How does tipping work

[Kurby]

I understand all the tipping except the head server

exactly what is his/her job?

i've seen some posts where the HS is never seen until the night the envelopes come out and they are around asking if everything is fine, did they need anything?

i've seen some other posts where they say their HS came to their table every night.

what do they do?

if you don't see them until the "tip" night do you still tip them?

is their job one that is "never seen unless there's something wrong?

 

[eph94]

I understand all the tipping except the head server

exactly what is his/her job?

i've seen some posts where the HS is never seen until the night the envelopes come out and they are around asking if everything is fine, did they need anything?

i've seen some other posts where they say their HS came to their table every night.

what do they do?

if you don't see them until the "tip" night do you still tip them?

is their job one that is "never seen unless there's something wrong?

I was told that the Head Server handles all special requests as well as keeps an eye on your Server and Assistant Server. The Head Server is sort of like "Big Brother" watching over/pressuring the Servers to make sure they act as friendly and accomodating as they do to the guests.

If you end up with great Servers who go seemingly "out of their way" to do things like magic tricks to amuse the kids, well, the Head Server is behind this. You might not see the Head Servers, but your Servers know that they are watching with a critical eye. I think that alone is worth the small tip that is suggested to give to them.

 

[Grumpy987]

Thanks for all the great tips!
I just couldn't resist!
But really this forum helped a lot!

 

[wonderapril2007]

Any change to the suggested tip amount from the number given earlier in this thread?

 

[fey_spirit]

Ok please don't flame me because I would never do this - but I'm curious as to how this all works. What is your legal obligation with these tips? Do you have to pay anything at all? Could you choose not to tip? Again, I WOULD NEVER DO THIS so no flames, I am just curious. I'm one of those people who feels the need to know everything about everything...

 

[The Disney Fanatic]

Are the Tip Envelopes Delivered to your stateroom or do you have to stand in THE DISNEY LINE at guest services to get them? Also, if you miss seeing your servers and room attendant can you leave their envelopes at guest services? This probaly has been asked already but I do not remember seeing it. This is our first Disney Cruise and I think I just about understand this tipping thing. Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[CraftyMouse]

Are the Tip Envelopes Delivered to your stateroom or do you have to stand in THE DISNEY LINE at guest services to get them? Also, if you miss seeing your servers and room attendant can you leave their envelopes at guest services? This probaly has been asked already but I do not remember seeing it. This is our first Disney Cruise and I think I just about understand this tipping thing. Thanks in advance for the help!

The tip envelopes are delivered to your stateroom. If you choose to charge your tips to your stateroom account you will need to go to Guest Services for that but you can do that early in the week to avoid the line. You can also pre-pay your tips by calling DCL.

I am not sure if you can leave the envelopes at Guest Services but I would guess that you can. You can also drop by the dining room to deliver them to your servers. If you are like us you will go out of your way to say goodbye to them as they have been such an integral part of the vacation.

 

[t-beri]

If you go to the creative disigns board they have designs that can be printed out for "mousekeeping" I'm sure you could modify one of them for the CM's on the cruise. Just one more of those "little" things. They have them for every holiday and tons of characters. I didn't read this whole thread, so maybe someones posted this already but there it is.

Also, the only cruise I've ever taken the tips were put on your cc the day you embarked and were non negotiable (of course you could add more) We were on our honeymoon and a buget after paying for a formal wedding ourselves. Our stewardess was SUPERB. She realized in the first 2 days that I tend to run late for dinner and often we were taking a nap and began tapping on our door 15 minutes before to get us moving. one night my DH had run ahead of me and I couldn't get my necklace clasped and peeked out into the hallway to catch her attention as she was refreshing the room next door and she did up my clasp.. she was a gem!! I really wanted to give her something extra but felt like the little money I would be able to give her would seem rude, so when we were shopping I went to a loval artisan and had a special bookmark made w/ her name on it and a thanks from us. She told me that in all of her time on the ship she had had many guest leave her an extra tip or a small gift but nothing so personal and thoughtful and gave me a BIG hug. You could tell she was sincere.

The next time I cruise I will plan for something special like this for those who go above and beyond and I hope it will be recieved as well.

 

[Dr. G]

Can someone point me to the suggested tip amounts on the Disney Cruise website? I've spent 1/2 hour looking and can't find it anywhere. I've clicked all over and done searches for tips and gratuties, but I can only find the automatic 15% add-on for alcohol etc. All I can find is that the cost of the cruise includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, sodas at meals & on Deck 9, stateroom, etc. It specifically mentions spa and excursions being extra but no mention of tips. Did Disney change their policy and now include them in the fare? If tipping is still expected, then it is very misleading of Disney to say the food is included (but not say you have to pay to have it put in front of you). If the recommended amounts at the beginning of this thread are still valid, I'm looking at over $500 in tips, and that impacts my budgeting and decision.

I'm not trying to be cheap, just trying to figure out a budget for a cruise to see if we can pull it off. I'd hate to think I'd full-paid for a cruise and then have to stiff someone because the money is gone. If tips are not included, Disney should state so very clearly and somewhere it can be found.

Thanks for any help!

Thanks!

 

[Jusacuz]

Can someone point me to the suggested tip amounts on the Disney Cruise website? I've spent 1/2 hour looking and can't find it anywhere. I've clicked all over and done searches for tips and gratuties, but I can only find the automatic 15% add-on for alcohol etc. All I can find is that the cost of the cruise includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, sodas at meals & on Deck 9, stateroom, etc. It specifically mentions spa and excursions being extra but no mention of tips. Did Disney change their policy and now include them in the fare? If tipping is still expected, then it is very misleading of Disney to say the food is included (but not say you have to pay to have it put in front of you). If the recommended amounts at the beginning of this thread are still valid, I'm looking at over $500 in tips, and that impacts my budgeting and decision.

I'm not trying to be cheap, just trying to figure out a budget for a cruise to see if we can pull it off. I'd hate to think I'd full-paid for a cruise and then have to stiff someone because the money is gone. If tips are not included, Disney should state so very clearly and somewhere it can be found.

Thanks for any help!

Thanks!

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/dcl/en_US/help/overview?name=OnboardServicesFAQLandingPage#9

Hope this helps.

 

[kcashner]

The tip envelopes are delivered to your room. You can put cash in them and hand them to the appropriate individuals. Alternatively, you can go to Guest Services and charge the tips.

Just a hint--if you know how much you wish to charge, go to Guest Services a day or two early. They will have the form for you to fill out and will do the charge and give you the receipts (1/2 for you, 1/2 for the envelope.) They even staple you 1/2 together so nothing gets lost. If you choose to tip more than you charged, you can always add a little cash. Going early saves standing in the mega line that happens at the end of the cruise.

We've asked our server whether he (and crew in general) prefer cash or charges, and particularly whether DCL deducted a service fee on charged tips. He told us that he gets every penny that we charge (no fees deducted) and that he finds it easier to keep track of things when the tips were charged. He says that he always gets enough cash for incidentals and that he is sending home the bulk of his money, so a check makes that easiest.

He did say that there are 2 types of people in the serving crew--those supporting family "back home" and those cruising for "fun money." He implied that the ones spending their money on "treats while in port" might prefer cash, but also pointed out that they have very little time off while in port.

 

[Dr. G]

THANKS for the link! That is exactly what I was after. Don't know why I couldn't find it--I really am, sometimes, search and computer savvy

Thanks again!

 

[kbrelluvsWDW]

Bump - I have a stupid question regardign tipping and I'm hoping someone can help. When you are going to breakfast/lunch in one of the restaurants (i.e. Tritons), how do you tip the waiters/servers that took care of you? I went on my first cruise this past November and hope to book for Nov. 2009 again very soon. I just wasn't sure how this is handled. Anybody have an idea/suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[dmi188]

You don't tip at breakfast or lunch. These are the same wait staff as at dinner. Just tip your dinner staff well.

 

[HappyLawyer]

wow 3 years and this thread is still useful- I am proud!!

 

[HappyLawyer]

Ok please don't flame me because I would never do this - but I'm curious as to how this all works. What is your legal obligation with these tips? Do you have to pay anything at all? Could you choose not to tip? Again, I WOULD NEVER DO THIS so no flames, I am just curious. I'm one of those people who feels the need to know everything about everything...

I personally think this is a valid question. If i received poor and / or rude service, i wll not tip. There is not a legal obligation to tip just a mental agreement of sorts that it is expected and one should

 

[disneegrl4eva]

ok I have a couple of questions...can somebody explain to me the differences between Dining room server, asst., and head server...Ive heard alot of people say the asst. does alot more than the head server and such...also, I notice that the stateroom host/hostess gets a little less than the dining room server...why is that? I would think the stateroom host has to do alot more than your dining room server and deals with you and your needs alot more than a dining room server...I have no problems paying out a dining room asst.server what they propose I pay to dining room server if they do more for me than a server does and so on...

 

[kcashner]

Ok, the server is the person who makes menu suggestions and takes your food order. The assistant server takes your beverage orders. These two work as a team and handle 18-24 guests at each seating. The head server is responsible for about 1/3 of the dining room. He visits your table each night to make sure that everything is ok, and handles any special requests (like birthday cakes, allergy issues, etc.) Over all of them is the dining room supervisor, which is not a tipped position.

You commonly tip on the last night at dinner. You generally do not tip at breakfast or lunch, although they will never refuse a tip if someone does something special that you feel warrants something extra.

As to why the recommended tip for the stateroom steward is minimally less than that of the head server, I have no idea. The difference is like 50 cents on a 7 day cruise. Again, tipping is at your discretion--if your room steward was great, give him/her a bit extra.

Personally, someone would have to really mess up for me to give them less than the recommended amount. Yes, I know it is recommended and not mandatory, but if the service was OK, they'll get the recommended. It is usually way beyond ok, so I tip a bit extra. My logic is that if I can afford to cruise, I can afford to be at least a little generous.

 

[CobraKai]

When calculating the per person tipping amounts, do I need to include my 11-month old son? Do the wait staff actually bring them food as well (mashed potatoes, etc.)? I assumed that mostly we would be using our own food & drinks which would then make me question why someone would receive a tip for an infant at the table?

I don't mind including him in the calculation if that's standard procedure, but would like to hear what others are doing in the same situation. Maybe the tip for an infant covers "entertainment, party hats, and other things" that the staff provides during the meal?

 

[flexsmom]

When calculating the per person tipping amounts, do I need to include my 11-month old son? Do the wait staff actually bring them food as well (mashed potatoes, etc.)? I assumed that mostly we would be using our own food & drinks which would then make me question why someone would receive a tip for an infant at the table?

I don't mind including him in the calculation if that's standard procedure, but would like to hear what others are doing in the same situation. Maybe the tip for an infant covers "entertainment, party hats, and other things" that the staff provides during the meal?

Yes, the wait staff definitely works even for the infants of that age! They do a great job on the "entertainment" front, as well as with helping out with table food that will work - pureed veggies, etc. Plus - if your 11-month old is anything like mine were, there's likely a fair mess left behind after dinner, which the wait staff cleans up. I had no hesitation about tipping for my infant, too.

ALso - you didn't ask, but the stateroom host also definitely earns his/her tip in this situation, too. Ours took care of the diaper genie, changed out crib sheets, etc.