First Cruise...Tipping?

[turbo teacher]

We are cruising on the Wonder - Mexican Riv - in Feb. It is our first cruise. It is me, my hubby and 5 year old daughter. I want to set aside some $$ for tipping? Can someone provide a breakdown on what is "expected" for tipping? Do you tip each person in your "service" team - room attendant, head server, main server...etc...?

I know it is dependent on quality of service...but I've heard so many conflicting reports here about the actual AMOUNT that people tipped. Some give a dollar amount per person per day. And others say, per attendant a % of your bill...

Can you post what you've done for tipping in the recent past? Thanks so much!

 

[dursin]

We are cruising on the Wonder - Mexican Riv - in Feb. It is our first cruise. It is me, my hubby and 5 year old daughter. I want to set aside some $$ for tipping? Can someone provide a breakdown on what is "expected" for tipping? Do you tip each person in your "service" team - room attendant, head server, main server...etc...?

I know it is dependent on quality of service...but I've heard so many conflicting reports here about the actual AMOUNT that people tipped. Some give a dollar amount per person per day. And others say, per attendant a % of your bill...

Can you post what you've done for tipping in the recent past? Thanks so much!

If you budget $12 per person per day, plus a few dollars for room service and the people who handle your baggage, you should be ok. Gratuity is automatically added to all drink orders and is included in the Palo service change if you decide to dine there.

Here are the guidelines from the FAQ on the DCL site:
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faqs/onboard-services/gratuities/

 

[zerog]

For my last cruise, I stopped by several banks to get $2 bills and some $1 gold coins. I had an assortment of the new (very shiny) Lincoln coins, plus William Harrison and Sacagawea Golden Dollars.

I tipped the luggage porters and room service with the $2 bills. For the room steward and waiters, I topped off their tips with both (bills and an assortment of coins). The room steward saw me in the hall later and was so gracious for the additional 'cool' currency. Same with the head waiter. He told me he collected foreign money and this was something he did not have.

These people worked very hard to make our vacation special. I was glad I could do something a little out of the ordinary to show them that their work was appreciated.

 

[dursin]

For my last cruise, I stopped by several banks to get $2 bills and some $1 gold coins. I had an assortment of the new (very shiny) Lincoln coins, plus William Harrison and Sacagawea Golden Dollars.

I tipped the luggage porters and room service with the $2 bills. For the room steward and waiters, I topped off their tips with both (bills and an assortment of coins). The room steward saw me in the hall later and was so gracious for the additional 'cool' currency. Same with the head waiter. He told me he collected foreign money and this was something he did not have.

These people worked very hard to make our vacation special. I was glad I could do something a little out of the ordinary to show them that their work was appreciated.

That's a nice idea. A couple years ago I would carry some old silver certificates to tip with, but I really don't think anyone appreciated getting them so I stopped doing it.

 

[kcashner]

Tipping is probably the hottest topic on the boards. That said, the "suggested" tips total $12 per guest per night of the cruise and are typically given on the last evening of the cruise. You will have tip envelopes provided in your stateroom a day or so in advance.

You can charge your tips by completing a form (which will also be placed in your room) and dropping it at Guest Services. YOU indicate the amount of tip for each person and will get a coupon for the tip--1/2 goes to the CM in the envelope, the other half is for your records. VERY easy.

You can also choose to tip with cash, or can supplement your charged tips with cash if desired.

If you use the porters at the terminal, they get an additional tip. It is also customary to tip room service.

You need to be aware that there is an automatic gratuity included with any bar item you purchase (whether it contains alcohol or not). There is also a line where you can add any additional gratuity. Many people are not aware that they have already paid a 15% tip when they see the tip line.

Since OP asked for a personal "what you do," I use the suggested tip as the minimum. If the service is decent, but not totally over the top, this is what I tip--I consider it to basically be the CM's pay check. Typically the service IS exceptional and I reward this with an increased tip.

 

[DisneyDream2B]

I like to include a personal thank you note with tips, making note of a particular service I appreciated.

 

[Beachmum]

I don't think anyone likes getting $2 bills or $1 coins. For most of us, they're something that's likely to be spent inaccurately (for the coins) or gotten rid of (for the bills). I'd carry a whole mess of $1 bills and tip with those. Although I'm sure there are some people who appreciate creative tips, I would bet that most like regular cash that they can use.

(As a side note, when my older daughter lost her first tooth, we thought she'd like the dollar coins from the tooth fairy. When she lost her second tooth, she wrote the tooth fairy a note asking for a bill instead of a coin.)

 

[zerog]

I don't think anyone likes getting $2 bills or $1 coins. For most of us, they're something that's likely to be spent inaccurately

I don't know if everyone thinks that way. But hey.. I think people usually look at the bill denomination when they hand someone a payment.

Anywho, I didn't tip the waiter and room steward with all $2 bills and coins. I threw a few on top of 20s as an added bonus. Both were appreciative of this unique currency, as they told me later.

I think given a choice of a $50 tip or a $50 tip with a few $2 bills and gold coins, I think most people would choose the latter option.

 

[heymoonkid]

We just got our little cruise booklet in the mail with our documents and luggage tags. On the Gratuity Guidelines page, here is what it says:

7-night Cruise Gratuity Suggestions
(per person, including children)
Restaurant Server $28.00
Restaurant Assistant Server $21.00
Head Server $7.00
Stateroom Host(ess) $28.00
Room Service Your Discretion

So following those guidelines, each cruiser would pay $84 in tips on a 7-nighter... so I guess that's where the $12 a day figure comes from. And that will work out to $336 in tips for our family of 4, which is 2 adults plus a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old... but we may leave our baby in Flounder's during dinner a few nights.

 

[dancing4life]

 

[renee123]

We just got our little cruise booklet in the mail with our documents and luggage tags. On the Gratuity Guidelines page, here is what it says:

7-night Cruise Gratuity Suggestions
(per person, including children)
Restaurant Server $28.00
Restaurant Assistant Server $21.00
Head Server $7.00
Stateroom Host(ess) $28.00
Room Service Your Discretion

So following those guidelines, each cruiser would pay $84 in tips on a 7-nighter... so I guess that's where the $12 a day figure comes from. And that will work out to $336 in tips for our family of 4, which is 2 adults plus a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old... but we may leave our baby in Flounder's during dinner a few nights.

My tips were automatically billed to my account. This was the new policy on the magic. You are charged exactly as you listed. It's not optional anymore.

 

[kcashner]

My tips were automatically billed to my account. This was the new policy on the magic. You are charged exactly as you listed. It's not optional anymore.

It is still optional, only now the default on the Magic is to have it billed to your account. You can change this at any time during the cruise by going to GS. You can change the amount, make the charge zero if you prefer to use cash, or whatever you wish. If you do nothing, the "suggested" amount will be charged to you account. This started on the Med where some people weren't used to AMerican style tipping and the CMs were getting stiffed.

Why it has continued only on the Magic--I don't know. I would have expected it to move to all the ships or for the Magic to go back to the old way, especially with the push to keep everything the same on all ships. Whatever...for us it is a trip to GS either way--to increase tips if they do it as they are now or to do a charge when they are doing the old system.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

My tips were automatically billed to my account. This was the new policy on the magic. You are charged exactly as you listed. It's not optional anymore.

Sorry, You are wrong.

You can change your tip amount at any time by visiting GS.

Ex Techie

 

[jaydoe]

Tipping has me a little confused too. I will taking my first cruise in May. I understand the average $12 per day per person. What I don't quite understand is what or who that covers? Also, as I understand it, tips are given at the end of the cruise. Should I wait to tip the person who cleans my room each night...or leave a tip each day, like you would at a hotel???

 

[TheLanes]

I don't think anyone likes getting $2 bills or $1 coins. For most of us, they're something that's likely to be spent inaccurately (for the coins) or gotten rid of (for the bills). I'd carry a whole mess of $1 bills and tip with those. Although I'm sure there are some people who appreciate creative tips, I would bet that most like regular cash that they can use.

(As a side note, when my older daughter lost her first tooth, we thought she'd like the dollar coins from the tooth fairy. When she lost her second tooth, she wrote the tooth fairy a note asking for a bill instead of a coin.)

What's wrong with $20 bills?

 

[kcashner]

Tipping has me a little confused too. I will taking my first cruise in May. I understand the average $12 per day per person. What I don't quite understand is what or who that covers? Also, as I understand it, tips are given at the end of the cruise. Should I wait to tip the person who cleans my room each night...or leave a tip each day, like you would at a hotel???

As with most other things, DCL makes this as easy as possible. On the second to last day, you will get tip envelopes in your cabin along with a charge form. If you wish to charge the tips, complete and sign the form and drop it in the box by Guest Services--you will get tip coupons delivered to your stateroom later that day.

Place either the coupon or cash in the envelope, sign it, and give it to the appropriate CM that evening, The CMs who get the tips are the head server, server, assistant server, and stateroom host. The form makes it very clear who should get what, as does the info in the document book you'll get. Yes, the suggested total is $12 per guest per night of cruise...so if you are on a 3 night cruise, the total is $36 per guest.

Head server $1 per guest per night + $3 on 3 night cruise
Server and stateroom host $4 per night = $12 each on 3 night cruise
Assistant server = $3 per night per guest = $9 for 3 night cruise.

SO..if there are 4 of you in the room, multiply those amounts by 4.

SO NO, you do not tip each day--you wait till the last night.

 

[Spectrum]

What about servers for sit down lunches and breakfasts?

 

[Brandis]

What about servers for sit down lunches and breakfasts?

Those are the same servers as for dinner. So you tip them already with the tip at the end of the cruise. While you might not be served by YOUR dinner waiters at breakfast or lunch, they also work in the dining room in the evening, so they get tipped by THEIR guests.

 

[Lainey321]

Okay, bear with me here, I just want to make sure I understand...my dh and I and our 2 daughters (13 & 9) will be taking a 5 night cruise in May. According to my calculations our tip would be $240 ($12 * 4ppl * 5 nights) right?

 

[kcashner]

Okay, bear with me here, I just want to make sure I understand...my dh and I and our 2 daughters (13 & 9) will be taking a 5 night cruise in May. According to my calculations our tip would be $240 ($12 * 4ppl * 5 nights) right?

Correct.

Also, as above, tips for breakfast and lunch are part of the tip that you give at dinner. You may be served by other people, but your servers are working somewhere. The tip at dinner represents the tip for all the service you received in any dining room and/or fast food outlet during the cruise with the exception of adult only dining and bars.