Room Service charge? tip?

[Embracedbylife]

I know that the room service menu items (sandwiches etc) are free. Do most of you give a tip even though we pay a daily fee for tips on the shipboard account?

[bjbear]

I know that the room service menu items (sandwiches etc) are free. Do most of you give a tip even though we pay a daily fee for tips on the shipboard account?

 

I do because the daily fee for tips doesn't cover room service. I usually give them $2 to $5 depending upon whether it's just light breakfast or something more substantial.

Sue

[-Lew-]

We usually give a couple of dollars.

 

I've seen it stated before that room service personnel do not share in the daily tips. Why on earth would they be excluded? Is this really true or just a rumor?

 

Lew

[Embracedbylife]

I just finished reading the cruise answer book that came with my docs today in the mail and it only says that the drinks include a 15% charge and that the spa and casino staff do not share in the tips. But they say room service is free. I just don't want to feel silly if I don't give a few bucks.

[paul929207]

Yes, you should tip for room service. They do not get a piece of the autotip.

[Toto2Kansas]

We always tip for room service. Even if just ordering extra ice. For meals, coffee or whatever, I wouldn't think of not giving the room service staff a tip.

[Embracedbylife]

Got it, will bring some singles! thanks everyone for the confirmation!

[Putterdude]

We always tip a couple dollars for the continental breakfast and up to $5 for lunch.

[dawcruiser]

I also tip room service a couple of dollars. But are not the folks who bring the food off duty busboys?

 

If I am correct they do get a share of the auto tips. But I still give them a couple of dollars. I often give my cabin steward and waiter a few extra dollars also.

 

Don

[pris993]

We always tip room service a couple/few dollars.

 

We don't care whether they are included in regular tips.

 

We tip for better service!

 

We also tip for a glass of ice water in a bar for the same reason!

 

Believe me it works. :D

[Embracedbylife]

I was just reading an old posting that says that there is a line on the room service order slip that you sign where you can add on a tip amount. Even though someone posted that they had asked at the Purser's desk and that they confirmed the room service staff are included in the autotip, you must be expected to tip something because they have that indicated tip on the signature slip right!

[sultan_sfo]

Room Service is a different department -- not a part of either cabin stewards or dining room. Some say they share in auto-tips others say no. General Rule for auto tips is that services used (or its equivalent service say buffet) by almost all the pax are part of the auto-tip. BTW -- just a terminology issue -- Princess does not use bus-boy as a designation for any crew member.

 

I also tip room service a couple of dollars. But are not the folks who bring the food off duty busboys?

...

 

Don

[rdsqrl]

I was just reading an old posting that says that there is a line on the room service order slip that you sign where you can add on a tip amount. Even though someone posted that they had asked at the Purser's desk and that they confirmed the room service staff are included in the autotip, you must be expected to tip something because they have that indicated tip on the signature slip right!

Well, that may or may not be the case -- it may just be the same slip they use for the registers at the bars, so I wouldn't place too much emphasis on what's on a piece of paper (my local deli's receipts has a spot for tips and I can tell you that no one tips there nor does the staff expect it -- it just came with their register's software program or something). I always hand over a couple of dollars to the guy and my feeling on it is, even if he isn't expecting it, it means more to him than that few dollars means to me.

[dawcruiser]

Room Service is a different department -- not a part of either cabin stewards or dining room. Some say they share in auto-tips others say no. General Rule for auto tips is that services used (or its equivalent service say buffet) by almost all the pax are part of the auto-tip. BTW -- just a terminology issue -- Princess does not use bus-boy as a designation for any crew member.

 

 

You are correct Princess uses the terminology of assistant waiter in place of busboy. But when I first began cruiseing they were busboys. I guess old habits are hard to break. Sorry for being politically incorrect.

 

Don

[caribill]

I was just reading an old posting that says that there is a line on the room service order slip that you sign where you can add on a tip amount. Even though someone posted that they had asked at the Purser's desk and that they confirmed the room service staff are included in the autotip, you must be expected to tip something because they have that indicated tip on the signature slip right!

 

 

I was told by the Purser's desk that room service personnel are included in the autotip. Of course an extra tip is always appreciated.

 

In a land restaurant that automatically adds a 15% or higher tip to the bill, they will still have a line for an additional tip on the signature slip.

[pompeynanny]

I do because the daily fee for tips doesn't cover room service. I usually give them $2 to $5 depending upon whether it's just light breakfast or something more substantial.

Sue

Autotip DOES include room service.

Seems most people want to tip on top of this as well. I suppose we then tip extra for every drink from the bar, every time we order a hamburger or pizza from the grill and every other service that is already included in the autotip.

Might just as well add the autotip to the cost of the cruise and go back to the old system of tipping on top of that. In a few years the cruise company will add a "new" autotip and we will be on an upward spiral.

Why don't we leave autotip to do its job and tip extra for "extra" service?

[cruiserbryce]

yes we do tip RS...they arent included in your daily tips (thats for Stewrad, waiter, asst waiter and head waiter).

[Woodmnky]

Even going with the assumption that the room service personel do receive a portion of the auto tip, I still tip a couple dollars for each delivery. I figure, if I was too lazy/content/tired to go and get the item myself, I am more than happy to give a little something to the person kind enough to bring it to me. Usually this amounts to an extra $20 on each cruise, but it is money well spent in my opinion.

[Colo Cruiser]

I know that the room service menu items (sandwiches etc) are free. Do most of you give a tip even though we pay a daily fee for tips on the shipboard account?

 

Daily fee does not cover RS, we always give $2-$3 extra for delivery. :)

[SoBaycruiser]

So if one does the ultimate balcony dinner, do you tip extra for that and if so how much?

[Colo Cruiser]

So if one does the ultimate balcony dinner, do you tip extra for that and if so how much?

 

 

We usually tip $10-$20 extra. There will be at least 2 waiters assisiting you. :)

[Sailor Gal]

We take $20 worth of ones and put them on top of our safe. We keep them readily available to give $2 or $3 tip to those who bring coffe and/or light breakfast a few time during our cruise. The least you can do. IMO. Last cruise (been on 12 cruises) was the first time we used room service. It was very nice to have hot coffee and tea (maybe some croisants/fruit/yogurt) delivered as our wake up call. Nice touch.

[ByeBye1]

I tip $1 for room service. I never have ordered a full meal just coffee and danish or snacks.

[MGnut]

We take $20 worth of ones and put them on top of our safe. We keep them readily available to give $2 or $3 tip to those who bring coffe and/or light breakfast a few time during our cruise. The least you can do. IMO. Last cruise (been on 12 cruises) was the first time we used room service. It was very nice to have hot coffee and tea (maybe some croisants/fruit/yogurt) delivered as our wake up call. Nice touch.

 

On my last cruise, I took a roll of the new $1 gold coins, and used them as tips. It's fun to watch the staff look at them to figure out what they were. LOL. But pretty soon, they recognized them, and looked happy to get them.