Monday, January 23, 2017

Tipping Early – The Great Motivator

Most people who cruise find that cruise lines automatically add a daily gratuity to your bill.  You have the option of having the charges removed and pay the gratuity yourself.  This may impractical and a little inconvenient, but consider the advantages if you choose to tip the crew members yourself.

Rather than waiting until after your cruise to tip everyone, figure how much each person will receive if the cruise line added it to your daily bill.  Asking the concierge (or front desk) for a gratuity breakdown will make this easier.  They usually have a list available upon request. 

During our last cruise, we decided to give the cabin steward half his tip on the first day, then the head waiter, waiter and assistant half their tips on the second day.  The dining room attendants are extremely busy the first evening, and everything seems a bit hectic, but by the second evening, they are better organized. You will be surprised how this little gesture will put you in the top percentage of favored guests, especially when you introduce yourself, and ask a little about themselves.  It will motivate any crew member to work as hard as possible to ensure that you are well taken care of during your stay.

Another great idea is to prepare 'gift packages' to give to your cabin steward/ess. These can be small bags containing a few special items from your hometown. Crew members would be very happy to receive such a gift and again, such a gesture would only lead to more benefits for you.


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