How does tipping work

[ivanova]

We tipped the server staff regardless of whether the kids where at dinner every night - if they ate with the kids club they were eating in the buffet - and they ate breakfast & lunch at the buffet or one of the dining rooms - so someone was waiting on them at some point during the cruise.

 

[cynjam]

Okay, now I'm confused. Do you mean when we tip our servers they split it with the topsiders staff?

 

[MickeyB426]

Okay, now I'm confused. Do you mean when we tip our servers they split it with the topsiders staff?

They do not.

But the head server, assistant server, etc. needs to be be prepared to serve everyone in the party, regardless if they show up.

On my cruise that ended yesterday, I had 8 people in my party. Only twice did I have 8 people at the table. More likely it was 4-6 people. I tipped based on 8 people.

 

[webray]

Remember..phone cards are used in addition to the monetary tip..not in place of.

 

[alexandrew]

we suspect that our kids will not be dining with us regularly on our upcoming cruise...Nevertheless, I will tip based on all of us.....

Out of curiosity, if you guys receive excellent service, %-wise, how much over the recommended do you typically give???....

 

[richard_andmel]

Just as a general dining practice I tip between 20-25% for what I'd call good service, excellent service I'd tip a little more. I have been know to leave 10% or less though when the service was poor to non exisitent.

Mel

 

[MickeyB426]

we suspect that our kids will not be dining with us regularly on our upcoming cruise...Nevertheless, I will tip based on all of us.....

Out of curiosity, if you guys receive excellent service, %-wise, how much over the recommended do you typically give???....

Here's what I think:

According to the chart, the stateroom host should get about $26 per person for a 7-night cruise. That means, for a family of 4, for about $104, they're cleaning your room TWICE a day, turning down your sheets, picking up whatever mess you left behind (my son knocked over a whole box of powdered detergent, for instance). They're also there at a moment's notice to get you anything extra you need.

I more than doubled the recommended amounts. Our waitstaff were worth every cent.

 

[alexandrew]

W@W, more than doubled.....really?

 

[RobinMarie]

I apreciated our servers, they were fine. My stateroom host I wanted to take home with me so he received double the recommended tip. I know it sounds crazy, but when you are thinking about money, the wonderful week you had, and the things your host did for you doubling the tip seems worth it.

He cleaned my room twice a day, brought me ice, made my child smile with towel animals, arranging her toys and leaving her chocolates. He made it easy to get her out of the clubs because who knows what was waiting for us at night. He was worth it.

 

[MamaCrush]

Before I cruised and was reading these sorts of threads, I couldn't imagine tipping more than the recommended and seriously doubted the judgement of some posters. (sorry-- just keep reading...) Afterall, the recommended seemed rather reasonable for what I expected. And let's face it, after reading these boards for a while you can't help but have HIGH expectations!

But AFTER I cruised, I now understand perfectly. In fact, my dear, dear, CHEAP DH was the one to suggest tipping in excess of the recommended! These folks obviously work hard, always have a smile on their face, and take a personal interest in your vacation. You also bond with these folks in weird way considering you're only with them for 7 days. But trust me, based on my one MAGICal experience, I don't think it is possible to overtip on a Disney Cruise.

Here's an example. My DH came out of the bathroom the first morning of our cruise and asked me what I did with his hairbrush. Of couse, I hadn't touched it. Well, he didn't recognize his brush because Austin had CLEANED the hair out of it! Now, I'm sorry, but that is truly above and beyond any call of duty I can think of!

That being said, if I happened upon a rogue Disney CM who gave less than expected service, our tip would reflect that experience as well.

 

[MickeyB426]

To be quite frank, I think the recommended amounts for the server, assistant server and especially the stateroom host are SO low they border on criminal.

I'd only tip that amount if I thought the service was so horrid they'd be lucky they're getting a tip at all.

 

[mom23]

I do not mean to sound cheap, but that seems like a lot to tip! Wow!
I usually give a couple dollars a night when I spend the night in a hotel for room service. Are you saying we should pay $72.50 for 4 nights for a family of 5? That is $18 a day to clean our room. Also, I am not sure why we pay a server, and dining room assistant, and the greeter, etc....

Please NO BASHING!!! I have never been on a cruise before and I am just trying to figure this all out. Thanks!

 

[mmouse37]

I do not mean to sound cheap, but that seems like a lot to tip! Wow!
I usually give a couple dollars a night when I spend the night in a hotel for room service. Are you saying we should pay $72.50 for 4 nights for a family of 5? That is $18 a day to clean our room. Also, I am not sure why we pay a server, and dining room assistant, and the greeter, etc....

Please NO BASHING!!! I have never been on a cruise before and I am just trying to figure this all out. Thanks!

No bashing here but you have to understand that your dining room servers depend on your tips for the majority of their salary...it has always been this way in the cruise industry. And believe me your room steward goes above and beyond what any hotel room maid would do (I can say that because I was maid for several years in my youth). It is hard to explain until you actually cruise. If for some reason you do not get great service, then tip less.

MJ

 

[RobinMarie]

I do not mean to sound cheap, but that seems like a lot to tip! Wow!
I usually give a couple dollars a night when I spend the night in a hotel for room service. Are you saying we should pay $72.50 for 4 nights for a family of 5? That is $18 a day to clean our room. Also, I am not sure why we pay a server, and dining room assistant, and the greeter, etc....

Please NO BASHING!!! I have never been on a cruise before and I am just trying to figure this all out. Thanks!

It's up to you, for me it was worth it.

 

[MickeyB426]

I do not mean to sound cheap, but that seems like a lot to tip! Wow!
I usually give a couple dollars a night when I spend the night in a hotel for room service. Are you saying we should pay $72.50 for 4 nights for a family of 5? That is $18 a day to clean our room. Also, I am not sure why we pay a server, and dining room assistant, and the greeter, etc....

Please NO BASHING!!! I have never been on a cruise before and I am just trying to figure this all out. Thanks!

No bashing here but comparing tipping in a hotel to tipping on a cruise is like comparing Spam to Filet Mignon.

Forgetting what others said about the low salaries the staff make - to me, that's not the issue.

The level of service they will provide will go beyond what you expect. Even after reading what you read here, and you perhaps expect more, you won't believe what you see.

The Assistant Server will make it a point to memorize what everyone drinks - and make sure it's at your table within moments of your seating. If you decide you want something else, done. If you think there's too many ice cubes in your coke, done. Can't get the lobster out of your shell? Done.

The Server will also make sure he knows who everyone is at the table. He'll be taking care of your table and perhaps two others - and keep your kids entertained for the 30 seconds he's at the table each time. If you ordered a steak and you don't like it, he'll bring you the chicken. If you love the chicken, he'll bring you more.

I've already previously talked about the Stateroom Host, but one can't even begin to compare a hotel clean-up and a stateroom clean-up.

 

[HappyLawyer]

i am all for the tipping i have no problem with that but so many say they depend on our tips, which is also fine, but if they make so little, why doesn't disney not pay them more, it is not like they cannot afford to pay higher?

 

[MickeyB426]

i am all for the tipping i have no problem with that but so many say they depend on our tips, which is also fine, but if they make so little, why doesn't disney not pay them more, it is not like they cannot afford to pay higher?

Two reasons:

1. The pay scale across the cruise line industry is, with few variations, about the same, and

2. Your rates would go up if they paid the staff more. And more pay = less motivation to go after good tips.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

i am all for the tipping i have no problem with that but so many say they depend on our tips, which is also fine, but if they make so little, why doesn't disney not pay them more, it is not like they cannot afford to pay higher?

Disney -- and the other mainstream cruise lines -- essentially don't pay the servers and stateroom hosts on their "all inclusive" cruises; they expect the passengers to do so.

Wages around $50 per month have been reported in various articles that I've read. That's for 7 days a week. For servers, the work day goes from early in the morning until late at night, with a few hours off here and there, at times when not all servers are needed for food service. Sure, they get room and board, but we're talking about tiny, shared rooms below the water line. The stateroom hosts/hostesses do far more than a housekeeper at a hotel; they handle your luggage, bring you ice, and essentially provide bell services.

Sure, Disney could pay these people more, raise fares, and eliminate tipping.

The current system works well, although it comes as a shock to some first-time cruise passengers. The crew members in tipped positions have an incentive to provide great service.

 

[bicker]

Precisely, Horace. While DCL and the rest of the mainstream cruise lines could include the cost of service in the cruise fare, unless they all make the at the same time, the first cruise line that does so puts itself at a substantial disadvantage in the marketplace. All other factors held the same, the average consumer will choose the $1000 cruise over the $1100 cruise. Even for customers who understand the $100 as the cost of service, they typically will not equate being forced to pay $100 to being expected to pay $100.

 

[mom23]

Thanks for everyone who took the time to reply. I guess it makes more sense. You are really paying for more than just the service (the actual act) of them waiting on you, cleaning your stateroom, etc. I am really excited about my trip and will make sure that I budget for a great tip! I cannot wait!