How do you pay your prepaid gratuities?

I simply consider the prepaid gratuities a part of the cruise fare, which I pay upon booking. I also consider those to be tips that should be shared with all the unsung heroes that we never see, but are nonetheless working hard behind the scenes to help insure we have a great vacation.

As for the people with whom we have daily interactions (cabin stewards, waitstaff) they are tipped extra (in cash) relative to the amount of service. Obviously the cabin steward gets the most, followed by our waitstaff (assuming we get the same WS every night).

Room service delivery people usually got a $2 cash tip, but due to the higher cost of living I've decided to raise it to $3 on our upcoming cruise .

As for bartenders, my wife and I rarely hang out in bars so we never develop any "relationships" that would warrant a large end of cruise tip. I also don't add anything to the signed slips. They get the dollar or two (in cash) at each point of service. Since we typically only order a maximum of 2-3 drinks a day (mine being N/A), it doesn't amount to much.

Nevertheless, I pack a fare amount of $1 dollar bills.

Rather than retype it, THIS is the best way to actually tip..and have LEARNED it is by asking lots of questions on many different cruises. There are bartenders who work all kinds of different shifts or locations.(not to mention you doing pub crawls)..waiters the same, your steward ought to be permanent for the duration of your cruise (Maybe)....that percentage added to your bill gets divied up all over, including folks you'll NEVER see again, or even once. I add nothing to any signed chits. You really want to leave a tip at a bar you stopped in for a quickie? Some do, its a habit..Leave a buck or two under your glass..Trust me, greenbacks are MUCH more appreciated, and can be timed better.

Good intentions doesn't get YOU the best bang for your buck, or your $$ where you wanted it to go.

Delighted to hear this.

It shows how you value their service, and what a kind hearted person you are.

Well Done :)

Lynn is fabulous

i tip in cash at the end to those who gave me exceptional service on the cruise.

i do miss the old way of tipping much more personal. i do agree with the others on tipping in cash.

To some, tipping is a very sensitive subject.

I agree with Opus the great, and I always tip my wait staff and cabin steward the very first day of the cruise, and of course again at the end of the cruise.

Always In addition to the pre paid tips.

Lynn is wonderful

Lynn is wonderful

Lynn is wonderful

You do have the option to have the prepaid gratuities removed from your account, and tip in cash.

Reason for this, is then your cash goes right into whomever you are tipping's (Usually at a minimum Stateroom Attendant, Waiter, Assistant waiter, and Maybe a favorite bartender) pocket.

However, it could be conceived that since you are no longer putting money into the "General Tip Pot" that you are screwing other members of the crew with whom your tips would be split.

Same goes with tipping bartenders. If you tip in cash, it goes in that individual's pocket, whereas if you tip on your card, it gets split among all the bartenders or the bartenders working that particular station, cruise line dependant.

Finally, as some others will also tell you, the first time you meet your stateroom attendant, give them a tip. I usually tip $20 for Interior, Oceanview and Balcony, and $40 for Suites. It may turn a mediocre SRA into an Extraordinary SRA.

Or you can pay them in advance before the cruise through your travel agent or through your My NCL.

Automatically charged to your card on file.