Tipping

[JOHN AND NEDDIE]

I know RCL has been changing their policies over the years regarding tipping, but does anyone know for certain if staff must turn in any individual tip money that they receive? It doesn't seem to do much good if I give a waiter or cabin steward an extra tip for good service if they have to toss it into "the pot."

[Riley]

As far as I know cash tips for cabin stewards and wait staff do not go into a communal pot. Tipping the bartenders may go into an open jar and get split at the end of the shift (which is what happens at land-based bars anyway) but table service (the kids walking around) and other staff I do not believe so.

[Ampurp85]

I think the main reason they have those envelopes, that you can use to tip individuals, is to ensure those people you interact with are properly thanked. I couldn't see them having those if they pooled the tips.

Once someone in my party asked the suite lounge bartender that exact question. They said anything handed directly to them they keep. I believe if they have a jar, it is pooled and split. 

[Chris Fish]

Maybe the term pooling that you have heard is more in relation to the automatic daily gratuity that is split between a number of positions such as cabin steward, main dinning room servers etc.

I've always had the understanding that the extra tips given directly to the people that work on the ships stays with them. They have gone above and beyond and that is why we give them the extra tip.