First cruise...explain gratuities please

[CyndiLouWho]

Thinking of an Alaskan cruise. I know gratuities aren't included but have no idea how to estimate so I can budget for them.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thinking of an Alaskan cruise. I know gratuities aren't included but have no idea how to estimate so I can budget for them.

Gratuities are added to your onboard account daily. They will be on your final bill.

The cost is $12.00 per person (in your room) per day. That $12.00 breaks out to $4.00 per person per day to your stateroom host; $4.00 per person per day to your dining room server; $3.00 per person per day to your assistant server; and $1.00 per person per day to your head server.

Any beverages you purchase onboard (alcoholic, or any drinks from a poolside/theater server, from lounges) have a 15% gratuity automatically added.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

Gratuities aren't based on 'where', but rather 'how long' and 'how many persons in your party'. We have a party of 5 (me, DW, DS, DD1, DD2) and our gratuities are $12 x 5 (people) x (days of cruise). For a 7 day cruise we pay $420.

 

[CyndiLouWho]

Thanks. My head is spinning with all the costs incurred on a cruise. Want to make sure I understand it all.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

I know the feeling!! I have a spreadsheet so that I can track and plan for payoff over time (we buy the gift cards at Target to get the 5% discount), prepping for the on board booking, DCL port adventures/independent adventures...ahhh!!!! My wife thinks that I'm crazy. At least I'm the happy kind!

 

[Shanti]

Thinking of an Alaskan cruise. I know gratuities aren't included but have no idea how to estimate so I can budget for them.

One convenient way to do this is to call DCL and have them add the gratuties to your cruise cost in advance. That way you'll be paid up before sailing, rather than anticipating a bill to pay at the end of the cruise. When doing this, you'll receive vouchers for your prepaid gratuities to hand out the final morning, the same time you would have handed out your cash tips.

 

[WeLoveDisneyAlways]

One convenient way to do this is to call DCL and have them add the gratuties to your cruise cost in advance. That way you'll be paid up before sailing, rather than anticipating a bill to pay at the end of the cruise. When doing this, you'll receive vouchers for your prepaid gratuities to hand out the final morning, the same time you would have handed out your cash tips.

We always do this too, I like to make sure there's no extra fees when we disembark. We also add on a case of water, beer and a ship figurine. So we only have $100 or so of onboard spending

 

[CyndiLouWho]

I know the feeling!! I have a spreadsheet so that I can track and plan for payoff over time (we buy the gift cards at Target to get the 5% discount), prepping for the on board booking, DCL port adventures/independent adventures...ahhh!!!! My wife thinks that I'm crazy. At least I'm the happy kind!

Trying to make credit card bonuses and Disney GCs work for us.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

We've saved over $1000 over 2 cruises using the Target red card 5% savings. Woohoo!

 

[wjs3]

Thinking of an Alaskan cruise. I know gratuities aren't included but have no idea how to estimate so I can budget for them.

You've probably thought of this already, but there are other gratuities...like if you go to Palo or Remy. And I tip the porters who grab the bags inbound/outbound. I often throw a few dollars on add'l for room service, etc. too.

In addition on many shore excursions you'll have a guide/guides. Tipping them is customary, as I understand it, and I usually do so.

Not everyone does these, but wanted to mention them in case you wanted to allow for them in your planning.

 

[over50visits]

Hey CyndyLou -

Dad of 3 explained it very nicely. Just multiply $12 x size of party x length of cruise. That's the gratuity bill for your cruise.

As for prepaying, you'll pay the same either way (in advance or at the end of your cruise on the bill), so it's more of how you like to manage money. All the same in the end.

Budget? Pick your budget, and Disney will give you plenty of ways to spend it. Or budget zero (after cruise fare and gratuities), and have a spectacular cruise.

 

[over50visits]

If you're wondering what the possibilities are for spending money on the cruise, I'd be happy to post my list of what's available (it's up to 58 items now!).

 

[CyndiLouWho]

You've probably thought of this already, but there are other gratuities...like if you go to Palo or Remy. And I tip the porters who grab the bags inbound/outbound. I often throw a few dollars on add'l for room service, etc. too.

In addition on many shore excursions you'll have a guide/guides. Tipping them is customary, as I understand it, and I usually do so.

Not everyone does these, but wanted to mention them in case you wanted to allow for them in your planning.

I usually tip Mousekeeping $5/night. Won't be doing Palo/Remy but hopefully will have 1-2 excursions. The cruise is pretty pricey for us, so any extra has to be budgeted for.

 

[wjs3]

I usually tip Mousekeeping $5/night. Won't be doing Palo/Remy but hopefully will have 1-2 excursions. The cruise is pretty pricey for us, so any extra has to be budgeted for.

Mousekeeping (lol!) is your stateroom host mentioned above. So they're already built in to the cost other posters have mentioned. Sorry if that was already clear. What I posted is distinct from the ones you can prepay as part of cruise.

 

[Aanna]

This might help, too

https://www.disboards.com/threads/who-what-when-how-of-tipping-on-dcl.3539948/

 

[Erintx7]

I know the feeling!! I have a spreadsheet so that I can track and plan for payoff over time (we buy the gift cards at Target to get the 5% discount), prepping for the on board booking, DCL port adventures/independent adventures...ahhh!!!! My wife thinks that I'm crazy. At least I'm the happy kind!

That's awesome!! Target... love it!!

 

[Erintx7]

That's awesome!! Target... love it!!

Okay... It's clicking now... think I may need to know more!! Can you topline how your plan works-- for instance, do you make payments or save the cards?

 

[CDN81cruiser]

Very imformative thank you op, I wouldn't have even thought of this.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

Okay... It's clicking now... think I may need to know more!! Can you topline how your plan works-- for instance, do you make payments or save the cards?

We have the Target Red card and all purchases in store are 5% off. there are 2 types of Red card: one acts as a debit card & the other as a credit card. We have the former. The Disney gift cards are overy in the movies/CDs. I pick up some every payday and payoff the cruise beforehand paying $95 for every $100 card. It adds up! If you have a BJs membership, you can get $100 cards for $94.99 online.

 

[azwildcat]

We have the Target Red card and all purchases in store are 5% off. there are 2 types of Red card: one acts as a debit card & the other as a credit card. We have the former. The Disney gift cards are overy in the movies/CDs. I pick up some every payday and payoff the cruise beforehand paying $95 for every $100 card. It adds up! If you have a BJs membership, you can get $100 cards for $94.99 online.

You don't have to be a member to get the cards at BJ's.
We found this out AFTER paying for the cruise but at least we were able to stock up on some for our onboard credit.