Gratuities and Tips

[Dillianmarie]

Hi!

What do you recommend; prepay gratuities or pay the whole charges afterwards???

 

[MillauFr]

On our cruise last Summer they just automatically added tips to our account. I also tipped the server/assistant server $3 to $5 each meal. I tried to give the head server a tip as well because he arranged us to have a second character breakfast but he told me just to give it to the servers. I gave the room stewards $75 extra on the last night.

 

[kapoof]

Do you tip the servers after each meal or at the end of the cruise?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Do you tip the servers after each meal or at the end of the cruise?

Tipping on cruises is typically done at the end of the cruise.

On DCL, gratuities are added to your onboard account, and you settle your account at the end of the cruise. OR you can pre-pay your gratuities by contacting DCL and paying them as part of your cruise fare. Suggest gratuities are $12.00 per guest per day. The $12.00 breaks out to $4.00 per guest per day to your room host; $4.00 per guest per day to your dining room server; $3.00 per guest per day to your asst server; and $1.00 per guest per day to your head server.

At the end of the cruise, you will receive in your room tip coupons and envelopes. Each envelope has a position name on it (head server; server; asst server; room host). The coupons are 2-part and have the persons name, position, and amount of tip indicated on it. You tear the coupons in half, placing the correct coupon in the corresponding envelope (if you want to tip additionally, you can include cash in the envelope). You then hand out the envelopes the last day to the appropriate people. I will point out - you don't have to hand out the envelopes, if you don't want to. The tips will go to the correct person anyway.

Some people prefer to pre-pay the tips so that there isn't a large charge at the end of the cruise. Others just settle up the account at the end of the cruise. Whatever works for you.

 

[MillauFr]

Do you tip the servers after each meal or at the end of the cruise?

I did both. I tipped after each meal and they got the auto gratuity. Some meals like lunch or when we went Palo I don't believe those servers get any of the auto gratuity that they tack on everyday, but some of the more knowledgeable posters here can confirm or correct me.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I did both. I tipped after each meal and they got the auto gratuity. Some meals like lunch or when we went Palo I don't believe those servers get any of the auto gratuity that they tack on everyday, but some of the more knowledgeable posters here can confirm or correct me.

The servers in the MDRs and buffets for breakfast & lunch are the same servers that work the MDRs for dinner. The auto gratuity covers all meals. They also work the quick serve locations on the pool deck.

The servers in Palo do get a small tip from the extra charge for dining there. Many tip above that. You can add a tip to the charge slip you get or just leave cash, whatever works for you.

 

[MinnieMouse64]

We did prepay. On the second to the last night of your cruise, they drop off a paper with everyones name on it and you tear off the slips of paper and put it into an envelope (they provide) and hand it to everyone. We added extra money into each envelope. There was one girl we just loved that was a server in the dining room (she wasn't our server,but went the extra mile and seeked out my family to talk to my 19 month old grandson every night - he was crying on our first night and she was able to calm him by playing with him), but we even left her a $10 tip for going the extra mile and being so nice to my grandson.

 

[remlap]

Before they started auto charging the tips, prepay all the way. The lines at GS the last two days were scary.
That said now, it really doesn't matter. Either way is going on the same credit card.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Before they started auto charging the tips, prepay all the way. The lines at GS the last two days were scary.
That said now, it really doesn't matter. Either way is going on the same credit card.

Yes, but pre-paying you've already paid for it. Having it added to your onboard account, you have to pay it at the end of the cruise (with all those other pesky charges you've made ).

 

[shburks]

Yes, but pre-paying you've already paid for it. Having it added to your onboard account, you have to pay it at the end of the cruise (with all those other pesky charges you've made ).

My thoughts exactly! I also like to prepay because my Disney Visa recognizes it as a vacation charge and it gets lumped under the 0% 6 months interest free vacation financing plan.

 

[Bonniec]

I thought everyone prepaid unless you told them not too. When does this happen?

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[thomprod]

I thought everyone prepaid unless you told them not too. When does this happen?

The suggested tips are automatically added to your onboard account. This is for your convenience and also to gently remind all passengers that it is expected. You may adjust the amount up or down at Guest Services. The account balance is charged to your credit card at the end of the cruise. Some people pre-pay their tips before the cruise starts, so that their onboard account starts off with a credit.

 

[Dillianmarie]

Thanks everybody!!! All comments have been really helpful!!!

 

[PrincessTrisha]

I don't prepay because I prefer to use my OBC to cover our tips.

We don't take excursions or drink a lot or anything else that costs a lot of money (though my parents do like to shop on board), so this way I know we'll use much of the $350 OBC with the tips.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

Tipping on cruises is typically done at the end of the cruise.

On DCL, gratuities are added to your onboard account, and you settle your account at the end of the cruise. OR you can pre-pay your gratuities by contacting DCL and paying them as part of your cruise fare. Suggest gratuities are $12.00 per guest per day. The $12.00 breaks out to $4.00 per guest per day to your room host; $4.00 per guest per day to your dining room server; $3.00 per guest per day to your asst server; and $1.00 per guest per day to your head server.

At the end of the cruise, you will receive in your room tip coupons and envelopes. Each envelope has a position name on it (head server; server; asst server; room host). The coupons are 2-part and have the persons name, position, and amount of tip indicated on it. You tear the coupons in half, placing the correct coupon in the corresponding envelope (if you want to tip additionally, you can include cash in the envelope). You then hand out the envelopes the last day to the appropriate people. I will point out - you don't have to hand out the envelopes, if you don't want to. The tips will go to the correct person anyway.

Some people prefer to pre-pay the tips so that there isn't a large charge at the end of the cruise. Others just settle up the account at the end of the cruise. Whatever works for you.

Thanks for the info...this is what I was looking for!

 

[houseofmouse4]

We prepay our tips before. It is one less thing that you have to remember to pay while on vacation. We usually add extra money in the envelope into the servers and housekeeping because they always do an awesome job.