A FORTUNE FROM TIPS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 120, 22 May 1937, Page 27

A FORTUNE FROM TIPS

A ship's steward/has- just,died, leaving "father more); than, £.10,000, and one is prone; to,>'consider, thattipping in sliipsyis y,ydispropoftionate,;,. writes Rod.^ifikivMi^iibn -yin ~thff: -''i)aily; vTeleera^J'yi/yAyiy^'yy,?.,:?^? \v. ; -.■•.•./. .

FromSevpiiUj years' y 'experience' f : of j continuous travel in Atlantic'liners, I!

do not think this is so.

One must bear in mind that Mr. Willlsun.v.Twigg, the steward in question, Had spent some-fifty years at.sea. Also; it is probable that; many of his "tips" were Stock Exchange • tips. Financiers are perhapsmore communicative at sea than: they-are ashore!

- If there are any members , of van 'ocean liner's staff who get more genr erou^ltips than others "'they would be the smokeroom stewards'. In all big Atlantic liners tlie auction pool—the daily, "flutter", on" theship's run—is ;bid nightly in the smokeroom. The total in 'as much;' 3s £600 each night, and, according'to unwritten law,, a percentage of the winnings is divided among the smokeroom staff. ,

It-is indeed a fact that while the •captain may make £850 a year—and no tips—the smokeroom steward is -often worth his good-£2500.

Bedrpom stewards in charge of suites and staterooms make good money. Promotion takes them from stern and bows ciilphis,: to those'.'expensiye staterooms amidships; where: the traveller is will-

ipg to pay handsomely for the service he^is entitled to expect theA.

I have, known the occupants of the Bridal Suite to-.. give a five-dollar bill to their steward oh bringing them a bottle of champagne.* But thaty is Bridal Suite- rates!; ■ ; - ...

Some ocean travellers do not believe in tipping; at- alL\ VT remember sitting 'in.the- verandah cafe of .the Maiirefariia at,the next table to'a worldfamous,. American millionaire, '.He ordered three "-. A cocktails--price d ,' one and threepence each —and put down a dollar bill (four.shillings). He waited sdyiong for his threepence change that his two companions left him to, take an airing, on deck! The same millionaire yregularly pays his bedroom steward eight'shillings at the end of the trip.

But, in spite of idiosyncrasies like this, the averageliner passenger knows perfectly well that he sets aside onetenth of his passage money for tips.

This knowledge will be useful to those who are contemplating a cruise. Suppose your passage money is £30. You should spend £3 in tips, as follows:—

Bedroom steward, £1.

Table steward, £1,

Bath steward, Boots, Night Watchman, and the steward of the public room you have most frequ*nted (lounge, library, smokeroom, deck, gymnasium, or swimming pool) £1, with the public-room steward getting the bigger share.