Let's Tip!

[CruisnGram]

$40 per room equaled 5.70 per day for the room stewards....$30 per day equaled 4.28 per day for the room stewards....

they can "make a cruise so much more special" for $4.28 per day...sorry...I disagree:(

Cost of living has gone up and UP and UP!

To each his own:rolleyes:

 

Uh, that's in addition to the $10 pp per day service charge. On our last cruise, there were 3 of us in the room which came up to $210 service charge. We left our stewards $50 additional for their excellent service and certainly felt that was sufficient, especially since NCL's own literature says that additonal tipping is not required.

 

CG

[terrymtex01]

We travel window steerage, centre of the ship.

 

I've always assumed, perhaps incorrectly, that our cabin stewards are either beginners, less proficient in English or not top of the line, compared with those who serve in the balcony or suite staterooms.

 

• Perhaps a former crew member could confirm or deny this.
  
• Is it correct that the basic salary of any steward or buttler is based on the quality of the cabin/stateroom in which they serve?
  
• I would assume that those travelling in better rooms would tip more generously. Is this the case.

Even though we travel steerage, we try to tip above the standard service charge, when service is excellent.

 

I have never been a member of a ships crew, only a Pax, but here are my thoughts on this. I do know that with the Butler staff this is correct. IE. A butler will start out with the lowest end suites and work their way up as they "prove" themselves to their managment. That is also true of the waitstaff in the speciality restaurants. They are usually the cream of the crop of waitstaff. You might see them in other dining venues when the speciality restaurants are not open, but they are usually the top.

 

However, with the staterooms, with the exception of the Garden Villa and those suites with the GV's, most other suites are mixed in with standard balcony staterooms or across the hall from an inside stateroom, etc. Maybe they do start out like on the decks that have no balcony rooms , only inside staterooms and oceanview staterooms, but even if they get "promoted" to suites, they still clean inside staterooms because I know we have seen our cabin stewards cleaning inside staterooms before. (Since where you have suites there are always other staterooms across the hall or suites mixed in with standard balcony staterooms, etc).

 

Don't know if this answers your question, but just thought I would give it a try.

[LegalEagle2012]

Interested to note that I overheard couples on my sailing last week taking off their whole Service Charge - I understand they thought it too expensive - and they just tipped their cabin stewards independently at a lesser rate!

 

From what I recall reading on these boards - does this individual tip not have to be added to the "pool" if no Service Charge is paid? Therefore negating the tip given individually and meaning that the stewards got less in the long run?

[*Wink*]

Interested to note that I overheard couples on my sailing last week taking off their whole Service Charge - I understand they thought it too expensive - and they just tipped their cabin stewards independently at a lesser rate!

 

From what I recall reading on these boards - does this individual tip not have to be added to the "pool" if no Service Charge is paid? Therefore negating the tip given individually and meaning that the stewards got less in the long run?

Bingo! You are correct!

[x-press]

I agree with you here. We don't really use our concierge so we generally tip them $100 for the entire cruise. I honestly think a $50 tip would be enough since we usually only use the concierge to make one dinner reservation and bring us gratuity slips at the end of the cruise. SO thinks they will think we are cheap if we only give them $50. It looks like you and I reverse the butler and concierge usage!

 

I guess I'm confused why one would tip for a service you "don't really use." Wouldn't that be like tipping a doorman at a hotel you aren't even staying at? :confused:

[sarahvch]

I guess I'm confused why one would tip for a service you "don't really use." Wouldn't that be like tipping a doorman at a hotel you aren't even staying at? :confused:

 

Well we do use them and they are there for us throughout the trip if we need them. Like I said we use them for one dinner reservation and to bring gratuity slips on the last day of our cruise. They also escort us on and off the ship. On my last cruise she was always checking on us to see if there was something she could do for us. I feel they deserve a tip of some kind as they are providing us a service.

[x-press]

Well we do use them and they are there for us throughout the trip if we need them. Like I said we use them for one dinner reservation and to bring gratuity slips on the last day of our cruise. They also escort us on and off the ship. On my last cruise she was always checking on us to see if there was something she could do for us. I feel they deserve a tip of some kind as they are providing us a service.

 

Fair enough. Especially for the "always checking on us" part. I'd appreciate that; not their fault I didn't get much use out of them. I guess in similar experiences I've had, I've always tried to let attendants (usually in a sleeper on a train, but same priniciple) actually DO a few things so when they want a tip, I'll feel better about giving it to them.

 

$100 still seems steep to me, but I don't know how many days the cruise was, either.

 

Best Wishes,

 

Jon

[kdee69]

????......how many more suggestions do you need????

 

This is NOT the "Hot Dog" thread for God's sake!

 

Happy Cruising! :)

 

Why type the above?

 

I ask as it is whole different ball game in Britain to tip so it'd be great for our next cruise to have a better understanding on an American ship what fellow cruisers are tipping.

 

i have gained extremely valuable advice over the months prior to our first sail from this board. If you don't want to contribute to a thread then don't but there is also no need to be rude

[AFAMILY]

Why type the above?

 

I ask as it is whole different ball game in Britain to tip so it'd be great for our next cruise to have a better understanding on an American ship what fellow cruisers are tipping.

 

i have gained extremely valuable advice over the months prior to our first sail from this board. If you don't want to contribute to a thread then don't but there is also no need to be rude

 

My post was simply meant to point out that after 20 very helpful responses, what more advise could you possibly be looking for. You stated "keep them coming".

 

Happy Cruising!

[DaisyL]

Any more? Keep them coming - great advice here everyone

1) We will tip each room steward $30 at the end of a 7 day cruise p/cabin of 2, (more for a longer cruise) in addition to the NCL's service charge.

We will tip $2 for continental breakfast, room service.

2) We're empty nesters and don't travel with kids.

3) Regular dining rooms, no extra tips but for specialty dining rooms $5-10 per couple, in addition to the 15% gratuity for drinks.

4) We will tip $5 /couple for excursions, but have read that others will tip more, so may rethink this one.

Luggage porters at the pier, $2 per bag rounding up to the nearest $5.

Spa services: 15 to 20% depending on quality of service.

 

Never had a suite... and we usually do not ask for anything extra, otherwise. Anything else that others will tip for?

[newmexicoNita]

Interested to note that I overheard couples on my sailing last week taking off their whole Service Charge - I understand they thought it too expensive - and they just tipped their cabin stewards independently at a lesser rate!

 

From what I recall reading on these boards - does this individual tip not have to be added to the "pool" if no Service Charge is paid? Therefore negating the tip given individually and meaning that the stewards got less in the long run?

yes it does need to be added. I am always at a loss for words (I know, hard to believe) when someone decides to remove the tips.

 

Nita