Yes, Another Gratuity Question

[aubriee]

Sorry for what's probably a stupid question, but I am getting ready for my first cruise. So a newby here--be gentle on me please! I know there's been several threads on gratuities the last few days and before someone jumps down my throat, I am sailing on the Carnival Freedom in Janaury and have already prepaid my gratuities. I have no intention of short changing any of the staff, which is the reason for my question: If you prepay gratuities, who do I give extra monies to? I seldom drink, but know I'll be tipping there if I do get something. I'll also have to tip the hotel shuttle driver from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the ship (how much?). I'll need to tip the porters at the ship (again how much?--I'll have checked bag, plus a carry on). I don't plan on using the spa services or beauty salon. How much do you usually tip the tour guides? Do most people tip their waitors and their room steward over and beyond the 'prepaid gratuity'? I know the stewards probably don't have room in their quarters for any knick knacks and probably wouldn't want them anyway, but I was thinking about taking some full size candy bars or something, and placing them on the nightstand every morning with a couple of dollars wrapped around them and a sticky note to have a good day. Would that be out of line? They'd still be getting their prepaid gratuities, this would just be in addition to that.

 

I just want to make sure I take plenty of small bills.

[jessemon]

Sorry for what's probably a stupid question, but I am getting ready for my first cruise. So a newby here--be gentle on me please! I know there's been several threads on gratuities the last few days and before someone jumps down my throat, I am sailing on the Carnival Freedom in Janaury and have already prepaid my gratuities. I have no intention of short changing any of the staff, which is the reason for my question: If you prepay gratuities, who do I give extra monies to? I seldom drink, but know I'll be tipping there if I do get something. I'll also have to tip the hotel shuttle driver from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the ship (how much?). I'll need to tip the porters at the ship (again how much?--I'll have checked bag, plus a carry on). I don't plan on using the spa services or beauty salon. How much do you usually tip the tour guides? Do most people tip their waitors and their room steward over and beyond the 'prepaid gratuity'? I know the stewards probably don't have room in their quarters for any knick knacks and probably wouldn't want them anyway, but I was thinking about taking some full size candy bars or something, and placing them on the nightstand every morning with a couple of dollars wrapped around them and a sticky note to have a good day. Would that be out of line? They'd still be getting their prepaid gratuities, this would just be in addition to that.

 

I just want to make sure I take plenty of small bills.

I get 50 ones, 20 fives and 20 tens along with my other money. I usually have two checked bags so I use the rule of $5. Five for the cab or shuttle driver. Five for the porters. Five for tour guides or more if they are very good.

I only tip extra onboard anymore if the person does a great job. That usually means more than a few get an extra few.

There is a site on here somewhere on the home page called "Under the Captain's Table"....Joyce writes some great things. She mentioned one time other things you can do besides the tip. A $10 phone card for a person that has done well to call home. A t-shirt from your home town. Many of the crew love them. If they have a little time off in port when you're there invite them to join you to walk around town and maybe a light lunch. I always remember my ex wife giving a young lady on a cruise (our wine steward)we were on at Christmas time a Christmas pin she had had for years. You would of thought she was given the world. She even cried. We never saw here on the ship or on shore without that pin on.

Use you imagination and have fun.....;)

 

Just thought of something...I have another buddy that goes to the Dollar store and buys $50 worth of stuff just to hand out....

[aubriee]

I get 50 ones, 20 fives and 20 tens along with my other money. I usually have two checked bags so I use the rule of $5. Five for the cab or shuttle driver. Five for the porters. Five for tour guides or more if they are very good.

I only tip extra onboard anymore if the person does a great job. That usually means more than a few get an extra few.

There is a site on here somewhere on the home page called "Under the Captain's Table"....Joyce writes some great things. She mentioned one time other things you can do besides the tip. A $10 phone card for a person that has done well to call home. A t-shirt from your home town. Many of the crew love them. If they have a little time off in port when you're there invite them to join you to walk around town and maybe a light lunch. I always remember my ex wife giving a young lady on a cruise (our wine steward)we were on at Christmas time a Christmas pin she had had for years. You would of thought she was given the world. She even cried. We never saw here on the ship or on shore without that pin on.

Use you imagination and have fun.....;)

 

Just thought of something...I have another buddy that goes to the Dollar store and buys $50 worth of stuff just to hand out....

 

 

Oops, yes I would have been short of small bills. I'll be solo, so was thinking a hundred dollars worth of $1.00s and a hundred dollars worth of $5.00's might be enough with the already prepaid gratuities. Looks like I'll need to make another trip to the bank to get another $50.00 or so. I was thinking that they wouldn't want 'things', due to their small living quarters, so was considering a few 'edible' treats with a few dollars and a note wrapped around them, in addition to the prepaid gratuities.:confused:

 

Thanks for the response!

[jessemon]

Oops, yes I would have been short of small bills. I'll be solo, so was thinking a hundred dollars worth of $1.00s and a hundred dollars worth of $5.00's might be enough with the already prepaid gratuities. Looks like I'll need to make another trip to the bank to get another $50.00 or so. I was thinking that they wouldn't want 'things', due to their small living quarters, so was considering a few 'edible' treats with a few dollars and a note wrapped around them, in addition to the prepaid gratuities.:confused:

 

Thanks for the response!

Not sure what cruise you are taking on the Freedom. These people really like the phone cards. Ask a crew member where they get theirs in ports and pick some up for $10 each. gives them a lot of minutes to call home. The thing is it seems like you care when you do this. It means to them that you would like them to be able to talk to their families back home. They love them. A bartender at sea away from home for 7 months and you give him a phone card so he can talk more to his wife and kids and they can't do enough for you after that.;)

[skylock]

Not sure what cruise you are taking on the Freedom. These people really like the phone cards. Ask a crew member where they get theirs in ports and pick some up for $10 each. gives them a lot of minutes to call home. The thing is it seems like you care when you do this. It means to them that you would like them to be able to talk to their families back home. They love them. A bartender at sea away from home for 7 months and you give him a phone card so he can talk more to his wife and kids and they can't do enough for you after that.;)

 

Or just give him the $10 and let him spend it as he sees fit.

 

For all I know, they do not even have a phone back home for him to call too. Maybe he would rather have the $10 to send a package home.

[zqvol]

Here is my take on yoru questions:

 

If you prepay gratuities, who do I give extra monies to? On the ship you do not need to give anyone any extra gratuities. Feel free to do so if you wish , but don't feel obligated.

 

I seldom drink, but know I'll be tipping there if I do get something. Drinks purchased on board include an automatic 15% gratuity. Add to it if you want but again, do not feel as if you are obligated to add to it.

 

 

I'll also have to tip the hotel shuttle driver from the airport to the hotel and from the hotel to the ship (how much?). This is your call. They are being paid by the hotel to drive the van. If they help a lot with bags maybe a dollar or two but this one is not necessary.

 

I'll need to tip the porters at the ship (again how much?--I'll have checked bag, plus a carry on). The standard is $1 per bag that you check with the porters.

 

I don't plan on using the spa services or beauty salon.

 

How much do you usually tip the tour guides? The ones that tip tour guides leave a token amount, most don't tip tour guides.

 

Do most people tip their waitors and their room steward over and beyond the 'prepaid gratuity'? No

 

 

I know the stewards probably don't have room in their quarters for any knick knacks and probably wouldn't want them anyway, but I was thinking about taking some full size candy bars or something, and placing them on the nightstand every morning with a couple of dollars wrapped around them and a sticky note to have a good day. Would that be out of line? Out of line? No, Necessary No? The best bet and the item that all crew members really want is cash. Forget the rest of the stuff. They will act appreciative, but most just throw it out any way because they do not have room for it, nor do they want it, including phone cards that probably don't work for their homes.

 

 

They'd still be getting their prepaid gratuities, this would just be in addition to that.

 

I just want to make sure I take plenty of small bills. This is your call. I never take more than about $5 in singles and end up coming home with twice that many. Getting larger bills broken is no big deal, and often you will end up giving a $5 gratuity, which is one $5 bill not 5 $1 bills. Based on your later post a trip back to the bank is a good idea to redeposit about half of what you have in small bills and get $20s and $50 instead. You can always get the things changed.

 

Have a good cruise.

[MrPete]

When one has disposable income, they can give it to anyone you please.

 

Personally, I would only give extra to someone that did something for me that was not their job.

[Ken076]

aubriee - FYI

 

Gratuities:

The Taxi Driver to/fm the Cruise Terminal, Cruise Terminal Parking (~$15/day usually paid “up-front”, the curbside Porters at the Cruise Terminal (a couple bucks a bag), the maitre'd if he does something noteworthy for you (and…he's always at the dining room door to "greet you" on the final nite MAYBE a $5), and often an extra $10 or $20 to your dining Room Waiter, Dining room assistant and the Room Steward if they were exceptionally great. Also carry lots of singles to tip room service (a couple bucks), taxi drivers in port, excursion tour guide and excursion bus driver and ferry attendants (NOT the ship’s tender attendants), and in Mexico often the "Restroom Attendant". The SPA services get 15% automatically added (many tip them extra cash); All of the Drink Servers (dining Room, Bars, shows, Poolside, etc) already get 15% added to the S&S card. Ship's Officers are not tipped, neither are the photographers.

 

Expenses:

Shore Excursions ($30 to $100+ per person), Meals/snacks on-shore, Alcohol ($4 beer $7 Hard $2 soft Drink) on the pool deck, at dinner, at shows, Coffee & Pastry in the “Patisserie”, Photos ($22 for 8x10) do at least Formal Nite! Do all the posed/backdrop photos you want to try – there’s NO OBLIGATION to purchase, Bingo (3 cards for $20), Supper Club if offered ($30 per person), SPA Services (much too expensive), Casino ( ??? ), Telephone calls (use your cell phone!) and Internet minutes (on vacation???). there’s sometimes a wine-tasting with nominal extra charge. Plus Souvenirs and notions.

 

Consider pre-pay the $10 per day per person tips in advance when you book, and charging the Excursions to your Credit Card well before departure, so not as much sticker shock on your S&S the final nite. Be aware that if you do pre-pay gratuities, you CANNOT remove them onboard, as they've already been charged to your Credit Card.

 

Gratuities:

 

For your convenience, we automatically charge the gratuities for dining and stateroom staff to your onboard Sail & Sign account. The total amount is $10.00 per guest, per day (our recommended guideline) as follows:

 

$ 3.50 Per Day Stateroom Services

$ 5.50 Per Day Dining Room Services

$ 1.00 Per Day Alternative Services: distributed to other kitchen and hotel service staff

 

Ken

[momofzeke]

If you use room service, tip the delivery person $1 or $2, or more if you have a very large order.

 

I tip my cabin steward and dining room waiter & assistant extra if they have given me exceptional service. Did that on 2 of my 3 cruises. Usually about $40 extra for each one.