How much do they make?

[dwkwootton]

The servers work very hard and more than earn their tips. If anything, we tip more than the recommended but I think that looking at them as though they are slaves to be pitied is losing perspective. From the represented countries, given the typical wages, it is a great opportunity to be making huge money (for their nation) and its really not bad money for this country either. The hourly wage calculation may need some work since its not actually a 16+ hour day. They get a few hours off between meals unlike the schedules we are used to, report to work and don't stop till the day's end.

 

[SandraLee]

The party that was with us at the 8:30 seating came a few nights then switched around on the 6:30 seatings on the rest of the nights (saying their son was tired) and skipped the departure breakfast. Why??? They never tipped the servers. So our servers were kind of upset by that . They lost 3 persons tips and they were good at their jobs

Don't assume just because they don't show up for dinner and 'present' the tip envelope, the server didn't get tips. Frankly, the process of handing the tip envelope to the server in person does nothing for me. I always feel strange handing over money. I honestly thank them, but I would prefer to have guest services deliver the envelopes.

I have been on 2 DCL cruises and have never show up for the last breakfast.

 

[ivanova]

What about the individuals in the Oceaneer's Club? I don't see them listed on the tip sheets. Should we tip them at the end of our trip or during the trip? QUOTE]
The kids' counselors are not tippable positions. Should you tip them in cash it is either pooled together and shared by all counselors, or it is turned over to DCL which then donates it to charity (I heard the latter from a DCL Guest Services CM, the former has been posted here on the boards).

We typically tip kids' counselors with gift cards to WalMart or Target, or with international phone cards.

 

[ivanova]

They sure don't make enough. That is why I have a problem with the idea some cruiselines are going with, to pool tips. So, if I give my stateroom attendant and extra $25.00 she HAS to pool it and divide it equally amoung the others. What happened to tipping for service rendered and for the motivation to do well by getting tipped. Now it is simply me paying some of their salary. I would rather they raise the cruise price and let me tip what I want above and beyond and they get to keep it. I honestly think, though, they do okay, simply because they have virtually no expenses and they have 3 tables X 2 seatings. I'm pretty sure we don't want to look at per hour though! Yuck! Also, I know a lot of these, especially in housekeeping, come from places where it is very difficult to get a job, much less one that pays this good (sounds funny next to our standards!). I just know, they make the cruise what it is (or isn't, as evidenced last year on Princess) and I am happy to loosen the purse strings to make them just as happy. Pathetically, I didn't even think last time, to tip at the pay restraunt Don't you hate when you do something stupid. Now I feel terrible! Won't make that mistake again!!! Thanks to all of you! Thank goodness for these boards!

One way to getting around the "pooling" is to make your "overages" in the way of gift cards or international phone cards ... bet those don't have to be counted in any kind of pooling.

 

[mickeyfanmom]

I also tipped over the recommended, but it still seemed like our servers were disappointed with their tips. I felt really bad, because they had been so great all week and I just wanted to do the right thing.

Having said that, I also wanted to keep the price of the trip that rapidly exploded out of our budget down and really wanted to be fair and also show our appreciation.

I know that folks at Disney read these boards and I would like to make a suggestion. As a matter of fact, I am going to write to Brent, the Cruise Director on the Magic if I can get his email address and suggest that he addresses this topic in his disembarkation talk.

I think that Disney representatives should state that the recommended amounts are industry standard and equate to paying around 15% at a restaurant back home. But if you were really happy with your service you could up this amount (at your own discretion of course) to "X" amount which would closer equate to 20%. Or something along these lines.

We had an excellent time throughout our entire cruise and encountering the disappointed servers really ruined our happy ending in my mind.

 

[SandraLee]

Do the servers really open the envelopes and evaluate what you gave them with you just standing there? Is it me, or is that the ultimate in bad etiquette and poor manners?

Ugh. That should definetly be eliminated.

 

[littlemuffin]

Bump. I'd like to know too.

 

[LuvThatMouse]

In one respect, I would be annoyed to find out that my servers were forced to pool their tips with others who might not give the same quality of service. Then again, there servers amongst themselves all know who pooled what and eventually, those who don't pull their weight will be demoted or let go. In the short term though, it doesn't seem fair to them.

T.I.P.S. stands for To Insure Prompt Service. It is the way the customer has to encourage service professionals to do their best and a way to reward them when they do.

The thing that really bothers me is when the tip is already assumed and included in the bill. In other words, telling me how much I must tip. Many more expensive places do this and when they do, I don't give more than the amount the state. When they don't, I usually end of giving more than expected. I simply don't like being told what to do.

 

[mickeyfanmom]

No they don't open it in front of you. The last night of your cruise, the tip envelopes are placed in your room. You then put cash in them or a charge slip indicating that you put the tip on your account in the envelopes. You can present them in person at your last dinner or leave them with guest services to give to them. Either way, they get their tip that night and the next morning you have your final breakfast with them and you most likely see your stateroom host/hostess as well as they take care of your luggage on the last night as well as other duties.

 

[bbowers]

Our server (from a former Russian-block country) told us that within a year he will have his house paid off and he wants to quit. But he says he keeps going back because of the good money (he was probably in his 40's). (He also said Disney was the best place to be, and he has cruised on other lines and his wife now refuses to go with him because he berates his service on the other lines.) He said with Disney on his resume he could get a job on any other cruise line, and he'll probably have to do something to get fired to keep from coming back again!