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  1. #1
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    Question Tipping on a cruise ship?

    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?

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    Quote Originally Posted by Geep View Post
    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.
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    Very Active Member ARtraveler's Avatar
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    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.

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    Very Active Member SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN's Avatar
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    not knowing is the problem & that is why i like the countries that have the no tip policies

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    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.

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    No doubt: the folks working the hardest to make the boat ride pleasurable: should get the biggest gratuities.
    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...
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    Quote Originally Posted by Holly View Post
    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.
    What if his name isn't Stewart?
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    Perhaps it was Stuart?
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    Very Active Member SNOOPY's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Holly View Post
    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.

    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.

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    Do you or do you not tip when ordering take-out from a restaurant? That's what gets me.
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    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...
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    Quote Originally Posted by Geep View Post
    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.
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    Very Active Member SNOOPY's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Copperman View Post
    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

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    But I'm still trying to figure out how I can order the "All you can eat soup and salad": for take-out.
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    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?
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    I had a completely different mental image when I saw the title of this thread.

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    Very Active Member SNOOPY's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Denman View Post
    But I'm still trying to figure out how I can order the "All you can eat soup and salad": for take-out.


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    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.
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    Very Active Member SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN's Avatar
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    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.?

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    Active Member Kiry's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN View Post
    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/trave...tries/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.
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    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.

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    Very Active Member Copperman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by SNOOPY View Post
    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.
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    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.
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