Not using stateroom service

[bakerworld]

We've been on 8 DCL cruises - we've only cruised DCL - and, while we've never excluded tips, we have twice not added any more to the standard tip. On one cruise we only tipped the room steward. I forget the exact amount of the tip minimum added to the cruise cost but it's not a large amount of $. If we don't use the MDR, then I cannot see adding to their tip. We've stopped ordering wine with dinner because it can take forever for the assistant server to come with the bill (once we almost forgot and left). We have noticed on those cruises when we tipped the main server the assistant servicer didn't come for their envelope so we gave it to the 'checker' guy (as I call him). I have to say that I don't understand tipping the 'checker' for just stopping by to ask after our service and food but it is an indication of how much employees count on the tip, as well as the auto-gratuity at the bars, IMO.

 

[NAB]

We've been on 8 DCL cruises - we've only cruised DCL - and, while we've never excluded tips, we have twice not added any more to the standard tip. On one cruise we only tipped the room steward. I forget the exact amount of the tip minimum added to the cruise cost but it's not a large amount of $. If we don't use the MDR, then I cannot see adding to their tip. We've stopped ordering wine with dinner because it can take forever for the assistant server to come with the bill (once we almost forgot and left). We have noticed on those cruises when we tipped the main server the assistant servicer didn't come for their envelope so we gave it to the 'checker' guy (as I call him). I have to say that I don't understand tipping the 'checker' for just stopping by to ask after our service and food but it is an indication of how much employees count on the tip, as well as the auto-gratuity at the bars, IMO.

The checker as you call him has to handle any problem that comes up. He or she also does the seating plan for each cruise. They do stuff behind the scenes. His tip really isn’t that much over all.

I just pay the tips. We get to know our host during the week . They know your schedule and don’t bother you but I guess you want to save money. But like others said cruising is different when it comes to tips.

 

[John VN]

Yes, I am sure. Only me, so not a huge deal if I don't have it.

Not a Joke. I should still be able to choose who I tip for the services even if I go on the cruise.

Daily checks are fine as I understand that part. I may tip for the last night. Haven't decided yet.

r.e. bold -- IMO, a *may tip for the last night* should be a *will tip* simply because it is for booking and using the cabin, as an appreciation for following your request not to service and for cleaning the cabin for the next cruising occupant.

 

[DVC Deac]

This seems like an inquiry that would be better addressed directly with DCL rather than invite the criticism that comes with publicly announcing that you don’t want to tip.

That said, the automatic tips for a single passenger are a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of a cruise. The employees depend on them and, frankly, it’s not worth the hassle and stress of selectively opting out. After all, the point of a cruise is to relax.

 

[ajs123]

The OP says that ‘in her opinion, tipping would be worthless’. Please explain that to the cabin steward likely from Indonesia, Pakistan or India busting their tails for your $33.25 for a 7-day cruise providing exceptional service so that they can keep their jobs and send home money to sustain their families while being away for 4-6 months at a time. Nice.

 

[tvguy]

Is this a real question or are sitting back laughing?
If it is a real question then If you can't afford a disney cruise perhaps you could save money by looking at other cruise lines. The steward still had to prepare your room before arrival and will clean up when you leave. As others said there are also daily checks to make sure no one is sick, hurt, making a mess, destroying or stealing items, or doing somthing illegal. So you can't keep them out of your room if that's what your thinking.

Something to keep in mind that my server on my HAL cruise mentioned that they had to live with. Cruises draw an International clientele. Tipping is not customary in many parts of the world. Leaving a tip is something that would not even occur to those folks. And in some cases, a tip is an INSULT, a sign you got poor service. Our server said that just goes with the job. And added, that in reality, the base pay he gets is more than he would earn at home at Indonesia. The tips, those are what are going to allow him to retire in his 30s and never have to work again.
Not saying that is the case here, But it is not an uncommon situation on a cruise.

 

[danikoski]

Something to keep in mind that my server on my HAL cruise mentioned that they had to live with. Cruises draw an International clientele. Tipping is not customary in many parts of the world. Leaving a tip is something that would not even occur to those folks. And in some cases, a tip is an INSULT, a sign you got poor service. Our server said that just goes with the job. And added, that in reality, the base pay he gets is more than he would earn at home at Indonesia. The tips, those are what are going to allow him to retire in his 30s and never have to work again.
Not saying that is the case here, But it is not an uncommon situation on a cruise.

I believe this is why DCL has prepaid gratuities that are basically automatic. It's a lot easier just to pay the minimum then bother with guest services to remove them (not that I, personally, would do that).

 

[Girl of the South]

"And added, that in reality, the base pay he gets is more than he would earn at home at Indonesia."

No surprise there . .

"The tips, those are what are going to allow him to retire in his 30s and never have to work again."

Rent for a one bedroom outside a city center in Bali would be $600 a month. That's $7,200 a year. Retiring in his 30's (let's say 35) and living another 35 years to the age of 70, would cost (without any inflation) $252,000 not including any food or electricity or a motorbike or clothing.

So what if he DOES retire in his 30's? Good for him. Let's all get a job on the Disney Wish and then retire to Bali!

 

[SirDuff]

This is not up to you to decide. The room needs to be cleaned when you leave before the next passengers use it. There are health and safety regulations that by law must be followed, you do not get to tell the room attendant to not do their job.

Tipping is not useless and its not optional. It is part of the cruise fare, and as a solo person the $14.50 per day automatic tips is nothing, its just the price of a beer.

Actually, it is optional - you can remove any of the tips for any reason.

 

[mousefan73]

If you say you dont want service then please also dont put wet pool towels or garbage in the hall for pick up or Room service and put tray back out... as somebody is 'servicing" this convinience.

I wish all cruiselines would go the way of simply saying "hotel service charge" or like Virgin just make everything included and a tipless ship... Loooved it... sailing on a no tip ship is breathtaking made a differnce for us our enjoyement. ironically the crew on Virgin were noticably happier vs DCL where they supposidly make more on tips... did some research and so many crew from Virgin are former DCL and much happier., I guess giving your crew free wifi and allowing them to eat in upperdeck in restaurants if a table is free makes a differnce.. and ZERO tips.,

our last sailing was on the Dream/Med and we didnt event tip additional for our servers...isnt wasnt bad but also not good for additional. was our worse experience sofar...

 

[mousefan73]

Actually, it is optional - you can remove any of the tips for any reason.

The line is long sometimes the night before and often you hear I want to remove tips... Many say they prefer to tip in cash... there are people that dont want the corporate (IRS) middleman or maybe the person uses this as an excuse to save face.. who knows...

 

[dwg]

The line is long sometimes the night before and often you hear I want to remove tips... Many say they prefer to tip in cash... there are people that dont want the corporate (IRS) middleman or maybe the person uses this as an excuse to save face.. who knows...

This from Princess Cruises:

Will I have to pay taxes?

US citizens will have federal taxes automatically deducted and may be required to pay state taxes, if applicable. All other nationalities are responsible for filing their own tax forms upon returning to their home countries (as they are self-employed).

Most of the ship crew ia from other nationalities.

I personally prefer to go to guest services to increase the amount of tips I give to my assigned room steward and wait staff. I can usually tell within a day or two how I feel about the staff that I tip so I do not wait until near the end of the cruise to adjust my tips. Changing the tip amount electronically makes the process easier for me as I know the staff will get the tips regardless if I see them on the last night or not. I just wait for a time when there is little or no line for guest services.

Her is a good overview of cruise tipping. https://www.cntraveler.com/story/cr... prefer to,the ship's stated onboard currency.

 

[lanejudy]

there are people that dont want the corporate (IRS) middleman

Do you mean the US Internal Revenue Service? I can’t think of a scenario where the IRS would have anything to do with whether a passenger pays tips to a stateroom host on a vacation cruise. Maybe if the cruise was considered a business expense but the number of guests writing off their DCL cruise as a business expense must be minimal.

 

[mousefan73]

Do you mean the US Internal Revenue Service? I can’t think of a scenario where the IRS would have anything to do with whether a passenger pays tips to a stateroom host on a vacation cruise. Maybe if the cruise was considered a business expense but the number of guests writing off their DCL cruise as a business expense must be minimal.

No there are many simply with the mentality that Cash under table is always best as then the "Corporate big guys" or "Tax man" have no say or cant take their share. And some simply like the idea of having no paper trail for the person receiving the tip.

I was NOT referring to the passenger and their taxes, but the recepient. Kinda like many people use their cards to pay for dinner but tip in cash...

 

[bakerworld]

The checker as you call him has to handle any problem that comes up. He or she also does the seating plan for each cruise. They do stuff behind the scenes. His tip really isn’t that much over all.

I just pay the tips. We get to know our host during the week . They know your schedule and don’t bother you but I guess you want to save money. But like others said cruising is different when it comes to tips.

We see additional tipping as our critique of the service received. Maybe if we took longer cruises, or longer vacations in general, we'd feel differently but I don't like to be away from home longer than a week which limits our cruises to 4D. I have to admit we only get chummy with the bar crew. We don't complain, ask for extra, etc. The only time in 8 cruises I've used the customer service desk was to figure out why the onboard 'chat' function wasn't working.

 

[lukemorenus]

My conscience would not allow me to deny someone the opportunity to earn a living

 

[tvguy]

I wish all cruiselines would go the way of simply saying "hotel service charge" or like Virgin just make everything included and a tipless ship... Loooved it... sailing on a no tip ship is breathtaking made a differnce for us our enjoyement. ironically the crew on Virgin were noticably happier vs DCL where they supposidly make more on tips... did some research and so many crew from Virgin are former DCL and much happier., I guess giving your crew free wifi and allowing them to eat in upperdeck in restaurants if a table is free makes a differnce.. and ZERO tips.,

First time I cruised HAL in 2002 their official policy was "No tip is required or expected as we choose to pay our staff higher wages than other cruise lines". But we tipped anyway. When we sailed HAL in 2012, they had switched to a tipping system. One thing to remember, again, these jobs on ships are highly sought after because the base pay BEFORE tips is often more than these people could make at home. The tips, allow them to save a lot of money and retire early. We can't compare their wages to Western pay standards.

 

[RedHead0186]

Maybe if the cruise was considered a business expense but the number of guests writing off their DCL cruise as a business expense must be minimal.

Man I wish I could figure out a way to write off my DCL cruises as a business expense!

 

[princesscinderella]

Man I wish I could figure out a way to write off my DCL cruises as a business expense!

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As far as the OP it is totally not acceptable to withhold a tip from their stateroom attendant, even if they don't want them regularly servicing their room during the cruise.

 

[Anna131517]

Yes, I am sure. Only me, so not a huge deal if I don't have it.

Not a Joke. I should still be able to choose who I tip for the services even if I go on the cruise.

Daily checks are fine as I understand that part. I may tip for the last night. Haven't decided yet.

You should budget for gratuities before you book. The people working on the ship work extremely long hours for very low pay. You’re splurging on a cruise. If you want to save money then cut back on something for you, not something for them.