| Most of the cruise lines offer guidelines for who you should tip, who
you might tip, and about how much the tips should be. For instance, if
my memory serves me right, on the last cruise it was approx. $3.00 per
person/day for the cabin steward, $3.00 per person/day for the waiter,
$2.00 per person/day waiter's assistant, drinks were on a tip as you
drink basis standard 15%, then there is the wine steward 15% of wine
purchases, and you may want to consider the maitre de a few bucks if
he/she does some nice things for you such as preparing special deserts,
and any others you want to. Needless to say it starts getting up
there. I plan on $20 a day for tips. So for a 7 day cruise you might
figure $100 - $150 for two people.
And don't forget tipping on shore, cab drivers, beach attendants,
waiters ...etc.
That is one thing I REALLY liked about Holland America's 'no tipping
required' policy. You never felt pressured to tip, even though I did
since the service in all areas was excellent.
By the way, check out the book I mentioned in note 8. Most any cruise
question you have is addressed in that book.
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Most cruise brochures list the breakdowns in the back pages - the
fine print!
After you read the 'guide' you do what you think is appropriate.
But I'll tell you, EVERYONE on the ship works very hard to make
your vacation wonderful. And often they work 16 hour days, and
have cabins the size of closets for themselves.
On Holland America you can keep a running tab for your drinks, hair,
ship shops. That was nice, but gee I didn't realize I had that
many run punches???? And as Joe said, they don't 'suggest' tipping
nor do they encourage it. But after all that effort you have to!
DO: Go to your room and then Get out there And EXPLORE your ship!
DO: Read your daily schedules! They are under your door each day
and outline the days events.
DO: Play games! Be a jerk! I played EVERY silly thing they had
at the pool, not only did i get some nice prizes (towels, coffee
mugs), I had fun and met some folks.
Dinner seatings: I was early seatings both times (not by choice
my sister and her hubbie wanted it). I found that I was quite
rushed to make it for 6:00, and that it really impacted my time
in ports - exploring! My brother and his wife took first on sisters
advice and regretted it.
The good side is you see the evening shows first. BUT! If
you are worried about the age gap, the younger crowd tends to be
at the later seatings.
DO: Order wine at dinner! The stuff doesn't cost any more than
at a restaurant. It's fine to have the wine steward do his thing.
I sent my brother champage (granted it was cheap champagne!) to
his cabin and it was only $22 (that included the service charge)
DO: Enjoy every minute.
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