Not a fan of the automatic tip charging.

[Cavepaint]

Just got off the Fantasy where they automatically charged the "recommended" tips to our stateroom for the servers and stateroom host. When did this start? While we are very good tippers I REALLY didn't like the liberty taken to just charge us automatically. That's not so much a tip as a service charge. Yes it can be changed but it's a hassle.

Do other cruise lines do this?

 

[FriendOfFanatic]

I had it first on our Magic 2011 September cruise. There were rumors that the Magic had some problems with non-tipping on the 2011 Med cruises.

 

[Cari2109]

I took a Carnival cruise a few years ago and that is how they handled their tips.

 

[NWOhioAngela]

Do other cruise lines do this?

a majority do

 

[jilljill]

The change was made to the Fantasy and the Wonder sometime the middle to the end of April. The Magic has been doing it since summer 2011. Not sure if the Dream is doing this or not.

Did you receive a paper at check in letting you know about the auto-charge to your account?

Many cruise lines do this.

 

[Cavepaint]

a majority do

I guess things have changed since my last cruise. Well, I still don't like it

 

[sambycat]

You can go to guest services upon boarding and change it. I think it's one less thing and hopefully it will help some forgetful guests to remember to tip


That said, I really wish they would just pay the CMs and just make tipping like in a regular hotel situation.

 

[CrusingFamily4]

I will be going to guest services to have it removed on our first day of the cruise. I appreciate why they are doing this, but as someone who tips based on service... I have issues with the tip being "automatic". We usually tip very well, and above what is recommended due to the fact that we have 2 young children. (We understand they are a little more work than adults). However, on one of our cruises we had 1 individual who we only saw once for 2 minutes with a robotic speech that he made to all of the tables. I have never been on a disney cruise, and based on previous postings... I have a feeling we will be tipping a ton due to the fact that it sounds like the staff go above and beyond! I feel that the amount I tip is my decision (I understand I can always add more to what they charge on my account) but if I have issues with one individual, I do not want to go to guest services and have that amount reduced. 2 reasons- I do not want to feel like I am cheap (when in reality we are truly good tippers) and I also do not want to have to explain why this person does not get the recommended amount. I do not want to get anyone in trouble, and we will just acknowledge that with a little less in tips. If we get horrible service at a restaurant, we do not tip 15-20%. If the service is great and they go above and beyond, then we tip closer to 20% The same will hold true for Disney. Feel free to flame if you must, but I do not feel this is unreasonable.

 

[Buckeye218]

Feel free to flame if you must, but I do not feel this is unreasonable.

We will be doing the exact same thing. I already have money set aside for the tips, with a little extra built in should we receive extraordinary service.

 

[m&m's mom]

I will be going to guest services to have it removed on our first day of the cruise. I appreciate why they are doing this, but as someone who tips based on service... I have issues with the tip being "automatic". We usually tip very well, and above what is recommended due to the fact that we have 2 young children. (We understand they are a little more work than adults). However, on one of our cruises we had 1 individual who we only saw once for 2 minutes with a robotic speech that he made to all of the tables. I have never been on a disney cruise, and based on previous postings... I have a feeling we will be tipping a ton due to the fact that it sounds like the staff go above and beyond! I feel that the amount I tip is my decision (I understand I can always add more to what they charge on my account) but if I have issues with one individual, I do not want to go to guest services and have that amount reduced. 2 reasons- I do not want to feel like I am cheap (when in reality we are truly good tippers) and I also do not want to have to explain why this person does not get the recommended amount. I do not want to get anyone in trouble, and we will just acknowledge that with a little less in tips. If we get horrible service at a restaurant, we do not tip 15-20%. If the service is great and they go above and beyond, then we tip closer to 20% The same will hold true for Disney. Feel free to flame if you must, but I do not feel this is unreasonable.

I don't understand your point in removing them 1st day. Your dining room servers and room steward are not going to know you did this and treat you any differently.
Even if you manage to take them off, you still have to go to GS to put whatever amount back on and they will probably ask you why it's less- if it is. You have not accomplished anything except cause yourself extra time and the GS person who has to remove and add.
I gotta be honest, I think you are overreacting.
ETA- if your cruise was not exactly the bliss you expected, are you going to ask for a partial refund? It seems like the same logic.
Also, please don't take people disagreeing with you as flaming.

 

[skeeter31]

I will be going to guest services to have it removed on our first day of the cruise. I appreciate why they are doing this, but as someone who tips based on service... I have issues with the tip being "automatic". We usually tip very well, and above what is recommended due to the fact that we have 2 young children. (We understand they are a little more work than adults). However, on one of our cruises we had 1 individual who we only saw once for 2 minutes with a robotic speech that he made to all of the tables. I have never been on a disney cruise, and based on previous postings... I have a feeling we will be tipping a ton due to the fact that it sounds like the staff go above and beyond! I feel that the amount I tip is my decision (I understand I can always add more to what they charge on my account) but if I have issues with one individual, I do not want to go to guest services and have that amount reduced. 2 reasons- I do not want to feel like I am cheap (when in reality we are truly good tippers) and I also do not want to have to explain why this person does not get the recommended amount. I do not want to get anyone in trouble, and we will just acknowledge that with a little less in tips. If we get horrible service at a restaurant, we do not tip 15-20%. If the service is great and they go above and beyond, then we tip closer to 20% The same will hold true for Disney. Feel free to flame if you must, but I do not feel this is unreasonable.

Unfortunately, on a cruise, it's not so much tipping as it is a service charge. This is how the CM's that serve you and clean your room earn their salary. They are taking care of you for the length of your vacation, and are getting paid relatively little to do what they are doing. Not to mention the fact that they are away from their families, living on a ship. I don't think it should be left up to the guest's discretion to tip and I, for one, am glad that it is now immediately taken from my account. Not to mention I can still tip well and above the amount that's taken out if I deem fit. I don't think the 4 people that you are responsible to tip should receive anything less than what is "recommended."

 

[kcashner]

As above, this was started in 2011 on the Magic due to issues of guests not tipping on the Med. It was expanded to all ships about a month ago. Guests are notified of the procedure with a letter in the stateroom (we got ours on the first night).

You do have to ability to go to GS and remove the automatic tipping as well as to increase or decrease the amount. You can also increase it by leaving the automatic in place but add some cash to the envelopes. The servers do not know whether you have altered the automatic until the last night, so it has no influence on the service you will receive.

I believe that I have only tipped less than the "suggested" amount once on a DCL cruise as the service we receive ranges from above average to fantastic. Thus, I let the automatic stand and adjust it on the second to last day-just take the tickets you get in your stateroom to GS. You will complete a form indicating the amounts you wish to apply to your account.

I don't find that it makes any difference. We've done several Magic cruises with the automatic and now one on the Fantasy. If it matters to you, you are still fully in control of the tips.

 

[sissy_ib]

I will be going to guest services to have it removed on our first day of the cruise. I appreciate why they are doing this, but as someone who tips based on service... I have issues with the tip being "automatic". We usually tip very well, and above what is recommended due to the fact that we have 2 young children. (We understand they are a little more work than adults). However, on one of our cruises we had 1 individual who we only saw once for 2 minutes with a robotic speech that he made to all of the tables. I have never been on a disney cruise, and based on previous postings... I have a feeling we will be tipping a ton due to the fact that it sounds like the staff go above and beyond! I feel that the amount I tip is my decision (I understand I can always add more to what they charge on my account) but if I have issues with one individual, I do not want to go to guest services and have that amount reduced. 2 reasons- I do not want to feel like I am cheap (when in reality we are truly good tippers) and I also do not want to have to explain why this person does not get the recommended amount. I do not want to get anyone in trouble, and we will just acknowledge that with a little less in tips. If we get horrible service at a restaurant, we do not tip 15-20%. If the service is great and they go above and beyond, then we tip closer to 20% The same will hold true for Disney. Feel free to flame if you must, but I do not feel this is unreasonable.

Honestly, just tipping less and not addressing the problem is the worst thing you can do. Bringing up an issue does not automatically get someone in trouble. It will probably get them re-training. Most people need that now and then no matter what you do for a living. Bringing up small things before they become big problems is good for everyone especially the CM you are, for lack of a better word, reporting.

 

[danfromca]

Honestly, just tipping less and not addressing the problem is the worst thing you can do. Bringing up an issue does not automatically get someone in trouble. It will probably get them re-training. Most people need that now and then no matter what you do for a living. Bringing up small things before they become big problems is good for everyone especially the CM you are, for lack of a better word, reporting.

This is actually really important. You absolutely should bring issues to their attention.

A couple of cruises back I was traveling with some first timers, and our assistant waiter just wasn't with it. She wasn't very friendly and was always frowning.
At the end of the first meal I found the head waiter, and stressed that it wasn't that she was bad in terms of the quality of service or anything - but she just wasn't up to the standard we knew they were striving for.
The next two nights (short cruise) you could tell she was really making an effort. Sure, I knew why - but the people I was traveling with didn't - so they got to experience more of what we had come to expect.

I did end up giving her the full tip. I respect someone who shows improvement and makes the effort.

 

[The Rainbow]

As above, this was started in 2011 on the Magic due to issues of guests not tipping on the Med. It was expanded to all ships about a month ago. Guests are notified of the procedure with a letter in the stateroom (we got ours on the first night).

You do have to ability to go to GS and remove the automatic tipping as well as to increase or decrease the amount. You can also increase it by leaving the automatic in place but add some cash to the envelopes. The servers do not know whether you have altered the automatic until the last night, so it has no influence on the service you will receive.

I believe that I have only tipped less than the "suggested" amount once on a DCL cruise as the service we receive ranges from above average to fantastic. Thus, I let the automatic stand and adjust it on the second to last day-just take the tickets you get in your stateroom to GS. You will complete a form indicating the amounts you wish to apply to your account.

I don't find that it makes any difference. We've done several Magic cruises with the automatic and now one on the Fantasy. If it matters to you, you are still fully in control of the tips.

I am a newbie to this forum, but I am thinking about going on a Med cruise next year. I wonder why they had problems with the tipping during their last Med cruises. Because of the non-tipping history of some Europeans? What do you think?

 

[darkwing818]

Clearly there are differing opinions on this subject, but we like the new process. It's just one less thing to worry about, and if there was an issue or something exceptional we could always adjust accordingly up or down.

 

[Madhattr]

The reason to do this on the first day is the fact that as the week progresses Guest Services really gets more and more busy. PLUS they are dependent upon decent satellite computer service which can be spotty. Best to just get it over with. We have always tipped more and in most cases for the server and stateroom host almost double the recommendation. If this is how they want to do it, fine. I'll just roll with what they charge and in fact just prepay. This really peeved me when I found out about it at the terminal.

 

[sissy_ib]

I am a newbie to this forum, but I am thinking about going on a Med cruise next year. I wonder why they had problems with the tipping during their last Med cruises. Because of the non-tipping history of some Europeans? What do you think?

Yes. There were many Europeans on those cruises. The tipping culture is so different in America than the rest of the world. Some places it is considered rude to tip. In Japan if you left a tip the server may not even know why you gave extra money.

 

[CrusingFamily4]

Valid point! I will admit that I need to get better about bringing issues to others attention. Although I am under the impression that this should truly be a moot point as the majority of the staff of DCL are amazing.

To the previous posters, we would not be adjusting our amounts at Guest Services during the cruise. We have more than double the recommended amount already saved up in our US account. (We are Canadians). At the end of the cruise, we plan to put cash vs. a ticket into the envelopes. This is what works well for my family.

 

[The Rainbow]

Yes. There were many Europeans on those cruises. The tipping culture is so different in America than the rest of the world. Some places it is considered rude to tip. In Japan if you left a tip the server may not even know why you gave extra money.

Oh, okay. In this case I would say it is absolutly necessary to do the tipping automatically. The CM's need to get their money, right? And I know the other cruise lines do it this way too. I know it is not the right thread, but is it nice to travel with Europeans?