Hi everyone, we’re on the Oceania Marina and will be docking in Miami tomorrow after a wonderful Caribbean cruise. Quick question about tipping: we’re expecting the gratuity charges to appear on our bill, but do passengers typically leave cash tips in their rooms when they leave, like you might at a hotel? Thanks for your help!
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Hi everyone, we’re on the Oceania Marina and will be docking in Miami tomorrow after a wonderful Caribbean cruise. Quick question about tipping: we’re expecting the gratuity charges to appear on our bill, but do passengers typically leave cash tips in their rooms when they leave, like you might at a hotel? Thanks for your help!
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It’s completely up to you and how you feel about the service you received. You’ve already paid the gratuities, so you’re covered in that regard. But if you want to show extra appreciation, leaving a cash tip with a note can be a nice gesture. Also, don’t forget to mention any team members who stood out to you in the post-cruise survey. I keep track of names and note how they made my trip special.
@Blakeley
I agree that the survey where you can mention crew members is really important, but I hate how Oceania handles it. On our cruise this summer, the only time to fill out the survey was the day before disembarkation. That day was so busy with packing and trying to enjoy the last activities, plus we were on a cruise to Iceland, Greenland, and Scotland, and the pool was finally open. No one wants to spend an hour on a survey that day. We thought we could do it later like on other lines, but we missed the chance. We were really sorry we couldn’t officially recognize those who helped us. Oceania really needs to fix their survey system.
@maverick
I didn’t realize that! I thought all lines sent out an electronic survey request. Thanks for letting me know. It’s surprising Oceania still uses such an old-school survey system. I think they’d get a lot more useful feedback if they sent the surveys after the cruise. I hope the rest of your trip went well, though!
It’s all personal preference. Our gratuities are prepaid, but we like to tip for each service interaction based on how we’re treated. Some staff really go the extra mile, while others just do the basics.
I’ve only tipped a room steward once out of 11 cruises. I don’t plan to do it again in the future.
I think of the charged gratuities as saying ‘thank you,’ and leaving cash on top of that is saying ‘thank you very much.’
I do leave extra tips.
Remember that prepaid gratuities don’t always cover all staff on every cruise line. Check the details before you go, or ask at guest services for more information about their policy. Even if gratuities are prepaid, if you meet someone who really stands out, feel free to tip them personally and mention their name in a post-cruise survey or to guest services. Don’t leave cash in your room hoping it’ll reach the right person—it’s not a good way to make sure your tip goes to the right person. Also, with staff cuts and long hours, crew members work hard and are away from their families for months. A personal ‘thank you’ is always appreciated.
We always tip extra to our waiters and cabin steward, assuming they do an excellent job. They really go above and beyond on every cruise we’ve been on. That extra generosity goes a long way for them, especially since many of them send money back to their families in developing countries.
If the room steward does a good job, we leave a decent tip for them. We also make sure to leave positive feedback for them.
You can ask for envelopes at the customer service desk if you need them.
Yeah, we usually tip the cabin steward and the kid’s club staff extra.
Even a small cash tip can mean a lot to a cabin steward who works long hours for low pay. Cruise lines hire staff from developing countries because they need the money to support their families. It also really helps if you mention their name in the post-cruise survey. The cruise lines take those surveys seriously.
Some passengers do, some don’t. It’s your choice.
Why tip so many times? If you want to, that’s fine, but it’s getting a bit much. You’ve already paid the gratuities, so why keep tipping everyone? It’s not my responsibility to cover their salaries more than once.
@Hutton
What’s ridiculous about it? No one’s forcing you to give extra tips. The staff is there for your whole cruise, not just for one meal. And let’s be real, cruise staff often deal with rude, demanding guests. They work hard and are away from their families for months, often living in small quarters. If you don’t want to leave an extra tip, that’s fine, but for me, it’s just a small gesture to show appreciation for their hard work.
@Reagan
Do you tip mailmen, cashiers, receptionists, and others too? It seems excessive to tip people every time you interact with them. If I’ve already tipped once, I don’t think I need to keep tipping. It’s not my job to make up for their pay.