Tipping at specialty restaurants

[donna gross]

Is it customary to leave a tip at a specialty restaurant or is the tip included in the price of the package?

[F1guynz]

Hi, if you purchase the package on the cruise planner prior to departure the gratuities are included. If you purchase on board I believe the gratuities need to be paid on top of the package price. (I am assuming you are referring to the multi night dining package).

On the prepaid package you are still welcome to add a further tip if you think the service was exceptional.

 

[Matt]

In most cases, the receipt will specify that a service charge (aka gratuity) is already included in the cover charge you paid. Usually it is specified as either a line item on the receipt, and/or at the very bottom.

You can certainly elect to leave an additional tip if you feel appropriate.

[mellibee]

On 3/28/2019 at 9:30 AM, Matt said:

In most cases, the receipt will specify that a service charge (aka gratuity) is already included in the cover charge you paid. Usually it is specified as either a line item on the receipt, and/or at the very bottom.

You can certainly elect to leave an additional tip if you feel appropriate.

Matt, 

  Since I have refreshment package already.on ship,  Can I tip in cash if I choose to? Will the bartenders take cash tip? 

[twangster]

3 minutes ago, mellibee said:

Matt, 

  Since I have refreshment package already.on ship,  Can I tip in cash if I choose to? Will the bartenders take cash tip? 

Cash tips are always well received.  I bring singles with me when I cruise but you can also stop by guest services and ask them to break down a $20 to smaller bills for tipping.

Keep in mind the package includes gratuity.  Additional tipping is not required.

[Matt]

47 minutes ago, mellibee said:

Matt, 

  Since I have refreshment package already.on ship,  Can I tip in cash if I choose to? Will the bartenders take cash tip? 

Yes you tip in cash. Keep in mind that the package already includes gratuity, so the cash gratuity you are talking about is for an additional tip on top of the 18% that's already included with your package purchase.

[mellibee]

58 minutes ago, twangster said:

Cash tips are always well received.  I bring singles with me when I cruise but you can also stop by guest services and ask them to break down a $20 to smaller bills for tipping.

Keep in mind the package includes gratuity.  Additional tipping is not required.

so you think you fit in my pocket? lol THANK YOU AGAIN

[twangster]

1 minute ago, mellibee said:

so you think you fit in my pocket? lol THANK YOU AGAIN

If I will get C&A points I am willing to try!

[DublinFC]

On ‎3‎/‎27‎/‎2019 at 9:07 PM, donna gross said:

Is it customary to leave a tip at a specialty restaurant or is the tip included in the price of the package?

If they earn the extra tip I do it, if not, then no.

[marti314]

20 hours ago, DublinFC said:

If they earn the extra tip I do it, if not, then no.

Thats how tips are supposed to work, nowadays the mentality is "if i give them a TIP before they do any work then they will do better work".  While this may be true it sets a terrible precedence as at work we call it Bribery.

[FManke]

On 4/11/2019 at 11:16 AM, twangster said:

Cash tips are always well received.  I bring singles with me when I cruise but you can also stop by guest services and ask them to break down a $20 to smaller bills for tipping.

I always tip on top of added gratuities. A buck here or there especially earlier on in the cruise goes a long way, in my opinion.

On foreign cruises, do you tip in US dollars or local currency like Euros? Do you think it makes a difference? 

[twangster]

13 minutes ago, FManke said:

On foreign cruises, do you tip in US dollars or local currency like Euros? Do you think it makes a difference? 

I think they will gladly accept what ever you are willing to provide, short of Mexican pesos.  

[FManke]

21 minutes ago, twangster said:

I think they will gladly accept what ever you are willing to provide, short of Mexican pesos.  

Nope. Not even in Mexico.

[tonyfsu21]

I always add $20.00 additional tip because 99.999% of the time the server goes way above and beyond for my kids (especially in Jamie’s Italian for some reason).

[raahc]

Hello everyone - I know this is an older post, but I just joined the forums today. 

We have a free specialty dining for 2 from our TA.  We had this the last time we cruised as well, but that was eons ago.  How much should we tip the waiter? I don't recall if there was an assistant waiter.  

TIA (thanks in advance)

 

[marti314]

12 hours ago, raahc said:

Hello everyone - I know this is an older post, but I just joined the forums today. 

We have a free specialty dining for 2 from our TA.  We had this the last time we cruised as well, but that was eons ago.  How much should we tip the waiter? I don't recall if there was an assistant waiter.  

TIA (thanks in advance)

 

If your TA included speciality dining the gratuity is already included in your meal.  As the other posts mention you can leave some extra if you feel the service warranted it.  

If you are looking for a number I would say 5 - 15 dollars additional would be the range i have seen most people discuss.

[raahc]

8 hours ago, marti314 said:

If your TA included speciality dining the gratuity is already included in your meal.  As the other posts mention you can leave some extra if you feel the service warranted it.  

If you are looking for a number I would say 5 - 15 dollars additional would be the range i have seen most people discuss.

Oh, I didn't know that, thank you.  One less thing to worry about! 

We did carry a wad of $1 and $5 USD for our last cruise.  Thanks also for the tip on the range (pun intended) lol

[JimnKathy]

I always tip extra cash for outstanding service experiences...the positive reactions from crew members is priceless and those folks remember you for the remainder of the cruise.