Dining staff not paid?

[PrincessShmoo]

I just read this and am curious if this is true. This is the first time I've heard this and well...actually I don't believe it.

"Did you know that the dinning staff’s salary is the tips. They don’t earn any other salary. I didn’t know that until recently."

Just curious, where did you see this?

 

[SL6827]

I want to think that those who cruise Disney would be some of the last people that would stiff anyone out of their tips that they so deserve. I really hope I am right.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Just curious, where did you see this?

Not OP but I recall seeing something similar in the past. I couldn't tell you exactly where or when. Pretty sure it was on a tipping thread at some point.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I want to think that those who cruise Disney would be some of the last people that would stiff anyone out of their tips that they so deserve. I really hope I am right.

Sadly, there have been people here on the DIS who've remarked that they've removed the gratuities. Ostensibly to "tip directly", but who knows?

Pretty sure it was on a tipping thread at some point.

 

[MillauFr]

I wish the wouldn't call them tips. It is basically a required service charge. Similar to what restaurants in Seattle are starting to do. They just add a 20% service charge to your bill. Tipping isn't required or expected. The servers are just paid a salary.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I wish the wouldn't call them tips. It is basically a required service charge. Similar to what restaurants in Seattle are starting to do. They just add a 20% service charge to your bill. Tipping isn't required or expected. The servers are just paid a salary.

Well, unlike other cruise lines, DCL gratuities are not a service charge. They are fully removable.

 

[Jessicabr]

Most crew on cruise lines get a very very low monthly salary and then the gratuities are added to end up to a "decent" salary. For the All-inclusive companies, they are paid in a monthly "full" salary.
I think it is still lower than a US salary, but they have board and food for free. Fun note, the reason why you do not see many Americans working in the service department is that they have to pay tax, so it's not interesting to work onboard.
Also, these people work at least an average of 10 hours a day, 7 days a week, 6-9 month in a row, with no days off and yes they live "the life" in their home countries, they work hard and are away for long periods of time.
So I am not sure if it's that good way of life.. some just do not have a choice I guess.

 

[Allison]

I want to think that those who cruise Disney would be some of the last people that would stiff anyone out of their tips that they so deserve. I really hope I am right.

They are no different than anyone else.
People who cruise Disney are no better and no worse than any other person. Being a Disney fan doesn't mean you are of higher character than others.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I want to think that those who cruise Disney would be some of the last people that would stiff anyone out of their tips that they so deserve. I really hope I am right.

I've read many posts here about people not wanting to pay tips, removing tips, etc. There are some cultures where they just don't believe in tipping.

When I first starting cruising DCL, the gratuities were not automatically added to the bill. They were listed as a suggestion and it was standard to give the tip envelope at the last dinner. When our last dinner was for an Alaskan cruise during our only port time (port time was 6:00pm - 10:00pm), we gave our envelopes out before going to port. The dining room was nearly empty and our server seemed to be worried about not getting tipped by most passengers. The next time we cruised, it was standard for the tips to be added to the charges for our on board account. I have a feeling that lots of people were getting stiffed on those first Alaskan cruises when the final night was port time.

 

[SL6827]

I've read many posts here about people not wanting to pay tips, removing tips, etc. There are some cultures where they just don't believe in tipping.

When I first starting cruising DCL, the gratuities were not automatically added to the bill. They were listed as a suggestion and it was standard to give the tip envelope at the last dinner. When our last dinner was for an Alaskan cruise during our only port time (port time was 6:00pm - 10:00pm), we gave our envelopes out before going to port. The dining room was nearly empty and our server seemed to be worried about not getting tipped by most passengers. The next time we cruised, it was standard for the tips to be added to the charges for our on board account. I have a feeling that lots of people were getting stiffed on those first Alaskan cruises when the final night was port time.

I can't imagine doing such. Just awful.

 

[KashasMom]

Just curious, where did you see this?

I saw that in a FB Disney group.

 

[KashasMom]

They do not work 16 hours a day on average. There is a law that they can’t work more than 91 hours a week a believe it is. That comes out to a average of 13 hours a day if they work the maximum that week.

Just met someone who worked in the galley. He said they would have to clock out and then work extra hours unpaid. In the end cruise life wasn't for him. He worked for 8-9 months, saved a lot of money and was able to start up his own (successful) business in his home country. I'm not sure any of us really knows truth behind hours, salaries vs tips, etc.

 

[KashasMom]

Because every single one of these threads decays into an SJW Equity Woke change the corporation,because corporations are evil and destroy the universe and people’s lives post. “Gotta start somewhere right?” Its on the level that I am starting to suspect these boards have once again been infiltrated by manipulators, who seek to alter the course of our behavior with regard to Disney.
Sorry you’ve been so busy you couldn’t check the number 3 post on this board when you made your initial post, or run a search to see if there was an active discussion thread prior to posting. Must be tough tobe so busy at the holidays that you have time for a woke discussion, but not time to do any searching onDis, but seem to know all about how every line does this. The fact that you are aware of every line paying low wages, makes me think this yet another, woke post virtue signal.

These boards have become more akin to Facebook lately than a discussion board with Q&A and cruise related tips and “tricks.” I wonder what Pete Werner and the mods think about all of these posts dancing around the edges of being straight up anti Disney, when their bread and butter comes from Disney. Seems like shooting yourself in the foot but hey, let this place become just another woke social media site.

Really, I have NO idea what you're on about. Alter the course of our behavior? OMG...that's funny. Yes, I'm sure I have that power. I asked a question about Disney because this is a Disney forum. I don't have any hate for them as a corporation. I do happen to know about other lines because having lived in a country where many workers come from, I have contact with people who have worked on cruise ships (various lines), not specifically servers though.

The reason why I asked my original question is because I believe SOME CMs emotionally manipulate cruisers. It's pretty common knowledge that Disney cruisers (self-admittedly, of course) tip "big". Personally, I don't feel that CMs work any harder than workers on other lines but Disney cruisers tend to get very close to the CMs and are always quoting someone inside knowledge. So if it's NOT true that workers don't get a salary, why would a CM say that?

Now, can we get back to....should I stay on the ship in Nassau?...questions?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So if it's NOT true that workers don't get a salary, why would a CM say that?

As you noted, some crew members (on any cruise line) will try to manipulate those who may feel sorry for them (possibly leading to bigger tips). Or they just didn't like the employer. Yes, even Disney employees can become unhappy with their job.

 

[tvguy]

I've read many posts here about people not wanting to pay tips, removing tips, etc. There are some cultures where they just don't believe in tipping.

Cruise ships are an unbelievable mix of conflicting cultures of the world between the staff and the passengers. And I have learned so much about the world from my cruises.
On a HAL cruise our server touched on the cultures were tipping is not only not the norm, a tip is considered an insult. He said you just learn that is part of the job.
That same server was wrapping up 10 years on ships, and was planning to retire back home to Indonesia at age 31 because his salary and tips made him rich by his homeland standards.
On our Disney cruise, there was a heated discussion near the pools over smoking policy. A guest upset that there were restrictions on where he could smoke. In his homeland any effort to restrict smoking was against the last.
And on our Celebrity cruise in October, the staff were undergoing special training for the NEXT cruise which was a charter cruise organized by Atlantis, a company that specializes in gay cruises. The training was on how to properly deal with intoxicated guests who attempt to touch the staff. Mix that with a staff that may come from cultures where being gay is still a criminal offense, it can be a tricky situation. Our server said Atlantis charters ships several times a year, and 2 to 3 staff members get fired during these charters for not strictly following the procedure Celebrity has for dealing with such situations.
On this same cruise, he said none of the Indonesian crew members would be allowed to get off the ship in Santa Barbara because of a history of those staff members trying to jump ship and claim political asylum. Why Santa Barbara had that restriction, and San Francisco and Los Angeles did not, I have no idea.

 

[dclpluto]

Cruise ships are an unbelievable mix of conflicting cultures of the world between the staff and the passengers. And I have learned so much about the world from my cruises.
On a HAL cruise our server touched on the cultures were tipping is not only not the norm, a tip is considered an insult. He said you just learn that is part of the job.
That same server was wrapping up 10 years on ships, and was planning to retire back home to Indonesia at age 31 because his salary and tips made him rich by his homeland standards.
On our Disney cruise, there was a heated discussion near the pools over smoking policy. A guest upset that there were restrictions on where he could smoke. In his homeland any effort to restrict smoking was against the last.
And on our Celebrity cruise in October, the staff were undergoing special training for the NEXT cruise which was a charter cruise organized by Atlantis, a company that specializes in gay cruises. The training was on how to properly deal with intoxicated guests who attempt to touch the staff. Mix that with a staff that may come from cultures where being gay is still a criminal offense, it can be a tricky situation. Our server said Atlantis charters ships several times a year, and 2 to 3 staff members get fired during these charters for not strictly following the procedure Celebrity has for dealing with such situations.
On this same cruise, he said none of the Indonesian crew members would be allowed to get off the ship in Santa Barbara because of a history of those staff members trying to jump ship and claim political asylum. Why Santa Barbara had that restriction, and San Francisco and Los Angeles did not, I have no idea.

In NYC foreign cruise ship workers on their first contract is not allowed off the ship. Too many of them in the past will not come back.
Very low percentage but they messed it up for every cruise ship worker on their first contract.

 

[Canadian Girl]

When I was on the 2018 WBTA, many were removing the tips saying they would tip in person. I asked the staff member when I got to the desk if they actually do and she said "no". This was an 11 day cruise and I am sure many left little to no tips at all.

 

[T & R]

Is anyone surprised to hear that servers work for tips? Chalk that up to "duh".

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

Is anyone surprised to hear that servers work for tips? Chalk that up to "duh".

For anyone outside the US, it wouldn't be unusual to be surprised. Many places don't have a tipping culture and actually pay their server staff a "proper" wage.

 

[KT2038]

Yes they get paid, not much though and then they rely on tips. We don’t get paid that well as youth activities CMs either (compared to similar jobs on land) and obviously we are not in a position to earn tips.