12thman Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 We'll be doing a trip out of Southampton and wondered if we should tip in GBP or U.S. dollars? Anyone have experience with this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetPea Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 We've always tipped in US dollars and didn't think a thing of it when we were overseas. So did pretty much everyone else we were on board with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wordell1 Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 Either will be happily accepted Allen2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen2 Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 1 hour ago, wordell1 said: Either will be happily accepted Also happily accepted anywhere in the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 3 hours ago, Allen2 said: Also happily accepted anywhere in the world. Onboard yes Onshore No The $$$ is not as popular in Europe as you may believe it is! In fact places will actually reject it same as they do with GBP and any other currency that is not The Euro or the actual currency of the country you are in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Traveling Mike Posted January 30, 2023 Report Share Posted January 30, 2023 On many of my cruises I tip with whatever currency I have handy. I often over tip just because I have extra of the local currency. On the off ship... I have never seen anyone reject a tip because it is in the US Dollar, but you are best in the local currency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12thman Posted January 31, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2023 Thanks everyone for your kind response. Thought GBP would be better because it would be easier to spend in Southampton port for the crew. Also the GBP is worth more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Temeculaguy Posted January 31, 2023 Report Share Posted January 31, 2023 Since you are starting in Southampton, you will likely have pounds and they can spend them or convert them in the UK., If you are boarding a transatlantic back to the US the crew may not likely be back in the UK for a while, they might prefer greenbacks. I am heading to Southampton from NY but in order to buy pounds or Euros prior to boarding there is a conversion hit in the US for hard currency that can be steep, usually less once you are there but too late for me. The stops on the way are all Euros and you have to consider the nationality of the person you are tipping and how they save or send home. Me converting dollars to Euros or Pounds then the recipient converting to their money (lets say the waiters are from India) causes two conversion hits, I'll tip in dollars with the exchange rate in mind and just have them convert it once. From the RCL ships I've been on few staff are from countries using GBP or the Euro (only 20 of the 27 EU countries use the Euro) and some like Ukraine (met many casino staff from there) have seen their currency fall significantly against the dollar making the dollar worth 25% more than it was last year, but I tend to tip in chips. Now if they want to spend it in port just figure where that ship will be in the coming months. We cruise to places in Mexico frequently and never bring pesos however on land based all inclusives we do bring pesos mostly because the new bills are waterproof, easier carried in swimsuits and all the staff live in Mexico. But living in San Diego on the border we have access to places on the border with just a 1 or 2% conversion hit, other currencies can be 10%. Airports can be extremely costly for conversion costs, my guess is the crw know where the cheapest conversion locations are just like I know those on the SD/Mex border. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoomSlayer Posted January 31, 2023 Report Share Posted January 31, 2023 23 hours ago, Ray said: Onboard yes Onshore No The $$$ is not as popular in Europe as you may believe it is! In fact places will actually reject it same as they do with GBP and any other currency that is not The Euro or the actual currency of the country you are in. Dollars are more valuable and stable right now. If I was working on a cruise ship, I would rather have Dollars as the Euro and Pound are losing strength. Especially if I was sending money back home to my family as so many do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted January 31, 2023 Report Share Posted January 31, 2023 1 hour ago, DoomSlayer said: Dollars are more valuable and stable right now. If I was working on a cruise ship, I would rather have Dollars as the Euro and Pound are losing strength. Especially if I was sending money back home to my family as so many do. I agree! Thats why i said Onboard yes to dollars DoomSlayer 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12thman Posted February 1, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2023 Good points, dollars seems easier all around. It's easy to get on the ship with no ATM fee. Thanks everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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