Tipping on a cruise ship?

[Geep]

My wife and I have been on cruises before but I constantly struggle with the suggested “tipping” advices given out by the cruise lines. Thoughts forum members?

 

[UtahPete]

My wife and I have been on cruises before but I constantly struggle with the suggested “tipping” advices given out by the cruise lines. Thoughts forum members?

This is a great question and one of the reasons I try to avoid these situations

My (unsubstantiated) opinion is that some cruise lines try to go cheap on the help and depend on passengers' generosity through tipping to keep the employees happy about their total compensation. Makes me wonder about the quality of the employees and where else the company has cut the corners on expenses.

I also think tipping should not be expected of passengers who have already paid through the nose for an 'all expenses paid' trip.

 

[ARtraveler]

An interesting subject for discussion.

I have not been on a cruise ship but still run into the same thing with travel and dining. Bell Hops, Redcaps, Waitresses, Wheel Chair Attendants, Free drinks in Vegas.

All of the above are paid less than minimum wages--so depend on the kindness of the public. I pay based on service received.

For dining, I start at 15% and give the server a lot more if it is warranted. Most of the others get $5 a pop unless the distance is long or the service exceptional.

 

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

not knowing is the problem & that is why i like the countries that have the no tip policies

 

[Holly]

We tip $5 per day for the room Stewart and $30.00 per cruise for our waiter at dinner. Usually tip one dollar per drink order for bar staff. :thumbup:

 

[Bob Denman]

No doubt: the folks working the hardest to make the boat ride pleasurable: should get the biggest gratuities. :thumbup:
Having said that: the guy with the fancy uniform who is in charge of those workers: got zip from us!
All that he seemed to do; was hang close to the Ship's Captain during his visits out among the Tourists... nojoke

 

[UtahPete]

We tip $5 per day for the room Stewart and $30.00 per cruise for our waiter at dinner. Usually tip one dollar per drink order for bar staff. :thumbup:

What if his name isn't Stewart? :dontknow:

 

[Bob Denman]

Perhaps it was Stuart? :roflblack:

 

[SNOOPY]

We tip $5 per day for the room Stewart and $30.00 per cruise for our waiter at dinner. Usually tip one dollar per drink order for bar staff. :thumbup:

Haven’t been on a cruise, but we do similar to this in our hotel stays. $5 per day for room help, $1 per drink order.

We have been thinking about an all-inclusive cruise and have wondered about the tipping. Thanks for the thread.

.

 

[Copperman]

Do you or do you not tip when ordering take-out from a restaurant? That's what gets me.

 

[Bob Denman]

If it's a drive-up window: no!
I see that Olive Garden offers their menu as take-out: we haven't tried that yet... :dontknow:

 

[Blue Star]

My wife and I have been on cruises before but I constantly struggle with the suggested “tipping” advices given out by the cruise lines. Thoughts forum members?

I have been on several cruses (from 3 to 15 days), and always do the prepaid tipping thing since sadly this is how they get a proper paycheck. Then at the end of the cruise I individually tip those (room steward, waiters) that gave me great service. As for the bar staff, I rarely use them, as I refuse to pay those high prices for a soda, and I don't drink alcohol.

On one cruise I requested that my pre paid tip be reduced due to the room steward making advances toward my (then) 16 year-old daughter. I specifically said no tip for this person, but kept it the same for the others. Yes it was reported to the ship captain, and cruise company.

 

[SNOOPY]

Do you or do you not tip when ordering take-out from a restaurant? That's what gets me.

To me take out at a place like Olive Garden means you're trying to save a few dollars that night, so no tip. LOL


Ive worked in the restaurant business years and years ago so generally I tip at restaurants whenever seated at a table.


And yes Bob, you gotta try Olive Garden takeout, they generally do a great job of including everything and its nice sitting at your own table eating it...then crashing on the couch without driving home first. LOL

.

 

[Bob Denman]

But I'm still trying to figure out how I can order the "All you can eat soup and salad": for take-out. :dontknow:

 

[asp125]

If it's an all inclusive deal, I tip if I feel like it's warranted. Tipping is mostly a North American thing. Without getting into the argument of a living wage, service industry workers here have to put up with a lot of ****, and if they provide service beyond expectations, they deserve a tip.

Related note, it was in the news that Frontier Airlines are now encouraging tipping your flight attendants. Good or bad? "Oh thank you for giving me that handful of snack crackers and pouring the 1/2 can of soda". That's worth what... a dime? What's next, we chip in for gas for the airplane?

 

[BajaRon]

I had a completely different mental image when I saw the title of this thread.

 

[SNOOPY]

But I'm still trying to figure out how I can order the "All you can eat soup and salad": for take-out. :dontknow:

:roflblack: :roflmao: :roflblack:

 

[Kiry]

the most recent cruise I was on, I used the automatic (standard) tipping. then gave specific thank you tips to those that did some nice things to help me feel I was on vacation.

 

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

now if tipping is an american thing should we be tipping on a cruise ship whose crew & captain are usually not american and the ship isn't
registered in the u.s.?

 

[Bob Denman]