It is such a long time since we have been on a "tipping included" line could someone please tell us how to handle room service tipping. Is there a "chit" to sign with each delivery or should we carry a bunch of $ bills to give tips?

Stu and I take a lot of $ bills..as there is no chit to sign
Jan

Thanks Jan,
What do you tip for room service?

I tip $1.00 each time..I stay in a Penthouse and the butler delivers room service and I tip him a lot at the end of the cruise..I think if I was in any other category, I would tip $200..
Jan

$200 or $2.00?
$200 is a nice tip each time for room service kiddo..I think I'll get a job as butler to you

LOL That was a typo!!! I think she meant $20!!!!!

We are sailing on the Regatta in June, Concierge level. Our tips were included with the price. Through our TA. I have only sailed with Regent where all gratuities were included. Are you saying that that each time we order room service we should tip the room service waiter? Where else would we be expected to tip? Other than tour guides. Thanks for the advice. Jeanine

Gee, if I was tipping my butler at the end of the cruise, then I would not tip each time since I would include that service as a part of the tip at the end.

if you don't have a butler you might want to give whoever brings room service to you a tip of a buck or two..at least I do ( even on Radisson..I mean Regent)..no biggie and those kids work so hard.

Strange, I'm totally ignorant being a non-Rad (I mean Reg) virgin, but I thought you doled out tips at the end of a cruise, and they got divided? Is this handing out bills common on mass market cruises? (Sorry, don't mean to disparage Oceania.)

Hi..Actually Oceania is not a mass market cruise line..even on Radisson I always tipped for room service..I believe you do on all cruise lnes..at least I do!!
Jan

I didn't; they said included, and I took their word for it. It's been so long since we sailed on anything other than RSSC that I don't even remember what we tipped for room service. I think it was in the last Stone Age, so maybe little pebbles?

Well, truth be told, I've never had room service on RSSC. But not since our first PG, when we tipped our stewardess modestly, have I tipped anyone--I believed the boards, that it was discouraged.

I've never tipped for room service on RSSC and now I'm feeling sort of guilty. :( I too believed (believe?) that the tips were included and that it was part of the service ... and I've had many wonderful room service breakfasts.

Masaki

Everyone can do what they want of course but when Regent says "tips included" that means "tips included". If everyone starts tipping for room service and other services you are in my opinion going to mess with the system.

They do pay the staff more and we pay those tips in our cruise fare upfront. So the staff do not expect and are told they wont get more tips. When people tip for things like room service then the staff will start to expect that and this is not what is supposed to happen.

What I love about a ship that does not require tips is when people are nice to you it is because they want to be nice and not because they are looking for a tip. That changes things for me personally, it seems as if the warmth of the staff is more genuine. Just a perception probably but I like it this way.

It would be better to give some money to the "staff fund" that is used for staff in general for whatever they deem appropriate. When people feel a strong need to tip this is what I urge them to do.

Actually in many fine hotels now this is how it is done. In India at the Oberoi Hotels there is a sign "PLEASE do not tip any member of the staff personally, if you wish to tip please leave an amount at reception to be shared with all the staff members" We did not see that immediately and tried to tip the bellboy - he refused. At Birkenhead House in South Africa it is this way also. They request that you add an amount to your final bill and prefer you not tip people individually. Same at the luxury game camps in Africa. Tip at the end for the staff in general. It is SO much easier and really much fairer for the staff.

In all my Regent cruises I have yet to tip for room service or any other general service. I am still welcomed back with open arms. There have been situations where someone on the ship has been truly outstanding. What I normally do is buy a gift. After being on board with several groups and lots of extra service from one or two key people I have actually decided to tip on three cruises. Twice it was politely declined, once it was taken.

On the full world cruise when someone has a room stewardess for four months I do think they tip at the end but this is an entirely different situation to a normal 7 - 21 day cruise that most of us take.

After the land trips I have taken recently this "no tipping" is SO wonderful. On land every two minutes it seems someone wants a tip. It is not that I dont appreciate that these people work hard it is just the hassle, of how much, do we have change, etc etc. It makes it so nice to pay the tips UPFRONT and then just relax and enjoy yourself.

So Masaki DONT feel guilty in my personal opinion you were correct not to tip.

I am not an Oceania expert but I do know that Oceania offers group dates with enhanced options. One of those is "tips prepaid". You can also do this on Crystal.

I prepaid my tips on Crystal for my one cruise on Crystal. However at the end of the cruise it felt very uncomfortable for me. (Of course I am have become used to Radisson and Silversea - no tipping).

People were handing out envelopes and the waiter and the room stewardess were standing there obviously expecting a tip, others were looking at us, we ended up tipping again anyway.

I love a truly pre-paid no tipping trip!!!

We have been told over and over by RSSC "officers in high places" exactly what Ngaire says... rather than tip make a donation to the crew fund. It works for us! Gratuities included means just that.

Thanks for reinforcing all this, Ngaire. It's one of the things that makes RSSC so nice.

Ngaire,
I am surprised you tipped again on Oceania..even if your tips are not prepaid they are automatically placed on your bill so the staff does not expect an additional tip they know you have been automatically charged,..I was talking about room service..I did tip on every line I have been on for that special service since I have breakfast in my stateroom EACH day and dont expect that to be included..
Jan

Jan, Ngaire was talking about tipping again on Crystal, not Oceania.

Wow..I guess Pam as I get older my concentration is not the same..Ngaire, I apologize..I did think you meant Oceania..I have been on Crystal but dont know enough to speak to the tipping..I am sure you know much more than I..
Thanks Pam for bringing that to my attention..
Oceania is different because even tho the tips are not included they are automatically placed on your bill at the end of the trip..(of course you can take them off) but I dont know too many people that do and the staff wouldnt know if you did..
Jan

Jan, does that mean if you were sailing on a Regent cruise that you would tip for room service even though the literature specifically says it is an all-inclusive, no tipping cruise?

We have breafast room service almost every morning when we sail Regent and I never tip. The room service waiters are only doing their job - delivering room service. Like others have said here, Regent pays their staff more due to the "no-tipping" policy. A contribution to the crew fund to reward good service is much fairer in that it rewards all the personnel who have helped you during the cruise.

Thanks for the clarification, Ngaire!

Masaki

Hi Donna,
I guess I did the politically incorrect thing..but yes I did tip each time..and I also do it on Oceania..just a habit I got into when I started traveling in 1956, when there were no all inclusive!
Jan

Yes, on Crystal tipping is expected at the end of the cruise.

However, if you have "prepaid gratuities" from your TA, you are given a statement at the beginning of the cruise which states the amount of the tip to each service provider which will be paid on your behalf ( stewardess, waiter and ass't waiter) About 2 nights before the end of the cruise you are given individual "chits" or cards which state the amount of tips to each service provider and envelopes to place them in.

In essence, these chits are the same as cash that you would give to each. In addition, the chit has your name and cabin number.

On our last Crystal cruise from Buenos Aires to Miami, the service and food was extraordinary so we added cash to the prepaid chits for everyone.

The amount of the prepaid gratuity is the amount that the cruise line recommends that the cruiser tip to each service provider.

We also cruise on Regent and do not tip extra for room service or dining room service. We will tip extra for "extraordinary" service. My wife does tip "extra" at the hair salon and spa.

We are scheduled for our first Oceania cruise next March and, unfortunately, we do not have prepaid gratuities from our TA. (We should've booked with Ngaire, her TA provided prepaid grats) We have a PH and tipping can add up quickly. We do not intend to tip the butler for each room service order delivered but will tip him and all other service persons at the end of the cruise. Hope that is the correct procedure for Oceania.

You do not have to tip the butler each time. Also, sometimes the butler doesn't bring room service-depending on the time and what you order ( it could be regular staff)..then I would give that person a tip..
On O the gratuities are automatically added to your ship board account if you want to add or subtract from them you just go to front desk and fill out the form to do that. Nothing is written in stone.
We usually do tip butler extra at the end, because we like having cocktail parties and your party setup in cabin can be extraordinary. While not all off them will go this far out, we had mentioned to ours before going out one morning that we wanted to have a party in the cabin before dinner for friends. When we returned he
was waiting there and went so far as to scattered `rose petals' about and had tables of appetizers ( we hadn't asked for all that but he felt it would be festive and the goodies were perfect)and then asked if there was anything else.."can we please take you home ?" was our answer..so while they all do a great job..some go above and beyond our expectations.

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger Jan..I do the same.
Oh well..

Well, now, this all raises a question with me. I used to cruise on lines that had tipping, and there I tipped at (or usually above) the line's recommendation for the steward and dining room staff. And, I tipped the room service waiter about $2 per trip.

Since '02, I have cruised only on lines where "tips were included" and have not tipped at all. I tried to do so one time when services "above the call" were rendered, but it was refused.

Now, what about tipping room service staff on a cruise that does not include tips, but where tips have been pre-paid by my TA or by another source?

Thanks,
Richard

A tip as"they say" is a personal matter..the room servive person will not be standing there waiting for a tip ( it is not expected- it is a tip if you want to give to them)..

Well --- let me ask my question in a little different way. When one cruises on a ship where tips are not included in the fare, and the "tips are paid" by a TA or other party, does this payment of tips include anything for the room service staff? Or does it only include tips for the dining room wait staff and the room steward?

Thanks,
Richard

It is my understanding that the tips are to be shared among all the staff. If you feel you have had special service and would like to tip personally I am sure the staff would welcome it.

I have heard much about "shared tips" since the last time I cruised a line with tips not included in the fare. So it was my question, as to those "tipping lines", if the TA -- prepaid tips are shared with room service staff.

Also, if I wish to tip somebody who gave outstanding service, does that person get to keep my tip to them, or must it be "pooled"?

Thanks,
Richard

Richard,
Good questions. I don't know the answer and wish I could get it for you easily but I am in S. Africa at the moment. I will be happy to research it for you when I return June 10 and get back with you then.
Susan

Richard,
I checked with Oceania and was told that the tips are shared by all staff including room service. However, if you choose to tip someone, they are free to keep it personally. Hope this helps.
Susan

Thanks, Susan.

Richard

No tipping/gratuities on Regent means that. I prefer to leave $$$ in the crew fund AND write about exceptional service I have received from specific staff. I think that goes a long way for them, to get the customer kudoes/thanks. I always feel good when I see the same staff a few months later and they are in a position of higher responsibility.