Thread: Recommended Tipping versus Pre-Paid Gratuities

I have been wondering about something. . .

According to the Gratuity Guidelines on Royal Caribbean’s website, our 4 night cruise should come to approximately $124 in gratuities. When I made my reservation, I prepaid the gratuities. They only gave me one amount to pay and that was substantially less that the guideline numbers.

So, two questions:

1) Should I make up the difference to stay within the guidelines and if so, how do I know what to give each section to make it fair – or should I divide the difference between the 4 sections?

2) How are the prepaid gratuities worked out on board at the end of the trip when the envelopes are given out? Are they documented on the envelope that they are prepaid or is it documented somewhere else so the staff doesn’t think I am cheating them or worse yet, unhappy with the service (I doubt I will be, I am really easy to deal with)?

Lastly, room service – from everything I have read, I understand that anything we order from room service, that tip is paid at delivery and over and above the pre-paid, correct?

I know they will go out of my way to make our trip enjoyable and memorable and I want to make sure that if that is the case, their work is appreciated.

Thanks in Advance


Jim

First, kudos to you for the thought ytou are putting into the tipping situation. (Many don't, and some even feel they shouldn't be expected to tip at all!)

the standard tipping amount on Royal Caribbean is $10.00 per person per day. (Unless you are booked in a suite, in which case, it's around $12.00 per person per day.)

So for a perty of two for four nights, I believe the total would be around $80. (or $96 if in a suite)

This does not include 'incidental' topping, such as for bar service or room service.

We usually plan on something above the recommended amounts for our cabin attendent and dining room wait staff, as, with few exceptions, the crew we have encountered have worked very hard to go above and beyond what one would normally expect.

There will be a 'packet' delivered to your stateroom before the final night's dinner. It will include vouchers in the name of each member of your party for your stateroom attendent, your waiter, assistant waiter, and head waiter There will also be envelopes - one each for the cabin attendent, waiter, assistant waiter, and head waiter. You'll simply the vouchers in the appropriate envelopes, and if you wish, you can add an amount in cash to any or all of those envelopes.

You can then personally hand each crew member their enveloppe with a smile, a thank you, and handshake or whatever feels appropriate to you

Jim, here is an excellent tool for figuring out the tip amounts for many different cruise lines.
Cruise Tip Calculator

Speaking of tipping. I keep hearing rumors that RCL will be going to automatic prepaid tips on cruises!

Has anyone else heard this and if so, is there any truth to it.

My source has been from the cruise ships in talking with the personnel/staff. Some are saying that RCL has been talking about this for months.

I actually like the idea of automatic tipping. But that is just me!

I haven't heard that. But then, I haven't cruised since last October, which seems like eons ago.

I do NOT like the auto tipping at all. Not even a litte bit. I understand that it cuts down on the deadbeats... but I think it also negatively affects the service. We usually to put in a little extra just in case our next door neighbors are inconsiderate jerks.

We had autotips on our last couple of cruises and I find it easier than spending time on our last day futzing around with a bunch of bills, trying to make sure we don't mess up. Now, we just concern ourselves with any extra tips above the auto tips and the tips for the kids' counselors. The cabin stewards on Princess will usually give a few tip envelopes along with the disembarkation package (and you can always go to the front desk and get more. If there's someone that we're not giving anything extra, we don't have to do anything.