We are going on a Holland America cruise next month. While they advertise no tipping required I am sure something is expected. Does anyone have an idea of how much to allot for tipping? Thanks Much

We were in Alaska this past July on the Amsterdam. Were told that tipping was not required by both the main desk and cruise director and would give us no guidelines. All they would say is that while tipping is not required, it is not forbidden. The last time we were on a cruise in 1996 with HAL, they provided exact guidelines and envelopes. A couple at dinner said that tipping was done only if you asked for extraordinary service as HAL pays their people more. We got envelopes, hunted down the waiters, room steward and tipped $7 per day to both the steward and waiter for a total of $14 per day for the two of us. We got the feeling that we were somewhat unusual for tipping! We did not tip the head waiter as we had no interaction with him or really anyone else on board. The message boards state that $10 per day per person is considered standard now so we probaby should have given more - wish I had known the standards before we went. To our irritation, after our return, in reading this message board and CruiseMates, all tips are pooled.

I always tip as on any other line. I feel this "advertising" ploy by HAL is nothing more than an "excuse" for cheapskates. NO TIPS ARE EVER REQUIRED ON ANY LINE!!!! HAL service is certainly top notch and well deserved in my experience. Consider the guidelines of $10pp per day. (divided)

Thanks for your tips. If the tips are all distributed then it would work just as well to leave an envelope in the cabin with the total amount.

Anyone have any other tips?

We only tipped our special people, like waiters in the bar, that went out of their way to do something out of the ordinary.

Industry standards -
Approx.

Room steward $3.50/day/person

Waiter- $3.50/day/person

Asst. Waiter $2/day/person

Also Head waiter per discretion.

Really a small amount for what you get. Each amount should be given directly to the employee. Don't forget to tip for drinks too.

BudgetQueen, that's the standard on most cruise lines, but my guess is on Holland America, tips are included in the price of the cruise since the "no tipping required" policy.

As far as tipping for drinks, they add on a 15% gratuity. That's doesn't mean you can't tip your favorite bartender.

We tip on Holland same as other ships.

I don't think tips are included in the cruise fare with Holland. They don't push you to tip but I think it is still expected.

Tips ARE NOT included in your cruise fare on HAL. You are misinformed. And they do NOT add tips on their drink prices either- so a small tip is in order when drinks are delivered.

WOW! Every cruise line I've been on they automatically add a 15% gratuity on to all drinks when you hand them your cruise card and sign for the drink purchase. It's all computer generated and transmits to the purser's office for your final room tab.

Sounds like on HAL you have to carry a wad of cash with you.

You don't have to carry a wad of cash. You can tip at the end of the cruise.

Tips are not pooled on Hal. Now I have heard that some bartenders that work together pool, but it is an agreement among themselves, not a rule from the cruise line.

Well, if someone brings you a drink at the pool, and it's charged to your account, when and how do you tip that person if it's not included at that time to your account?

I can understand the cabin guy, waiter, and bus boy -- you tip in an envelope at the end of the cruise.

What about all the drinks you buy from all the different waiters?

It's a little confusing. I like the 15% added on to all your beverages at the time of purchase plus the end-of-cruise you give to those who served you well.

Budman,

I do agree it can get confusing and would be much better if the tip was added in each drink.

For us it is not a problem because we always sit at the bar. The same guys are at the same bar every night. We start a tab before dinner and don't sign until later that night. I found that the bar tenders will really take care of you. Hubby drinks his booze on the rocks. After a day or two they start pouring much heavier.

I usually have a couple of dollars with me at the pool but most of the time if I want a drink I walk over to the bar and get one. Usually it is one of the bartenders that wait on us at night.

On the other hand, I sailed on another line and was pestered to death to buy a drink. No peace at all around the pool and in the lounge you would be interrupted constantly from numerous people asking if you wanted another drink, even when you drink was full.

No matter which way you go there are positives, but also negatives.

Personally, I love HAL's No Tipping Policy. No one eyeballs you on the last day of the cruise, like they do on other lines, which made me feel extremely uncomfortable, and resentful for the expectation of payment. No one on HAL will give you tipping information, other than what sdianem said in post above. Also, the crew do not appear to be expecting it. I have found that NOT being "required" to give the tip made me more generous, and I tipped people who truly deserved it. HAL is not trying an advertising ploy to help the cheapskates. There are some people out there who would love to cruise and can just barely eke out enough money to take a cruise for THEIR OWN enjoyment. Being gouged for tips is more than some folks can afford.

HAL is not trying an advertising ploy to help the cheapskates. There are some people out there who would love to cruise and can just barely eke out enough money to take a cruise for THEIR OWN enjoyment. Being gouged for tips is more than some folks can afford.

I totally disagree- tipping is a cruise service standard that is here to STAY. If you can't afford to tip, you shouldn't be going. Who do you think provides their ENJOYMENT????

The people who provide their enjoyment are EMPLOYEES of the line. If these employees feel they are not being paid enough, they can always go back to their third world country where a $20US, is worth a year's pay for back-breaking labor in their own country IF they can find employment at all.

I'll say it again- tipping is here to stay and an industry standard. It should be factored in, in travel. You don't sound well traveled??? And the arguement is over- you've got your excuses for not tipping, so be it.

Budget Queen, I agree with you that tipping is here to stay, but I've always had a difficult time with the entire concept since we only tip the people that we see. While they make the cruise more enjoyable, what about the staff working down in the noisy engine room, the staff that keep the plumbing working, the kitchen staff who actually prepare the delicious food we enjoy?

Some ships now pool the tips and share them will the entire staff... but it still makes me wonder about the whole concept of tipping, since it does not really help insure good service or recognize extrodinary service since it only rewards the people right in front of us, not all those people behind the scenes that we couldn't do without.
Just a thought.

Here's my 2 cents:

All who advocate tipping on HAL are generous, but I think you're missing the key point. This company is selling a product; and they marketed it to the customer as a no-tip product. I can assure you that HAL is profiting from this strategy. They will change the strategy if they don't.

Do those who tip on HAL tip everyone who provides good service and is underpaid? Hardly. Imagine how long THAT list is.

As an aside: I'm a frequent cruiser and on the other lines I tip based on service and guidelines; but I WILL NOT tip on HAL.

I will save my "generosity" for charity.

as a no-tip product


You are missing the point- it is NOT a no tip product- but a tipping NOT required- AS IS EVERY OTHER CRUISE LINE. Tipping is never required.