Concierge Tipping

[MrsSyv]

Thought this online article was interesting in that it definitely states concierge is a 100% gratuity based position, and it sets forth the minimum suggested tip amounts. I probably have missed it, but I thought the consensus on this board seemed to be that no one knows what to do with concierge tipping. I should say, I have no idea where the article sourced it's information but thought it was interesting enough to share.

https://sites.google.com/site/disneycruisinggroup/cruise-info/concierge

 

[timrousbeastie]

Based on those figures, assuming an average of 4 guests in each of the ~40 concierge rooms/suites, I get a combined tip of $700 * 40 * 52 per year for the Fantasy, or roughly $1,500,000 total to be divided between the 3 concierges. Does anyone know how to apply for one of those positions?

 

[MaleficentRN]

If this were true then DCL would include the concierges in your tips. They do give you a letter stating that tips to the concierge are appreciated and at your discretion. We used them a lot last cruise and tipped $5pp/day.

 

[Trera]

I feel like we are pretty good tippers to our concierge hosts but I think that schedule is a little steeper than we give.

 

[MaleficentRN]

Based on those figures, assuming an average of 4 guests in each of the ~40 concierge rooms/suites, I get a combined tip of $700 * 40 * 52 per year for the Fantasy, or roughly $1,500,000 total to be divided between the 3 concierges. Does anyone know how to apply for one of those positions?

Even if you only work 44 weeks a year on The Wonder or Magic, you can pull in a conservative 6 figures. And you pay no rent, utilities, food...

 

[Bear3412]

Here is the old poll on concierge tipping, but it is not displaying results, at least for me.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/tipping-the-concierge-the-poll.2971416/

I believe the Concierges do ok given the duration of their employment with DCL in that position. All the high and low tips average out to an acceptable wage obviously to them.
If not they would have moved up to salaried positions or left. Some have been with DCL for over 6 years.

 

[fryfrye]

Thought this online article was interesting in that it definitely states concierge is a 100% gratuity based position, and it sets forth the minimum suggested tip amounts. I probably have missed it, but I thought the consensus on this board seemed to be that no one knows what to do with concierge tipping. I should say, I have no idea where the article sourced it's information but thought it was interesting enough to share.

https://sites.google.com/site/disneycruisinggroup/cruise-info/concierge

We've cruised concierge 6 times in the last three years. I can state pretty firmly that the tipping guide suggested at this site is WAY off the norm. We've become good friends with a few of the hosts and a few families that cruise the same time of year as us in concierge -- and have

About half-way thru our 4th cruise towards the end of one of the concierge happy hours, we came to the conclusion that if there were a published rate it would about the same as a state room host or sever. The fact that Disney does not to publish the rate indicated to us that most were OVER tipping the position (we are guilty as charged on this account). For reference, for FOUR people for 7 nights we are in the 300 - 400 range for this position -- and we do up the amounts for stateroom host and server.

We cruise again in a few weeks... we will double down on the research.

 

[MrsSyv]

We cruise again in a few weeks... we will double down on the research.

Good luck sleuthing! Would love to hear back what you discover. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[bumbershoot]

Thought this online article was interesting in that it definitely states concierge is a 100% gratuity based position

This has been a rumor for a few years now.

I'm going to state that the concierges I've met (though I might not like them all) are far too smart to accept a job where it's 100% tipped but DCL doesn't insist on a minimum. I don't believe it's 100% tipping for a millisecond.




(Even if you're not using a house or apartment, you still need to pay for a place to go when you're on leave. So to say you aren't paying rent just isn't right.)

 

[Bettyscruise]

This has been a rumor for a few years now.

I'm going to state that the concierges I've met (though I might not like them all) are far too smart to accept a job where it's 100% tipped but DCL doesn't insist on a minimum. I don't believe it's 100% tipping for a millisecond.

One of our concierge hosts on our last cruise, a few weeks ago, stated very clearly that the hosts are all paid by tips only. No confusion about it as per her statement. Some of the other crew are salaried, some are paid tips. Hosts are tips only if one is to believe the "horse's mouth".

Having said that... the proposed guidelines in the link are absurdly high. The rest of the article was OK.

 

[pirate33]

I was totally baffled by this on our trip. We stayed in a 2BR suite so we gave the room attendant about double the recommended tip ($25/day), $50 to the concierge lounge bartender and $100 to the concierge hosts. Whether by design or serendipity, we were helped mostly (85%) by one of the two hosts, and the form we received had only one of their names. I thought it would be odd to tip them differently and assumed they shared, so I asked--yes, they shared and so I could tip to just one name. Both were present so I knew this was true! We gave them $100 total for 3 nights, and I was left with the impression that perhaps I went too low. I really had no way to judge this and certainly no idea that they do not earn a salary! I find that hard to believe.

 

[Bettyscruise]

Just opinion of course but; the math shows that if the 40 cabins tip $100 per suite per week, that's $4000. Divide that by 3 hosts and you have a per host per week tip wage of $1333, or $69,333 per year. Not bad money here in the U.S. and great for most others. I'd use that figure at least as a point to start and add as you see fit depending on the demands you placed on the hosts. We are pretty much maintenance free guests and do not consume much host time. The waiters and cabin crew deliver more time and energy to our needs than the concierge hosts usually.

Other than the initial boarding day check-in and a conversation with one of the hosts while on the sun deck, we probably interacted with one of the three hosts for a total of less than 10 minutes the entire week. Some guests require much more personal time and have more demands than others. Tip accordingly.

 

[hanscarlet]

Sounds like based on my research we are planning on $200 per family of 4 for a 3 night cruise and $250 per family of 4 on a 4 night cruise. Then you have lounge attendant and bartender on top of those rates. Looking like that's another $25, and $50 respectively.... the All About Cruises group is a spin off from Mark's DCG and I've always suspected that their rates a tad high but when you break down the math, we'll prob be at $260-$275 when they recommend $300 so not totally off.... my $275 comes from reading on this subject and hearing what other actual conciergers pay... this board seems to be on the lower side on this topic where Mark's group tends to be on the higher side so going to feel ok with my budget/breakdown above..... sorry I hope I have not offended, kind of talking outloud, we're doing concierge the first time and so want to try and get this right, it's really one of those gray areas that PP explained why so it's puzzling for sure

 

[pirate33]

This is helpful. We were pretty low maintenance as far as the concierge hosts went. Basic chitchat and help with processing the bill and gift cards. One host was very helpful in assisting us with the at-sea wifi.

Overall, we (I) made the bartender work harder...

It sounds like we were on the low end but not wildly off. Next time I would probably go a little higher and certainly so if we needed more assistance. I like to be generous with the people who help us, and I had no complaints about the concierge hosts on our trip.

P.S. I'm still shocked that they don't earn a salary and had no idea of that when we travelled. I presume they get board while on the ship?

 

[MIDisFan]

How many people total are on the Concierge team? Is there 3 Host or Hostesses, a Lounge Attendant and a Bartender for a total of 5 people? I'm trying to figure this out from previous posts but am a little confused.

 

[EGHopeful]

Also, when are we notified by shoreside? I'm on the Westcoast so will I get my email 3hrs later?

 

[undertheradar]

Also, when are we notified by shoreside? I'm on the Westcoast so will I get my email 3hrs later?

Contact has been a welcome phone call, followed by an informative email. You should receive this at 125 days out, though some have not received these.

 

[undertheradar]

How many people total are on the Concierge team? Is there 3 Host or Hostesses, a Lounge Attendant and a Bartender for a total of 5 people? I'm trying to figure this out from previous posts but am a little confused.

This varies by sailing. On the Dream class, you have 3 concierge, 2 servers, and a bartender. On classics, 2 concierge, 2 servers, and a bartender.