13 Big Tipping Mistakes NOT to Make on a Cruise

[@LifeWellCruised]

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[@susanhendriemorrow1024]

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[@esterlyngibbs9880]

They don't pay us good , but thanks to the guest that gave us a little extra

[@squeestar]

My very first cruise with my husband, our steward discovered I brought along a stuffed monkey and always left it on the bed. So, throughout the cruise we would come back to our cabin and find my stuffed toy in various "scenes" such as watching tv, or drawing a banana on a pad of paper. This escalated when he created a mouse made out of a washcloth at which point, we would find scenes like our pillow chocolates with a lil piece cut out and the mouse and monkey would be on the bed with the remote sharing the chocolate. We found the experience so fun we left that guy an extra tip along with a note thanking him for "monkeying around with us". 🙂

[@nancyruckman5875]

This is beyond adorable! Thanks for sharing that!!

[@danasandoval624]

Omg that is wonderful. What line and ship were you on?

[@squeestar]

@@danasandoval624 Golden Princess

[@danasandoval624]

@@squeestar thank you for the info

[@dobees8183]

You're a grown woman??

[@davidrayner9832]

Australian here. One thing we hate about cruising (and visiting the US) is tipping. We begrudgingly accept the practice and we do it but why can't all businesses, no matter what or where they are, simply pay their workers a decent living wage that doesn't need to be suplimented by the customer?

[@carmenenoll3964]

Some of us go above and beyond and deserve more. You should keep that in mind. JS!

[@davidrayner9832]

@@carmenenoll3964 No, your employer should keep that in mind.

[@carmenenoll3964]

Nope I like it that way. I make way more money. We all have opinions though.

[@davidrayner9832]

@@carmenenoll3964 More money than they're paying you now, not more money than they should be paying you. BTW, have you ever travelled on a train?

[@carmenenoll3964]

@davidrayner9832 Yes

[@ORCLEAM]

One thing we learned is that tipping doesn't stop when you cross the brow on departure. The survey you get from the line is also a form of tipping. Remember the names of the staff that really impressed you and why they impressed you. The survey is going to ask you who went out of their way to make you cruise great. The mentions earn the crewmembers things like extra phone time with their families, promotion points and other perks.

[@matthewwilliams9200]

Because either way you'll be paying for it. This way you are given the option to give more directly for the persons work that is serving you.

[@westzed23]

One tip I heard was to take photos of your servers and staff with ID showing, then you have that for your survey. I'm doing that on my next cruise.

[@venitapolonio5955]

I definitely made sure I completed the survey. For my 2nd cruise I will get names of those with excellent and poor customer service as well.

[@MoDavI-sl7iy]

On my 🛳, our person was Jerry. He went above & beyond the call of duty. He was GREAT‼️

[@ronv6637]

It is not just the cruise industry but any corporate job,as I have complimented individuals to their supervisor and been told it all goes through HR (can't imagine how bad it must be to have those insane,screaming haradans doing anything but payroll and benefits)

[@GR8Eight1]

When tipping becomes confusing, much like this, I just opt out. It should be clear for the consumer to decide if they received great service and provide the tip.

[@anohacharlesschlosser9305]

Exactly

[@judywelday9387]

I always extra tip our cabin attendants and our MDR servers because these people take care of us daily and we really appreciate them. Love your videos!

[@QuangWynn2711]

How much extra tip if you don’t mind to share ?

[@leslieoconnell2051]

We always tip or room stewards and wait staff but we also enjoy carrying $5 bills to give to random workers who ordinarily don’t get tips. Their appreciation is amazing.

[@grajur3710]

I tip lady who clean smoking area. She was very grateful; smile every time we were there. I also wrote a note about her in customer service so she got extra 1 hour off,

[@MoDavI-sl7iy]

I love your videos. You explain everything with such clarity & class. But I must say, watching all of these videos about do's & dont's on a cruise, what to pack & not pack, etc. It all makes me wish I would've booked an all-inclusive vacation out of the country somewhere. This appears to be a bit much, & so stressful.

[@elpe7579]

Giving a tip is your own choice. Its a sign of being grateful to the service you received.

[@AndreasS.-mh8ti]

Exactly.

[@massdisruption3437]

Do you tip your wife,husband,or kids????? They give you service. I bet you don’t tip them. Tipping is a form of charity- charity starts at the home…….. that’s why in some countries they don’t tip as they don’t see themselves as a charity case.

[@tonyaustin969]

We always tip the bartenders 2 or 3 bucks extra, room service a couple bucks, and our room attendant 100 bucks for 7 days or more for longer cruises. This is on top of the pre-paid gratuities. These people work hard, and they deserve every dime of it.

[@LA53844]

This is exactly what I did on one NCL cruise. My server was absolutely ridiculous, I have my mom with me, on the whilechare... I went to a customer service desk, and asked them to remove 50% of my gratuity, and took that money and gave 2 girls who really helped me on that cruise.

[@raymondwong7674]

Wow , I don't realize people are so generous when cruising, money don't come easy for me, not many people tip like that in real life.

[@travelnomad2128]

Don't stressed! Tip what you can afford. It's not mandatory!

[@maureensullivan2139]

@@raymondwong7674 It galls me to hear people say that - they plop down $5,000 for a cruise and then weep about a lousy $100 extra for tips.

[@patriciasmith364]

My husband and I keep one tip on the bill and we remove the other tip. We use the removed money, along with extra money to tip the waiters, the room attendant and anyone else who has done anything extra for us. A 5 day cruise will usually amount to close to $100 for the tip that we keep on the tab, and we usually end up giving out another $200. That usually works out well for us.

[@monicap5054]

Great tips and on point as always. We always prepay our gratuities when booking our cruise and still give out tips to our bar tenders and servers. We also always start out our cruise with a gift to our cabin Stewart that includes a thank you card in advance with cash, international calling cards and candies. On the last evening of our cruise, we will again tip for all of the assistance provided us during the week. They all work so hard and very long hours and deserve it!

[@stacythomas1587]

I'm going on a 16day cruise next April and I will definitely do this for my stateroom attendant.

[@MrClickitorTicket]

I had not thought about international calling cards! I know several years ago they were very useful, but are they still helpful now that everyone has some kind of cellular phone?

[@elizabethtwombly3266]

I was wondering the same about the calling card. Are they still a useful item?

[@Jedi71]

Bartenders? The drink package added a 20 percent gratuity across the board.

[@monicap5054]

@@MrClickitorTicket I would think that this saves them a little bit of money when calling home. An international plan on cell phones might be expensive

[@tgr1ff1n]

Thank you Illana. I notice too often that people who enjoy a particular venue on a ship, don't tip their wait staff. I do the automatic gratuities, but I understand that great service deserves a little more. You not only do the crew a benefit, but they remember how to do a better job interacting with their customers. Kudos to those that choose to tip extra!

[@michaelalbert5518]

I have been bringing a strap of$1 bills to ensure I do not run out of small bills....I use them to "double tip" the bar waiters for better service. This has worked so well in fact, that I have gotten preferential treatment, by this I mean, getting my drinks faster than other people, even if they have been in the bar before me.

[@mikeeno104]

I cruise mostly Holland America. I prepay gratuities every time and never regret it. I never use cash on any of my cruise, however I do tip porters, taxies, and off-ship services. My rule of thumb is 20% tip for good service.

[@druegillis1744]

Ilana, Don’t forget $2.00 bills! I got a bunch of 2’s for our cruise because they are rare and the person you are tipping will remember who gave them. Plus it reduces the number of one dollar bills you need on hand. And it makes it easy to tip baggage handlers. 3 bags, 3 $2 dollar bills. Sometimes your bank will have to order some in for you but they are unique and service providers will remember you!

[@gigs2riches]

My mom gives my kids $2 bills for every birthday

[@NCNATIVE]

We do the same, even at home $2 bills get attention.

[@vhdalton17]

This is what I do when I go.

[@judithpearson8870]

This is what we plan to do.

[@paulfuller7175]

Such a great idea

[@dbenadon]

Another great video on a sensitive topic delivered with care. We always pre-pay and then tip in cash our room steward, butler (if we are in the Haven) and bartenders that we use. The crews work so hard and for so long, I think that every budget should allow some extra cash to show appreciation.

[@medinawick28]

Exactly... The actual person taking care of your wants and needs need to have the extra "tip" to show your appreciation. These attendants are sending all they can to their family back home.

[@veronicashine1812]

We do the same. We always prepay. I find it so much easier on having a very low end of the cruise bill. I do leave an extra tip for the cabin steward and asst. I know that tips are included in spa services and some drink packages, but I still tip the bartender and massage therapist.

[@21AirDrop]

May I ask what you tipped your Haven room steward, butler and MDR server? I was thinking $100 each. Additionally, I pre-pay gratuities as well, the cash tip is additional.

[@veronicashine1812]

@@21AirDrop That would be about what we do for cabin steward and butler. I never do MDR but the Haven has their own venue to dine in and we rend to do specialty dining. I always get different servers and just let the prepay take care of that but the maître d' of the Haven restaurant will get 50. We had a great one who had made sure we had a lovely and same table each time we dined there.

[@lenvella9541]

You do not prepay for tips or gratuities look it up you are a fool if you pay in advance for something you have not yet had.

[@lesmotley6839]

Ive found in life that countries like japan Australia and those in the EU where tipping is not common people tend to offer better service than the US where tipping is part of the culture. Tipping in japan is particularly frowned upon, the Japanese give their best service and honesty because this is expected in their culture.

[@brendaworthington5423]

I agree with you. Everyone should do the job they are paid for to the best of their ability, and never expect a tip. I did my job for almost 40 years and was actually not allowed to accept tips or monetary gratuities at all! It should NEVER be up to the customer to supplement salary! Fair pay for fair work!

[@AndreasS.-mh8ti]

Well said! I disagree with “not being allowed to tip.” I’ve worked for places like that and followed their rules. However, if someone wants to tip you, you earned it and should be allowed to keep it. At one place the owner kept my tips. When customers noticed, they said to him, “The tips is for her. She earned it. Let her keep it!”

[@deskubrir]

I give extra tip to my cruise attendants and servers, specially since most of them are from nationalities where tips are greatly appreciated. The tip I hate the most giving is to the porters at U.S. ports, those guys are never satisfied with a $1, $2 or even $5 per bag and they always made “comments to themselves like whinning” as we leave… For my next cruises, I guess I won’t tip at all to these people.

[@VNeto94]

​​@@deskubriryes, and their jobs could be easily replaced by robots. Can't wait for it.

[@monihasnone6137]

The reason tipping shouldn’t be allowed is because you naturally only work well if you get tipped. Soon, you expect tips or you don’t want to give the same quality work. Why should I tip, if I’m picking a takeout box? Why should I tip if I haven’t even tasted the food or service yet? Why should I tip at a buffet when I’m servicing myself? These are the extremes US goes to now a days. So if I want good service, I have to offer bribes. That’s essentially what tips are.

[@susantownsend8397]

On land or shipboard I frequently tip anyone I see cleaning a restroom. Imagine a cruise, restaurant, or entertainment experience without them! I’m not going to miss those few dollars.

[@Reneefitat70]

❤

[@susansullivan9626]

I keep auto gratuities for sure but tip waiters and sommeliers at every meal, usually $5 and $1 for random drinks around ship. Tip cabin steward around $5 a day at end of trip. Anyone else who goes out of their way to solve a problem I tip at the time. Of course, it depends on your financial means but I know for sure I have more than those hard working crew members who leave their families for months at a time and work 7 days a week.

[@arokh72]

I'd like to add that cruises based out of Australia have gratuities baked into the fare you pay. So if you pay $1058pp AUD for a 4 day cruise ex Sydney, that's all gratuities, taxes, and service charges included. This includes purchasing drinks packages, etc. However you can tip your cabin steward, and others if you so desire, for good service, however as tipping is generally not part of the Australian culture it is optional.

[@esterdrass4964]

I like that idea best, include it all and if you want to leave extra, you can. I am very well used to the idea of having plenty of at hand cash for tipping.

[@ROBMACDUI]

This! Here in America the businesses like to put the responsibility of paying the employee on the customer. It's so out of control. Literally every time we pay for anything we are confronted with a screen asking how much tip we want to add and that tip usually starts at 20% and goes up from there.

[@_Frumious_Bandersnatch]

I like to tip for just that reason- To Insure Personal Service. The bartenders, cabin stewards etc take bearer care of you if you (ave handed them a little extra. Crowded bar? You tend to get noticed and served faster. It’s just human nature. There are THOUSANDS of people on board. You don’t need to tip at all but it will certainly make you stand out.

[@garyroberts3859]

You’ve managed to put me off cruising for life

[@susieminnick6801]

Don't let this woman steer you away.she is so wrong about so many things!!

[@lsheree1]

🤣🤣🤣

[@grafixmedia]

@@susieminnick6801il faut en prendre et en laisser, ce n’est pas si compliqué

[@helenorgarycrevonis2022]

Love your presentation skills! As always helpful, clear and understandable. The service charge in the Spa is a very good catch, the first couple times I double tipped, no big deal, but it could get pricey.

[@MrClickitorTicket]

We have gotten massages in the past. I know the 18% gratuity is added to the cost of the massage. Even still, I will tip extra in cash as the massage is usually very good. Then I ask them not to badger me with the attempts to upsell us there potions and lotions. The cash tip is more than what they will make on the commission of that stuff they try to sell me. They have been happy to comply with my request. This is all done politely.

[@melissaduffy4]

@@MrClickitorTicket Also, I wonder how much of that 18% if any the masseuses actually get when it is not paid directly to them.

[@mediagem]

​@@MrClickitorTicket😊

[@tracydickson8575]

You're always thoughtful and respectful in your approach, and that was especially evident here - on what's often a very touchy subject. Another excellent video!

[@MoDavI-sl7iy]

I agree

[@teresachapman7959]

We add in prepaid gratuities when we book our cruises. It is less to worry about while on the cruise. We also tip the cabin steward and dining waiters extra before we disembark. Thanks for your helpful videos! Love them!🛳⚓️🛟🏝

[@lindabradford9591]

We do the same.

[@melissaduffy4]

We are just doing the basic dining & inside small, basic cabin with no view. We are wondering, on Holland America's Inside Passage AK trip this summer are there the same people serving you at the dining area every night or is it 'buffet' self serve?' Also, we don't need our sheets changed daily while we are on the ship..just sometimes to replace towels. Does the steward do the room cleaning? Or is there also a maid?

[@ChrisJohnson-xm7cl]

We plan ahead to leave the steward about $5 per day of the booking. Ex: $35 for 7 days. We also leave $2-3 with a note if we have a special request. Ex extra towels or bring wine glasses and opener. We always get great service!

[@beckysutherland2065]

​@@melissaduffy4they don't change your sheets daily, they change them when the cruise is over on turn around day so the beds are fresh and ready for the new passengers. They just make the beds or do turn down service if doing once per day service of the cabins.

[@dawncrossland3028]

@@ChrisJohnson-xm7cl We Plan on $20 a day

[@alwilliams64964]

One thing that I don't think you mentioned. If you get complimentary drinks or food (because of a loyalty tier level, suite perks, etc.), then there is typically no automatic service charge. Tipping in this situation is a good idea.

[@donnaturner3377]

I am ok with auto gratuities, but I really do think cruise companies should share how these tips are distributed. Since we are tippers I feel it is our business.

[@cherriekorpusik6113]

Ilana, I am going to Alaska on first cruise ever. I can’t tell you enough how helpful your videos have been. Your explanations and advice have been priceless to me. Thank you does not seem enough!! Stay safe and well. Best regards, Cherrie

[@NanetteG.-ii4xy]

Bring binaculars. For wonderful sights in Alaska 👍😊

[@Bernie-666]

Great Video! Just to let you know: Also on NCL it's just a short walk to Customer service desk to get the automatic gratuities removed. You just sign a form for that. The amount shows up every day on your invoice but will then be removed in full at the end of your cruise. I did that the first time on my last cruise because i felt it was necessary and decided to tip individually.

[@AndreasS.-mh8ti]

Most staff prefer individual cash tips anyway.

[@victoriaderiabina1534]

I used to work on a cruise ship. So when a waiter or other person receives cash, they have to report that. At the end of the cruise if the gust did not cancel gratuity the waiter will get it back, otherwise money goes to the pool and are shared between all the employees. Planning to go on my first cruise as a passenger and definitely not canceling gratuity ❤

[@yeeaahhzz]

how do you tip the "behind the scenes" staff? cooks/linestaff, laundryworkers, ship crew etc?

[@louiem5397]

I have a clear view about tipping. In Europe as a whole tipping is almost nil…The only country that tips a lot is the USA and I do not include the tip in my embarkation package…I tip the people I consider close to me…the room attendant and helper and the dinner steward and helper… The rest got the tips included in places as bars, spa, manicure, massage and many other things…room service is also tip included . If they are so dependent on the tips, is about time that they include that amount in the price of the room…the maî·tre d'hôtel is a management position and I refuse to tip this person…if he doesn’t like it…so be it

[@claudineamato1161]

You're right, there are many behind the scenes workers that work really hard that you never see.

[@PeterKlein-n8c]

TIPS mean "To Insure Personal Service". I aways tip the head bartender to the bar we will be consuming the most beverages. I get my drinks as I walk up and on crowded nights, I don't have to wait! We have been on 14 cruises.

[@Kenporon]

I can’t tell you how thankful I am to you for making this video. You saved me and my daughter at the least $400, because we canceled the gratuities for our upcoming trip onNorwegian Cruise Lines, and our travel agent at our request canceled them without mentioning that it’s required, so if I hadn’t seen this video and looked into it, we would’ve paid individual gratuities to the workers on the ship for the whole cruise, and then at the end we would’ve found out that we were required to pay the service charges, so thank you thank you thank you!

[@rmatthews4212]

Merriam-Webster definition for gratuity is "something given voluntarily or beyond obligation", Cruise ship nor any other company should make tipping part of your bill. I would like the cruise lines and all other companies set their prices so they can pay their employees what they deserve and we can tip for excellent work. It appears these companies are trying to show a lower price item, then add on after and during the cruise. Some people are saving years to take this cruse and not able to pay the extra money, we need to let those people know it's OK to just say THANKS!

[@travelnomad2128]

I don't let myself be guilted or pressured to tip. I tip what I can afford and tip only to room steward & mdr waiters. No more. The cruise fare alone is expensive enough and I'm not rich to be giving away money to everyone!

[@maureensullivan2139]

@@rmatthews4212 So you pay $5000 for a cruise but an extra $100 is going to break the bank. Geesh.

[@katherinkeegan8601]

​@@maureensullivan2139If the cruise is a once in a lifetime experience, yes that extra $100+ per person can put pressure on a person. The more they charge you for gratuities the less you have for excursions and souvenirs. And before you say "If you can't afford to tip then you can't afford to cruise", that is a very elitist attitude. And it's not just cruising where there is this out of control tipping culture. Large Tipping is getting out of hand and is unsustainable. It has become mandatory. The definition of tips is "To ensure prompt service". People now expect you to pay it regardless of how well they perform. Again this is unsustainable.

[@massdisruption3437]

@@maureensullivan21395000 should include the 100. That’s all that’s being said…….

[@coffeecake8835]

Everyone should watch your cruise tips before cruising. Concise, and to the point. 👍

[@lindaprice1876]

Thank you for this video. I’ve double tipped but was fine doing that for most services. Crew work really hard and I feel like they deserve it.

[@teagenthetiefling5296]

This was a very useful video! Thank you for breaking this down in such detail. It takes a lot of anxiety out of the process.

[@MrHardhatharry]

Thanks,! On a previous cruise we gave an extra tip to our waiter and room attendant. Both were exceptional and deserved a cash bonus.

[@hildasquires9898]

I'm going on my first ever cruise (14 days) in Jan from Melbourne to N Z on a Princess ship.I have been very interested in these comments and Illana's videos. As Tasmanian Tour Guide, during Cruise ship season, when lovely guests tip me at the end of a tour, it is always split it with the coach driver. Often they are not given a tip but tips are always shared. We don't expect to be tipped but really appreciate them when given. The tips can be anything from a few aussie coins all that is left in their pocket to a few dollars, Mostly US$ or left over NZ$. So while it is not the common thing to tip in Aus, I will tip for great service. I'll be recycling some of my tips on my holiday Now to watch another video❤😅

[@oldguy9078]

I always tip porters at the port, bar tenders on board I usually give a bar tender one dollar and two if I order one drink for me and one for my wife. We usually always have a drink package so gratuities have been paid but I like to give them a dollar or so extra when I order. I always give the Cabin Steward extra especially if they have been attentive and have great personalities usually on the next to last night on board. We always tip drivers and guides on excursions and always check the bill at a local restaurant or bar it may be added automatically but they really expect more.

[@divinedaydreamingwithdeaco1519]

Another great video. Personally, my husband and I would never remove gratuities as it includes those behind the scenes workers we may not see. Of course, we always give a little extra for exceptional service as many others do.

[@ajs11201]

Same here. For so many of the workers on a cruise ship, they're sending money back home to families they haven't seen in months. And especially for those behind-the-scenese workers I've never seen or met, I'd die before I'd begrudge them a few dollars.

[@amtank]

I what world other than cruising do you desire to tip other unseen people?

[@AndreasS.-mh8ti]

I’m curious. How do you/we know that the tips “include the behind the scenes workers?” Does it say this in the cruise contract? I wonder, like many people do, who exactly is sharing the tips? Usually workers paid a higher hourly wage, would not be a part of the shared tips, like a server would be. I have a feeling most staff get fewer total tips, if it’s automatically added. I worked for a place that charged me every time a customer paid with a debit or a credit card, which most customers did!

[@renamccully1462]

When traveling anywhere away from home, i always find out what the tipping culture is for my destination. A cruise ship is a destination all its own, of sorts. I tip generously, not because i have extra money laying around but because i budget for it as part of my vacation cost, and it's a small way for me to appreciate those who work so hard to help make my cruise enjoyable. There's a saying out there "When in Rome..."

[@Isaiaswolf66]

You should tip doctors also, they work so hard. Some barely sleep, let alone nurses 12 hours shifts. Teachers specially elementary, imagine controlling 20 , seven year old kids. And they sometimes put in from their own bags to take treats or buy material for classrooms, why not tip them ?

[@renamccully1462]

@Isaiaswolf66 is it the culture where you live to tip doctors, nurses, and teachers? If it is, then if I visited you, I would follow the culture.

[@michaeldianewynne8414]

I don't cruise anywhere near the USA so tip like I'm in Rome i.e. virtually nothing

[@wendylam8367]

Love your channel…so informative and pleasant to watch 🙏🥰

[@markrubinstein7889]

Your videos have been very helpful in planning our first cruise. Thank you for all the great videos.

[@sarahmurphy6733]

I really hate talking about tipping because everyone gets upset with those who do not or who don't tip as much. I always tell people its a personal decision based on service and it should not be discussed in a group. That being said, great video!

[@TheHailstorm77]

I disagree because I worked at a hotel industry and I worked my butt off bringing heavy women luggages that are like 5-6 bags for one lady. Someone’s I would get $1-$2 tip or nothing

[@sarahmurphy6733]

@@TheHailstorm77 I feel your pain however, a tip is not mandatory. Working in the service industry you know your tips are not regular and no matter how hard you try you can't please everyone. If you worked in an area where your wages were guaranteed, would you be happier? Strive for what makes you happy.

[@1111atreides]

I've never agreed with tipping. I'm in the service industry and can't help but give good service. My service does not change based on tips. I find the idea of it soft extortion.

[@jackip2ava]

I hate tipping

[@liseoppenheimer7255]

I hate this expectation of tipping every minute of the day. When I book m6 cruise, tell me the actual cost, then leave me alone. This nickel and diming is ridiculous

[@davidbrooks8809]

So true

[@LTT20101]

Amen it sure is

[@sandrapowell5695]

I agree with you 100%.

[@anohacharlesschlosser9305]

My thoughts too

[@klimas2000]

If people stopped tipping, maybe something would change.

[@waynebrowne1063]

I choose the prepaid option for the tips when I book on Royal Caribbean. Makes things easier. I then add any additional tips for great service.

[@dorotadurazinska7822]

3h to go before I am on my first ever cruise. Thank you for all your tips.

[@AceGoodheart]

How much did they tip you?

[@janetholmes733]

Have fun😊

[@eminbc]

Good vid. Interesting comments. I booked a Europe River Cruise and there was NO tipping as it was all included. However we did leave an envelope for our cabin steward. Don't fall prey to USA style tipping expectations b/c they may not be paying fair wages.

[@patsysmack5716]

Great show. I always enjoy your presentations.

[@kma9292]

We cruise Royal Caribbean most of the time and I prefer to prepay gratuities. I always ask for some small extra service and give our room attendant a small tip when we meet them. At the end of the cruise I always give our dinner waiter and the assistant waiter and our room attendant a good tip for the exceptional service that we have received. Thanks for another good video.

[@leanngarrett3331]

Always nice to tip extra when people have gone above to make your holiday better🎉

[@tonygreen249]

Thanks good video, I just hate the tipping culture because it seems if you’re paying for service that they should be providing any way. I worked in the service industry and have seen how some discriminate by saying a certain group don’t tip as much and they don’t like servicing them. The company should pay them enough and give incentives on good service by surveys and etc.

[@frankpasini4304]

I always tip extra in cash for the porter at the pier, room attendant, and if we have assigned seating for dinner, the wait staff. You be surprised how much extra attention you receive by giving extra cash.

[@1miyito]

Just came from a NCL European cruise and I like the service charge was charged and payed way before the cruise started. However I gave some cash tips to our steward, they work hard and tidy the cabin a few times during the day . In general all work hard and looks happy working. It’s always nice to see happy and friendly faces. I saw a couple of people using the wheel chair service when going out of the ship I guess that is a good example for having those extra $1 bills handy.

[@nymike907]

I agree, the service we have received has always been awesome. We have found that when someone really goes out of their way on day 1,2 we tip them and they will make sure that you will get exceptional service throughout the cruise. Remember that tips stands for To Insure Perfect Service. Best to pay upfront

[@MrClickitorTicket]

To Insure PROPER service. Minor detail.

[@AndreasS.-mh8ti]

TIPS= To Insure Proper Service!

[@lw3158]

Good sensical information! I'm a good tipper in general, home and away. People do get all wound up over tipping, especially not understanding the cultural differences. Those are real and legitimate. I particularly get annoyed at the people who say, oh they work so hard, send $$ back to their families etc. Most of us work hard, use our earning for our families of course. I NEVER tip based based on what I think someone's income or personal situation may be, IMO that is silly. Many people that help us in day-to-day living do not receive or expect tips. Grocery bagger, shelf re-stockers, just to name a few, and many of them are living on a fixed income, retired and need to supplement their income. I never remove my ship pre-paid gratuities, those that do, well again IMO, to each their own, we all do what works for us. My butler and room steward always receive extra cash at end of cruise, same for my waiter and assistant waiter, as I always have the same because I cruise in a suite and dine in the retreat dining rooms. Bartenders, I do not tip per drink, makes no sense since the beverage package (Ultra expensive) includes gratuities already. If we regularly go to the same bar and get to know him/her, we may tip a bit additional at end of cruise. The cruise lines though need to pay their staff better, a LOT better. They have tried (and often succeeded) in making passengers feel guilty if they don't tip every single person that works on the ship. This is nonsense and I personally don't fall for it.

[@melissaduffy4]

A previous commenter stated that unlike some of the other staff the bartenders don't get any of the automatic gratuities, so it would make sense to directly tip them per drink.

[@halucca22]

@@melissaduffy4 I booked a cruise with NCL that offered free drink package but I had to pay the 20% gratuities based on the retail value of the drink package. My understanding is that the bartenders will receive at least some of those gratuities, but I guess they don’t receive any of the automatic daily charge, since not everyone drinks? Tipping issues are almost as bad as cellphone plans 🤯🥺🤬

[@AndreasS.-mh8ti]

All great points!

[@Mushkiepotamus]

I recently went on my first cruise, taking my mom for her 84th birthday!! We were Aqua Class, all included (gratuities, wifi, classic drink package) on Celebrity Constellation for 10 nights in the Caribbean! I upgraded to the premium drink package. Even though I pre-paid the gratuity I still spent over $700 +++ on extra tips. I viewed the pre-paid tips as they were for those people that were behind the scenes, those I didn’t interact with face to face- entertainment, kitchen staff, maintenance people. If I saw them face to face and they helped us or made the cruise easier or more fun- I gave a cash tip and often asked to speak to their supervisor and took their picture with their name tag so I made sure I could include them in my post-cruise survey. It started at the terminal- we tipped the porter $5 per bag ($20), $10 for the valet, another $20 for the crew that got my mom a wheelchair and wheeled her to our cabin. Same goes for debarkation day staff. I gave $20 to the person that delivered the bag to our room. I typically tipped $5 each time I ordered my mom and i’s cocktails. Since we had the premium package, the tips were finite and we LOVED our bartenders at the Martini Bar and they deserved tips with each FABULOUS CONCOCTION they made us. Cafe Bacio- $5 for the 2 coffees, if they brought pastries with our coffee- then $10. My cabin steward was awesome and tipped him $150. The wine sommelier that chose some wonderful wines- about $15 tip per bottle. The bus driver for the excursion, I tipped $20 and our tour host $25. The buffet food was pretty tasteless, so we only went for a couple of times but when we did stop in, if someone brought us cocktails or cleared away the dirty dishes, I tipped them $5-10. We tipped the hostess at Blu $40 because she always seemed to find a wonderful table for us- we never made a reservation. My mom rode a scooter or used a walker to get around the ship- when we would go to and from our cabin, there were always other cabin crew cleaning rooms and their carts were in the hall. Most were pleasant about moving their cart so she could get by. One was grumpy and rude. Regardless we would apologize for making their work harder and thanked them profusely for being so kind to move their cart. One of the cabin stewards ALWAYS smiled, moved his cart out of the way along before we go to where he was. He always asked us how our day was going or how our night was - he wasn’t even our steward. I pulled him aside one day and thank him for his kindness, his never ending smile and how much his attitude and actions made my mom feel comfortable and not a burden. I gave him $20 and asked to speak to his supervisors- which I did. I also included him in my survey- along with all the others that made the cruise soo wonderful for my mom. The one thing I took away from this cruise is how hard the staff works - day and night. And when you verbally thank them, show appreciation to them, tell their supervisors about the wonderful service they provided- they were over the moon thrilled. When a tip is included - it was a different response- almost emotional- sooo many of the crew are supporting family they rarely get to see. The tip meant life - food, rent, medical and schooling, etc to families that back home.

[@Jog_on]

It's nice for you that you can afford to do that. In the UK we pay high for everything. Tipping to this level isn't an option for many.

[@nancyannesunboxings]

You are a very generous tipper!

[@beachmom2001]

You are a very generous person. I just came home from a cruise and tipped extra cash quite often as well. Tipped my cabin attendant an extra $100, dining room waiter $100, dining room assistant waiter $100. Went to chef's table, tipped on top of the gratuity included with chef's table. Same with Chop's Grill. I received free drinks but still tipped for every complimentary drink that I received. Tipped the guy taking my omelet order who knew my name by the 3rd day, $5 at the end of the cruise. Same to the cook making the omelets. Tipped my tour operators, porter at terminal on embarkation and debarkation. Tipped the shuttle driver back to the hotel. I probably tipped at least $500 extra. Working in the service industry in the US, I know how hard these folks work.

[@timduggan1461]

Took my Mom to Alaska 2005. Celebrity Millennium. So, nearly 20 years ago....I have also been aboard the Constellation but before upgrades and re-fits.

[@brucehackert914]

Obvious a shill

[@marybethreynolds2900]

Thank you for doing this helpful video 😊

[@nancysmith2874]

Tipping is out of hand

[@debbybrigham7095]

My last cruise we had the best room steward ever. It was a pleasure to reward him with a great tip, especially just before Christmas. I got to the terminal prior to my daughter with our luggage and I had no cash. I felt terrible. Those guys work hard Tip frequently and well and your cruise becomes amazing. Line at the bar? Bartenders go out of the way to get to you. Same in casinos. The staff talk and it’s like you have a mark as a tipper. Free food at an specialty restaurant and other perks. Being from the USA tipping is normal and can really can make others happy.

[@rh4267]

We always pre-pay our gratuities. We give extra amounts to our room stewards at a few intervals during the trip instead of all the extra at the end. Also we always give $1.00 for each drink delivery as the server gets it directly and does not get pooled.

[@mychaelvo7597]

I am not cheap and I do give tips ...but watching this video really stress me out with how much awareness I need to have with tipping on a cruise. I have been to many cruises so I know the drill ...but is is still tiring. I am going on a cruise soon, in Jan-2024.

[@kaasmeester5903]

Watching these videos, it appears that cruising is a hellish minefield of do's and don'ts :)

[@MoDavI-sl7iy]

I agree

[@Peachez4044]

This is overwhelming 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@shannonalward217]

I always try to prepay gratuities and then tip extra for exceptional services. Great video as always!

[@tamishaw9826]

Your knowledge on cruising really has helped me know rights from wrongs for my first time upcoming cruise.. Thank you for sharing.

[@lindabradford9591]

Llana is the best at preparing for a cruise.

[@lucyohio3005]

I worked on cruise lines for 2 years from 2003-2004 and our official salary on Carnival CL was $5/hour, 10-14 hours/ day, no weekends (like a full day off), 8-10 months straight. You feel permanently tired and emotionally exhausted. We didn't have any pre-paid tips then, so we worked for those $1 tips. Some cruises were special like for high-school kids only, so a 7-day cruise with non-stop room service deliveries with $0 tips. Once I had one customer- the lady who gave me a $ 60 tip for serving her drinks during the cruise, and yes, I remember this moment for 20 years :)

[@kevinsage2980]

On our first cruise, earlier this year, we went star class (and have a cruise next year as star class), and gratuities were included in the price of the cabin. We tipped our genie during the cruise, and at the end of the cruise we tipped everyone that we felt gave us an amazing experience. There was some additional tipping through out the trip. At the end of the day, when we booked the cruise we put aside the money we would be using for tipping in addition to paying for the cruise.

[@mariefeser6720]

Just got off our first cruise. I took $100.00 one dollar bills, we tipped a dollar for each drink, servers in Windjamers and our room attendant. And yes I also prepaid my gratuities. But I would do this at home, and I appreciated their quick service. The room attendant , we gave $20.00 on our first day, and an additional $10.00 for each day. And this may have verified, however, he was just the sweetest kid, so personable, he was worth every cent.

[@mikebilon8208]

Since for the most part traditional dinning is no more. It's difficult to tip the MDR staff since you may have a different team through out the cruise. I tip my stateroom stewards even if the service is 'standard', it's still been a tough three years for them.

[@esciteach7997]

#82 to hit "like" thumb. my son and granddaughter are very, very picky eaters and so we mainly eat in the buffet. we always have the automatic tips removed. We tip individually. Watching other traveling vids we noticed many cruisers tip their cabin stewards on day 1 (up to $100. for 7 night cruise) and seems to work well !!!! On the final day they leave more money with a thank you note. we also are non drinkers so tip individually for a specialty drink if we feel it is warranted.

[@jeffreylevin9616]

$100...yikes. I'm alone. And I'm stingy

[@DenaInWyo]

The staff working in the buffet as well as in the kitchens and laundry receive a cut of the automatic gratuities. Removing those cuts out their share. Just FYI.

[@well-blazeredman6187]

Occasional visitor but not a cruiser. Excellent video. The substantial add-ons to the fares are a major disincentive to my ever taking the plunge - particularly with an American cruise line.

[@AndreasS.-mh8ti]

I understand. I never knew they did automatic tipping. I think they should allow passengers to tip according to the quality of service they get. That’s the point of a TIP The cruise lines are making passengers tip automatically no matter the quality of service, which is wrong. I’m happy to give a big tip for exceptional service. Yet if service is very slow and bad, no one should be obligated to give an automatic gratuity for that. The cruise ships should be paying all staff a living wage and viewing tips as an extra service amount that is earned!

[@pm1104]

I hate this tipping nonsense……..it shuld be included in people’s wages ! 😊

[@elizabethmckenna6471]

They get people from countries that desperately need jobs. Try to have compassion. Some work long contracts and are not even allowed off the ship. I remember they used to pay people from Pakistan $100 dollars a month. 😢

[@maureensullivan2139]

But it isn’t, so get over it.

[@Isaiaswolf66]

that’s like slavery, why isn’t the employer responsible then ?

[@massdisruption3437]

@@elizabethmckenna6471cry me a river. As an American growing up when my friends was getting inundated with violence,drugs,and police brutality in the inner city. I would’ve left on a ship for less if it meant seeing the world, meals, and living quarters paid for….. Yet nobody in America has compassion for their own countrymen. That 100 dollars is enough in their land or they wouldnt take it. So excuse me if I can’t get onboard with they deserve a tip. Here’s a tip. Help someone in your own country…….

[@janetrose2562]

I’m a new cruiser, we prefer to tip as much as we can afford to the people who we feel deserve it, I don’t believe in set gratuities. We have paid a lot of money for the cruise so it should include everything. We will tip and gift who we believe deserve it.

[@paulandhelenmurray4872]

Hello Ilana, just giving our 2c worth on pre paid gratuities. My wife and I pre paid gratuities on our Royal Caribbean cruise in Singapore. I had to bring an issue to the Guest Services desk ( I can't recall for what exactly) but it came up from the lady serving me that their records showed we hadn't paid gratuities. I told her we had and raced back to our cabin and then back to the desk with our paperwork showing we had. The lady said it was ok one way or the other but I felt I had to insist she put it on the system to reflect this. We are from Australia where tipping isn't the norm, but we knew tipping was expected on the cruise which is why we paid upfront as this took the stress of tipping off our hands. I don't know why RC didn't have it on their system but I like to think I got it sorted. We love your channel and find your videos both helpful AND informative ❤ 🛳️

[@rosadelctorres2405]

Another group of people I always tip (~ $10 to $15) are the staff that provide wheelchair assistance during embarkation and disembarkation. I have some walking issues and I usually request this service. They make sure take me to the e-muster station and once checked, they proceed to a dining venue or any place of my choice. Your tips are very helpful, as usual. How much is an appropriate tip for the different services is useful information.

[@LifeWellCruised]

That’s something I never thought of. Thanks for mentioning this

[@Eaglejake]

Well done, and this should be done across the board. I'm over 55, and everyone knows that cruises attract Seniors. I am amazed at the "entitlement" of many that require wheelchair assistance, and don't tip the endless assistance, every day, for the length of a cruise. I actually recommended they have a "Wheelchair Package", much like all the other a la carte "packages", on the last post cruise survey. It is only fair.

[@PeteChatteris]

My job is exactly that. I work in Auckland at the cruise terminal and help people in wheelchairs. In our country, tipping is not part of the culture. In the four months I have been doing this job I have never had a tip, not have I ever expected it. However today a guy gave me a tip and I felt a little strange. I said no it's fine, but he insisted. I was a little uncomfortable but told him I will pass it on to charity and thanked him. Expecting tips is totally weird and definitely not part of any culture I would like to be in. I do my job well and love helping people. I get paid fairly well and want to provide the best possible service to our guests. I don't need a tip for that, just a thank you is fine.

[@rosadelctorres2405]

​@PeteChatteris I could add then that it would be wise to know about the culture of the place we are going. It would be embarrassingly awkward to accidentally offend a person for doing their job.

[@barbaramorrow8600]

❤ your information! We always carry $1s and $5s for tipping on and off the ship! We will be doing a cruise on the Enchanted Princess next month! Love Cruising!

[@leticiaharvey8085]

I love tipping as long as they are doing a good job. Nowadays, hardly anyone does a great job.

[@glockman9c]

You are going on the wrong cruises.

[@sekh35]

I always bring $2 bills for tips!! It’s great in that since so few people use them, the crew will definitely remember you when they see you again

[@brucegordon4992]

You beat me to it! Twos work well in a lot of land situations also.

[@jlawrence0181]

But will they be widely accepted out of the US. I do like the idea, though.

[@travelwithchopsticks8982]

The worst is when you order a drink, they automatically add in a tip and then they want you to sign the charge slip with another empty line under tips. I hate this moment so I always add in another dollar or two but I always feel ripped off as I'm double tipping. I wish they would stop doing that.

[@Laurie911]

Better decision is to stop feeling guilty and don’t add more and it will stop. You are in charge of you.

[@lw3158]

I hear you but if people would stop doing this if they have the pre-paid, the cruise line may get the hint.

[@robertcold4669]

I don’t feel the least bit guilty about not tipping in addition to the gratuities that are already in the drink package. Having said that, certain bartenders that you get to know, I tip the heck out of.

[@joypaul1191]

Dont feel guilty..just don't do it! You're in charge of it not them!

[@ajs11201]

@@robertcold4669 I totally agree. I never feel obligated, but when I do receive truly excellent service, I happily add another dollar or two (or more! lol).

[@pagrant]

All the cruises we been on tips have already been included, we do tip the cabin person at the end of the cruise like 10 dollars , in all inclusive hotels mainly in Cuba and Mexico we do tip regularly the bar staff etc, or if we had room service, like in Mexico once or twice we request we could have breakfast on the balcony we tip the person who bought us the breakfast up

[@kenstears2512]

We always pull the prepaid gratuities! We tip as we go and never allow the cruise lines to control our tips. We never tip on a ship sponsored excursion. We only tip our MDR waiter and asst. waiter, cabin steward and bar tenders! Cruise lines are getting out of hand on tipping!

[@leeanndepoali1463]

We do prepaid gratuities, so nice not to have to worry about them at the end. We do tip our cabin steward extra at the end of the cruise but now with dining being so different with not getting the same table every night, we mainly travel with Princess, it's hard to tip the wait staff extra. I guess we could just do some on the night we eat? Specialty dining we do leave an extra tip.

[@georgiahilton6051]

Thanks for this information. I am in the middle of booking our first cruise and have so much to learn. Honestly, I'm a little weary of the $200 here and the $500 there. Lesson learned. I'll be better prepared for our next one though.

[@LifeWellCruised]

Don’t stress too much about the “extras”. There is a lot to do on the cruise without paying extra :)

[@lindabradford9591]

Keep watching videos. That's what I ended up doing and for our 1st cruise, I was well prepared.

[@allyrooh3628]

I prepay them always. I usually put cash in my acct for the months prior to the cruise. I prepay for specialty dining. I want to get on the ship and have minimal expenses. When I am on the ship and tips are appropriate, of coarse I add those. Love cruising, worth every penny! Oh, small bills for shopping--no one gives change!

[@makiontour6686]

Thank you for this video! In Germany, you have to make any kind of additional costs that will be charged automatically (including tipps, taxes etc.) visible for your customers befor they book or buy anything by law, so I was actually a little surprised about the first mistake. There are still some diffenrences between cruising in Europe and cruising in Canada/USA, I suppose 🙂

[@Drjanetta]

Can you please explain !

[@makiontour6686]

@@Drjanetta Explain what?

[@annar6081]

@@DrjanettaWe Europeans tip only small amount of money for an exceptional service. Employees are paid by their employers, so customers do not need to feel pressure of tipping. If I go to a cruise, I go to enjoy a trip, see new places, meet new people. I am not going there to do a social justice for employees that are not paid enough by their employers. Got it now?

[@Adamas11]

I go on Caribbean all-inclusive vacations and tip if deserved. I plan on removing the gratuities as soon as I get on the ship.

[@Thehappyetruthteller]

First morning meeting cabin attendant we tell him we tip at the end of the cruise. Then last morning tip according to service. Always have had excellent service with this system.

[@FrankMinogue]

We just got back from a cruise and they charged a daily tip, and most of it went to the Dining room. But we only went there one night (for formal night). We usually do the buffet. But I didn't change it because I didn't want to take away from the people who work behind the scenes. We did give a tip to our cabin attendant and a couple of people who went the extra mile. We just booked Alaska and we decided we would prepay for tips. As you said, we can pay for it now, and not at the end of the cruise. But I will still be bringing a bit of cash. Great video, thank you so much for the information!

[@meganstuart5626]

I also tip the blackjack dealer. Typically in the form of betting on their behalf. I find that they're more willing to help me make the right decisions if I'm betting for them as well.

[@LifeWellCruised]

That’s an interesting one :)

[@maryberger3800]

On my cruise the general manager and his assistant performed a "burial at sea." I asked about tipping the officers, and was told it was acceptable, if their service was above and beyond. I thought about it as how I would "compensate" a minister who performed a funeral. I certainly didn't want to insult, but equally wanted to express my appreciation for the exceptional service. (I also included a personal note.)

[@angelsmilkyway4352]

Thank you. This was informative and helpful.

[@bettycampbell9610]

Thank you for answering some of my questions on cruising.

[@sherryc801]

I always prepay & tip extra for great service!! I believe they work hard & do not notice a difference in service I receive. I always tip for excursions & tip the ones who clean on decks & remove food on decks plus on Lido.

[@quigley266]

We prepay our gratuity’s. We also give 3-5 dollars per room service delivery’s each and every time. If we receive services above and beyond “normal expectations” we do give the individuals 10-20 dollars each. If you frequent a favorite bar and give a tip, you will for the most part, be remembered and get great service each and every visit. Happy cruising!!

[@ronmoya6964]

Yes! Your pretty much spot on. We carry $2 bills for tipping and make it a point to tip our wait staff and room steward. Our Aussie friends not so much,, 😁

[@tazzel2699]

You can take the automatic daily gratuitous off. I always do and just pay cash to crew that serve me directly, if they are good. I find lately that crew are very indifferent these days

[@Samny221]

Just took a 7 day NCL trip and that was not an option. When I asked at guest services, I was told it was not something they can take off the daily charges unless there was an incident and management would have to be involved. I was responsible for 7 people of a 16 person group. Interested to see how people are getting out of this.

[@ellainebenjamin5142]

@@Samny221, with NCL you can go to guest services on day 6 or 7 and explain you’d like to opt out as you give tips individually. They will give you a form to complete (including reason) then deduct daily service charges.

[@carly1478]

How do you remove them on carnival?

[@curtw8827]

On a Christmas cruise we left a Christmas card and $$ for the Steward Christmas morning. Later that day she found us and broke out in tears as she was missing her family on Christmas and appreciated the gift and thought.

[@jayfromaz]

If you can get decent shipboard credits they can be used for the gratuities. My last cruise I had 300 shipboard credits. So it was a wash for the daily gratuities. Also, if you don't use shipboard credits you will lose them.