Giving Tips...The Physical Act of

[BuzzBoyMom]

My understanding is that you most people physically hand their servers their tips on the last night. But what if you can't...i.e., you have dinner at Palo or you decide to do room service on your verandah the last night. I know you CAN stop by the dining room and give them their tips, but do you HAVE to? I imagine there is so much to do that I don't want our tips to get lost in the shuffle.

If you charge your tips on your credit card, does it automatically get to the server or do they not get the tip unless you physically HAND IT to them. I wouldn't want to make a wrong assumption here. Clearly giving cash is another issue, but we will probably use the plastic here and I need some clarification. TIA. Karen

 

[IrishCowboy]

You could hand it to them at breakfast on debarkation day.

 

[natdencro]

Please hand your tips DIRECTLY to your server, in the CORRECT envelopes. They work incredibly hard (90hr week) to make your holiday great. Of course, there are always some people who deliberately miss dinner on the last night to avoid paying tips! However, you should be able to see your server (if you wish) on the morning of disembarkation - as they will serve you breakfast in the dining room allocated. It may seem a glamorous job, but it is very hard work. Yes, I know they choose to do it: but how many of you would like those hours! Three cheers for the Servers! Nat

 

[KathyTX]

You can present your tip and your thanks to your servers at breakfast on the last day (you'll have your regular table and your regular servers for this final breakfast.) Or you can present it at dinner on the next-to-the-last night...

If you charge your tips to your room, they will show up on the servers' accounts. But they may not see them right away.

The personal presentation of the tip envelope is a very nice time to say goodbye and give thanks for the care you've had during your voyage.

 

[inkkognito]

Amen, Nat!
Even though the money automatically goes into their account, they might not realize it if you don't give them the envelope. You can stop down at the restaurant any time during either seating and leave the envelopes with the head server. If you absolutely cannot make it, I'd imagine that you could leave the envelopes at Guest Services with the appropriate names marked on them and they could get 'em to the servers.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I would suggest giving it to them personally- preferably on the last dinner seating or before. I base that on the fact there was another thread where this was discussed and apparently quite a few wait staff AND guests "assume" you aren't tipping at all- if you aren't there for dinner and haven't tipped already at that point.
I know it's been mentioned that you can tip on the last breakfast- but apparently wait staff & guests already have you pegged as a non-tipper the night before if you aren't there for dinner. That might not bother you- probably shouldn't. But IMO I don't want wait staff and guests thinking I'm a non-tipper when I'm handing over 700+ in tips the next morning or whatever.

So I'll be tipping next to last night (if we have Palo for last dinner seating) or going there before Palo to tip.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

great answer nat. but i work 100+ hrs a week and i never get anything from the people i deal with. in fact the genral public thinks that all truck drivers are scum of the earth. not all of us are that way. i respect others that work and im just complaining about this and im sorry. i always give my tips to the person that gets them im person. i think its more respectable. thanks for my 1 minute of complaining and im sorry for that

 

[takemeaway]

WE went to Palo on the last night of our cruise. We handed our servers their tips after dinner on the night before. We told them that we were going to Palo the next night and would not be there for dinner. This also helped the head server because she checked with us to make sure we weren't coming the last night and gave our table to someone else.

Let your servers know ahead of time what your plans are. It makes it easier for everyone!

 

[natdencro]

Hey KY, if it wasnt for Truck Drivers, then Disney couldnt exist! How else would they get their merchandise and food delivered? Three cheers for truck drivers too! If people were paid for what they actually DO, and the hours worked, then life would be a little fairer all round. Happy Cruising Nat

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

I didn't even think about the night before. For some reason I was thinking that it needed to be done that last night. Thanks everyone for your responses! Karen

 

[tkd lisa]

On our last cruise, we were quarantined. I went to Guest Services and signed the forms for our tips. We still tipped even though we weren't allowed to use the dining rooms for the last 2 nights. After all, this wasn't the servers fault.

 

[inkkognito]

Hey, John, I'll speak up for truck drivers, since my brother is one!
He is one of the first people to stop and help drivers in distress. He is also such a softy that he rescued a starving kitten at a place where he was picking up a loadload because the workers were going to kill it.
He drives tankers hauling hazardous substances, loading with scary warning placards, but drivers still cut him off and play chicken. I make it a point to give truckers a break by letting them in etc., and I find that they're usually scared to do it because they probably think I'm just messing with them!
So don't worry...there are some of us who don't buy that trucker stereotype.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Buckleybunch]

Originally posted by KYCruiseCrazy
great answer nat. but i work 100+ hrs a week and i never get anything from the people i deal with. in fact the genral public thinks that all truck drivers are scum of the earth. not all of us are that way. i respect others that work and im just complaining about this and im sorry. i always give my tips to the person that gets them im person. i think its more respectable. thanks for my 1 minute of complaining and im sorry for that

Hey KYCruiseCrazy-
My best friends family owns a trucking company-- I have never thought truck drivers are scum of the earth. Truck drivers have a very hard life but they enjoy it- so THANK YOU My husband tried to be a truck driver years ago, and decided aagainst it after 10 days out on the road. So I know I couldn't do it- I hope you have a better day..

Linda

 

[Buckleybunch]

Originally posted by tkd lisa
On our last cruise, we were quarantined. I went to Guest Services and signed the forms for our tips. We still tipped even though we weren't allowed to use the dining rooms for the last 2 nights. After all, this wasn't the servers fault.

tkd lisa ~ What was your quarantined for??

 

[NAT&MAGSMOM]

I'll go along with Barb....

I'm a big TRUCKIE fan myself.

Many thousands of year ago...before cell phones.....I was alone and my car broke down...who was the only "person" to stop and help me...right...a truck driver...going in the opposite direction even!!!!

I'm now an even bigger TRUCKIE fan...my guys drive big red
trucks...fire trucks....well, anyway.....

on to the topic....

We went to Palo the last night of the cruise. Our dd met us in Palo(she wanted to meet PJ and he let her sit in the "lobby" area and he plied her with candy). We all then went to Animators and gave our wonderful servers their tip envelopes. I'd never have it any other way. They were so nice to us. Sylvester, our server, freaked the night I was so sick and wouldn't eat. He brought me mushroom soup and plain bread(see trip report). And treated Natalie like the PRINCESS she is!!! We always include a phone card in their envelopes and even slipped Sylvester two this time. He and his wife just had a new baby boy, and I thought two cards would help him out a lot. Natalie also bought the new baby a little outfit in St. Maarten..she was so pleased with herself!!!!

I always make sure I have enough cash to give them and take it with me. I usually plan on tipping what DCL recommends then add extra. I've never had a server, host/hostess who didn't get a little extra...we have always been so fortunate in that respect.

Phyllis

 

[cjsmith]

We always tip on the last morning at breakfast. I don't know why, but that's how my husband likes to do it.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Our first cruise we tipped the last dinner night.
Second cruise we tipped the morning of debarkation breakfast.
Third cruise we tipped the last dinner night.

Overall, because of many of the previous comments, I believe that the last dinner night and no later may be best. Then they don't think you're stiffing them.

They do deserve a formal thank you under most circumstances.

 

[Muushka]

Originally posted by KYCruiseCrazy
great answer nat. but i work 100+ hrs a week and i never get anything from the people i deal with. in fact the genral public thinks that all truck drivers are scum of the earth. not all of us are that way. i respect others that work and im just complaining about this and im sorry. i always give my tips to the person that gets them im person. i think its more respectable. thanks for my 1 minute of complaining and im sorry for that

Thank you for posting this. First of all, I thank you for your profession. I had a tire blow once and the truck driver behind me cleared the traffic for me to pull over safely. Than you whomever!

Secondly, I also work in a profession that does not tip. Although I deal with the public, perform a service, must remain professional, a tip is not ever expected or received. Now I know that I earn more than waiters per hour, but it is my understanding that many in the waitstaff profession earn more per year than I do (with tips). With my degree, licencing, responsibility, sometimes it gets a little old hearing how you MUST tip a waiter well. And yes, I have worked holidays, nights and weekends.

For the record, I always tip at least 15%, ususally 20%. I plan on tipping on our March cruise at least the required tipping.

I guess I just needed to vent also. Not everyone works to the best of their ability and receives a tip.

 

[wdw47]

the family sitting next to us were missing at dinner the last evening of our cruise and we didnt see them at breakfat the next morning eather we figuered they were skipping the tips does this happen often

 

[kcashner]

Stiffing the servers happens too often....but then, once is too often. Of course, many people tip well beyond the recommended too. I guess it's not fair to assume that someone who misses the last dinner and disembarkation breakfast is stiffing the servers, but it is a good hint!

I do know that on one cruise, my server was stiffed by a party of 18. He mentioned it casually to us on our cruise (the following week). Of course, after 9 cruises, we consider this server to be a friend, and he was just venting his frustration at his schedule for our week...this group of 18 "young adults" thought that the evaluation form was a joke, and gave the team "poor" on everything. Our server was just beside himself, as he has consistently been in the top 4 teams for many years until that group.

I guess I take the position that these people (as well as the serving staff in an on-shore restaurant) work primarily for tips. If they do a decent job, they deserve at least the recommended. If you can afford a cruise, you can afford to "pay" the people who serve you.