surely every relationship can benefit from some compromise. I'm on Oasis right now with my BF - it's his first cruise. By clicking Sign Up, you also agree to marketing emails from both Insider and Morning Brew; and you accept Insiders. You do not need to tip youth counselors, but some people choose to do so. Your email address will not be published. We found that out during our last cruise. My questions are: 1. "It's like with the drink package, when you calculate how much you're going to have to drink in order to break even," he added. While the bulk of tips may be made by credit card at the end of the cruise, having some small bills on hand during your cruise vacation is never a bad idea for some of the added gratuities you may want to provide. Many lines now have fees for some room service deliveries, but unless the menu specifies that a gratuity is being added to the fee, it is customary to tip a dollar or two with each delivery unless you are in a suite or on a luxury line where the butler delivers your room service. In short, lower-than-usual capacity numbers mean these smiling service people -- many who have been out of a job for months during the cruising pause -- are being short-changed when it comes to their tips, at a time when they are more reliant on them than ever. Now, many servers expect at least 20%. What are the Best Travel Destinations to Visit in 2023? September 26, 2007. Another circumstance where tipping is recommended beyond the automatic cruise gratuities is during shore excursions. As mentioned, cruise ship staff tips are based off percentages and paid out from the overall tipping pool. To tip less because of the economic status of their own country seems to be unfair. Some say we are not compensated adequately for what we do,but I love my job. Heres what to know about tipping on cruise ships. But there are no instructions on what youre supposed to do with these items. Sail on the cruise line, and you'll now pay $20.00 per person, per day if you are sailing in an interior, oceanview, balcony cabin or Club Balcony Suite. And if youve used a car service, Uber, or bus to get to/from the port, your driver will likely need tips as well. Carnival Gratuities (Tips): Full Guide to Cost & How They Work The DCL website says that tipping is not required, but it is ALWAYS appreciated. There is no specific amount youre required to tip for food. is nice. How do you know there are MANY? Cash really is best and gift cards are a runner up. It is not often the case that all interactions with all crew members are substandard. "If you're going to the Mediterranean, why wouldn't you want to spend some extra time in whatever port you're departing out of?". In the past, passengers had an assigned table and the same waitstaff throughout the entirety of their cruise. On a recent cruise on the Dream, my daughter and I ordered room service continental breakfast of coffee, fruit, and cereal. Whether you opt for pre-paying cruise gratuities, having them added to your charges during the voyage or passing out tips along the way, bring small bills (lots of them!). There are also so many free-food spots around the ship, like the pizza station, 24-hour ice-cream machine, and small cafs. Amberle3, February 21, 2019 in Royal Caribbean International. A handful of lines provide envelopes for passengers to fill with cash and hand to crewmembers on the last evening. At specialty restaurants where meals costs extra, gratuities are typically (but not always) included in the added fee, so be sure to ask about whether or not they are. If you really care about your crew team, the best thing you can do to reward them is by giving them EXCELLENT (not Very Good) ratings on the comment card youll get on your last night onboard. The suggested amount for passengers staying in concierge cabins . NOTE: If you are opposed to automatic gratuities and have decided to cancel them regardless, it is a good idea to let your room steward and front desk know that you will be tipping throughout the voyage instead. Cruising in Haven for the first time. All they really have to do for us is make up the bed and clean and restock the the bathroom. I dont have any hard statistics. Indeed, theyre supposed to decline tips. For both of us, we usually tip between $30-$50 for head waiter, and slightly less for assistant waiter and then even slightly less for the drink waiter (as we are non-drinkers but still want to tip him something). Of course, we keep our own roomneat. "Service workers don't have that luxury. But Ricci said some servers prefer card tips so their paycheck is bigger. 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And, as the time to disembark approaches, make sure you let the crew members whom you have come to know that you appreciate them. Enchanted with cruising from my first voyage in the Bahamas on the SS Emerald Seas to Alaskas Inside Passage. I'm sure this has been asked before, and a search revealed all kinds of debate on the merits of tipping etc, but I'm needing opinions on how much extra to tip. The same goes for waiters. However, it is unlikely that you would be able to tip any of the crew members who work out of the public view with this option. Youth activities staff are not normally tipped. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. .css-18jw8gc{-webkit-appearance:none;-moz-appearance:none;-ms-appearance:none;appearance:none;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;position:relative;white-space:nowrap;vertical-align:middle;outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;line-height:1.2;border-radius:var(--chakra-radii-md);transition-property:var(--chakra-transition-property-common);transition-duration:var(--chakra-transition-duration-normal);height:auto;min-width:var(--chakra-sizes-10);font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);background:none;border:0;color:black;display:inline;margin:0px;padding:0!important;font-family:var(--chakra-fonts-Roboto);font-weight:500;padding-top:0.625rem;padding-bottom:0.625rem;-webkit-padding-start:1rem;padding-inline-start:1rem;-webkit-padding-end:1rem;padding-inline-end:1rem;}.css-18jw8gc:focus-visible,.css-18jw8gc[data-focus-visible]{box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-outline);}.css-18jw8gc:disabled,.css-18jw8gc[disabled],.css-18jw8gc[aria-disabled=true],.css-18jw8gc[data-disabled]{opacity:0.4;cursor:not-allowed;box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-none);}.css-18jw8gc:active,.css-18jw8gc[data-active]{border:var(--chakra-borders-none);background:none;}.css-18jw8gc:hover,.css-18jw8gc[data-hover]{border:var(--chakra-borders-none);background:none;}.css-18jw8gc:focus,.css-18jw8gc[data-focus]{border:var(--chakra-borders-none);outline:2px solid transparent;outline-offset:2px;box-shadow:var(--chakra-shadows-none);}Cookie Consent, Dining room staff on Royal Caribbean's Allure of the Seas (Photo: Royal Caribbean International), What to Expect on a Cruise: Tipping Crewmembers on a Cruise. SMALL BITES: Stay cool this summer with Sip & Dip Catamaran Cruise, Like the LeBron effect, businesses look to bring Messi magic to Fort Lauderdale, Hot n cheesy: Ultimate guide to 13 pizza styles that call South Florida home, Built-in software death dates are sending thousands of schools Chromebooks to the recycling bin, A regular visit with your doctor is quickly becoming a thing of the past, How CU Buffs football coach Deion Sanders is changing Boulder, one menu at a time: The guy is unapologetically himself., State Farm Florida is now the states second-largest home insurer. At the end of a cruise, some may also hand off a few dollars to a favorite bar waiter. There is an 18% gratuity automatically added to the price of any alcohol you purchase at the onboard adult dining venues (Remy, Enchant, and Palo). It's always a good rule of thumb to arrive at least one day before your cruise departs, especially if you're flying to the port . We tip at the end of the cruise and bring chocolate and sweets which are always much appreciated by the crew. 2x service, ice, extra towels, oversee my laundry as needed, extra pillows, wine glasses and whatever else we need for our room. The same automatic tipping applies in shipboard coffee bars and ice cream shops. Pedicure or manicure: $5 or $10, Ricci said. The servers and attendants know what their jobs entail and what the get paid for it. Tipping wait staff extra - how much? - Cruise Critic 10 do's and don'ts of cruise ship tipping | Cruise.Blog Stay up to date with what you want to know. With that said, however, exceptional service may warrant a gratuity offer. This can be quite specific to the activity and the cruise line. Why are tips expected? My opinion only you do you I dont think that bare minimum level of tipping is adequate for the impeccable service youre getting at these restaurants. Adding an Extra Tip Can Really Make a Difference Right Now. How much to tip waiter and his assistant? - Royal Caribbean Blog document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Disney World, Disneyland, and Universal Orlando News, Tips, Crowds and Attraction Information from The Unofficial Guide travel books. Privacy Policy. Many river cruise lines include the gratuities, but for those that dont, the suggested range is between $10 and $20 per passenger, per day. If you have the wherewithal to take a Disney Cruise Line vacation, the addition of a de minimus tip will mean significantly more to them than it will to you. I tend to think of wait staff the same way. Although not technically required, tips are nonetheless expected. They travel away from their families for prolonged periods of time to earn more money than they are able to in their own countries. Instead I was presented with a paper receipt to sign, with a line available to add a tip amount, just as the practice was pre-COVID. Look for a tip jar at the front of the bus or van; if you are on an extended tour with other shipmates, passing around an envelope to collect tips may be in order. This should be given daily because the service may not be provided by the same person during your entire stay. She also said to leave the tip in an envelope where it will be easy to find, such as on the desk. Small ships might not automatically add a tip, so be sure to check the bill and leave around 15 to 20 percent if a gratuity wasnt included and you feel the service warrants it. Welcome to /r/Cruise! Is this true? Its self-reported, so some of this could be bluster, but its enough that we feel confident that a significant subset of guests give more than the standard tip. In short, even if youre not eating dinner in the main dining rooms, youre all but certain to be using waiter services during other portions of your trip. Similarly, some expedition cruise lines include gratuities while those that dont recommend a gratuity of around $10 to $15 per person, per day. Many times, the biggest shock to most first-time cruisers is that the dining room is included. There is no need to tip the captain, cruise director or entertainment staff. Some who purchase high quality/premium drinks in an upscale lounge feel obligated to give $10 or $20 for a round of drinks, Ricci said. The Disney Cruise Line website reads, It is customary to give gratuities Tipping is the norm and you should be prepared to abide by this custom. Free expert cruise tips and news from Cruise Hive! I always fall in love with those taking care of us & the mother comes out in me. But I don't think there is a wrong amount! How much to tip on a cruise is actually easier to figure out than you may think, with major cruise lines providing precise tipping guidelines and even automatically adding a suggested gratuity amount to passengers onboard account. The same is true with the entertainment team, with the exception of a piano player performing at a bar who may have a bowl for both tips and song requests. The first is to pre-pay cruise gratuities when you book your reservation. On the other hand, the head server position is a bit of a black box. If a visit to the spas or salons onboard will be part of your cruise, keep in mind that these crew members may not be part of the tip-sharing program. Amount could be increased depending on how challenging the request was, according to Salas. This is particularly true if you are a heavy packer! Charging every passenger an automatic cruise gratuity also assures that crew members who work behind the scenes to deliver an exceptional vacation experience receive a share. Read the fine print when you make your reservation. Cash vs. credit is an ongoing debate, he said. While it may not sound like much money when quoted as a per person/per day cost, seeing the total on your final onboard bill can feel expensive. Cruise ship gratuity, service charge and tipping guide: Everything to We bring a bag of individually wrapped candies (like star burst or smarties) for the kids club hosts. The assistant server chased us out into the hallway on the last night when we finished dinner,hugged us both and expressed his thanks with a very big smile. Related: 9 times you do not need to tip on a cruise. Airport shuttle bus: $1 to $10, depending on length of drive and service. Glad your BF is loving his first cruise! While planning for your next voyage, search for cruise lines that are bundling onboard items and selling them at a discounted price. No tipping is expected for the youth counselors who watch children at onboard kids clubs, though passengers can offer a gratuity to them if they would like. ASK LOIS: Where can I find authentic soft-shell crabs in South Florida? Your email address will not be published. Depending on the cruise line, this may be removed from your bill or issued as a ship credit. Waiting in line to exchange large denominations at guest services can be a hassle. Some cruise lines have access to discounted flights and allow you to bundle your airfare with your cruise. I enjoy Rome, so sometimes I'll go in two or three days before the cruise," he said. Tip these folks in cash depending on the size of your party and the level of attention you receive. How Much Extra To Tip Cruise Staff - Cruise Mummy Stay up to date with the biggest stories of the day with ANC's 'Dateline Philippines' (15 July 2023) | ABS-CBN News Channel, Philippines 7. It is, of course, entirely up to you to decide what makes sense for your situation. You may also want to create a hybrid method by combining the basic options. Cruise Hive was established back in 2008 and among the earliest blogs in the industry. Give whatever you are comfortable with. Add Cruise Critic's Community Forums to your iPhone's Home Screen! "There's a lot of things that could go wrong or things that [a travel agent] can help improve.". please remember your room steward in your extra tips. Ridiculous! So we asked Chiron to share his top advice for travelers spending their summer vacations at sea this year from how to avoid long lines and crowded pool decks to when you should buy travel insurance and how early you should arrive before the ship's departure. Yet, it can add hundreds of dollars to the final numbers and falls into the category of an important item for most passengers. If this does not solve the problem, then you can request a refund of all or part of the amount; or, reduce the rate. "You want to make sure that you get paired up and matched with the right cruise line. In the real world restaurants, I tip 20% of the total bill every timeI guess I'm struggling with what these different roles are and what they bring to the table? Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. No matter the suggested amount, you are free to visit the pursers desk on your ship to adjust based on the service you were provided. There's no issues," he said. These folks work incredibly hard to enhance your cruise experience, with no days off for months at a time. Our last two cruises, on HAL and NCL, didn't have wait staff that was worth any extra. Some items we would also add. These are things I think about when tipping outside the USA. Some cruise lines automatically add a gratuity or service charge to your bill, which may be distributed among various staff members. it suggests that passengers staying in most cabins pay $14.50 per day in total when tipping various dining staff and room attendants. Additionally, some have a no tipping policy for their crews. 4. So, if it is unclear, it is acceptable to ask if and which tips have been automatically charged to your bill. He's fallen in love with cruising and is having a great time. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. And its not only wait staff who assume we will throw in a few extra bucks. It's easy to see how, over time, lower-than-usually capacity numbers can add up to a big drop in income for cruise service staff.