Way Rude, but do some NOT tip?

[Girls Scout Leader]

It seems that the tipping is done in such a way that some could actually disembark without paying any tips at all! I don't expect anyone to fess up, but since you are not tipping face to face, what if someone didn't tip at all? Don't worry, I will not let this happen to us, but what if it really happened?

[Michelle]

There is no doubt that some people do not tip.

But by and large the vast majority of people appreciate the outstanding service and want to tip accordingly. :)

[Señor Ferrari]

I'm sure it does happen, but I'm not sure how often. On all of our cruises, our tablemates have all given our wait staff their tip envelopes on either the last dinner or at breakfast on the final morning.

I have to admit I didn't give our head server a tip on our last cruise. He/She never once stopped by our table, so I didn't feel the need to tip them. On previous cruises, the head server has always been around, but not on this last one. I didn't even know their name. Our server, assistant server, and stateroom hostess all got more than the recommended amount, plus a 100 minute calling card.

There was a topic a few months ago on the head server, and how some would show up only on the last night to collect their tip. If I've never even seen someone, I don't feel the need to tip them.

[Towncrier]

Our head server on the last cruise was there at EVERY meal making certain that we were well taken care of. Our server and his assistant were wonderful. We were also very happy with our cabin steward. And our tips reflected our satisfaction with all four of them. That's the whole reason for tipping. Heck, we even tipped our servers at lunchtime in Lumiere's. Service on our 1/19 cruise was exceptional all around. I can't wait to go back this fall.

[daltonsdodisney]

I posted a thread on this topic, but really didn't get an answer so maybe you can help me here. What do people normally tip for a family of 4 on a 4 night cruise? Do you pay cash? I'm just trying to budget my money. I realize there's a suggested amount on the envelope? But I need to know prior. Do most tip this suggested amount?
Thanks

[mmouse37]

daltonsdodisney.....there was a thread that listed the new tipping guidelines a few weeks ago, but you would have to manually go back through all the pages because I think the search features is still down.

I know there are tipping guidelines in back of the Disney Cruise Brochure....yes, you can pay in cash or charge them to your shipboard account and receive vouchers to put in the envelopes with the amount listed that you want to gave each person.

You could also check out www.disneycruise.com and see if they list the tipping guidelines on the website. Also check out Barb's website www.***************** She has tipping guidelines posted on her site (I just checked).

Hope this helps a bit.

MJ

[Mskanga]

I cannot picture myself not tipping our servers and our room host last August, they went above and beyond their duty to make our cruise extra special and yes we did get to give them their tips in person, we paid it when we checked out and DCL gave us receipts that we put in the envelopes to give to them, then they knew how much they got. For the 3 day cruise I think we gave them $45 for each server and room host and $15 for the head server , he only stopped at our table once during the entire cruise.

[IrishCowboy]

On our first cruise, our server informed me that many people don't tip at all! I inquired what he meant by 'many' and he said approx 20-25%. Most of the time, if they skip dinner on Friday, they won't tip.

He also said that some people don't tip for children. Its a shame...these people work their butts off for 10-14 hours per day, 7 days a week!

[wovenwonder]

daltonsdodisney:
I posted the link on your other thread to Barb and Tony's site which lists the recommended amounts.

To answer your questions -- YES, you will want to budget to cover at least the recommended amounts -- and will find that MOST people here on the DIS boards throw in a little extra for what we find as superb service! Your minimum to budget (at the suggest amount) would be $175 for your family of 4 on the 4 day cruise.

:)

[Pluto4President]

Usually we give out tips at the last dinner. Our servers were great and so was the room steward. Our head server was too fake. We barely got hellos out of him, except for that last night. We did give him the envelope, with the suggested tip. I didn't think he was worth it at all. On the other hand, we over tipped the server, asst server and room steward. We also tipped the Topsiders mgr and a couple of the drink servers that were always there for us.

[RellingTwin]

It is a sad,sad fact....25% of people do not tip at all, under ANY circumstances! I know it is hard for those who do to understand this but having worked in the hotel/resturant industry for 10 years I have seen it many, many times.
Whe I fist heard this (while waitressing in college) I did not belive it, so I started keeping track. Some night were better then others but after 6 months it was clear. 25% overtip,40% tip the "standard"amount 10 % undertip and 25% tip nothing. I know this is very un-sciencetific but if you ask someone who works for tips for a living you will see I am pretty close.

This is the reason for the automactic tip on large parties, and at some upscale resturants.

Just my 2 cents!

[inkkognito]

In our many voyages on the ships, we too have heard that 25 percent figure. It's a shame, as the servers and stateroom hosts/hostesses depend on that money as a major part of their income and we've never had substandard service. On the contrary, we usually end up tipping more. I wish DCL would include the tip in your cruise fare...this is typically done at dude ranches. I am always interested to see the head server controversy, too. Most of the time we've had really good head servers. Only once or twice have they been mostly "absent," but it's usually the opposite. As a matter of fact, on our last cruise our head server was Rita, who we've had before (and who is great!). But P.J. was on the same rotation (he is another head server we know from previous trips), and he also made sure that we were taken care of. Rita got extra, and P.J. got a tip too even tho' he wasn't officially our head server.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.*****************

[SINK]

Barb:

Of course, all the head servers know you and DH (you have been there 19 times!). Something have to say about "product" loyalty. The platinum cruisers should be the "official" spokeperson(s) for DCL.:D

[disneyholic family]

what about room service?
is the tip automatically billed to you?
or do you tip them in cash?

my family tends to over-tip (that is, my husband and i, and the kids now that they're older.......)......the marginal difference is so inconsequential, and it usually makes such a difference to the person serving you, that to me it's worth it...
where we live, a 15% service charge is added on automatically in almost all restaurants, however the server only gets half of it (that really burns me)....so naturally i add on at least another 10%.....europe is a strange place....

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by disneyholic family

what about room service?
is the tip automatically billed to you?
or do you tip them in cash?

Although all tipping is up to your discretion (except for the automatic 15% gratuity for drinks), there are no "guidelines" or "suggestions" for room service tipping. My personal <i><b>suggestions</b></i> are as follows:

$2 minimum.
$1 for each additional person receiving service.
$1 if all you're getting is coffee or tea.

So you'll want to start saving single dollar bills prior to your cruise.

[DisneyKids]

There was a lot of discussion on our cruise about the head server, why he rarely was seen, etc. When we brought this up to our server, he said that because we weren't difficult guests, there really was little that we needed from the head server. Since our server was very good and we felt he was telling us "as it is", we tipped the requested amount. I guess if you see him too often, it's because he's "fixing" something. If not, you are having a good time with great service and don't really need him!

[SC Minnie]

On the 1/19 Magic our head server, Christophe, stopped by our table every night. Our servers were excellant and we never had any problems. We had read on other threads about never seeing the head server and were surprised that he would stop by to speak every night. We tipped him well along with our servers as they all deserved it.

[Pluto4President]

Originally posted by SC Minnie
On the 1/19 Magic our head server, Christophe, stopped by our table every night. Our servers were excellant and we never had any problems. We had read on other threads about never seeing the head server and were surprised that he would stop by to speak every night. We tipped him well along with our servers as they all deserved it.

That's because your groups reputation preceeded you :D

[disneyholic family]

thanks Dave...
so i'll stock up on singles before i get there....
i wonder if the bank here will be able to do that....
probably not...
i'll have to remember when we get to the states, to get a couple hundred dollars in singles....
i use them anyway in the resort hotel to tip the housekeeping staff every day....so i'll need them either way...
i used my stash up last year in new york....i forgot to replenish before getting on the plane for home....
geez. ....i hate planes.....if i survive this cruise i'll have to investigate transatlantic cruises.....anything not to have to get into that metal tube 5 miles up in the sky.....

[daltonsdodisney]

Woven Wonder:

[SC Minnie]

Our tablemates were MickeyMagic and her DD - didn't know they were DISers until we started talking the first night!

Christophe must have found out we were DISers and he would be 'talked about on the DIS board'!

[fireplug]

First off let me say we ALWAYS leave a gratuitiy when we recieve good service !

Having said that....... when did a tip become an automatic service charge ?????

I find it offensive when you pay$ 4.50 for a glass of beer and then they slap on a $.68 tip. I agree that a bartender should get a little something extra but there is no incentive to give good service if it is an auto fee. At two beers a minute that comes out to $81.60 an hour to pour beer. Even if he is making minimum wage thats not too shabby if you ask me. There has to be a better way and I think with all their staff Disney can find it.

Sorry if I sound unhappy, but this is one of those little things that just gets on my nerves.
We really love the cruises and intend on going many times more !!!

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by fireplug
I find it offensive when you pay$ 4.50 for a glass of beer and then they slap on a $.68 tip. I agree that a bartender should get a little something extra but there is no incentive to give good service if it is an auto fee. At two beers a minute that comes out to $81.60 an hour to pour beer. Even if he is making minimum wage thats not too shabby if you ask me. There has to be a better way and I think with all their staff Disney can find it.
I doubt any bartender is pouring, presenting charge receipts, and getting signatures for 120 beers per hour. I think the average number of drinks per hour is much, much lower.

Also, it's unlikely the bartender is earning minumum wage. The ship is not under US Federal or state labor laws. And, on top of that, the bartender is paying DCL for room and board.

In your example, just consider the price of the beer to be $5.18, and be glad you don't have to calculate and total up a charge slip each time. 15% is not an unreasonable tip for a bartender.

In the unlikely case that you actually get bad service, complain to management.

[Dave_from_Marietta]

Originally posted by SC Minnie

On the 1/19 Magic our head server, Christophe, stopped by our table every night. Our servers were excellant and we never had any problems. We had read on other threads about never seeing the head server and were surprised that he would stop by to speak every night. We tipped him well along with our servers as they all deserved it.

Originally posted by Pluto4President

That's because your groups reputation preceeded you.

No, actually, Christophe really is good. We had him on our 5/26 Magic cruise, and he was quite personable and attentive.

[kendall]

Dave,

I must agree with you - Christophe is wonderful!

After reading these boards I wondered what to expect from the Head Server. I was pleasantly surprised by Christophe - he is indeed quite personable and he assisted the servers whenever needed, and made a point to talk with each of the guests. He also sought us out at breakfast or lunch if he saw us and touched base with us. My 8 year old DD was totally charmed by Christophe and she cried big tears on the last morning when she said good-bye to him. Christophe's personal attention was excellent, and he even helped us out one evening when DD wasn't feeling well - DD left dinner early and my DH returned to the dining room between seatings to see if he could get a roll to calm DD's tummy. Christophe happened to see DH come in, and he took care of us. Needless to say, we tipped Christophe above the recommended amount.

[Rikersmom]

We cruised in September with friends from England. They were not accustomed to tipping at home, so they were constantly asking if a tip was required. We're always somewhat disappointed in the Americans who don't tip, but now I have a better understand of how hard this custom is for English folks.

My favorite story from that cruise: At the safety drill, someone told my friend Jean that "T" was farther down the deck. (Meaning, of course the safety station "T".) Jean replied, "Oh that would be lovely. I'm dying for a cup of tea."

[Ariel Lover]

I am shocked to hear that 25% don't tip at all! We tipped above the suggested amounts because the service was well above average. We have cruised other lines and nothing compares to the Disney service. Our server Alun and his assistant Attila were outstanding. These guys/girls work soooo hard for all of us. We owe it to them. I was happy to tip everyone. I even tipped the people who brought my luggage. If a CM did anything for us we tipped. It was our pleasure!

[happydays]

OK - I know they weigh a bit, but before our trips to WDW and/or DCL, I stock up on the golden dollars (which are getting harder to accumulate). Then I can leave $3 tips in the shape of a "hidden Mickey". I suppose you could also use one golden dollar and two quarters ...:D

[happydays]

OK - I know they weigh a bit, but before our trips to WDW and/or DCL, I stock up on the golden dollars (which are getting harder to accumulate). Then I can leave $3 tips in the shape of a "hidden Mickey". I suppose you could also use one golden dollar and two quarters ...:earseek:

[happydays]

OK - I know they weigh a bit, but before our trips to WDW and/or DCL, I stock up on the golden dollars (which are getting harder to accumulate). Then I can leave $3 tips in the shape of a "hidden Mickey". I suppose you could also use one golden dollar and two quarters ...:earseek: