ThyriC

I know for me, I like tipping additionally for exceptional service in addition to the built in gratuities.  I like bringing cash with me to tip exceptional cabin stewards on the spot, or an exceptional waiter or bartender.  I like recognizing exceptional service when I see it.  I believe it encourages continuing the exceptional service that I see.  
 
I never feel obligated to tip additionally though because I do pay my gratuities in advance.  But I like knowing that my additional gratuity is going directly into the hands of the person I intend it to rather than under the generic "staff" and being split among people who I dont know if their service is exceptional or not.  
Also I make a point of writing on a sticky note or on my smartphone notes the names of people who performed exceptionally for that after cruise survey so that they can be recognized and get selected for their next contract if they choose another one.  
 
Another thing I like doing for the staff, just because I'm strange like that.  But I think they appreciate it.  I like bringing a small trinket from my home town for them.  I especially like doing this for my cabin steward.  Usually its something small like a tshirt, or a unique body wash or lotion, or a pin.  Usually I give the pin to waitstaff or bartender and the lotion to a cabin steward. I know if I was working for months and months straight at sea with limited access to interesting new items that I'd like these things, so I just bring some small things for them and I attach a note that this gift is for them.
 

I know for me, I like tipping additionally for exceptional service in addition to the built in gratuities.  I like bringing cash with me to tip exceptional cabin stewards on the spot, or an exceptional waiter or bartender.  I like recognizing exceptional service when I see it.  I believe it encourages continuing the exceptional service that I see.  
 
I never feel obligated to tip additionally though because I do pay my gratuities in advance.  But I like knowing that my additional gratuity is going directly into the hands of the person I intend it to rather than under the generic "staff" and being split among people who I dont know if their service is exceptional or not.  
Also I make a point of writing on a sticky note or on my smartphone notes the names of people who performed exceptionally for that after cruise survey so that they can be recognized and get selected for their next contract if they choose another one.  
 
Another thing I like doing for the staff, just because I'm strange like that.  But I think they appreciate it.  I like bringing a small trinket from my home town for them.  I especially like doing this for my cabin steward.  Usually its something small like a tshirt, or a unique body wash or lotion, or a pin.  Usually I give the pin to waitstaff or bartender and the lotion to a cabin steward. I know if I was working for months and months straight at sea with limited access to interesting new items that I'd like these things, so I just bring some small things for them and I attach a note that this gift is for them.
 

I know for me, I like tipping additionally for exceptional service in addition to the built in gratuities.  I like bringing cash with me to tip exceptional cabin stewards on the spot, or an exceptional waiter or bartender.  I like recognizing exceptional service when I see it.  I believe it encourages continuing the exceptional service that I see.  
 
I never feel obligated to tip additionally though because I do pay my gratuities in advance.  But I like knowing that my additional gratuity is going directly into the hands of the person I intend it to rather than under the generic "staff" and being split among people who I dont know if their service is exceptional or not.  
Also I make a point of writing on a sticky note or on my smartphone notes the names of people who performed exceptionally for that after cruise survey so that they can be recognized and get selected for their next contract if they choose another one.  
 
Another thing I like doing for the staff, just because I'm strange like that.  But I think they appreciate it.  I like bringing a small trinket from my home town for them.  I especially like doing this for my cabin steward.  Usually its something small like a tshirt, or a unique body wash or lotion, or a pin.  Usually I give the pin to waitstaff or bartender and the lotion to a cabin steward. I know if I was working for months and months straight at sea with limited access to interesting new items that I'd like these things, so I just bring some small things for them and I attach a note that this gift is for them.
 

My MEI agent has my due date 30 days before my final due date.  I think it makes for a built in notification which I really really like.  But I also keep a folder with my invoice that has my due dates in it so I can keep on top of my due dates as well.  Though my OCD has me making payments towards my total as I go, so it doesnt put thousands on my credit card all at once and incurs interest.  Instead I make my own payment plan where over months I'm making larger payments so I am making my final payment before the first payment due date.  Its just my OCD about paying off the cruise.  Because when I have it paid off it becomes that much more real

I know for me, I like tipping additionally for exceptional service in addition to the built in gratuities.  I like bringing cash with me to tip exceptional cabin stewards on the spot, or an exceptional waiter or bartender.  I like recognizing exceptional service when I see it.  I believe it encourages continuing the exceptional service that I see.  
 
I never feel obligated to tip additionally though because I do pay my gratuities in advance.  But I like knowing that my additional gratuity is going directly into the hands of the person I intend it to rather than under the generic "staff" and being split among people who I dont know if their service is exceptional or not.  
Also I make a point of writing on a sticky note or on my smartphone notes the names of people who performed exceptionally for that after cruise survey so that they can be recognized and get selected for their next contract if they choose another one.  
 
Another thing I like doing for the staff, just because I'm strange like that.  But I think they appreciate it.  I like bringing a small trinket from my home town for them.  I especially like doing this for my cabin steward.  Usually its something small like a tshirt, or a unique body wash or lotion, or a pin.  Usually I give the pin to waitstaff or bartender and the lotion to a cabin steward. I know if I was working for months and months straight at sea with limited access to interesting new items that I'd like these things, so I just bring some small things for them and I attach a note that this gift is for them.
 

Grandeur in October 2019   Going to try to get hub to be bit with the cruise bug.  He's gotten used to my kind of travelling which means suites and going as all inclusive as possible.  
From his vacations being sleeping in a car during road trips to being with my plush self.  I think he finally trusts me to get him on a ship.  Silly man said that he'd been on plenty of cruises in the Marines  LOL!  I promised him there was no hot bunking involved.  
So if this trip goes well, I'll be able to convince him to take me on more cruises in the future.  I avoided the bahamas cruises because he always makes fun of me that my version of whining is "I wanna go to the bahaaaaaaaamas"

That's incredible.  I'm a bit of a railfan as well and I love model trains.  I love them more when I can see the actual locomotive or whichever car is the model, but in real life.  Stunning!

Hub teases me about my wanderlust and wanting to travel.  He says if I could I'd say "I wanna go to the bahaaaaaamaaaaaas"  Now he's never been on a cruise (I told him being on an aircraft carrier doesnt count as a cruise vacation) so over the past several years I've been trying to convince him to vacation with me, and I brought up a cruise again.   Now most of our cruise discussions had been 20 minutes or so mulling over how nice it would be and my answering all of his cruise related questions.   Well this time the conversation lasted 2 hours and I was given the go ahead to book the cruise.   My parents both have been cruising a lot and I was at my boiling point to finally book the cruise.  I found the 5 night Bermuda cruise and the price was definitely right for a suite.  I figured to go suite to give him the best experience he could have on a cruise since I knew that the smaller sizes of an interior or even ocean view cabin would immediately turn him off.  Then on black friday the price went down even more and I said that there'd be no way the suite I wanted would be much lower, so I booked.  I had that initial "omg I just spent a ton of money" fear, but then I ran in to him and told him we're going on a cruise and he legit looked happy!  A bit of a fairy tale story, but it just all worked out for us.

Hub teases me about my wanderlust and wanting to travel.  He says if I could I'd say "I wanna go to the bahaaaaaamaaaaaas"  Now he's never been on a cruise (I told him being on an aircraft carrier doesnt count as a cruise vacation) so over the past several years I've been trying to convince him to vacation with me, and I brought up a cruise again.   Now most of our cruise discussions had been 20 minutes or so mulling over how nice it would be and my answering all of his cruise related questions.   Well this time the conversation lasted 2 hours and I was given the go ahead to book the cruise.   My parents both have been cruising a lot and I was at my boiling point to finally book the cruise.  I found the 5 night Bermuda cruise and the price was definitely right for a suite.  I figured to go suite to give him the best experience he could have on a cruise since I knew that the smaller sizes of an interior or even ocean view cabin would immediately turn him off.  Then on black friday the price went down even more and I said that there'd be no way the suite I wanted would be much lower, so I booked.  I had that initial "omg I just spent a ton of money" fear, but then I ran in to him and told him we're going on a cruise and he legit looked happy!  A bit of a fairy tale story, but it just all worked out for us.

Hub teases me about my wanderlust and wanting to travel.  He says if I could I'd say "I wanna go to the bahaaaaaamaaaaaas"  Now he's never been on a cruise (I told him being on an aircraft carrier doesnt count as a cruise vacation) so over the past several years I've been trying to convince him to vacation with me, and I brought up a cruise again.   Now most of our cruise discussions had been 20 minutes or so mulling over how nice it would be and my answering all of his cruise related questions.   Well this time the conversation lasted 2 hours and I was given the go ahead to book the cruise.   My parents both have been cruising a lot and I was at my boiling point to finally book the cruise.  I found the 5 night Bermuda cruise and the price was definitely right for a suite.  I figured to go suite to give him the best experience he could have on a cruise since I knew that the smaller sizes of an interior or even ocean view cabin would immediately turn him off.  Then on black friday the price went down even more and I said that there'd be no way the suite I wanted would be much lower, so I booked.  I had that initial "omg I just spent a ton of money" fear, but then I ran in to him and told him we're going on a cruise and he legit looked happy!  A bit of a fairy tale story, but it just all worked out for us.

Hub teases me about my wanderlust and wanting to travel.  He says if I could I'd say "I wanna go to the bahaaaaaamaaaaaas"  Now he's never been on a cruise (I told him being on an aircraft carrier doesnt count as a cruise vacation) so over the past several years I've been trying to convince him to vacation with me, and I brought up a cruise again.   Now most of our cruise discussions had been 20 minutes or so mulling over how nice it would be and my answering all of his cruise related questions.   Well this time the conversation lasted 2 hours and I was given the go ahead to book the cruise.   My parents both have been cruising a lot and I was at my boiling point to finally book the cruise.  I found the 5 night Bermuda cruise and the price was definitely right for a suite.  I figured to go suite to give him the best experience he could have on a cruise since I knew that the smaller sizes of an interior or even ocean view cabin would immediately turn him off.  Then on black friday the price went down even more and I said that there'd be no way the suite I wanted would be much lower, so I booked.  I had that initial "omg I just spent a ton of money" fear, but then I ran in to him and told him we're going on a cruise and he legit looked happy!  A bit of a fairy tale story, but it just all worked out for us.

Hub teases me about my wanderlust and wanting to travel.  He says if I could I'd say "I wanna go to the bahaaaaaamaaaaaas"  Now he's never been on a cruise (I told him being on an aircraft carrier doesnt count as a cruise vacation) so over the past several years I've been trying to convince him to vacation with me, and I brought up a cruise again.   Now most of our cruise discussions had been 20 minutes or so mulling over how nice it would be and my answering all of his cruise related questions.   Well this time the conversation lasted 2 hours and I was given the go ahead to book the cruise.   My parents both have been cruising a lot and I was at my boiling point to finally book the cruise.  I found the 5 night Bermuda cruise and the price was definitely right for a suite.  I figured to go suite to give him the best experience he could have on a cruise since I knew that the smaller sizes of an interior or even ocean view cabin would immediately turn him off.  Then on black friday the price went down even more and I said that there'd be no way the suite I wanted would be much lower, so I booked.  I had that initial "omg I just spent a ton of money" fear, but then I ran in to him and told him we're going on a cruise and he legit looked happy!  A bit of a fairy tale story, but it just all worked out for us.

Hub teases me about my wanderlust and wanting to travel.  He says if I could I'd say "I wanna go to the bahaaaaaamaaaaaas"  Now he's never been on a cruise (I told him being on an aircraft carrier doesnt count as a cruise vacation) so over the past several years I've been trying to convince him to vacation with me, and I brought up a cruise again.   Now most of our cruise discussions had been 20 minutes or so mulling over how nice it would be and my answering all of his cruise related questions.   Well this time the conversation lasted 2 hours and I was given the go ahead to book the cruise.   My parents both have been cruising a lot and I was at my boiling point to finally book the cruise.  I found the 5 night Bermuda cruise and the price was definitely right for a suite.  I figured to go suite to give him the best experience he could have on a cruise since I knew that the smaller sizes of an interior or even ocean view cabin would immediately turn him off.  Then on black friday the price went down even more and I said that there'd be no way the suite I wanted would be much lower, so I booked.  I had that initial "omg I just spent a ton of money" fear, but then I ran in to him and told him we're going on a cruise and he legit looked happy!  A bit of a fairy tale story, but it just all worked out for us.

Hub teases me about my wanderlust and wanting to travel.  He says if I could I'd say "I wanna go to the bahaaaaaamaaaaaas"  Now he's never been on a cruise (I told him being on an aircraft carrier doesnt count as a cruise vacation) so over the past several years I've been trying to convince him to vacation with me, and I brought up a cruise again.   Now most of our cruise discussions had been 20 minutes or so mulling over how nice it would be and my answering all of his cruise related questions.   Well this time the conversation lasted 2 hours and I was given the go ahead to book the cruise.   My parents both have been cruising a lot and I was at my boiling point to finally book the cruise.  I found the 5 night Bermuda cruise and the price was definitely right for a suite.  I figured to go suite to give him the best experience he could have on a cruise since I knew that the smaller sizes of an interior or even ocean view cabin would immediately turn him off.  Then on black friday the price went down even more and I said that there'd be no way the suite I wanted would be much lower, so I booked.  I had that initial "omg I just spent a ton of money" fear, but then I ran in to him and told him we're going on a cruise and he legit looked happy!  A bit of a fairy tale story, but it just all worked out for us.

Hub teases me about my wanderlust and wanting to travel.  He says if I could I'd say "I wanna go to the bahaaaaaamaaaaaas"  Now he's never been on a cruise (I told him being on an aircraft carrier doesnt count as a cruise vacation) so over the past several years I've been trying to convince him to vacation with me, and I brought up a cruise again.   Now most of our cruise discussions had been 20 minutes or so mulling over how nice it would be and my answering all of his cruise related questions.   Well this time the conversation lasted 2 hours and I was given the go ahead to book the cruise.   My parents both have been cruising a lot and I was at my boiling point to finally book the cruise.  I found the 5 night Bermuda cruise and the price was definitely right for a suite.  I figured to go suite to give him the best experience he could have on a cruise since I knew that the smaller sizes of an interior or even ocean view cabin would immediately turn him off.  Then on black friday the price went down even more and I said that there'd be no way the suite I wanted would be much lower, so I booked.  I had that initial "omg I just spent a ton of money" fear, but then I ran in to him and told him we're going on a cruise and he legit looked happy!  A bit of a fairy tale story, but it just all worked out for us.