Concierge Tipping

[kimmharris]

I have heard conflicting information on tipping the DCL Concierge. Could someone please give me some insight? I know it is at your discretion, but I was hoping to find some type of standard.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I have heard conflicting information on tipping the DCL Concierge. Could someone please give me some insight? I know it is at your discretion, but I was hoping to find some type of standard.

I have traveled in concierge a lot on DCL in the past years and there is no guideline no standard. What I can say it is truly up to you and how much you use them.

You should consider, if they book Spa, Palo, Remy, character meets, Mixology, character breakfasts, shore trips or any extras.

The slip you get near the end of the cruise is per person per day.

Now it someways no tip guide is a good thing, as there are some who book the room for its size and not the support of the hosts and book everything themselves. There are some who use the hosts a lot, on their beck and call and should tip more.

I am aware from sitting in concierge lunges on tip night of tips up to $1,000 being given, yes, ! and also someone having all his tips for everyone wiped off as he felt tips were included.

My personal guide, and this is just to help you and not anything official, just my view, is something like $20 per day. So say $140/$150 on a seven night cruise. $240/$250 on a 12 night cruise. This is based on (1) family of four (2) Standard use of hosts, and (3) good service.

Also look at your main server and stateroom host guided tips and use that as a benchmark, you may wish to add to the stateroom host as they have more to clean in a suite.

Untitled by ANDREW PORTER, on Flickr
IMG_2358 by ANDREW PORTER, on Flickr

Nav Sundry Docs North Europe 12n 20150031 by ANDREW PORTER, on Flickr

Nav Sundry Docs North Europe 12n 20150030 by ANDREW PORTER, on Flickr

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Agree with Disney Fantasy on this- consider your room category, your requests, any special treatment/gifts you receive, length of cruise. Then make your best decision.

 

[kimmharris]

I read on a website that the Concierge's only compensation is through the tips they receive. I am finding this very hard to believe so I was hoping someone might know. It was suggested to me to tip roughly $20 per day per person so for my 5 day cruise it would be $500 for my family of 5.

 

[sillecruisers]

I read on a website that the Concierge's only compensation is through the tips they receive. I am finding this very hard to believe so I was hoping someone might know. It was suggested to me to tip roughly $20 per day per person so for my 5 day cruise it would be $500 for my family of 5.

That is way higher than I plan to pay. I have already pre-paid the standard tip amount, part of which is designated to the stateroom host. If you are concierge, doesn't that still go to the stateroom host? So technically, you have pre-paid the stateroom host regardless of your category. And secondly, I am paying a premium to stay concierge, which includes perks such as service. Does that count for anything? Not trying to be cheap, because I do plan to tip concierge, but I'm wondering where my premium for concierge category goes, and where my pre-paid stateroom host tip goes, if I am still expected to tip extra for concierge. Just an honest question.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I read on a website that the Concierge's only compensation is through the tips they receive. I am finding this very hard to believe so I was hoping someone might know. It was suggested to me to tip roughly $20 per day per person so for my 5 day cruise it would be $500 for my family of 5.

I said $20 per night, that covers a familiy of 4; - so $5pp pd.

They are officers, they get a very very limited pay for those officer duties their income is mostly made up by tips.

That is way higher than I plan to pay. I have already pre-paid the standard tip amount, part of which is designated to the stateroom host. If you are concierge, doesn't that still go to the stateroom host? So technically, you have pre-paid the stateroom host regardless of your category. And secondly, I am paying a premium to stay concierge, which includes perks such as service. Does that count for anything? Not trying to be cheap, because I do plan to tip concierge, but I'm wondering where my premium for concierge category goes, and where my pre-paid stateroom host tip goes, if I am still expected to tip extra for concierge. Just an honest question.

To repeat I posted $20 per day family of four so $5pp pd.

I do pre pay, tips now that included the standard guide tip for a stateroom host that is the same ship wide from the lowest category to a suite, in my view the suite is far larger in size, more to clean, whirlpool baths two showers, sofas, tables, etc so I tend to double that tip, with extra, again. honest answer to a question to help what I do, and its up to everyone do do what they feel is correct. A lot depends on how much they support you, how much you do yourselves and what your requests and demands are.

 

[Uncleromulus]

DCl does it's very best to be sure Concierge tipping remains a mystery--no standards, no recommendations, no guidelines.

If as indeed some suggest they work ONLY for tips, they then take some sort of risk.

To me they are sort of an elite guest services position---and since we prebook almost everything via Shoreside Concierge, those on the ship do very little for us.

The problem is that they are SO DARN NICE that you feel you want to tip them, even tho they may have done virtually zero for you.

Last 2 cruises I severely overtipped for mostly that reason--but it won't happen again this October!!

Another issue is that unless you can somehow manage to designate an individual by name, then your tip is shared by (on Fantasy) all 3 hosts.

SO back to square one--tip based on what service you feel they provided. IF someday they find they do not manage well on tips, then maybe DCL will do something. BUt most likely not--

 

[kimmharris]

Thank you, Disney Fantasy. If I am understanding you correctly, if you were traveling with a family of 5 on 5 night cruise in a 1 bedroom concierge stateroom, you would tip around $100. Is that right?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

DCl does it's very best to be sure Concierge tipping remains a mystery--no standards, no recommendations, no guidelines.

If as indeed some suggest they work ONLY for tips, they then take some sort of risk.

To me they are sort of an elite guest services position---and since we prebook almost everything via Shoreside Concierge, those on the ship do very little for us.

The problem is that they are SO DARN NICE that you feel you want to tip them, even tho they may have done virtually zero for you.

Last 2 cruises I severely overtipped for mostly that reason--but it won't happen again this October!!

Another issue is that unless you can somehow manage to designate an individual by mane, then your tip is shared by (on Fantasy) all 3 hosts.

SO back to square one--tip based on what service you feel they provided. IF someday they find they do not manage well on tips, then maybe DCL will do something. BUt most likely not--

Great post.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Thank you, Disney Fantasy. If I am understanding you correctly, if you were traveling with a family of 5 on 5 night cruise in a 1 bedroom concierge stateroom, you would tip around $100. Is that right?

My personal benchmark is $100/$125. Depends on what they do for you.

$5 pp pd, is
$5 x 5 =$25 x 5 days= $125.

Disclaimer;- My personal view this is not DCL policy and to answer this question. Tips are personal and you do what you think is correct. But from my knowledge and research, and eavesdropping on conversations and from reading pools here, it is pretty average/ ballpark what many do.

Do consider tipping any bar staff at happy hours giving you free or included drinks, or giving kids cocktails. Also the server who puts out the food each day all day in a concierge lounge.

 

[kimmharris]

Thank you again, Disney Fantasy! That sounds so much more reasonable! You have made me feel better. I was considering canceling after receiving that other tipping recommendation. Now on to more fun topics! What is your favorite thing your concierge did for you?

 

[TestingH2O]

We ended up tipping cash to each host. $75 for the two we interacted with most often and $50 to the one we saw but not as frequently. This was a 4 day cruise, 3 cat V staterooms, 6A1C. In total, that is about $7 per person per day. I'm not sure if that cash stays with each person or if it all ends up in a pot, but that is how we ended up doing it. I have no idea where that falls in the spectrum and if given no guidelines, we have to wing it and hope for the best.

I will add that we also tipped the primary food attendant and the bartender in the lounge since they both gave us great service throughout the trip.

 

[kimmharris]

How many attendants are on the Magic?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Thank you again, Disney Fantasy! That sounds so much more reasonable! You have made me feel better. I was considering canceling after receiving that other tipping recommendation. Now on to more fun topics! What is your favorite thing your concierge did for you?

Well;-
I like the afternoon gifts of food in the room, its part of the service but the treat each day of something different is nice.

• Second Palo Brunch.
• The best thing, ( please do not expect this) Palo in room dinning, in a Cat T.
• Big create of Evain bottled waters.
• Booking character breakfasts, and meets and greets.
• Priority disembarkation or tendering in ports.
• Listening to our needs and supplying solutions.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

How many attendants are on the Magic?

Two currently Julia and Andy both from Germany, there there to set up the new concierge lounge being set up in the dry dock in September.

One tip covers both.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

I forgot that part- the bartender and the food server! Don't forget to tip them!

 

[kimmharris]

New Concierge lounge??? Do tell!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Some drinks set up, more in fridge.

Disney Magic cruise 2015 by ANDREW PORTER, on Flickr

Enhanced shampoo etc.

Disney Magic by ANDREW PORTER, on Flickr

Box of bottled waters.

Disney Magic cruise 2015 by ANDREW PORTER, on Flickr

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

New Concierge lounge??? Do tell!

Where the old' Signals bar was, first stack, and will be in service from end September, it has a bar, coffee tea area, food, and the hosts will be based there. Access on deck 10, above the old arcade, (moving) and the cove cafe. Taking over the Boutique area from Frozen which is going to the forward area as the Bibbity Bobatiy boutique. It will be open 7am to 10pm. It has a private deck area overlooking cove cafe pool.

More details and photos of suites and also concierge services in my trip report, link as below.

 

[kimmharris]

Wow! Do you think that means no more treats in room and less personalize service? I loved your report. I looked it over last night. I think we are staying in similar staterooms. I am staying 8032 in January.