New tipping system on Disney cruises

[wayneg]

Disney Cruise Line is instituting a new procedure for gratuities on all their ships. On embarkation day, guests' folios will automatically be charged for the suggested gratuity amounts for Server, Assistant Server, Head Server and Stateroom Host/Hostess. Guests can still add pre-paid gratuities at the time of booking or when making their final payments. If this isn't done, a letter will be given at check-in explaining the automatic gratuity payments. Modifications to the amount can still be made at the Guest Services Desk.

The first thing I would do on boarding is visit guest services and have these removed. I have never cruised yet and every member of staff be worth the recommended amount. Some I give more some I give less, there is no way I want to be automatically charged before I get the service.

 

[wilma-bride]

They have been doing this for some time Wayne. We visited Guest Services on the last evening to have some of the charges adjusted (a couple up, one down). It was done no problem. TBH, I didn't have a problem with the new system although I thought it took the personal element away from putting the cash in the envelopes (you still get the envelope but now just get a ticket to put in with the pre-paid amount on it).

 

[wayneg]

Only just announced on WDWinfo 48 hours ago, I wonder if they were trialling it before.

Just one of my pet hates are pre paid grats, I want to do it my way at the end of the trip, not there for me to adjust. I would remove to start then take it from there.

 

[April2012]

Disney Cruise Line is instituting a new procedure for gratuities on all their ships. On embarkation day, guests' folios will automatically be charged for the suggested gratuity amounts for Server, Assistant Server, Head Server and Stateroom Host/Hostess. Guests can still add pre-paid gratuities at the time of booking or when making their final payments. If this isn't done, a letter will be given at check-in explaining the automatic gratuity payments. Modifications to the amount can still be made at the Guest Services Desk.

The first thing I would do on boarding is visit guest services and have these removed. I have never cruised yet and every member of staff be worth the recommended amount. Some I give more some I give less, there is no way I want to be automatically charged before I get the service.

Thanks for this info Wayne, will have to have a think what we are going to do on that one

 

[mandymouse]

The first thing I would do on boarding is visit guest services and have these removed. I have never cruised yet and every member of staff be worth the recommended amount. Some I give more some I give less, there is no way I want to be automatically charged before I get the service.

We will too, as we like to tip with cash, and I don't want to head to Guest Services the night before disembarkation to adjust the amounts

 

[catherine]

Disney Cruise Line is instituting a new procedure for gratuities on all their ships. On embarkation day, guests' folios will automatically be charged for the suggested gratuity amounts for Server, Assistant Server, Head Server and Stateroom Host/Hostess. Guests can still add pre-paid gratuities at the time of booking or when making their final payments. If this isn't done, a letter will be given at check-in explaining the automatic gratuity payments. Modifications to the amount can still be made at the Guest Services Desk.

The first thing I would do on boarding is visit guest services and have these removed. I have never cruised yet and every member of staff be worth the recommended amount. Some I give more some I give less, there is no way I want to be automatically charged before I get the service.

When I first read this I wondered how you would feel about it! I completely agree with you, I like to make up my own mind when it comes to tipping and definitely don't want to pay a tip on a service that I have yet to recive!

 

[DisFanJen]

The big problem I see with automatically putting it on the account is the same problem you now get with TiW card.

Back when the TiW card was the DDP, we had to pay the gratuity on top, and if the service was bad we'd tip lower but if it was good we'd tip 18% or more on the full amount (inc tax) In fact I think the highest we tipped was 25% on top of the full bill, but they were a very, very good server.

Now the TiW includes the tip, it takes something way above and beyond for us to tip extra simply because of the hassle involved in doing so (as we never carry cash) which means rain or shine they are getting 18% based on the cost before tax.

So from a practical standpoint the amount we tip has probably lowered since it was automatically added and I can see the same happening with the tips on DCL.

Right now I need to go to the desk and sort out the payments, and while there it's easy to lower or increase the payment to an individual but now that I know that if I do nothing the slips will just appear, it'll take a special effort (or screw up) for me to take time out of my day that I didn't need to to change the amounts.

Of course I have an extra issue on my next cruise in that it's only a 3 night and I'm doing PALO on night 2 and REMY on night 3 so I need to arrange to get those slips as soon as I board to give to the servers, etc. as I'll only ever see them that one night (we always skip B'fast to get off the ship while it's quiet).

 

[DISWolves]

Another one here who will remove it on the first day.
On our last cruise we never saw the Head Server at all.

 

[cornish pixie]

They did this on the Med cruises last year after reading lots of threads it was indicated that europeans don't seem to be use to the tipping system and lot's of crew were losing out.
cornish pixie

 

[UKDEB]

The other cruise lines we've sailed with all now seem to adopt this approach and it suits me better. I like the fact that I don't have to think about it. Embark. Enjoy myself. Disembark. Sorted! Even if I disagreed in principle - and I sort of get what you're saying, but there are valid arguments on both sides - I don't want to be wasting time at guest services.

 

[wayneg]

They can't please everyone. I without doubt tip more when not told what to tip. Others prefer to be advised or have it added.
Not that it makes any difference to me just now, I can't afford Disney Cruise prices in the summer. Last August we paid $1,698.51, next Aug $2,243.86, I can cruise Royal Caribbean for about $1,000 in outside cabin, we do prefer Disney but not worth over double the cost.

 

[Disneymad]

Had a think about it and decided it doesn't bother me.

As it stands I went and did the tips on the last day and sometimes stood in a line to do so.

With the new system I only have to go to the desk if I want to remove or if someone has been exceptional, add something extra to my tips.

Worse case scenario = going to the desk exactly same as before, nothing gained or lost

Best case sceanrio = I'm happy with the default tips and I've saved some time.

 

[UKDEB]

I without doubt tip more when not told what to tip. Others prefer to be advised or have it added.

When I say I prefer to have it added, I'm not necessarily talking about tipping in general, but when I'm on a cruise ship, where everything else is all-inclusive, it just makes it easier. On our last cruise with Celebrity, we also paid up-front for the drinks package for the same reason. I'd always give the minimum suggested amount on a cruise because these people rely on it. Where we want to leave extra for "above and beyond" we just just drop cash, or add to chitties, as we go along.

 

[wayneg]

I'd always give the minimum suggested amount on a cruise because these people rely on it.

Thats where we differ Deb, I have never cruised and tipped everyone full amount, this last cruise the assistant server was not good at all, upto 30 mins from getting into the restaurant to getting a drink, past cruises have always had diet cokes sat there waiting for when we arrive once they knew what we drank. If everyone tips minimum amount for poor service they might as well go the whole way and include them in the price of the cruise. I certainly give more than recommended tip for good service but I can't get my head around tipping for poor service, they either need to up their game or leave the job.

 

[brian/melanie]

I have never been on a cruise but i would not tip, you have already payed for a service why should you pay twice,

 

[wayneg]

why should you pay twice,

You are not paying twice, service on a ship is not usually included in the price you pay upfront. The restaurant staff and cabin hosts do not get paid by the cruiseline, how it usually works is they get a minimum wage which is the taken back from them to cover accommodation, clothing & food. Their wage is then made from tips.
None of us like paying tips but the other option is include it in the price of the cruise and the cruisline pay a proper wage. Sounds good but you would probably see service go downhill overnight, the staff would do the minimum they have to and no more. Just same as tipping for a meal in Florida, the reason service is so good over there is the tipping culture, if you don't agree with it there are other types of holidays and other detinations where the staff don't rely on tips.

 

[brian/melanie]

when a company starts to give out what they think should be tip for all of the staff, then it is included in the price, what happens when the service you get is trash do you stop off on your way out to get them to take the tip off your bill, they are hoping you are going to just walk off the ship, if you want to leave a tip then leave one but I will not be told that i have to or how much,

I also do not like being told where to have my holidays i work hard enough to go where I want