Tipping - Be Honest

[jsattapr2]

just reading a blog on cruises and noticed this information.....how about it cruise hounds, is this the way you tip? Would you rather just pay more for your cruise and let the company pay their employees?



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Most cruise lines encourage passengers to tip for services per person, per day, but tips can be rolled into the service charge or fee you pay as part of your cruise package.

If you need a general idea of how much to tip each individual who serves you, here's a breakdown based on recommendations per person, per day from Celebrity Cruise Lines, Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International:

Suite Attendant: keeps your room clean and orderly, orders supplies and amenities, provides you with towels and fresh linens as needed, works with housekeeping staff and handles laundry and room service deliveries
Recommended tip: $5.75




Stateroom Attendant: works with housekeeping staff, greets you and your traveling party upon arrival, replenishes room amenities and handles your laundry requests.
Recommended tip: $3.50

Waiter: serves you and your group at meal time, pours wine and beverages, makes recommendations for your meal, may deliver the meal
Recommended tip: $3.50 to $4.00

Assistant Waiter: helps the lead waiters take orders and deliver meals, refills water and beverages, attends to any requests during the meal
Recommended tip: $2.00 to $2.50

Head Waiter: oversees the work of waiters and assistant waiters to ensure guest satisfaction, handles comments or complaints
Recommended tip: $0.75

Dining Room Manager: oversees kitchen and wait staff operations, handles guest concerns, special requests or complaints, and manages banquets and large group functions
Recommended tip: $1.00

Butler: provides personal guest services to handle requests for amenities, towels, linens and other items during your cruise
Recommended tip: $3.50

Housekeeping Staff: keep the suite or stateroom clean and orderly, perform vacuuming and sweeping duties, make the beds, restock amenities and supplies, may perform turn down services
Recommended tip: $1.00 to $1.50

Porter: carries luggage and personal items safely to your suite or stateroom
Recommended tip: $1.25

[bonniejoy03]

Yikes...pay the employees more!! You could go broke on a cruise with the tipping! PS- Is this the daily charge per traveller, per day??

[betsyv]

This doesn't apply only to cruises... When we went on safari last year, we were being told by other guests about tipping our guides and trackers. There is also the belief that you should tip you maid/housekeeper that takes care of your room. While we have never been on a cruise, we did tip our guides and trackers on the safari. I have tipped the room housekeepers sometimes and have not others - sometimes it is service and sometimes it is just if I remember or not.

[Mountie]

I just hate the entire concept of suggested tipping! Just go ahead and pay your employees a reasonable wage. If you feel I must contribute, then just stick it to me as a service charge. If I don't like the bottom line, service charge included, then I don't buy the deal. Just don't give me some guilt trip and a bunch of envelopes. I'll tip someone, if I feel like it, not because of any other reasons. Simple.

[[email protected]]

I hate those suggested guidelines! I tip when the service is good and I feel they deserve the tip. You also have to make sure you look at your bill because sometimes they add the tip at the end as a service charge - most folks don't even notice this and leave a tip so you end up double tipping. I agree just pay your staff a living wage! I have been lectured to by folks from other countries how "Americans have ruined travel for them since tipping is an American custom and now everyone expects a tip" I find that most Americans are pretty big tippers (we are not - we only tip big if the the service was extra special). One thing that gets on my nerves - seeing those tip cups in fast food places and dunkin donuts!

Just putting in my 2 cents!

Denise

[ngallag]

I agree with everyone who posted above. I think tipping is a reward for good service and should not be mandatory (and I waitressed my way through college!) I get annoyed by the expectation for a tip from everyone from the curbside takeaway people to the tip jars at Starbucks. I also got hit this holiday season with a mandatory holiday gratuity from my exercise club. I figure that's what I pay the monthly dues for!



On the other hand, I can't remember the last time I didn't tip a waiter or waitress or someone who actually did work for me. I just hate it when ancillary people expect alarge tip when they didn't do much work. I always had to share tips with others when I waitressed and I didn't think it was fair when I ended up doing all the work.

[jsattapr2]

Interesting responses. I use my own judgment in determining whether or not and how generously I tip. I don't need any one to provide envelops and printed suggestions. On the other hand, I realize service employees are generally paid less than a living wage, but this seems like an attempt by management or owners to hand off responsibilities for me to make up the differences.



And by the way, I don't give in to tip jars at fast food places.

[omegaet]

....some additional tips on tipping from European perspective http://www.thetravelmagazine.net/

To get better service in the USA, tipping is essential, but not so in Singapore where tipping is not allowed. But what do you tip on a cruise?

While it's tough trying to decipher what to tip from country to country, most travelers want to avoid the cold shoulder from the maitre'd, so it pays to find out what the norm is before arriving.



For example, in Japan if you leave a couple of coins on the table, the waiter may chase after you to return your forgotten change, but in New York if you leave less than 15 per cent, good luck making a reservation in the same restaurant ever again!



Here's a brief overview of tipping abroad:



Argentina
It is customary to leave 10-15 per cent at restaurants. Hotels generally charge around 10 per cent, but where that is not the case, then tip housekeeping and porters 3 pesos. Taxi drivers expect between 5-10 percent and others like car-park, toilet attendants, cloakroom and bar staff expect 2 pesos.



Australia
Tipping in Australia is starting to happen more frequently, but is still entirely optional. A 10 per cent tip in restaurants is acceptable. It is not customary to tip taxi drivers but this form of tipping is on the increase as tourism to Australia grows.

Austria
Restaurants charge 12.5 per cent service charge and diners leave a discretionary 1-2 Euros extra. Where service is not included, leave around 10 per cent. Hotels charge 10 per cent and a small extra tip is expected for good service. Taxis expect 10 per cent and cloak staff and toilet attendants expect 1 euro and 50c respectively.



Belgium
Restaurants usually add on 15 per cent but leave a few coins for good service. Where service is not included, 15 per cent tip is expected. Tipping is not the norm in hotels and in taxis just round up the fare. Car park attendants receive 1 Euros, cloakroom staff; 50c, toilet attendants, 25c and bar staff just small change.



British Virgin Islands
Tipping of 15-22 per cent is expected at restaurants and hotels. Taxis get between 2-4 per cent and 10 per cent discretionary tip for bar staff.



Canada
Most service staff in Canada expect something in the 10-20 percent tip range, depending on whether it's French or English Canada, and how good the service is - if the service is really bad, leave a few cents and they should get the message.



Czech Republic
Tipping is not part of the culture here, but in restaurants and taxis just round up the bill.



China
You'll never have to tip anywhere in China. It's the one comfort from the fact that foreigners are generally thought of as filthy rich and therefore charged a lot more. Most government operated hotels and restaurants prohibit the acceptance of tips, but it is sometimes expected at the bigger hotels and by younger service personnel in the more open cities. Use your discretion.



Cyprus
Expect to be charged 10 per cent at restaurants and hotels plus small tips for porters and housekeeping. Taxis don't expect tips but cloakroom staff and toilet attendants expect 1 euro.



Denmark
Tipping is not generally expected except for exceptional service.



France
In France service must be included in the price of a restaurant bill by law so no need to tip, although it is customary to round your bill to include a little more. At hotels leave a euro or two for housekeeping and porters. This is not true of bars so you should use your discretion if you feel you have got particularly good service or not.



Germany
Service is not generally included at restaurants but a discretionary tip of 10-15 per cent is expected. At hotels housekeeping and porters expect 2-3 Euros. Taxi drivers expect 10-15 per cent tips.



Greece
At restaurants a discretionary charge of 4-8 per cent is expected. At hotels, a discretionary tip of 4-5 per cent is the norm. Taxi drivers do not expect to be tipped.



Hungary
Tips are generally around 8-15 per cent.



Ireland
Tipping is not de rigueur in Ireland; however it is customary to tip of between 12 and 15 per cent in restaurants or hotels, if there is not already a service charge included. If you receive good service then a 10 per cent tip would be about the right amount for taxi drivers, porters and hotel staff.

Italy
No tip is expected in restaurants throughout Italy, as you will normally be charged a coperto (cover charge) on top of your bill. However it will be much appreciated if you have had a good service to leave a bit extra.



Malta
At restaurants expect to pay 10-15 per cent tips. At hotels a discretionary tip of LM5 for housekeeping and for porters and bar staff LM1 is adequate. Taxi drivers expect LM 1-2. Every one else between 10-50c.



Netherlands
Restaurants charge 10% but where service is not include leave a tip of 10%. At hotels, tip as you please but taxis expect 5 per cent or round up the fare.



New Zealand
Tipping is not part of the culture unless service is exceptional.



Portugal
At restaurants leave around 5 per cent. Hotels tend to charge between 5-19 per cen. Where service is not included leave the concierge and porters 2 euros. Taxi drivers expect 5-10 per cent.



Romania
At restaurants include service at a rate of 5-10 per cent. Where it is not, a tip between 5-10 per cent is expected. Hotels charge around 5% but where it is not included leave housekeeping and porters 100,000-150,000 lei. In taxis, round up the fare and cloak room, car-park and toilet attendants expect between 25,000-30,000 Lei.



Russia
Restaurants charge anywhere between 5-20 per cent service charge but where they don't leave between 10-25 per cent tips. Hotels charge 5-20 per cent but a small tip is expected by porters and housekeeping. Taxi drivers don't expect a tip.



Singapore
According to government notices in the Lion City, tipping is not allowed. Officials encourage tourists not to add to the 10 per cent service charge that many high-end hotels include on the bill. Hotel porters are one exception to the no-tipping rule, as they usually receive a couple of dollars for lugging bags.



Spain
In Spain most restaurants and bars will expect to receive a tip from tourists, although it is really is still a mater of personal discretion. Bills will usually include a service charge in restaurants and as a general rule if you are served a drink in bar at your table you should leave a small tip, as with porters and chambermaids in your hotel.



Sri Lanka
A 10 per cent tip is generally expected. Hotels will charge this amount, but where they don't tip the concierge, bar staff and housekeeping 100Lkr and porters 30LKr. Taxi drivers expect 10 per cent or up to 100LKr for a short journey. Car park and toilet attendants and bar staff expect 50-100 LKr.



Thailand
Everything goes in Thailand, and that rule applies to tipping as well. Some places expect it and others don't. In general, the more Westernised the place is, the more likely you'll be expected to leave a gratuity. Cabs are now metered in Bangkok, so there's no haggling over your fare, but local custom is still to round the fare up to the nearest five baht.



United States
This country is the tipping capital of the world where not tipping can easily offend. Restaurants in the USA usually call for a 15-20 percent tip, which supplements a normally meager wage. This is true of everyone in the service industry, so the rule is, if someone helps you out, from porter to bar tender it pays to leave a small tip!



WHAT ABOUT TIPPING ON CRUISES AND COACHES AND ALL-INCLUSIVE HOLIDAYS?



Cruises
Passengers are a captive audience on a cruise ship and tipping is imperative. This is often a cause for stress and embarrassment. Most cruise brochures have a guide to recommended gratuities but it is pretty random and varies. Budget for an extra 85 per passenger on a two-week cruise. Many cruise lines also add a 15 per cent charge to any bar bill and sometimes add $10 for a general kitty.



Coaches
There is no standard etiquette for tipping the driver. It is really up to you but some say anything between 5-30.



All Inclusive Holidays
Travel agents generally agree that tips are not necessary on an all-inclusive holiday, expect at the a la carte restaurant.



BEWARE!

If your bill includes a service charge, then don't fill out credit slips with space left for a gratuity - don't pay this twice.

[thepiranha]

I agree with those who think that the cruise lines, etc. should just charge more and save passengers the uncomfortable feeling when it comes around to knowing how much to tip. Everybody knows that in the U.S., it's customary to tip 15-20% in a restaurant, but on a cruise ship, only the most experienced travelers know whom and how much to tip. The cruise lines know that psychologically, it seems less expensive to the consumer to get charged, say, $2,000 up front plus a $300 tip at the end of the trip, than to charge them $2300 up front.



I also feel uncomfortable when it comes time to tip a tour leader, fishing guide, etc., since I never know how much to tip. Does a fishing guide expect a tip even if his paying customers don't catch anything?



As for tip jars at coffee shops, I really don't mind them since the spare coins that I throw in mean more to the barrista than to me.

[travel2fun]

Interesting insight. The United States is the tipping capital of the world.



You know, those of us from the US sure do end up ona lot of lists.