"Eddie-Type2" wrote in message
news:4aqhg.3230$hp.2820@read2.cgocable.net...
> Hello,
>
> We are going on our first cruise at the end of this month.
>
> I've been reading a lot about tipping and quite frankly, I don't agree
> with
> it at all.
>
> I'm not trying to be cheap at all, but my philosophy regarding tipping is,
> "
> I tip if I think the service is worth it !".
>
> I read that tipping for room stewards should be $3.50 per day per person -
> This is crazy in my opinion! I have a young family of 5 and there is no
> way
> that I should feel compelled to tip $17.50 per day! I don't want to sound
> rude, but why do I need to tip on a cruise when I don't even tip for
> normal
> room service at a hotel? Am I missing something here?
>
> I also read that we should tip our main server and assistant server during
> dining. Why do I need to tip 2 people instead of only one person like any
> other normal restaurant? How much is an appropriate amount?
>
> I read that every passenger must have a sign and sail card and that each
> time you use it, a 15% gratutuity will automatically be applied to my
> account? What the heck is all that about? Will I have an option to just
> pay cash for sodas and stuff?
>
> Any comments are sincerely appreciated
>
> Eddie
Eddie,
From the sounds of your post, you apparently have not cruised before.
Your cabin steward has many cabins to care for..Your cabin is cleaned each
day, the beds made up and clean linens provided when necessary..Your
bathroom is cleaned and towels and washcloths replenished twice a day..Your
ice bucket is refilled twice a day..more if you need it...In the evening
there is a turn down service and your cruise newsletter and any information
pertinent to your cruise and its activities is delivered to your stateroom
by your cabin steward....If you need anything such as extra hangers,
blankets, pillows or anything else...your room steward provides it. He/she
is there to make your cruise as pleasant as possible..Your room steward is
often from a third world country and his/her family depends on what he/she
make...The cruise line only pays him/her $50-100.a month, so your tips mean
a great deal to them.
We always leave a tip whenever we stay in a hotel...usually the people who
must work cleaning hotels rooms for a living are not especially well off or
they certainly would not choose to do that type of work...If the room is
well maintained, we feel that they deserve it.
If you have five young children, I understand your concern, especially since
it sounds as if you may need more than one cabin.
Some cruise lines have a lesser tipping rate for children...some do not.
Sometimes, children means more work for the cabin steward..sometimes not, if
they are well behaved...Children are really treated special on cruises and
the crew makes a big fuss over them as many of them have small children back
home whom they have not seen for six months or more at a time.You'll find
that this especially applies to your dining room staff.
As your cabin steward, your waiter has many tables that he/she is
responsible for. For you to get the service you'd like and expect, they need
an assistant who keeps the water glasses filled, brings the bread and rolls,
takes care of your drink order (milk, iced tea, coffee, etc.) and helps the
waiter with the trays of food when they arrive..usually carried from a
galley which is sometime some distance away...They too, often are from third
world nations and depend on tips for their salary..
When you break it down, $3.50 a day for the waiter equals not even $1.17 a
meal if you eat three meals a day..The assistant only gets $1.75-$2.00 a
day..On a ship, you may wish to eat in the buffet, at specialty stations and
pizza parlor...These areas are also staffed by the very person who may also
be your dining room waiter...they pull double shifts, so their lives are not
very easy ones by any means.
The 15% gratuity is only when you purchase drinks from the bar or in the
Coffee Cafe that has specialty coffees. Regular coffee is always available
in the buffet area, as well as iced tea...Cocoa is usually available in the
morning, also.You do not use cash for anything on the ship except if you go
to the casino or play bingo..Also anything you buy in the ship's stores is
put on the credit card that you plan to use and that you give to the person
who processes you before you board the ship.
When planning a cruise, it is always best to figure in the amount for the
extras that you will need to pay for, such as tips and any other gifts or
souvenirs that you may purchase in some of the ports...
Hope I have been able to give you the information that you needed.
Have a wonderful cruise!
--Jean
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