Tipping questions

[Debbers]

We intend to keep the automatic tips on our bill, but wonder how much extra to tip if service is very good. How much more should we leave for the butler and steward? Also, what's a reasonable tip for room service? Thanks very much.

[JimandStan]

Debbers-

 

The brochures are deliberately vague on this issue, but, let's be honest.

The "Butler" will really BE your room steward.

Technically, a "room steward" will be assigned to your suite, however, the ones who "assist" the butlers are not of the same caliber as a standard room steward.

They make the beds, clean the toilets and vacuume, but typically don't speak much English.

Many of them are new hires, anxious to get into the American Hospitality Industry. Nothing was ever said, but it seemed to me that they were discouraged from interacting with "their" passengers.

As a result, 90% of your interactions will be with the butler, and you will probably feel more disposed to tipping him (note: there are a few female butlers ;) ).

 

One fabulous thing about the butlers is that they are trained to "never say no" to a reasonable request. Knowing the operation of the ship inside out, they can often move heaven and earth to make things happen (or stop happening) when you request it.

Then again, there are those people whowill book a suite and never use the butlers services beyond that of a traditional room steward.

I suppose that the amount of your tip will depend on how much you use the butler.

[Rickey 88]

We intend to keep the automatic tips on our bill, but wonder how much extra to tip if service is very good. How much more should we leave for the butler and steward? Also, what's a reasonable tip for room service? Thanks very much.

 

The amount that is added to your room account seems to be satisfactory for most. However, there is always someone on board who objects to "paying extra" for service and goes to Reception to have it removed.

 

However, if you feel you have really experienced superb service from one staffer or another, then the suggestion would be to reward them individually and directly. Otherwise any and all tips are placed in a "crew fund" that is shared equally and not individually.....

[DaveFr]

Debbers-

 

The brochures are deliberately vague on this issue, but, let's be honest.

The "Butler" will really BE your room steward.

Technically, a "room steward" will be assigned to your suite, however, the ones who "assist" the butlers are not of the same caliber as a standard room steward.

They make the beds, clean the toilets and vacuume, but typically don't speak much English.

Many of them are new hires, anxious to get into the American Hospitality Industry. Nothing was ever said, but it seemed to me that they were discouraged from interacting with "their" passengers.

As a result, 90% of your interactions will be with the butler, and you will probably feel more disposed to tipping him (note: there are a few female butlers ;) ).

Jim and Stan,

 

Are you sure you're not talking about Azamara? I had to double check to make sure I was not on the Azamara board. :D

 

We were in a Penthouse suite on our January Regatta cruise. Our butler was not our cabin steward as on Azamara. He wasn't responsible for keeping our cabin clean. We had the butler, a room steward and an assistant room steward. The room steward and her assistant took care of our cabin.

 

Dave

[cruzagain]

We are not having a PH or a butler, but we have prepaid gratuities. I know we will be giving extra tip for extraordinary service rendered like the ones who takes care of our cabin, but who are actually the persons who would be sharing the tips. Should we tip the maitre'd every time we get seated/waiters/etc.? Thanks

[LHT28]

We are not having a PH or a butler, but we have prepaid gratuities. I know we will be giving extra tip for extraordinary service rendered like the ones who takes care of our cabin, but who are actually the persons who would be sharing the tips. Should we tip the maitre'd every time we get seated/waiters/etc.? Thanks

 

The cabin stewards & assistants as well as all the waitstaff share the gratuities from the "pool"

BUTLERS ...you are charged extra $$ gratuities for them which is added to your account. I would not tip the maitre'd unless he gives you special treatment.

 

If you find a particular staff member that gives you you special service feel free to tip them extra which they do get to keep.

[JimandStan]

Are you sure you're not talking about Azamara? I had to double check to make sure I was not on the Azamara board

Dave-

We've sailed Insignia in a Penthouse and Regatta in both an Owners and a Vista and on all three occasions the Butler was for all intents and purposes our room steward.

As there is not even a way to page the room steward or the assistant steward, (when you have a butler, that is) I cannot see how you could have used them as one would use a regular room steward.

I agree with you that the butler does not do "the heavy" as mother used to call it, but they do get ALL of the passenger face time, unless you happen to be in the room when the others come to service it.

[DaveFr]

Dave-

We've sailed Insignia in a Penthouse and Regatta in both an Owners and a Vista and on all three occasions the Butler was for all intents and purposes our room steward.

As there is not even a way to page the room steward or the assistant steward, (when you have a butler, that is) I cannot see how you could have used them as one would use a regular room steward.

I agree with you that the butler does not do "the heavy" as mother used to call it, but they do get ALL of the passenger face time, unless you happen to be in the room when the others come to service it.

Jim & Stan,

 

OK, I think we're on the same page now. In my limited cruising experience, I've always had a butler, so I think of the room steward as the person and his or her assistant whose job is to take care of our suite. When my wife or I need something in connection with our suite, such as extra towels, we either leave a note on the bed or wait until we see the room steward in the hallway. On our Regatta cruise, we usually saw our room steward and her assistant at least twice a day. I only made suite related requests to the butler when I couldn't find our room steward.

 

If you define the room steward as the person with whom you most directly interact, then I see why you would call the butler a room steward. Of course, a butler does things, such as serving dinner in your suite course-by-course, that a non-suite room steward doesn't do but before I muddy the waters even further, I'll sit down and shut up. :D

 

Dave

[digby]

We intend to keep the automatic tips on our bill, but wonder how much extra to tip if service is very good. How much more should we leave for the butler and steward? Also, what's a reasonable tip for room service? Thanks very much.

 

We never tip for room service since it is delivered by the butler. However we always give the butler a generous tip before leaving. We also tip the room steward extra too. Hard to say how much exactly, but we probably over tip if we hare happy, and we usually are.

[JimandStan]

We never tip for room service since it is delivered by the butler

 

Digby-

The Butlers (they cover for each other) only work days and evenings. If you return from the Casino with an urge for a midnight snack, a regular room service waiter brings it. :rolleyes:

[digby]

Digby-

The Butlers (they cover for each other) only work days and evenings. If you return from the Casino with an urge for a midnight snack, a regular room service waiter brings it. :rolleyes:

 

And he/she would be covered in the auto tipping pool. I think one of the perks of paying for an owners suite is NOT having to tip each time you answer the door.

[XTEACH281]

....if you are not in a PH or above category ----what do you think is appropriate ? thanks ---

[digby]

....if you are not in a PH or above category ----what do you think is appropriate ? thanks ---

 

If they are in the auto tipping pool, I'd say no tip is needed for room service unless they do something extraordinary for you.

[lovecruisingtoo]

I think one of the perks of paying for an owners suite is NOT having to tip each time you answer the door.

 

If there is an automatic tip charged at the end of the cruise, and you have the option of an additional tip, why would anyone need to tip "each time you answer the door"?

[Maya-Tucker]

Dave-

We've sailed Insignia in a Penthouse and Regatta in both an Owners and a Vista and on all three occasions the Butler was for all intents and purposes our room steward.

As there is not even a way to page the room steward or the assistant steward, (when you have a butler, that is) I cannot see how you could have used them as one would use a regular room steward.

 

??????????????? Something doesn't make sense to me???????????????????

 

Dial 01 for the Room Steward and Dial 02 for the Butler. It has been that way on each of my cruises with Oceania. In each case when you dial them you are instructed with "...do not hang-up we are paging your correspondent, do not hang-up we are paging your correspondent, you may hang-up............."

 

They call back within two minutes.

 

FYI the Butler has absolutely nothing to do with the cleaning of the room.

[Acrusa]

We have only had room stewards on our 20 some odd cruies"s.

I always make it a point to tip the steward when I first board and meet him.This way he dosnt have to guess.It"s ussaly half of what I would normally give for the cruise.

We always have breakfast in the cabin so I always tip when its sent to my room.And when we come back on board order ice tea and some cookies and cakes from room service.

[spindrift]

We have been on several Oceania cruises, and we find that the Butler does not do the same things as the room steward(ess) or assistant. If we need the steward(ess), we dial 01, and if we need the Butler for special services, we dial 02. There is not a similarity.

 

Also, on our recent 21 day cruise, we only had a "substitute butler" twice. We use a considerable amount of ice, and so we see a lot of our butler.

 

Even when our room stewardess injured her hand and had several days off, the assistant took over with another assistant helping him.

 

In all cases, they are fabulous, and we do tip extra to our steward(ess) and assistant and for the butler. They are so attentive and helpful.

 

(I do have one comment, tipping is for service--why would one tip ahead of service. Not bright.)

[hrprof]

We have been on several Oceania cruises, and we find that the Butler does not do the same things as the room steward(ess) or assistant. If we need the steward(ess), we dial 01, and if we need the Butler for special services, we dial 02. There is not a similarity.

 

Also, on our recent 21 day cruise, we only had a "substitute butler" twice. We use a considerable amount of ice, and so we see a lot of our butler.

 

Even when our room stewardess injured her hand and had several days off, the assistant took over with another assistant helping him.

 

In all cases, they are fabulous, and we do tip extra to our steward(ess) and assistant and for the butler. They are so attentive and helpful.

 

(I do have one comment, tipping is for service--why would one tip ahead of service. Not bright.)

 

I guess that I'm one of those dim wits who recognize up front that we might be making more than the usual requests of a butler. We have dinner in the suite frequently (but never insist on course by course service) so will make an initial payment in expectation of satisfactory service. We also make it clear that a high level of service will be recognized again at the conclusion of the cruise. Rather than tipping, perhaps it could be viewed as an incentive.

[almtyrob]

I guess I've lost sight of the whole idea of a "TIP" over the years. I've always been a pretty good tipper in the normal course of receiving service. Sometimes those dining with me feel I may "spoil" the waiter if I tip too heavy. Well, I expect a certain level of service & if I receive that or a greater level, I feel the need to show it in a good tip. I've never "pre-tipped" a waiter or other service person as I feel the incentive is then moot. I read on & on about how the level of service has suffered because of the "tip pool" policy. I agree! That being said, why would you "pre-tip" your butler? It is a tease? Are you assuring him that he won't be stiffed? If any service person, who I never look upon as inferior, performs at or above an expected level, than a tip is required. Try to put yourself in their shoes & then tip accordingly. If you had a great cruise, don't cheat the staff!:D

[hrprof]

I guess I've lost sight of the whole idea of a "TIP" over the years. I've always been a pretty good tipper in the normal course of receiving service. Sometimes those dining with me feel I may "spoil" the waiter if I tip too heavy. Well, I expect a certain level of service & if I receive that or a greater level, I feel the need to show it in a good tip. I've never "pre-tipped" a waiter or other service person as I feel the incentive is then moot. I read on & on about how the level of service has suffered because of the "tip pool" policy. I agree! That being said, why would you "pre-tip" your butler? It is a tease? Are you assuring him that he won't be stiffed? If any service person, who I never look upon as inferior, performs at or above an expected level, than a tip is required. Try to put yourself in their shoes & then tip accordingly. If you had a great cruise, don't cheat the staff!:D

 

I think that I agree with you! Oceania puts $15/day pp on the final invoice. This deprives me of the satisfaction of personally rewarding quality service. So, I assume that the $30/day goes to the staff members with whom I have no extended contact. So, I give something to the butler up front for reasons I have described and indicate that more might be forthcoming. The room steward is tipped half way through and again at the end. This is in addition to what ever they get from my $30/day which I assume goes into a pool. Putting myself in their shoes? I'd love it!