How much does food cost on a Disney Cruise?

[MouseMomx2]

We didn't bring our own wine glasses. We just went to a bar and asked for empty wine glasses. I haven't asked for others types of glasses, but I'm sure you can get them.

Not only can you get wine glasses from any of the bars, you can also get them from your stateroom host or through room service. There is no need to bring your own from home.

 

[Neriberi]

There is a whole milk dispenser on Deck 9; my 2 year old could not have survived otherwise!

 

[kcashner]

Anyone know if we can take more than one or two bottles of wine on board?

You can carry on as much alcohol as you wish. You can carry OFF unopened bottles; however it is wise to save the receipt to show that it was purchased in the US so it will not apply toward your Customs exclusion. No receipt= purchased out of the US regardless of reality.

No need to bring glasses or corkscrews--your room steward can supply these for you.

 

[jenanderson]

Not only can you get wine glasses from any of the bars, you can also get them from your stateroom host or through room service. There is no need to bring your own from home.

We thought about using wine glasses from the bar but we wanted really big glasses so that we did not need to go back and refill often.

The large glasses that I brought with were the best!

Funny thing was that they survived being packed in my luggage on the way down, survived a week at WDW, survived the whole cruise and then as we were waiting for our shuttle at the end of the cruise...SIL broke hers! We still have ours though!

 

[disney1990]

we put in a large order each night for juices, cheese platters, fruits, and snacks and paid in one tip. We stored the stuff for the next morning in case the kids were hungry before we were all ready to go for breakfast.

we spent a total of $26 on two alc. bev (one was accidental 0 first drink and all) and the smoothies

How in the world did you do that? The drinks we bought were around $6.00 each -- and then the gratuity on top of that. But, no where near $26.00.

 

[over50visits]

Just want to add that if you go to Palo (adults only) there is an additional fee per couple (nominal) plus tip. I believe that Palo is a do not miss destination for couples.

The fee IS the tip. It is identified as such on your bill after dinner. Some (perhaps many) people choose to add more, though.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

The fee IS the tip. It is identified as such on your bill after dinner. Some (perhaps many) people choose to add more, though.

There is much debate on this, but the fee doesnt show as a tip on the bill however, actually the Palo fee covers the cost of the additional food of a high quality at PALO say $10, and the other $5 is split up including the Palo manager and full team. ($5 will not go far!)

The bill you receive will have a line for gratuity added to it, for you to add an additional tip, and the majority of people do add an additional tip and this goes to the person who served you.

 

[over50visits]

the fee doesnt show as a tip on the bill

It did on ours. However, you're right, there is much spirited debate on this topic! The OP should look for some of the interesting threads...

 

[LiseG]

We bought rum and pina colada mix on the way from WDW AKL to the ship. I guess we should have tried it out at home first. On the rocks just didn't cut it... it came out "thick"! It should have been blended or something added?? Next time I'll have to pack a blender

We received the most wonderful gift in our Fish Extenders...wide mouth sport bottles. They were the perfect way to use up that rum making super-size rum and Coke. DH would pour in some rum in the cabin and head to Deck 9 and fill with Coke

We also brought aboard a few munchies and sodas that we had left from AKL.

hgon76 - I love the cases of beer idea. We've also seen folks bring on cases of bottled water.

Of course I still had to have my Konk Koolers on the beach at CC. Now thanks to DCL and HomeParties, we have the Konk Koolers receipe and we're enjoying them back home

 

[rudyrude]

What is the recommended tip at Palo?

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[LiseG]

What is the recommended tip at Palo?

We tip something like $40-50 at dinner like we're at a 5-star restaurant. This would make a good thread on its own. You've got me curious.

 

[disney1990]

What is the recommended tip at Palo?

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I typically tip like I would at a restaurant. My estimate for dinner is approx $100, so I would tip $20.

 

[MouseMomx2]

I typically tip like I would at a restaurant. My estimate for dinner is approx $100, so I would tip $20.

We also tip an additional $20 ($10 per person) for dinner and brunch.

 

[Presentation]

What is the recommended tip at Palo?

Warning: The people that tend to reply to a question like yours are the ones that tip higher than average so you get a biased response.

Disney Cruise Line makes it clear that the tip is included in the $15 per person charge to dine at Palo.

So any tip you add to this fee is above what is required and will be appreciated by the wait staff.

That being said I have tipped an additional tip as high as $30 ($15 per person) several times, Salvatore twice and his brother Marco twice and as low as $10 ($5 per person) and honestly the $30 did not bother me as the service was exceptional but the $10 was really not justified, I should have done $0.

The guy who got $10 dissed my wine selection even after I made it clear that we have a family connection to the label, he kept pushing for a far more expensive bottle of wine. I think the reason he wanted us to select the more expensive bottle of wine was due to the 15% automatic gratuity that is added to alcohol purchases. He was pushy like a t-shirt vendor in the straw market at Jamaica. He also poured the next table’s sparkling water into my regular water glass in error and he knew it yet I had to wait...and wait and wave him over to ask for a new glass of water. He generally acted snooty to us. I regret giving the tip and left the restaurant upset. I should have complained but I didn’t. We just left.

Again, any additional tip you add is above what they should expect because Disney clearly states the gratuity is included.

 

[jilljill]

As has been pointed out in the last few posts DCL does say that the Palo gratuitity is included: http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faqs/onboard-services/gratuities/

Question
What about gratuities?

Answer
It is customary to give gratuities in recognition of service, which you will most likely be treated to in abundance aboard the ship. As a guideline, we suggest the following:

Per Guest per cruise 3-Night 4-Night 7-Night
Dining Room Server $12.00 $16.00 $28.00
Dining Room Asst. Server $9.00 $12.00 $21.00
Dining Room Head Server $3.00 $4.00 $7.00
Stateroom Host/
Hostess $12.00 $16.00 $28.00
Dining Manager Your Discretion
Room Service Your Discretion
Palo Gratuity included
Vista Spa & Salon Your Discretion
Babysitting Gratuity not expected
Shore Excursions Optional;
not included in shore
excursion price.

For your convenience, a 15% gratuity is automatically added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service tabs. All gratuities can be charged to your room charge.


Anything over and above the surcharge is appreciated by the staff.

 

[dizzi]

* I love the Wine Glass Idea....Will use that

* We have taken alchohol on but not beer

* We take our Magic Bullet for those that dont know it is a self contained blender very small...Go up to deck and get all sorts of goodies to make our own drinks in the room. We just add the alchohol.
(like , ice,ice cream. fruit,coffee, etc)

 

[shellcruiser]

* I love the Wine Glass Idea....Will use that

* We have taken alchohol on but not beer

* We take our Magic Bullet for those that dont know it is a self contained blender very small...Go up to deck and get all sorts of goodies to make our own drinks in the room. We just add the alchohol.
(like , ice,ice cream. fruit,coffee, etc)

Love this idea... the Magic Bullet... never thought of it!!!

If everyone on this thread were on the same cruise we could have quite the bash... we are one of the families that gets snickers from the port officials scanning the carryons- Last time DH had 2 cases on beer in his bag, plus the rum.

 

[dizzi]

Yeah it is a cool thing.

Make your own drink of the day.

So many things you can go to deck and get along with your own alchohol.

The kids also used it many times for milk shakes ice and ice cream from deck,and then mix ins or add ins like m&ms .

FUNTIMES.

The second cruise we learned to take a small tupper ware containers to carry ice cream or fruit in and you can keep it in your room in fridge.

 

[DLW8]

I LOVE the magic bullet idea (if we only had one) and the tupperware for making smoothies for the kids.

You can also find inexpensive blenders now (after Christmas sale) or on Black Friday and then even leave it on the ship if you don't have room to bring it home.

We didn't bring our own alcohol for our 3 night, but will for our 7 night next year and I love the ideas here!

1. Magic Bullet or blender
2. Tupperware
3. Big wine glasses and/or wide mouth sport bottles!!!

 

[LiseG]

Love this idea... the Magic Bullet... never thought of it!!!

If everyone on this thread were on the same cruise we could have quite the bash... we are one of the families that gets snickers from the port officials scanning the carryons- Last time DH had 2 cases on beer in his bag, plus the rum.

Ditto... I want to cruise with you-all