Tipping in foreign currency?

[AnitaJane&RB]

We're sailing on Sept 6th on the Century in Europe, including England and Spain. We like to do our own tipping at the end of the cruise - more personal than just putting it on your tab. Would you tip in Euros, pounds, or US currency?

[Wine-O]

We're sailing on Sept 6th on the Century in Europe, including England and Spain. We like to do our own tipping at the end of the cruise - more personal than just putting it on your tab. Would you tip in Euros, pounds, or US currency?

 

We were on the Solstice and opted for the automatic daily tipping onto our seapass. Since the ship was going to spend the next 6 months in the Med, we added extra for those who provided exceptional service in Euro (cabin steward & waiter).

 

If you are going to do it on your own, I would think that you should tip in $$$ as that is the ship's norm.

[Lsimon]

We're sailing on Sept 6th on the Century in Europe, including England and Spain. We like to do our own tipping at the end of the cruise - more personal than just putting it on your tab. Would you tip in Euros, pounds, or US currency?

 

We've heard of people tipping in local currencies, but the 'official" currency on board is the US dollar. All prices (drinks, shops, casino, etc) are in US dollars as are the recommended tips. I have no idea if the ship charges the staff the same types of exchange rate premiums they charge passengers. I have heard that a large percentage of the staff deposit there tips with the cruise line and wire the finds back home periodically - but never heard what this means to them in terms of different currency exchange rates.

 

My recommendation is to tip in US dollars, or to make things even easier just charge the tips to your on-board account. On the other hand, I'm sure the staff would appreciate tips in whatevery currency you have compared to no tips at all!

[Cruise Junky]

We knew our waiter was spending some time in Europe while Millie was going into drydock in Barcelona so we tried to tip as much as possible in Euros. If it's the middle of the season a lot of the staff do get to go ashore, so if you want to tip in Euros I don't think they'd be an issue. I think they'd be happy either either.

[Moeve]

If the cruise is in Europe the crew is happy to take Euros since they are currently worth more and they can spend it in Europe without loosing money on the exchange. Those cruises out of the UK will find the crew has no qualms with accepting Pounds there for exactly the same reason. If you are is US / Carribean waters then you will have to ask the people involved sometimes they actually live in europe and don't mind accepting these currencies.

 

Another thing to bear in mind is that some of the countries the crews come from have exchange "blackmarkets" where they can get "more" for their exchange than at the bank.

[excitedofharpenden]

Personally I'd always tip in the onboard currency of the ship ie USD.

 

Phil