Can you refuse to tip!

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Every single person on that ship is already allocated to a table when they book the cruise.

Letting the staff know that you are not going to use your particular table does not make a difference really.

Some server, somewhere, is going to end up with empty spaces at their tables and therefore will not get a tip.

Thank you.

Was fully aware of that.

It does however make a difference, an example is if one person / family;is on main dinner, but doesnt plan to show, to avoid paying tips, then at least a person /family; intending to come to dinner, but allocated late dinner, would be able to move to main, if the restaurant manager was informed.

Also, example (2), if say one server team were unlucky that 2 or 3 of their tables all decided not to show, if the cruisers intending not to come to dinner inform the restaurant manager, they can reallocate the distribution fairly so all servers had a balanced customer base.

In the end I was just showing the OP it doesnt do any harm to be polite, in the same fashion as answering OP's questions with politeness whatever their intensions is the best policy.

 

[over50visits]

I noticed recently on my past cruise (last week) that they had included a tip in the amount of the check on the drinks.

Been done as long as I can remember. Disney, however, says they do that "for our convenience." I don't think they are being truthful, since it is not optional.

 

[Hygiene99]

Thanks to everyones posts reagarding tips. I have been a little fuzzy about what the guidelines are and want to make sure I budget enough for our trip.

We are doing a 3-night trip in Feb. According to calculations for (4) people @ $12 pp per day, it would be approx $150? Is that correct? Help?

TIA!

http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/

 

[Rogillio]

If you don't plan to tip, that is fine but on day one of your cruise, please notify all your servers that you intend to stiff them!

We usually tip more than the reccomended minimum.

Imagine you child working on a cruise ship to save money for college and then imagine people stiffing them!

Don't fight it. Just accept that tipping is part of the cruise cost and you pay it at the end of the cruise. Budget for it as part of the cost of cruising so it doesn't come as a shock on the last day of the cruise.

~Mike

 

[Cruisin]

Thank you.

Was fully aware of that.

It does however make a difference, an example is if one person / family;is on main dinner, but doesnt plan to show, to avoid paying tips, then at least a person /family; intending to come to dinner, but allocated late dinner, would be able to move to main, if the restaurant manager was informed.

Also, example (2), if say one server team were unlucky that 2 or 3 of their tables all decided not to show, if the cruisers intending not to come to dinner inform the restaurant manager, they can reallocate the distribution fairly so all servers had a balanced customer base.

In the end I was just showing the OP it doesnt do any harm to be polite, in the same fashion as answering OP's questions with politeness whatever their intensions is the best policy.

I know that you and I are aware of that but new cruisers may not think about it

I just didn't want to confuse new cruisers by thinking that they could give their table to someone else and then all the servers will get their proper tips.

Yes it does give people who want to change dining times a chance to get their requests filled but some server is going to be short at the end of the cruise.

I agree that it doesn't hurt to inform the dining room staff that you are not going to be using their services. Always err on the side of politeness

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I know that you and I are aware of that but new cruisers may not think about it

I just didn't want to confuse new cruisers by thinking that they could give their table to someone else and then all the servers will get their proper tips.

Yes it does give people who want to change dining times a chance to get their requests filled but some server is going to be short at the end of the cruise.

I agree that it doesn't hurt to inform the dining room staff that you are not going to be using their services. Always err on the side of politeness

 

[Vegaslover]

I grew up in the restaurant business, so I think it's weird not to tip. But, at the same time I also believe only people who deserve to be tipped should be tipped. The CMs were fabulous on our cruise so I had no issues with tipping them. I mean, really truly the suggested amounts are less than I would normally tip for good service.

I do have a question about the dining room manger/host. I thought they were included in the suggested tipping amount. Did that change?

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I grew up in the restaurant business, so I think it's weird not to tip. But, at the same time I also believe only people who deserve to be tipped should be tipped. The CMs were fabulous on our cruise so I had no issues with tipping them. I mean, really truly the suggested amounts are less than I would normally tip for good service.

I do have a question about the dining room manger/host. I thought they were included in the suggested tipping amount. Did that change?

Head servers you do tip, restaurant managers you don't have to as its not a tipping position but is said your discretion.

Its nice this thread is around as it clarifies issues like this and common misunderstandings. These roles people can think are the same or similar.

Restaurant manager is in charge of the whole restaurant.

Head server is in charge of the sever teams often say 50% or 33% of the restaurant. There are two or three of these per sitting.

 

[stitchlovestink]

Okay, here's a question regarding the head server...
what if you are not celebrating anything, don't have any dietary issues/spec needs, your wait staff is fine, and you don't need any changes or accomodations to your dining.... what are the head servers doing for those cruisers that fall into that category to earn 'their' tip? I'm really trying to understand what they are doing. This past cruise, the ONLY time we saw our head server was at the last dinner and that was pretty much w/ his hand out (literally, I'm not kidding!) for his tip envelope. I felt his tip was really earned by our server/asst server and they should've gotten his portion as he did nothing for our table that I am aware of. I gave our server/asst server great marks on the comment card, but I gave the head server mediocre marks as I found it incredibly rude to show up at our table only on the last night and LITERALLY w/ his hand open palm up for his tip envelope. Maybe I am missing something? Enlighten me, please

 

[over50visits]

I felt his tip was really earned by our server/asst server and they should've gotten his portion as he did nothing for our table that I am aware of. I gave our server/asst server great marks on the comment card, but I gave the head server mediocre marks as I found it incredibly rude to show up at our table only on the last night and LITERALLY w/ his hand open palm up for his tip envelope. Maybe I am missing something? Enlighten me, please

I have to agree in principle. There are a lot of behind the scene people who make the cruise work well, and I don't think it is appropriate to tip them. Tipping those who provide a personal service has become an American pastime, so be it. I happily do so. But I wouldn't tip the Captain, or the head room steward, or the supervisor of children's programs, or the head chef. Why this person who, I agree, says hello at the start and shows up for his tip at the end?

That being said, I believe their salaries are reduced because of the tips, and I again fault Disney for this problem, but I don't make the head server suffer. And it is just a few dollars anyway.

 

[IndyStarGazer]

Tipping was one of the aspects of our first cruise that bothered me, and still does.

It seems to me that we've lost sight of what a tip is -- a reward for good service. We seem to view tips as something that is automatically given no matter what the service was like.

Before I go any further, I should point out that at one time in my life I was a bartender and relied heavily on tips for my income. I know what it is like to work really hard to please someone only to have them walk out with either no tip or some spare change left on the bar. Partly because of my experiences I tend to tip well -- typically 20% for good service at dinner, for example.

What bothered me about tipping on the cruise was that it seemed very cut-and-dried and expected that I would tip. I certainly know that the service staff makes most of their money from tips but that does not mean that I am obligated to tip. If the service is good (and of course it almost always is with DCL) I will certainly tip and generally better than most.

I especially have a problem with the concept that I should tip for meals I did not eat. For example, if I dine in my room I'll gladly tip room service but I don't feel any obligation to tip the staff in the dining room for that meal. This will probably sound cruel but I fail to understand how I am responsible for the staff's income or the fact that they will earn less money if fewer people dine in the dining room. If Disney does not pay them well, that's between them and Disney.

I hesitated to say anything because it seems the majority opinion is that you should tip whether you eat in the dining room or not...it just bothers me that someone would be rewarded for something they didn't do.

DW and I talked about this quite a bit. We finally figured out a good tip per meal (similar to the amounts some others have posted in this thread) and tipped the dining room staff for the meals we ate with them -- which was nearly all of them so they still got a nice tip.

Just my two cents...

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Okay, here's a question regarding the head server...
what if you are not celebrating anything, don't have any dietary issues/spec needs, your wait staff is fine, and you don't need any changes or accommodations to your dining.... what are the head servers doing for those cruisers that fall into that category to earn 'their' tip? I'm really trying to understand what they are doing. This past cruise, the ONLY time we saw our head server was at the last dinner and that was pretty much w/ his hand out (literally, I'm not kidding!) for his tip envelope. I felt his tip was really earned by our server/asst server and they should've gotten his portion as he did nothing for our table that I am aware of. I gave our server/asst server great marks on the comment card, but I gave the head server mediocre marks as I found it incredibly rude to show up at our table only on the last night and LITERALLY w/ his hand open palm up for his tip envelope. Maybe I am missing something? Enlighten me, please

Firstly the things you cover at the top of your post is correct and their job, but they also, add value, they help and support your team, if things say double up on time, ie guests might all want the same the same second, they help out, they ensure your team are doing the best for you, they will ask for feedback and if you have any complaint they will correct it.

They will take special order requests not just birthdays or diet, but anything you would like at that time.

In all my time on 6 cruises, I only once reduced a tip and it was for a head server* as I never saw him until last night, palm out, ( I gave an enhanced tip to my servers covering that and more) But in the other 5 cruises my head severs have been fantastic, and they looked after me even if I didn't have requests.

* Oh yes, when I reduced his tip, I told him directly why.

Not matter what you should see your head sever every day, but also understand they might also be working behind the scenes looking after you and your needs. If they help another table that can knock on in speeding the service up to your table by freeing up your server etc etc

 

[Rogillio]

The "I didn't eat all the meals" thing is something that it took me a while to get. If you did not eat at Outback, you would not be expected to tip....but the servers would serve other customers and make their money. On a cruise, you and the others assigned to a particular server are the only 'clients' the servers have. You deciding to eat elsewhere hurts them (if you short them on the tips).

When you look at the tips as a percentage of the cruise vs how much of factor the servers are to your overall cruise expereince, I think tips are a real bargin!

Again, tip like you'd like someone to tip your child if they were there humping in 12+ hrs a day.

~Mike

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Do the servers ever share their tips with others? The reason I'm asking is that we ate one night at Topsiders. The service was phenomenal. DH was in a bad mood and I swear they expedited his food just to keep his mouth full. In fact service was so great that by the time the plate was put in front of him he was no longer in a bad mood (and for the record he was grumpty but not rude to the servers).
I really wanted to tip the wait staff but didn't even think to bring cash and do it directly then. And I was so amazed at the turn around in DH (blood sugar had dropped dramatically and he was really hurting for food making him ) I didn't even think to write down the servers' names to add to my comment card.

 

[KSandbergFL]

I certainly know that the service staff makes most of their money from tips but that does not mean that I am obligated to tip. If the service is good (and of course it almost always is with DCL) I will certainly tip and generally better than most.

I especially have a problem with the concept that I should tip for meals I did not eat. For example, if I dine in my room I'll gladly tip room service but I don't feel any obligation to tip the staff in the dining room for that meal.

I will go on record saying that I agree with you... so there *are* at least two of us! My stance is based on the definition of "tip", or more appropriately, "gratuity".

The argument "well, tip the dining room servers anyway because if they aren't serving you, they're earning it by serving someone else"..... by definition, that isn't a "tip" anymore, is it? That's more like a donation or a charitable contribution... nothing wrong with it, but don't call it a "tip" that the server "deserves" from someone he never even met.

This thread started out with the question "Do I need to tip anything at all?", and the answer, quite simply, is NO. A "tip", by definition, is a voluntary, at-your-discretion reward for exceptional service. You can tip as little or as much as you wish. To some people, an extra $5 seems like a LOT; others have no problem dropping an extra $20 or $50. I knew a friend who gave all his servers $100 bills.

Tipping is nice... the servers really appreciate it, and they perform their duties with a valid expectation that -- the better service they provide, the better they will be rewarded... Tipping is a gallant, classy thing to do... the "right" thing to do, in most cases.... but it is no way "required" of anybody. If it's "required", than it isn't a TIP/gratuity.

Personally, I would advise prospective/new cruisers to just excersize the pre-paid gratuities option, and not worry about it at all! I love that Disney makes it so easy and hassle-free -- pre-pay your gratuities when you book your cruise, and forget about them (however, like one person suggested -- double-check your tip sheet to make sure the names on the list match the servers you actually had). If a person can't afford to provide gratuities at the default/suggested levels (ie $528 for an 11-day cruise, or whatever it is), than he/she is probably over-his-head already, and really should be taking a shorter/cheaper cruise.

 

[AbsyBabsy]

Okay, here's a question regarding the head server...
what if you are not celebrating anything, don't have any dietary issues/spec needs, your wait staff is fine, and you don't need any changes or accomodations to your dining.... what are the head servers doing for those cruisers that fall into that category to earn 'their' tip? I'm really trying to understand what they are doing. This past cruise, the ONLY time we saw our head server was at the last dinner and that was pretty much w/ his hand out (literally, I'm not kidding!) for his tip envelope. I felt his tip was really earned by our server/asst server and they should've gotten his portion as he did nothing for our table that I am aware of. I gave our server/asst server great marks on the comment card, but I gave the head server mediocre marks as I found it incredibly rude to show up at our table only on the last night and LITERALLY w/ his hand open palm up for his tip envelope. Maybe I am missing something? Enlighten me, please

I wondered the same thing and on my summer cruise my husband and I really watched for him. We were surprised how much he did - from checking with the servers to make sure all was going well to making the cut on the lobsters. He really backs up the servers and makes sure everything is going smoothly and when things start getting slow, he was there to get things moving again. All this while he kept his cool, talked to the guests, smiled and looked like he was having a grand time!

 

[Rogillio]

Frank Sinatra was leaving a hotel in Vega and asked the bellhop what was the biggest tip he'd ever gotten. The bellhop told him he'd once received a $100 tip.

So Frank tipped him $200. The then asked the bellhop "Who was it that gave you the $100 tip?" The bellhop answered "You did mister Sinatra."



I always liked that story. Personally, I'm usually looking for an excuse to find and reward the good in people not an excuse to short them.

"You can only that with you that which you give away".

Sorry for the hijack...back to your regularly scheduled thread.

~Mike

 

[TnRobin]

One thing I would like to add to the "I don't eat dinner in the dining rooms "line of thought.

These people are also the people who are serving you breakfast and lunch throughout the cruise. It is just not possible to tip them as you don't know who you will have at which meal. Please keep in mind that the tip you are giving includes service for meals other than dinner. Granted it is to your server, but there is no other equitable way to break it down.

As for the Head Server. While I may not have special dietary needs, a celebration, etc., I do expect the head server to at least introduce himself/herself at the beginning of the cruise. If I were to experience an issue, I need to know who to go to. Like others, the only tip that was ever reduced was the head server. He too showed up the last night all smiles asking how everything "WAS." Well that was too late to have done anything if everything WAS NOT fine. That said, I have had many a head server that stopped by multiple time during a cruise to check on us and how we were being treated. He got a bigger tip at the end.

 

[Alexander]

I could never even imagine not tipping the DCL staff. I think once the OP sees what the service is like, he will surely understand where we are all coming from.

Our head server cut up my DS's food everynight. He was wonderful! The first night he took the knife right out of my DH's hand and said, "Sir you are on vacation." He cut up the food and asked DS if it was okay (he was 2 at the time) and DS looked up and said, "No, they're not small enough." I thought the head server was going to bust a gut laughing. It was priceless. He also always brought DS a plate of ketchup in the shape of a Mickey head, and confirmed that my older DS was having his favorite smoothie flavor for dinner!

 

[caitlinsdad]

Let me add, while I do not believe in tipping for the sake of tipping, or believe anyone should expect a tip. But having sailed on two disney cruises, Both times the staff has more than earned a tip. I didn't mind one bit tipping the staff for what they have done.

A job well done and more.