Tipping advice needed

[WONDER26FEB06]

I wanted to get some advice on tipping. We are on a 4-night cruise.

First, do you tip the recommended amount for the wait staff and room steward or do you generally tip more?

Also, I wanted to tip the counselors in the kids club. How many counselors are there in each age group (I have an 8 year old, a 4 year old and a three year old) that would be with my child? From reading DIS, I think a Target gift card is what I will buy (unless someone else has a better suggestion). How much for each counselor?

Also, I am dropping off shirts at guest service for the characters to sign. I read that someone included a gift....but I can't find what gift it was. Any suggestions? I would think that perhaps more than one person does the signing so what would be an approprite gift for an entire group?

Also, do you tip the head server or whatever they call him? Or just if he does something special?

Am I forgetting anyone? Who else would I want to tip? Thanks in advance for all your opinions!

 

[Favorite Auntie]

I wanted to get some advice on tipping. We are on a 4-night cruise.

First, do you tip the recommended amount for the wait staff and room steward or do you generally tip more?

We generally tip more, they have always been GREAT!

Also, I wanted to tip the counselors in the kids club. How many counselors are there in each age group (I have an 8 year old, a 4 year old and a three year old) that would be with my child? From reading DIS, I think a Target gift card is what I will buy (unless someone else has a better suggestion). How much for each counselor?

I have never done this, but I think you would tip the counselor that spends the most time with your child. The kids tell you who they LOVE in the group of counselors...

Also, I am dropping off shirts at guest service for the characters to sign. I read that someone included a gift....but I can't find what gift it was. Any suggestions? I would think that perhaps more than one person does the signing so what would be an approprite gift for an entire group?

We did this, but we didn't include any gift...never heard of anyone doing that.

Also, do you tip the head server or whatever they call him? Or just if he does something special?

Yes we do. Ours have always been great, but some people have only seen this person once or twice, in which case I would just tip the minimum...They are busy afterall making sure all your dining experiences are MAGICAL!!!

Am I forgetting anyone? Who else would I want to tip? Thanks in advance for all your opinions!

Don't forget your room steward/dess, they are wonderful and work REALLY hard too!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Also, do you tip the head server or whatever they call him? Or just if he does something special?

Am I forgetting anyone? Who else would I want to tip?

There are four passenger-focused service positions on the ship that essentially aren't paid by the cruise line. They're paid by the passengers. The four positions, along with DCL's tipping guidelines, are:

Per Guest per cruise ... 3-Night . 4-Night . 7-Night
Dining Room Server ...... $11.00 .. $14.75 .. $25.75
Dining Room Asst. Server . $8.00 .. $10.75 .. $18.75
Dining Room Head Server .. $2.75 ... $3.75 ... $6.50
Stateroom Host/Hostess .. $10.75 .. $14.50 .. $25.25 ​

You'll interact directly with each of these crew members. You'll see your Dining Room Head Server and your Stateroom Host/Hostess less often than your Dining Room Server and your Dining Room Asst. Server -- but they all perform an important role.

You might want to read the following recent threads:

"How does tipping work?" at http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=509463

"What does the Head Server do?" at http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=833629

"Tipping at Palo" at http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=886850

 

[pwade]

"Also, I am dropping off shirts at guest service for the characters to sign. I read that someone included a gift....but I can't find what gift it was. Any suggestions"?

I believe it was a phone card. Might want to make it an internationl one.