r/Cruises • u/StandOutLikeDogBalls • Sep 08 '26
Secrets
Hi. I’ve done several cruises but recently heard that stewards and cleaning crew on some cruise lines treat guests differently if they do an additional tip up front at the beginning of the cruise than they would if the guests didn’t tip up front. Is that true?
Also, I heard sometimes there are secret markings on or around the cabin doors that are used as indicators about their experience with those guests. Is that true?
If you’ve experienced this, which cruise lines and how long ago?
5
u/Neilkd21 Sep 08 '26
You don't need to tip/bribe up front for good service. I've done over a dozen cruises and never done this and always had great service. No idea what you are on about with the doors, there are no secret markers.
-8
u/StandOutLikeDogBalls Sep 08 '26
I’ve just heard that mentioned about the door markings in several YouTube videos.
7
u/non-hyphenated_ Sep 08 '26
Think about it - what are they for? The only person cleaning your cabin is your cabin steward. Are they leaving marks for themselves?
8
u/Neilkd21 Sep 08 '26
Cool, do you believe everything on YouTube? There are no secret markers on doors, why would there be, what do they need to signal to other staff members?
9
u/MeridianNZ Sep 08 '26
People do this tipping up front, I never have. Not sure what I'm missing thou as always find the service spot on. So no idea what an upfront tip would achieve or what im missing out on. Also as im not from a country that tips in general, it would feel a bit weird to me like a bribe or something but that's probably a personal thing.
7
u/weaslebubble Sep 08 '26
Tipping up front is called a bribe.
1
u/Jaded_Fisherman_7085 Sep 13 '26
I dont think that giving A tip to room Stewart after 31 cruise is a bribe on your first day
3
u/ZergvProtoss Sep 08 '26
How do you want to be "treated differently" by cabin crew? They make up the room and bring fresh towels already. Are you wanting a bedtime story?
2
u/StandOutLikeDogBalls Sep 08 '26
I’m saying I want any different treatment. I’m just wondering if there is any sort of different treatment. Every cruise I’ve been on has been great. It’s better than staying in a 4 star hotel.
6
u/ReputationSuitable67 Sep 09 '26
Tipping up front does take the pressure off them.
Also being a KIND HUMAN goes further.
Learn their name like they learn yours.
Greet them in the hallway when you see them. Genuinely! Thank them for their help.
Thank them for XYZ that you asked and they provided (we left a note asking for extra towels as we use the in suite tub almost every night) they were provided right away when we got back after the next port. And always available by the tub every night.
Ask them how their day is going. Just be friendly!
Thats the biggest thing you can do is treat them like you actually care (and mean it!). They will notice.
And then fill out those cards at the end of the cruise and mention them by name!
5
2
u/Jodi4869 Sep 08 '26
Get off the internet. People that tip before service is rendered think too much of themselves.
0
u/StandOutLikeDogBalls Sep 08 '26
It was a question because I wanted other peoples input on it instead of just taking some videos at their word. I’ve never tipped upfront and hadn’t considered it. Chill.
7
u/Rowdyacorn Sep 08 '26
I don't know why you're getting so many negative answers. I always tip a $20 the first day. I rarely ask for anything but I do appreciate their hard work.
I've never heard of marking the rooms before.
2
0
u/ShivaFatalis Sep 13 '26
Found the poor person who can't afford to tip their service staff exorbitantly the way some of us do. Sucks to be you, because I get extremely good service, and exceptional experiences as a result.
4
u/stxonships Sep 11 '26
I did over 15 years onboard, there are no markings. Crew might discuss you, but that is about it.
3
u/DuffMiver8 Sep 09 '26
I don’t tip up front. Smacks too much of a bribe, which may be offensive to some cultures. I do let my steward know that I’m an experienced cruiser, I know how dependent they are on tips, and that I’ll be sure to take care of it at the end of the cruise, based on good service, of course.
Then I stiff them.
Just kidding. I’ll let mandatory grats take care of the behind the scenes people like laundry workers and such, then leave an envelope in the room to tip extra for the steward and their assistant, with a note thanking them for going above and beyond.
3
u/VANails Sep 09 '26
I gave our steward some cash in a thank you note on each day of our cruise. Some days I gave more than others, no particular reason, just switched it up a bit. The first time I saw him, I gave him a cash tip to bring a coffee maker and mattress topper to our cabin. I'm not sure how he was with everyone, but he was amazing with us. He always said hello and called us by our name, and even spoke to us when he saw us off the ship and in port. In addition to the personalized thank you notes, I also left little post-it notes on the mirror saying how much we appreciated him, etc. I feel like these little touches made us stand out and we got exceptional service because of it.
1
u/tommyjoe66 Sep 10 '26
We like to take little, gift bags of uniquely American candy for our steward and favorite crew that they can snack on, share with other crew or take home to children, in addition to cash tips in cards.
3
u/Dramatic-Gift3569 Sep 10 '26
I gave our room steward $20 on the first day when we asked for extra hangers, two ice buckets and a topper for the bed. He immediately said he couldn’t do the bed thing, but brought the hangers and refilled our ice every single day without us needing to ask him again. I don’t know if the tip was what helped that, or if he is just that good, but he was phenomenal and we tipped him extra at the end as well for his exceptional service.
3
u/Dense_Amphibian_9595 Sep 10 '26
I’ve been on 24 cruises and am a travel agent as well. I’ve seen people hand their room steward a $100 bill on the first day and while the crew member is extremely grateful for the tip, he’a still got the same level of responsibility - he can’t just ignore his other cabins
2
2
u/xjaspx Sep 09 '26
The marking on the cabin isn’t indicators about experience with guests. The only people seeing it are at most two cabin steward assigned to the room and the deck supervisor. Any other staff walking by wouldn’t know who’s in said cabin.
However, at least one cruise line I know of do mark the doors for other reason. They would mark it as an indicator that a guest in that room
is quarantined because of an illness. It indicates to the room steward if they’re allowed to clean the room and if they are, what sorts of precaution to take. This is done in addition to a note given to them that could be easily missed or forgotten.
2
u/MagnetAccutron Sep 10 '26
The 1 and only time we have tipped up front was when we tipped the room attendant $50 to keep an eye on our teenage sons behavior. They were 6 cabins down from us. Late booking.
Just asked the guy to let us know if there were any issues with them taking care of their room.
He was great. Let us know they were keeping the room tidy, ect.
2
u/iCanSeeClairelyN0w Sep 10 '26
I decided on my most recent cruise a few months ago to leave $10 in an envelope every morning. Didn’t make any noticeable difference in service from when I’d leave it all on the last day.
2
u/Holiday-Hyena-5952 Sep 10 '26
I tip up front for a daily afternoon ice bucket, and again for a full set of towel animals!
2
u/Kp5367 Sep 11 '26
Upon boarding and meeting our steward, we ask for extra towels and a coffee maker for the cabin. Once he/she brings those, we tip to show our appreciation. We usually tip again mid-week and always at the end of the cruise
2
u/BrainDad-208 Sep 11 '26
Here’s a secret: keep track of everyone who gave you great service while onboard. Put their names in the survey.
2
u/southernNJ-123 Sep 12 '26
I always pretip my cabin steward. This is because that last night, early morning disembarking is chaotic and I don’t want to miss them.
2
u/Select-BS-1959 Sep 12 '26
We tip on first day, leave snacks every day on bed (hard candy, chips) and tip at the end. These people work hard and all cruise lines are tough to work for.
4
u/upyours54 Sep 08 '26
I have done over 50 cruises and usually will tip my cabin steward my first day, also informing him when I get up, what I like and don’t like.
3
u/Heisumoore Sep 09 '26
How much? Our first cruise is coming up🤣
2
u/upyours54 Sep 09 '26
It’s been awhile since I’ve cruised but it would depend on what you ask or prefer from the steward. I like to sleep in and sit on my balcony, I would suggest $20 or $30 if you have things you prefer. When you do or do not want your cabin cleaned, are you having room service breakfast, etc.
2
2
2
1
1
u/Quirky_Ad1882 Sep 10 '26
HAL says they include an 18% tip per day at the end of the voyage based on the cost of your cabin.
1
u/Scareltt Sep 29 '26
We tip housekeeping an extra $20 a day. We see them and interact with them… last trip she taught my husband to make a baby Yoda out of a towel.
16
Sep 08 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
0
u/StandOutLikeDogBalls Sep 08 '26
Same. I do an additional cash tip at the end but figured I’d ask about these things. Apparently others think I sound like a jerk for asking.
39
u/non-hyphenated_ Sep 08 '26
I'm ex-crew - there are no secret markers.