The cruise lines will frequently try to convince people to tip the Maitre d'. We never do unless they do something extra specifically for us. They are considered management and generally make a good salary and are not dependent on tips like the waiters, etc. are. So, my answer is don't worry about it.
Marty
I agrre with colorcrazie. There are many other crew members who are far more deserving of tips than MaitreDs. That said, we have on occasion tipped the odd one for going the extra mile when there was a problem with seating or a meal.
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Oceanus 1987
Splendor of the Seas 1997
Regal Empress 1998
Horizon 2000
Summit 2001
Sovereign of the Seas 2003
Noordam 2003
Zenith 2004
Mercury 2005
Princess Sun 2006
Princess Sea 2007
Constellation 2008
Mercury 2009
Constellation 2010
I too agree that it's usually unnecessary to drop a few dollars in the maitre'd's lap. They suggest you tip him on the last evening of the cruise, and it's amazing how a day or so ahead of that, you suddenly see him floating around the dining room, when you never saw him before..... I've tipped him a time or two in the past, for going above and beyond, but for the most part, ignore him when I float past him on that last evening.
We recently had a very good experience with our Maitre'd on the Connie. We had a table mate who was one of the most difficult people I have ever encountered She had to have a special menu for every meal and had many other demands. We also had a less than attentive Bar waitress and Wine waitress as my wife was the only on at the table who drank. He rectified this situation on the second and third night respectively,to include getting me my diet coke himself. (The difficult one was a friend of a friend so we couldn't ditch her). He earned the little extra we gave him for sure
The last 2 cruises we have been on (RCCL), the head waiter has been MORE than attentive. He has been to our table every night and learned our likes/dislikes. On the last cruise, he even had to act as our waiter on the second to last night because our waiter was sick in bed.
Our last cruise we were tucked away under the balcony and never saw the Maitre d. Was problem his "sense of humor" but the guy just seemed nasty as he delivered his "lines".
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Bob
A Bad Day At Sea [with power] Always Beats A Good Day At Work
Alaska 2014 - haven't picked a cruise yet
Carnival: Glory 2004, Destiny 2008, Splendor 2009, Freedom 2011, Valor 2012
Celebrity: Summit 2011
Princess: Ruby 2010, Caribbean 2013
i agree with the others, unless the Maitre D has gone above and beyond his/hers job then i really don't feel the need to tip them, they are management and pull down a decent salary unlike your service staff
I have actually tip the MD on my last 2 cruises.. the last one in Oct was because right before dinner on our 3rd night, he switched our group's (6 of us) table, due to our wait staff not being bery attentive and even down right rude! He knew us by name and came by every night to make sure things were ok.. And made a point to speak to us outside the MDR...
We tipped him $20 and the other 2 couples also tipped him.. Our dining room experience can make or break our cruise.. IMO...
It is totally up to you and the service you recieve.
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TIPPING THE MAITRE DE
We usually never see the Maitre De, but on our Jewel of the Seas cruise last month she came around and talked all 10 nights. 
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