Server Tipping

[dandbsmom]

Does anyone know what is customary for tipping the servers when you don't go to the regular rotation each night? We went to Palos one night and then didn't attend the seating of breakfast on the last morning. My DH wasn't happy about tipping the servers the suggested rates.

 

[suez live]

As these people depend on the small amount of money they get from tips for their livelihood (and often support families in their home countries), giving the full amount of the tip suggested is appropriate. They will be prepared to work for you at every meal, regardless of if you choose to go to Palo, see a show, eat at Pluto’s, or go to bed early.

 

[TammiMcMan]

I'm not sure what's customary, but this is what we did. We had the pleasure of eating in Palo's on all 4 nights of our cruise. I was unsure what to do about tipping our regular servers, who we never met. I called and was told that we should give the tips to Palo's instead. We had been tipping our server there nightly anyway. Then I thought about the breakfasts and lunches that we ate in the regular restaurants. We didn't tip the servers at those meals and maybe they were the same waitstaff. I ended up tipping the serving staff the recommended amount and I was comfortable with that.

Not sure how much that helps, just my experience with the situation.

Tammi

 

[Verandah Man]

I'm not sure what's customary, but this is what we did. We had the pleasure of eating in Palo's on all 4 nights of our cruise. I was unsure what to do about tipping our regular servers, who we never met. I called and was told that we should give the tips to Palo's instead. We had been tipping our server there nightly anyway. Then I thought about the breakfasts and lunches that we ate in the regular restaurants. We didn't tip the servers at those meals and maybe they were the same waitstaff. I ended up tipping the serving staff the recommended amount and I was comfortable with that.

Not sure how much that helps, just my experience with the situation.

Tammi

Tammi,

I think what you did was the right thing to do, that's what I would have done in the same situation.

 

[kpgclark]

You should still tip the suggested amount. You are not just tipping for dinner you are tipping for all your meals since the same people prepare them. The cruise line knows you won't eat in the main dining room every night.

 

[JimC]

The servers at your dinner are also serving breakfast and lunch. They work very long hours and provide (in our experience) exceptional service. After talking with other more experienced cruisers we went with the recommended amounts as a "normal" tip and added more to reflect the very high level of service we received.

 

[jragland]

I'm not sure what's customary, but this is what we did. We had the pleasure of eating in Palo's on all 4 nights of our cruise. I was unsure what to do about tipping our regular servers, who we never met. I called and was told that we should give the tips to Palo's instead. We had been tipping our server there nightly anyway. Then I thought about the breakfasts and lunches that we ate in the regular restaurants. We didn't tip the servers at those meals and maybe they were the same waitstaff. I ended up tipping the serving staff the recommended amount and I was comfortable with that.

Not sure how much that helps, just my experience with the situation.

Tammi

I agree. We just got off the 14 day cruise and were fortunate to have one of the mid ship cat 3 rooms. (Think you had those too Tammi)

We ended up eating at least half of our meals in our room since we could order from the dining menus. It was just too good to pass up. We still tipped our servers the recommended amount. Don't recall ever eating breakfast in the dining rooms - thats what they made that verandah for! All those folks work hard...all day. it was our pleasure to make sure they were tipped.

Jim

 

[232271]

it sounds like some of you tip each day? OR
did you just tip in a envelope at the end of the cruise?

 

[staceymerrill]

On our recent 5/7 western, we ate at Palo one night, and our DSs ate with the club 3 out of 7 nights...Nevertheless, Anton and Sara (and of course McLean) were so great and so professional, we tipped them 25% above recommended for our entire party of 4....

 

[jgalecpa]

it sounds like some of you tip each day? OR
did you just tip in a envelope at the end of the cruise?

Almost universally, tips are handed out for the whole cruise the last night on board.

Some have discussed the pros and cons of tipping in advance.

I whole heartedly agree with the idea of tipping in full even if you don't eat in the main dining room(s) every night.

This is not like a restaurant where another group will be put at your table to make up for it.

Also, you will often see your servers doing double duty in other places on ship.


Jim

 

[tvguy]

On our recent 5/7 western, we ate at Palo one night, and our DSs ate with the club 3 out of 7 nights...Nevertheless, Anton and Sara (and of course McLean) were so great and so professional, we tipped them 25% above recommended for our entire party of 4....

MacLean was our head server, he really kept that dining room in order and dealth with problems quickly. Glad to here he's still on board.

 

[the kabuki]

So do most cruisers tip over the suggested amounts?

 

[paulmc80]

So do most cruisers tip over the suggested amounts?

We always have. Even on our last cruise when we seemed to be one of the first in the dining room and the last to be served. That didn't sit to well with me, but I didn't feel it right to take it out on the servers.

 

[Verandah Man]

So do most cruisers tip over the suggested amounts?

We do as well, we know these CM's work very hard, and they always take very good care of us, so we like taking care of them as well.

 

[FreeTime]

We tipped over the suggested amount also.

 

[staceymerrill]

tipping is highly subjective.....

I would stop short in stating that most give over the suggested amount.....it really depends on your experience with the CMs.......if the service is excellent, which it usually is, we feel inspired to give over the suggested amount.....While I have read posts that some have tipped double the recommended, IMO that seems a little "overboard".....with outstanding service, we give the 4 CMs 25% over recommended amount.....

....I have also read on this message board about asst servers who snub certain tables that dont purchase alcoholic beverages/wine packages ....trust me, if this would ever happen to us, I would not hesitate to tip that CM under the recommended amount.....

 

[suzannef]

We were on the 4 day May 19th and we loved our server and stateroom host and tipped them both the suggested amount plus 25%. The head server and asst. server we gave the suggested amt. We had no reason to give the head server any more than that, we really didn't even know who it was. Our asst. server never took drink orders for the 5 kids at our table any night of the cruise. I had to constantly ask him to get things for the kids. He messed up my drink order 2 out of 4 nights and seemed annoyed that he had gotten it wrong. Just curious though We ordered two wine packages among us as well as other drinks and smoothies alot for the kids and the gratuity was always added to those bills. Who got those tips??? the asst server? If so he may have made out better than the server which doesn't seem fair now that I think about it.



Suzanne

 

[KEH]

I believe that assistant server does indeed get the service charge added to the alcoholic drinks you purchase at dinner. I'm not sure about whether thye get all the gratuity from the wine package. I imagine they get some as they serve it but the packages are also sold by people other than the assistant servers so they may get some as well.