Tipping

[dereckbc]

Ok first time cruiser. I want to pre-pay porter, waiter, ect... up front. Well at the end of the cruise. I just want to put it on an account up front and be done with it. It is me and my wife.

How much per day per person?

I understand bar tabs ect and extras are extra.

But give me an idea what is fair. Please no travel agents or others associated with the industry reply.

[bob]

Today, most all cruise lines offer automatic tipping, you actually have to request to have tips NOT put on you shipboard account, so probably not to worry, don't pay anybody up front even if you elect to pay tips yourself rather than using the automatic option, you can check with your TA or the cruise line to see what the policy is for the line you are sailing with, those tips will run between $10/12 per person per day and cover tips for all except bar service. Bar tips are always added to each individual bar order at 15%, this is pretty consistent across the industry so not a issue there.
Your mention of porter, I would assume means the porters at embarkation and debarkation that handle you luggage. A rough average here is $1 per bag but more if you like the guy, they are not employees of the cruise line, the work for or are contracted by the port authority.

As an added note, the travel agents that are community members of this forum do not promote themselves or their agency and most of the time do not even identify themselves as agents but they will be and are the most capable of giving you the most current up to date information on just about any subject including tipping to refute their input and not partake of their valuable knowledge would be doing a great injustice to yourself, just letting you know.

[Jeanie]

Great info Bob

[Krazy Kruizers]

It would be helpful if you told us what cruise line you will be on.

On HAL -- there is an automatic Hotel Service Charge added to your shipboard account of $11 per person per day. About $3.50 goes to your cabin stewards and $3.50 goes to your dining room staff. The other monies are divided among the "Behind the scenes" crew -- laundry men/women, cooks, those you see going around the ship cleaning, etc.

In all the bars, lounges, dining room, etc. -- no matter what you order -- soda, bottled water, cocktails, wine, etc. there will be a 15% gratuity added on.

If you wish to tip certain individuals more at the end of the cruise -- that is up to you.

[GloBug]

Please remember it is customary tip anyone who brings you room service. Be it coffee and tea in the morning or a late snack at night, we always tip $2 per tray that they bring.

[BruinSteve]

In addition to what was stated above...or, at least as further explanation:

It is really cruise line specific...Every cruise line publishes a "recommended" or "suggested" amount for cabin steward, waiter, assistant waiter and maitre d' or head waiter...Tipping each of these is pretty standard...but it is also customary to add a little bit extra if any do anmything above and beyond the ordinary or you feel them to be truly exceptional...But, most people probably just tip the "standard"...

Yes, some cruise lines now automatically charge the standard to your account, others require you to fill out a form or enter a command into a computer...On Royal Caribbean's Allure--that we just returned from--we were able to enter it in by running through some menus on our in-cabin TV screen...

Oftentimes, cruise lines will automatically deduct it if you are using a "My Time" or "Anytime" dining option...

But, don't worry, every cruise line allows you--or requires you--to do exactly what you are asking...If you have any doubts, just stop by the Purser's (Guest Relations) desk once you are onboard...

Have fun...

[Calgon1]

bOB is right on track...

As far as tipping on your bar bill ... 15% is automatically added to the price of any bar drink. Goes on your account and you settle up at the end of the cruise. Tipping at the bar is gauche and just not done. The criuise ship (other than the casino and room service) is a "cashless society". At the end of the cruise, if someone has given you service above and beyond, then you may personally give them an envelope. Just be descrete.


If you want to be a little "creative" with your tipping, you might try the following:

I generally use $2.00 bills.

$2 per bag to the dockside porter.
$2 per room service delivery.

You can purchase them through your bank, but it may take a week or two to get them, as they have to special order them from the regional branck of the Fed. There should not be any charge for this, other than their face value.

Or, you can use US $1.00 (gold) coins. Same thing. Order them through your bank.

We live close to Canada, so I often use Canadian $2.00 coins (called "Toonies"). They cost a little over $1.00 (US) each.

[dereckbc]

It would be helpful if you told us what cruise line you will be on.

That would be Royal Caribbean.

[BruinSteve]

[If you want to be a little "creative" with your tipping, you might try the following:
...
Or, you can use US $1.00 (gold) coins. Same thing. Order them through your bank.
We live close to Canada, so I often use Canadian $2.00 coins (called "Toonies"). They cost a little over $1.00 (US) each.

I would actually advise against tipping with US or Canadian coins...especially to those off the ship...
Most foreign exchange places around the world tend to NOT allow exchanges of coins--paper bills only as to the foreign currency...
So, those receiving the tips in coinage may find it difficult to actually convert the tips to usable cash...
Crew members ON the ship would be able to use the US coinage ON the ship or IF the ship actually docks in a US port...
It would be okay to tip in the currency of wherever you are in coins--say using Euro coins in most countries in Europe...
But, if you give a US Dollar coin to the porter who loads your luggage onto your Med cruise ship in Barcelona, that coin is of little use to him...

[Gayle V]

Great advice above. Just FYI , if you've booked a suite, the auto tip amount is just a little bit higher than the other rooms.

And boB is right, the TA's on this board are great sources of info. You would have lost some good answers you've already had on other threads, if you didn't hear from them. I have an excellent TA, but really appreciate all the input from the TAs here. They don't ever toot their own horns here, but eventually you can figure out who's who. So I always listen a little closer when they talk.