first time cruiser

[johnandlinda]

We have booked Triumph next April 8 and really look forward to it. Have booked a balcony room. Maybe a stupid question, but do the rooms have coffee makers or do you just use room service for that first morning cup of java?

[CA Cruiser]

No there are no coffee makers in the cabins. You can fill out the room service slip the night before with your order and time of delivery or you can call in the morning. We always enjoy coffee, pastries and fruit while getting ready for the day. It is free except for a couple $ tip. Enjoy!

[LisaK]

fill out your room service breakfast order slip the night before, just know that they are pretty efficient when it comes to timining. Room service makes a great wake-up call.
We usually order coffee, orange juice, fruit and a muffin for our balcony.
Hint: you need to specify everything you want. Coffee with sugar, milk(or you will get it black) Muffin with butter (or it will be dry) etc, etc.

I agree with the above posts.

If you order room service. The wait staff appreciates a tip too. They work really hard, long hours for less than min. wage. Tips are their main income.
Happy Cruising!

The room service (before a "real" breakfast <G>) sounds great - a danish and coffee while I'm still getting dressed sure sounds like "spoiled" to me!

Now....what kind of tip do you guys give for a room service meal? A dollar, two, three?? Generally, we tip 15 - 20% of the charge, but 20% of zero is zero, and that certainly isn't right!

So....what's the consensus? How MUCH tip for room service delivery?

Thx, everyone!

Anni (not cruising till January...but getting excited anyway!)

[Fern]

Hi Anni,

We usually tip $2.00-$3.00 for coffee, danish, cereal, and milk. On some lines you can get a full breakfast and we'd probably tip $5.00 for that. To us it really depends on how much service the waiter gives us. If they just throw it on the table and run we tip less. If they set it down, say "good morning", and ask if everything is right or if we need something else, we tip more.

[buffetfan2004]

I agree with Fern's recommendations. Last cruise in July we tipped the same. Cheerfulness is always appreciated! I am not sure if you are supposed to tip if it is your room steward who delivers food or not..it never happened we always had someone else. Besides, I wouldn't mind giving an extra something to my room steward anyhow.

You'll call room. If you tip your cabin steward upfront (I do aprox $20.00), they will ensure your coffee in outside your door or served at say 7:00 AM, but If you don't you can expect service within 15-20 min. (my personal exp. only)

We went on our first cruise two years ago and had a wonderful time! We did not find out about room service until the second last nite we were there! But depending on your ship it is usually just the continental breakfast that is served as well as cold cereal. Fill it out before 11pm and cabin stuart will make sure room service will get it. The pastries are fresh and the coffee is hot! Have a great cruise..we leave on the Liberty Feb 12th!

Thanks, Fern and all! That gives me a good starting place, and a way to budget, as well. Yep, we're sailing on Carnival - the Valor in January to the Western Caribbean - and we just can't stop thinking about it!

Thanks again - you guys are great!

Anni

[themomtk]

I always give them $2.00 for coffee and danish each morning. They are real good on being prompt.
Then I drink my java on the baclony and have a danish as the sun comes up.

Dreaming of cruising and cruising to make my dreams come true.