PrincipalTinker Posted April 20, 2018 Report Share Posted April 20, 2018 I did a search of this forum and cannot find a thread. I apologize if my search skills are lacking and I have missed this. We received wow envelopes. Do you leave them in the stateroom or do you hand them to the staff you would like to give extra to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shari Posted April 20, 2018 Report Share Posted April 20, 2018 We have left the one for the stateroom attendant in the room when we leave and we also have just handed it to them if we see them. For the dining room waiters we take the envelopes hand it to them. PrincipalTinker 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovetocruise2002 Posted April 20, 2018 Report Share Posted April 20, 2018 We always hand them directly to the crew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted April 20, 2018 Report Share Posted April 20, 2018 When the WOW envelopes were first introduced (maybe 4 years ago ??) you could only leave them at Guest Services in special receptacles made for that purpose. I recall that once, we had forgotten to drop ours off and we tried to hand them to a staff member as we were leaving the ship and they held up their hands and backed away, shaking their heads, as if it the envelope might contain a nerve agent or something ! They said, "Oh, I'm sorry. We cannot even touch those !". What ?? Whatever. We just kept walking. No WOW for those crew member that day ! I don't think the WOW envelopes are quite that sensitive these days. As a matter of fact, I didn't even know they were still using them. I would say, try and find the drop-off containers near Guest Services, first. If you cannot find one then ask at GS where to deposit them. The WOW envelopes are not (or at least, did not USED to be) for tips/gratuities. They are to "write up" any crew member that deserves special praise for good service or attitude. I guess you COULD use them for tips, but that was not their original purpose. On the issue of tips...we always just give cash to anyone we want to reward. I don't bother with envelopes of any kind. Just hand them some dough and be done with it. PrincipalTinker and Matt 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincipalTinker Posted April 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2018 This is the envelope we received Matt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted April 20, 2018 Report Share Posted April 20, 2018 Thanks for sharing that. I guess they've changed it completely from the original. The original wasn't really even an envelope. It was just a folded paper where you could offer remarks and acknowledge a crew member for outstanding service. This isn't the same thing at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincipalTinker Posted April 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2018 1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said: The WOW envelopes are not (or at least, did not USED to be) for tips/gratuities. They are to "write up" any crew member that deserves special praise for good service or attitude. I guess you COULD use them for tips, but that was not their original purpose. Since these envelopes say they are for gratuities I should hand them out? There are only two of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted April 20, 2018 Report Share Posted April 20, 2018 1 minute ago, PrincipalTinker said: Since these envelopes say they are for gratuities I should hand them out? There are only two of them. Sure, if you are so inclined to provide any addition gratuities to anyone, I say, go for it ! PrincipalTinker 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melski94 Posted April 20, 2018 Report Share Posted April 20, 2018 1 hour ago, PrincipalTinker said: Since these envelopes say they are for gratuities I should hand them out? There are only two of them. If you want to use them for extra tips then yes use them. If you want more you can go to guest services or ask your stateroom attendant for more. PrincipalTinker 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobroo Posted April 20, 2018 Report Share Posted April 20, 2018 After years of cruising with Royal, I am a convinced that anytime you you tip and that receipt, envelope, or anything else that says "gratuity" and also has a Royal Caribbean logo on it--those funds are going into that ships general tip pool for all employees. That includes leaving a buck or two tip on a receipt for drinks. That bartender/server/room attendant does not individually receive those funds. That is true for the above pictured envelope. Cash to that guy or gal you want to thank? That goes entirely to that person you want to acknowledge. Case in point: want to know why that employee Waaaytoo described was afraid to touch that little blue envelope??? Because management is afraid an employee would stick it in their pocket and not put it into the collective fund and probably has given extreme warning to any employee thinking of not sharing that money. You don't need no stink'in envelope, there is nothing to hide. Be proud of your acknowledgment and carry some small bills in your pocket when you are onboard. Enjoy the smile you get in return for your couple bucks. whenismynextcruise and GlennGlenn 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennGlenn Posted April 21, 2018 Report Share Posted April 21, 2018 16 hours ago, bobroo said: After years of cruising with Royal, I am a convinced that anytime you you tip and that receipt, envelope, or anything else that says "gratuity" and also has a Royal Caribbean logo on it--those funds are going into that ships general tip pool for all employees. That includes leaving a buck or two tip on a receipt for drinks. That bartender/server/room attendant does not individually receive those funds. That is true for the above pictured envelope. Cash to that guy or gal you want to thank? That goes entirely to that person you want to acknowledge. Case in point: want to know why that employee Waaaytoo described was afraid to touch that little blue envelope??? Because management is afraid an employee would stick it in their pocket and not put it into the collective fund and probably has given extreme warning to any employee thinking of not sharing that money. You don't need no stink'in envelope, there is nothing to hide. Be proud of your acknowledgment and carry some small bills in your pocket when you are onboard. Enjoy the smile you get in return for your couple bucks. Exactly this^^^^ Cash Mano a Mano is best..........for you and the recipient! They love it and you'll feel good. Quote Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shari Posted April 21, 2018 Report Share Posted April 21, 2018 We have left envelopes with tips for our waiter and assistant waiter with someone else in the MDR before (since they were both busy) and by the time we were at the door they had come running to thank us. Since this has happened twice I believe any cash that is in those WOW gratuity envelopes goes directly to the person that they are addressed to. PrincipalTinker 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeWhoWaits Posted April 21, 2018 Report Share Posted April 21, 2018 23 hours ago, bobroo said: You don't need no stink'in envelope, there is nothing to hide. Be proud of your acknowledgment and carry some small bills in your pocket when you are onboard. Enjoy the smile you get in return for your couple bucks. We always take some plain envelopes along for our cabin steward and dining room staff (pre-filled with the minimum extra we will give) and some extras in case we want to tip others on the ship above and beyond the pooled money. PrincipalTinker 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGTLH Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 WOW Cards @WAAAYTOOO was talking about... PrincipalTinker and WAAAYTOOO 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henrysea13 Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 On 4/20/2018 at 6:53 PM, bobroo said: After years of cruising with Royal, I am a convinced that anytime you you tip and that receipt, envelope, or anything else that says "gratuity" and also has a Royal Caribbean logo on it--those funds are going into that ships general tip pool for all employees. That includes leaving a buck or two tip on a receipt for drinks. That bartender/server/room attendant does not individually receive those funds. That is true for the above pictured envelope. Cash to that guy or gal you want to thank? That goes entirely to that person you want to acknowledge. Case in point: want to know why that employee Waaaytoo described was afraid to touch that little blue envelope??? Because management is afraid an employee would stick it in their pocket and not put it into the collective fund and probably has given extreme warning to any employee thinking of not sharing that money. You don't need no stink'in envelope, there is nothing to hide. Be proud of your acknowledgment and carry some small bills in your pocket when you are onboard. Enjoy the smile you get in return for your couple bucks. bob I totally agree I believe what royal calls gratuities is in fact all about the bottom line and is used to pay a large portion of the crews salaries not in addition to there salaries sorry I'm asuch a pessimist please forgive the spelling and yes I agree the general fund is most likely where it goes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henrysea13 Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 1 hour ago, CGTLH said: WOW Cards @WAAAYTOOO was talking about... oh yes I remember these haven't seen them in a long time all that remains is the typical hotel beg letters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RestingBird Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 I put mine in the box by guest services. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 Sorry I confused everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincipalTinker Posted April 22, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 I ended up leaving an envelope in our stateroom the last night of our cruise for our attendant. She left us a thank you note. I handed envelopes to the main dining staff. I saw another guest stop by during dinner. His family was not eating in the main dining room that night but he stopped by with envelopes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincipalTinker Posted April 22, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 Just now, WAAAYTOOO said: Sorry I confused everyone. Not at all! I had read about the ones you posted about. I was not expecting the Wow envelopes that were delivered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjac Posted April 22, 2018 Report Share Posted April 22, 2018 22 hours ago, HeWhoWaits said: Enjoy the smile you get in return for your couple bucks I feel the same way, just adds to the my personal enjoyment of the cruise! PrincipalTinker and bobroo 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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