We are already paying $32 a day in gratuities for two of us, and an 18 percent surcharge on drinks purchased either separately or as a part of a drinks package. Outside of some unusual circumstance handled by a crewmember, we should not be expected to tip more than we already are. I know they work hard, and want them to be compensated, but we are already paying quite a lot for that purpose.
I found the video focusing too much on tipping. Yes, we should tip, but pre-tips are already a bit high and then you have to tip more inside. It goes almost half of the price of fare only in tipping. They should be like club med, where the packages for the resorts include the tip already on the price.
8 tips from former employees! At least 2 of them were telling you to tip more more and more. After I prepaid the gratuities, should I think about paying this guy a few bucks to make him happy, another gal a few bucks to make her happy...? This list can go on and on. I do the cruise to relax and make myself happy, not to rain more money to make their employees happy. The cruise ship company can charge us more gratuities to make their employees happy. If I can afford to buy their happiness, I will take the cruise. If no, I stay at home without tipping anyone.
I 100% AGREE!!!!! "if you want phenomenal service, or better drinks, you should tip more. The employees are working hard." I'm sorry.... what? I've already paid upwards of like $400-$600 in gratuity alone through my fair and drink packages/excursions... I've paid my tips, just provide the service now lol.... And yes, before anyone chops my head off, I tip at restaurants. If you’re upset that I’m not tipping, when I’ve already paid “prepaid gratuities” that they didn’t give me a choice to avoid (so I could tip people face to face), take that up with your employer🤷🏼♂️
I served in the Coast Guard for several years and saw enough to make me never want to go on a cruise. And that was the late 80s and 90s when ships weren't a floating combination of Disney World Harrah's, and Romper Room. And then this topic of tipping... more and more cruises are looking like a racket to me ! Tickets, transportation to the port of embarkation, the prepaid gratuity, and now what everyone is talking about, the CASH tipping...where the devil does it end ? Housekeeper, Cabin steward, waiter/waitress, Maitre d, baggage porter, bar tender, concierge... hell why not have each and every employee man the gangway and stick 10s & 20s in each pocket as you walk by... there's only a few hundred. These videos just showed up in my feed . smh... But really, what kind of vacation is it where you have to be a veritable expert on these hints and rules in order to "enjoy" yourself ? For me and mine, we'll stick to our tent, the forests, the beaches, a nice hotel on land no higher than the tenth floor... and not get ripped by the cruise ship, and worse
And to the cruise ship employees, there's a few of us who have seen "back of the house" okay. For most of you it sucks. But you wanted that job. No one held a knife to your throat. Want to keep your job ? Do it well. Do it well enough, or even above and beyond, and eventually a passenger or three will say something good about you in one of those comment forms. Don't be giving shitey service cos you don't think you were tipped enough. And consider this... many of these passengers are poor working slobs just like you and probably had to save for years to be able to go on a cruise. And for Christ sake, if you value your freedom, don't do anything stupid like stealing from a passenger, setting one up to be robbed, and don't mess with anyone's food or drink. You will regret it !
"Be nice to us, tip us more, remember our names to tell our boss that were good, fill out the form to tell corporate were good, don't bother us on busy days, don't lie to us, Tip us (again)"
Just got back from a cruise on the Oasis of the Seas and we had the prepaid gratuities included in the price. We gave our waiter a $50 cash tip and our housekeeping guy $20 cash at the end of the week. Not a ton of cash but these guys went above and beyond and work their butts off nonstop
@jeffwheeler👍 I'm going on my 2nd cruise in a few months, but that's what i did. My last cruise was to tip the waiter & housekeeping... generally speaking: if you don't minimize tipping, your wallet would be left open & you'll be tipping every crew member you come across gor simply just doing what they were hired to do.
All servers and staff on these cruise ships should be paid a living wage. Why are the majority of the crew members from poorer low pay countries? Obviously to maximise profit for the cruise line and offload their responsibility to their guests to supplement their staffing costs. The price of the cruise should include all the salaries / gratuities for the crew.
As a travel agent, I think tipping during the cruise is wrong. My clients always enjoyed purchasing cruises because they know everyone is treated equally, they’re on the cruise to relax & gratuities are paid the last day…to be shared by staff. Please don’t raise staff expectations for tips at the pool, the bar or the Windjammer & dining room! It will be the end of cruising as we know it.
so freaking true. I've already paid upwards of $400-$600 on gratuities alone, you're not getting anymore from me lol. That sounds selfish, but I have to save for a cruise to go on one. For me and my wife, it's like out the door (on liberty) $3000. Thats everything. No more.
It is a rare pleasure for me to vacation. I don’t have unending supply of money. I tip when it’s deserved. Hells bells even three meals a day. Cabin cleaning. Drinks. Getting towels. Special events. It’s insane.
I highly agree with #1: be kind to the crew. Wife and I are always thanking them for everything they do for us even when clearing dinner plates off of our table. We even ask how they are, chat with them. It got to the point of us receiving alcohol drinks for free at the dining room. Be a negative to the crew will work opposite. You will receive lousy service or no service. They don't care about you, they know you will be gone in a couple of days.
I pay my gratuities but I do think that they should be done away with and just increase the price of the fare. It's a hidden fee and it only upsets people because they're not up front about it.
Have they changed the policy of gratuity. Cruises I've been on (23), the gratuity was always an up front fee, not hidden. On some ships you can ask to have it removed before the end of the cruise but then after have a wonderful time why remove it? People who don't want to tip will complain one way or the other.
@@evelynmckenzie5269 It hasn't changed. I just booked a (RCC) cruise a few days ago and the option to pre-pay gratuities was there. It showed the actual dollar amount.
As an avid cruiser, here's my tip to the staff: We are so grateful for your service, and we do tip above and beyond; however, do not BEG for tips....don't mention that nobody tips you, etc...that's just tacky and uncalled for- laying a guilt trip on the person trying to enjoy vacation. I'll tip more if I'm not asked /guilted to. I'll tip less if it's mentioned.
Remember folks, tipping is important, so make sure you lay that 100 dollar bill down for your bartender because the 18% on top of your fare isn't quite enough!
Wow! Dude you really should rename this vid to be “8 tips from an employee, to increase employees cruising experience” - tips include be nice to employees, tip employees, especially tip casino dealers and don’t lie to employees. Really insightful stuff to increase the passenger experience
Tip is a rip. Tips should be earned, not “expected.” Whether in a restaurant down the road or out on the open sea. Many disagree with me, but I was in the service industry for a long time. It made me feel good to know that my tips were earned because of my service.
Thank you for this comment. I rarely comment on youtube but I must show support on this. I’m not trying to be “cheap” but I think gratitudes is one thing but I think we as a society have gone away from earning tips it more expected and those that don’t partake or disagree are shamed for it.
Ahhhhh. No! You should be paid enough that a tip comes from the heart not from the bill or expectation. Earning a wage rather than relying on gratuities is important.
I am excited to go on my 1st cruise but all this about tipping is raising the price of this trip that wasn’t excepted when booking…What I was told was ALL included, so the add gratitudes isn’t really enough??….so the price I am paying isn’t going to be all when I aboard the boat??? Now I am stressed. All this prebooking Pre paying isn’t going to be enough…any more surprises???
I only tip for exceptional service, i only travel with my husband, we don’t drink alcohol, I have removed the gratuities on all my cruises and personally cash tip my waiters and room attendants if they do an excellent job. I agree that it should not be required or expected for the customers to pay the employees salaries especially with how expensive cruises have become, that is the employers responsibility to pay a living wage, this whole “tipping” business has gotten way out of hand
I would like to ask Pipa, so the cruise companies want us to prepay the gratuities and tip each server everyday? I just want to be clear on this bc if that's the case, are the cruise companies paying their employees or is it the guest job to do so. Also when i go to a restaurant, i pay the wait staff after my meal, not b4 and after.
That’s great info about the survey! I will definitely take pictures of the name tag this cruise. We have had some absolutely amazing cruise staff, especially how they went above and beyond in the dining rooms when we had our children. They made our kids laugh and feel so special. These cruise employees are truly angels. We have never had a bad employee experience on RC or Carnival. It’s one of the reasons we love to cruise so much.
As someone who once made his living on tips, I still believe in expressing my gratitude and appreciation of good service with cash throughout the cruise. I do wish that someone would enlighten me on one point: do the bar/cafe/restaurant/wherever staff share the tips? For instance, if I'm sitting at a bar for a drink or two before dinner and leave $5.00 does it got into a pool? Sometimes you will have more than one person waiting on you or greeting you and it would be difficult to make sure everyone is covered. You can see how this can confuse passengers.
@@lordgeronimo72 You seem to have misunderstood if you were responding to my original comment, I just said that this video would’ve been more appropriately featured as things you can do on your cruise to help the employees, I did not say that the employees were not deserving of the help I just meant that the video was presented Morceau as something that cruisers would benefit from watching. Does that make more sense?
When I've wanted my granddaughters to be in the same group in Ocean Adventure, all I've had to do was ask. They are 3 years apart. It's never been a problem
Tip culture in the US has gone out of control. Prepay the gratuity and forget about it. With that said, it crew went out of their way, small thanks imo goes a long way
Speaking of sunscreen (item #3), I’ve been to HonoluluWaikiki many times and every time, especially on the 2nd day, I’ve witnessed how many first timers resemble cooked lobsters. Sunscreen is cheaper and less painful than melanoma treatment.
I guess I'm confused....the 18% gratuity I pay for the Dining and drink packages isn't considered a tip? I think a tip is literally defined as a gratuity. So, in a sense, the gratuity ia being taken regardless of the service...and they want more? What's adequate? 18% plus how much more?
We took our first cruise on Allure of the Seas last month and absolutely loved it. We started in Miami and went to Mexico and Honduras. We can absolutely recommend the Royal Caribbean. Greetings from Germany Nils and Francesca 😊👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 ... and we won $130 at the casino. 🤩
I was anxious to see this video but, honestly, it seemed too similar to a "bartending etiquette" video where the general advice is: tip really well, don't wave $ at them because they KNOW the order that people came in, etc. It reeks of a self-serving video for cruise ship employees.
All these suggestions are so true! Please, please don't report any crew member for something frivolous or a problem you might have started because they probably will lose their job and that is just wrong! To all those rude and disrespectful people who always want their way, no matter what, check the attitude at the door!
Taking the picture of the name tags is something I always do. That is definitely important to make sure that you spell names correctly so the right person gets the credit they deserve
We do the prepay gratuities, and were under the impression that beyond that we should just give a little cash to people who helped us regularly (stateroom steward, main dining wait staff) at the end of the cruise. Is that wrong? Should we have been leaving additional cash tips every time we dined? Do the room service folks bringing morning coffee expect tips every time? How much are other people typically tipping above and beyond the already paid gratuities? It does get to be quite a lot. Could you do a video just on this? It might change our thoughts on when we can and cannot even afford to cruise.
I’ve been cruising since 1970. Tipping??? I’ve worked as a travel agent since 1972 and I’ve NEVER heard such nonsense. The idea that there’s NO TIPPING during a cruise, has always been one of the attractive draws to taking a cruise!!! Gratuities at the end of the trip, is now mandatory…but used to be at the discretion of the passengers…and NOW, tipping is being pushed as an every day expectation? I don’t think so. It’s awful to know that some passengers will be treated better if they tip the bartender…it should never be that way. Staff should not be allowed to accept tips, politely decline & say my service is part of my job…gratuities are given the last day!!! Period.
@@lk2704 they should probably get another job then if they’re so “underpaid”! Wtf. I don’t get paid shit for my job as a law enforcement secretary, why??? I’m doing more for the community than these people serving alcohol or food!!!!! Where the hell is my tip????
If I buy ultimate beverage package for 4 day cruise for $600 plus they tacked on about$100 gratuities that is more than enough. Whether you use it or not their tips is charged to me already so thats it no more added tips from me. Yes, tipping culture in USA is ridiculous. I rather have flat cover charge like in Europe and not worry about it while I am on vacay esp in a cruise ship. Most staff are from Philippines, India. The get a contract to work 7 mos at a time no days off. Their earnings are surely more than enough in my opinion for the standard of living in their country. In the meantime, I work my ass off to go on vacay and I deserve to enjoy what I work for,not just hand them out just because you did your job well. It is part of their job expectation. I appreciate and thank them really.
The American tipping culture is terribly uncouth. In England and Australia, service is actually genuine - not "I'll smile and be kind if you give me 20%". We reward genuiness.
@@HauserMcQuaid I do tip. In fact, I generally tip over and above because I do not want the crew to suffer. Most of the time they are genuinely wanting to help. They didn't invent this system. But...I still detest the fact that in the USA they don't pay people a decent wage -- forcing them to be slaves to tips. If Australia and the UK can develop, so can the USA.
Skimpy sexy clothes worn by servers get them tips. When was the last time any of these hot shots tipped a daycare worker looking after their most important asset? Lol, we live in a screwed up society dont we?
Cruises are already expensive and a lot of things you gotta pay extra for which should just be included. If I tipped every crew member I come into contact with I won't be able to afford to go on cruises lol I pay tips up front so I don't have to worry about it. If someone goes above and beyond sure I'll probably tip them something extra.
My only thing about tipping is why not included it in the pricing. (like they do in European cruises and restaurants) That way there cruise ship employees and customers don't get screwed.
Pre-paid gratuities takes the stress out of tipping. I remember the days of stuffing envelopes for the various crew members. Some of those behind the scenes probably deserved tips, but never got them. Even better, Celebrity is now (mostly) including tips in the quoted price. That’s what all service companies should do. Tips are a way for employers to underpay employees, who then might get paid directly by the company’s customers. Sure, the employees might work a bit harder to earn the tips, but its management’s responsibility to motivate and ensure workers do their jobs. After all, you get great customer service at venues where tipping isn’t expected (Disney theme parks, etc.).
There are cruise lines that include tips in the fares. They are expensive and operate smaller ships. You won't find huge water parks, bumper cars, and roller coasters on them if those things matter to you. Get a good cruise travel agent or read cruise guidebooks to find these cruise lines.
Americans have ruined the European travel experience because now, tipping is expected…where before Americans were so “tip Happy”, tipping was not done & not expected…and service was still wonderful.
Pre-paid gratuities, staff should see that on the pass card so there is no confusion. Resort fees include tips so I don’t have to carry cash around my whole trip and worry about how I am going to be treated day to day. Tip extra to regular service people but not stressing over it. These tips really were about tipping,
The take a picture of a crew members name tag is a great idea. I wish I had knew that on my first cruise. There was one crew member that was outstanding with us and our situation with my daughter. But I never got his name.
The sticking point is that there is no transparency in how required "gratuities" are dispersed. Usually if someone is hiding something there's something they don't want known.
Can you PLEASE do a comprehensive video about tipping for passengers that are from countries like Australia that do not have this. It has so many intricacies. Who to tip, when to tip how much to tip, when not to tip, do you tip when there is a gratuities levy already applied? I find this incredibly confusing and have been known to take my own luggage at hotels because I don’t know how this works. I Don want to be rude but I can’t work out the rules. When you grow up with this it must become second nature but for others, it is a minefield of anxiety. 😮
Great tip on the photo of the badge! I always tell myself I'll remember my favorite staffs' names, but my memory is never as good as I think it will be.
40 years of cruising has taught me all of the above mentioned tips. i learned then from current crew members because i treated them like family and they were always giving me those tips (save adventure, since i have no children). thanks matt and pipa
It's essential to always be kind and considerate to others, not just when you're on a cruise but in every aspect of life, no matter where you find yourself or what you're doing. Showing respect and courtesy is a fundamental part of our existence, regardless of who the other person may be. While it's a good practice to tip and reward staff for their exceptional service, it's important to remember that many people have worked hard and paid a significant amount for their holiday experiences. Holidays are meant for relaxation and enjoyment, but they aren't free; most of us have put in considerable effort and savings to make them happen. The responsibility for ensuring that staff are compensated fairly should lie with the cruise company, not the guests. It can be discouraging and off-putting when guests are expected to shoulder this additional financial burden, particularly when many have already paid a premium, often in U.S. dollars, which can be doubly expensive for some. Let's all remember to be kind and respectful to everyone, including fellow guests and staff, and focus on enjoying our well-deserved holidays. The onus should be on cruise companies to fairly compensate their employees, without placing undue stress on their guests. This way, everyone can have a positive and memorable experience, increasing the likelihood of guests returning in the future.
The issue with tips is the more people tip, the less the employer will pay employees as they point to the tips as the reason, the more you need to pay in TIPS, the even less the employer will pay workers, repeat.
You don’t tell the employer you are tipping.🙄. These days they already add the tip into the ticket. We all know that the tip doesn’t cover the work they do individually for us. We do not know what the cruise lines do with the tips and how they are divided. We have no control over that but we do have control of our cash money that we can tip for excellence in service and we do owe that to these very hard workers. Forgo all the extra stuff they try to get you to purchase on board and tip for good service because that’s where the value is in my opinion.
@@Angrykitty927 I’ve had “excellence” in service on all my 5 decades of cruising…and I’ve never tipped a bartender or pool staff. It’s just not done except at the end of your cruise. “Pippa” would love to spread the idea that you’ll get better service if you tip. This should never be the case. Tips should never be expected.
Tipping is the main reason why I don't go on a cruise, just pay your staff a good salary. You don't give people a discount for being a nice client do you ? And yes, I'm from Europe.
The big mighty cruise corporations pay low wages. So many of them depend on the tips to make up for the low wages. Given these circumstances, how is tipping a bad thing?
@@HauserMcQuaid If companies couldn’t hire those from 3rd world countries, they’d have to pay a decent wage. They should pay fair wages & not expect tips from travelers who’ve been told: ALL IS INCLUDED ON A CRUISE
@@cberry6751 I prepay the gratuities..I also give a little extra...Giving a little extra isn't forced on me. I chose to do that. There is nothing wrong with chosing to do a little extra to perhaps make a difference in someone's life...
@@HauserMcQuaid I can agree with this statement. But I can also agree with someone who doesn’t tip, considering they paid their gratuities before hand. I feel since nowadays gratuities are mostly paid before hand on cruises, don’t get mad at the customer who paid an arm and a leg and who had to save up to go on a once a year vacation, for not tipping when it’s mentioned as “prepaid gratuities,” implying that it’s all included. Get mad at the employer 🤷🏼♂️ I tip at restaurants on land, but I have a hard time justifying tipping on cruises when I paid upwards of $400-$600 in “prepaid gratuities” once you factor in fair and drink packages. That’s a $400-$600 charge they don’t give me a choice to avoid… bottom line is, they hurt their own employees, I didn’t. If they let me keep that money, then I could justify tipping on the ship.
Holland America charges a daily gratuity of USD$15 or 16 at the end of the cruise. I prefer this... this way, I don't have to carry dollar bills everywhere or feel responsible the the crew's happiness and prosperity every time I get a capuccino! I'm on vacation and don't want the mental load.
What they don't tell you is they charge you $14.50 per day tipping back of the house. You can add a tip to your receipt for the bar or dinners. I left the room attendant $100.00 when I left. (Hope that was enough?) I just returned from Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska. Plan on spending up to $500.00 on tips....taxi to & from airport. Leaving ship you can get help for luggage (tip) and they will help get you a taxi. But it was so well worth it! Crew was fabulous! Ship "Ovation of the Seas" was so much fun.
When tipping someone, I try to be a good tipper. But when the place adds the tip to the bill or has a "suggested tip" or a "pre-paid" tip... then they've made their bed and will lie in it. They've decided the amount to be tipped already, they aren't getting anything extra.
I do the same as well. I also bring envelopes and thank you notes/cards, too. The staff work darn hard and I want to let them know how much I appreciate them and all that they do so I can have an enjoyable vacation.
I have only been on 2 cruises with RC, and did the pre-paid gratuities each time. I would then tip a little on top of this here and there when I saw someone working hard. Is she speaking of tipping beyond the pre-paid gratuities? Thanks in advance.
@@vernonprevatt-usmc I always get a smile without tipping. Does this mean that one day daily tipping will be part of a cruise & I won’t get a smile if I’m not tipping? Smiles for some, not for others? It’s almost like what Americans have done to ruin the travel experience in Europe. They began tipping where tips were not expected. Now, after years of American travelers tipping, I’ve had waiters follow me out on the street, because I didn’t tip as much as they wanted. It’s happened twice. Frightening experience when children are w us.
Only if you feel someone gave you exceptional service. After paying gratuities it is not mandatory to tip again. Some mean people don't even want to pay the gratuity. If it's automatically applied daily, they go to customer service and have it removed if the cruise line allows it.
I definitely do agree that these are really great AND important tips, which, unfortunately, many ppl forget to follow, not just on a cruise, but in their everyday lives. BUT the video should be named differently. It's VERY misleading.......
I understand tipping is important so I paid for the gratuities upfront. Will the crew members be aware of this so they know not to expect a tip from me?
Yeah, it seems like these tips are mostly meant to benefit the cruise ship staff rather than enhance the experience for the passenger in any way. I mean, obviously i’m going to tip and treat the crew well… Not a fan of this video. Was looking for something different.
I’ve been cruising since 1970 & I’ve never heard of tipping during the trip. We add on gratuities at the end & if we’ve had a really good steward, we tip him & our MDR waiter, but do others tip bartenders & casino staff???? I have never known this is something done or become expected!!!
I'm definitely guilty of the sunscreen one. Not during a formal night nor did it affect my entire body, but I did get the worst sunburns you could ever get on my wrists (nearly purple and I've had them for weeks), and only my wrists because I forgot to put on sunscreen where I had these seasick-free bracelets on. This was at Coco Cay btw; on an extremely sunny day in the beginning of April.
What a story! I grew up in a conservative church/culture. Not quite so extreme but enough. There was no sexual abuse but I understand a lot she says. The abuse and rejection from her physical family then from these cults are both heartbreaking. Keep healing, girl !
The first one is vary true we go on the same cruise ship and room a lot and the crew still remembers all of us some we knew when we where babies and they still remember
Don’t you think that since the PCR test takes three days for the results that Royal Carribean should allow for five days before your cruise to get the test and the results
When I had COVID, I went to CVS to be tested. I was told it would be 7-10 days to get the results and that they would contact me! Had me a little freaked out! After about 3 days I went to their site and guess what, results were there! They never did send me that email.
You’re only ruining what’s traditionally been the attraction of a cruise: ALL IS INCLUDED. Americans ruined travel in Europe by tipping. Europeans were paid more than Americans staff & restaurant workers. Tips weren’t expected or given. Now, they get mad if tips are low. Don’t ruin cruising for everyone just because you are wealthy & think you’ll get better service by tipping crew every day.
OK, I get the tipping thing but liquidity is a major hassle. Is there a way to tip electronically or is there a bank on board where i can get smaller denominations? My biggest gripe with travelling is getting hold of small currency. The money changers don't carry those useful amounts.
So let me get this right we pay our gratuities upfront. Tip are servers and our room stored as we see them. But when the front desk lies to me several times and I put it on the survey all that does is give the manager some information nothing to help me I don’t think I will ever fill out another survey. Basically the survey is lying when they say they wanna make Cruises better in the future. I am going on my second cruise with Royal Caribbean hope it’s better.
If I remember correctly, Princess Cruises didn't allow tipping. Instead one was required to tip a given amount at the end of the cruise. Is this still the practice and how many ships have this policy.
I’m just Curious. I pay Gratuities and I always give my Stateroom Attendant Gratuities. Now why should I Lito anyone else. What is the Initial Gratuity for? And you are charging me gratuity for bringing a case of water to my room.
OK. Question: On my first cruise, I went into the formal dining room for the first time. At the end of the meal, I thought to myself (shoot, I didn't bring any money for a tip). There was also no bill presented at the end of the meal. How would I tip in the formal dining room when several people were serving us? I have never gotten a satisfactory answer to this. Please clarify: In the formal dining room, am I expected to tip or not, and, what is the best way to achieve this?
If you do the automatic gratuity that Royal Caribbean charges, there's nothing extra to do. That gratuity covers your wait staff in the dining room (and your stateroom attendant).
I prepaid for tips, but my issue is that I am prepaying for tips that don't go into the workers' direct pockets! So, if the ship wants to play it like this, well, that's too bad for the workers!
We went on a Disney cruise and my oldest niece was supposed to be in a different group, but they asked nicely and were allowed to let her go with her younger siblings. Being nice is always the best option.
Automatic gratuities are now at $14.95 USD a day - per passenger on many lines. This is in addition to 18% gratuities already being added to your drinks bill ( coffee, soda, alcohol) . These bills incidentally also shamelessly leave an additional blank line in case you wish to add another (…yes a third) tip. Simply see guest services on boarding and disable the auto gratuities when you board. Instead give an end of cruise cash tip (with the provided cruise line extra gratuity envelope to any crew member (ie. cabin attendant) who has provided additional above and beyond service. Fine if you travel as a couple to leave the auto $14.95 / day gratuities enabled, but we, like many, travel as a family / group of 6 which adds $90 / day to our cruise, or near $1000 in tips over a 12 day cruise, in addition to 18% drink tips and our own cash tips to staff in envelopes provided by the line. We do not even use the formal evening dining, preferring the buffet / cafe. Empathy to the low paid staff, but I don’t feel its my job to ensure they are tipped 3 x over for performing paid regular duties. The cost of my tickets help pay your basic salaries, my additional tips aren’t intended to offset their payroll, or subsidize the cruise line, or be part of your expected salary. We’ve tipped excellent kids club staff $400, room attendants $100 cash, with the the latter incredulously wondering why they didn’t also see the auto gratuities as well. Post cruise we stay in hotels, where I’m not paying staff / room attendants at a hotel $90 a day for their collective services. I think at times crew as kind, professional and friendly as they are, may purposely strive to create a false sense of kinship / intimacy (especially with older passengers) to maximize recognition and tipping, while performing roles they are commonly already paid for. Cruise lines should pay staff accordingly.
I would like to ask when you arrive to your cabin, after getting on the ship 🚢 does the room service people change the bed sheets between the new people get on?
I was raised white-glove Military with Inspections worked as a maid in Breckenridge 1976, had a sole-proprietor house cleaning service in Anchorage 1981 - 1995. What this taught me: use a towel to protect the furniture you sit on; Fold bedspread and place on a chair, Strip the bed yourself - guarantees clean put on, Collect your trash, Wipe up bathroom after yourself
We obviously have the tips included and we’ve tipped extra for drinks, at the sit down restaurant, and the cleaning crew. But I never thought to tip at the buffet or deli. Is that wrong of us?
It's funny that some people always get sunburned on the very first day of the trip. Now they got to be careful about the sun for the rest of the trip. 🤣🤣🤣
Just got off of anthem a week ago, 7 day I tipped cabin steward, head waiter, assistant waiter each $60. Speaking with guest services about a few billing errors, they corrected them. I did not realize until later that the way we were credited was they took the money from the gratuities. Very troubling to me, they took the money out of the crew's pocket . SAD!
We are already paying $32 a day in gratuities for two of us, and an 18 percent surcharge on drinks purchased either separately or as a part of a drinks package. Outside of some unusual circumstance handled by a crewmember, we should not be expected to tip more than we already are. I know they work hard, and want them to be compensated, but we are already paying quite a lot for that purpose.
Exactly 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Agree!!!
Right
So true! Not to mention the cruise fares which should go towards employee salary.
Agree. Should we not buy the tip included ?
I found the video focusing too much on tipping. Yes, we should tip, but pre-tips are already a bit high and then you have to tip more inside. It goes almost half of the price of fare only in tipping. They should be like club med, where the packages for the resorts include the tip already on the price.
8 tips from former employees! At least 2 of them were telling you to tip more more and more. After I prepaid the gratuities, should I think about paying this guy a few bucks to make him happy, another gal a few bucks to make her happy...? This list can go on and on.
I do the cruise to relax and make myself happy, not to rain more money to make their employees happy.
The cruise ship company can charge us more gratuities to make their employees happy. If I can afford to buy their happiness, I will take the cruise. If no, I stay at home without tipping anyone.
I 100% AGREE!!!!! "if you want phenomenal service, or better drinks, you should tip more. The employees are working hard." I'm sorry.... what? I've already paid upwards of like $400-$600 in gratuity alone through my fair and drink packages/excursions... I've paid my tips, just provide the service now lol.... And yes, before anyone chops my head off, I tip at restaurants.
If you’re upset that I’m not tipping, when I’ve already paid “prepaid gratuities” that they didn’t give me a choice to avoid (so I could tip people face to face), take that up with your employer🤷🏼♂️
AGREED 💯
I served in the Coast Guard for several years and saw enough to make me never want to go on a cruise. And that was the late 80s and 90s when ships weren't a floating combination of Disney World Harrah's, and Romper Room. And then this topic of tipping... more and more cruises are looking like a racket to me ! Tickets, transportation to the port of embarkation, the prepaid gratuity, and now what everyone is talking about, the CASH tipping...where the devil does it end ? Housekeeper, Cabin steward, waiter/waitress, Maitre d, baggage porter, bar tender, concierge... hell why not have each and every employee man the gangway and stick 10s & 20s in each pocket as you walk by... there's only a few hundred. These videos just showed up in my feed . smh... But really, what kind of vacation is it where you have to be a veritable expert on these hints and rules in order to "enjoy" yourself ? For me and mine, we'll stick to our tent, the forests, the beaches, a nice hotel on land no higher than the tenth floor... and not get ripped by the cruise ship, and worse
And to the cruise ship employees, there's a few of us who have seen "back of the house" okay. For most of you it sucks. But you wanted that job. No one held a knife to your throat. Want to keep your job ? Do it well. Do it well enough, or even above and beyond, and eventually a passenger or three will say something good about you in one of those comment forms. Don't be giving shitey service cos you don't think you were tipped enough. And consider this... many of these passengers are poor working slobs just like you and probably had to save for years to be able to go on a cruise. And for Christ sake, if you value your freedom, don't do anything stupid like stealing from a passenger, setting one up to be robbed, and don't mess with anyone's food or drink. You will regret it !
I too work on cruise ship and i completely agree with you. You guys come to enjoy rather than raining money on us.
This seems like more of a "Rules/Tips for making the crew's life better" list.
"Be nice to us, tip us more, remember our names to tell our boss that were good, fill out the form to tell corporate were good, don't bother us on busy days, don't lie to us, Tip us (again)"
No wonder why we never heard about her 😅 is all about her…
I noticed that too. This video should of been titled “how to make a crew members time on YOUR vacation better”.
Now it's already $36 a day gratitude for two of us. I think it's more than enough for mandatory charge in all inclusive vacation.
Pay your employees a livable wage so you don't have to guilt trip passengers into covering your cheap ass.
Just got back from a cruise on the Oasis of the Seas and we had the prepaid gratuities included in the price. We gave our waiter a $50 cash tip and our housekeeping guy $20 cash at the end of the week. Not a ton of cash but these guys went above and beyond and work their butts off nonstop
Were you all able to use your cell phones while in ports or while at sea? ....did you get their internet package?
What services do the pre-paid gratuities cover? So we pre-pay a gratuity (in the total price) then provide even more tips?
@jeffwheeler👍 I'm going on my 2nd cruise in a few months, but that's what i did. My last cruise was to tip the waiter & housekeeping... generally speaking: if you don't minimize tipping, your wallet would be left open & you'll be tipping every crew member you come across gor simply just doing what they were hired to do.
All servers and staff on these cruise ships should be paid a living wage. Why are the majority of the crew members from poorer low pay countries? Obviously to maximise profit for the cruise line and offload their responsibility to their guests to supplement their staffing costs. The price of the cruise should include all the salaries / gratuities for the crew.
Amen.
As a travel agent, I think tipping during the cruise is wrong. My clients always enjoyed purchasing cruises because they know everyone is treated equally, they’re on the cruise to relax & gratuities are paid the last day…to be shared by staff. Please don’t raise staff expectations for tips at the pool, the bar or the Windjammer & dining room! It will be the end of cruising as we know it.
so freaking true. I've already paid upwards of $400-$600 on gratuities alone, you're not getting anymore from me lol. That sounds selfish, but I have to save for a cruise to go on one. For me and my wife, it's like out the door (on liberty) $3000. Thats everything. No more.
@@callen0892 I don't think you're being selfish. Trying to get more tips on top of pre-paid is a scam
It is a rare pleasure for me to vacation. I don’t have unending supply of money. I tip when it’s deserved. Hells bells even three meals a day. Cabin cleaning. Drinks. Getting towels. Special events. It’s insane.
I highly agree with #1: be kind to the crew. Wife and I are always thanking them for everything they do for us even when clearing dinner plates off of our table. We even ask how they are, chat with them. It got to the point of us receiving alcohol drinks for free at the dining room. Be a negative to the crew will work opposite. You will receive lousy service or no service. They don't care about you, they know you will be gone in a couple of days.
Should always be nice to others regardless even if u not getting anything back in return
I pay my gratuities but I do think that they should be done away with and just increase the price of the fare. It's a hidden fee and it only upsets people because they're not up front about it.
Have they changed the policy of gratuity. Cruises I've been on (23), the gratuity was always an up front fee, not hidden. On some ships you can ask to have it removed before the end of the cruise but then after have a wonderful time why remove it? People who don't want to tip will complain one way or the other.
@@evelynmckenzie5269 It hasn't changed. I just booked a (RCC) cruise a few days ago and the option to pre-pay gratuities was there. It showed the actual dollar amount.
Only tip at the end of your cruise, when it’s added on your bill! Expectations for tips will ruin the experience for travelers.
@@cberry6751 HOW?
At least as of today, it’s in the contract.
As an avid cruiser, here's my tip to the staff: We are so grateful for your service, and we do tip above and beyond; however, do not BEG for tips....don't mention that nobody tips you, etc...that's just tacky and uncalled for- laying a guilt trip on the person trying to enjoy vacation. I'll tip more if I'm not asked /guilted to. I'll tip less if it's mentioned.
Remember folks, tipping is important, so make sure you lay that 100 dollar bill down for your bartender because the 18% on top of your fare isn't quite enough!
Wow! Dude you really should rename this vid to be “8 tips from an employee, to increase employees cruising experience” - tips include be nice to employees, tip employees, especially tip casino dealers and don’t lie to employees. Really insightful stuff to increase the passenger experience
Tip is a rip. Tips should be earned, not “expected.” Whether in a restaurant down the road or out on the open sea. Many disagree with me, but I was in the service industry for a long time. It made me feel good to know that my tips were earned because of my service.
tipping is odd to me because in aus we don't typically tip because the wages for wait staff is good.
Thank you for this comment. I rarely comment on youtube but I must show support on this. I’m not trying to be “cheap” but I think gratitudes is one thing but I think we as a society have gone away from earning tips it more expected and those that don’t partake or disagree are shamed for it.
Ahhhhh. No! You should be paid enough that a tip comes from the heart not from the bill or expectation. Earning a wage rather than relying on gratuities is important.
I am excited to go on my 1st cruise but all this about tipping is raising the price of this trip that wasn’t excepted when booking…What I was told was ALL included, so the add gratitudes isn’t really enough??….so the price I am paying isn’t going to be all when I aboard the boat??? Now I am stressed. All this prebooking Pre paying isn’t going to be enough…any more surprises???
I only tip for exceptional service, i only travel with my husband, we don’t drink alcohol, I have removed the gratuities on all my cruises and personally cash tip my waiters and room attendants if they do an excellent job. I agree that it should not be required or expected for the customers to pay the employees salaries especially with how expensive cruises have become, that is the employers responsibility to pay a living wage, this whole “tipping” business has gotten way out of hand
I would like to ask Pipa, so the cruise companies want us to prepay the gratuities and tip each server everyday? I just want to be clear on this bc if that's the case, are the cruise companies paying their employees or is it the guest job to do so. Also when i go to a restaurant, i pay the wait staff after my meal, not b4 and after.
That’s great info about the survey! I will definitely take pictures of the name tag this cruise.
We have had some absolutely amazing cruise staff, especially how they went above and beyond in the dining rooms when we had our children. They made our kids laugh and feel so special. These cruise employees are truly angels. We have never had a bad employee experience on RC or Carnival. It’s one of the reasons we love to cruise so much.
Why we have to tip the crew because we already pay for it on the package
As someone who once made his living on tips, I still believe in expressing my gratitude and appreciation of good service with cash throughout the cruise. I do wish that someone would enlighten me on one point: do the bar/cafe/restaurant/wherever staff share the tips? For instance, if I'm sitting at a bar for a drink or two before dinner and leave $5.00 does it got into a pool? Sometimes you will have more than one person waiting on you or greeting you and it would be difficult to make sure everyone is covered. You can see how this can confuse passengers.
Nothing really wrong with it but a lot of this video from Pippa should have been called things you can do on your cruise to help the employees
Exactly this. These are all tips from/for the staff... not really tips for us
Completely agree. I was excited to see tips from a former employee but this wasn't helpful.
Maybe try working in hospitality for a week before you judge 🤔
Also, why wouldn’t you want to help the crew? They are working hard ensuring you have a great experience…
@@lordgeronimo72 You seem to have misunderstood if you were responding to my original comment, I just said that this video would’ve been more appropriately featured as things you can do on your cruise to help the employees, I did not say that the employees were not deserving of the help I just meant that the video was presented Morceau as something that cruisers would benefit from watching. Does that make more sense?
Quick summary of video: Former employee encourages cruise customers to tip employees more...
When I've wanted my granddaughters to be in the same group in Ocean Adventure, all I've had to do was ask. They are 3 years apart. It's never been a problem
good to know
Tip culture in the US has gone out of control. Prepay the gratuity and forget about it. With that said, it crew went out of their way, small thanks imo goes a long way
Agreed. Cash tips on top of prepay is pretty dang scammy
Speaking of sunscreen (item #3), I’ve been to HonoluluWaikiki many times and every time, especially on the 2nd day, I’ve witnessed how many first timers resemble cooked lobsters.
Sunscreen is cheaper and less painful than melanoma treatment.
So what did our natives do when the sun burnt them? I’m genuinely curious.
living in aus this would be a no brainer to me, it is ingrained in my memory.
I guess I'm confused....the 18% gratuity I pay for the Dining and drink packages isn't considered a tip? I think a tip is literally defined as a gratuity. So, in a sense, the gratuity ia being taken regardless of the service...and they want more? What's adequate? 18% plus how much more?
The tip with, taken a Photo of a Members Batch, i heard it before and i will do it from know on every Cruise. Thank`s for that.
We took our first cruise on Allure of the Seas last month and absolutely loved it. We started in Miami and went to Mexico and Honduras. We can absolutely recommend the Royal Caribbean. Greetings from Germany Nils and Francesca 😊👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 ... and we won $130 at the casino. 🤩
I was anxious to see this video but, honestly, it seemed too similar to a "bartending etiquette" video where the general advice is: tip really well, don't wave $ at them because they KNOW the order that people came in, etc. It reeks of a self-serving video for cruise ship employees.
All these suggestions are so true! Please, please don't report any crew member for something frivolous or a problem you might have started because they probably will lose their job and that is just wrong! To all those rude and disrespectful people who always want their way, no matter what, check the attitude at the door!
Taking the picture of the name tags is something I always do. That is definitely important to make sure that you spell names correctly so the right person gets the credit they deserve
We do the prepay gratuities, and were under the impression that beyond that we should just give a little cash to people who helped us regularly (stateroom steward, main dining wait staff) at the end of the cruise. Is that wrong? Should we have been leaving additional cash tips every time we dined? Do the room service folks bringing morning coffee expect tips every time? How much are other people typically tipping above and beyond the already paid gratuities? It does get to be quite a lot. Could you do a video just on this? It might change our thoughts on when we can and cannot even afford to cruise.
as a veteran cruiser i bring a lot of 1's and 5's to give to crew that may do something extraordinary. i also do the pre-pay
I’ve been cruising since 1970. Tipping??? I’ve worked as a travel agent since 1972 and I’ve NEVER heard such nonsense. The idea that there’s NO TIPPING during a cruise, has always been one of the attractive draws to taking a cruise!!! Gratuities at the end of the trip, is now mandatory…but used to be at the discretion of the passengers…and NOW, tipping is being pushed as an every day expectation? I don’t think so. It’s awful to know that some passengers will be treated better if they tip the bartender…it should never be that way. Staff should not be allowed to accept tips, politely decline & say my service is part of my job…gratuities are given the last day!!! Period.
@@cberry6751 agree 100%!!!! I've already spent enough money on gratuity. I shouldn't have to tip to receive decent service.
@@cberry6751 are you seriously pissed that an underpaid employee is getting a little extra money? go back to the 50's grampa
@@lk2704 they should probably get another job then if they’re so “underpaid”! Wtf. I don’t get paid shit for my job as a law enforcement secretary, why??? I’m doing more for the community than these people serving alcohol or food!!!!! Where the hell is my tip????
If I buy ultimate beverage package for 4 day cruise for $600 plus they tacked on about$100 gratuities that is more than enough. Whether you use it or not their tips is charged to me already so thats it no more added tips from me. Yes, tipping culture in USA is ridiculous. I rather have flat cover charge like in Europe and not worry about it while I am on vacay esp in a cruise ship. Most staff are from Philippines, India. The get a contract to work 7 mos at a time no days off. Their earnings are surely more than enough in my opinion for the standard of living in their country. In the meantime, I work my ass off to go on vacay and I deserve to enjoy what I work for,not just hand them out just because you did your job well. It is part of their job expectation. I appreciate and thank them really.
The American tipping culture is terribly uncouth. In England and Australia, service is actually genuine - not "I'll smile and be kind if you give me 20%". We reward genuiness.
Do you tip or not?
@@HauserMcQuaid I do tip. In fact, I generally tip over and above because I do not want the crew to suffer. Most of the time they are genuinely wanting to help. They didn't invent this system. But...I still detest the fact that in the USA they don't pay people a decent wage -- forcing them to be slaves to tips. If Australia and the UK can develop, so can the USA.
I agree that wages should be higher. We have legalized bribery in our country which rigs the game in favor of big business
@@HauserMcQuaid "legalized bribery" is the correct word.
Skimpy sexy clothes worn by servers get them tips. When was the last time any of these hot shots tipped a daycare worker looking after their most important asset? Lol, we live in a screwed up society dont we?
Cruises are already expensive and a lot of things you gotta pay extra for which should just be included. If I tipped every crew member I come into contact with I won't be able to afford to go on cruises lol I pay tips up front so I don't have to worry about it. If someone goes above and beyond sure I'll probably tip them something extra.
Don't know if this is a video on how to make the employees happy or what
My only thing about tipping is why not included it in the pricing. (like they do in European cruises and restaurants) That way there cruise ship employees and customers don't get screwed.
Pre-paid gratuities takes the stress out of tipping. I remember the days of stuffing envelopes for the various crew members. Some of those behind the scenes probably deserved tips, but never got them. Even better, Celebrity is now (mostly) including tips in the quoted price. That’s what all service companies should do. Tips are a way for employers to underpay employees, who then might get paid directly by the company’s customers. Sure, the employees might work a bit harder to earn the tips, but its management’s responsibility to motivate and ensure workers do their jobs. After all, you get great customer service at venues where tipping isn’t expected (Disney theme parks, etc.).
There are cruise lines that include tips in the fares. They are expensive and operate smaller ships.
You won't find huge water parks, bumper cars, and roller coasters on them if those things matter to you.
Get a good cruise travel agent or read cruise guidebooks to find these cruise lines.
My guess is that they do not include rhe cost of tips to market a low price.
Americans have ruined the European travel experience because now, tipping is expected…where before Americans were so “tip Happy”, tipping was not done & not expected…and service was still wonderful.
@@jacquelyns9709 tips are included in the price of royal ships
Pre-paid gratuities, staff should see that on the pass card so there is no confusion. Resort fees include tips so I don’t have to carry cash around my whole trip and worry about how I am going to be treated day to day. Tip extra to regular service people but not stressing over it. These tips really were about tipping,
The take a picture of a crew members name tag is a great idea. I wish I had knew that on my first cruise. There was one crew member that was outstanding with us and our situation with my daughter. But I never got his name.
I thought gratuities were included in the cruise price?
The sticking point is that there is no transparency in how required "gratuities" are dispersed. Usually if someone is hiding something there's something they don't want known.
Can you PLEASE do a comprehensive video about tipping for passengers that are from countries like Australia that do not have this. It has so many intricacies. Who to tip, when to tip how much to tip, when not to tip, do you tip when there is a gratuities levy already applied? I find this incredibly confusing and have been known to take my own luggage at hotels because I don’t know how this works. I Don want to be rude but I can’t work out the rules. When you grow up with this it must become second nature but for others, it is a minefield of anxiety. 😮
Great tip on the photo of the badge! I always tell myself I'll remember my favorite staffs' names, but my memory is never as good as I think it will be.
40 years of cruising has taught me all of the above mentioned tips. i learned then from current crew members because i treated them like family and they were always giving me those tips (save adventure, since i have no children). thanks matt and pipa
It's essential to always be kind and considerate to others, not just when you're on a cruise but in every aspect of life, no matter where you find yourself or what you're doing. Showing respect and courtesy is a fundamental part of our existence, regardless of who the other person may be. While it's a good practice to tip and reward staff for their exceptional service, it's important to remember that many people have worked hard and paid a significant amount for their holiday experiences.
Holidays are meant for relaxation and enjoyment, but they aren't free; most of us have put in considerable effort and savings to make them happen. The responsibility for ensuring that staff are compensated fairly should lie with the cruise company, not the guests. It can be discouraging and off-putting when guests are expected to shoulder this additional financial burden, particularly when many have already paid a premium, often in U.S. dollars, which can be doubly expensive for some.
Let's all remember to be kind and respectful to everyone, including fellow guests and staff, and focus on enjoying our well-deserved holidays. The onus should be on cruise companies to fairly compensate their employees, without placing undue stress on their guests. This way, everyone can have a positive and memorable experience, increasing the likelihood of guests returning in the future.
The issue with tips is the more people tip, the less the employer will pay employees as they point to the tips as the reason, the more you need to pay in TIPS, the even less the employer will pay workers, repeat.
You don’t tell the employer you are tipping.🙄. These days they already add the tip into the ticket. We all know that the tip doesn’t cover the work they do individually for us. We do not know what the cruise lines do with the tips and how they are divided. We have no control over that but we do have control of our cash money that we can tip for excellence in service and we do owe that to these very hard workers. Forgo all the extra stuff they try to get you to purchase on board and tip for good service because that’s where the value is in my opinion.
@@Angrykitty927 I’ve had “excellence” in service on all my 5 decades of cruising…and I’ve never tipped a bartender or pool staff. It’s just not done except at the end of your cruise. “Pippa” would love to spread the idea that you’ll get better service if you tip. This should never be the case. Tips should never be expected.
Tipping is the main reason why I don't go on a cruise, just pay your staff a good salary.
You don't give people a discount for being a nice client do you ?
And yes, I'm from Europe.
The big mighty cruise corporations pay low wages. So many of them depend on the tips to make up for the low wages. Given these circumstances, how is tipping a bad thing?
Society thanks you for not cruising then.
@@HauserMcQuaid If companies couldn’t hire those from 3rd world countries, they’d have to pay a decent wage. They should pay fair wages & not expect tips from travelers who’ve been told: ALL IS INCLUDED ON A CRUISE
@@cberry6751 I prepay the gratuities..I also give a little extra...Giving a little extra isn't forced on me. I chose to do that. There is nothing wrong with chosing to do a little extra to perhaps make a difference in someone's life...
@@HauserMcQuaid I can agree with this statement. But I can also agree with someone who doesn’t tip, considering they paid their gratuities before hand. I feel since nowadays gratuities are mostly paid before hand on cruises, don’t get mad at the customer who paid an arm and a leg and who had to save up to go on a once a year vacation, for not tipping when it’s mentioned as “prepaid gratuities,” implying that it’s all included. Get mad at the employer 🤷🏼♂️
I tip at restaurants on land, but I have a hard time justifying tipping on cruises when I paid upwards of $400-$600 in “prepaid gratuities” once you factor in fair and drink packages. That’s a $400-$600 charge they don’t give me a choice to avoid… bottom line is, they hurt their own employees, I didn’t. If they let me keep that money, then I could justify tipping on the ship.
Holland America charges a daily gratuity of USD$15 or 16 at the end of the cruise. I prefer this... this way, I don't have to carry dollar bills everywhere or feel responsible the the crew's happiness and prosperity every time I get a capuccino! I'm on vacation and don't want the mental load.
What they don't tell you is they charge you $14.50 per day tipping back of the house. You can add a tip to your receipt for the bar or dinners. I left the room attendant $100.00 when I left. (Hope that was enough?)
I just returned from Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska. Plan on spending up to $500.00 on tips....taxi to & from airport. Leaving ship you can get help for luggage (tip) and they will help get you a taxi. But it was so well worth it! Crew was fabulous! Ship "Ovation of the Seas" was so much fun.
We are sitting in Seattle right now waiting to board the Ovation Alaska cruise tomorrow. We hope everything goes well.
Always respectful to crew members & other passengers. Sunscreen should be 'Reef Friendly' too!
When tipping someone, I try to be a good tipper. But when the place adds the tip to the bill or has a "suggested tip" or a "pre-paid" tip... then they've made their bed and will lie in it. They've decided the amount to be tipped already, they aren't getting anything extra.
How you normally tip? How much and how often? Do you tip on top of the gratitude you already add on the cruise? Thanks
i bring a lot of 1's and 5's so if a crew member is working hard or does something extraordinary i can immediately tip
I heard they take tips automatically when we book. The total in the cruise includes automatic gratuity added.
I save $1.00 and &5.00. All year add to the pile once a month
I do the same as well. I also bring envelopes and thank you notes/cards, too. The staff work darn hard and I want to let them know how much I appreciate them and all that they do so I can have an enjoyable vacation.
As the spouse of someone that had melanoma and had to have it removed, I can say, USE SUNSCREEN!
I have only been on 2 cruises with RC, and did the pre-paid gratuities each time. I would then tip a little on top of this here and there when I saw someone working hard. Is she speaking of tipping beyond the pre-paid gratuities? Thanks in advance.
I wait until the end of the cruise. What if the ship sunk? I'd feel pretty silly floating in the ocean thinking how I could have saved the money. Lol.
i bring a lot of 1's and 5's for that very reason
I hand the cabin steward $20 when we shake hands on day 1. Same with my espresso guy. Smaller tips throughout the week ensure I always get a smile!
@@vernonprevatt-usmc I always get a smile without tipping. Does this mean that one day daily tipping will be part of a cruise & I won’t get a smile if I’m not tipping? Smiles for some, not for others? It’s almost like what Americans have done to ruin the travel experience in Europe. They began tipping where tips were not expected. Now, after years of American travelers tipping, I’ve had waiters follow me out on the street, because I didn’t tip as much as they wanted. It’s happened twice. Frightening experience when children are w us.
I’m lost. I still suppose to tip after paying for gratuity when I paid for the trip??? 🤔
Only if you feel someone gave you exceptional service. After paying gratuities it is not mandatory to tip again. Some mean people don't even want to pay the gratuity. If it's automatically applied daily, they go to customer service and have it removed if the cruise line allows it.
@@evelynmckenzie5269 oh ok that’s makes more sense lol. Yes some ppl are just ignorant. SMH
I definitely do agree that these are really great AND important tips, which, unfortunately, many ppl forget to follow, not just on a cruise, but in their everyday lives. BUT the video should be named differently. It's VERY misleading.......
I understand tipping is important so I paid for the gratuities upfront. Will the crew members be aware of this so they know not to expect a tip from me?
Yes
Yeah, it seems like these tips are mostly meant to benefit the cruise ship staff rather than enhance the experience for the passenger in any way. I mean, obviously i’m going to tip and treat the crew well… Not a fan of this video. Was looking for something different.
Thanks for the great advise on how to make the staff of RC enjoy my vacation ????
Right lol 😆 🤣
Great tips! Thank you!
I’ve been cruising since 1970 & I’ve never heard of tipping during the trip.
We add on gratuities at the end & if we’ve had a really good steward, we tip him & our MDR waiter, but do others tip bartenders & casino staff???? I have never known this is something done or become expected!!!
I'm definitely guilty of the sunscreen one. Not during a formal night nor did it affect my entire body, but I did get the worst sunburns you could ever get on my wrists (nearly purple and I've had them for weeks), and only my wrists because I forgot to put on sunscreen where I had these seasick-free bracelets on. This was at Coco Cay btw; on an extremely sunny day in the beginning of April.
I never knew you had to tip. Do they split the tips , or you get what you get
Tipping should be optional.
Thanks Matt. 24 More days until Oasis!! Pippa now has a new subscriber.
What a story! I grew up in a conservative church/culture. Not quite so extreme but enough. There was no sexual abuse but I understand a lot she says. The abuse and rejection from her physical family then from these cults are both heartbreaking. Keep healing, girl !
I worked on a dinner cruise and our customers were mainly from a country that didn't tip. It was awful.
If I pay prepaid gratuity do I still need to tip certain people like my room steward or main dining room waiter?
No, the prepaid gratuity covers your room attendant and dining room staff
@@RoyalCaribbeanBlog awesome. Thanks so much. I can't wait for my cruise. Love ur videos.
The first one is vary true we go on the same cruise ship and room a lot and the crew still remembers all of us some we knew when we where babies and they still remember
I thought you pay the gratuity prior to the trip.
Yea i think they charge 15 bucks per day for each person. It 4 of us me wife and 2 small kids thats 60 a day .
Don’t you think that since the PCR test takes three days for the results that Royal Carribean should allow for five days before your cruise to get the test and the results
When I had COVID, I went to CVS to be tested. I was told it would be 7-10 days to get the results and that they would contact me! Had me a little freaked out! After about 3 days I went to their site and guess what, results were there! They never did send me that email.
Why not just get vaxxed and be done with it?
@@joentexas Cruise lines are requiring the test whether you've been vaccinated or not.
@@joentexas even if you are vaxxed you still have to take a test before boarding
Just a heads up, you can get the antigen test OR the PCR test. Antigen test result comes back in about an hour (or less)
Tips to keep cruise employees happy!
My thoughts exactly
You’re only ruining what’s traditionally been the attraction of a cruise: ALL IS INCLUDED. Americans ruined travel in Europe by tipping. Europeans were paid more than Americans staff & restaurant workers. Tips weren’t expected or given. Now, they get mad if tips are low. Don’t ruin cruising for everyone just because you are wealthy & think you’ll get better service by tipping crew every day.
I fail to understand why tipping is required in addition to gratuities.
These are great tips. I will remember & use them for sure...
I booked a cruise and they offered me to prepay gratuity. Should I also still tip cash to the crew?
OK, I get the tipping thing but liquidity is a major hassle. Is there a way to tip electronically or is there a bank on board where i can get smaller denominations? My biggest gripe with travelling is getting hold of small currency. The money changers don't carry those useful amounts.
I went on a cruise out of the US and gratuities was included in the price of the trip...so I have to tip also on the trip?
Extra tipping is not mandatory. Just a gracious gesture if you feel a server was exceptional.
No. Don't listen to anyone telling you otherwise.
So let me get this right we pay our gratuities upfront. Tip are servers and our room stored as we see them. But when the front desk lies to me several times and I put it on the survey all that does is give the manager some information nothing to help me I don’t think I will ever fill out another survey. Basically the survey is lying when they say they wanna make Cruises better in the future. I am going on my second cruise with Royal Caribbean hope it’s better.
If I remember correctly, Princess Cruises didn't allow tipping. Instead one was required to tip a given amount at the end of the cruise. Is this still the practice and how many ships have this policy.
I’m just Curious. I pay Gratuities and I always give my Stateroom Attendant Gratuities. Now why should I Lito anyone else. What is the Initial Gratuity for? And you are charging me gratuity for bringing a case of water to my room.
WELL DONE U SHOULD TRY AND DO MORE VIDEDIOS FROM A CREW MEMBERS POINT OF VIEW.
OK. Question: On my first cruise, I went into the formal dining room for the first time. At the end of the meal, I thought to myself (shoot, I didn't bring any money for a tip). There was also no bill presented at the end of the meal. How would I tip in the formal dining room when several people were serving us? I have never gotten a satisfactory answer to this. Please clarify: In the formal dining room, am I expected to tip or not, and, what is the best way to achieve this?
If you do the automatic gratuity that Royal Caribbean charges, there's nothing extra to do. That gratuity covers your wait staff in the dining room (and your stateroom attendant).
@@RoyalCaribbeanBlog OK fair enough.
Hang on, I tip the person who cleans my room in cash, and I tip bartenders on the check. Thanks for your answer though.
Gratuity is added to your bar bill automatically. Others are added to your room automatically per person per day. Tip extra if you feel warranted
How old is the Vision of the Sea, I have a women's veterans cruise in February. Looking forward to the 10 days Eastern Caribbean cruise
Vision of the Seas was launched in 1997
I prepaid for tips, but my issue is that I am prepaying for tips that don't go into the workers' direct pockets! So, if the ship wants to play it like this, well, that's too bad for the workers!
We went on a Disney cruise and my oldest niece was supposed to be in a different group, but they asked nicely and were allowed to let her go with her younger siblings. Being nice is always the best option.
Automatic gratuities are now at $14.95 USD a day - per passenger on many lines. This is in addition to 18% gratuities already being added to your drinks bill ( coffee, soda, alcohol) . These bills incidentally also shamelessly leave an additional blank line in case you wish to add another (…yes a third) tip. Simply see guest services on boarding and disable the auto gratuities when you board. Instead give an end of cruise cash tip (with the provided cruise line extra gratuity envelope to any crew member (ie. cabin attendant) who has provided additional above and beyond service. Fine if you travel as a couple to leave the auto $14.95 / day gratuities enabled, but we, like many, travel as a family / group of 6 which adds $90 / day to our cruise, or near $1000 in tips over a 12 day cruise, in addition to 18% drink tips and our own cash tips to staff in envelopes provided by the line. We do not even use the formal evening dining, preferring the buffet / cafe. Empathy to the low paid staff, but I don’t feel its my job to ensure they are tipped 3 x over for performing paid regular duties. The cost of my tickets help pay your basic salaries, my additional tips aren’t intended to offset their payroll, or subsidize the cruise line, or be part of your expected salary. We’ve tipped excellent kids club staff $400, room attendants $100 cash, with the the latter incredulously wondering why they didn’t also see the auto gratuities as well. Post cruise we stay in hotels, where I’m not paying staff / room attendants at a hotel $90 a day for their collective services. I think at times crew as kind, professional and friendly as they are, may purposely strive to create a false sense of kinship / intimacy (especially with older passengers) to maximize recognition and tipping, while performing roles they are commonly already paid for. Cruise lines should pay staff accordingly.
Question about tip, if we did the auto gratuity when we bought our tickets should we still bring extra tips?
Yes, auto gratuity covers some crew members. But others arent
crew members have to be nice too.
I would like to ask when you arrive to your cabin, after getting on the ship 🚢 does the room service people change the bed sheets between the new people get on?
I was raised white-glove Military with Inspections
worked as a maid in Breckenridge 1976,
had a sole-proprietor house cleaning service in Anchorage 1981 - 1995.
What this taught me:
use a towel to protect the furniture you sit on; Fold bedspread and place on a chair, Strip the bed yourself - guarantees clean put on, Collect your trash, Wipe up bathroom after yourself
We obviously have the tips included and we’ve tipped extra for drinks, at the sit down restaurant, and the cleaning crew. But I never thought to tip at the buffet or deli. Is that wrong of us?
No! I’ve never tipped at any buffet I’ve gone to in my entire life. I’m not tipping at a buffet on a cruise ship
Y tip when we are charged for gratuity already?
A thank you, a smile, and a few dollars go along way.
It's funny that some people always get sunburned on the very first day of the trip. Now they got to be careful about the sun for the rest of the trip. 🤣🤣🤣
Just got off of anthem a week ago, 7 day I tipped cabin steward, head waiter, assistant waiter each $60.
Speaking with guest services about a few billing errors, they corrected them. I did not realize until later that the way we were credited was they took the money from the gratuities. Very troubling to me, they took the money out of the crew's pocket . SAD!
Thanks for the information
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