Marmaduke Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowchaser Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 I'm curious too, we sail out of Southampton U.K. in a couple weeks and was also wondering about what currency to use in the casino as well? Pounds, Dollars or either? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mondas42 Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 From what I can remember, dollars every time, although I’m sure the staff won’t turn away euros, they will have get the, exchanged and this costs them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hayley_bopp Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetHomeLady Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 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.) hayley_bopp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmaduke Posted May 1, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 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?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshleyDillo Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenCP Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew72681 Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 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. Fuzzywuzzy, RickinSTL and JennyB 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 1 minute 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. Few people realize they are legal tender including some local police departments :) JLMoran, JennyB and Hoski 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KenCP Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew72681 Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason12 Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 They take anything £$€ we found they really don’t care.. Also they use local currency when they get of the ship so £ and € will be welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FionaMG Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 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. Marmaduke 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickinSTL Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 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 AshleyDillo, Fuzzywuzzy, Baked Alaska and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmaduke Posted May 1, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 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 coneyraven and SpeedNoodles 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickinSTL Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 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! Marmaduke and SpeedNoodles 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt From Canada Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshleyDillo Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt From Canada Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 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). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew72681 Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted May 1, 2019 Report Share Posted May 1, 2019 You can also get change from the purser at Guest Services. We do it all the time. You are sure to win since you are a “beginner”. That’s just the way it goes with newbie gamblers. BEST of luck ! Mljstr, tiny260 and Marmaduke 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmaduke Posted May 3, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2019 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! RickinSTL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristiZ Posted May 3, 2019 Report Share Posted May 3, 2019 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! Marmaduke and JennyB 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karl_nj Posted May 3, 2019 Report Share Posted May 3, 2019 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! 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 Marmaduke 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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