Info on Servers

[kume]

Like a lot you, we developed a real feeling for our servers. We had Garish and Stipe. Can anyone tell me how much these guys make. They work hard and for long hours and always have a smile on their faces. I thought other restaurants should have their staff try and imitate them. They would do some business. They also seem to be quite knowledgeable. Are they well educated? Also, they must not last long on the ship. Who could keep up the pace and they all seem to be so young.

[txtara]

the salary..i don't think there is one..and yes they work for 6-9months w/out a day off..maybe just an afternoon or morning off at times..and some staff can't leave the ship at all...we've had some of the best servers...both dinning and stateroom that we've ever had...most have had family and children back home..so they have been the best to our kids..we have had our youngests dd's birthday on ship..and they go out of there way for them...our last stateroom staff..Clinton..even bought an Ariel doll for her and rapped it and everything...we do go all out for them..bringing them phone cards and girl scout cookies to them..and whenever we go to port we ask..do you smoke or drink..or what can we pick you up from the islands..most will tell you..and others just say na..no thanks..heck we even learned of some new Jamaican Rums from some of the staff..got it and tried it out...great find..anyway..back to money..just think they have 2 dinner seatings...and just say 3 to 4 tables..I think I figured them to make great money...1500-2000 a week..but without the family and work like dogs..but they do stay very happy and are the best servers..my dw says she would be on zanex after dealing with some of the guests...haha..

[pgesler]

It sounds like the best gift is the phone cards. Do they have to use them at Port Canaveral or can they be used on the ship? What denomination is most useful?

Any one think of other gift ideas?

[taswira]

It's my understanding that phone cards do not work on the ship because it is not just international, but ship-to-shore, so it is a special situation. Does anyone know differently? Is there any phone card that does work from the ship??

[Matty02]

Phone cards DO NOT work on the ship, you are right because of the ship to shore rates but they may work in other ports if they are international cards. Also, the servers are on contracts, just like every other employee on the boat which usually last from 6-9 months. They can renew and extend just like any other employee also... my servers from my last cruise were still on the boat... they even made it a point to come say hi to us one night because some how they found out we were on board. A lot of them make their living on the ship and send the money to a family back home.

Remember, the best way to tahnk them for awesome service: bigger tips and gifts :)

[RellingTwin]

Please remember, in addition to serving dinner to guests the servers also work breakfast and lunch.While dinner is the only meal you "tip for" you are really leaving a tip for every server for every meal, no matter what resturant you eat in. Also the figure you stated assumes everyone tips the recommeded amount. Sadly, this is not the case. Apx 20% of people do not tip at all!Our waiter Cedric (he was GREAT) was always around! We saw him at CC seaving the BarBQ, at Topsiders, giving out bevrages, and at Parrot Cay at lunch time. He was amazing. He always looked well rested and full of energy. I do not know how they do it!They earn every nickel.

[dbcruise]

I always get a package of phone cards from costco it has 10 120 min phone cards for like $50.00 so they cost about $5.00 Ea .I saw our waiter working in the buffet handing out desserts in the day time . They do work hard and many hours but assit. waiter Zama said from what she heard the staff likes working for Disney better then other lines .

[inkkognito]

I too have to throw in my commendation for the excellent servers and stateroom hosts and hostesses on the Disney ships. They work so hard for very little money. That is why you seldom see Americans working in those positions (in 19 cruises, we have only had one American server). Although it is not a lot of money for us, it is good money in many of their countries. On one of our Royal Caribbean trips, we had a server from India who had several children and who had worked on cruise ships for years. Even tho' it kept him away from his family for months at a time, it was the only way he could make a good living to provide a decent life for them. I am always amazed at how friendly the crew members are, and often they remember us from cruise to cruise. It makes me feel so good to be greeted so warmly. We always bring phone cards and extra cash for additional tips. The one thing that really annoys me is when I see some guests talking down to crew members and treating them as though they are inferior. Just because they are from a poor country and have not had the same opportunities doesn't mean that they are beneath those of us who are lucky. I love chatting with the crew and getting to know them (although there is such limited time for that, due to their bust schedules). They are delightful people doing hard work with a great attitude! Anyone who treats them badly should have to change places with them for a week.
Pardon me while I get down off my soapbox!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.*****************

[wizdiz]

I agree! The servers can really make a difference. On our 3-2-02 Magic cruise they were nothing short of terrific. The kids really loved them. After the cruise, my DS (9) mentioned how much he enjoyed, and looked forward to, discussing his day each evening with our Server, Robert (Hungary). Robert always asked him about what kind of day he had and was interested in the adventures of the day. He also played a mean game of tic-tac-to. Meanwhile DS (8) will never forget our Asst. Server, Gabriele (Romania) who was as sweet as can be and entertained us all with some really neat magic tricks. I know these servers tried really hard to ensure that our vacation was the best it could be and they succeeded, for sure.

[peter pans family]

We had great servers on our March 2nd cruise, Andrea from Hungary and Mark from U.K. We also had Vladro at Palo's for brunch and dinner and he was very knowlegable and at the age of 23 had done more and been more places than most of us in a lifetime. He explained they are on a 6 month contract and then have 2 months off, Disney pays for them to fly home and fly back (if they renew). They all work so hard and deserve the tips they receive!

[mmouse37]

peter pans family.....we also had Vlado in Palo's for our brunch. We were a large group and were given the private room in Palo's. Vlado was our server and we also were so impressed that he did so much at such a young age!!!!!

We were on the 2/23/02 Magic cruise!!!

MJ

[taswira]

One of the servers was not the best with the serving aspect (perhaps new) but more than made up for it by being personable and taking spare moments for interesting conversation. To me a big pleasure of cruising is meeting and talking with people, both cast members and passengers. I think a big problem is that many people barely scrape up the money for their cruise, and forget to budget a decent amount for CMs. It's a shame.

[twinscandc]

Is it my understanding that the Oceaneer Club CM's don't get tips? Has anyone ever done something special for them? I feel that anyone who cares for my children should be given something nice since they have such a huge impact on them!!

Any ideas? And if you do give them something, do you present it before the start of the cruise or after?

59 days and counting!!!:bounce: :pinkbounc

[DisneyKids]

We spoke about salary to our server (Mitcho - fantastic). He said almost all of the wages they make go back to DCL for room and board. I think he said they end up with about $40 per month. Tips are their salaries. That's why we go over the suggested amount (that and because they really make your trip special). Also, top survey scores earn them more tables which equals more tips. On the bad side, he told us of some tables tipping very low or not at all. I can't even believe that. We tipped extra but it didn't come close to making up what one family shorted him (about $150) from the other dinner seating. We did the phone cards, too. Got ours at Sam's. They do work internationally. Mitcho said that they are allowed to get off the ship at Port Canaveral for a few hours so I would assume they would take time then to call from a US payphone. Maybe even at other ports.

[DisneyKids]

Oceaneers Club/Lab Tips...

We brought phone cards for them too. However, because our kids went at various times of the days, we never got to the point of where a one or two got close to our kids or even had a chance to so we didn't use them. I wanted to but there were so many that I didn't have any idea of who to single out to give them to. And, I didn't have enough for them all. But, we had them if needed and they sure won't go to waste. Others do tip them and maybe you will want to, also. They are worth it. I just didn't have 20+ cards to hand out.

[natsmom125]

Peter Pans Family----- we had Mark from UK and he was the best...looked all over the dining room for a certain color crayon for our DD.....and

MMouse37 was your Vlado from Croatia???? Dark hair and eyes, very nice looking and friendly......If he was, then
we had him along with Mark in January....

I'm hoping to get them care packages sent soon.


We have always had great servers on the Magic and I know we
will continue to have great servers. Looking forward to comparing the service when we sail on the Wonder in September.

Phyllis
:cool:

[peter pans family]

That is the Vladro from Croatia, handsome! He told us he trained Mark and was jokingly bragging that he taught him all he knew...of course we went back to Mark and told him what Vladro said and he told us Andrea has had to correct everything he was taught...lol

[natsmom125]

ROFL Vlado was a great teacher....and Mark did everything right!!!!!!!!!!! He had our drinks at the table before we even sat down most nights. Mark did something for us that was extra and I don't want to get him in trouble here...if DCL is reading this...but DD left her Gameboy stuff under her chair in Parrot Cay. After we got back to our cabin...I went down to guest
services or to Mickey's Mates or somewhere. I got back in the cabin and someone knocked on our door...I said "Who is it?" The voice said "Room service." I asked dh and dd how they could possibly order room service 15 mins after we got back from dinner. They said "We didn't order room service". So, I opened the door and there was Mark with dd's Gameboy stuff. He did not have to do that..but he didn't want her to be without her stuff(which she had not missed at that time) and did not want us to go through Lost and Found when he knew it was hers.

I knew Vlado was trying to get on at Palo's...but he didn't know if or when.

And about the tipping.....at 26.00 per person...Vlado only had 11 people that only amounts to 286.00. And Mark got even less. Thats not much for the week. We of course, tipped more...but I'm sure some did not. And then we gave them an extra 10 bucks..just because!!

Hope to see all of them on our next Magical cruise.

Phyllis
:cool:

[EVee]

On our last cruise, which was a carnival cruise, our waiter Francisco said that many diners do not show up for dinner on the last night of the cruise. That is when they receive their hard earned tips. Sure enough, there were 3 couples absent from that last dinner at our seating alone! Also, the ships don't pay any benefits such as healthcare, sick leave, vacation, etc. That is why you don't see Americans working there. It may sound like they are exploited, but I believe that they love the opportunity to work at what they do. Francisco was separated from his family for months at a time, but was saving to buy a house back home. It would have taken him many more years to save that kind of money in his native country. We always tip more than the recommended amount because they deserve it. If you ate in a five star restaurant for one night, you would tip much more than it is averaged out over the course of the cruise. Just my opinion.
:)

[mmouse37]

Yes, it was Vlado from Croatia.....very handsome!!!!!

MJ

[dbcruise]

Vlado only had 11 people that only amounts to 286.00. And Mark got even less.


WAs this only 1 dinner seating ? They have 2 seating so maybe he got double this amount .From what i have learned from the waiters on the 5 ships I have been on . They do make pretty good money but they work alot more 8 hours a day and it is not easy work .But compared to what they could make back home they are really paid well .If he makes the 286.x2 seating he makes better then me a single mom in expensive S.Cal .BUt for anyone to avoid paying the tip unless service was horrible which I can not believe a waiter or busperson would last very long if they were not good . I can not understand but I am sure it happens more then we would think . I just keep believeing that these people will pay somehow for how they treated others .

[Towncrier]

Vlado was our server on the inaugural 7-day cruise in August 2000. I will agree that he is truly a gentleman and an excellent server. Our assistant server was a little disorganized (I'm being nice now). And our head server did his job, but we didn't see him very often.

On our 2nd cruise this January, we saw Vlado and talked with him for a bit. This cruise we ended up with an all Croatian serving team: Alen, Tom, and Dragan. They were a well oiled machine. After our first cruise, I couldn't imagine better service, but this threesome delivered excellent service at every meal. I was (pleasantly) surprised at how much attention we got from the head server (Alen). We saw him at least once or twice during each meal. Quite a change from our first cruise.

Don't get me wrong. Vlado and company did an excellent job and we had a great time. But he had to overcome an assistant server who was more interested in chatting than in assisting. Which wasn't all bad. Unless you really needed a cup of coffee. :)

We have had excellent service on both cruise and look forward to crusing again, this time on the Disney Wonder. I am certain that we will not be disappointed.

[natsmom125]

Sorry...that was for the 2nd seating only. I don't know how many people were at those 3 tables at the early seating. That would
still only be 500 something for the week...not 1500 as someone
posted earlier. And they do work at other restaurants during the day too...with no tips. If all tables were full for both seatings and
people tipped correctly...then they could make probably close to a
thousand a week. But I've heard of people who don't tip on the
night they go to Palo's, if they eat by the pool, go to Topsiders, etc. So, you just never know.

I also asked about being paid a salary. I know they get some type of a salary..I don't know how much. It is direct deposited into an account for them..like we have here at my work.

Anyway....I am by these servers and hosts/hostesses like I am
by teachers..there is not enough money to pay me to do this type
of work!!!! I feel like my childs teacher deserves a zillion dollars a year...for teaching my kid alone...lol.

Phyllis
:cool: