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I am a first time cruiser. I saw a YouTube video where a couple shared I do not need to pay "Pre-pay Gratuity". The couple shared that I can tip as you cruise. For example: I can tip a porter that takes our luggage, I can pay housekeeping each day for cleaning our room, I can tip at the waitress or waiter when he/she serves my family.
Is this correct?
To me that will work best but I need to know.
THanks, Emy
Some cruise lines do not allow you to remove the gratuity while on board (NCL in particular) so you will need to do so either before sailing or you have to pay it and then try to recoup it after.
Before removing though please consider that the crew is paid peanuts as far as salary goes and relies on these gratuities as part of their meager wages. Considering the level of service they give we just consider the daily gratuity to be a part of the cruise cost and pre pay it. The only one that is hurt when it is removed is the underpaid crew.
We also leave the standard auto gratuity in place and tip additionally to those who go above. We chatted with one of the wait staff in the Lido area, she said Carnival is one of the best companies to work for because they get the gratuities. She has worked elsewhere and that was not the case. It is customary to tip the luggage handlers as they are not included in the auto gratuities.
Yes, but if you plan to "manually" tip everyone, you'll want to go to guest services and tell them to remove the "tip" fee on your final payment (else it will be added automatically). However, you probably won't tip everyone who gets a cut of the "auto payment". We tend to use the auto tip fees, and then reward those who went over and above with additional cash.
But tipping in a personal preference. Do what you feel is fair.
Exactly.
Yes, but if you plan to "manually" tip everyone, you'll want to go to guest services and tell them to remove the "tip" fee on your final payment (else it will be added automatically). However, you probably won't tip everyone who gets a cut of the "auto payment". We tend to use the auto tip fees, and then reward those who went over and above with additional cash.
But tipping in a personal preference. Do what you feel is fair.
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