PrePaid gratuities

[Kalypso]

We prepaid our gratuities for our cruise on 9/30 - has anyone else ever done this? Are the servers aware that you have done this? We will probably give everyone a little extra something anyway...but - LOL - I don't want them to think we're cheap if we don't leave the same amount we alread "prepaid"....

 

[jellybungsters]

Prepaid means the gratuities are part of the price you paid for the cruise. You will get receipts during your next to last evening that you place in an envelope and give to your stateroom host and dining room servers. The gratuity amounts are the ones recommended by DCL. You will not be thought of as "cheap" if you just use these amounts. I've heard from some of the staff that some guests do not leave gratuities at all. The staff will actually be happy that their gratuities are already prepaid. Of course, you can still add something extra in the envelope. If you run out of cash, you can buy gratuity receipts at guest services and charge it to your shipboard account.

 

[wayneg]

Disney automatically added gratuities to our next cruise so I rang them to have them removed. I know chances are service will be excellent but what if poor service?
In the UK tipping is not part of our culture so service has to be outstanding(as it was on the Wonder last Oct) for me to tip.
Wayne

 

[MickeyzGirl]

We have friends in Australia who said the same about tipping. I explained to them that in the US, resturant servers & bartenders are only paid $2.50 an hour (if that). They earn their salaries from tips. The same is true of the servers on DCL. I was told by NON cast member that the servers are only paid $50 total per cruise by Disney. They earn their salaries from our tips. Of course if someone gives you bad service, then don't tip or tip very little. It sends a stern message.

 

[hopelea]

I thought I remember our assist. server, Lisa telling us that if we charge the tips, they have to wait a few days before they recieve them. If we give them cash it would be in their hands.

Is that correct? If that is correct, then I am going to pay in cash.
If I DON'T go to GS and tell them that I am tipping in cash will they charge the standard tips to my room??

 

[jweiss]

We ate in the dining room the first night and were VERY disap-pointed. We tried again the 2nd night, and did not return again. Our servers were fine, but far from exceptional. They were VERY slow (one hour till dinner was served) and did not accomodate the baby (six months) AT ALL. The head server called the state room daily to see if everything was okay, left messages, but never left a message that I could call him back at!!! Should we have left the recommended tips??? In retrospect, I should have tipped the servers in Topsiders who were AWESOME.

 

[jellybungsters]

jweiss,
Did you try telling the servers to speed up the meals? We have a 4 year old who cannot wait through the process of serving the bread and appetizers before the main course. We told the servers to prepare his meal right away and it was ready in less than 5 minutes.

 

[pppiglet]

How do you tell if they automatically added the gratuities to your cruise price? Would it be broken down on the cruise confirmation if they did?

 

[wayneg]

This is copied from my confirmation email
sail date: October 9, 2004
ship: Disney Magic
package: 7 nights on the Western Caribbean
price: Guest 1 $1,076.02 (prices include gratuities, taxes and fare)
Guest 2 1,076.02
Guest 3 526.02
-----------------------
Total $2,678.06
- 750.00 deposit applied
-----------------------
$1,928.06 outstanding balance due on 08-10-04
Clearly states gratuities included so I rang them and the removed $228.75
Wayne

 

[Kalypso]

Thanks! That definitely clears it up

I spent MANY years in the restaurant industry and I worked HARD for my tips! And YES, it is EXACTLY how we made our bread and butter, if you'll pardon the pun! Paychecks? What paychecks? By the time you're finished "declaring" your tips for taxes? There IS no paycheck!

And I tipped anyway when I was visiting in the UK...even when they didn't provide a space for it on my VISA receipt - we would leave cash.

 

[wayneg]

I have lived in UK all my life (37years) dine out quite often but never seen space on VISA receipt for tips. I know the restaurant industry is not the best paid job in the world but they still have to be paid minimum wage of around $9/hour.
I do tip when in US because the service is generally a lot better.
We tend to pay more for our meals, less staff to serve them so poorer service then less inclined to tip.
I think your system is a lot better.
Wayne

 

[Kalypso]

Hate to tell you this, Wayne, but servers in the U.S. do NOT make minimum wage - at least not when I waited on tables - they are not required by law to pay servers minimum wage because of the tips.

And as I stated, I left my tips in cash. I agree that you should tip when deserved...

 

[kellib36]

We always go to guest services and pay the recommended amount, but if I've gotten great service, I tip an extra amount in cash.

I've heard since most servers aren't US citizens, the tax issue doesn't always apply, but I figure the govt probably expects they get the minimum, so any extra I tip in cash.

 

[kellib36]

We always go to guest services and pay the recommended amount, but if I've gotten great service, I tip an extra amount in cash.

I've heard since most servers aren't US citizens, the tax issue doesn't always apply, but I figure the govt probably expects they get the minimum, so any extra I tip in cash.

 

[TDC Nala]

I can't imagine paying gratuities BEFORE I see what the service is like.

 

[hopelea]

I went to GS on Thursday to charge my tips. I put a little extra in the servers that deserved it. I didn't want to wait until the end, didn't want the long lines!

Guess I will charge them again!!!

 

[kcashner]

I was told by a CM that when we charge tips, the CM receives a check from DCL every 2 weeks for the total of the charged tips (they have the receipts from the guests, so they can verify the amount.) Obviously, if you give cash, they get it right away. It is somewhat easier/safer for them to keep track of the check, and many are sending the money home to support families there--with cash, you have the issue of losing it, etc.

The person I spoke with said it really didn't make a difference to them either way--the do get the full tip from DCL (no holding back an amount for handling or anything.) They do get an accounting of all monies paid to them by DCL, but it is then up to them to report it if necessary in their home country.

All that said, we usually charge the recommended amount, then add some cash to the envelope.

 

[tvguy]

Originally posted by MickeyzGirl
We have friends in Australia who said the same about tipping. I explained to them that in the US, resturant servers & bartenders are only paid $2.50 an hour (if that). .

I know Texas as a special sub-minimum wage for people who get tips, I didn't think many other states did.
Here in California, those who get tips are paid minimum wage, which is $6.75 an hour, more than the $5.15 federal minimum, but not much. Some local areas in California have "Living Wage" laws, there they get a minimum of $10.75 an hour if they get health benefits, and $11.50 an hour if they don't.
Cruise ships, however, unless they stop in US ports only, are exempt from minimum wage laws. And while $50 a week, $200 a MONTH seems almost insulting to us, that's more than the ANNUAL average pay in many of the nations these crewmembers are from.
We went to Alaska on HAL's Amsterdam and our server said he has been there 3 years, and after another 3 years he would have saved enough to retire comfortably in Indonesia. He said it was tough being away from his wife, but they were putting off having kids until he retired. If all goes according to plan, he will retire at age 28!!!!

And then there's the current mess NCL has with the Pride Of Aloha. It has an all American wait staff, and gratuites are automatically added to the bill. There is no incentive for good servce, and I gather that American wait staff in the cruise industry have a reputation as being the worst in the world.
NCL is having to refund not only gratuities to passengers, but part of their fares because things have been so bad.

 

[wayneg]

Kalypso
You did not understand my message. The Minimum wage is for UK workers. I know it's not a fortune but if a worker is getting $9 (UK) and one is getting $2.50 (US) I believe the lower paid worker will try to please and work harder for the tips. The lower paid worker will probably take home more pay.
That is why you have I think you have a better system in US.
Wayne

 

[Kalypso]

Good point tvguy!

I waited tables in Connecticut - not here in California - we were paid sub-minimum in Connecticut at that time.

I know what people are saying, however...there are times when I've dined in restaurants where there is an "automatic" gratuity added to the bill? and sometimes service can be sub-par...the other thing that REALLY cheese me off? When I order room service while traveling on business? And they charge a "delivery fee" but still expect me to tip on TOP of that...so a pot of coffee in NYC ended up costing about twenty bucks once - LOL.