Gratuities?

[Heather Jensen]

This is our first Disney Cruise and I'm trying to decipher the gratuities. Are the only ways to leave a gratuity the pre-pay option or by visiting some type of desk on the cruise before the end of the trip? Other places I've been give you envelopes in the room and other places to have the option to leave what you would like AFTER you've received the service. I guess I'm just concerned about over-tipping someone I don't feel deserves it.

What are your thoughts on this?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

This is our first Disney Cruise and I'm trying to decipher the gratuities. Are the only ways to leave a gratuity the pre-pay option or by visiting some type of desk on the cruise before the end of the trip? Other places I've been give you envelopes in the room and other places to have the option to leave what you would like AFTER you've received the service. I guess I'm just concerned about over-tipping someone I don't feel deserves it.

What are your thoughts on this?

The way DCL handles it is: $12 per person in your room, per day is added to your onboard account. That $12 breaks out to $4.00 per guest per day to your stateroom host; $4.00 per guest per day to your dining room server/ $3.00 per guest per day to your assistant server; and $1.00 per guest per day to your head server.

At the end of the cruise, you receive a coupon sheet and envelopes in your room with each person's name, position, and amount of tip. You separate the coupons and place them in the appropriate envelope (also printed with position title) and hand them out the last day to the correct persons. If you wish to add additional cash, you can just put it in the envelope with the coupon.

No one receives the gratuities until the end of the cruise, you are NOT tipping before service.

Tip coupon sheet


All that being said, you can go to Guest Services and have the auto-gratuity removed. In that case you will receive the envelopes only at the end of the cruise for you to fill as you deem fit.

 

[Heather Jensen]

Thanks! It's all very confusing and that helped!!

One more question though - is that built into the payment I already made for the cruise? Or is it going to pop up at the end of the cruise?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks! It's all very confusing and that helped!!

One more question though - is that built into the payment I already made for the cruise? Or is it going to pop up at the end of the cruise?

You haven't paid it yet. It's applied to your onboard account, once the cruise starts.

OR, you can call DCL and pre-pay the gratuities. As in it will be added to the cruise fare, making a credit on your onboard account, and then there are no shocks at the end of the cruise when the gratuities are applied.

 

[squirk]

It is a weird setup. Almost like some social engineering on Disney's part where excellent service on the cruise is such a "given" that of course you'll agree to be charged for the tips ahead of time, right?

And if the service isn't great but you happen to forget to trek down to Guest Services to reduce/remove the tips before you disembark? Oooooooh, so sorry.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

It is a weird setup. Almost like some social engineering on Disney's part where excellent service on the cruise is such a "given" that of course you'll agree to be charged for the tips ahead of time, right?

And if the service isn't great but you happen to forget to trek down to Guest Services to reduce/remove the tips before you disembark? Oooooooh, so sorry.

You can always just remove them at the beginning of the cruise, if you have doubts as to how good the service will be. Then just tip as you wish (IF you wish).

We've never removed the gratuities. We don't always add to them, but we have on occasion.

At least, on DCL, it still an option to have them removed. Because on DCL they are still up to the guest how much/if to tip.

On most other cruise lines, the Hotel Service Charge is a given and difficult to remove.

 

[JTBE]

On Disney, the servers and room host work so hard for the guests. It's so easy to justify removal of tips because people tend to be cheap. We've never had a person who didn't deserve the tip especially on Disney, it's usually well earned.

 

[squirk]

You can always just remove them at the beginning of the cruise, if you have doubts as to how good the service will be. Then just tip as you wish (IF you wish).

Yeah, but how many folks, especially new cruisers, are going to have the wherewithal to do that at the beginning of the cruise? I'd bet Disney is counting on people forgetting about it until the last day, getting all wrapped up prepping for disembarkation, and just letting the tips ride.

I've never reduced a tip, either, and have increased many. But it still doesn't sit right with me that the onus is placed on the passenger to remove a tip that was charged before services were even rendered.

Same thing in restaurants when they charge the 20% auto-gratuity to parties of six or more, and it's up to you to seek out and confront a manager if you feel the service was not there. I find that bass-akward.

 

[tinkerone]

personally, I like it this way. I hated when you had to fill in the form and drop it off at guest services and you can't do it till five days into your trip. that was a real pain in the a**. I like that they do the work for me now and if I want to add extra I just put cash in the envelope with the gratuities slip. so much easier, imo.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Yeah, but how many folks, especially new cruisers, are going to have the wherewithal to do that at the beginning of the cruise? I'd bet Disney is counting on people forgetting about it until the last day, getting all wrapped up prepping for disembarkation, and just letting the tips ride.

Probably. But, if they do their research pre-cruise (ha, ha) they will learn otherwise.

On most other cruiselines it's not even an option. The Hotel Service Charge is automatic and not removable. So there's no question about whether you tip or not. In some ways, the HSC is a bit more fair, since it also covers the behind the scenes people (kitchen staff, laundry, etc), while on DCL it's only the 4 main positions.

 

[squirk]

Probably. But, if they do their research pre-cruise (ha, ha) they will learn otherwise.

If they do their what with the what now? Please tell me more about this thing you call "research".

 

[Cldfront]

Thanks for this question and subsequent answers - I was wondering all of this, myself.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I will add, that some packages in particular if booked in the UK do include tips, so it's not a one size fits all, but unless your package directly informs you they are included, then they will be extra.

This will help.

http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/

 

[Pegasus928]

I hate the whole tipping culture in general. If a business is hiring someone to do a job then they should pay them to do that job - not the end user based on how good they performed. I am travelling concierge for the first time ever, having paid Disney an obscene amount of money for the privelidge that I have saved up for over a couple of years. I would hazard a guess that the people I am tipping earn more a month than I do.
I also don't buy into the idea that these poor employees are dragged away from their families, working terrible hours and conditions to earn a meagre wage. If it really was as bad as some on here lead us to believe why are some employees on there for years at a time.
Just my opinion and I don't expect many to agree

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I hate the whole tipping culture in general. If a business is hiring someone to do a job then they should pay them to do that job - not the end user based on how good they performed. I am travelling concierge for the first time ever, having paid Disney an obscene amount of money for the privelidge that I have saved up for over a couple of years. I would hazard a guess that the people I am tipping earn more a month than I do.
I also don't buy into the idea that these poor employees are dragged away from their families, working terrible hours and conditions to earn a meagre wage. If it really was as bad as some on here lead us to believe why are some employees on there for years at a time.
Just my opinion and I don't expect many to agree

I think many have your view, note concierge get a small pay for their 'officer' duties but most is made up by tips.

 

[squirk]

I also don't buy into the idea that these poor employees are dragged away from their families, working terrible hours and conditions to earn a meagre wage. If it really was as bad as some on here lead us to believe why are some employees on there for years at a time.

I don't think Disney shanghaied any of these people; no one is being dragged away from their families. And just because some stick around for years doesn't disprove the idea that quarters are cramped, hours are long and the pay is low.

 

[Heather Jensen]

Thanks all! For us "new cruisers" it is a bit frustrating to figure out what is happening where. I have to say that the Disney website isn't super friendly and I haven't been able to find as much specific information as easily as I would like and I'm relying on third-party sources, so I appreciate all your help!

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

If they do their what with the what now? Please tell me more about this thing you call "research".

Well, what the OP did is called research. She didn't understand something, she found a place where she could gather more information, and she asked a question. Now she knows the answer to her question and can proceed.

 

[Plaid Princess]

If they do their what with the what now? Please tell me more about this thing you call "research".

Well, what the OP did is called research. She didn't understand something, she found a place where she could gather more information, and she asked a question. Now she knows the answer to her question and can proceed.

I've heard of this Research, many say it is like the rare and illustrious Logic that so few posses!

 

[funfam]

Please be aware that the base salary of most cruise line employees in tipped positions is lower than the $2.17 per hour that servers in the US get. The cruise line does count the suggested gratuties as part of the wages and that is how they justify the very low pay. I am not saying you shouldn't adjust if the service was bad or add extra if the service was good, I just think it is something we all should know.