Concierge tipping--shouldn't there be some Disney guidelines??

[Uncleromulus]

From all I understand now, Concierge staff are a fully tipped position---or at the very least on a bare minimum salary such as the servers might receive.

The other tipped positions on board have tips automatically added, in a specific amount.

But concierge staff are tipped at "my discretion".

I found it very awkward in arriving at a tip that would then be divided among 3 people.

So I'm thinking maybe at least some guidelines, if Disney won't specify any set amount that you can add to or delete from??? If they came up with exact amounts for the other positions, I'm thinking they could do so for Concierge if they really tried....

 

[Kman34]

I agree...at the least, it would give us an idea of what to tip. They do a lot for the guest.

 

[su_A_ve]

Cause they may need to do a lot for some but nothing for others. A stateroom host has a defined job - cleaning and the upkeep of the cabin. The MDR staff also have a defined job.

Concierge staff it can vary quite a bit...

 

[disneywonderfun]

Not sure your premise is true. There has not been any real confirmation that the concierge salary has been cut to a "bare minimum". The problem is, of course, that any information implied by a concierge host would likely be heavily biased. I have had some concierge staff tell me their salaries were "modestly" decreased with the intent to make it up with tips. Another told me her salary was significantly decreased. Well, what would the average person say if their salary was cut from, let's say, 50K to 30K? I think that is significant. Nevertheless, if there are three concierge hosts, sailing 52 weeks on the Fantasy, with 40 cabins, my example would require $60K to be made up to equalize the situation. That is around 1K per week or $25 per cabin. I think it is silly for us to presume that it is our duty to pay the concierge salary. Even if they were paid ZERO, $100 per cabin does equate to around $70K per year per concierge. So, in my mind, $100 is MORE THAN GENEROUS for what they do.

DWF

 

[boogabuzz]

Totally agree! I honestly didn't even know you were supposed to tip until the envelope showed up on our bed. I just figured the large cost of staying in concierge was actually paying for the concierge service. I had no idea what to tip. All the concierge staff really did extra for us was make a palo reservation. I asked another cruiser whom I had become friendly with what to tip. Yes...a guideline would be nice. Or just add it automatically like the rest of them.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

OP, I agree, there should be some guidelines, or better yet, it should go back to a no tipping policy. In theory, part of the huge premium in price for concierge is paying for the extra service. Like PP I find it hard to believe that it is a completely non-salaried position, since they are officers.

 

[FJS961]

Totally agree with DWF

 

[bumbershoot]

I still do not believe that it's a salary-free job. No one but the most desperate would take such a position that also has no guidelines in place. And the ones I've met on the Dream don't seem to be in that position.

But no, I don't want there to be guidelines. First come guidelines then come expectations then comes minimums and then we're being automatically charged. No no no.

At the time we felt we tipped on the higher side, then after seeing discussions here I realized I was on the average or maybe low side, but when we randomly saw our fave/main concierge from Feb on the ship last week, she responded to us warmly and wonderfully, and insisted that we come up to see her during a slow period even though we weren't staying concierge this time. She was so sweet and kind, even though I'm quite sure there are many people who tipped her FAR more than we did. (thereby solidifying the fact that we WILL be staying in cat Vs from now on because to not have her helping us was almost painful)

 

[kaseyC]

Not sure your premise is true. There has not been any real confirmation that the concierge salary has been cut to a "bare minimum". The problem is, of course, that any information implied by a concierge host would likely be heavily biased. I have had some concierge staff tell me their salaries were "modestly" decreased with the intent to make it up with tips. Another told me her salary was significantly decreased. Well, what would the average person say if their salary was cut from, let's say, 50K to 30K? I think that is significant. Nevertheless, if there are three concierge hosts, sailing 52 weeks on the Fantasy, with 40 cabins, my example would require $60K to be made up to equalize the situation. That is around 1K per week or $25 per cabin. I think it is silly for us to presume that it is our duty to pay the concierge salary. Even if they were paid ZERO, $100 per cabin does equate to around $70K per year per concierge. So, in my mind, $100 is MORE THAN GENEROUS for what they do.

DWF

Totally agree with DWF

I agree as well.

 

[kcwdmd]

For a first time cruiser here in concierge for Thanksgiving week on the fantasy.... Would anyone carry to give me ideas of what you hear to be customary tips? I agree, I wish there were some guidelines because I am clueless enough already. I tend to always tip above average, but you kind of have to have an idea what average is...

 

[disneywonderfun]

For a first time cruiser here in concierge for Thanksgiving week on the fantasy.... Would anyone carry to give me ideas of what you hear to be customary tips? I agree, I wish there were some guidelines because I am clueless enough already. I tend to always tip above average, but you kind of have to have an idea what average is...

There is a survey lurking on the disboards somewhere. My recollection is that anywhere between $50 and $100 was the bulky middle ground. A fair number said ZERO and a small number were on the high end (i.e. $300 for a week).

As always, up to you.

DWF

 

[samily]

I was just searching for the survey!

Here it is:
http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2971416

 

[cheesemouse]

For a first time cruiser here in concierge for Thanksgiving week on the fantasy.... Would anyone carry to give me ideas of what you hear to be customary tips? I agree, I wish there were some guidelines because I am clueless enough already. I tend to always tip above average, but you kind of have to have an idea what average is...

I will share. We did a 5 night cruise on the Wonder and tipped our concierge (Rodrigo) $100. Like others, I had no idea what an appropriate amount was. I felt it was a good tip and we did have him do a fair number of things for us. If Disney is not going to provide guidelines then our next best bet is THIS - a site to discuss it and see what others are doing.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Somebody, somewhere MUST know what the Concierge staff earns as salary??? I agree that it probably can't be nothing, but instead of a fixed salary it COULD just be $2.83 per hour as servers receive.

THAT (in my opinion) is the first thing that must be established before any tipping amounts can be discussed.

The only way you can really tip one (or two) is cash. In our case, two of the staff helped us a lot and we saw a lotof them. The other staff member we didn't see much of. But the tip is divided THREE ways, equally.

 

[Lisa Lisa]

DH and I sailed in a 1-bedroom suite on the Dream last month. We knew that tipping was expected, but had no idea what was appropriate. We didn't even know, initially, whether we could add the tips to our onboard account or would have to pay in cash. We talked to a couple of other concierge passengers and they were as clueless as we were. DH and I were not "high maintenance," but we did make a few requests of the concierge staff. They also went out of their way to make us feel special because we were celebrating our anniversary.

This is the letter we got in our room near the end of the cruise. First and foremost, we were relieved to see that we could add the tips to our onboard account!

We considered the recommended amounts for the other tipped positions and then factored in how much the concierge staff did for us, as well as how much they added to our overall experience (A LOT). We ended up deciding on $15/person/day. Since there were two people in our room, that came to $120 for the 4-night cruise -- divided 3 ways, of course. The way we looked at it, one of the concierge hosts did much more for us than the other two did, but each of the other two did more for other people. I think it all evens out in the end, which is probably the idea. We tipped the bartender and the woman who stocked the food and drinks in the lounge in cash, using envelopes we got in the lounge. We also added cash to our stateroom host's envelope.

Regarding whether DCL should provide guidelines for concierge tipping, I'm torn. There are a lot of variables. Some people who stay in concierge make a lot of requests and use many of the concierge services. Others just want the larger room and hardly use the amenities at all. I do think the extent to which a party uses concierge services should factor into the tip. On the other hand, unless you read this board (or a similar one), you really would have no clue what to do. One thing I do know: I am completely against having tips for the concierge staff automatically charged to my onboard account.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Maybe dividing the tips 3 ways isn't the best idea???

But come on!!

Somebody with DCL "connections"--please let us know what they really make in salary. It will go a long way as to helping (me anyway) determine what gratuity to give them. And not even an exact salary--just if they are full salary, partial salary, or little or no salary.

I'm all for tipping folks who depend on tips to earn a living.

Not so excited about tipping those who earn a good salary--unless they REALLy do something special for me.

 

[disneywonderfun]

Maybe dividing the tips 3 ways isn't the best idea???

But come on!!

Somebody with DCL "connections"--please let us know what they really make in salary. It will go a long way as to helping (me anyway) determine what gratuity to give them. And not even an exact salary--just if they are full salary, partial salary, or little or no salary.

I'm all for tipping folks who depend on tips to earn a living.

Not so excited about tipping those who earn a good salary--unless they REALLy do something special for me.

Your frustration with this situation is, obviously, not unique.

I have been irritated with it since the start. We sailed concierge before the tip envelopes arrived, during the transition, and after the current policy was instituted. As you and others have mentioned, no guidance by DCL is a poor system. I have wasted my time filling out the "end-of-cruise" survey, the "post cruise" online survey, and have even emailed DCL directly to express my frustration. In the end, their response has always been "the change was made due to customer request". I find that response to be disingenuous. It seems to me that DCL made the change only as another way to cut costs and shift the burden to the customer.

Why would DCL think that providing a tip envelope for the concierge staff with no guidance does anything beneficial for their guests? I find it entirely uncomfortable to go to the concierge desk to tell them what I am going to tip them so I can get the charge on my shipboard account. So, I am stuck going to guest services having to add the charge to my account. How is that enhancing my experience?

In addition, the actual value of the services rendered by the concierge staff is not wildly impressive in my mind. I have known concierge staff at some very fine hotels/properties that really can work magic. It is EASY to tip in those situations. But, really, what is the value of a concierge staff that takes my room service order, hands me a bag of popcorn on the way to the theater, gives my kids a pirate tattoo on pirate night, delivers the lithograph provided by DCL, etc. I think those services should be considered standard and not deserving of any particular financial consideration. Now, if a concierge took it upon him/herself to do something really unique for a guest, I can see that being rewarded. However, the concierge room is already costing a significant premium over a regular cabin. As such, there should be some expectation of some enhanced service without being shaken down the night before the cruise ends for a tip.

In the end, I have resigned myself to tip in the $100-150 range per week. If every cabin did the same, each concierge would earn around $70-100K per year on an annualized basis (even if their regular salary is ZERO which I think is unlikely). That is MORE THAN ADEQUATE for the services typically rendered. Let's face reality, there is almost no question in my mind that the cabin steward and wait staff are working at least two to three times as hard as the concierge staff. Why should we feel guilted into this situation?

I have absolutely no concern if somebody does not tip the concierge staff whatsoever. That is much different from my feeling about the cabin steward or wait staff. Anybody that stiffs those cast members is a tool in my book. But, the concierge staff is a completely different situation.

DWF

 

[PaDisneyCouple]

We found this challenging also. In addition to the "concierge" we also gave a very small amount in cash to the 3 staff who served drinks & restocked food. I thought all 3 of them were bartenders, but after the cruise Sean told me that only one of them was and the other two just brought food out. It seemed to me that all three worked well together to take care of our food/drink needs, including making fresh brewed iced tea for me at least twice.

Christine

 

[Auntsuzee]

I try not to over think this subject. We stayed in concierge for my grandson's first ever cruise. He was having a difficult year and I simply asked the staff to keep an eye out for him. What they did was make this boy feel like he was king of the world! Is it their job to do it, probably. Did they do it.....absolutely! I tipped accordingly.....with a huge hug and a tear in my eye.

I understand guidelines make the process easier. I don't care what they make. I care about how we are treated. Did they make us feel special? If they did, I try to make them look special. It's simple, you get what you give IMHO.

 

[Uncleromulus]

To add that we did tip some cash to the AM person who kept all the food etc going and also the one person who was the usual bartender in the PM and at the various receptions.

I gather from their reactions that most folks DON"T think to do this.

Disneywonderfun:
I agree w/ you--I hardly think any customers would actually request that the Concierge become a tipped position. Better they didn't respond at all than say that!