Tipping suggested vs actual

[rogerdm]

I have read the thread for tipping but have never seen the actual amounts vs the suggested. I understand that the service drives the tips, but I want to know what others have done and why. I don't want to under tip anyone.

[wieslaw]

Roger,

I tip the amount, suggested in the guidelines provided by the cruise lines - they know what the market requires to keep their help happy - and yes, I do expect good service - that how a tip is earned.

Wes

[vvnh16a]

I agree with Wes with then exception of the asst. Matre di' ....if I dont see him...he is out of luck.

 

Rich in N Va

[ddgroves]

If you are happy with the service, be generous.

I tend to round up to the nearest 10 or 20.

Drew

[pjgavaghan]

I consider the suggested amount as a minimum and I adjust upward from there considering the service. I just consider it as part of the fare and if service is good it should be adjusted upwardly

[HELENROSE]

We do the standard amounts that they suggest. Then if the service is great, we increas it, for example, $3.50 per person per day for the waiter, for a 7 day cruise, $24.50. We would make it $30. or $35 So for the two of us, $49. We would make it $60 to $70. It just depends on what is all done for you. Put yourself in their shoes, what would you want for all you did?

[TPKeller]

In my case, I used my tip calculator ( :) and I had written it almost a year before I got to use it myself!) and then when I put in the amounts I wanted to pay, I just rounded up to the nearest $5 or $10. On both of my previous cruises, I have added even more for the waiter becuase they have been exceptional. Neither of the cabin stewards I have had were worth writing home about, so I didn't add much extra.

 

Theron

[hajekfam]

We figure out what the suggested tip will be and then determine how much cash we will bring for tips. On the night envelopes are delivered, we put the guideline tip in the envelope - we then go through each person and determine if they did a usual job or an extraordinary one. We then divided up the extra money based on the extra service. We also will tip our wine steward, a favorite waiter or bartender if they go above and beyond.

[idssms]

I always compare the waiters tip to a fine restaurant, eg, in DC we have the Prime Rib or Ruth Chris or Mortons. When we go to either of these nice or fine restaurants and spend approx $150 to $200 we tip 20% which is the going rate in a nice restaurant in a big city. Meaning my tip ranges from $30 to $40.

 

I consider the dinners on Celebrity equal or better than the above named nice DC restaurants. Certainly you can get double filets or lobster tails and the personal attention is better on the ship. Try asking for a second lobster tail at Mortons,, sure you ll get it but you ll pay another $26.00.

 

So, I am not comfortable giving the standard tip of $7.00 for a meal since I wouldnt give someone at Mortons or the Prime Rib $7.00 on a $200 meal. My waiter also went out of his way to serve me as many dining room lunches as he could when he had space in his section.

 

At lunch, if I had a waiter other than my night waiter, I alternated between $10 and $20 per lunch depending on the service but never less than $10 each day we lunched in the dining room. When at port, the dining room was closed and we ate at the buffet which did not require any special tip since I carried my own tray.

 

Our Asst Maitre dee (Steve) on the last trip came to our table nightly for at least 10 minutes to ensure everything was ok. He was just tops at his job with his customer service.

 

Our waiter in the dining room was the best on the ship according to the restaurant Mgr and he worked very hard to please us. His standard tip for 14 days was $94 for 2. I gave him $500. If I went by my private dining standards he probably should have gotten more and I wonder if I tipped him enough but he was very happy with his gratutity.

 

I dont think they can live on the standard tip. I wouldn't want to live on what they make.

 

I gave the asst maitre de money the first night and told him that he needs to stick around and make sure my table has everything they want. He was always there. I tipped Steve again the last night commensurate with the first night.

 

It was humorous each day when we went to lunch because all the waiters wanted to serve us since they got tipped. Again, the lunches are great in the dining room and have value and if you went out for lunch in a big cityyou would be tipping. We never ate breakfast in the dining room, we had it daily in the Penthouse Suite and Charls brought it in.

 

The Butler got a very nice tip for serving us for 14 days also. He was great and provided service well beyond good,, he was outstanding.

 

Tipping is very personal and I wish they didnt have a suggested tip because many cruisers think that they should tip the norm. I have a wonderful time cruising and its due to my tipping. I look at tipping as part of the vacation expense and act accordingly.

 

Hint: On the 2nd to the last night, go to the casino with your shipboard card which is (hopefully) tied into your Airline Mileage card and get $2000 (a purchase not an advance, no charge) and tell them its for tipping. It works,, you can use the money to tip and pick up 2,000 FF points and use the difference to pay off the card. I do it every cruise. I wouldnt do that too many other times during the cruise since the cash advanced by the casino is suppose to be used to gamble but they will make an exception if you use it for tips.

 

I dont want to get into anything else personal here but if you email me I will tell you the benefits of tipping well, ,,, esp on future cruises where they know you. Dont be penny wise and pound foolish when it comes to tipping,, trust me, they remember for the next time. If you go on celebrity a lot and want to continue and want exceptional service,, not good or great,,,,,,, make it happen with good tips. I do not work for celebrity. I own 100 shares of RCL which I just purchased for future cabin credits.

 

don

[brigittetom]

Idssms, Well you must have a good point. I always tip well at the bar and when I walked in to the Martini bar two months later I was greeted with "Oh, Mrs. X you are back, would you like your Dewars and water". That was impressive.

 

I can't say that we are as generous as you are but we do our part. I must be the only cruiser that doesn't like the Maitre'd stopping at our table. Actually we have been on too many cruises where he only shows up the night before tips which is obviously only so that we remember him on tip night. Sorry, unless he actually provides some service we don't tip him. I know full well that he oversees the staff and makes sure the diningroom is running smoothly but that's the expierence we expect so I don't see any reason in rewarding someone for simply doing his job. Actually I guess I'm back peddling because I certainly do believe in tipping for good service but not tipping someone who comes by on the second to the last night to ask if everything has been to our satisfaction. If it hadn't been, he is too late. :p

[idssms]

brigittetom:

 

Your point is well taken on the maitre de. I just make it a point to ensure he schmoozes us each night. They especially enjoy taking the lobster out of the tail. But Steve actually came to the room with a contingency of waiters and other the exact night of our 25th Anniv to sing Happy Anniv and the trio played serveral songs.

 

If I didnt tip Steve upfront this event wouldnt have happened. And the first night when I tipped Steve I had no idea what special things I wanted on this cruise. If you saw my Picture Galaxy you will see about 8 Galaxy Staff in our Penthouse on our Anniversary night before dinner.

 

Afterward, I was just so touched,, I gave the trio a $100 bill for coming and making our Anniversay just so romantic and special.

 

My picture gallery is here: http://community.webshots.com/user/irwind101

 

The recent pics are on page 2 of the gallery.

 

Your point is well taken but my wife and I are high maintanence and I have to compensate for that most of the time. Just my $.02..

 

Don

[cruising with marti]

Donald my boy, I knew that you were a big butter and egg man and your tipping policy proves it.;)

 

 

 

 

Phil

[ajpack]

We always tip extra for the cabin steward and our waiter. The asst. maitre'd stopped by our table every night on our Mercury cruise in August, so we didn't mind tipping him. Last year on the Galaxy there was a very nice waiter in the Rendevous Lounge that we tipped extra. They work so hard---I don't mind tipping more than the suggested amount.

 

Anne

[bgop]

Idssms could you send me your email? We are booked on the Penthouse on the Millinium 12/12/04 and i have several questions on tipping. Thanks bgop

[idssms]

Plzzz call me big guy!!

 

We have business to discuss!!!

 

I sent you an email,, are you avoiding me?????

 

Don

[idssms]

Hi,, I am in the penthouse #6147 on 5/1.. Are you in that one too???

 

Email: erisaman1@aol.com

 

or email me for my cell #..... and we can speak on phone which is easier for me..

 

Don

[SEPyle]

Interesting discussion. We were on the 9/18/04 Century and experienced the best service we have ever had on a ship. Our tips were generous, but no where close to big guy's! I only wish we had the means to give these people what they truely deserved! We had several people in our group who had very special dietary needs. Every night after the meal the maitre de went over the next night's menue and completely taylor-made the meal for the next night's presentation. One in our party has Celiac Disease which means she can't have wheat in any amount in anything. One night the dish looked like it was breaded. The waiter took one look at it and called over the Maitre de. He then called the chef in the kitchen before serving the dish. He even had options set up for her at lunch time. This is over and above!!!! The entire dining room staff was exceptional.

 

We had an elderly gentleman in our group who got lost several times the first night in the middle of the night. Our cabin steward literally went to each person who worked nights on the various floors giving them Rich's name/cabin number as well as his daughter-in-law's cabin number. There was literally a network looking after Rich.

 

I have to say all this was done without any pre-tipping. Celebrity in my opinion does an incredible job in training there personnel in exceptional customer service. I could go on and on, however I believe you get my point.

[idssms]

The service without tipping is excellent, well and above anything I have seen at sea...

 

Tipping for excellent service makes it outstanding service and makes them feel it was all worth it.

 

I really believe cruisers should tip what they can afford.... And let the Royal Suites and Penthouse Suites carry the brunt of the extra tipping.

 

When my wife and I started out in the 80s we tipped what we could afford and even tho the service was excellent we gave the minimum because we just couldnt afford more... The cruise itself was a big expense and extra tipping meant no car payment.

 

So, if you stick to the minimum and thats all you can afford,,, GREAT!!

 

But, once someone becomes seasoned and has the "means" to pay for outstanding service,,, and desires extras,,,,, the tipping should be escalated accordingly.

 

Just my thougths...

 

Thanks for all the nice supporting emails from everyone and some of the phone calls,,, It was great talking to you guys this weekend. I sure did learn a lot about crusing from everyone.

 

Don from Fl,,,,,,,,formerly from Va, the Lovers State

[hajekfam]

If everyone tips the minimum of 3.50 per day for a waiter, and if the waiter has an average of 2 tables of 8 for two seatings, that is 32 people times 24.50 or 784.00 per week or 20,384 in a six month period. And that is if everyone tips the suggested guideline. Not bad for someone in a low income country!

Most waiters that we talked to are sending their money back home to educate their children or open their own business - usually a restaurant.

[smudge's mom]

idssms

I consider the dinners on Celebrity equal or better than the above named nice DC restaurants.

Although I might agree that the service can be better on a cruise ship because the waiter gets to know you and your needs, I just cannot agree that the food is better or equal to what is served at the finer restaurants you mentioned. Yes, you can get "seconds" on the cruise ship, but the quality of the food is not equal. If you are finding it is, your branches of those restaurants you mentioned, are just not doing their job correctly.

 

I think for alot of people, the personal treatment, the joking around and schmoozing your wait staff does on a cruise ship, colors the entire experience. (in a good way)

 

At a fine restaurant, the service is elegant and a little more aloof and your waiter will not be able to anticipate your needs because he does not have 10 days to learn your quirks - so comparing a land restaurant you infrequently visit to a dining experience where you settle into a routine - is not a real fair comparison.

[Tuna]

I would stick pretty close to the suggested amount. When you overtip or undertip, as the provided service would dictate, go with what you feel is appropriate. Tipping 5X the suggested amount is past generous. It's obscene. I would think twice before taking advice from someone who can't spell maitre d' and thinks that Morton's is an upscale restaurant.

[Ma Bell]

We always tip more than the minimum because we feel the service is worth more than that. I am disappointed to hear when someone does not tip at all and believe me it does happen. However, tipping is a personal thing and it's really no one's business what another wants to tip.:)

[Shirley and Les]

Call the fire deparment. Here come the flames!!!!

:mad:

Les

[hotspur]

I would stick pretty close to the suggested amount. When you overtip or undertip, as the provided service would dictate, go with what you feel is appropriate. Tipping 5X the suggested amount is past generous. It's obscene. I would think twice before taking advice from someone who can't spell maitre d' and thinks that Morton's is an upscale restaurant.

Amen, Tuna.

[QueensChick]

I agree with the above poster who suggested using the cruise line's guidelines as a minimum. I would hope that everyone would tip at least that much.

If you receive extremely wonderful service, which is a very distinct possibility, ;) adjust up accordingly. Definitely pre-plan your tips into your vacation budget. Do the best you can according to your means.

 

Enjoy your cruise.