Not a fan of the automatic tip charging.

[jilljill]

I believe it says right on the voucher you are to keep the left half and give the right half to the appropriate person. I know when we've rec'd vouchers in our cabins there was a letter left with them that said to put the vouchers in the envelopes and hand them out.

Your stateroom account will show the gratuities charged to each person't KTTW account. The total for each guest should/will be $96 for the 8 day cruise.

 

[BethA]

$128 seems like it must have been the total tip perhaps per person in the room? for the 8 nigt is was only $8 per person for the had server and we gave him $10 because he came by every night to check on us.
The idea of discussing the tips at check in sounds good but could hold up the lines as people discuss what to do and have questions. We did the autotip and added extra. My parents had it removed and just gave cash as they usually do.

 

[m&m's mom]

I was a bit concerned about the quality of service with the "automatic tip" but agreed it was easier.
We have never had as good service as this trip (Fantasy 6/23-6/30). I knew I was going to tip extra and asked our room steward and server how they preferred the extra amt. They both said whatever was easier for me. I finally got them to tell me it was better to have it on their acct so I went to GS and gave them each an extra $50.

 

[UmmGooD]

I was a bit concerned about the quality of service with the "automatic tip" but agreed it was easier.
We have never had as good service as this trip (Fantasy 6/23-6/30). I knew I was going to tip extra and asked our room steward and server how they preferred the extra amt. They both said whatever was easier for me. I finally got them to tell me it was better to have it on their acct so I went to GS and gave them each an extra $50.

That is good to hear. I was worried that the service would go down with automatic tips. After all Disney got rid of included tips on their WDW dining plan because the service was degrading due to the tips being included. At least that is what I heard when they removed tips from the plan in 2008.

 

[*Flower*]

That is good to hear. I was worried that the service would go down with automatic tips. After all Disney got rid of included tips on their WDW dining plan because the service was degrading due to the tips being included. At least that is what I heard when they removed tips from the plan in 2008.

Disney removed the 'gratuity' from the Disney Dining Plan, but then they turned around and added it to the Disney Dining Experience (or Tables In Wonderland as they call it now). This is the 20% discount card that you show at various table service and counter service locations that automatically include the standard gratuity and then have a separate line on the bill for the 'tip'. Some people end up tipping twice because they forget that the included tip is already on the bill in a different location.

HTH!

 

[RobynPrincess]

Why o why o why o why can't they pay the servers properly and then we can leave extra for this who we want to?!?!?!!!!?

 

[JanDave]

We go on cruises to relax and enjoy. Auto tipping is great - one less thing to be concerned with. I do not understand why people are so hung up about something that makes life easier. If you are a "really good tipper" than adjust the tip at the end of the cruise like the rest of us. One of the things to keep in mind it is very difficult for the CM's to go to the bank and deposit the "cash" tips. Most are saving every cent to sent home to family or getting a nest egg.

I was just on the 6/20/12 Dream (4 day) and we received our blue perforated tip sheet on the 2nd to last day. I went to GS to have them subtract out the automated tips and increased the tips for each tipped position. Very easy and efficient. By the way, I went to GS the first full day on the ship to take care of tips, but the CM at GS said I would have to wait until we received the tip sheet in our stateroom before changes could be made.

Jan

 

[kenzie212]

I just checked my account summary and it does show $96 gratuities each for the four of us.

I really wished I had read the tickets more closely, I was sure they said $128. I'm usually pretty good about reading everything throughly but just glanced at the paper and thought it was just our notice of the charges. I checked my visa account online and the charges do match up to my account summary so I was not charged anything extra.

Although I didn't include the tip voucher in the envelope I'm sure the employees will still get their gratuities, at least I hope they do. Our servers & room attendant were all great and we made sure to tell them how much we appreciated them. But we only put extra cash in the envelopes so I hope they don't think that is all we gave. I'm guessing they must know how much money they get each week and will know based on the amount they received in their account that they did get our full gratuities from us.

Thanks for the feed back

 

[modisneychick]

Although I didn't include the tip voucher in the envelope I'm sure the employees will still get their gratuities, at least I hope they do.

They do get a statement. I prepared our tips and had them under my Kindle on my side table the last night before dinner. When we came back to the room, the tip for our Stateroom Host was missing (and we did not leave it out on the bed or on top of anything). I called guest services to make sure if I couldn't find it, that she would still know we tipped her and they assured me she would as it was just a formality, and that they get a report by room. I ran into her the next morning and she told me she got it the night before.

 

[Bear3412]

I went to GS the first full day on the ship to take care of tips, but the CM at GS said I would have to wait until we received the tip sheet in our stateroom before changes could be made.

This is unfortunate. Is this true across the fleet? No wonder Guest Services is slammed the last couple days.

Also curious if you tweak your tips upwards using on board acct w/cc do they just add to the already charged amount or do they cancel the automatic transaction, then start over. Also I assume of course you can tip as much or little as you wish for each tipped position?
TIA

 

[rlmas]

I initially did not like hearing this after we booked, But after just returning from the June 16 Fantasy, I liked it. I knew I could change it, but I was good with the amounts and it was one less thing to worry about on the last night. I just wonder if the servers get more standard tips and fewer increases.

 

[JanDave]

This is unfortunate. Is this true across the fleet? No wonder Guest Services is slammed the last couple days.

Not sure about the other ships, but I went early morning and there were not guests at GS. I plan my GS visits when there are few people in line.

Jan

 

[dee slack]

I just wonder if the servers get more standard tips and fewer increases.

Possibly, but I'm sure it's more than made up for by the people who don't tip at all, or give a measly tip.

 

[dizney-cruiser]

But you didn't read it correctly, I don't think.

Although it asks you the number of adults (defaults to two, based on your link), the actual column heading (where the total is $12) is:

"Suggested tip, per person per day"

The "Total Tip" column does use the number of people you entered in its calculation.

Yes, I know! That was why I thanked the Princess for correcting me.

 

[doris1976]

Not a fan and haven't since I first encountered it on another cruise line in 2000. Believe it diminishes the level of service if the tip is already a forgone conclusion.

 

[dvcdisney]

I understand why they do it and I'm fine with it.

But maybe they should include this as an option during Online Check in. Guests could be asked if they want to participate in the automatic gratuity OR Guests could be given the choice to opt-out of the Auto-Grat.

This way everyone is aware gratuities are suggested.

Besides, they can do this at GS anyways so why not have the option to do it online...saves the trip to GS. This way, only guests with service issues would need to go to GS.

 

[jmclester]

As above, this was started in 2011 on the Magic due to issues of guests not tipping on the Med. It was expanded to all ships about a month ago. Guests are notified of the procedure with a letter in the stateroom (we got ours on the first night).

You do have to ability to go to GS and remove the automatic tipping as well as to increase or decrease the amount. You can also increase it by leaving the automatic in place but add some cash to the envelopes. The servers do not know whether you have altered the automatic until the last night, so it has no influence on the service you will receive.

I believe that I have only tipped less than the "suggested" amount once on a DCL cruise as the service we receive ranges from above average to fantastic. Thus, I let the automatic stand and adjust it on the second to last day-just take the tickets you get in your stateroom to GS. You will complete a form indicating the amounts you wish to apply to your account.

I don't find that it makes any difference. We've done several Magic cruises with the automatic and now one on the Fantasy. If it matters to you, you are still fully in control of the tips.

If tips are automatic now then why do you still get forms in your stateroom?

 

[CruznLexi]

You can add this to your final payment when paying off your cruise this is what we do. One less thing to bother with.

 

[jilljill]

You can add this to your final payment when paying off your cruise this is what we do. One less thing to bother with.

Actually you can call DCL or you TA up to 3 days before your cruise to prepay your gratuities.

 

[cyclenut]

If tips are automatic now then why do you still get forms in your stateroom?

The forms are there so that you can still make giving tips more personalized. You can still add to the forms an additional cash tip if you prefer as well. This procedure is pretty common on cruise lines these days. RCCL allows you (encourages but not the default) to "prepay" tips, which is really the same concept as DCL. The charges are placed on your stateroom account and you are given slips of paper and envelopes. You hand the envelopes to those providing the service.