Another tipping question

[rlcook]

Trying to solve a family debate. I don't want this thread to become ugly, but help solve the debate for me.

Some family members feel that with the cost of the cruise, we should be able to give what we want, not what the "recommended" guidelines state. Some family members feel that we shouldn't pay the full amount for the little ones, that they should be included in the parents tip.

IF they decide not to give the "recommended" amount, does DCL then take the balance from your account or charge you for the difference?

This will be our 2nd cruise and we haven't learned all of the "rules" yet.

TIA

 

[Tigger98]

I think all that they would need to do is go to the customer service desk (the night before the final night) and they can make the change there. You should be able to check on this when you board.

 

[kcashner]

Unless you are on a package that includes "prepaid tips", you can tip whatever you want. There is no need to go to guest services to make any adjustment. The only time guest services gets involved in tipping is if YOU initiate it by going down and charging your tips. Otherwise, they do not know what you tipped. They certainly do not make any adjustments to what you tip (over or under the recommended) unless you instruct them to do so.

Yes, you can tip whatever you want....but children are people. In fact, they are people who generate quite a lot of work for the servers, room stewards, etc. Children, even infants, are not "included" in the parent's tip. Essentially, the tip pays those who have served you. I'd encourage everyone to be fair to those people.

 

[CraftyMouse]

Yes, you can tip whatever you want....but children are people. In fact, they are people who generate quite a lot of work for the servers, room stewards, etc. Children, even infants, are not "included" in the parent's tip. Essentially, the tip pays those who have served you. I'd encourage everyone to be fair to those people.

Our servers worked harder for our kids when they were younger than they have ever worked for us, as adults, or the kids now that they are older...and that's saying something as they work so hard for us as well. They bend over backwards for the little ones and to reduce their tips simply because those passengers are not adults is, IMO, completely wrong. (Not trying to make this ugly...it's just something I feel very passionately about.) Yes, a cruise is expensive, but tips should be seen as a part of that cost, not something you can get away with not paying simply because you don't have to.

Please rethink this or encourage your family members to do so. We are so fortunate in this country, even with the current economic crisis, compared to many others. These people depend on their tips to make a living. Again, please reconsider.

 

[mcraige]

I believe in tipping according to the service I receive. On each DCL I have been on, I feel like the "recomended amount" was a bargain! The service was outstanding each time, and I never considered the amount as being excessive.

 

[Kay1]

Unless you are on a package that includes "prepaid tips", you can tip whatever you want. There is no need to go to guest services to make any adjustment. The only time guest services gets involved in tipping is if YOU initiate it by going down and charging your tips. Otherwise, they do not know what you tipped. They certainly do not make any adjustments to what you tip (over or under the recommended) unless you instruct them to do so.

Why do you have to go to guest services for this? Why can't you just call them on the phone?

 

[Pinkgurlshubby]

I believe in tipping according to the service I receive. On each DCL I have been on, I feel like the "recomended amount" was a bargain! The service was outstanding each time, and I never considered the amount as being excessive.

Very well said!

And, as previous posters put it, the servers spend so much time with the little ones, they are kept very busy. I think they are worth the money they make and there is no way I would short change them. If a family member wants to argue over they are just kids and we should only pay half or it's just a recomendation and we can pay less, then I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of a gift exchange with them if you know what I mean..,.

 

[Olga]

Children are using the same services as the adults, towels, linens, bathrooms etc., and in the dining room their meals and drinks are being served to them as well.
Some cruise lines are charging the suggested amounts to the total bill, perhaps this automatic charge will become an industry wide practice.

 

[jnadelman]

I'm not sure about DCL, so I would need someone else to comment. But on RC if you wanted to charge the tip, you HAD to give the recommended amount. If you wanted to give more, you had to do that in cash your own, same if you wanted to give less.
But I agree with everyone else. You tip based on the quality of the service you receive. And the same goes for the kids.

 

[CraftyMouse]

I'm not sure about DCL, so I would need someone else to comment. But on RC if you wanted to charge the tip, you HAD to give the recommended amount. If you wanted to give more, you had to do that in cash your own, same if you wanted to give less.
But I agree with everyone else. You tip based on the quality of the service you receive. And the same goes for the kids.

This is not true on DCL. YOu can charge whatever amount you'd like. We always charge the recommended amount and then add cash to the envelope when we feel it is warranted.

 

[CraftyMouse]

Why do you have to go to guest services for this? Why can't you just call them on the phone?

No. You need to fill out the gratuity form and hand it to the CM. They will then process the charge to your account.

 

[CraftyMouse]

Children are using the same services as the adults, towels, linens, bathrooms etc., and in the dining room their meals and drinks are being served to them as well.

Not to mention the additional mess that often occurs in the dining room. Our servers have never batted an eye at dropped food or spilled drinks, yet I know it means more work for them. There's no question that it is far easier to serve adults than kids and the DCL servers definitely go the extra mile for the little ones.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

We had an amazing server and room person, the last cruise I tipped advised amount, this time I gave them extra, Our server Leslie from India was really amazing, I cant even begin to tell you.I mentioned once that i liked curry, i got curry on the side every night, if i could not decide what sweet, I would pick one but he would turn up with 2 extra anyway, once I dropped my fork in my food,I looked around for something to wipe it, he shouts from the next table"Miss Lynne, I will get you a new one,hold on" He was great with my niece, she drove him nuts bringing her friend to dinner, asking for mickey bars and ceasar salad! I could never imagine not tipping him.
All you cruise experts, is it worth asking for him the next cruise, he did say he was looking forward going to Europe.

 

[eva]

Children are using the same services as the adults, towels, linens, bathrooms etc., and in the dining room their meals and drinks are being served to them as well.
Some cruise lines are charging the suggested amounts to the total bill, perhaps this automatic charge will become an industry wide practice.

I am beginning to wish that they would raise the cost of the cruise per person to include the tips in the price of the cruise. Then they could have envelopes in the rooms for anyone that wants to tip extra to their servers or cabin steward. Then the poor servers wouldn't have to worry about this very thing happening. I know that people will argue that the service could go down in quality. But I think that there are enough people giving extra that it might not change the quality at all. Also, their jobs really seem to depend on those exit surveys. So I believe that Disney would take care of the really poor ones.

To the OP, please try to talk with your family members a bit more about this. Children normally take even more work than adults. Also let them know that the majority of the servers' and stewards' pay are from tips. Each server/steward is allotted a number of people to serve during the cruise. So there is no way for them to make back the money that a person shorts them. Hopefully they will change their minds once they experience the wonderful service on the cruise. However, I do not have a problem with someone paying less to someone who gave awful service.

 

[Donna3271]

Dear People,

My Aunt is a cast member for Disney, and BELIEVE ME - they do not pay them well. Please give at least the minimum suggestion. They work for tips, and children make a disaster and are MORE work for them. Please do not "punish them" because you feel the cruise is expensive enough.

 

[Kay1]

No. You need to fill out the gratuity form and hand it to the CM. They will then process the charge to your account.

That doesn't sound very convenient, but thanks, CraftyMouse.

 

[brucechase]

I am beginning to wish that they would raise the cost of the cruise per person to include the tips in the price of the cruise. Then they could have envelopes in the rooms for anyone that wants to tip extra to their servers or cabin steward. Then the poor servers wouldn't have to worry about this very thing happening.

Even though this would be nice, I think it would cause some confusion. If they want to raise the price to include tips, then they shouldn't leave an envelope also.

I don't know if I would be in favor of this because even though a lot of people tip extra, I'm sure there are plenty like the OPs family that don't tip that much. I tipped extra and thought that it was still inadequate for what was a wonderful cruise being treated like royalty. Hopefully for the CM it evens out in the end (even though they most likely deserve more)

 

[owensamo]

That doesn't sound very convenient, but thanks, CraftyMouse.

Though you get the form a night or two before the end of the cruise, you can stop by GS and charge your tips at any time. When you do so, you are given receipts to put in the envelopes for each of your servers and your room steward.

If you don't want to go to GS, you can tip in cash - just make sure you bring the right amount. Envelopes will be left in your stateroom the last night for you to put your tips in to give to each tipped cast member.

Amanda

 

[Kay1]

Though you get the form a night or two before the end of the cruise, you can stop by GS and charge your tips at any time. When you do so, you are given receipts to put in the envelopes for each of your servers and your room steward.

If you don't want to go to GS, you can tip in cash - just make sure you bring the right amount. Envelopes will be left in your stateroom the last night for you to put your tips in to give to each tipped cast member.

Amanda

Thanks, Amanda. The cash route sounds best to me.

 

[eva]

Even though this would be nice, I think it would cause some confusion. If they want to raise the price to include tips, then they shouldn't leave an envelope also.

I don't know if I would be in favor of this because even though a lot of people tip extra, I'm sure there are plenty like the OPs family that don't tip that much. I tipped extra and thought that it was still inadequate for what was a wonderful cruise being treated like royalty. Hopefully for the CM it evens out in the end (even though they most likely deserve more)

There are a number of cruise lines that already include tips. Maybe they could put something on the envelopes that says that standard tips are already included with the price of the cruise. Or maybe they could have a small sign in the room saying that you can pick up the envelopes at GS. I'm sure there is a way to do it that would not be too confusing.