Tipping on a cruise ship?

[Kiry]

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.?

Decent article on why cruise ships aren't registered in US. https://www.usatoday.com/story/trav...hips-registered-in-foreign-countries/1760759/

Many of the companies are international, with US branches (Princess, Holland, RCL). So, I guess it depends? I know that when I took an EU cruise, there was a distinctly different feel to the tipping than the Carb cruises.

 

[bscrive]

We always give the standard rate and then give our Steward another $20 or so, a couple of days into the cruise. Those that tip extra get much more back in service. The cheapos only get minimal service. We always get treated like royalty by our cabin stewards. Don't be cheap. These people make way less than you, or I do and work like dogs.

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree:

 

[Copperman]

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

Or possibly your wife was working around the house all day and doesn't want to get cleaned up to go out and doesn't want to cook.

 

[johnsimion]

My wife is Filipina and we've talked about this extensively with Filipino crew members, who are usually the majority of the crew because they are English-speaking. What we learned is that most members of the crew earn about $400 a month from the ship. The tips supplement this and are collected by the cruise line and divided among the entire crew, including the folks in the engine room that you never see. These people work seven (7) days a week, sometimes on 12 hour shifts, unless they get a few hours off in port. They do this continuously for several months at a time, then they have to pay for their flights back home, a costly expense when you earn $400 a month. Yes, they earn more than they would at home but few of us would work under those conditions, let alone do it AND maintain a smile and good attitude. Hence we always tip the suggested amount and are grateful for the great service. You don't need to tip individually although none of the crew is going to say no.

BTW I don't like this system, it's not fair to either the passengers or crew, but it is what it is. Unless and until the cruise lines decide to change, I won't screw over some poor soul who works 12 hour days seven days a week.

 

[bikerbillone]

Recent cruise, the tip was $7/day gratuity added to the bill at cruise end, that was a 'new' thing for us. As us folks that do cruises know, the price you see advertised is not the is not what you pay, that's the tip of ice berg, be prepared for sticker shock, but as a destroyer sailor for four years, I still love the experience of the sail.