we still added to the included amounts as when somone goes above and beyond there duties it is fair to share a reward of sorts with them..>>>>

 

tipping was NEVER included in your cabin cost---it was tipping optional-- it you didnt hand a cash tip to a specific person then that person didnt get a tip