Odd coins/bills as EXTRA tips ....? - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

LuLu · 04-01-2009, 07:40 PM

We always tip + in US for good service .... and never have a problem leaving Euro's ... but we also tend to leave other coins/bills from other places as an EXTRA tips. Is that an OK thing to do?

cruisin' chick · 04-03-2009, 01:28 AM

I remember when we were in Cabo, our last stop on that cruise, and realized we had some Mexican coins. Since we were going to walk back to the pier, we left the coins at a bar that we had stopped at. I guess if we were farther into the town at that point, maybe we would have just given them to local kids.

suntanshipshape · 06-09-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuLu

We always tip + in US for good service .... and never have a problem leaving Euro's ... but we also tend to leave other coins/bills from other places as an EXTRA tips. Is that an OK thing to do?

After talking to a travel guide some years back, it isn't a cool thing to do. Paper money is preferred and mixed coins from different countries were definitely out. The coins can't be used outside its own country and have to be exchanged. The US dollar is still okay, but that may change soon if it continues to get weaker.

Char · 06-09-2009, 05:36 PM

We have been told that the US dollar is preferred and that is what we tip with.

Also have been told and have heard in other places that $2 bills and the $1 coin are very difficult for the crew to use.

smitty · 06-09-2009, 05:40 PM

would not personally leave coins that are not from that country, paper money yes but not coins.

LuLu · 06-09-2009, 07:35 PM

Thanks everyone!

OK ... even though this would be IN ADDITION TO ... Certainly not instead of ... regular Extra Tips ... it's NOT a good thing to do?

Char · 06-09-2009, 07:37 PM

That would appear to be the general opinion. Give them something they can use without having to exchange it.

suntanshipshape · 06-09-2009, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuLu

Thanks everyone!

OK ... even though this would be IN ADDITION TO ... Certainly not instead of ... regular Extra Tips ... it's NOT a good thing to do?

From my travel experience, coin money have no respect. But think of it, if you're working on board a ship doing the Baltic cruise, for instance like the last one we were on, you will receive coins from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Russia, England, Germany, etc. in small quantities. They are heavy, and take up space until you have a day off to find a bank onshore to exchange it. This takes up precious limited time, and you'll get docked for the exchange diminishing the value of this extra tip. As an aside, the travel guides don't think highly of those who do give mixed foreign coins as tips. For myself, I don't want to leave a bad taste to people I give tips to. I now view the act of giving coins for tips as getting rid of your "trash". It's just my opinion. We have numerous foreign coins here at home as a result of our travels that we haven't bothered to exchange at the airports. We don't like the coins and don't treat them with respect either. Just speaking for myself, I would just give the USA dollar, or the Euro, if in Europe, for tips for those who work so hard and so long for little, who I do respect and want to show respect. There will be no coins from me.

ziggysun · 06-10-2009, 12:03 AM

For me, I guess it depends on what you mean by odd?

I would certainly leave Mexican money, in addition to my US$ tips if the ship was sailing a Mexican Riviera itinerary as it's regular itinerary and not think that the crew would be upset to get that.

I probably would do the same with say Eastern Caribbean money if it was sailing itineraries where the crew could use the money in a port, but it would be useless to me if I didn't make it back for 5 years and it went out of circulation.

If I received the currency (ie. making change) visiting a port while onboard the cruise, I don't see what would be wrong? The ship will be back there in 1 or 2 weeks

That being said, I wouldn't leave Irish or British pounds to the crew on a Canada/New England cruise. At the price of them, I probably wouldn't leave them anywhere

cruisin' chick · 06-10-2009, 01:02 AM

I can see how it wouldn't be a good idea for onboard employees. Especially if they have to get them exchanged. I have a relative who gives me a $50 bill for my birthdays often. It's appreciated, but it also means remembering to deposit it into my checking account as I don't want to have to find a store that will take it. That would be doubly the trouble if you only have a few hours every few weeks to run such an errand.