Gratuities

[majermom]

I have put a call into the TA we used through our Entertainment Book but thought I might get a quicker response here. I'd like to pre pay my gratuities before we sail. Are they automatically added to my final bill if I DON'T specifically specify it somewhere beforehand. I did contact Disney awhile back and they told me I needed to contact my TA directly. Hopefully she'll call tomorrow

 

[kathie859]

I have put a call into the TA we used through our Entertainment Book but thought I might get a quicker response here. I'd like to pre pay my gratuities before we sail. Are they automatically added to my final bill if I DON'T specifically specify it somewhere beforehand. I did contact Disney awhile back and they told me I needed to contact my TA directly. Hopefully she'll call tomorrow

Our TA took my CC # and processed the tips for us. On the ship, we were given vouchers prior to disembarkation to put in the tip envelopes. We stuck a few extra dollars in a few for CM's who exceeded expectations.

I understand tips are automatically added to your final bill unless you request the tips not be added--but I have no firsthand knowledge of this.

 

[cruisecrasher]

I have put a call into the TA we used through our Entertainment Book but thought I might get a quicker response here. I'd like to pre pay my gratuities before we sail. Are they automatically added to my final bill if I DON'T specifically specify it somewhere beforehand. I did contact Disney awhile back and they told me I needed to contact my TA directly. Hopefully she'll call tomorrow

Yep. The vouchers show up on the night before your last.

 

[RedxPanda]

We prepaid tips on our last cruise to get a few more rewards dollars before we left. This was around the time they also started applying tips automatically. Tips showed up no problem and we got vouchers to give out the last night before dinner.

 

[kcashner]

Unless you make other arrangements thru Guest Services, the tips will be automatically charged to your onboard account and you will get the voucher coupons in your cabin on the second to last day.

The only difference if you pre-pay is the amount you will owe at the end of the cruise!

 

[majermom]

Great replies! Thanks a bunch... time to get back to packing

 

[3princessMommy]

If you prepay using your Disney Visa through your travel agent (or probably with DCL directly too), you get 6 months interest free to pay it off + you get the reward $$$'s (just like the cruise itself!). We do this and prepay all of our excursions and a little bit of spending money to take advantage of this.

If they charge them to you onboard and you are using the Disney Visa to pay your shipboard account, you do NOT get the same 6 months free.

 

[bsmooth]

what is the deadline for pre paying for tips? I set sail February 3 and more than likely will want to pre pay...

Thanks
Brian

 

[lanejudy]

what is the deadline for pre paying for tips? I set sail February 3 and more than likely will want to pre pay...

Thanks
Brian

I believe you can pre-pay up to 3 days prior to the sailing date. If you are using a Disney Visa (or really any reward program CC) and want to have the points available, you need to check your statement date as most points are available until the statement date even if the charge was made 3 weeks earlier.

 

[lodge]

I don't understand the point of the coupons they give you in your room when gratuities are just added onto the check... suppose it's just acknowledgement for those receiving them.

 

[Anonny]

At both the last dinner and breakfast, I told our serving team that I forgot the little envelopes. Told them they were great, their tips were paid, got a photo of them. They said with a smile, "no worries".

 

[kcashner]

I don't understand the point of the coupons they give you in your room when gratuities are just added onto the check... suppose it's just acknowledgement for those receiving them.

The coupons are in 2 perforated parts. One part serves as your record (and has the CM's name on it should you ever care). The other part goes to the CM as his/her record. Normally there is no issue with the coupons, but the CMs have a "back up" system where if they feel there is a discrepency between their records and the work they did/what they should have gotten, they can sign the coupon they got and submit it to their manager. This proves that THEY did the work, regardless of what the coupon says.

In one case, we got a coupon with the wrong name on it--the guy named on the coupon had actually gotten off the ship on the day we got on. The CM (head server) told me to not worry about it and briefly explained the system--that he could sign the coupon and the money would go to him. He did joke that it would be no issue that week since the named CM was not even on the ship.

 

[Silver Queen]

I think we'll pre-pay our gratuities to get the Disney Visa points. We will probably want to add on to the basic amount once we've met tour servers and host/hostess. Is cash the only option for adding on or can we charge the additional amount to our Visa?