Prepaid tipping and gifts

[TeriM25]

I would like to prepay the tips when I make final payment for my cruise on the Majesty this August. My question is, do I receive any type of voucher to put in the envelopes on the last night? I would feel kind of strange when everyone is handing their waiter an envelope on the last night and I don't have anything for them. Does the staff know when we prepay the tips?

 

I also would like to give the staff a little souvenir from the Seattle area as a gift at the end of the cruise. I am thinking that most of the staff wouldn't have made it to this part of the country. Has anyone taken little gifts from where they live to give to the staff? Any suggestions would be great.

 

Thanks

[jean-lynd]

We received vouchers on the Majesty when our tips were paid by the group that we were traveling with. We added some cash of our own. I didn't know that you could prepay your tips before you got on the ship with RCI. I learn something new everyday.

 

Century 11/1997

Explorer of the Seas 8/24/02

Majesty of the Seas 2/17/03

Voyager of the Seas 2/22/04

<IMG

[serene56]

There are not many people handling envelopes in todays cruise worlds. Most tip automatically using thier sail card.

 

As far as small gifts are concern the crew likes cash. They share a cabin with one or two other crew members and space is very limited. But what I do is get a disposable camera. TAke pictures of my staff during the course of the week and get the camera developed the last night- I then give each crew their pictures in a thank you card so they can send those pictures to their families. Some people give phone cards but make sure its an international card. My servers did not have phones at home.

I also took those gold $1 coins and $2 bills for tipping room service and bar servers.

 

Going NOWHERE

 

 

Miracle, February 13, 2005

Legend, October 22,2004

Voyager August 31,2003

Victory September 22,2002

Regal Empress,June 2001

Sensation,August 2000

 

 

[jean-lynd]

I have not been on a lot of cruises but on every one that I have been on everyone at our tables has given their envelopes at the end of the cruise. I think it is nice to thank them and then they know for sure that they are not being stiffed. Just my opinion!

 

Century 11/1997

Explorer of the Seas 8/24/02

Majesty of the Seas 2/17/03

Voyager of the Seas 2/22/04

<IMG

 

 

[pjm327]

You can prepay or use your seapass on the ship as well. You are given a voucher to put in your envelope. Have a great cruise.

 

SOVEREIGN OF THE SEAS CRUISE 4/19/04

[rkaplan]

We received an idea from a cruise website, to give your room steward his time on the first day. We did this on our last cruise on the Radiance. I have never had such good service, then we gave him extra on the last night.

 

It worked well for us.

 

Sea Princess 2000

Grandeur of the Seas 2001

Infinity 2002

Exployer of the Seas 2003

Radiance of the Seas 2004

upcoming Adventure of Seas Jan. 2005

[TexasTwoSteps]

bump

 

 

[magicolor_girl]

After our trip on the Voyager in October 03, we booked another for January 04. We already knew both of our dining room waiters would still be on contract so my friend did take small gifts from our home to give them - a Hershey chocolate bar and postcards of Lancaster County Amish - nothing space consuming on either end. Eat the candy, send the postcards home... no trinkets left to consume space in a tiny room.

 

Voyager of the Seas 10.26.03

Voyager of the Seas 01.11.04

Voyager of the Seas 06.13.04

Explorer of the Seas 10.31.04

[Florida Beach]

We received outstanding services from the whole staff; So on the last day, we all signed our names on the envelope, each of us wrote a note of what we like best about them and added 25% on top of the suggested amount .

 

We took pictures with them, but forgot to bring the printer dock so they have to wait until our next cruise (which is not soon enough)

 

They worked hard and really earned every single pennies they received.

 

March 28, 2004 - Mariner of the Seas

July 4, 2004 - Sapphire Princess - Alaska