Tipping Tips

[1st Time Cruiser]

I will be going on my first cruise in May and I am very confused about tipping. I learned after booking the cruise that there is about a $10 per day, per person charge for tipping, plus whatever you buy or whatever meals you eat have an already added on 15% (I think) tax.
I was told by someone that you don't HAVE to pay the $10 per person per day amount, but I want to hear some other opinions. I Know its "Right" to follow the tipping rules, and I definately understand it helps the staff, but WHAT ARE THE ACTUAL RULES for what you do and don't HAVE to pay.
Being an average money maker myself, I really can't afford tip this person tip that person tip tip tip tip tip.... Can someone please explain this to me?!!!!!!
If theres certain amounts for certain ships, its Carnival Glory

[ferrangi]

I think I might be an average person such as yourself, here's what we did last year.. (1st cruise)

We paid the prepaid grutity $10 per day, per person. When you think of all the staff on board it's totally worth it.
When we ordered room service we tipped either 1 or 2 dollars depending on how much we ordered...

You don't have to tip anyone individully, but I think you'll see others on here will agree, your service may be a little better if you tip room service as they come in.
Now keep in mind, you can tip more or less (if service is great or bad).
Also, you can leave extra money for tips at the end of the cruise if you feel you need to.

You can tip at the bar too if you want, but that's up to you. I can't see tipping 1 dollar for every drink, but occasionally we did tip bartenders as well.
I hope this helps....

[1st Time Cruiser]

Great, thanks so much!!!
I'd love to hear any other opinions!

[Sammy1954]

The ten dollars a day they charge your sign and sail card I leave on but
I also leave my cabin stewart and our dining person more on the last night I give them cash.
They work very hard to see your room is clean and that you are happy
at dinner. Those two people deserve more than any one in my book.
My service has been nothing but the best.
But other than the 10 dollars a day you dont have to tip any one if
you dont want too..
Tip the porter when you are getting on the ship and he takes your
stuff for you.
You can tip who ever you wish. When you order drinks they take a 15%
for that person but some times we leave him cash tips also.
So do what you think is best and makes you happy.

Sammy 1954

[2Littletime]

Unless you have prepaid the $10/day in tips they will add it automatically to your sign and sail account. The only time you tip for food is when they bring the room service and we normally tip a couple of dollars for each person in our cabin that ordered food and we always get great service with room service. The tips are automatically added when you order anything from the bar (15%) but you can tip extra if you feel so inclined. We normally tip extra to our waitstaff if they are really good and we do the same for a cabin steward who goes the extra mile. We always tip Camp Carnival for the outstanding job that they do with our children.
The porters expect about $1 a bag and rumor has it if you don't tip them you'll be one of the ones missing a bag, I have some doubts about the truth in this but I'm not going to test the theory, so I tip them too. Tipping is a hot topic when it comes to cruising but when we've added up the approximate cost of the meals if we had eaten them in a restaurant we certainly don't think the $10 pp/day is unreasonable.
I must confess though that on one cruise when we took my youngest daughter just by herself we removed her $10 tips because no efforts were made for her to have her cot made up each night and we picked up after her and she spent most of her time at Camp Carnival. That was the only time she had less than great service on the ship, we tipped Camp Carnival and the lido staff extra so we didn't save money but we exercised our right to tip those who we felt earned it by offering service above and beyond.
Michelle

[michelenorton]

I'm sure you'll do what you feel is right when you're onboard..

You would act exactly as you would if you were at any other restaurant/hotel/spa area where people are working to ensure you're happiness..

If they go 'above and beyond'.. it's nice to be thanked.. even verbally.

I'm sure the crew members listen to enough whining.. that they're happy to hear "Hey.. Thank you very much for making my vacation a great one!"... (and I'm sure they like it better with a $10)

We usually change the pre-authorized tips. We don't usually go to the formal dining room. We've got little kids and we're just not really into that kind of thing.. So we've changed our tips at the pursers desk to take away $ from the dining room staff... and we usually give $100 to the Camp Carnival staff.. since they're the ones we appreciate the most.

I think we handed our cabin steward an extra $40 (after the pre-arranged tips) as we were leaving.. and I gave him a hug and thanked him for making it a great cruise. He had been wonderful with our little girls.. and every day, he came and sat down and asked them about their trip.. and even brought them some currency from his country for them to take as a souvenir. Those are the kinds of things that make the trip amazing for us.

[Sammy1954]

The ten dollars a day tips everyone. Then at the end of the cruise if you
want to tip your dining staff that takes care of you everyday or your cabin
person more you can. I always make sure those two groups get more after all they are the ones that are up close and personal with you the whole week.
You do what is right and then go from there.
they all work very hard for you and to make you happy while you
are on the cruise.
Being your first cruise you will understand the tipping before you
get off the ship. I would say some of them work 15 hours a day
to make sure you are happy.

Sammy 1954
I say leave the ten dollars on the sign and sail.

[Mike M]

Your $10/day gratuity will be added to your onboard account. This will cover your waiter, asst. waiter, cabin steward, asst. steward, maitre 'd.

There is 15% added to the price of each drink. That is the tip for the bar servers.

Otherwise you do not need to tip anyone and definitely not in cash. A dollar or two for room service is the norm but if you aren't a room service person then you don't tip.

There is an "idea" that is beginning to spread that you "must" tip extra to everyone in order to receive good service. This is idea is basically a fallacy. Many people like to give $20 or $50 to their steward in hopes they will be treated better during the cruise. Well, you don't have to do this in order to receive excellent service.

There are also others who think with their hearts and automatically add additional tips at the end of the cruise because the steward or waiter worked so hard. Well, they basically did their job and they more than earned the gratuity that you have already been charged for.

Don't let someone else's feeling that they need to give more (usually just to make them feel good and not really for the crew members benefit) make you feel that you MUST do this and if you don't then you are a cheapskate. Keep your $10/day charge on your onboard account and you have done just fine.

Take care,
Mike

[CROOOOZIN]

We just left the $10 per person per day charge as is and tipped on top of that where we felt the people went above and beyond. We also tipped the Camp Carnival gang as well as brought them back chocolate from St. Maarten...They loved that!

[kokopops]

hello, how does one go about pre paying the tips?

[REDWITCH 13]

Originally Posted by Sammy1954

The ten dollars a day they charge your sign and sail card I leave on but
I also leave my cabin stewart and our dining person more on the last night I give them cash.
They work very hard to see your room is clean and that you are happy
at dinner. Those two people deserve more than any one in my book.
My service has been nothing but the best.
But other than the 10 dollars a day you dont have to tip any one if
you dont want too..
Tip the porter when you are getting on the ship and he takes your
stuff for you.
You can tip who ever you wish. When you order drinks they take a 15%
for that person but some times we leave him cash tips also.
So do what you think is best and makes you happy.


We are going to exactally the same as Sammy is doing. I know I am going to tip the Room Steward as soon as I see him. I will give a tip for drinks every now and then also.

Darlene

Sammy 1954

[colorcrazie]

Just an FYI, the dining room staff are the same people who work the buffets, so if you remove their tip, you are also not tipping the Lido staff.
The only meals that you tip beyond the $10/day are room service, as already mentioned, and if you go to the specialty restaraunt that charges extra.
Marty

[REDWITCH 13]

I would always give the required tip that is asked per person per day. Then I would give the extra tip also.

They all deserve it so much. The staff goes far beyond their jobs, and will do anything for you

Darlene

[BEFdoc]

Ok, I agree with most on this board about room service, attendant and wait staff. But, no one mentioned casino employees. This may come as a shock to most and it was to me until I started working in the business, that dealers in the casino are paid minimal wages that are supplemented by tips made by players. Most cruiselines pool the tips during a period of time and split the tips among the dealers. Really, they make very little without the tips so it is something to consider when spending time at the black jack table. My understanding this goes for the slot attendants as well. So, on a hand pay slot payoff don't forget the slotties either. Just my opinion of course, but thought you might like to know. Have a great cruise.

[Joe323]

One more thing on the subject of tipping carry about $50 in $1 and$5 bills for tipping porters tour guides taxi drivers etc.