Budget question - bar bill

[rentayenta]

Room service is free except for packaged snacks and alcohol. Bring singles for tips if you order room service.

Thank you!

Do not a lot of people tip? I see constant reminders to tip.

 

[pearlieq]

Do not a lot of people tip? I see constant reminders to tip.

It can just be confusing since tipping on a cruise is somewhat different than tipping on land--you tip your main servers at the end of the week, service for breakfast and lunch is included in the main server tip, tips are automatically added to bar drinks, and you tip room service in cash. It can be a lot to keep straight if you're new to cruising!

Plus, since the ship is virtually cashless, it can be easy to forget to keep a supply of singles on hand for the few people who do get cash tips.

 

[sandrakit]

So many people do not tip at all ! Go to Guest Services the last day/night of your cruise & you will see a huge line . So many people are removing their tips & say they will pay the workers direct with cash . For the most part this is FALSE . My friend has worked at guest services for years & they are friends with many workers & so many people do not tip , this to me is very very sad as it is their wage ! If we do not tip the workers they do not get a salary . The last night of my Dream cruise I overheard a man saying he was removing his tips & I asked if he had bad service & his reply was " my service was great , I'm not tipping already paid enough for this trip & I'm not tipping " . I told him if he didn't tip then his servers wouldn't get paid & the ignorant @&$;$ said too bad !!! I was furious.
We had a conversation with our server about this & he told us directly that many people remove them & do not give it back to them . The tipped positions are 52.00 a month from Disney .
No one will ever be poor by giving ....

 

[penel3]

So many people do not tip at all ! Go to Guest Services the last day/night of your cruise & you will see a huge line . So many people are removing their tips & say they will pay the workers direct with cash . For the most part this is FALSE . My friend has worked at guest services for years & they are friends with many workers & so many people do not tip , this to me is very very sad as it is their wage ! If we do not tip the workers they do not get a salary . The last night of my Dream cruise I overheard a man saying he was removing his tips & I asked if he had bad service & his reply was " my service was great , I'm not tipping already paid enough for this trip & I'm not tipping " . I told him if he didn't tip then his servers wouldn't get paid & the ignorant @&$;$ said too bad !!! I was furious.
We had a conversation with our server about this & he told us directly that many people remove them & do not give it back to them . The tipped positions are 52.00 a month from Disney .
No one will ever be poor by giving ....

That is disgusting and outrageous!! I've seen those lines at guest services and for someone to be so ignorant as to wait that long and then take money away from hardworking staff is rude!!

 

[LWQuestie]

Aside from alcohol and packaged items, I thought room service was free?

Room service is free except for packaged snacks and alcohol. Bring singles for tips if you order room service.

And soda, too, right? I think if soda is ordered through room service, it's the same as ordering at a bar. You get a can and a charge.

 

[bsamps]

This is not going to be good. I'm a sucker for rum drinks, and I can imagine that my bar tab will be quite large. Either that, or I'll have to byor. Good thing my cruise isn't 'til next year. I've plenty 'o time to collect some disney gift card!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

And soda, too, right? I think if soda is ordered through room service, it's the same as ordering at a bar. You get a can and a charge.

Yes, soda from room service has a charge.

 

[Buckeye218]

Just pulled out my bill from our June 2012 7-day cruise. Between my wife and I, we spent roughly $150.00 for 18 drinks (avg. $8/drink).

 

[bahacca]

My DH and I sound similar to you guys, but I am a sucker for fru fru drinks. I budgeted $300 for drinks on a 4 day cruise. I also budgeted $32 for coffee since we both like coffee drinks like lattes. I figured the drink cost as the following:
1 smoothie/special drink per kid per day(we have 2 kids)-So, roughly $8/day for drinks for the kids=$32
2 bottles of sparkling wine/champagne for the first night since it is our 10 year anniversary(and My MIL and SFIL treated us to the cruise and are coming with, so we'll need 2 bottles;-) about $50 since I like Asti
Then about 2 drinks/day for DH and I. He likes beer, wine and some fru fru stuff. I LOVE fru fru drinks. My guess is my drink bill will be higher than his as we'll carry on Captain Morgan and wine. I figured I'd aim higher in estimating since it is a BUDGET
Oh-and tastings rank on the drinking scale and I think are $20 each. I have this in a separate category all by itself, though.

 

[sandrakit]

That is disgusting and outrageous!! I've seen those lines at guest services and for someone to be so ignorant as to wait that long and then take money away from hardworking staff is rude!!

It's very sad that some people don't tip at all ! Our server also told us that so many guests are so demanding , get wonderful service all week long , take photos & then don't show up the last night so they don't have to feel guilty about not tipping ! On my cruise last March the server next to our table ended up chatting with us ( poor guy had a table of 10 ) and his table didn't show up & the next morning my husband asked if they came for breakfast & he said NO , it happens sometimes ! Our server told us he/ other server checked his account & they did not tip ...turns out to be a bad week when you only have 14 guests & 10 do not tip .
Some people have the idea that these workers are paid huge $$$ when in fact they work on tips , if we all tipped the required amount then they would make a decent wage . I personally feel the tips are the bare minimum & we should be tipping extra for wonderful service . You can add cash & write a personal note to your server & hosts . They get to keep their tip $$$ , they do not share . I feel tips should be mandatory !!!

 

[neg58]

The cruise line could just add the tips to the price of the cruise, and pay the servers, but they must feel it is more competitive to do it the way they do.

I'd rather they just include it all in the price of the cruise and then let people tip or not tip extra.

Nancy

 

[rentayenta]

So who's included in the pre tipping and who's not? As a former bartender, I'd be mortified if I missed someone.

I hated adding gratuity but see their reasons for doing so. I'm sure people see their tab at the end if the cruise and flip. Looking to save money, they take it from the very staff that waited on them. Total garbage.

So other than room service, who doesn't get prepaid tips?

 

[sandrakit]

I hope I can help answer your question .
The workers relying on their tips ( get a very small wage of $52.00 a month ) from Disney . These positions are , head server , server , assistant server , stateroom host . You can pre pay these tips in advance at guest services at the beginning of your cruise or at the time of booking your cruise . The room service staff depend on tips too along with the bartenders / drink servers around the pool decks . The suggested amount is added to drinks , of 15% we often add an additional amount of 2-$10.00 depending on our order . Sometimes I add 1.00 in cash for each drink . One worker told me any cash he receives he treats himself to a coffee or a snack when he manages to get a morning or afternoon off on port days , the rest of his money must be sent home to his family .
You can also take treats / candy , gum , bars to give to your workers as the workers live to get treats ! I gave treats to the pool man & he had tears in his eyes , everyday he saw me after he thanked me .

 

[rentayenta]

I hope I can help answer your question .
The workers relying on their tips ( get a very small wage of $52.00 a month ) from Disney . These positions are , head server , server , assistant server , stateroom host . You can pre pay these tips in advance at guest services at the beginning of your cruise or at the time of booking your cruise . The room service staff depend on tips too along with the bartenders / drink servers around the pool decks . The suggested amount is added to drinks , of 15% we often add an additional amount of 2-$10.00 depending on our order . Sometimes I add 1.00 in cash for each drink . One worker told me any cash he receives he treats himself to a coffee or a snack when he manages to get a morning or afternoon off on port days , the rest of his money must be sent home to his family .
You can also take treats / candy , gum , bars to give to your workers as the workers live to get treats ! I gave treats to the pool man & he had tears in his eyes , everyday he saw me after he thanked me .

Thank you. That clears it up somewhat. They like treats too? Like bags of candy or chocolate bars? So if you want to tip servers more, do I just leave cash on the table? And with bartenders, they don't add a tip to the drink? Do I tip in cash?

 

[neg58]

Thank you. That clears it up somewhat. They like treats too? Like bags of candy or chocolate bars? So if you want to tip servers more, do I just leave cash on the table? And with bartenders, they don't add a tip to the drink? Do I tip in cash?

For your regular servers, you can tip at the table but I think it is better to just tip at the end; you can add more to your account or put it in the envelope on the last night. The whole purpose of KTTW cards is so you don't have to carry cash around and the CM aren't dealing with cash.

For bartenders, yes, 15% is added. You can add more to the signed bill or you can put cash in the folder. You usually sign a bill just like you would in any bar or restaurant.

 

[sandrakit]

Thank you. That clears it up somewhat. They like treats too? Like bags of candy or chocolate bars? So if you want to tip servers more, do I just leave cash on the table? And with bartenders, they don't add a tip to the drink? Do I tip in cash?

ALL cruise workers are so thankful for treats , most cannot afford them nor do they get a chance very often to get off the ship to get treats ! I take gum , chocolate bars , life savers , peppermints & packaged candy like worthers & starburst candy . I add the cash to the tip envelope on the last night in the dining room when we have dinner . I add extra tips to the receipt that is charged to my account & sometimes when I get a drink from a sever I add a dollar bill or 2 in the folder that they hand you to sign .

 

[PrincessShmoo]

ALL cruise workers are so thankful for treats , most cannot afford them nor do they get a chance very often to get off the ship to get treats ! I take gum , chocolate bars , life savers , peppermints & packaged candy like worthers & starburst candy . I add the cash to the tip envelope on the last night in the dining room when we have dinner . I add extra tips to the receipt that is charged to my account & sometimes when I get a drink from a sever I add a dollar bill or 2 in the folder that they hand you to sign .

I'm going to point out that there's a reason Disney doesn't sell gum in their parks or onboard - it's really nasty to find under your dining room table, or seat in the theatre. And it's icky to walk on it while on deck.

 

[neg58]

I'm going to point out that there's a reason Disney doesn't sell gum in their parks or onboard - it's really nasty to find under your dining room table, or seat in the theatre. And it's icky to walk on it while on deck.

And I'm absolutely sure (and grateful) that CM cannot have gum while in costume and probably not on board.

I can't tell you how I hate dealing with a clerk at a store while she is chewing gum.

Nancy

 

[sandrakit]

I'm going to point out that there's a reason Disney doesn't sell gum in their parks or onboard - it's really nasty to find under your dining room table, or seat in the theatre. And it's icky to walk on it while on deck.

I understand your comment but on the same note I'm sure the CM would not be guilty of putting gum under a dining room table or throwing it on a deck ! The gum & treats are to be for their enjoyment in their little bit of free time that they have . We own our own business & I do not want my employees smacking on gum while working with the public either ...

 

[Heyriddle]

You an bring alcohol onboard in your carry-on. On our last cruise, we brought a few bottle of wine and my husband premixed some apple martinis.