2 Staterooms - reserved as 3 + 3, but staying 4 + 2

[CamColt]

As noted the tip are automatically applied and will be based on how many in each room, 3/3. Personally, I would keep the room with 2 guests as is, and tip extra for the room with 4 guests. The first host is expecting to be paid for 3 guests so he shouldn't miss out because someone chose not to stay in the room they are booked in. The second host is taking care of more than expected and should be compensated. Yes, this would mean you are double tipping for 1 guest, but I would think it's the right way to handle it. Those guys work very hard and will do anything for you. Giving them a little extra is always nice.

Hopefully you will get the same host for both rooms and this wont be an issue. If that were to happen I would probably just leave the tips as they are and give extra if I felt he deserved it, which we often do.

 

[dvcdisney]

They are allocated staterooms, BUT I suspect that if there is a heavy occupancy in some they might have one or two taken off and shifted to someone with a lower occupancy rate if there is a big discrepancy in adjacent stations. When they see their list, they see the number of guests allocated to their assigned staterooms. They could have all two person cabins one cruise and all four person cabins another - and they would know that the week they have all two the tips will likely be lower than the week they have all four.

To me it's the principal of the thing. Like the time my sister got permission to eat with me and we got changed to a new table. I left my dining room gratuities as-was because it was not the fault of my originally assigned servers that I changed tables and I personally did not think it was right to cause them to lose that money - even though I was only one person and there were still 2 people assigned to that table. My conscience didn't feel right stiffing them money they expected when they got their assignments just because of circumstances they had nothing to do with. I also tipped the servers we had their base tips plus some.

But I get that not everyone has the same conscience.

You do you.

Wow...I've never been accused of not having a conscience...I made the post because I was concerned about making sure I was fair and did what was appropriate.

 

[Dug720]

Wow...I've never been accused of not having a conscience...I made the post because I was concerned about making sure I was fair and did what was appropriate.

I wasn't saying you don't have a conscience.

I said different people have different consciences. Mine is probably overactive when it comes to the people who work on the ships. That's all.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Just go to guest services and explain your situation and to whom you wish your portion of the tips to be allocated. Each person in a room is broken out on the bill. If you have no relationship with the room b host and you don't tip, it will show on the bill. For the room where you don't have a bill under your name, just allocate, say double your DHs portion and that host will be compensated for the work done for you. You might consider making up a thank you card for your host that explains... or not.

For the record, I don't think you have to tip the host in the room you didn't use. And also, if your rooms adjoin (that is, are near each other) there's a good chance you'll have the same host.

Consider it this way... if you have the same host in both rooms, will you tip in both rooms or just one? That is how you should tip if there are two hosts involved.

 

[FigmentSpark]

As noted the tip are automatically applied and will be based on how many in each room, 3/3. Personally, I would keep the room with 2 guests as is, and tip extra for the room with 4 guests. The first host is expecting to be paid for 3 guests so he shouldn't miss out because someone chose not to stay in the room they are booked in. The second host is taking care of more than expected and should be compensated. Yes, this would mean you are double tipping for 1 guest, but I would think it's the right way to handle it. Those guys work very hard and will do anything for you. Giving them a little extra is always nice.

Hopefully you will get the same host for both rooms and this wont be an issue. If that were to happen I would probably just leave the tips as they are and give extra if I felt he deserved it, which we often do.

What if, instead of just moving to another room, the OP was no longer sailing (ie, missed the ship or was sick)? Would her travelmates then have to provide her portion of the tip because there was paperwork that indicated that 3 people had booked into that room? How about when only 1 person is booked into a room, but had to pay for two? Should they pay double the tips, too? Even though the work wasn't double?

 

[dvcdisney]

As noted the tip are automatically applied and will be based on how many in each room, 3/3. Personally, I would keep the room with 2 guests as is, and tip extra for the room with 4 guests. The first host is expecting to be paid for 3 guests so he shouldn't miss out because someone chose not to stay in the room they are booked in. The second host is taking care of more than expected and should be compensated. Yes, this would mean you are double tipping for 1 guest, but I would think it's the right way to handle it. Those guys work very hard and will do anything for you. Giving them a little extra is always nice.

Hopefully you will get the same host for both rooms and this wont be an issue. If that were to happen I would probably just leave the tips as they are and give extra if I felt he deserved it, which we often do.

I understand that the gratuities are automatically applied. But this can be changed through guest services. When I want to add to the gratuities and I don't want to add cash, I would go to Guest services and have them change the gratuity and they've had no problem doing that.

But yes, I do hope we have the same host.

 

[dvcdisney]

What if, instead of just moving to another room, the OP was no longer sailing (ie, missed the ship or was sick)? Would her travelmates then have to provide her portion of the tip because there was paperwork that indicated that 3 people had booked into that room? How about when only 1 person is booked into a room, but had to pay for two? Should they pay double the tips, too? Even though the work wasn't double?

Just go to guest services and explain your situation and to whom you wish your portion of the tips to be allocated. Each person in a room is broken out on the bill. If you have no relationship with the room b host and you don't tip, it will show on the bill. For the room where you don't have a bill under your name, just allocate, say double your DHs portion and that host will be compensated for the work done for you. You might consider making up a thank you card for your host that explains... or not.

For the record, I don't think you have to tip the host in the room you didn't use. And also, if your rooms adjoin (that is, are near each other) there's a good chance you'll have the same host.

Consider it this way... if you have the same host in both rooms, will you tip in both rooms or just one? That is how you should tip if there are two hosts involved.

Thank you providing a better example than I did.

I believe in providing gratuity for services provided for me. I just can't leave the gratuity as is because the host (if different) who is serving the room for 4 needs to be given the gratuity for the 4th person. It's not that I'm sometimes staying there...I'm staying there for the whole cruise.

Would it not be possible for me to request with Guest services that my gratuity goes to Host A so it doesn't appear that I have an issue with the host B?

 

[dvcdisney]

I wasn't saying you don't have a conscience.

I said different people have different consciences. Mine is probably overactive when it comes to the people who work on the ships. That's all.

Sorry...I misunderstood. You don't know me, but I am an overthinker and have been accused of being overly empathetic... if that makes sense.

Anyway, I don't want to create such an issue. I've always considered gratuity as a method to thank someone for their service. If there was no service provided, I just can't see the justification. I do add to the gratuity, but again, it's for service done.

 

[CamColt]

I understand that the gratuities are automatically applied. But this can be changed through guest services. When I want to add to the gratuities and I don't want to add cash, I would go to Guest services and have them change the gratuity and they've had no problem doing that.

But yes, I do hope we have the same host.

Yes, that is correct, they can be changed. That is why I noted I would keep the room with 2 guests as is (not change it) and added extra to the other room (either way, cash or at GS would work fine).

 

[CamColt]

What if, instead of just moving to another room, the OP was no longer sailing (ie, missed the ship or was sick)? Would her travelmates then have to provide her portion of the tip because there was paperwork that indicated that 3 people had booked into that room? How about when only 1 person is booked into a room, but had to pay for two? Should they pay double the tips, too? Even though the work wasn't double?

Since we are talking tips, no one "has" to pay anything. Everyone should do what they feel is right. Personally if I had 4 people sailing and 1 had to cancel, I would probably still give extra across the board to all our tipped position CMs, knowing they would be short changed. IMO, a single guest should only tip for 1. They are booked as 1 person so I wouldn't think anyone is expecting getting tips for 2 people.

In the grand scheme of things, looking at the total cost of a DCL vacation, tips are really a minimal portion of the overall $$$ spent. I wouldn't stress over an extra $50-$100 especially when the service we receive from these CMs is usually one of the highlights of the trip.

 

[DisUniversal]

What if, instead of just moving to another room, the OP was no longer sailing (ie, missed the ship or was sick)? Would her travelmates then have to provide her portion of the tip because there was paperwork that indicated that 3 people had booked into that room? How about when only 1 person is booked into a room, but had to pay for two? Should they pay double the tips, too? Even though the work wasn't double?

No, you don't leave gratuities for someone who isn't even there. What if someone misses their flight and misses the cruise entirely? Should they mail DCL a check to cover the gratuities for the servers that expected them at dinner and the stateroom host that expected to be taking care of their room?

 

[lilsonicfan]

Yeah, my suggestion made earlier was really to leave tips for each room as is - ie 3 guests in Stateroom A, 3 guests in Stateroom B, then if Stateroom A actually has 4 guests I would offer Stateroom A host an extra tip. It's not a ton of money in the end.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

The purpose of booking for CC status has nothing to do with whether a host should get the gratuity. I can understand others saying that the hosts expects 3 to be in the stateroom so they would expect gratuity to equal 3 guests. I can see that.

But my point is being missed...

I believe that the hosts should receive the gratuity that they worked for. If they are only 2 guest staying in the room, they are only cleaning for those 2 guests. I believe they would expect to receive gratuity from 2 guests. In the same way, the host who have to clean after 4 guests should receive gratuity from 4 guests.

You are fighting a losing battle on this forum. You are debating with people who believe you need to tip your dining room servers their full tip amount, even if you do not eat one meal in the MDR.
Personally, I get your point. To me, tipping comes from services rendered. If you are not in the room (as long as the host knows he doesn't have to set up a 3rd bed) he is not servicing you.

***ducking out now***

 

[FigmentSpark]

Another way to do this would be to move one of your friends into your room, so that there are 4 and only 2 in the second room. Then, switch places with that person, once on board. More convoluted, but then you are, in actuality, 4 and 2, not 3 and 3. This has the added bonus that, should your friends back out at the last minute, you can simply trade places in your room with your friend and not have to worry that the lifeboat is full, so no more people would be allowed into that room.

 

[quickcat]

You are fighting a losing battle on this forum. You are debating with people who believe you need to tip your dining room servers their full tip amount, even if you do not eat one meal in the MDR.
Personally, I get your point. To me, tipping comes from services rendered. If you are not in the room (as long as the host knows he doesn't have to set up a 3rd bed) he is not servicing you.

***ducking out now***

Too funny! Yes, this can be a tough crowd- the rule book and complete cruise contract will be read forward and backward in most cases with no room for a gray area at all and no room for any “exception” cases

 

[bumbershoot]

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/onboard-services/gratuities/

Even if I am not staying at the other room?

Yes.

How am I cheating the other stateroom host?

Because they expected that extra money and now they aren’t getting it.

But my point is being missed...

Your point is being disagreed with. We get what you’re saying.

Would it not be possible for me to request with Guest services that my gratuity goes to Host A so it doesn't appear that I have an issue with the host B?

Sure. Absolutely.

“Hi. We booked this way and we have room attendant Mike and room attendant John. I should have been staying in John’s room but I’m staying in Mike’s. I would like to change my $16-28 (depending on length of cruise) to Mike and take it away from John.”

I’m sure they’ll do it.

I couldn’t say that to another person.

And I’m an oversensitive, empathetic person who takes things personally, like you. Which is exactly why I could not say that or do it.

That’s a handful of Frappuccinos for us. Do you KNOW how little the attendants make and now far our money goes for them???

Too funny! Yes, this can be a tough crowd- the rule book and complete cruise contract will be read forward and backward in most cases with no room for a gray area at all and no room for any “exception” cases

Why would you not read the contract? I don’t understand.

Reading it forward is all that’s needed, IMO.


This is a matter of $4 extra dollars per day. Have the room of now-3 mess it up a little more to make it worth the extra four bucks if it makes ya happy.


Or move it if it works for you.

 

[dvcdisney]

Another way to do this would be to move one of your friends into your room, so that there are 4 and only 2 in the second room. Then, switch places with that person, once on board. More convoluted, but then you are, in actuality, 4 and 2, not 3 and 3. This has the added bonus that, should your friends back out at the last minute, you can simply trade places in your room with your friend and not have to worry that the lifeboat is full, so no more people would be allowed into that room.

Thanks for the suggestion. I did do that the last time we booked two staterooms...it somewhat turned into a mess...we were told to do different things and I had to fix the issue a few times. I just wished there was a way to make the change onboard, but I understand that people can't be moved around especially since Muster station is specific to the stateroom. Months before the cruise, we were told that we can easily move the names around...but when we arrived for check in, they said it can't be done, but we can switch when we board. But when I went to guest services, they said they couldn't do that. They said that we needed to go back with the two people switching and they would simply just move the info to each card. We found out very soon that it didn't work so they said that they would just give us blank card for the stateroom but our original Key would work with the other stateroom...which it didn't. Not a big deal and we didn't bother getting this fixed since we've become best friends with everyone there. Everyone was pleasant and apologetic, but I told myself I wasn't going to do that anymore.

So, here I am...instead of doing a switch, I decided to only inconvenient myself. I will just ask for an extra Key for the stateroom and that's it. If it doesn't work, I'll stay with my husband and use his key until I get it fixed...but at least it's not urgent...and most importantly, I'm not dragging a relative to guest services every time especially after I've bragged about the excellent service.

 

[dvcdisney]

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/onboard-services/gratuities/




Yes.



Because they expected that extra money and now they aren’t getting it.



Your point is being disagreed with. We get what you’re saying.



Sure. Absolutely.

“Hi. We booked this way and we have room attendant Mike and room attendant John. I should have been staying in John’s room but I’m staying in Mike’s. I would like to change my $16-28 (depending on length of cruise) to Mike and take it away from John.”

I’m sure they’ll do it.

I couldn’t say that to another person.

And I’m an oversensitive, empathetic person who takes things personally, like you. Which is exactly why I could not say that or do it.

That’s a handful of Frappuccinos for us. Do you KNOW how little the attendants make and now far our money goes for them???



Why would you not read the contract? I don’t understand.

Reading it forward is all that’s needed, IMO.


This is a matter of $4 extra dollars per day. Have the room of now-3 mess it up a little more to make it worth the extra four bucks if it makes ya happy.


Or move it if it works for you.

I guess I will have to disagree with you as well. I don't believe that they should expect the gratuity until, at the very least, the cruise begins. Anything can happen...someone may cancel last minute for some reason or other...or they're denied boarding because of some ailment...who knows. They shouldn't expect it until the guests are there. I would, obviously, explain that I won't be staying in the room. I can't imagine anyone getting upset that I won't be in the room. And if I'm not in the room for them to provide service, how can they expect me to provide gratuities.

With respect to your scenario...I would say...."I booked 2 rooms for 6 people. Instead of 3+3 as I have it, there will be 4 + 2. Can you please transfer the gratuity from me to the other stateroom so my stateroom host will get the gratuity for the service he provided for me."

Is that selfish or did I do something to the other stateroom host? Did I ask that host to clean up after me but not give him the gratuity? Did I make his job much more difficult? You're implication here is that I have no regard for how hard they work and what they do to make our cruise enjoyable. I don't want to get into a dispute about gratuities because this will inevitable cause this thread to close.

I don't believe I accused anyone of anything when I asked my questions about paying 2 gratuities for myself. I don't appreciate the implication that I have no empathy towards the hosts or anyone else. I have not shown, in any way, that I didn't care about the work they did.

Was I really that insensitive to question why I would need to pay twice...no matter how little it seems...I'm sure they don't make a lot and in most cases, likely the reason for why I add to the gratuities, but again, that really has nothing to do with my question.

If you really do understand my point, then thank you. But the purpose of your post wasn't helpful...why would you think anyone would be okay to mess up the room to get their money's worth? Why even say that?

You know, I always see people complain about the replies they receive and I've never actually gotten anything like that before where it became less about the answer and more about accusations and personal jabs.

 

[dvcdisney]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I appreciate the information and will figure out what I need to do.

 

[Weedy]

So your switching people around so that the people in the other cabin can get benefits they didn’t earn???... irony?