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

[quickcat]

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

Never said “Do not read the cruise contract.”

 

[DisUniversal]

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

Nobody is getting benefits they didn't earn. May be doing it just so everyone can book their excursions/onboard activities at the same time. Even if they're doing it for Palo, the rules state that everyone in the stateroom 18 or older can participate so DCL is clearly ok with that as well.

 

[Dug720]

Nobody is getting benefits they didn't earn. May be doing it just so everyone can book their excursions/onboard activities at the same time. Even if they're doing it for Palo, the rules state that everyone in the stateroom 18 or older can participate so DCL is clearly ok with that as well.

I doubt that they envisioned these rooming gymnastics people are going through for others to get these benefits. And I can pretty much guarantee that if this "We need to switch these keys around" thing when it is NOT a situation of parents needing key cards because of kids in another cabin becomes a huge time suck for guest services, they will start to put the kibosh on it.

 

[dvcdisney]

I was going to leave this thread, but there have been posts that seem to suggest getting around the rules and I think it's important to address it.

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

I don't understand what's so ironic?

The first time I booked 2 staterooms, I was told by DCL Future Cruise CM to book one under myself and the other under my husband. I was concerned about this because I didn't want to create an issue for my reservations. He told me that it's normal practice so that I can book the rest of my party with me through online check in, excursions and so that we didn't have to split during Check in at port.

I told him that I was uncomfortable with having people assigned to the other stateroom if they're not staying there. My main concern was Muster station and charging...He proceeded to explain about how simple it is to just switch the guests when we board and to just let Guest services know. It seemed so straight forward. There were no rules being broken.

So I am switching guests around because I was told this was the best way to keep my party together. I am the one who booked my relatives, I'm paying for the cruise so that they can experience DCL, and I am booking all the activities and excursions. I earned the the status. I'm booking 2 staterooms. I'm getting the benefits. They don't get a discount.

Nobody is getting benefits they didn't earn. May be doing it just so everyone can book their excursions/onboard activities at the same time. Even if they're doing it for Palo, the rules state that everyone in the stateroom 18 or older can participate so DCL is clearly ok with that as well.

Exactly.

I doubt that they envisioned these rooming gymnastics people are going through for others to get these benefits. And I can pretty much guarantee that if this "We need to switch these keys around" thing when it is NOT a situation of parents needing key cards because of kids in another cabin becomes a huge time suck for guest services, they will start to put the kibosh on it.

I'm not sure what DCL has envisioned but based on my experience, they were being flexible with their guests' planning.

If DCL would have a problem, it should be with the guests who have their kids in another cabin when an adult is required to be registered in there. I would have less of an issue with switching Keys between adults.

Again, I am the one who booked my relatives, I'm paying for the cruise so that they can experience DCL, and I am booking all the activities and excursions. I earned the the status. I'm booking 2 staterooms. I'm getting the benefits. They don't get a discount. I'm sure DCL does not have any issue with me introducing DCL to my relatives and friends. This is an excellent referral program for them.

 

[laceltris3]

I was going to leave this thread, but there have been posts that seem to suggest getting around the rules and I think it's important to address it.





I don't understand what's so ironic?

The first time I booked 2 staterooms, I was told by DCL Future Cruise CM to book one under myself and the other under my husband. I was concerned about this because I didn't want to create an issue for my reservations. He told me that it's normal practice so that I can book the rest of my party with me through online check in, excursions and so that we didn't have to split during Check in at port.

I told him that I was uncomfortable with having people assigned to the other stateroom if they're not staying there. My main concern was Muster station and charging...He proceeded to explain about how simple it is to just switch the guests when we board and to just let Guest services know. It seemed so straight forward. There were no rules being broken.

So I am switching guests around because I was told this was the best way to keep my party together. I am the one who booked my relatives, I'm paying for the cruise so that they can experience DCL, and I am booking all the activities and excursions. I earned the the status. I'm booking 2 staterooms. I'm getting the benefits. They don't get a discount.



Exactly.



I'm not sure what DCL has envisioned but based on my experience, they were being flexible with their guests' planning.

If DCL would have a problem, it should be with the guests who have their kids in another cabin when an adult is required to be registered in there. I would have less of an issue with switching Keys between adults.

Again, I am the one who booked my relatives, I'm paying for the cruise so that they can experience DCL, and I am booking all the activities and excursions. I earned the the status. I'm booking 2 staterooms. I'm getting the benefits. They don't get a discount. I'm sure DCL does not have any issue with me introducing DCL to my relatives and friends. This is an excellent referral program for them.

It’s interesting that you can have such a good rationale for why your group is not availing themselves of benefits they didn’t “earn” while being so focused on ensuring that a stateroom host does not receive something they have not, in your eyes, “earned”.

 

[dvcdisney]

It’s interesting that you can have such a good rationale for why your group is not availing themselves of benefits they didn’t “earn” while being so focused on ensuring that a stateroom host does not receive something they have not, in your eyes, “earned”.

I don't believe you can compare my booking to a Host not receive gratuity for service not provided.

I'm the one earning the benefit because I'm the one who paid and booked the 2 staterooms. People who book and maintain vacation planning knows how important a benefit this is. After several cruises, I do believe that this benefit is earned by the person who it benefits.

On the other hand, the stateroom Host who has not provided the service for me has not earned (my definition of earned) the benefit of the gratuity. I don't think that expecting something means you earned it.

We obviously disagree on the premise.

 

[AustinMommyofThree]

Hi. This came up in one of the threads but I didn't want to hijack the thread from the OP, so I thought I should post a new question.

If I reserved 2 staterooms with 3 guests in each, but in reality it will be 4+2, how do I handle the stateroom host gratuity IF they are two different stateroom hosts?

I chose the staterooms close to each other, but I know that doesn't guarantee we will get the same host.

Any suggestions and experience with this would be much appreciated.

I don't understand why you asked the question if you didn't actually want the answers. If you were just looking for validation, it seems like you have not received it. Personally I wouldn't sweat the extra $28, but it seems like you know what you want and intend to do, so you should proceed on the course you have already chosen.

 

[dvcdisney]

I don't understand why you asked the question if you didn't actually want the answers. If you were just looking for validation, it seems like you have not received it. Personally I wouldn't sweat the extra $28, but it seems like you know what you want and intend to do, so you should proceed on the course you have already chosen.

I admit I didn't ask the question correctly. Perhaps, I should have been more clear. I'm not asking for validation. My question was about what I needed to do.

When I said "handle" the gratuity, I should have asked what I needed to do in order to make sure that the Host that would provide service for me would receive the gratuity. I know that it's automatically charged per person in the stateroom.

I didn't intend to ask if I should give gratuity for both. My question, which I intended, was to find out the procedure in transferring the gratuity to the Host that was actually doing the service. I didn't want him/her to service the room for 4 guests and only receive gratuity from 3 of the guests.

I was wondering if anyone had done this and what they did to ensure that the Host would receive the appropriate gratuity.

The response was saying I should tip both. And that's where it went downhill.

I admit I should have been more clear with my question - again asking the logistics - and not whether I should tip both.

My question was somewhat answer after I finally asked if I can get GS to transfer it. But it came with an remark that intended to insult me.

I know some people mentioned I should leave it as is and just add a bit, but I don't believe I could do that. The host who is serving the stateroom for 4 should receive full gratuity.

I don't understand the outrage for not giving a host gratuity (just because they expected it) when they didn't do anything for it, but it's okay to leave the other host who would service 4 guests with just an add on.

Again, my question was not about whether I should tip both, but how I would get the Host who will be performing the service to get the appropriate gratuity. I wanted to know if someone had a similar experience. When they told me that they would tip both, I asked why? I didn't insult them or make them feel what they're doing is incredible insensitive.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

What shocks me is that there is so much resistance to tipping "extra" an amount that is less than the cost of one Drink of the Day for each night of the cruise.

 

[DisUniversal]

It’s interesting that you can have such a good rationale for why your group is not availing themselves of benefits they didn’t “earn” while being so focused on ensuring that a stateroom host does not receive something they have not, in your eyes, “earned”.

Nobody is availing themselves of benefits they didn't earn. Disney has clearly designed the Castaway Club program in a way benefits apply to all those booked in the same stateroom. Disney has even gone so far as to recommend people book a certain way to maximize those benefits. Nobody is trying to beat the system here, nor have I seen any attempts here to take advantage of a stateroom host or somehow short them on a gratuity. Seems people are trying to create problems where none exist.

 

[undertheradar]

How many cruisers tip the minimum? Cannot imagine being so cheap.

 

[DisUniversal]

How many cruisers tip the minimum? Cannot imagine being so cheap.

When service meets our expectations we assume that the suggested gratuities are sufficient. If expectations are exceeded, then additional gratuity is warranted and given. That said, I don't think anyone is being cheap if they stick with the suggested gratuities. For a family of 4, that works out to $32 per day just to your server team....which is the equivalent of a 20% tip on $160 worth of food. Seems fair and accurate as does leaving $16 per day for a stateroom host.

 

[Pkltm]

What shocks me is that there is so much resistance to tipping "extra" an amount that is less than the cost of one Drink of the Day for each night of the cruise.

Tipping is amounts is a personal choice, but in all honesty I don't think the OP should PLAN to tip extra, what if the service is not worth even the basic tip. We always are prepared to tip more but, what if it is not warranted?

How many cruisers tip the minimum? Cannot imagine being so cheap.

Again same point, on our cruise last October our assistant server was not very good, he had horrible BO, spilled food on us, and never refilled the pop. despite being repeatedly asked and reminded to by the Server. We saw the head server for the first time on the last meal. While we did not add to their basic tip but we added to our state room host and server. Does that make us cheap? Or are we tipping for the service provided?

 

[FigmentSpark]

How many cruisers tip the minimum? Cannot imagine being so cheap.

That's a very judgemental and uncalled-for statement.

 

[undertheradar]

Tipping is amounts is a personal choice, but in all honesty I don't think the OP should PLAN to tip extra, what if the service is not worth even the basic tip. We always are prepared to tip more but, what if it is not warranted?



Again same point, on our cruise last October our assistant server was not very good, he had horrible BO, spilled food on us, and never refilled the pop. despite being repeatedly asked and reminded to by the Server. We saw the head server for the first time on the last meal. While we did not add to their basic tip but we added to our state room host and server. Does that make us cheap? Or are we tipping for the service provided?

There are so many posters looking to "justify" reducing or removing tips from tipped positions, it is hard to tell who is trying to tip or justify not tipping. I have never understood the suggested tip for a head server, as every cruise has had the same interaction with the person in that role. I base my tips upon the room size accommodations and the service received.

 

[undertheradar]

That's a very judgemental and uncalled-for statement.

Honestly? Read the boards and see how many posters try and justify reducing/removing tips.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Honestly? Read the boards and see how many posters try and justify reducing/removing tips.

Regardless of why you think it's fine to make the comment, it is still very judgemental.

Also, as a PP said, tips are supposed to be discretionary, so while it is generally agreed there that tipping is important, it's not up to any of us to tell others how much value we must place on the service or how much extra is appropiate for any particular type of service.

 

[DisUniversal]

Honestly? Read the boards and see how many posters try and justify reducing/removing tips.

Depends what you meant by "minimum". If you were referring to the suggested gratuities that DCL recommends then it was rude and uncalled for.

 

[MelSpees]

OP, I am so sorry you are being flamed by so many here. I understood your original question and your viewpoint on who to tip. I think you should tip the person giving you the service. I believe if you go to Guest Services and explain the situation they should be able to arrange the tips the way you want them to be. You sound like an honorable person doing what you think is right. I applaud you. Don't let the flamers get you down.
I'm not sure why anyone is questioning the way you booked the rooms either. If you read the different threads on this board you read about people doing the very same thing all the time and no-one criticizes them. So sorry they're hitting on you. Chin-up!

 

[mousefan73]

How many cruisers tip the minimum? Cannot imagine being so cheap.

We plan to I don’t see that as being cheap. Sorry but I will not let DCL or any cruise line screw with my mind and wallett. If you ( cruise line) automatically charge me charges that are officially sold as gratuities AND then leave me envelopes begging for more money. Then forget it.

Now if an attendent, server, anyone in does something extraordinary, BEYOND at one given point.they get cash in the hand then and there.