Tipping???

[Ceelions]

Hello all

 

Question about tipping, RCL has a website that suggests tipping rates, but my understanding was that unless otherwise requested tips were automatically charged to your on-board account. Are the suggested tipping rates extras???

 

Thanks

 

Paula

[Sue L]

No, they are not automatically added, you have to go down to the purser's desk within the first couple of days and fill out a form to have them added or you can just pay in cash. On the last day if you prepay then you receive voucher and envelopes in your room to hand out on the last night. You can add cash if you choose for anyone who gave extra special service.

[piercetc4]

you can request the tips be put on your sea pass card or you can pay in cash on last night- envelopes provided for the cash- if you choose to have it put on your sea pass they will provide vouchers to put in the envelopes- to be handed out last night- tips are like 10 pp per day roughly-

[CroozeAddict]

It was suggested to me on our first cruise that they prefer cash. They won't get their tips for 7-10 days later :mad: if you put it on the seapass card. I have also found that if you give them their tips in advance (privately), with a hint that more may come, you will get service above and beyond:D. I always give a few extra bucks to them on the last night.

[cb at sea]

I don't like the concept of tipping PRIOR to service--it's too much like a bribe! We've never had anything but superior service, which is reflected in the tip at the END of the cruise! (I would feel insulted if someone "pre-tipped", expecting something extra! I would, however, take the money--but I'd be having opinions about the tipper that they wouldn't like!)

[andyjo0930]

The amount on the website is the amount that you would pay if you put your tips on your seapass account. It works out to be 9.75 per person per night of cruise. That is the suggested amount, and you could put more if you thought the service was extraordinary. HOWEVER, on our very first cruise, we saw the head waiter once during our entire cruise. That was on the first night of dinner just to say welcome. Honestly we did not give him a tip. (all cruises after that our head waiter was there every night, welcoming up, asking us about our day in port, even clearing our table on our last cruise). If this is the case and you would prefer not to tip your head waiter, if you put your tips on your seapass, it could automatically tip your head waiter.

[negc]

It was suggested to me on our first cruise that they prefer cash. They won't get their tips for 7-10 days later :mad: if you put it on the seapass card. I have also found that if you give them their tips in advance (privately), with a hint that more may come, you will get service above and beyond:D. I always give a few extra bucks to them on the last night.

 

Actually after that initial delay they receive their tips on a regular schedule. If you tip them in cash this week, their take will be higher for this week, but lower by that amount. So really, it all balances out in the end.:)

I have to question how you can be certain that it is that advance tip that guarantees service "above and beyond". You really can't be certain that you wouldn't have received the same excellent service even if you waited until the end of your cruise to tip. I certainly doubt that any of the staff told you that they were providing you with better service than they would normally provide because you tipped them in advance.:rolleyes:

We tip at the end of the cruise and have rarely, if ever, received sub-par service, and in those rare instances, I have a problem believing that it would have been better if only I had tipped that person in advance. Once the tip is given it is also hard to take back, so it could be money spent in vain.

When service exceeds our expectations, we always add cash to the vouchers in the tip envelopes.

[Ceelions]

Thanks all, I think we will just have them put it on the seapass and anyone that really impresses us we will tip extra - one less thing to think about.

 

Paula

[redsoxfan58]

We just got back from a cruise to Bermuda on Empress. We had the tips put on our sea pass account for just the standard amount. When we were putting the slips into the envelopes to give them out we decided to give extra cash to our head waiter and room steward. My husband had already sealed the envelopes so we just handed them the extra cash.

[lg549]

This will be our first cruise, I am going with my wife and 2 kids in 2 Pr cabins.......Cruise critic says :Many lines recommend about $10 per person per day to be given to the dining room waiter ($4.00 per person, per day), assistant waiter ($2 per person, per day) and cabin steward ($4.00 per person, per day)...If I understand correctly I have to give $10.00 X 4 people X 7 days = $280.00......are these price the right amount ?:confused:

[BobBeaSea]

The amount on the website is the amount that you would pay if you put your tips on your seapass account. It works out to be 9.75 per person per night of cruise. That is the suggested amount, and you could put more if you thought the service was extraordinary. HOWEVER, on our very first cruise, we saw the head waiter once during our entire cruise. That was on the first night of dinner just to say welcome. Honestly we did not give him a tip. (all cruises after that our head waiter was there every night, welcoming up, asking us about our day in port, even clearing our table on our last cruise). If this is the case and you would prefer not to tip your head waiter, if you put your tips on your seapass, it could automatically tip your head waiter.

 

The .75 cents pp per day is a dealbreaker I suppose :), if the dancing bear routine doesn't get performed. I feel badly for headwaiters on RCI, they have the least understood job onboard, passengers just don't understand their functions and RCI doesn't do much to explain what they do so folks stiffing the headwaiters is quite common.

 

The current daily total is $9.75 pp per night for cabin category JS and below, assuming no one gets stiffed.

[Merion_Mom]

This will be our first cruise, I am going with my wife and 2 kids in 2 Pr cabins.......Cruise critic says :Many lines recommend about $10 per person per day to be given to the dining room waiter ($4.00 per person, per day), assistant waiter ($2 per person, per day) and cabin steward ($4.00 per person, per day)...If I understand correctly I have to give $10.00 X 4 people X 7 days = $280.00......are these price the right amount ?:confused:

 

Royal Caribbean's recommended rates are $3.50 per person per day in a non-suite cabin for the cabin attendant, $3.50 per person per day for the waiter, $2 per person per day for the assistant waiter, and 75¢ per person per day for the headwaiter.

 

It *is* so close to $10 per person per day that your estimate of $280 for your cruise is spot on.

 

Here is Theron's amazing tip calculator: http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/

[PhoenixCruiser]

TP Keller has put together a wonderful tipping tool, check it out :D

 

http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/

 

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[PhoenixCruiser]

Hey, no fair editing your post Carol, you type faster than me ;) :D

 

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[Sue L]

This will be our first cruise, I am going with my wife and 2 kids in 2 Pr cabins.......Cruise critic says :Many lines recommend about $10 per person per day to be given to the dining room waiter ($4.00 per person, per day), assistant waiter ($2 per person, per day) and cabin steward ($4.00 per person, per day)...If I understand correctly I have to give $10.00 X 4 people X 7 days = $280.00......are these price the right amount ?:confused:

 

 

Basically yes, it is actually 9.75 per day per person so it would be 68.25 per person x 4 = 273.00

[Andy99]

I always tip cash at the end of the cruise, usually more then recommended. I think its rude to tip first. Can you imagine going to a restaurant and putting the tip on the table when you first sit down. Then if the service is great you add to it as the meal goes on but if the service is bad you take away tip. Its demeaning to the staff. Heres a little something for you and If you behave and do what i want I might throw you a little more at the end of the week.... Maybe its just me but i have a problem with pre tipping.

[Merion_Mom]

Hey, no fair editing your post Carol, you type faster than me ;) :D

 

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hee hee hee...........smarter than the average bear! :D

[lg549]

Thank you for the info....I was looking on the other forum and you can put the tips on you sea pass to get a voucher, my question is can you decide on the amount to put on the sea pass( Let say your not happy with the service) or is it a fix amount?:confused:

[Sue L]

Thank you for the info....I was looking on the other forum and you can put the tips on you sea pass to get a voucher, my question is can you decide on the amount to put on the sea pass( Let say your not happy with the service) or is it a fix amount?:confused:

 

 

Fixed amount, you can add cash in the envelope with the vouchers you will receive.

[PhoenixCruiser]

Thank you for the info....I was looking on the other forum and you can put the tips on you sea pass to get a voucher, my question is can you decide on the amount to put on the sea pass( Let say your not happy with the service) or is it a fix amount?:confused:

 

It is a fixed amount, and you have to make the request a few days before your cruise ends. You can always get cash from the customer service desk and casino.

 

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[zotzer]

We've never had anything but superior service

 

That's why I always just have my TA add it to the total when I book my cruise....since I know I will pay the minimum at least. That way, it's not even part of my seapass bill, but paid for before I even step foot onboard. :) Then I add more to the envelope as deserved.

 

I wouldn't say I "bribe" anyone (then again...all of my baseline tips ARE paid in advance, and they know it), but if I ask for something special, I always tip some extra cash with the request. That way they know that I'm not going to be a high-maintenance stiffer (and yes...they exist!). LOL

 

T

[BearySweet2Cruise]

That's why I always just have my TA add it to the total when I book my cruise....since I know I will pay the minimum at least. That way, it's not even part of my seapass bill, but paid for before I even step foot onboard. :) Then I add more to the envelope as deserved.

 

I wouldn't say I "bribe" anyone (then again...all of my baseline tips ARE paid in advance, and they know it), but if I ask for something special, I always tip some extra cash with the request. That way they know that I'm not going to be a high-maintenance stiffer (and yes...they exist!). LOL

 

T

 

Tracy:

responding to say I love your picture avatar.. but I still miss that pink hat :)

 

We tip in cash at the end, always at the minimum or above. Steward and waiter are typically always above minimum. I have never chosen to put tips on sea pass.

 

I did once, pre tip a steward 20.00 cash with a promise of full tip at end of week.. The steward was appreciative, and did not appear in any way to be offended, however.. service was same as on any other cruise and I do not feel I got anything above and beyond, as the service has most always been superior anyways

 

happy cruising.:) .... and do not forget to tip,no matter which method you choose. The staff is highly dependent on the tip money, as that is what makes up the base of thier salary.

[zotzer]

Tracy:

responding to say I love your picture avatar.. but I still miss that pink hat :) .

 

Awww, you are sweet! Here you go......

[Viclo12]

Awww, you are sweet! Here you go......

 

 

Hey T!! It's Vicki, just wanted to say HI and wish you an amazing time on Explorer! You'll be in my neck of the woods! Happy Birthday to you and have a blast!

 

PS

Make sure you take that fabulous pink hat:o

[zotzer]

Vic!!!

Where have you been??!!

 

I am psyched for sure! The tips are pre-paid, and exactly one week from this very moment, I will be on Explorer's deck with a foo foo drink (well, probably a L.I.T or something) in hand!!

 

Come wave at us. LOL

T