Miami, Florida Port Q&A

You're in Haven. Why are you tipping out of pocket? That's what Prepaid Gratuities are for. If you people keep tipping out of pocket the lines are going greatly increase the Prepaid Gratuities. Stop it! You prepaid, that's enough! You're not being special!

Answered by PaulzyJC on April 14, 2023

The butler and concierge aren't included in your prepaid gratuities, the room steward is. We tipped our butler $250, he was very accommodating even though we didn't ask for much. We tipped our room steward $100 anyway, he was great. Our concierge was a bit annoying, we tipped him $100 simply because he's not included in the tip pool. Hope this helps...😁

Answered by necoach on April 14, 2023

I’d agree it depends entirely how much you use them. I typically give between $50-$100, but sometimes it’s nothing if I don’t get anything from them, particularly if I don’t use the concierge. If I ask my butler for breakfast a couple of times, or to bring snacks, then I go toward the higher end.

Answered by Jerrec on April 14, 2023

Bar staff do get the gratuities from the drink packages. Same as the servers in the speciality restaurants get them from what you pay if you get the “free at sea” speciality dining. The way NCL explains it is that employees who only serve a certain number of guests, like bartenders, speciality restaurants, butlers, concierge, and kids club staff, are not part of the common tip pool. They rely on direct tips from guests to supplement their income. Your stateroom steward, staff in the main dining room, and people behind the scenes like the chefs, other cleaning staff, etc are the ones who do receive the pooled tips.

Answered by Jerrec on April 16, 2023

The real question is how much you tip your steward and butler. It is entirely up to you, and how much service they provide. I generally do $10 each per day for my steward and butler. I don’t tip the concierge anything, unless they go out of their way for me.

Answered by jpmato16 on April 14, 2023

For a seven day cruise I have always given $100

Answered by kimmee13 on April 14, 2023

Jerrec, regarding the bartenders don’t they get some of the gratuities that we all have to spend on the drink packages? If not them who would get the 20% we all have to pay? Also with Vibe Club we also have to pay extra gratuities, I would think that would also partly go to the bartenders who work at Vibe? Hopefully someone can answer, thanks!

Answered by LoFu on April 16, 2023

Well then I way overpaid my butler and suite attendant on Celebrity. It was WELL over 100 dollars per for my cruise on the Reflection over the holidays. I paid my stateroom attendant 100 tip for a four day trip on FOTS on my first cruise. I am relatively new to cruising and didn’t want to ask a Facebook group. So I tipped what I thought was appropriate. Now I understand why my husband was so upset.

Answered by Courtneycruises on April 15, 2023

Neezee, you are incorrect. Certain positions do not collect from the pooled tips. That includes butlers, the concierge, as well as bar staff. Bar staff do get gratuities that are paid as part of the beverage package as well as the automatic gratuities included whenever you purchase a drink. The only way your butler and concierge get tipped is if you personally do so.

Answered by Jerrec on April 16, 2023

Exactly what’s Pauly said. The Prepaid service charges, are the tips for all staff on board the ship. If you add them in advance to your reservation, it beats getting that additional cost at the end of the cruise. I feel like it’s always best to include them into your reservation so your not hit with any additional fees once the cruise is over.

Answered by neezee on April 16, 2023

I am on Team Jerrac.

Answered by MarkXDStops on April 16, 2023