How much did you tip at Palos for brunch and dinner??

[DAD AT DISNEY]

That's a completely different situation.

Palo has additional food and crewmember costs involved from the rest of the dining facilities. Higher training costs, higher food costs, higher salary costs. That's what part of the fee goes to, since it's each guest's choice to eat there. There are plenty of other dining options if one doesn't choose to pay the additional fee of Palo, and that's completely fine. If Palo had the same dining costs as the rest of the dining rooms, there would be no additional fee. If all of the dining rooms had similar quality to Palo, then the cruise as a whole would cost more.

Honestly, if you don't like the fee, don't eat at Palo.

I understand what your saying, but if I tip at Palo for dinner then I need to deduct my tip from the normal dining room staff since I was not there.

 

[DVCconvert]

What about gratuities?
It is customary to give gratuities in recognition of service, which you will most likely be treated to in abundance aboard the ship. As a guideline, may we suggest the following:

Per Guest per cruise 3-Night 4-Night 7-Night
Dining Room Server $12.00 $16.00 $28.00
Dining Room Asst. Server $9.00 $12.00 $21.00
Dining Room Head Server $3.00 $4.00 $7.00
Stateroom Host/Hostess $12.00 $16.00 $28.00
Dining Manager Your Discretion
Room Service Your Discretion
Palo Gratuity included

Copied directly from the DCL website -- so why is there any discussion about this?????

 

[DAD AT DISNEY]

What about gratuities?
It is customary to give gratuities in recognition of service, which you will most likely be treated to in abundance aboard the ship. As a guideline, may we suggest the following:

Per Guest per cruise 3-Night 4-Night 7-Night
Dining Room Server $12.00 $16.00 $28.00
Dining Room Asst. Server $9.00 $12.00 $21.00
Dining Room Head Server $3.00 $4.00 $7.00
Stateroom Host/Hostess $12.00 $16.00 $28.00
Dining Manager Your Discretion
Room Service Your Discretion
Palo Gratuity included

Copied directly from the DCL website -- so why is there any discussion about this?????

Because some people feel that they need to tip on top of what you already pay to eat at Palo.

 

[PenskeSth1]

We generally tip $10.00 extra pp for Palo if the service is good. We don't do it because we have to or are expected to, we do it just because we appreciated our servers excellent service. We would do the same thing at any other specialty restaurant as well.

If you don't feel as though you should tip then don't, it is your choice. Some folks just like to give a little extra, that doesn't mean you have to also.

 

[jilljill]

I understand what your saying, but if I tip at Palo for dinner then I need to deduct my tip from the normal dining room staff since I was not there.

Why do you need to deduct from your dining staff if you don't eat in the dining room that night? You have eaten breakfast and lunch on the ship or had some other food on the ship during the day. Your dining staff works other food areas of the ship.

But if you chose to deduct or lower your tips that is your right since the amounts that Disney gives as a guideline are just suggestions.

 

[Cindi0511]

What about gratuities?
It is customary to give gratuities in recognition of service, which you will most likely be treated to in abundance aboard the ship. As a guideline, may we suggest the following:

Per Guest per cruise 3-Night 4-Night 7-Night
Dining Room Server $12.00 $16.00 $28.00
Dining Room Asst. Server $9.00 $12.00 $21.00
Dining Room Head Server $3.00 $4.00 $7.00
Stateroom Host/Hostess $12.00 $16.00 $28.00
Dining Manager Your Discretion
Room Service Your Discretion
Palo Gratuity included

Copied directly from the DCL website -- so why is there any discussion about this?????

There is discussion about this because many people feel that a $5 tip on a meal that easily costs $75 or more per person isn't fair to the server. IF they appreciate the service given, it is their option to show that. Many people who have eaten at high end restaurants on land are appalled that $5 would be considered appropriate just because you're on a ship. I am not saying you are right or wrong, just answering the question you asked about why the discussion.

Just like with land-based servers, DCL servers work almost totally for their tips. Many people who cruise DCL understand that and act according to what THEY individually feel is right for them. Each person is free to do as they please. Some people feel that Disney is out to cheat them and take those feelings of anger out on the workers. Disney is in line with other cruise companies, from what I understand. Others on here can speak to that more appropriately from their own experience. It's an industry thing, not a Disney being greedy thing, just like on land servers get paid $3.25 per hour by the restaurant they work for, regardless of how much someone is charged for their food.

 

[jenn&nelsonrego]

DH and I tend to be big tippers, even here at home....

That being said... this may not be considered a big tip to some, but we tipped our Palo server (Laura) $50.... This brought our Palo bill to $200.... with DH's bottle of wine and the Palo charge...

Ah, well.... it is vacation....

 

[tomspixie]

Well said Cindi! If you break down your gratuity for main dining and then consider the meal that you receive, you are basically shortchanging the servers. And Cindi is correct in that the servers are doing more than just your evening meal.
As to Palo, the servers are extremely well educated and well trained in the art of serving. Could you really imagine receiving the service and quality of Palo on land, and tipping them a mere $5? They go out of their way to give you an experience...of helping you to step out of your box so that you try things you normally wouldn't.
The additional fee is industry standard. These meals are being created for you, AFTER you order. It is made FOR YOU!
One thing that has amazed me over the years is how well Palo servers remember you and your likes and dislikes. Have to admit that there was a time whe we hadn't seen a server in two years. I was walking along deck 9, definitely looking a bit weathered, when Marco said hello to me by name. He asked how our 3 children were. He had just returned to the ship from his break. He would be in main dining until he re-earned Palo time. With that being said, he would gain nothing from us...but he stopped me to say hello. That is how exceptional the servers from Palo are...and for us, giving an additional gratuity is appropriate.

 

[mmouse37]

Well said Cindi! If you break down your gratuity for main dining and then consider the meal that you receive, you are basically shortchanging the servers. And Cindi is correct in that the servers are doing more than just your evening meal.
As to Palo, the servers are extremely well educated and well trained in the art of serving. Could you really imagine receiving the service and quality of Palo on land, and tipping them a mere $5? They go out of their way to give you an experience...of helping you to step out of your box so that you try things you normally wouldn't.
The additional fee is industry standard. These meals are being created for you, AFTER you order. It is made FOR YOU!
One thing that has amazed me over the years is how well Palo servers remember you and your likes and dislikes. Have to admit that there was a time whe we hadn't seen a server in two years. I was walking along deck 9, definitely looking a bit weathered, when Marco said hello to me by name. He asked how our 3 children were. He had just returned to the ship from his break. He would be in main dining until he re-earned Palo time. With that being said, he would gain nothing from us...but he stopped me to say hello. That is how exceptional the servers from Palo are...and for us, giving an additional gratuity is appropriate.

I agree in tipping more if you are so inclined but you really cannot equate with a land-based restaurant...that is NOT how the cruise industry works. If people want to use land based tipping guidelines that is their choice but the tipping in the cruise industry is different and the workers understand that. Of course they would be happy with any additional tip but they are not expecting a land-based tip on their service.

 

[DAD AT DISNEY]

There is discussion about this because many people feel that a $5 tip on a meal that easily costs $75 or more per person isn't fair to the server. IF they appreciate the service given, it is their option to show that. Many people who have eaten at high end restaurants on land are appalled that $5 would be considered appropriate just because you're on a ship. I am not saying you are right or wrong, just answering the question you asked about why the discussion.

Just like with land-based servers, DCL servers work almost totally for their tips. Many people who cruise DCL understand that and act according to what THEY individually feel is right for them. Each person is free to do as they please. Some people feel that Disney is out to cheat them and take those feelings of anger out on the workers. Disney is in line with other cruise companies, from what I understand. Others on here can speak to that more appropriately from their own experience. It's an industry thing, not a Disney being greedy thing, just like on land servers get paid $3.25 per hour by the restaurant they work for, regardless of how much someone is charged for their food.

I love how the "cruise industry" puts a guilt trip on their customers to supplement the income for their staff. It's not my problem that they only pay them $50.00 a month. Pay them a normal wage instead of asking us to do it.

I understand that DCL isn't the only company doing this but why would any of them change? It's like having free labor.

 

[Stinasmom]

I almost hate to toss my hat into this ring, but...

We always have a nice bottle of wine when eating at Palo and of course they charge 15% gratuity on that as well as the regular pp charge. Who gets that gratuity?

If we splurge on an $80 bottle of wine that's $12 + $30 = $42.
We would likely round up to $50. In our experience, the servers there go way out of their way to make your experience something special.

 

[webray]

Why is it our responsibility to tip the server above the $15.00 pp they charge for dinner?

Why can't DCL give the entire Palo charge to the server?

Because part of that fee is for the better food you are served in that restaurant.

 

[Cindi0511]

Well said Cindi! If you break down your gratuity for main dining and then consider the meal that you receive, you are basically shortchanging the servers. And Cindi is correct in that the servers are doing more than just your evening meal.
As to Palo, the servers are extremely well educated and well trained in the art of serving. Could you really imagine receiving the service and quality of Palo on land, and tipping them a mere $5? They go out of their way to give you an experience...of helping you to step out of your box so that you try things you normally wouldn't.
The additional fee is industry standard. These meals are being created for you, AFTER you order. It is made FOR YOU!
One thing that has amazed me over the years is how well Palo servers remember you and your likes and dislikes. Have to admit that there was a time whe we hadn't seen a server in two years. I was walking along deck 9, definitely looking a bit weathered, when Marco said hello to me by name. He asked how our 3 children were. He had just returned to the ship from his break. He would be in main dining until he re-earned Palo time. With that being said, he would gain nothing from us...but he stopped me to say hello. That is how exceptional the servers from Palo are...and for us, giving an additional gratuity is appropriate.

We were able to get an extra evening at Palo when they were booked solid the last night on our 11-day cruise in 06. Our server, Michael, went out of his way to get us in there, and there wasn't an empty table in the place. We had had him for all of our Palo dining experiences: brunch, high tea and one or two dinners over the course of that cruise, and yes, we did tip him well. He was excellent and earned a token of our appreciation, which is what a tip is anywhere. If he couldn't have cared less about our dining experience, he would not have received an additional tip.

Having said that, our first cruise was a last minute thing when we didn't have time to learn very much. We ate at Palo one night and did add a tip just because WE felt it was what WE should do. (We were doing tons of high end business dinners at that time, and we just couldn't reconcile it within ourselves that part of the then $10 charge was worth the service we received). We never looked nor cared to see whether anyone else did. That's their business. We couldn't get in to Palo again on that cruise. But our server then didn't take nearly as much interest in us as Michael did on the Wonder.

Michael earned every penny. That is not to say that people who scrape together to get on a cruise and CAN'T add a tip are any worse or that they will receive poorer service. As has been stated multiple times, it is a personal preference, and some people feel strongly that they should add on to the tip and others feel just as strongly that they shouldn't have to. Either table will still receive a fantastic meal.

 

[tomspixie]

Cindi,

You are so right. It is a personal thing. And guests will get great service and a great night regardless of tip!

Sounds like Michael is a true gem!!! Isn't it the cast members that keep us coming back????

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I almost hate to toss my hat into this ring, but...

We always have a nice bottle of wine when eating at Palo and of course they charge 15% gratuity on that as well as the regular pp charge. Who gets that gratuity?

If we splurge on an $80 bottle of wine that's $12 + $30 = $42.
We would likely round up to $50. In our experience, the servers there go way out of their way to make your experience something special.

Yes this is a good point I do factor it in if I buy a bottle of wine and its expensive, it goes to the server. My Assistant server in the main rotations often does well with wine orders and smoothies for the kids each night.