How much do you charge the Dining Manager???

[PhotobearSam]

I saw the recommended rates for the tips on a 7 day cruise but I don't really understand what each person does and some say at your discretion...

What do you tip each person?

 

[ivanova]

I plan to tip the suggested amount to the server, assist server and stateroom host/hotess... and I expect to tip more if I get excellent service ... as for the Head Server/Manager, I don't expect to tip him/her unless I get more than them showing up the last night. In Nov 2003 we had a GREAT head server who came to our table nightly, took care of DH's food allergies, and knew all 3 kids by name (and called them by name at breakfast and lunch).

 

[webray]

We tip a minimum of the suggested amount..and then extra if we fell we received great service..just like at any restaurant we go to.

We have agreed, that on our next disney cruises..the dining room head person..will not be tipped...as she didn't follow through with anything for anyone at our table..none of the cakes she promised for anyone celebrating nothing. She did show up on the last night to collect her tips though..next time..unless this person does something great..she will be the only one not receiving a tip.

 

[kpros]

On our first two cruises, we never saw the head server. But on our last cruise, the head server was at our table every night making sure everything was OK. You can guess who got the only tip (for the head server) out of the three cruises.

Ken

 

[kcashner]

Ditto...if the head server or dining room manager gives you service, he should be tipped. If you never see him, forget him on tip night too......

In reality, our head server comes by every night just to make sure things are ok...and takes care of special requests (like DD wanted a chocolate birthday cake)

 

[jin diesel]

ok guys, i've never cruised before - so forgive me if this question is a little dumb:

can someone please explain the differences between the following:

server
assist server
Server/Manager

thanks!!!

 

[Rence]

The server is the main 'waiter' for your table.

The asst server is responsible for beverages, and a few other items and basically assists the server.

The server/manager or head server is responsible for a section of the dining room, I think on DCL there are 4 per dining room. They see that everything is running smoothly.

On our frist cruise we saw little of the head server.

On our last cruise we had a wedding anniversary, a birthday and a couple of significant food allergies in our group. The head server was at our table every night to make sure that everything was in order.

The head server seems especially important when food allergies are concerned. He was the one who would work with the kitchen to get a list of what contained the problem ingredients. He made sure our server and asst server knew also and frequently reviewed the menu with us to make sure all was clear.

 

[fireguy5620]

We were just on the May 8th Western. We tipped our server and asst. server more than the suggested, they were wonderful. The head server was totally worthless and he was three days early with my 2 DD's birthday cakes...He came around more and more, of course during the last two days.

The recommended tip for him during the 7 day cruise was 6.50 per person, he received half and that was half too much.

We also tipped our Stateroom host the recommended amount.

 

[Muushka]

On our cruise the DR manager seemed to only like the men and didn't bother with us 'women'. So, my husband gave her her suggested tip and I decided that she would really like to 'donate' her tip to our assist server (over and above what he already got). So that is what I did with her tip.

I think deep down she would have wanted it that way.

 

[jin diesel]

thanks, rence!

 

[coleland]

Interesting thread.

 

[jfs9900]

Ok, in October we are cruising in 3 separate cabins. If we take off the tips from the onboard account at the beginning of the cruise - will the crew know this - and could it dictate service?

I was planning at the end to distribute tips with the on board account plus 'extras' handed directly to the crew....

 

[mmouse37]

The tips are not automatically put on the onboard account....you have to go to guest service and tell them you want them on the onboard account if that is how you want to pay. You can then put exactly how much you want to give to each server/room steward.

On the 2nd to the last night they leave envelopes for you in your stateroom. The envelopes are marked server, head server, asst server and room steward.

You can put the onboard account tip vouchers in the envelopes or if you choose to tip in cash you but the cash in the envelopes. Then you hand the envelopes out at your last dinner or the next morning at breakfast. The leave the room stewards on the bed so he sees it when he makes turns down the bed.

The servers have no way of knowing what is in the envelopes until they open them so service would not be based on what is in the envelope....it would be the other way around...what's in the envelope would be based on service!!!

MJ

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

On our last cruise we over tipped our head server, asst server and stateroom host, as they were all wonderful. We tipped the recommended amount for DR manager but after reading these posts I wish we had tipped him less. We only saw him one night. This years cruise we are planning on taking pre-paid phone cards to give along with the tips, provided the service is good. And we plan on giving phone cards to our DD's club counselors.