Additional tipping?

[Mich123]

I am absolutely planning to give a gratuity in the suggested amount. I was wondering if anyone gives tips to the stateroom host on a daily basis (as you would at a hotel or WDW) if the service is excellent?

 

[allears]

You certainly could, but since it's the same person for the cruise, you can easily add extra when you do your gratuities.

 

[MUN]

I am absolutely planning to give a gratuity in the suggested amount. I was wondering if anyone gives tips to the stateroom host on a daily basis (as you would at a hotel or WDW) if the service is excellent?

No, I don't think people tip the stateroom host on a daily basis.

MUN

 

[Laundress]

It's not quite like at the hotels. I tip daily at a hotel because I don't know if the same person will clean tomorrow. But on the ship you know it will be the same person every day. Waiting until the end of your trip will be fine.

 

[mmouse37]

I agree with all above that you do not need to tip daily. We always tip extra but just add it to the envelope at the end of the cruise. We verbally thank our room host often when we see them.

MJ

 

[jiminy14]

I bring a pack of thank you cards to give to the stateroom host and the dining team. I write a short thank you from our family and put the extra gratuity in there. I give them the cards along with the DCL gratuity envelopes the last night of the cruise. Some people wait until breakfast on disembarkation but I find that too hectic.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I didn't give cash daily, but I did give a special treat/snack daily. When I have given extra cash, I do it in the envelope on the last day. However, I am considering doing the daily extra tip in the future just to show gratitude on a daily basis.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I am absolutely planning to give a gratuity in the suggested amount. I was wondering if anyone gives tips to the stateroom host on a daily basis (as you would at a hotel or WDW) if the service is excellent?

If I have a specific request (in addition to keeping my ice buck full please keep this soft sided ice chest filled with ice as well, put all new towels on the bed, etc) I'll usually tip when I ask or make the request. Other than that, I give it all at the end.

 

[Mich123]

Thanks for all the advice! I'm probably going to go with some daily tips for great service because I think it would be nice to tip as we go as opposed to leaving it all for the last day.

 

[BartmanLA]

Actually DCL provides the envelopes for you to put your gratuity in at the end of the cruise (last night before debarkation), leaving cash daily for them is a nice thought but it does complicate the accounting for the crew members, they have to account for their tips for tax purposes. Whether or not they report the cash tips is immaterial. I don't know if you're wanting to give them something daily to get extra special service or if you believe in 'rewarding' them for their work, in my personal opinion waiting until the last day is more than adequate to offer them their gratuities. Stateroom, server or assistant server.

 

[Dug720]

Actually DCL provides the envelopes for you to put your gratuity in at the end of the cruise (last night before debarkation), leaving cash daily for them is a nice thought but it does complicate the accounting for the crew members, they have to account for their tips for tax purposes. Whether or not they report the cash tips is immaterial. I don't know if you're wanting to give them something daily to get extra special service or if you believe in 'rewarding' them for their work, in my personal opinion waiting until the last day is more than adequate to offer them their gratuities. Stateroom, server or assistant server.

This 100%.

In all actuality, the BEST thing you can do is note their names and special services on the comment card and/or a follow-up letter or email. That ultimately means far more to them than a little extra money (and yes, if given throughout the week that creates bigger hassles for them having to go and report it that day) or little trinkets they have no room for. Being mentioned by name on the cards leads to things like extra time off, pay increases, promotions, etc. The last two especially are far more long-lasting than one week where they get a little each day.

 

[DisneyNewbie76]

Although nobody has said this yet, I will add my two cents...

After I have my first interaction with the individual who I know will be tipped automatically at the end, and I like that interaction enough and they did a good job, I will tip them cash the next time I see them. In this way, I can expect even more top notch service the rest of the way and perhaps even more personal attention as well.

 

[hanscarlet]

I would actually think it could have the potential to backfire.... if you tip them daily they might assume you don't know how the "end of the cruise envelope" works and if you're daily tipping is less than the suggested amount, they may assume you aren't tipping them the suggested amount at the end of the trip... so it could backfire in level of service but I could be wrong as they are supposed to provide an excellent level of service regardless of tipping but just putting that out there in terms of you don't know how they'll react psychologically to a daily tipping situation vs. what they are used and prefer

 

[DisneyNewbie76]

When you tip has no timeframe, it is still tipping. Daily, at the beginning, or at the end, tipping is still tipping.

Like Rava said in the Seinfeld episode The Statue,...There are no big coincidences or little coincidences, there are just coincidences.

 

[DLM1980]

This 100%.

In all actuality, the BEST thing you can do is note their names and special services on the comment card and/or a follow-up letter or email. That ultimately means far more to them..... Being mentioned by name on the cards leads to things like extra time off, pay increases, promotions, etc. The last two especially are far more long-lasting than one week where they get a little each day.

I read this all the time and have done it but I'm just curious....are there actual DCL CMs here that have said it on the boards? Not that I don't believe you or anyone else but I've never read a post from an actual DCL CM just a lot of "I talked to the cm and this is what they said"

 

[lanejudy]

Just to chime in... it's my understanding that CMs are only allowed to keep a certain amount of cash in their (tiny!) staterooms. Tipping daily could create a logistical challenge because they need to deposit those funds with the Purser, and that is only open limited days/times. I'd stick with the cruising norm of tipping at the end, with extra if you desire, rather than little bits here and there throughout the cruise.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Dug720]

I read this all the time and have done it but I'm just curious....are there actual DCL CMs here that have said it on the boards? Not that I don't believe you or anyone else but I've never read a post from an actual DCL CM just a lot of "I talked to the cm and this is what they said"

I personally know a CM who has verified this.

 

[Pens Fan]

I read this all the time and have done it but I'm just curious....are there actual DCL CMs here that have said it on the boards? Not that I don't believe you or anyone else but I've never read a post from an actual DCL CM just a lot of "I talked to the cm and this is what they said"

On our second cruise, both our server and assistant server were beyond excited when we stopped in Skagway. They were being treated to a helicopter excursion to one of the glaciers on Disney's dime. They said the reason was because of the feedback from customer's comment cards.

 

[reimero]

Adding extra at the end is fine, for reasons outlined above. I'll add, however, that staff have long memories. My wife and I have been known to add extra at the end of the cruise. As it happened, we had the same Head Waiter for our third cruise as we did for our first, some 3 years prior. He remembered us and remembered that we gave bonuses. When we ran into a couple of food issues early, he was very quick to resolve it (I know, it's his job) but he hinted to the servers that it was worth their while to treat us well because we'd treat them well. We ended up getting fantastic service. We probably would have gotten fantastic service anyway, but he did remember, and he did bend over backwards to make sure we were taken care of.

 

[clten]

I read this all the time and have done it but I'm just curious....are there actual DCL CMs here that have said it on the boards? Not that I don't believe you or anyone else but I've never read a post from an actual DCL CM just a lot of "I talked to the cm and this is what they said"

I saw it in action on back to back cruises we were on. It may seem like a little thing but it meant so much to the serving team. At dinner we usually confirm with our servers where they will be for breakfast and lunch. Well one day early on the second cruise, when we asked, they informed us that they would not be around for breakfast or lunch as it was a reward for not only having the highest rating from the prior cruise (the excellent scores along with mentions in the comments) but having had excellent feedback for several cruises. You could tell that this was a prized reward for the servers as the other teams all came around at dinner teasing our team (those that knew we were on the cruise before also wanted to see if we could get them time off too).

Adding extra at the end is fine, for reasons outlined above. I'll add, however, that staff have long memories. My wife and I have been known to add extra at the end of the cruise. As it happened, we had the same Head Waiter for our third cruise as we did for our first, some 3 years prior. He remembered us and remembered that we gave bonuses. When we ran into a couple of food issues early, he was very quick to resolve it (I know, it's his job) but he hinted to the servers that it was worth their while to treat us well because we'd treat them well. We ended up getting fantastic service. We probably would have gotten fantastic service anyway, but he did remember, and he did bend over backwards to make sure we were taken care of.

Something about this bothers me. We always tip well, but I guess I see it as a reward for having provided service that was of value to us. Tipping in advance and the attitude of this head server feels to me more like I am buying their time from someone else. I know they only have so much time to get rooms made up or meals served and I don't think my ability to give a better tip should take away from the service some other family receives. (Maybe they were going to tip more in the end but saw the servers bending over backwards to help my family and didn't feel they got that same level of service, now that head server is going to forever mark them as average tippers??.) I'm not naïve and know that money is a big motivator and these people are there to do a job and hence earn money. But it seems classless for the Head Server to be discussing my past tipping with anyone and more classless if it is done so that I know that's what is being discussed. I would not be impressed by this, I would be moving Head Servers.