Is anyone cruising with me on the August 27th 2011 Meditteranean Cruise? Hellooooo?

[eeyorefanuk]

Can I ask, if you tip over because of good service, approx how much extra do you pay?

Also cannot remember how much 2 adults will be charged for the tips - can you help please.

 

[yvnalvar]

Here is the break down for tips
Server/Stateroom Attendant =$28
Asst Server =$21
Head Waiter $7
This is per person per day.

 

[ptkelley]

Here is the break down for tips
Server/Stateroom Attendant =$28
Asst Server =$21
Head Waiter $7
This is per person per day.

Now I am confused. In my cruise booklet, under Gratuity Guidelines, those amounts are listed under the Title: 7 - night Cruise Gratuity Suggestions (per person, including children). I read that to mean per person but not per day.

Did I misread this? Please correct me if I have misread this. Thank you!

 

[diane aggelidou]

Not good news,today Italy has joined Greece on Economical Euro problem. Itallians starting to strike/demonstrate in Italy etc which I have expected for some time(as stated previously we were 1st as smallest), now Italy and expect then spain then France to follow very soon!

If you ask me,scrap the whole Euro thing!
Problem is that scrapping it is now impossible to return each country to each ones previous prosperity/own currency etc as before, this is a complete whole mess caused by governments!

Lets keep fingers crossed that Italy doesnt start major strikes etc during our cruise!

 

[andyhp]

Now I am confused. In my cruise booklet, under Gratuity Guidelines, those amounts are listed under the Title: 7 - night Cruise Gratuity Suggestions (per person, including children). I read that to mean per person but not per day.

Did I misread this? Please correct me if I have misread this. Thank you!

I think you are right. The guidelines given for a 7 night cruise total $84 per guest. For a family of 4 that would equate to $336 total gratuities for the cruise (obviously that is the minimum, more can be given at your discretion).

 

[diane aggelidou]

Personally, I feel tipping should be at each persons discretion and depending on their economical situation as to what they can afford!

Some people can afford to tip higher than others!
After all,some people spend and save so hard for years just to go on a Disney cruise as it is expensive for those on low incomes or those in EU countires that are struggling economically!

Disneys Moto is DREAMS CAN COME TRUE! NOT, Worry about extra costs! Instead enjoy your holiday without anxiety and fullfill dreams,after all you have paid for it an I personally will put my families finances first.

I can understand both opinionated sides,but at end of day,one should have choice as does state,tips are at passengers discretion?????????????????????????? I really cannot see people not tipping whatsoever unless have an unavoidable problem!

 

[Halo]

There's a great Cruise Tip Calculator on the internet here.

 

[Halo]

Personally, I feel tipping should be at each persons discretion and depending on their economical situation as to what they can afford!

Sorry but to be blunt, if someone can't afford the tips they shouldn't book the cruise. The cruise staff are really lowly paid - ca. $50-$100 per month isn't uncommon; the simple truth is that they rely upon the tips.

It is certainly at each person's discretion whether they book the cruise in the first place. If they cannot afford it due to their economic situation, then they shouldn't book it.

Once on the cruise I am all in favour of economising - not doing shore excursions, or arranging one's own, less expensive excursions, or skipping spa treatments etc, but one shouldn't be looking to economise on tips unless in the exceptional instance one doesn't receive good service, which is, I believe, highly unlikely on a Disney cruise ship.

 

[yvnalvar]

Wow!! I have really been overtipping all these years. I read that the $28 was per person per day not that this was per person for the 7 days. I was calculating over $2000.

 

[yvnalvar]

Sorry but to be blunt, if someone can't afford the tips they shouldn't book the cruise. The cruise staff are really lowly paid - ca. $50-$100 per month isn't uncommon; the simple truth is that they rely upon the tips.

It is certainly at each person's discretion whether they book the cruise in the first place. If they cannot afford it due to their economic situation, then they shouldn't book it.

Once on the cruise I am all in favour of economising - not doing shore excursions, or arranging one's own, less expensive excursions, or skipping spa treatments etc, but one shouldn't be looking to economise on tips unless in the exceptional instance one doesn't receive good service, which is, I believe, highly unlikely on a Disney cruise ship.

I agree with you Hal O . I never felt it was an obligation to tip and I am glad I misread how the tipping worked. Disney does not have bad service anywhere you go.
Just sit back and enjoy the service you receive.

 

[JoyB-UK]

Here is the break down for tips
Server/Stateroom Attendant =$28
Asst Server =$21
Head Waiter $7
This is per person per day.

This is actually per week, $28 Server, $28 Attendant $7 Head server $21 Assistant server = $84 per week per person ($12 per day).

Sorry but to be blunt, if someone can't afford the tips they shouldn't book the cruise. The cruise staff are really lowly paid - ca. $50-$100 per month isn't uncommon; the simple truth is that they rely upon the tips.

It is certainly at each person's discretion whether they book the cruise in the first place. If they cannot afford it due to their economic situation, then they shouldn't book it.

Once on the cruise I am all in favour of economising - not doing shore excursions, or arranging one's own, less expensive excursions, or skipping spa treatments etc, but one shouldn't be looking to economise on tips unless in the exceptional instance one doesn't receive good service, which is, I believe, highly unlikely on a Disney cruise ship.

I agree, tipping has never been an extra in cruising it has always been part of the deal. Anyone booking a cruise with a TA is always advised that tips are required and it should be factored into deciding whether or not the cruise is affordable. The jobs that these guys do and the numbers of hours they have to work is really hard yet in the vast majority of cases the service is amazing. Each stateroom is cleaned twice a day and the restaurant staff also have to rotate doing breakfasts and lunches and working in the buffets. Many of the staff come from extremely poor countries so probably won't have much sympathy for those who can afford to cruise but don't tip.
Joy

 

[JoyB-UK]

Can I ask, if you tip over because of good service, approx how much extra do you pay?

Also cannot remember how much 2 adults will be charged for the tips - can you help please.

We tipped over last time because we felt the service was very good but it wasn't much over. For us it was a case of looking what dollars we had left at the end of the holiday, if we had more we would have given more but we'd just about spent up. We paid the suggested through the account then put an extra $30 in the attendant envelope, $40 in the servers and $20 in the assistant. The head server only got the suggested amount as we did not see him much, but that doesn't mean they aren't doing plenty behind the scenes.

 

[diane aggelidou]

Temp still hot 39-40

good suncreen factor needed as rays are becomming stronger each year! I am on factor 6- 15 and am tanned over 3 months!(compared to my usual factor 2-4)
and my daughter & husband 30-40

If you are not used to Med heat,plan also for naps as causes fatigue/tiredness!
Sunburn will not be noticeable/understandable till late evening!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Now I am confused. In my cruise booklet, under Gratuity Guidelines, those amounts are listed under the Title: 7 - night Cruise Gratuity Suggestions (per person, including children). I read that to mean per person but not per day.

Did I misread this? Please correct me if I have misread this. Thank you!

As others have stated--you are correct; it is per week

Sorry but to be blunt, if someone can't afford the tips they shouldn't book the cruise. The cruise staff are really lowly paid - ca. $50-$100 per month isn't uncommon; the simple truth is that they rely upon the tips.

It is certainly at each person's discretion whether they book the cruise in the first place. If they cannot afford it due to their economic situation, then they shouldn't book it.

Once on the cruise I am all in favour of economising - not doing shore excursions, or arranging one's own, less expensive excursions, or skipping spa treatments etc, but one shouldn't be looking to economise on tips unless in the exceptional instance one doesn't receive good service, which is, I believe, highly unlikely on a Disney cruise ship.

I agree 100%--you said it very nicely

Wow!! I have really been overtipping all these years. I read that the $28 was per person per day not that this was per person for the 7 days. I was calculating over $2000.

I bet your servers and stateroom hosts have LOVED you

 

[diane aggelidou]

Having not experienced Disney Cruise staff! I will withold judgement and tip accordingly as still is my opinion.
There are so many opinions and compalints on many sites of diverse issues regarding passengers that I am looking forward to experiencing all!that some consider correct, others are opposed too and range from behaviour,bad service,sunbeds.taking own drink in glass into restaurants or pool,appropriate clothing both aboard and in Med,sleeping round pool etc list goes on & on

As far as I am concerned! I will have my holiday as I wish and would never be influenced by others!Living is having ones own opinion/expectations and respecting that others will have theirs!

 

[TJFrack]

I was planning more money for tips, so to me the $84 seems cheap especially when broken down to $12 per day for all the work the staff does. I don't want to empty my own trash or make my bed.

Speaking of tipping I am having a hard time finding how much to tip tour guides in each city. There are different rates for taxis, tour buses, small groups and everything is all over the chart on how much to tip. Would someone please advise if doing small group tours of 6-8 people how much should each person tip? Also, if doing the disney excursion on a bus with 50 people how much there? I don't want to feel guilty for being cheap. I have researched about 10 different websites and magazines and can't find a standard. Thanks for your help!

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I am glad I found this out before my cruise. I was planning on bringing cash for the tips. I will say that while we plan for tips, I hate being told what to pay. We handsomely reward great service, but do not for poor service. As I previously stated we had a horrible stateroom attendant on the Wonder. And there have been some very unhappy cruise comments from people on the Dream. Yes, aweful waitstaff service included. So while I am hoping non of this occurs on our trip, I want to wait and see before I pay. It is very sad to hear of people not tipping at all.

 

[austraveler]

It might just be ignorance rather than stingyness. In Australia we do not tip, including on cruises. Wages are high and there is no expectation of a tip. While I try and make sure we know the local customs when we travel, I am SURE that I might have neglected to tip someone when we travelled just becuase we didn't realise we were expected to. If my travel agent had not told me, I would not have known that we were supposed to tip on the Disney cruise.

 

[Halo]

Speaking of tipping I am having a hard time finding how much to tip tour guides in each city. There are different rates for taxis, tour buses, small groups and everything is all over the chart on how much to tip. Would someone please advise if doing small group tours of 6-8 people how much should each person tip? Also, if doing the disney excursion on a bus with 50 people how much there? I don't want to feel guilty for being cheap. I have researched about 10 different websites and magazines and can't find a standard. Thanks for your help!

The norm in the Med is to simply round up. Unlike the cruise staff, these people (guides, drivers etc) do not require tips as the service charge is effectively built into the cost you are already paying. Tips for them are just a bonus. The UK by contrast has a more service oriented culture (but not as much as in the US) so in the UK a 10% tip is the norm for taxi's, waiters etc.

So to address your list, I would say the following:
Taxis.......................€2
Tour buses...............€2
small group tours of 6-8 people.....€5 (basically the cost of a drink) per person in your family
Disney excursion on a bus with 50 people.....€2
If by taxi you are talking about a taxi tour rather than a simple ride, then as for small group tours.

This is simply for guidance.

 

[twowolfs1]

Man we over tipped on are first cruise we read it as per day. I do not like that they are going to add it to the start of the trip. We were looking at the tipping guide I have not found a good one fro the excurisions or tour guides.