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Gratuities for Suite Guests


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We sailed on HOS the beginning of March in a Grand Suite. We ate all (but one) of our dinners in Coastal Kitchen, every breakfast in CK, and if we ate lunch it was in the WJ. I prepaid all gratuities. The day before we were  to disembark, I called down to guest services to see how the gratuities were split as we were trying to figure out how much more to tip our waiter in CK (we requested her for every meal). Guest services told me that my gratuities get divided between the MDR staff and that CK does not see that money. Now, he did have to put me on hold to ask someone else that question. But is this correct?? If so, what do other Suite Guests tip the CK staff? We tipped our concierges, our Hostess (who put us at the windows for every seating) the bartender and of course our wonderful waiter and an additional amount to our room attendant. I guess my question is, does Coastal Kitchen really receive $0 of my prepaid gratuity? And how much would you tip your waiter knowing the above information? TIA!

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Nobody has ever seen an official breakdown of how the tips are allotted between crew.  You are tipping extra in your auto gratuity to be in a suite, so it stands to reason that some of the extra goes to support the suite lounge/concierge.  I am sure that the amount in the prepaid gratuities finds its way to all of the wait staff in a way that makes sense (at least to the cruise line).   How that happens is a mystery.

I usually tip extra if the service was good - but it isn't required.

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https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/onboard-service-gratuity-expense

"..........gratuities are shared among dining, bar & culinary services staff, stateroom attendants and other hotel services teams who work behind the scenes to enhance the cruise experience".

It says "culinary service staff".  I don't know why where a server works would make a difference.  But, I honestly don't know.  There are a lot of mysteries at Royal and other cruise companies.

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45 minutes ago, jay1021 said:

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/onboard-service-gratuity-expense

"..........gratuities are shared among dining, bar & culinary services staff, stateroom attendants and other hotel services teams who work behind the scenes to enhance the cruise experience".

It says "culinary service staff".  I don't know why where a server works would make a difference.  But, I honestly don't know.  Threre are a lot of mysteries at Royal and other cruise companies.

Basically, that is what guest services said to me but he said it was only the Main Dining room, not Coastal Kitchen???? I wish there was something in black and white. We are sailing in a suite on Wonder next year and I'd love to know the answer so I can budget accordingly.

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4 hours ago, Fouryearsout said:

Basically, that is what guest services said to me but he said it was only the Main Dining room, not Coastal Kitchen???? I wish there was something in black and white. We are sailing in a suite on Wonder next year and I'd love to know the answer so I can budget accordingly.

Suite guest pay more in grats, so something is going to those staff members. Just tip what you feel the service is worth. Many of those workers are working in other areas of the ship. So either way they are getting some of the grats. We saw our waiters and bartenders from CK on Allure other places throughout the sailing. 

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  • 2 months later...
On 4/11/2022 at 10:49 PM, Ampurp85 said:

Suite guest pay more in grats, so something is going to those staff members. Just tip what you feel the service is worth. Many of those workers are working in other areas of the ship. So either way they are getting some of the grats. We saw our waiters and bartenders from CK on Allure other places throughout the sailing. 

For those who tip at the end of their cruise, how do you find the people you want to tip?

For those who tip as you go, do you just toss the tip on the table before you walk out?  We've never been given anything to sign, and after dessert/coffee we just get up and walk out.  I've never seen money on any of the tables as we walk out, but as I'm looking through all the tipping "tips" most people are saying they tip as they go.  I'm just wondering at the actual mechanics of this.  Bartenders/walk-about servers you can hand them cash as you order or get your drink, but what about staff in casual eating areas or MDR?  (and if it's "money on the table" I assume it's divided amongst the people working our table?)

In one of the posts, someone mentions tipping at the carving station.  How exactly do you tip a person actively preparing food?

Finally (and thank you for your patience if you've read all these questions; I want to do it right): we've only ever been given ONE envelope in our suite at the end of our cruises.  Do we seek out more at Guest services?  Call the concierge/attendant and ask for more?  If we leave them (labeled) in the room can we trust they get to the right person(s)?  Or can we leave them with the concierge when (s)he disembarks us?  Or do we make a trip to some kind of dropbox?

Oh, I guess one more:  we seem to be booking more and more cruises....do our tipping habits get "reported" and follow us? (whether officially or word-of-mouth)?

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44 minutes ago, PRMLVM said:

For those who tip at the end of their cruise, how do you find the people you want to tip?

For those who tip as you go, do you just toss the tip on the table before you walk out?  We've never been given anything to sign, and after dessert/coffee we just get up and walk out.  I've never seen money on any of the tables as we walk out, but as I'm looking through all the tipping "tips" most people are saying they tip as they go.  I'm just wondering at the actual mechanics of this.  Bartenders/walk-about servers you can hand them cash as you order or get your drink, but what about staff in casual eating areas or MDR?  (and if it's "money on the table" I assume it's divided amongst the people working our table?)

In one of the posts, someone mentions tipping at the carving station.  How exactly do you tip a person actively preparing food?

Finally (and thank you for your patience if you've read all these questions; I want to do it right): we've only ever been given ONE envelope in our suite at the end of our cruises.  Do we seek out more at Guest services?  Call the concierge/attendant and ask for more?  If we leave them (labeled) in the room can we trust they get to the right person(s)?  Or can we leave them with the concierge when (s)he disembarks us?  Or do we make a trip to some kind of dropbox?

Oh, I guess one more:  we seem to be booking more and more cruises....do our tipping habits get "reported" and follow us? (whether officially or word-of-mouth)?

I normally leave the tip on the table or hand them off to the staff. I carry a certain amount of $1,5, 10 and 20 bills so I am prepared. If it is a group of us, I tip with a larger bill after each round. I don't like to wait until the end but if you do, write the crew members name down so when you get more envelopes from guest services or concierge, the tip will go to the right person.

You can drop off at guest services and they will distribute them to the appropriate person or the concierge. I would not leave anything in the cabin unless it's for the cabin attendant. Lastly, the tipping habit won't be "reported" per se, they might tell crew members if you remove grats but your habit might follow you on each cruise with crew. I.e. when tipped a lot in the suite lounge on Allure and we would see the crew members out and about and they would be extra friendly to us. I was solo and tipped in the Diamond lounge and whenever I saw one of the crew he would do extra stuff like bring me drinks without asking or charging. Of course YMMV but all in all you should get great service regardless.......unless you remove grats, then ........

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57 minutes ago, PRMLVM said:

For those who tip at the end of their cruise, how do you find the people you want to tip?

For those who tip as you go, do you just toss the tip on the table before you walk out?  We've never been given anything to sign, and after dessert/coffee we just get up and walk out.  I've never seen money on any of the tables as we walk out, but as I'm looking through all the tipping "tips" most people are saying they tip as they go.  I'm just wondering at the actual mechanics of this.  Bartenders/walk-about servers you can hand them cash as you order or get your drink, but what about staff in casual eating areas or MDR?  (and if it's "money on the table" I assume it's divided amongst the people working our table?)

In one of the posts, someone mentions tipping at the carving station.  How exactly do you tip a person actively preparing food?

Finally (and thank you for your patience if you've read all these questions; I want to do it right): we've only ever been given ONE envelope in our suite at the end of our cruises.  Do we seek out more at Guest services?  Call the concierge/attendant and ask for more?  If we leave them (labeled) in the room can we trust they get to the right person(s)?  Or can we leave them with the concierge when (s)he disembarks us?  Or do we make a trip to some kind of dropbox?

Oh, I guess one more:  we seem to be booking more and more cruises....do our tipping habits get "reported" and follow us? (whether officially or word-of-mouth)?

We are end-of-the-cruise tippers…we were under the impression that the CK staff & Concierges get a share of the additional gratuities we pay as Suite guests, however, we decided to tip additional for outstanding service. We tipped our CK waiter, who served us every meal at our request, our stateroom attendant and both Concierges. 
As far as envelopes, don’t worry because they have extras in the Suite Lounge or, I’m sure at Guest Services. We gave everyone their envelope on the last evening…if you’re not eating at CK on the last evening, you can still swing by there or do so in the morning when they escort you down for disembarkation. 
 

We only tip as-you-go in the Specialty Restaurant, if deserving, and to some of the bartenders. But overall, we never feel under pressure to tip and we’re never made to feel pressured. Just do what feels comfortable to you.

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We try to make sure that anyone that serves us (I'm talking bar type servers) gets at least 20%.  18% is already included into the bar tab.  So, I always, if the service was at least good, give the server a $2.00 bill.  Specialty restaurants - I give them 20% of what I think the same meal would cost on land at the same quality and service level.  I'll leave it there, Stateroom attendants and Genies are a lot more complicated.  But, I will say that if I don't have contact with someone, they don't actually provide me a service, I don't leave anything.  Unless the Maitre d actually comes over to make sure we are doing well, brings something extra, whatever, I don't leave anything for him/her either.  Our last Maitre d and her assistant on the Ovation in the CK got a little over $100.00, they were that good.  I've been on too many cruises where I never even had a word with the Maitre d, mostly on Brand X cruise line.  If an attendant in the Windjammer comes over and offers to get something for us, get drinks, suggest something that just came out of the kitchen, fresh, he/she will get a generous tip as we leave.  But, the zombies that just walk around clearing off the tables, zip, nada, nothing.  

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15 hours ago, PRMLVM said:

For those who tip as you go, do you just toss the tip on the table before you walk out?  We've never been given anything to sign, and after dessert/coffee we just get up and walk out.  I've never seen money on any of the tables as we walk out, but as I'm looking through all the tipping "tips" most people are saying they tip as they go.  I'm just wondering at the actual mechanics of this. 

I tip my server when he/she delivers my dessert. I want to make sure they get it themselves and not leave it on the table where anyone can just pocket it. I guess I’ve always tried to treat my server with respect, look them in the eye, say their name, and express my thanks for their good service while I hand them the money. Makes it much more personal. It doesn’t take much to please me and on the other hand it takes really bad service for me to be unhappy. Even then, I’ll make the effort. It’s surprising how many times the server, who probably had been having a bad day, wasn’t expecting anything…but lit up like a tree when I tipped. 

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3 hours ago, Neesa said:

@Suite Snob do they like the $2.00 bills? I just exchanged at my bank for them to bring on my Harmony sailing. I thought it would be a fun thing to engage in especially lately when all the sailings are at capacity and the lounges are packed. I am hoping the crew like them!

 

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I haven't experienced this, but someone in this forum said that some of the crew don't like them because their bank back in their home country won't accept them.  I don't know about that.  But, that's not my problem.  They will spend just about anywhere else in most countries.  Also, they do create a good conversation with some of the crew.  Some are really happy to see them.  

I just like to pass them out to deserving crew members.  They work hard for their money and most are selfless, they send almost all of it home to their family.  

Edited by Suite Snob
Oops, Smokey...... beat me to it. He's the one, eh!
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