Tip HELP!!!

[cthompson]

On top of the 10/day/person carnival charges your fun pass who else should be tipped, when, and how much? Please help, this is our first cruise... Thanks

[firefly333]

I tip shuttle bus drivers or anyone that handles my luggage. If you have children in the children's activities you can tip them. If you ask your steward for something special you can tip extra. Like some bring their own cooler and ask the steward to keep it filled with ice, that would be extra, so Id tip extra.

 

If you order a mixed drink they will automatically add a 15% tip on top of the price. If you drink a can of coke they add a tip.

[Lovely Cruise]

Tip 2-3 dollars each time you order room service.

[niffer03878]

On top of the 10/day/person carnival charges your fun pass who else should be tipped, when, and how much? Please help, this is our first cruise... Thanks

 

I've been wondering this same question myself... we leave for our 1st cruise tomorrow and we want to make sure that we don't gyp anyone on tips

[DiamondBill102]

We just got back from our first cruise. I wasnt sure about the tipping either but we asked some friends and we also just figured it out as we went.

 

I would suggest just going with your gut feelings. If someone goes the extra mile for you tip them above the standard $10.00.

 

We did tip out cabin steward an extra 20.00........10.00 at the start of the cruise and 10.00 at the end. We also tips the Camp Carnival staff because they were great with our 9 year old son. He loved it so much and was there 5-6 hours a day.

 

We also tips our waitors 10.00 and 20.00

 

One person we were glad we tipped was the cocktail waitress. We also gave her 10.00 at the start of the cruise and 10.00 at the end. Every night we had our drinks waiting for us at dinner.

 

Hope this helps.

[travgurl]

The tip was $10 per day per person in the cabin. We also gave a dollar for each bag to tranport peopel and the baggage people at the ports. Since our servers and steward did such a wonderful job, we gave them an extra bonus at the end of the trip in an envelope. What really bothered me was they pass out envelopes on the last night for the maitre d, he did not even speak to us all week.

[crusinmama06]

We take extra tip money for the pre-cruise stay and transportation (taxi/shuttle drivers)

 

Then when you arrive at the port, the porters get a few bucks because they use the phrase "We'll take good care of your bags" :eek: I feel like if I don't tip them, my bag will end up in the water...lol.

 

Room service - $1-2 per item ordered

 

Camp staff (not necessary but some do)

[*Mach*]

We take extra tip money for the pre-cruise stay and transportation (taxi/shuttle drivers)

 

Then when you arrive at the port, the porters get a few bucks because they use the phrase "We'll take good care of your bags" :eek: I feel like if I don't tip them, my bag will end up in the water...lol.

 

Room service - $1-2 per item ordered

 

Yep... that sounds right.

 

A buck or two per bag that the porters take, a buck or two for room service depending on what and how much you order.

 

You can add additional tips at the end of the cruise for the folks who went above and beyond and there are generally several.

 

If the ship you're sailing on has a supper club and you dine there you might tip extra for your waiter, if you're so inclined. The standard $30 charge includes a gratuity.

[EastTexans2]

I am also cruising Carnival for the first time (can't wait!).....Do they leave tip envelopes in your room on the last day like RCCL does? And are their coupons for the envelopes that show you "pre-paid tips"? I plan to leave something "extra" but want to know how Carnival handles the rest of it. Thanks.

[crusinmama06]

I am also cruising Carnival for the first time (can't wait!).....Do they leave tip envelopes in your room on the last day like RCCL does? And are their coupons for the envelopes that show you "pre-paid tips"? I plan to leave something "extra" but want to know how Carnival handles the rest of it. Thanks.

 

No they don't. There are no coupons like RCCL has. I did find a few extra envelopes in my cabin so that's how I tipped extra.

[LHP]

Porters that handle your luggage 1 -2 depending the on weight of the suitcase. (if we are driving to a port and I am not restricted on weight, one suitcase can weigh 75 pounds)

 

We keep the standard automatic tips in place and then give the cabin steward or waiters any extra that we feel they have earned. I tip the cabin steward when I am using our Platinum perk of free wash and fold.

 

Then I always tip the cocktail wait staff that is working the karaoke lounge. I spend every night in there (all night!!) and I drink water or soda which I bring wirh me. It has always been the same person working it every night, so I tip them at the end of the cruise the 15% they would have earned if they had been bringing me drinks all week.

 

Room service is $1 -2 depending on how much stuff I order.

 

The rest is random. I have bought karaoke hosts drinks, an ACD a bottle of liquor, tipped $1 for at request song a the piano bar , the Maitre D' because they always assist us with our special needs son.

 

The bottom line is that you can go as over board or not as you want. The standard tips are in place. The rest depends on whether you use the service or someone just does something nice (or extra) for you.

 

I do bring about $50 in one dollar bills for this purpose...but you can always break a $20 at the casino.

 

Have a great cruise!!

[pholter]

Here's what we did extra on our last 2 cruises:

1) $5 each for the Assistant Cabin Steward and Cabin Steward at the beginning of the cruise when we dropped off our bags. Then mid week and end of the week another $5 - $10 per Steward. We found that the Assistant was the one doing most of the work in our cabin, so she got the $10 tips.

2) Karaoke Bartender got an extra $5 per night and another $10 at the end of the week.

3) Karaoke host got $20 at the end of the week.

4) Head Waiter got an extra $10 at the end of the week and the Assistant Waiter got an extra $20, cuz once again- it was the Assistant that was taking care of most of the work at our table

5) Maitre'D- we've only tipped him on 1 cruise because we had special requests and he actually showed up to talk every night- not just on the last night with his hand out like normal. $10

6) The Special up charge bakery girl in the evenings got $10 at the end of the week, cuz she was just awesome and always made sure my favorites were waiting.

7) Room Service got $1 - $2 per item ordered depending on how their attitude was upon delivery.

8) Social Host got $10 at the end cuz she kept us involved all week long and hunted us down sometimes to participate to keep our "Blue Team" gaining points.

9) $10 per person per private shore excursion booked. They are always much cheaper than Carnival, so the extra tips we give sometimes over the $10 are still a bargain!

[EastTexans2]

o.k. one more stupid question from me......if you are tipping extra at the end of the cruise (cabin steward, waiter; asst.waiter)....do you bring a "thank you" card from home or do you just hand them cash?

[pholter]

o.k. one more stupid question from me......if you are tipping extra at the end of the cruise (cabin steward, waiter; asst.waiter)....do you bring a "thank you" card from home or do you just hand them cash?

I get extra envelopes from the Purser's Desk and just hand them the cash and let them know how much I appreciated them making my cruise special. I did not bring or buy cards for them.

[Kurbanfan]

On top of the 10/day/person carnival charges your fun pass who else should be tipped, when, and how much? Please help, this is our first cruise... Thanks

 

Some of these answers might frighten you lol! The 10/day/person is sufficient. As for the porters at the terminal $1.00 a bag is good. Room service $1.00 - $2.00 is good. No need to tip extra for you drinks...they automatically add 15% tip on each drink.

If you would like to tip extra for outstanding service that is your personal decision but not necessary.

Also someone mentioned if you stay at a hotel pre or post and the taxi drive to and from the port.

Also if you feel your service is not adequate then you can contact the purser/hotel manager and let them know of your situation. They should take care of the problem. If not you can ask the pursers desk to adjust your tips.

Hope you have a wonderful cruise!!!

[ManyMore]

Tipping is such a personal decision. Just remember how hard these people work and how long their hours are. On my first or second day if I have found a bartender that we click with and is fun, I know I will keep going back to them so I usually give them $10 at that time to let them know I enjoy their company. Usually at the end of the cruise I will tip them another $20. I usually tip about $10 over the regular tip for each of those included in the tips that are charged to my OBA. If I find someone on the lido that has really gone above and beyond, then they too will get an added tip.

 

As for the porters... I feel that $2 per bag is good. Most people pack their bags so tight and heavy that you couldn't fit another tissue in there! LOL I myself pack light but I know those who don't. Also they are out there in the heat, cold, rain, snow... whatever weather there might be. Think to yourself... would you do their job? Also... if you don't tip them at all.. your bags won't end up in the ocean but there is a chance that one of the tags may get ripped off BY ACCIDENT and you have to go hunt down that bag. You have paid a lot for your cruise... don't choose to skimp on the people who work hard for you, have one less drink instead.

[Kurbanfan]

As for the porters... I feel that $2 per bag is good. Most people pack their bags so tight and heavy that you couldn't fit another tissue in there! LOL I myself pack light but I know those who don't. Also they are out there in the heat, cold, rain, snow... whatever weather there might be. Think to yourself... would you do their job? Also... if you don't tip them at all.. your bags won't end up in the ocean but there is a chance that one of the tags may get ripped off BY ACCIDENT and you have to go hunt down that bag. You have paid a lot for your cruise... don't choose to skimp on the people who work hard for you, have one less drink instead.

 

Actually alot of people would love their job. Since they are union workers and make great money anyways. And on top of that they get paid overtime for this. Let's not forget they what maybe roll your luggage 2 or 3 feet to put in the bin:rolleyes: Please don't feel sorry for the porters...

[ManyMore]

I have to convey this story as my BF just reminded me of it when I talked of this post.

One day we were walking the deck trying to work off one of the many buffets lol when we came upon a man who was painting an area out in the direct sun. When we walked by he flashed us a smile, said have a nice day and went back to his work. After our walk I went down to the cabin and grabbed a few one dollar bills and went back up on deck. This man was still painting away and when he saw me again said... need more sun? and smiled. I told him no, I came back up to see him and held out the dollar bills to him. He looked at my hand and then up at me with a puzzled look. I told him it was for him and that we appreciated his hard work in making our experience better. Well you would have thought I just handed the man a million dollars!! He stood up with the biggest smile, hugged and thanked me. It was one of the best few dollars I have ever spent.