Tipping: How much is too much??

[Frase]

Is there such a thing as "over-tipping" a crew member during your cruise? Or am I unwittingly a cheap-skate?

I plan to take a cruise in the fall onboard the Carnival Glory. So, I naturally went to CruiseReviews.com to read up on the most recent reviews about the Glory.

So, I was reading the latest review of the Glory submitted buy this guy who was on the New Years Eve cruise aboard that ship. I was a little caught off guard when I read about how much he tipped the service crewmembers:

He tipped his waiter and assistant waiter $40 the first night, $10 every night in between, and finally $20 the last night. THATS $110!!

Then he tipped his cabin steward $20 the first night, and $5 every other day. Thats $40

I suppose this did not include the automatic gratuity Carnival charges to your cruise account.

AS FOR ME, During my cruise:

I of course paid the automatic gratuity charges. Then on the last night (enclosed in envelopes) I gave the cabin steward, waiter, and assistant waiter a $20 bill (each one, individually). I also gave the cabin steward a $3 tip, one night when he opened my cabin door, after I accidentaly left my door card inside. I also tipped the Maitre'D $15 (enclosed in another envelope) on the last night. I thought I was being rather generous. But compared to that guy on the New Years Eve cruise aboard the Glory, I look like a cheap-skate.

There is one major difference between me and that guy:
- I was travelling alone
- He was travelling with his family (which included two preteen daughters).

But even in proportion to the 4:1 ratio, he still out-tipped me. I am sure he got really good service (he BETTER HAVE).

I know these service crew members, usually come from poor nations of the world, and are themselves equally disatvantaged, financially. So tipping them is not in question.

What I would really like to know, is which form of tipping is more normal, tipical or acceptable:
- The amount of tips I gave on my cruise?
- Or the amount of tips that guy on the Carnival Glory gave on his New Years Eve cruise?

[Frase]

Is there such a thing as "over-tipping" a crew member during your cruise? Or am I unwittingly a cheap-skate?

I plan to take a cruise in the fall onboard the Carnival Glory. So, I naturally went to CruiseReviews.com to read up on the most recent reviews about the Glory.

So, I was reading the latest review of the Glory submitted buy this guy who was on the New Years Eve cruise aboard that ship. I was a little caught off guard when I read about how much he tipped the service crewmembers:

He tipped his waiter and assistant waiter $40 the first night, $10 every night in between, and finally $20 the last night. THATS $110!!

Then he tipped his cabin steward $20 the first night, and $5 every other day. Thats $40

I suppose this did not include the automatic gratuity Carnival charges to your cruise account.

AS FOR ME, During my cruise:

I of course paid the automatic gratuity charges. Then on the last night (enclosed in envelopes) I gave the cabin steward, waiter, and assistant waiter a $20 bill (each one, individually). I also gave the cabin steward a $3 tip, one night when he opened my cabin door, after I accidentaly left my door card inside. I also tipped the Maitre'D $15 (enclosed in another envelope) on the last night. I thought I was being rather generous. But compared to that guy on the New Years Eve cruise aboard the Glory, I look like a cheap-skate.

There is one major difference between me and that guy:
- I was travelling alone
- He was travelling with his family (which included two preteen daughters).

But even in proportion to the 4:1 ratio, he still out-tipped me. I am sure he got really good service (he BETTER HAVE).

I know these service crew members, usually come from poor nations of the world, and are themselves equally disatvantaged, financially. So tipping them is not in question.

What I would really like to know, is which form of tipping is more normal, tipical or acceptable:
- The amount of tips I gave on my cruise?
- Or the amount of tips that guy on the Carnival Glory gave on his New Years Eve cruise?

[oppis]

I think, your amount of tips is normal.

We tip our cabin-steward in the beginning, when he brings me extra coathangers. And every time when I have something for the laundry I put 1 $ on the bag. And when he´s doing something special for me, than I tip again. And at the end of the cruise, we decide, if he, the waiter, ***. waiter, the headwaiter deserve more than the recommendend tip and give it in an envelop.

I would say, that is the normal behaviour.
Some people think, when they tip extra, starting the cruise, service would be better. We never have done it and service always has been excellent.

[Cruise Fanatic]

I would question why that guy thinks he has to broadcast what he tipped in the first place. If you tip the recommended and give some additional because you really enjoyed your waiter/cabin steward/asst waiter, then that is very appropriate. And as Oppis says if someone does something special, a small tip.

[Cruise Specialist]

The cruiselines have a set guideline which more and more lines are setting it up as an automatic gratuity on your onboard account. What you tip is greatly appreciated by the workers on the ship. We always tip extra to our cabin steward at the beginning of the cruise, maybe an extra $20.00 or so and always leave an extra tip for the dining staff if they were especially attentive. Some people believe if you tip extra daily you will get extra service. We have been known to tip extra to certain bar waiters and YES you do get the extra attention...but it is not required..You sound like your tipping was in line with most peoples. Just think of it this way, some people have more money to give away then others.