Quote:
Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive
We always use the "automatic" approach: 14% (last RCCL cruise, anyway) added to our bill.
But we also tip extra for "above and beyond". RCCL has "my time dining" option in their main dining room which means (usually) the same waiter and assistant for dinner each night. For a longer cruise (8 days plus) we tip $50 for the waiter, a bit less for the assistant, always in an envelope with the crew member's name, and hand-delivered. Same for the cabin steward. I've also found that a supply of $2 bills given to the bartender as a tip (not supposed to, I know, but they've never turned one down) ensures prompt service AND generous pours.
We always try to get to know our service people by name, and to show a personal interest in them and their lives. All too often cruise customers neglect this: they may pay bottom dollar for an inside cabin on the third deck and then expect to be treated like Caledon Hockley on the Titanic, and when they're not they can turn into absolute martinets insofar as how they deal with crew members.
Lastly: RCCL encourages passengers to fill out feedback forms on their staff people, and these mean a lot: they do get read by the higher-ups and good reviews can lead to promotions, raises, etc. Bad ones can lead to demotion or termination. I've always lived by "if you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all". I WILL speak to someone's supervisor for shoddy or otherwise lacking service.
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Totally agree. Just a few days short of pinnacle on RCCL so you know we've been cruising since the "early days" when ALL tips were ONLY handed personally to employees. As you said, by the end of longer cruises, we knew many we came into contact with on a more personal level, so many times were able to add a personal note to the gratuity. One tip you didn't mention was one told to us by world cruises when I was a young adult, still at home, and cruising with my parents. It was a tip my husband and I, and our family, continued to follow. On the first day when settling into our cabin, we always give our attendant an upfront bonus with a hand written note, along with a small gift from our home state. Tipping will always be controversial, long ago on cruises it was made VERY clear it was completely optional, the mandatory (added to bill daily) was a later "invention"... possible due to the number of people who would walk off a three week cruise without tipping anyone. Of course the old, even valid, argument is, PAY your staff a decent wage. But, the truth is, just like in restaurants, it's probably never going to happen, so WHY PUNISH those who work so hard to give us a nice vacation, or a nice meal and good service right here in The V's. I don't see a living wage coming soon for these folks, so until then... those who can should be generous IMO ! In college I worked cleaning rooms in a motel off the interstate near the university. Few people stayed more than one night, so not like a resort. I doubt many people realize how much the $5, or even $3, left for the maid really means. Due to the type of motel where I worked, I almost never found a tip in the rooms I cleaned, but when people who were only there one night left me $5, and a few times even $10 (and back then that was a LOT of money, almost enough for a week's food for a college student (noodles, Kraft mac & cheese, etc.).... it meant so much. Now when we stay in motel chains on an auto trip, we think about those days (yes, hubby also worked cleaning rooms until he was able to find a better paying job as a dry wall (sheet rock) assistant on weekends) and wonder just how many people ever leave anything when only staying one night ?