Tipping

[muscleman]

I need help. DW and I had a discussion on how many days you tip on a 7 day cruise. She think that the first day doesn't count. I disagree with her. Can you guys settle this for us.

 

Can't wait to celebrate my 50th Birthday

 

[J&SLowery]

Was your room made when you arrived???

Did you eat the first day of the cruise???

What does the cruise Compass say on the day of arrival--Day 1???

 

I think you know the answer.

 

Jay

 

Jay & Scheila Lowery

 

Until Adventure of the Seas

 

Monarch 05/99

SS Oceanbreeze 10/00

Enchantment 04/01

Explorer (East) 10/02

Explorer (West) 03/03

Voyager 10/03

Radiance 04/04

Adventure 10/17/04

[mafig]

First day counts. Plan on tipping AT LEAST the recommended amount x 7.

[dark913]

What is the recommended amount? Does anyone have a list of who you tip and how much?

 

[CathyG]

The suggested guidelines for tipping are:

Dining room waiter: $3.50 a day per guest

Stateroom attendant: $3.50 a day per guest

Assistant Waiter: $2.00 a day per guest

Gratuities for headwaiters and other service personnel are at your discretion.

[superjerryw]

Forget the days, you tip based on the number of nights. A seven day cruise if properly advertised is of course seven nights. I have seen ads though that refer to a cruise of seven nights as an eight day cruise.

 

<applet code="countdown.class" CODEBASE="http://*************/java-sys" width="203" height="25">

<param name="font" value="lcdb0">

<param name="year" value=2004>

<param name="month" value=03>

<param name="day" value=19>

<param name="hour" value=17>

</applet>

 

Donuts, is there anything they can't do....

[gene624]

Yes, tip for each day/night. Your wife is wrong.

[Adventure Girl]

I don't understand why everyone on these boards is so hung up on how much to tip.

 

You are on the most spectacular vacation in the world...you are being waited on hand and foot....you are in paradise...the crew members are working 14 to 16 hour shifts, 7 days a week...they are away from their family members for 6-months straight, only to return home for a brief 6-week visit before their next contract starts...the crew members work very, very hard to make sure that we have a fantastic vacation...I have never seen a crew member that was not smiling...I have never had a crew member be rude to me or give me an attitude...crew members have only treated me with kindness and respect during the cruises that I have taken. Crew members such as the cabin stewards, waiters, bar servers, bartenders, etc. receive a very low monthly wage and rely solely on tips for their income. The last that I knew, the bar servers and the cabin stewards only receive a monthly stipend of $50.00 from the company. Their main source of income is from tips.

 

I am extremely happy at the end of my cruise to give a nice, generous tip to my dining room waiters, cabin stewards, bar servers, and any other crew member that went out of their way to make sure that I had an enjoyable, relaxing, trip through paradise. They worked hard for that tip and they deserve it.

 

The next time you are on a cruise, look around at the bar servers walking the pool deck all afternoon in the hot sun....you will see them again serving drinks in the dining room at both the main seating and the late seating....or you will see them serving drinks at the evening show, and then again at the midnight deck party...only to see them again at 10 am on the pool deck for the day at sea. Notice your cabin steward outside of your door at 8 am with a friendly good morning smile, then again at 11:00 as you come down to change into your bathing suit, and then again after dinner getting your room ready for you for the night....and when you have breakfast and lunch in the Windjammer, notice your dining room waiters are in there too...working all day and then all night.

 

I'm sorry to rant about this, but I think it is terrible that people question how much to tip and if a tip is deserved for 7 days....or is it really 8 days...or can we get away with only saying a 7 day cruise is a 6 day cruise if we don't board the ship until 5 pm. If you can afford to take a luxury vacation such as cruising, then you must know the meaning of hard work. So, please, look around and see how hard everyone is working to make your vacation enjoyable, and reward your crew members accordingly.

 

Thank you.

 

Kimberly

Monarch of the Seas 4/02

Disney Wonder 11/02

Adventure of the Seas 10/03, 3/04, planning 10/04

[PhoenixCruiser]

This Tip Calculator may help you!

 

Credit goes to TPKeller (I hope I spelled your name correctly...)

 

Navigator of the Seas 6/26/04

 

 

<center>

<a href="http://www.escati.com/counter98/free_time_codes.htm">

</center>

[Adventure Girl]

Sorry, just me again....I had to add that I realize that the bar servers and bartenders receive an automatic 15% from each drink they sell, but the bar servers give a percentage of that tip to the bartenders. And, again, the bar servers are there making you happy...keeping a close eye on your drink and always there immediately to bring you another, or do a dance to make you smile, or tell a joke, etc. Throw them an extra $5 or $10 at the end of the trip...or better yet....tip your bar server or your waiter a little something at the beginning or the middle of the week...you'll never have to wait for a drink or a special dinner request again!

 

Kimberly

Monarch of the Seas 4/02

Disney Wonder 11/02

Adventure of the Seas 10/03, 3/04, planning 10/04

[littlelulu]

Just got back off of Rhapsody Sunday

Being a Beautician, I know the importance of tips, if you have never worked in a profession where you rely on them you have no idea how much it means for someone to give you a little extra reward for your service.

My husband is an architect so although he doesn't recieve tips he thinks of it as a bonus check.

We gave well above the recommended amount. We truly appreciate the kindness and hard work that is done for us.

As far as the first day, I consider the first haircut or the fifth still a haircut, so first dinner or fifth you are still eating and being served so tip for the service.

[TPKeller]

Hey Phoenix,

 

Yep, you got my name right!

 

Also, if you go to the calculator, I put a little blurb on days/nights in there, if you click on the "Days" link. Nothing more than SuperJerryW said, but it's there if you want to read it.

 

Theron

 

click to e-mail me

Explorer of the Seas 9/27/03 Western

Celebrity Century 9/28/02 Eastern (Thanks to Lili)

 

Cruise Tip Calculator - Calculate the amount and type of bills you need to stuff your tipping envelopes:

http://members.aol.com/CruiseTip/

[jluc123]

WE ARE LEAVING ON SATURDAY FOR A 5 DAY CRUISE ON THE ENCHANTMENT AND PLAN ON TIPPING $40 EACH TO THE ROOM ATTENDENT AND HEAD WAITER AND $25 TO THE ASSISTANT WAITER AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TRIP AND PLAN ON GIVING EACH AT LEAST ANOTHER $20 AT THE END IF THE SERVICE IS UP TO PAR. hAS ANYONE ELSE TIPPED AT THE BEGINNIG OF A CRUISE? JUST WANTED TO SEE IF THERE WILL BE A DIFFERENCE IN SERVICE. ALSO AS ONE OF THE OTHER THREADS SAID THESE PEOPLE WORK HARD AND LIVE OFF OF THESE TIPS.

JIM

 

UNTIL WE SAIL AWAY ON THE BRILLANCE OF THE SEAS

 

[Molly-O]

Kimberly -

 

I totally agree - you explained it extremely

well - about time someone did!

 

Eileen

[Adventure Girl]

One more thing to keep in mind....when charging tips to your sea pass account, you are given a "ticket" to put in the envelop for your waiters or cabin steward. The waiters and cabin stewards are not paid for the "ticket" until they leave the ship at the end of their contract. So, a little cash in hand is always a nice jesture.

 

Kimberly

Monarch of the Seas 4/02

Disney Wonder 11/02

Adventure of the Seas 10/03, 3/04, planning 10/04

[gambler]

I am personal friends with a waitress on the Navigator. They do NOT have to wait until the end of their contact to receive their voucher tips. But it can take 3 to 4 weeks, so they really do prefer the cash. Tip - you can go to the casino and get cash against your sea pass card the last day (no extra charge) and avoid the long lines at the pursers desk.

 

Monarch of the Seas 09/92

Majesty of the Seas 11/93

Sovereign of the Seas 09/94

Majesty of the Seas 11/95

Grandeur of the Seas 11/99

Grandeur of the Seas 11/00

Grandeur of the Seas 06/01

Grandeur of the Seas 02/02

Navigator of the Seas 12/02

Rhapsody of the Seas 06/03

Radiance of the Seas 11/03

Grandeur of the Seas 05/04

Navigator of the Seas 11/04

[want2seaitall]

Thanks superjerry and tpkeller...some of the replies were a bit misleading...and tp...the tip calculator is great...I just printed out my totals to bring with me this morning...I will usually give a bit more to most...but it is great to have a base amount. OK...I'm off to enjoy a 24 hour ride in a pick up truck with the husband and two kids...Florida here we come...I'm leaving the wet and rainy Northeast to enjoy some fun and sun....wwwwoooo hhhhoooo!!!

 

until my Majesty of the Seas cruise!

 

 

Carnival Inspiration - June 2003

 

RCCL Monarch of the Seas - July 2002

 

 

[Michuck]

For our cabin steward, we tip at least the full amount the first time we see him simply because we sometimes don't see them the last nite/morning, and I hate just leaving an envelope on the dresser - so impersonal! We let him know that we've cruised before, and know that the stewards' service is always great, and that we hope he has a chance to leave the ship in a port and he'll be able to make use of it then. We usually give a calling card as well at the beginning, and let me tell you, there's nothing like seeing the joy on someone's face when they know they'll be able to call home and talk to their loved ones. It sets our cruise-mood so high right off the bat. We'd miss all those warm-fuzzies just leaving it on the dresser.

 

We wait until the last nite to tip the dining room staff becaust that is the last time we see them.

[DedeM]

What kind of calling card do you get? That's a great idea.

 

And I LOVED your post, Kimberly (Adventure Girl). Beautifully said!

 

My s.o. and I disagree a little bit on tipping, so I will end up tipping more because of it. It's easier to shell out the extra money than to argue sometimes.

 

Navigator of the Seas 5/1/04

[DedeM]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DedeM:

What kind of calling card do you get? That's a great idea.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

Yes, I'm quoting myself, and bumping this back on page 1. I really don't know anything about calling cards and have no idea what would be a good one to get.

 

Navigator of the Seas 5/1/04

[crusingforfun]

What do you usually tip to headwaiter?

 

Commadore 3/1986

NCL Sky 12/2002

RCI Adventure 12/2003

RCI Navigator 12/18/04

 

[yarlenna]

We tip a buck when we are finished at a lounge and having drinks. If the service has been wonderful, or generous, then we tip more. It probably adds about $20 to the cost of our cruise. Most of the time, it insures that we get great service.

 

Work like a dog. Live like a pauper. Save all your money. Then Cruise!

[bplazo]

I have been a server for alot of years. It is appreciated when a customer tips extra for good service. There are alot of people who tip below 10% (even if the service is great).

 

Serviers do tend to remember the good tippers and the BAD tippers!

[Michuck]

I get an AT&T International card since I don't know where the crew member would be calling. Some of the calling cards are for only one specific region, which would be a shame to give if that crew member's loved ones were somewhere else!

 

Also, I forgot to mention that I always give the steward an extra $20 or so at the end of the cruise, which I do leave in an envelope if I don't see him/her.

 

Michele

[Adventure Girl]

Arielle---

 

What to tip the headwaiter....it depends on what the head waiter does for you during your week on the ship. In most cases, you will always tip the recommended standard, (which I can't remember off the top of my head, but I think it was less than $10.00 per person for the week). If your headwaiter goes out of his way to make your trip enjoyable, then by all means, you will want to give a little more.

 

On my last trip on the AOS, our headwaiter, Kamal, was absolutely wonderful. He was looking for us every evening as we entered the dining room, and he always asked about the events of our day. Kamal also removed the shell from my lobster tails and he cut the steak my friend ordered one night. A woman at our table had a birthday, and Kamal arranged for a birthday cake and sang Happy Birthday.

 

Sometimes it is not always about the amount of physical service provided, but the level of kindness that is displayed during the week. That is what I base my tip amount on.

 

 

TO GAMBLER: Thanks for the clarification on the voucher tips..., glad to hear that the crew does not have to wait until the end of the contract for the cash from the voucher. But, 3 or 4 weeks is long enough to wait sometimes. Thanks

 

Kimberly

Monarch of the Seas 4/02

Disney Wonder 11/02

Adventure of the Seas 10/03, 3/04, planning 10/04