Question about Tips........

[BALAMAV]

I know I have seen the answer to this question before but can someone redirect me to an old thread or answer as best as possible. Who do you tip on board everyone you should tip. This is our first cruise on any ship. I don't want to forget anyone. How much do you tip each one. Then how do they get their money do you give it to them directly with cash or do you put it on your room card and they will divide it. Should we take cash for the tips. I know lots of questions. I booked 8 staterooms for 25 people in May and none of us have been on a cruise before so I need to let everyone know what they need to tip Thanks

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

Here's a link to the DCL webpage's tipping guidelines. Basically, you tip your server, assistant server, head server and room steward. The link above gives suggested amounts for each. It works out to about $11/day per person. You can charge these tips to your room account, and you'll be given a card and envelope for each person. We usually give these to the dining room staff on the last night, or on the final morning, if we eat at Palo or somewhere else on Friday night.

You could bring cash to tip room service, although I think they'll now give you a receipt which you can use to add a tip to be charged to your room account. At the bars, they'll automatically add 15%, and you can add more when you sign your bill, if you'd like.

On the web page, it also lists a tip for the dining manager "at your discretion." You really only need to tip this person if they've done something for you, such as change your dining rotation, table, or seating.

 

[jrabbit]

Remember the DCL suggested tips are PER PERSON - age 1mo to 100 years old. The waitstaff and room stewards don't really get any sort of salary from DCL so any money they earn is from tips. We always have tipped the "Head Server" the recommened amount even though they have done litte for us beyond comming to our table and saying "hi, if you have any problems be sure to see me". I would not worry about bringing cash for the tips, you can charge them to your room at guest services and give you the receipts to give to the tipees. (Note: your room steward services your room for the entire trip, so you don't have to worry about tipping different people each day).

Who you will need cash for are the porters at Port Canaveral for when you arrive and leave. They are most helpful and they are also working for tips. I don't remember what the "usual and customary" tips are per bag, but we usually give a couple of bucks per bag when we leave because we catch a shuttle way, way out in the outer parking lot, and can't help as many people, so they have fewer tip opportunities.

Other potiential tipees are the childrens councelors, spa workers, room service, the piano players in the bars (and Off-Beat -- you go Fidelio). These people you would have to tip with something "tangable" (ie. cash, phone cards, gift cards, etc) because guest services is not equiped to distribute tips to these people.

Lastly, most people working off of the ship on excursions would really appreciate a tip because that too is how they make their living. Obviously you will need cash for this. Don't worry about chaning your currency because they like american money just fine.

 

[BALAMAV]

OK tell me if this is right. 2 adults and 2 kids. 3 day cruise $44 for dining server $11 per person. $ 32 for *** server, $8 per person. $11 head dining server, $2.75 per person. 43 for room person, $10.75 per person. I think that the 15% on bar bills might not be a good idea what if the server is not nice or attentive. You are stuck giving that person money for a bad job. I hope not. Would you say 2 dollars a bag for people who carry or take care of your bags. I just don't want to forget anyone. I didn't know that some employees did not receive a salary. Not quite fair. I receive tips at work. But I get a salary ( I don't live on the tips they are a perk. ) But some people just don't tip. Wether they are cheap or they think that they get a salary, and tips are a perk. That has got to be very hard for people who rely on them. Well thanks for the TIPS.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

BALAMAV,

Your amounts for the cruise staff seem correct, based on the suggested amount. Many add a bit to this, as the service is usually very good. We usually charge the suggested amount to our room early in the cruise, and then add to this with cash, if we feel it's warranted. We also usually throw in a prepaid calling card, too. These are apparently very popular with the crew.

The 15% "auto-gratuity" for bar service is pretty much standard in the industry. Incidentally, this money is pooled and divided between all of the bartenders and servers. Some work at "service" bars where they cannot get tips. If you add anything extra to the bill, that tip goes directly to the person who served you.

Much has been said about the low salaries and the crew members relying on tips; they do get a small base salaray, but most if their income is derived from tips. This again is standard in the cruise industry. Everyone has their own opinion as to whether or not this is fair, but it should not come as a surprise to anyone who takes a job on a cruise ship.

 

[BALAMAV]

Well thank you very much for the info. I do feel better about the 15% bar charge I am glad they pool the tips then everyone gets an equal amount. So If we really like the bar service and we want them to have extra should we give them cash or charge it. Also one more question. If you give them a calling card do you give that to them in place of the tips for the week or extra on top of that.

 

[ThreeCircles]

Originally posted by BALAMAV
If you give them a calling card do you give that to them in place of the tips for the week or extra on top of that.

If you do want to give a calling card as a tip, and there is much debate as to whether or not this is something worthwhile, it should be done in *addition* to the regular cash tip, not as a substitution for.

As was stated in the earlier posts, the crew depends on tips for the majority of their wage. Would you want your employer to pay your weekly wages in Wal-Mart Phone Cards?

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Would you want your employer to pay your weekly wages in Wal-Mart Phone Cards?

Geez ThreeCircles, after taxes all I'd probably have is a rotary connection for a push-button menu...

 

[BALAMAV]

I am real sorry if these question sound dumb. But I just want to make sure we do the right tipping. Point taken about the calling cards.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

I'm unfamiliar with any debate at all as to whether a calling card is worthwhile. We give them out to a bunch of people at the end of each cruise, and they all seem to genuinely appreciate them. Most everyone is from overseas and this gives them an inexpensive way to keep in touch with family and friends. We get a pack of 12 MCI prepaid cards at Costco before we go. If you go this route, make sure the cards you get can be used for international calls.

We always give these just as another way to say thank you for helping to make our cruise enjoyable. It's never in lieu of a tip. We'll give these to people we've tipped all week, such as bartenders or our Palo servers, in addition to the wait staff and room steward.

Regarding the extra tip at the bars, you add this to your check. Each time you order drinks, they'll take your room key to charge the order to your account. You'll get a check to sign. The auto-gratuity is included, but there is a space to add an additional tip on the check, much like the credit card slip you get at restaurants. You can add a tip here or leave it blank, at your discretion.

Remember, the only dumb questions are the ones never asked. Enjoy your cruise!

 

[ivanova]

I've also heard that another option besides phone cards is gift cards from Walmart, Target, etc.

 

[ThreeCircles]

Originally posted by BALAMAV
I am real sorry if these question sound dumb. But I just want to make sure we do the right tipping. Point taken about the calling cards.

Balamav--

I apologize if I came across wrong. In no way did I mean to sound as if the questions you asked were "dumb" in any way!

 

[ThreeCircles]

Originally posted by Lloyd Dobler
I'm unfamiliar with any debate at all as to whether a calling card is worthwhile.

I've seen the threads pop up every once in a while. Many people believe that the calling cards and gift certificates are a great little extra gift to give. Others think the same amount in cash would be more appreciated.

I tend to agree with the latter. The way I see it, the Cast Members probably hands-down like cash better than anything. Instead of a $20 calling card, throw in an extra $20 bill and a nice card. If they want to buy a calling card at any of the ports, they have that option. Otherwise, you're assuming that the calling cards will be useful to them, when in fact they might not.

For example, what if a Head Server receives $20 in calling cards from each of his three to four tables on each dining rotation. By the end of the cruise, that’s $160 in calling cards! I'm sure the CMs like to stay in touch with those at home, but I HIGHLY doubt they're going to be spending $160 in calls in a week!

To make matters even more interesting, say that the CM has a cell phone! Or really doesn't call home that often! (I know the two do indeed happen. In fact, during my cruise in May I noticed a LARGE number of CMs using cell phones during their time off near the CM pool.)

However, if each of those parties tipped an extra $20, the CM could buy $60 in calling cards him/herself and do with the other $100 as he/she wishes!

I've also noticed that many of the CMs that I've spoken with over my three cruises like to send as much money as possible back to family at home. In fact, one of the alluring features of working in the industry is the fact that there is little personal expense incurred.

I know the above example is exaggerated but I'm just making a point. I think, more than anything, the Cast of Disney Cruise Lines deserves the best rewards that one can bestow as they go out of their way to make each person's vacation a great one. I would want to give them tips that afford them the most versatility and freedom, and that, as always, would be liquid cash!

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

My point was that the cards were a nice extra. I did not mean to use them in lieu of the traditional tip. The reaction we generally get is, "Great! I'm going to call home tomorrow."

I'm not going to walk around the ship on the last night handing out $20 bills....

 

[ivanova]

I understand both sides of the issue ... I can understand that the positions that live on tips (servers, cabin stewards) might appreciate a larger monetary tip (either in the cash envelope or charged to your room) versus the phone/gift cards ... but I'm thinking the phone cards & gift cards would be great for the CMs that are not typically tipped, like Youth Counselors.

 

[Grumbo]

Perhaps I'm wrong (Happens quite often.. Just ask my wife) but I think the additional $10 or $20, on TOP of what you regularly would have tipped would be more appreciated, as Three Circles states, than a gift certificate or phone card.
Guess alot of it goes back to the situation that exists when purchasing say a wedding or a graduation gift. Many people prefer to give a "personal" gift and feel cash is not the same and is impersonal, whereas cash does give you the option to buy/purchase, or use the money for exactly what you want.
Sure there is no "correct" answer to this but I too have seen the occassional thread referring to this also.
I think I will opt for the cash, with the knowledge that the CM can use it for whatever THEY would like.
Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[SlyHubby]

I've also heard that another option besides phone cards is gift cards from Walmart, Target, etc

WHY? Much of the crew is on the ship for 6 straight months and many do not even get off the ship ever when it is docked in Port Canaveral. How are they going to get to Walmart or Target? You give them a $10 card for the store, and what exactly do you suppose they'll go and buy for $10? What you envision as thoughtful may simply be inconvenient. Have you ever seen a Walmart or Target near any port of call other than the ones the person with this idea noticed at Port Canaveral?

I've heard of one person saying this is what they do, and I think that people would rather just have the cash. If you can't give them cash, then the calling cards are probably the next best thing as they are immediately usable and you're not forcing what you think is "thoughtful" on them.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Hey SlyHubby.

what exactly do you suppose they'll go and buy for $10?

Possibly a phone card...

 

[BALAMAV]

WOW I am sorry for all this. I have booked 8 staterooms for 25 people in May. They have decided to call me the Cruise Director. I do alot of research for any trip I take, so they have voted me to do all the leg work. Don't get me wrong I love it I am a Disney addict. But when I give them the scoop on tips I want to get it right. When we went on our Honeymoon to Cancun we had the same room keeper all week. (Serj) He made flowers out of the toilet paper rolls,made swans out of wash clothes even arranged my night gowns if I left them out. Well we did not tip him. We never stayed at a hotel were you had the same room keeper. We were only 23. We felt so bad when we got back. I do not want that to happen here. I hope I didn't stir up too much. I love these boards. Most of my questions get a few resonds. This one has two pages. Kind of scary. Thank you all I feel real comfortable in letting everyone know the customery tips. I don't think I will mention any of the calling or gift cards that way if they love a CM they can just give extra money. We all love that.

 

[SlyHubby]

Possibly a phone card...

You crack me up BD!