Disney dream cruise tipping question

[nikkyluvsmickey]

Let me start off with i know tipping is a touchy subjet so let me assure everyone i have no intention of stiffing the cm's. I want to know how i go about getting the tip charges off my account and getting cash envelopes..i like the idea of personally handing them to them and telling them my appreciation for great service rather than getting my tip bunched with others as a part of there pay. So when do i get them off the account and when do i actually give them to the staff?

 

[Dug720]

You still get envelopes even if tips are left on the account. You get them with a slip that you can put in the envelope along with additional cash if you desire. That's what they're accustomed to.

I'm sure you can remove them at any time, but it WILL likely mean that they will ask you how they can improve their service as the default is the auto grats and not cash - so the removal of them indicates that there is a problem.

 

[rcchello]

You will get envelopes with a tip voucher towards the end of your cruise. Using the voucher is safer for you and the servers. If you lose or forget to give your servers/room attendant they will still receive your gratuity (even if they are sick on the last day). You can always slip in a little extra cash if you want to. One reason for going to a cashless system is to reduce the temptation for theft and accidental loss.

If you really want to provide tips in all cash you can go to the service desk and change the amount of gratuities to zero and request to still receive the envelopes. You can even do this after you receive the envelopes and vouchers.

 

[Tractortom]

We usually prepay the tips, it's just easier. BUT I will tip the cabin steward the first time I see him, $40 or $50 in cash. I also tip in cash to servers who bring my drinks, usually $1 each time. I know the tips are worked into the cost of the drinks, but I find that if I tip with each drink in cash, by the third day, I'm getting very good service from the staff. Just something that has worked for me int he past.

Tom in Okeechobee, FL

 

[T & R]

I agree with Tom about tipping the servers extra. We enjoy playing a lot of bingo, especially on the longer cruises. There is usually only two servers for the whole bingo room and they are the same two servers who will serve all bingo sessions for the length of the cruise. I give the server a $20 on the first day and notice that he/she usually hangs out behind my table during the rest of the cruise and checks on us regularly. This is especially good when we bring people and family members who are new to Disney Cruise. My parents didn't know about the $20 and couldn't believe how good our service was during the bingo games on their first cruise. This is just one small example but I'm sure the process works the same throughout other areas onboard service. I will add that I still tip a little extra throughout and don't just stop at the $20.

 

[Deb T.]

Just to add another thought... if it's a matter of wanting to pay for your tips with cash instead on charging them to your stateroom account (and then ultimately your credit card), you can still do this and utilize the pre-printed vouchers that DCL puts in your cabin the last day of your cruise (or sometimes on the next-to-the-last day of your cruise). Simply go to Guest Services and, instead of taking the tips off your account, just hand them the cash you wanted to pay with for the tips.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

You can go to Guest Services at any time and ask that the gratuities be removed from your onboard account. If GS asks why you are doing it, just tell them you prefer to do it in cash.

 

[lizabu]

We usually prepay the tips, it's just easier. BUT I will tip the cabin steward the first time I see him, $40 or $50 in cash. I also tip in cash to servers who bring my drinks, usually $1 each time. I know the tips are worked into the cost of the drinks, but I find that if I tip with each drink in cash, by the third day, I'm getting very good service from the staff. Just something that has worked for me int he past.

Tom in Okeechobee, FL

We do this too. And while the service would be great anyways a little something extra when we meet helps set the tone for the trip.

 

[bumbershoot]

Dh thanks servers etc for their help even when the tips are charged to the room. Giving them cash to carry around through their after-last-night-dinner work seems burdensome; if I were working as hard as they do I would worry about losing it.

Just leave it on your account, give them the envelope with the voucher, thank them personally, and then thank them by name on the survey.

 

[kiford]

I know the tips are worked into the cost of the drinks, but I find that if I tip with each drink in cash, by the third day, I'm getting very good service from the staff. Just something that has worked for me int he past.

We do the same particularly since the auto-gratuity is shared amongst the bar staff but the extra gratuity goes to the specific server. It's not a huge amount and only adds up to a small total by the of the cruise but is definitely noted by the staff. Also helpful if you can keep going to the same server. On one cruise it got to the point that she only had to see me coming and had my drink ready for me practically before I sat down (creature of habit - I kept ordering the same thing because I loved it so) and kept bringing us extra treats like chocolate covered strawberries and chocolate caramels. Totally worth it and also not a very expensive way to personally thank the individual who goes the extra mile for you.

 

[Vicki106]

I agree with Tom about tipping the servers extra. We enjoy playing a lot of bingo, especially on the longer cruises. There is usually only two servers for the whole bingo room and they are the same two servers who will serve all bingo sessions for the length of the cruise. I give the server a $20 on the first day and notice that he/she usually hangs out behind my table during the rest of the cruise and checks on us regularly. This is especially good when we bring people and family members who are new to Disney Cruise. My parents didn't know about the $20 and couldn't believe how good our service was during the bingo games on their first cruise. This is just one small example but I'm sure the process works the same throughout other areas onboard service. I will add that I still tip a little extra throughout and don't just stop at the $20.

I know that isn't a bingo thread, but I have a quick (probably dumb) bingo question: When we cruised before we didn't play any bingo, but we plan play to on our upcoming cruise. What do the servers do in the bingo room? I'm assuming they bring you drinks, is that right?

 

[T & R]

Yes, drinks. It's about as close to the casino experience as you can get on DCL. Which is fine with me, if I want to be around a bunch of intoxicated 22 yr old gambling "experts", I'd be on a different cruise line (won't mention which).

 

[T & R]

Also the final bingo is usually $5k-$10k. They don't stop the game until somebody in the room wins it. I also believe the final bingo payout is cash money $100 dollar bills, not some room credit or check. Worth a shot next time you're on board, why not? Somebody in that room is getting that money, why not throw you're hat in the ring for a chance?

 

[Vicki106]

Also the final bingo is usually $5k-$10k. They don't stop the game until somebody in the room wins it. I also believe the final bingo payout is cash money $100 dollar bills, not some room credit or check. Worth a shot next time you're on board, why not? Somebody in that room is getting that money, why not throw you're hat in the ring for a chance?

I agree! Thanks for the reply and info. If we win anything, I'll post when I get back!

 

[jrabbit]

Yes, drinks. It's about as close to the casino experience as you can get on DCL. Which is fine with me, if I want to be around a bunch of intoxicated 22 yr old gambling "experts", I'd be on a different cruise line (won't mention which).

Clarification Please

• At casinos, if you playing you usually are NOT paying for Drinks.
• I assume that if you are playing bingo that you are still PAYING for drinks.

Thanks for your input.

 

[T & R]

I was referring to having someone bring you drinks while you're "gambling" (bingo). My fault for not clarifying, I assumed we are all aware that on DCL you pay for drinks.