One of the best tips I received before our first cruise was to take plenty of smaller bills! At the time I thought I understood the concept. However, once we were cruising, I really saw how sensible this advice was for us. 

TAKE A LOT OF DOLLAR BILLS! We usually take about $50 in $1 bills. These are so handy for all of the little misc. tips and making change when shopping. 

When planning a cruise I save my $1, $5, & $10. I put them in a separate envelope just for cruising. By the time we head out on a cruise we have a nice little stash set aside.

Some of the services you might want to tip are:

Shuttle, taxi or Uber drivers – $ depends on length of ride but typically $2 – $5.

Porters when you drop off your luggage – they recommend a $1 or $2 per bag. 

Tour or excursion guides and helpers – $5 and up.

Drink/beverage servers (yes, they do get paid but if you like faster service, this helps)

Morning room service – you don’t have to pay for the food, unless you order hot food, it’s a specialty request, or after the breakfast hours. I like to give the server a $1 or $2 when they bring our continental breakfast in the morning.

Your cabin steward – we always give them some money at the beginning of the cruise. I bring a small collapsible cooler for my diet Dr Pepper. $10 ensures it’s full of fresh ice every day! We also leave a little extra at the end of the cruise if we feel the service was good. 

Dining room waiters at the end of the cruise for a job well done. If you use any time dining and like the service you can give the server a small tip each night. 

Camp Ocean – kids camp – staff.

Bathroom helpers on the islands (This is a big part of their wage. They work hard to please the tourists and a $1 bill goes a long way to help them.)

This tipping guide is optional and not required.