Concierge tipping- Help!

[Alexle2007]

Ok, so we upgraded at the port to concierge and it is wonderful. We're in San Juan for the day so I have about 10 hours to figure out who all and approximately how much we should be tipping. Also, we have 2 assistant servers? Not sure if one is in training or not. Do we tip them both? Thanks for your help!

 

[artnerds]

We have typically tipped $50-$100 for each concierge host, depending on how much we used their services during the week. We also tip the concierge lounge bartender and the server who keeps the lounge buffet stocked.

As for the Assistant Server in training, I'd recommend asking Concierge what is customary. I think that people in training get salaries so that the guests are not expected to tip an extra server.

You don't have to get cash for any of them. All the tips can be put on your onboard account.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Wish you had more time to decide!! Tipping Concierge is very controversial, as DCL refuses to say if--or how much--salary they actually make. I can tell you the tips are divided among the 3 of them, so unless you give one or more actual cash, whatever you tip may go to a concierge host who didn't do much for you at all.

We gave the bartender and assistant each $25 in cash.

 

[artnerds]

Wish you had more time to decide!! Tipping Concierge is very controversial, as DCL refuses to say if--or how much--salary they actually make. I can tell you the tips are divided among the 3 of them, so unless you give one or more actual cash, whatever you tip may go to a concierge host who didn't do much for you at all.

We gave the bartender and assistant each $25 in cash.

I have a personal friend who worked as a Concierge Host and now works shoreside. They are paid about $100 a week by the cruise line. When there are no passengers, such as during dry dock or during non-guest-bearing repositioning cruises, they are given a salary similar to that of the Guest Services Manager (they are the same level officer as the Guest Services Manager).

The cruise line thinks it's unseemly for officers to ask for tips. For a long time, they didn't even put tipping your Concierge Hosts as an option on the tip sheet. And they still don't put the concierge bartender and server on the tip sheet, which is even more ridiculous.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I guess the dictionary definition of an "officer" (someone in a position of authority or command) isn't in line with Disney's!! $100 isn't much pay for an Officer---

And very interesting about the $100 as I've read a # of posts by folks who claim Concierge hosts told them they make 0$$ in salary and totally depend on tips

In any case, they certainly now suggest tips are welcome and at your discretion. And you will note Disney still does not suggest what the tip should be--as they do with all the true "tipped" positions on board.

As I said in several other threads, I find the whole thing to be confusing and even a bit irritating

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We have tipped various levels to concierge and it depends on the service provided. I would say it's a bit more than the amounts quoted here.

I have been on the Fantasy with three hosts and most of the time on the older ships with one dedicated host. I tip more to the dedicated host as it is more of a personal service.

I would say as a guide only consider the tips for your stateroom host and main server and using that as a benchmark does the concierge do more or less for you and tip accordingly.

Consider if you used shoreside concierge a lot, whilst they is not part of tips it's still part of the overall service.

 

[bumbershoot]

Also, we have 2 assistant servers? Not sure if one is in training or not. Do we tip them both?

That's odd. I'd ask the concierges or even guest services. But honestly, if it's not included in the sheet of people to tip, I'd assume you don't have to. If they are doing great things for you and you feel called to give them money, do so, of course.

As for concierge, it's between your heart, your wallet, and what you've asked of them. No one else can tell you what to tip. One person's generosity is another person's paltry tip. And vice versa. They have no guidelines, so YOU get to guide yourself. They have accepted a job that has no guidelines, so they have to know that they'll get tips that are all over the place. It's what they signed up for.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

That's odd. I'd ask the concierges or even guest services. But honestly, if it's not included in the sheet of people to tip, I'd assume you don't have to. If they are doing great things for you and you feel called to give them money, do so, of course.

As for concierge, it's between your heart, your wallet, and what you've asked of them. No one else can tell you what to tip. One person's generosity is another person's paltry tip. And vice versa. They have no guidelines, so YOU get to guide yourself. They have accepted a job that has no guidelines, so they have to know that they'll get tips that are all over the place. It's what they signed up for.

When they said two assistants I know I had two stateroom hosts one tipable and the main man and a host in training, we asked and were told as in training no tip.

I understand that regularly stateroom hosts train with concierge hosts.

Now I haven't seen to assistant servers normally they train in Cabanas.

 

[1Winston]

We tipped 150 to each host and 50 to the bartender. They were wonderful with the children and really made the trip. Hope this helps.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We tipped 150 to each host and 50 to the bartender. They were wonderful with the children and really made the trip. Hope this helps.

Was that $150 per three hosts? $450? 7 night?

 

[1Winston]

Yes. It's very individual just offered what we did.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Yes. It's very individual just offered what we did.

Understood.

 

[Alexle2007]

Thanks. We'll figure it out on Fri. We have definitely experienced different levels of service from the concierge hosts so we'll adjust accordingly. Our dinner server has been fantastic but we expected that since we requested the same one we had last cruise. There are definitely two assistant servers. I'll ask Gavin this evening. Out to sea we go and lose of connection to the world

 

[Eeyorebabies]

I believe it was suggested $5 per child and $7 per adult per day for concierge. That's what we did last time. Then we rounded up. So we paid $120 (2 adults, 3 children for 4 days).
Next cruis we go on will be 7 days. Since there will be sea days, where we will be utilizing concierge more, we will bump it up to $7 per child and $10 adult. Doesn't seem like much, but if 50 people were to tip at $7 per person for a 7 day cruise, and it's split 3 ways for 3 hosts, that's roughly $800 for one week of work. If they can work 3 weeks of the month, that's $2400 a month. Their food is covered while on the ship, so they don't have to buy groceries. That's not too bad of a pay check. And that's if people are only doing $7, if they do more, then they will make more. That's also only for 50 people, but there are a lot more people on the Dream and Fantasy that do concierge.

 

[mickeyphile]

Congratulations Alexie2007 on the upgrade! I'm sure you are loving it. We were also able to get an upgrade earlier this month and had the most FANTASTIC experience. Previous writers are correct in saying that the tipping is based on how much help you got from the concierge team. If they are the same as a few weeks ago, you must have Linda, PJ, and Amanda. We found all three of them to be very kind, courteous, and helpful. I asked one of them regarding the tipping policy and was informed that the concierge team was given a choice to be salaried or be able to receive tips. They chose majority of their income to come from tips. I think that the usual amount given is $50-100 per concierge (so US$150-US$300 total). They do split the tips equally amongst the three of them. They really do make the entire time worry free by taking care of details that would otherwise require you spending a lot of time in lines or running around the ship.

We also tipped the bar tender and lounge host ($25 each) for the week. As for the assistant server in training, it is correct that they are usually salaried and therefore not expecting a tip.

Hope this information helps.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I see why they like tips. If I am not mistaken there are 40 concierge rooms? If so, and they each tip $100 per concierge host, thats $4,000 for each host for 7 days. (My math correct?). Add to that whatever salary they get and thats not really too bad

I think they rely on concierge folks forgetting they are already paying extra for concierge and rely on us thinkingthat because the concierge folks are so darn nice, you really want to tip them.