Another tipping question

[MommaluvsDis]

DSs ages 16, 19, and 23 do not plan to join us for any of our 8:30 dinners. Do we still tip on their behalf even though they're not there?

 

[KEH]

I believe the answer to this is yes, you tip on the basis of who would have been at the table, not who actually was. Others will be able to give more detail.

 

[makaylee]

You should also tip for them because they will be eating three meals a day somewhere on the ship. The dinner servers don't just do dinner they serve all day long.

 

[Otimon]

Absolutely. If it is the choice of the guest not to eat dinner, the server should still get a tip as they depend on that income.

Have a wonderful time.

 

[gassmandy]

Yes--like the other posters said--they get tipped per person "assigned" to their tables whether they eat dinner w/ them or not (or should but we know a lot of people do stiff the servers). Because this pays for all the shifts they pull--lunch, breakfast, and dinner. It does add up to be alot if you look at the $$$, but when you break it down to the # of people in your group and the fact that each one probably eats min. of 2 meals per day--maybe 3 or 4--it's not a lot. I would be tipping a lot more if I ate out 2-3 meals per day for 7 days!!! That's just how I look at it to not feel like I'm spending a lot. If that makes any sense??!!??!!

 

[GenieDana]

If the DS's don't plan to attend any meals, dining services should be notified right away (when you board) and the vacant seats will be made available for others.

This way, you will not be obligated for tippping for persons who aren't registered to be there.

You should not have to tip for persons who do not receive service, likewise service will not be rendered if they are not registered for meals and others fill the void.

 

[invaderzim]

If you read the cruise websites on this subject, including wdwig.com, you will find that you are expected to tip for the number in your party. It DOES NOT matter whether they eat or not. As a previous poster said, the dining servers do not just serve dinner. On our last two cruises, we got our assistant server one morning for room service, saw our head server doing the lunch buffet one afternoon and also serving on Castaway Cay for the barbeque. They work 24/7, including setting up and cleaning. They make VERY little per month (only $100 or so, sometimes less on some lines) and depend on the tips to make their living -- literally.

If your children are not eating for dinners, the servers should not be punished because there are less people at their table. And there will not be people to "fill the void". The number of people on the ship is the number of people on the ship -- and dining times and tables are assigned accordingly.

We've always had such wonderful service that we actually end up giving more than the recommended amount.

A side note on "tipping" -- one thing we've done for the past two cruises which brought wonderful reactions and big smiles to our servers and room stewards -- we also brought strips of candy bars and Pepperidge Farm cookies and left them for them on our last night along with their tip envelope. We got lots of hugs and kisses for that because a lot of them don't get port time or shopping in-between cruises for several weeks. Another great "side gift" for special service or even the cast members in the kids clubs are international prepaid calling cards.

Have fun!

 

[pth]

I know you all will flame me on this question, but, what if you are on a 3 night cruise and the only meals the servers will be serving you will be on 2 nights only. All other meals will be eaten on shore or at topsiders, or at Palo? Everyone says that it's your obligation to tip them whether or not you need their service or not because they aren't paid much. I guess I don't understand why you are expected to tip for services not rendered.

 

[MrsPete]

Yes, you should tip on behalf of your children even if they do not set foot in the formal dining rooms. Why? Because they are going to eat SOMEWHERE during their time onboard. Even if they eat at the buffet for every meal, someone will serve their food and clear away their dishes. When you tip your assigned waiters at the end of the curise, you're tipping for the service you've received at every breakfast and every lunch (exception: Palo). If you don't tip for your children, you're "stiffing" the people who served them these meals.

However, in all honesty, you don't receive the same amount of service at the buffet that you receive in the rotation dining rooms. Therefore, I would tip only the minimum amount on behalf of your children.