Breakfast & Lunch Menus

[Tony M]

I've seen menus for Dinner,
but what's for Lunch & Breakfast?
And where do you eat?

 

[inkkognito]

We got 'em on our website...7-day lunch menus and breakfast for all: www.castawayclub.com
Barb

 

[Tony M]

Looking at the Navigator's,
It looks as if Lunch/Breakfast is held somewhere other than your Dining Rotation Dinner Restaurant.
How do you tip your server ?

 

[Favorite Auntie]

You don't tip your server for lunch and breakfast. You may even run into your dinner servers at lunch and breakfast. The dining room servers also serve at lunch and breakfast throughout the ship, that is why you need to give them the tips even if you never once eat in the dining rooms! The tips you give them covers all the meals that you get served, by anyone. Please keep this in mind, both cruises I have been on I noticed a lot of empty dinner tables and I feel badly for those servers because they will probably miss out on those tips....

 

[rae519]

I always tip both the breakfast and lunch servers!!!

My goodness, I would never have even thought not to! After all, they are working. Furthermore, I always tip much more than is required for exceptional service from my dining room staff.
Seems if I can afford the trip, then I can afford to be generous to those who serve me.

And if I choose not to have dinner one night, that's my choice and not a night that gets deducted from my serving team's tips.

AGAIN, this is MY opinion and not an inflammatory remark about others who elect to not tip, etc., etc.

Rae

 

[inkkognito]

We haven't tipped for breakfast and lunch, but if we did and didn't want to use cash (since we don't carry a lot on the ship), I would probably use phone cards. That's what we use for tips at High Tea, since more than one person takes care of you and since there is no charge slip to sign there to add on $$.
I just bought two 12-packs at Sam's yesterday.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Favorite Auntie]

RAE519,
You are certainly entitled to tip whoever you want, but in all the literature, and if you ask on board, they will tell you that it is not necessary, or traditional to tip at breakfast and lunch. I am more than generous at dinner because I know that they wait on me and other people during breakfast and lunch. I have never even seen anyone tip at breakfast and lunch! The tipping could get carried away, should you tip the people at guest services when they help you? The tipping is arranged so that the wait staff makes out quite well when people tip appropriately. I think if you tip the last night all the servers that is fine. Again, you can tip anyone you want, but according to DCL breakfast and lunch does not require a tip.

 

[rae519]

It is illegal to tip Guest Services.

I let my conscious be my guide and not some other person's opinion. I also leave a tip for the housekeeper when I stay at hotels, even one night. I tip the DCL bus driver, the excursion or tender guide, and probably a lot more people than you would ever imagine.

This is MY personality. I am generous and appreciative to those who do things for me or my benefit.

The "cruise/hotel" guidelines may state that a tip isn't required, but I think good service always needs to be recognized.

Furthermore, there are many who do not tip their dining room staff, or tip very poorly because (1) they think they paid enough for the cruise; (2) already went over their budget; (3) didn't make all the dinners so deduct accordingly; (4) don't think tipping for children is fair and (5) are just plain cheap. So if I give $3-5 dollar for our breakfast/lunch tips, maybe it will work out in the long run for them.

And if they make a "fortune" on tips, then good for them! After 5 cruises and observing how crabby and demanding some guests are, they well-deserve it!

Therefore I will continue to tip and tip very well for good/excellent service.

Rae

 

[inkkognito]

Well said, Rae!
Tipping is a very personal choice, and if you choose to be generous, I say amen to that. It would be nice if everyone following the guidelines, but many do not. I know that's not my responsibility, but when we get superior service, I like to reward it with an extra tip. My husband is even worse...we parked at an offsite Midway lot for our last cruise, and they have a bus that circles the lot (it is VERY large) so you don't have to walk to the front gate. We would have walked, but the driver saw us unloading our car and pulled up to wait. Hubby gave him a tip...you could tell he was surprised. Afterward, I said to hubby, "I don't think it's typical to tip the parking lot driver!" He responded, "Hey, it was worth it to me. It saved us a walk, so why not."
The only time I've ever stiffed anyone on one of our trips was the Fairfield hotel shuttle when we arrived the night before. It took well over an hour for him to show up (typical time is 15 minutes for the MCO area hotels, and usually not more than 30). I asked him what the delay had been, and he wouldn't even answer me. Compare that to the Marriott driver, who was quick to explain when it took him 30 minutes, which I didn't even consider unreasonable. Then, after being rude to me, he stood there waiting for the tip at the hotel. Not likely. You ignored me, so it's my turn.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[rae519]

Barb,
Tony has style! And I agree with his thinking! Anytime anyone makes my life easier, hey, it's worth a couple bucks!!!!
And I agree, I never tip for bad service, but I do make a legitimate complaint to the management if at all possible.
Likewise with compliments - when they are deserved, they are lavished!
Rae

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hi Rae! Interesting category.

(4) don't think tipping for children is fair

If warranted I tip well above DCL guidelines. HOWEVER, should the CM have (or at least be willing to try to have) my child, I most certainly would provide for a lavish tip...

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by Buckaroo's Dad
Hi Rae! Interesting category.




HOWEVER, should the CM have (or at least be willing to try to have) my child, I most certainly would provide for a lavish tip...

BD - read this over carefully. Maybe it's just me but.....?!!!!!!!


Rae

 

[Tony M]

So let me try to milk it for just a little bit more info.
DCL Guidelines for tipping(4 Night Wonder):
Restaurant Server: $14.75
Restaurant Assistant Server: $10.75
Head Server: $3.75
Stateroom Host/ ess: $14.50
Room Service: (At your Discretion)
I've got no problem with these at all. But who are they missing?

I've also read that you can leave your tips by using your onship account/guest services. Is this correct?

When you arrive at the terminal(self Parking) is there someone their to help with your bags at a drop off zone?
And if yes, how much do you tip them? per bag?
Room service "at your discretion". Need help here too with generalizations. How much per meal? per delivery/service?

What about those at Flounder's Reef?
I would imagine that there is more than one person watching the kiddies, so how do you reward them?

How about at the Bars?
If you charge everything to your KTTW how do you tip them?

Obviously each tip is going to fluctuate due to each opinion of the service, but I am just looking for guidelines or someone I may be missing?

 

[AnnMorin]

Well we have never tipped at breakfast or lunch- actually never gave it any thought but then again we do the buffets for them so it would be hard to guess who to tip. I have brought phone cards to councilors that are particularly kind to our son. I way overtip at palo as the service is like having your own private staff ( I can't wait to go again ) We always tip the porters, the driver of the avis shuttle etc., a few buck add up for that person at the end of the day and if they are kind and smile I am more than happy to give them a thank you. I usually overtip our sever and assit. server but never the head sever as he only seems to show up the night before tips. Our room steward last cruise was so great (even clean my hairbrush!!) I way overtipped him and would gladly do it again. I think if a person has the means and motive to be generous that is a wonderful thing!

to answer some of your questions, at the bar a 15 percent is automatically added on, we usually write in another dollar or two anyhow, (especially if you get an extra "splash" in your bahama mama)
room service we usually give a dollar for each delivery (again 15 percent will be added in for alcohol but food is free)
Phone cards are great for outstanding staff with the kiddos
We usually tip one dollar per bag to the porters, that includes at the airport etc.

 

[rae519]

I leave $1.00 per person at the table for our buffet meals; and depending how much is ordered with room service between $2 and $3.

I also tip the Spa staff 20% of the total, if I have their services.

Ditto the other tip suggestions by AnnMorin - seems most reasonable and fair for all concerned.

Again, let your conscience be your guide on tipping.

Happy Sailing!

Rae