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Always USD for tipping?


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Hi all,

We are sailing on Indy later in the year from the UK. We have prepaid our gratuities but I want to take cash with me to tip staff as I feel necessary. Do I still tip in dollars? Or euro's? 

Also, I may struggle to find an exchange bureau that will give be small denominations, is there anywhere on the ship that I can go and get say 100 dollars exchanged into maybe some 5 dollar notes or 1 dollar or 2 dollar denominations? 

Thanks for any advice.

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If you can get $1 bills, I'd go for that as I think they're easier to tip with. Lowest denomination of £ or € available in note form is £5/€5 so your only other alternative is to carry round a pocket full of coins. 

I'd imagine it doesn't matter much to crew what currency they receive - they'll have plenty if opportunities to exchange it. 

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It may be difficult for crew members to exchange coins for their own home currencies.  Many of my friends in Germany would "buy" dollar bills from me to use for tips when they travel outside the EU. 

BTW--If you meet a staff member and develop a relationship with them, it is kind to offer to exchange euro coins for euro bills if you have them.  (Some people have a number of 1 or 2 euro coins they have been given.  Their bank won't take the coins, but if you give them a 20 euro bill for their coins, their bank will exchange the paper bill or allow them to deposit it.)

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Ok.. so I will tip in dollars.

Is there anywhere on the ship I can exchange large denomination notes for smaller ones? I am struggling to find and exchange bureaux that will give me small denominations such as 1 dollar notes or 5 dollar ones.  (Is it 1 dollar notes or coins?)

 

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Just now, Marmaduke said:

Ok.. so I will tip in dollars.

Is there anywhere on the ship I can exchange large denomination notes for smaller ones? I am struggling to find and exchange bureaux that will give me small denominations such as 1 dollar notes or 5 dollar ones.  (Is it 1 dollar notes or coins?)

 

US dollars are in notes...we do have a $1 coin but it is very, very rarely used, so you definitely want bills/notes.

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18 minutes ago, SweetHomeLady said:

It may be difficult for crew members to exchange coins for their own home currencies.  Many of my friends in Germany would "buy" dollar bills from me to use for tips when they travel outside the EU. 

BTW--If you meet a staff member and develop a relationship with them, it is kind to offer to exchange euro coins for euro bills if you have them.  (Some people have a number of 1 or 2 euro coins they have been given.  Their bank won't take the coins, but if you give them a 20 euro bill for their coins, their bank will exchange the paper bill or allow them to deposit it.)

Good tip @SweetHomeLady I will remember to offer to exchange Euro coins for bills with the staff.

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1 hour ago, Marmaduke said:

Hi all,

We are sailing on Indy later in the year from the UK. We have prepaid our gratuities but I want to take cash with me to tip staff as I feel necessary. Do I still tip in dollars? Or euro's? 

Also, I may struggle to find an exchange bureau that will give be small denominations, is there anywhere on the ship that I can go and get say 100 dollars exchanged into maybe some 5 dollar notes or 1 dollar or 2 dollar denominations? 

Thanks for any advice.

@Marmaduke I have talked with people who have done cruises in Europe and if possible it is best to use US dollars.  Not many of the staff get off in ports in Europe to exchange money and when they do they loose a percentage.  If you do no have US dollars they will not turn it away.

When I go in August I will bring US money with me but will have Euros for ports.

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Just now, twangster said:

Few people realize they are legal tender including some local police departments ?

One of my favorite stories is when Steve Wozniak (Co-founder of Apple) would carry a sheet of uncut two dollar bills to use. People would give him lots of crazy looks when he tore one off. 

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2 hours ago, Marmaduke said:

Ok.. so I will tip in dollars.

Is there anywhere on the ship I can exchange large denomination notes for smaller ones? I am struggling to find and exchange bureaux that will give me small denominations such as 1 dollar notes or 5 dollar ones.  (Is it 1 dollar notes or coins?)

 

They will change them for you in the casino.

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1 hour ago, Andrew72681 said:

I’ve been keeping two dollar bills to use to tip on cruises. They’re just fun as most people even in the US rarely see them. 

I tried to use one at Wendy's and they called the cops because they believed it to be counterfeit.. lol.. A 17 year old kid never saw a 2 dollar bill lol 

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Thanks to everyone for replies....a great help as always.

I will head to the casino and get change. 

Incidentally, the cruise is to celebrate my 50th birthday and I have never set foot in a casino before! I had decided that I wanted to go and pay the casino a visit and try a spot of gambling for first time in my life,  I have no idea how to play anything but I think they do some sessions onboard where I can go learn. Wish me luck ?

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1 minute ago, Marmaduke said:

I have no idea how to play anything but I think they do some sessions onboard where I can go learn. Wish me luck ?

They do.  You might also want to mention it to any table mates.  A newbie making beginners mistakes in certain games like Blackjack can impact other players.

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2 minutes ago, Marmaduke said:

Thanks to everyone for replies....a great help as always.

I will head to the casino and get change. 

Incidentally, the cruise is to celebrate my 50th birthday and I have never set foot in a casino before! I had decided that I wanted to go and pay the casino a visit and try a spot of gambling for first time in my life,  I have no idea how to play anything but I think they do some sessions onboard where I can go learn. Wish me luck ?

They do give lessons.. just check your cruise planner.. also.. just google playing blackjack or craps, or roulette.. There's hundreds if not thousands of videos that will teach you how to lose your money lmao! 
 

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3 minutes ago, Curt From Canada said:

I should know this by now, and I am sure it has been answered somewhere.  The extra tips I give to a bartender, would they rather receive in cash or on the sea pass?  I have asked a few directly, and from their reaction there is a right answer, but they are "afraid" to give it.

I would imagine cash..it's more readily available to them, even if they split a pot with others at the bar.

But I wouldn't feel bad about tipping on your SeaPass..they can track and run reports on that and if they see a trend they may assume that particular bartender is doing a great job with customer service.

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Really, the response from Bartenders that I have spent two consecutive cruises on and got to know really well was odd ... they were very reluctant to say anything.  I am convinced there is a "right answer", but they seemed worried about getting in trouble for telling me.  Normally I end up doing both (cash at beginning and end, sea pass during the rest of the cruise).

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7 minutes ago, Curt From Canada said:

I should know this by now, and I am sure it has been answered somewhere.  The extra tips I give to a bartender, would they rather receive in cash or on the sea pass?  I have asked a few directly, and from their reaction there is a right answer, but they are "afraid" to give it.

Does anyone know if RC takes a percentage of the additional tips on a check? Normally any waiter in the US would prefer them in cash, just in case something gets forgotten to be declared on taxes ?

but I wonder how the crew is taxed as their earnings are at sea. Do they default back to the Ship’s Country of registry?

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34 minutes ago, Marmaduke said:

Following on from this post. Can you tell me if these dollar notes I've got are still legal tender.  I'm in the UK and my husband had these left over from a business trip to Houston years ago. I've just found them and want to know if they will be of any use for tipping.

Thank you all! 

 

Yup! The dollar hasn’t changed in... forever. Huh. Now I’m going to go look up how long it has been! But yes, spend away!

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24 minutes ago, Marmaduke said:

Following on from this post. Can you tell me if these dollar notes I've got are still legal tender.  I'm in the UK and my husband had these left over from a business trip to Houston years ago. I've just found them and want to know if they will be of any use for tipping.

Thank you all! 

15568835415006263064507164291278.jpg

Yup. We haven’t had any expiring money in the US like has happened in some other countries. 

It’s a big boost for the US economy to have people in foreign countries to hold dollars, so I think the government does their best to encourage that  

 

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