Cruise passenger tips his cabin steward a whopping $5,000 after casino win
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A cabin crew member on a Virgin Voyages cruise ship burst into tears after receiving a surprise $5,000 cash tip in a viral social media video that sparked emotional reactions online.
The passenger behind the move was gambling content creator Bobby Rivas, known online as “Bluffin Bob” and with nearly 700,000 followers on Instagram.
Rivas said he gave the money to the crew member after winning some money at the ship’s casino.
CRUISE LINE INCREASES MANDATORY TIPPINGS FOR PASSENGERS AS 9 IN 10 AMERICANS ARE BLAST TIPPING
The emotional exchange was captured on video and shared online, where viewers praised both the passenger’s generosity and the crew member’s response.
In the video, Rivas asked the attendant, whose name was Jinky, about the biggest tip he received while working on the ship.
Rivas handed her a wad of cash, revealing the new tip totaled $5,000, and the two embraced (pictured). (Instagram/@blöf)
After he told her his highest tip was $300, Rivas handed him a wad of cash and announced that the new tip totaled $5,000.
DISNEY CRUISE LINE INCREASES RECOMMENDED CLAIMERS
Jinky was stunned and repeatedly asked if the money was real before bursting into tears.
“Really?” he asked.
Rivas replied, “It was free at the casino. I won.”
“What a wonderful gesture.”
Jinky thanked Rivas multiple times before the two hugged.
Online viewers were especially touched after the housekeeper said she planned to share the money with her partner.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
“What an amazing gesture,” one user wrote in the comments.
“Aww she posted this. You can tell she has a heart of gold,” another commenter added.
CLICK FOR MORE LIFE STORIES
Others noted the demanding nature of cruise ship work, especially for crew members who spend long periods away from home.
Many commenters noted how demanding cruise ship work can be, especially for crew members who spend long periods away from home. (iStock)
“Cruise workers are definitely the hardest workers,” one commenter wrote.
Virgin Voyages is also known for including standard gratuities in the overall cruise fare; This means passengers generally do not need to tip crew members individually for routine services.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
The cruise line notes on its website that service gratuities, including food and beverage service, are already included in the fare price.
“We keep things refreshingly simple: There’s no need to tip for drinks, meals or spa treatments during your cruise,” Virgin Voyages said.
A cabin crew member on a Virgin Voyages cruise ship burst into tears after receiving a surprise $5,000 cash tip in a viral social media video. (Horacio Villalobos/Corbis)
“Your gift of service supports the entire team, so you can focus on enjoying every moment without reaching for your wallet after every order.”
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
Because of this policy, no large cash tip is required on board; Which makes this move even more surprising.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Virgin Voyages for further comment on the incident.
