Probobly the Wierdest Question Yet!

[dcbrown]

So...do not think I am wierd ...but for my own reasons I was considering not eating in the dining rooms for the whole cruise (GASP!) If I did this would I still need to tip the waitstaff? ( I know..... it sounds appalling and how could I?)
Thanks for your input!!

DCBrown

 

[UGAFan0829]

I think there must be other people who do this. I say that because on our 3 night cruise we had NO ONE else at our table for 8. It was just myself and the DH...which I was a little saddened by, because I was looking forward to meeting some nice people. Anyway, we did skip dinner one night that we were there simply because I had a migraine...so we went up to Plutos and grabbed a quick bite. I did tip the servers just as we had been there all 3 nights. I feel like you should even if you don't eat in the restaurants simply because they seem to depend on those tips....others may feel differently about that, but it's just MHO!!

 

[DrCavin]

Someone asked a similar question recently. You will get various responses on if you should tip or not.

 

[mommasita]

There recently was a post very similar to this one. I would agree with the poster above for the tipping part. The staff is relying on your tips, (as well as everyone elses) to make their living.

One suggestion was made, that seemed sensible. If you are certain you will never dine in the dining rooms, ask that they assign your table to another family, and the tips will be their responsibility. This way, your table is given away, so you must be certain you have no interest to dine there.

Not a weird question, just different!! I love the whole atmosphere of dining every night, but that is a personal opinion. There is the buffet as well as palos to eat from, so it would not be a neccesity...

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

My understanding is that the waitstaff's tips are designed to include breakfast and lunch as well as dinner. The same people staff the dining rooms and buffet for these meals, in addition to the Castaway Cay eateries. Unless you eat only room service, Palo, and at the "fast food" places like Pluto's and Pinocchio's (or while in port), I'd say that you should tip the waitstaff.

On a 7-night cruise, we usually miss dinner in the dining rooms at least twice, but still pay the full tip.

 

[BowlingAriel]

We had a RCCL 7 day where we ate in the Dining room the first nite - Our server was HORRIBLE. Gave him another chance and went the 2nd nite. DIdn't get better. So we ate else where for the remainder of the cruise. I only tipped him for the 2 nites we ate there, enclosed a note and gave his tip to the Pursers desk.

I would think that you wouldn't have to tip - maybe call DCL and asked the question.

 

[BluOrchid2]

with all the viruses going around, I think dining in your room might be a good idea!

 

[dcbrown]

Thnks to everyone for responding to my "wierd" question!

DCBrown

 

[Hans Solo]

I wouldn't label this a "weird" question. I would call it unique!!. Since we will be sailing on RCCL this year which has several dining room alternatives, I'm sure we'll miss the main dining room on several nights. We'll be in a similar situation because we'll be tipping in the other dinning rooms. I will have to post the same question on the Cruise Critic board and see what kind responses I get there.

By the way, where's your countdown timer???

 

[kpgclark]

I think you still need to tip. The same people will be serving you other meals as well as on Castaway Cay. When you tip your servers it is for much more than just your dinner meal.

 

[allears]

I think you still need to tip. The same people will be serving you other meals as well as on Castaway Cay. When you tip your servers it is for much more than just your dinner meal.

You of course shouldn't feel weird about your question, everyone has their own experience in mind. However, I think the previous poster put it best. You really on tip your dinner serving team, and the folks in Palo. Though I have read that some also tip the folks that may serve them at a sit down lunch or breakfast as they go, generally you don't tip anyone else. And the serving teams are the ones that take care of you at the buffets, the fast food outlets etc. You could either tip as you go or go ahead and ask someone at guest services and see what their advice is.

 

[poconoboatniks]

Hi DCBrown,

I can't believe that you guys will not be enjoying the dining rooms! I guess that will give Em more time for the family contests. Kate and Em tried so hard to get picked. They had such a good time.

Say hi to the girls for us.

Poconoboatniks

 

[dcbrown]

Hey Hans,
Nice to see you are alive and well!!! OK, so I am unique not weird...I'll go along with that!! Our travel situation is different this year...so poses the dilemma! I will figure it out. Nice to hear from you....are you going to the Super Bowl?
DCBrown

 

[dcbrown]

Hey Ms. Boatniks,

Glad you are also alive and well...Em and I were just searching on my old Emails last night for Kates address...we couldn't find it....so perhaps she still has ours...I am trying to hook her up with some friends for this next cruise, although we are travelling with my 2 nieces. Good to hear from you....and I am jealous that you are doing the California thing!!

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

I'm not sure of the tax situation on a ship: But if it were a server in the U.S. the IRS would see the policy for tipping and assume that the server would have been tipped from X amount of people and therefore be taxed on X amount of dollars. When you do not tip a server you not only deny them of the money, but it also cost them more because they routinely will have to pay tax on a tip that was never received generally it is 8% of the check.
In effect by not tipping you have now made the server pay to serve you.
Not to mention the fact that when you tip a server they will then take your tip and tip the busser, the food runner, the bar staff and sometimes even the host with that money. I know it's not the same as on the ship , but $20.00 a day seems very reasonable for all the services you will receive.

 

[lbgraves]

I agree that if you know that you will not be in the dining rooms you need to alert the manager at the Palo resi location so that they can use the table for another family...especially if you are in early seating.