Tipping!!!!!!

[SueFrankuk]

Sorry to ask but could anyone please tell me if the staff in the kids club benefit from the auto tip? I have this strange feeling that it has been mentioned about them not receiving anything.

 

Sorry if this has been asked before and any info will be appreciated

[strummer]

I have also heard this so would like to know as going on my first cruise in May and would not like to miss them out!!

 

Also how do you know how many children are on board for the cruise? Any way of finding out?

 

Thanks Hannah xxx

[AlaskaGolden]

I've been told that the staff in the kids club on Princess does not take part in the auto-tip - reason is that not everyone on-board has kids in the club, so they really can't be part of the auto-tip. The auto-tip is only for the room steward, the wait staff, the deck staff, the buffet staff and their support personnel - people that all passengers benefit from their services. Although I think all passengers benefit from the kids club since the kids aren't running around the common areas since have their own separate area. When they are with their parents their usually exhausted or looking to get back to the kids club!

[strummer]

That seems so unfair to the kids club staff!!

 

Could someone please back this up as I would be tempted to take off my sons auto-tip and then tip the staff individually if this is so.

 

Thanks Hannah x

[Colo Cruiser]

We used to tip the youth staff on the side. :)

[Coral]

That seems so unfair to the kids club staff!!

 

Could someone please back this up as I would be tempted to take off my sons auto-tip and then tip the staff individually if this is so.

 

Assuming your son uses the stateroom (to sleep, shower), the buffet and/or the dining room - why would you do this? With anytime dining, it is difficult to tip each person directly for the waitstaff.

 

He is using an additional service in addition to the normal services. The normal services should still be tipped.

[Vanilla]

Strummer

You can call 1 800 PRINCESS and ask how many children are sailing on your particular cruise. I recently called to ask and found out that anyone under 18 is considered a child and that 800 is the maximium allowed (although some on here have reported more and I believe them).

[Coral]

Strummer

You can call 1 800 PRINCESS and ask how many children are sailing on your particular cruise. I recently called to ask and found out that anyone under 18 is considered a child and that 800 is the maximium allowed (although some on here have reported more and I believe them).

 

I think they make exceptions for holidays or spring break...

[strummer]

Thank you to those who have answered my question and I will certainly tip if I feel it is needed.

 

Thank you vanilla for pointing out that I could call princess I didn't think of that!:o and I will certainly get onto it.

 

Looking forward to the cruise and everyones help has been appreciated.

Everything is a learning curve and I look forward to learning a great deal!!

[sjbdtz]

Everything is a learning curve and I look forward to learning a great deal!!

 

Lesson #1: "Tips" in the auto-tip are really a CORE component of these people's incomes, moreso than a top-up or a "job well-done" compliment. The auto-tip is a baseline, and at the same time is completely sufficient.

 

It rewards not only those who you see (stewards & waiters), but also those you don't see.

 

There are areas of the ship & services thereupon which are not uniformly used by all passengers and therefore are not part of the auto-tip pool:

 

- Casino

- Kid's Club

- Spa

- Concierge & butlers where applicable

- Bar staff.

 

Tipping is customary for these services (bar tabs are automatically augmented by 15% gratuity...careful not to double-tip if you don't mean to).

 

My counsel would be to keep the auto-tip in place, remember those who don't participate in it, and if someone has gone over & above what would be reasonably expected in their job...and done something exclusively for you, I might consider rewarding them in addition to the auto-tip.

 

 

Enjoy your cruise

Stephen

[Cruisin' Chick]

Assuming your son uses the stateroom (to sleep, shower), the buffet and/or the dining room - why would you do this? With anytime dining, it is difficult to tip each person directly for the waitstaff.

 

He is using an additional service in addition to the normal services. The normal services should still be tipped.

 

This is true. We have a child and each cruise we bring a tipping envelope (available at the Passenger Services Desk) with cash for the counselors on the last night of the program. We do not remove the auto-tips. In fact the reasons behind the auto-tips is 1) that Princess has the anytime dining and needed a way to make sure the waitstaff gets their share, and 2) in the past before auto-tips, some passengers will avoid tipping their waitstaff and cabin stewards.

[AZbeachboy]

Most of the extra staff members I have talked even kids club, recreational specialist etc, receive a better wage than service staff. Many have degrees in education or some extended educaton.

 

I would not be affraid to talk to them to find out what the scoop is.

[English Tim]

I assumed the youth counsellors, etc were paid a salary and therefore didn't need tipping, just like the entertainment staff.

 

On our last cruise, the teens had a formal dinner. My son was the only person who hadn't packed a collar and tie and when he arrived in the restaurant the youth staff told him to go and change. He advised them he couldn't, but they refused him entry, so had to go to Horizon Court on his own. Definitely no tips were made!