Recommended tipping

[Lunanh]

Hi just a quick question before I leave for my trip on Friday!!
I know our little booklets tell us how much is recommended for tipping, but I also read about a woman feeling that her servers were disappointed with the tip. Do most people give more then recommended?
I was going to give them the recommended amount for there tip. Now i'm wondering should I give them more then that? I don't won't to seem rude, I just don't have a clue Thanks in advance, Kristy

 

[Hygiene99]

U may feel that they desreve more than the reccomended amount after u recieve service , like on our last cruise we felt they all desreved more ......

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

Since you don't tip until the end of the cruise, it gives you time to make decisions. My DH and I go over the list and usually add to the recommended amount. If you are going to put the cost on your account, do it early on the last full day. The lines later in the evening are very long.

 

[jrabbit]

Remember the recommended tips per position are per person in your group. Last trip we tipped the recommended amount and on debarkation morning you could tell our servers weren't that happy with us. They did a fine job, just not as excellent as some of our prior serving teams.

The assistant server was especially absent for us during that cruise because we did not buy any speciality drinks or bottled water. So we got the minimum acceptable service from him - he would bring us our drinks and that was about it. In past cruises (with our same drinking habits) we have tipped the asst. server almost as much as the main server because we didn't order any drinks from him, but he was still very attentive towards us (and he was pretty new and learning the job too).

How much you tip is up to you and how well you feel your serving team did for you. It probably doesn't take much extra to make your servers very happy.

 

[CheapMom]

I have read posts, reviews where people say they barely knew their stateroom host existed. Is this normal and do you still tip the standard amount? What if you feel service was below expectations?

 

[CheapMom]

Anybody ever experienced unhappy servers because of standard tip? I am expecting to pay more than the standard tip for excellent service. (And from what I have read the service will be excellent) However- I have read a small number of posts that people were disatisfied with certain services. Anyone ever leave less than the expected amount and why.
(PLEASE DON"T TURN THIS INTO A FLAME SESSION)
What is proper for room service $2-$3??

 

[4nana]

No problems with our servers on Magic or Wonder! Luckily, we felt they went 'above and beyond' the call of duty and our group happily tipped more than recommended.


~ Sandie

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by CheapMom
I have read posts, reviews where people say they barely knew their stateroom host existed. Is this normal and do you still tip the standard amount? What if you feel service was below expectations?

I think the stateroom hosts do their best to stay out of your way. Ideally, you'll know he or she exists because your room will get excellent housekeeping service, and eveything in your room will be properly maintained. But you won't be -- and you shoudn't be -- tripping over your stateroom host.

I'm sure some stateroom hosts are better that other. Most provide extra touches, like towel animals on the bed at night.

I'm sure a few passengers get below average service, but I wonder if some passengers have unrealistic expectations.

 

[tvguy]

Since I always give my tips in a sealed envelope after the "last supper" as it were, I've never had any comment other than a thank you when I handed anyone the tip envelope.
Although, we did see our server and assistant server at breakfast the last morning, but everyone was so hurried, we just had time to eat and say thanks again.

 

[CheapMom]

, but I wonder if some passengers have unrealistic expectations. [/B]

That was my suspiscion about these complainers. Just based on the tone of their posts, reviews.
I have always thought that the service at WDW is the best I have experienced anywhere and I am sure the cruise will meet (or exceed) those standards.

 

[Padre Disney]

jrabbit,
We had the same thing happen to us on our 7 day last October. Our servers did okay but not anything above normal. On the last morning they were not happy with us. Almost to the point that we wanted to leave and had we known they would act like that after getting the recommeded amount I would have gave them less.
I think tipping should be done at the very beginging of the cruise the recommended amount and then people can add extra if they get better service.

 

[minimouse43]

If they do an outstanding job how much more do you all tip??? $10-20 -30- 40 ea?? There are 4 of us going and I put aside $304.00 (recommended).
And also would they appreciate other gifts instead such as phone cards or gift certs?

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by CheapMom
Anybody ever experienced unhappy servers because of standard tip? I am expecting to pay more than the standard tip for excellent service. (And from what I have read the service will be excellent) However- I have read a small number of posts that people were disatisfied with certain services. Anyone ever leave less than the expected amount and why.
(PLEASE DON"T TURN THIS INTO A FLAME SESSION)
What is proper for room service $2-$3??

Very good point.
What do we give to those whose service is less than expected?
Last cruise our host kept forgetting things like towels...ice.... Not once, not twice, but 4 out of the 6 days I had to chase him down to get clean towels. What did I tip? I gave him much less than the expected amount and did not give him a good rating.

I've NEVER been dissatisfied with the servers, and always tip more.

Depending on how much food we get, I tip between $2 (a few items) - $5.00 (if we are having our dinner in the room). I like the ability to eat privately on the verandah to watch the sunset and the meals from room service are very good (especially the tomato soup!!!!)

Rae

 

[62travelDisney]

We haven't cruised yet but will in a couple of weeks, and I must say I am still confused about the tipping. If Disney is going to recommend amounts I feel that it goes without saying that those amounts should cover the excellent service that's expected from Disney when we pay for our cruise. For servers to be "disappointed" with that makes no sense to me. I have no problem giving more if the service goes well beyond what's expected or less if it's below Disney standards. However, I still find it disturbing that if I tip the recommended amount for excellent service for my family of six that somebody will be disappointed. Please advise!!!!

 

[DisneyBill]

To the OP point, I feel the vast majority of guests find that service levels far out-strip expectations and indeed augment the recommended amount. We've added 20-25% to the figures provided. Our service was so over whelming that its hard to relate to some of the examples of less than stellar service sighted above. In fact on our last Magic cruise, we often wondered if the stateroom attendant actually stayed in our cabin. He was ALWAYS in the area. Really can't say enough good things about every CM we encountered.

 

[CB4U]

If we decide to have lunch in one of the restaurants instead of Topsiders, do we tip the servers. We have never eaten lunch in one of the restaurants. I understand you just sit anywhere and not at your assigned table.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by CB4U
If we decide to have lunch in one of the restaurants instead of Topsiders, do we tip the servers. We have never eaten lunch in one of the restaurants.

It is neither customary nor expected for you to tip directly at breakfast or lunch in the dining rooms.

Just keep in mind that the folks who are serving you are also dinner servers, and that your dinner servers are serving breakfast and/or lunch too, though not necessarily to you.

Your tips to your dinner servers on the final night are really for the work they do throughout the day, not just for dinner.

 

[DVCajun]

If Disney is going to recommend amounts I feel that it goes without saying that those amounts should cover the excellent service that's expected from Disney when we pay for our cruise. For servers to be "disappointed" with that makes no sense to me.

I'm very confused by this thread. If the "recommended amount" isn't acceptable, how on earth can you figure out what is? Is the recommended amount based on some sort of percentage? We're all used to tipping 15% for good service, 20-30% for excellent, etc. Can this carry over to our cruise experience? What would the percentage be based upon?

 

[alexandrew]

that's a really good point you bring up....

My advice, tip what you feel your servers et al are deserving of...I would not concern myself with what others are tipping, since their experiences are unique...

 

[CheapMom]

Originally posted by Padre Disney
jrabbit,
We had the same thing happen to us on our 7 day last October. Our servers did okay but not anything above normal. On the last morning they were not happy with us. Almost to the point that we wanted to leave

How could you tell? Attitude, poor service? I think that is terrible of the server to behave that way.
If that happened to me in the future I would plan on tipping the recommended amount and have an extra envelope for the server and server asst. to give them personally at breakfast. If they treat me rudely they won't get it.