If there's one thing I think we can all probably agree on, it is that, indeed money does matter. And because money matters, I'm sure it's important to be very clear about how going on the cruise might impact you financially. Below you'll find a comprehensive list of what Lee is and isn't paying for plus a short discussion about tipping customs aboard ship along with a few other tidbits of financial information.
Consequently, this is one time when asking your host very specific questions about money has Miss Manners' (and Lee's) blessing. I'll post anything that needs clarification on this page so that everyone can be clear about how going on the cruise might impact your pocket (or pocketbook).
All of the following items will be included at no cost to you.
The following items are not being provided by your host and will be at your own expense.
You’ll notice that almost everything that I’m excluding is because I can’t set it up to be prepaid or automatically paid. (Except that 20-carat diamond solitaire you fell in love with in the jewelry shop. Don’t try charging it to your room. Even I have limits. The ship has a brig for a reason!)
If you have any questions about what is and is not included, please ASK!
The issue of tipping is something that's the source of a lot of anxiety
for cruisers, particularly first-time cruisers.
In recent years, most cruise lines have tried to address this by creating the "Hotel Service Charge." The Hotel Service Charge is a fixed amount per day, added to your cruise account which is supposed to replace most tipping. In addition, purchases at bars, in the specialty restaurants, and in the Beauty Salon have an 18% gratuity automatically added to the charge.
Included in the covered costs will be Holland America’s Hotel Service Charge. This fee ($19 per person per day in our cabin category) replaces the basic gratuities to your room and dining stewards. In addition, an 18% gratuity is automatically included on all Salon, Spa, bar and restaurant charges as well. You are welcome to supplement these amounts if you feel it’s warranted (in my experience it usually is) and you wish to do so.
If you use the lounges, you may wish to tip your bartender or waiter/waitress an additional amount either at the time of service, or on the last day of the cruise. If there is anyone else on the staff who has been particularly helpful, you may wish to tip them as well.
It is not appropriate to tip the Cruise Staff or ship’s officers.
What I haven't yet addressed is the issue of how much additional to tip. There are a couple of situations where it's well established.
But you're still probably puzzled by how much additional is
appropriate to tip your room steward, dining steward, and wine steward. You're not alone in this. It's a big topic of discussion in cruise blogs
because there's no single answer. It depends on which cruise line you're sailing on, your cabin class, what extra attention you've requested, and
how happy you are with how you've been treated.
I can address that last issue pretty definitively. If there's one thing that there's pretty much universal agreement on, it's that the level of service you receive on Holland America ships is absolutely exceptional. It's certainly been true on every single HAL cruise I've taken. (And not so much the couple of times I ventured out to try other lines.)
I should also mention one other thing. The ship's crew rely on tips to survive. The "wage" they're paid by the cruise lines is minimal. They work seven days a week for about seven months at a time. They're away from their families all this time. They're working incredibly long days. I know I couldn't do their job, just on a physical basis. And yet, they're always cheerful. Always eager to help. Always anxious to go that extra mile for you.
So, bottom line, here are the additional amounts I tipped on my last cruise (pro-rated for the 14-day length of our cruise):
One final thing: you should consider the above amounts as per cabin, not per person.
Room service tips and tips to Beauty Salon and Spa staff are offered at the time of service. Tips to Bar and Lounge staff may be offered at the time of service or on the last evening of the cruise. Keep in mind that for your Beauty Salon and Spa services as well as Bar and Lounge services, an 18% service charge is already (automatically) added to your bill.
Tips to your room steward are left in an envelope in your room on the last night of the cruise before you go to dinner, so that it will be seen by the steward when he makes up your room. My favorite spot is on the foot of the bed. Be sure to write the steward's name on the envelope!!! Tips to the dining room staff are traditionally given in envelopes at the end of the last evening’s dinner.
All tips (other than the standard “Hotel Service Charge”) are in cash. I’ll provide envelopes for anyone who wants to offer cash tips.
Tipping isn't quite done once you're off the ship. If you have more bags than you can comfortably manage by yourself, there are Longshoremen in the huge luggage collection hall with carts who can help you. If you need their assistance, you should plan on tipping them at least $2 per bag. If you're carrying your bags yourself, no tipping is necessary.
