Tipping at Palo and Remy

[steves100]

Its not a coincidence, its policy. Unless you had a problem with the server (or the other way around), they like to keep you together since it helps establish a relationship between them and the customer.

They do that on purpose, they want you to have a great experience.

 

[DanceswithDisney]

THEY DO NOT WORK IN NORMAL ROTAIONS. They DO NOT receive the tip you give to your normal staff. And you will see them working breakfast an on CC.
How can you justify you being CHEAP???

You are WRONG 100%. All tips are pooled and shared amongst all staff. The tip comes out of the service charge and has been confirmed to e by several both onboard and onshore. I am not cheap because I choose not add to the tip. The only tips that are not pooled are those that are given in cash directly to the crew member. It is a personal decision to tip extra, but when it is included in the hefty service charge, I feel no obligation to add to it.

 

[Chernabog#1fan]

He is not saying they get a portion of tip that the main servers get, he is saying it is part of the service charge.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

THEY DO NOT WORK IN NORMAL ROTAIONS. They DO NOT receive the tip you give to your normal staff. And you will see them working breakfast an on CC.
How can you justify you being CHEAP???

It's my understanding that Palo servers do work the buffet on the last morning, so that all "regular" dining room servers can be in their correct dining room.

 

[Ariel484]

On the Dream this past week, we tipped $20pp at dinner and $15pp at brunch. I asked my Travel Agent friend (whom I consider to be a DCL expert) what she recommended and she suggested $15-$20pp for dinner, $10-$15pp for brunch, so I use that as my guideline.

We had the same server at both meals, Oelana. She was fantastic, very personable, and we enjoyed chatting with her. Our service was excellent at both meals, and I would say those were truly the highlight of our sailing. BUT...we both like going out to dinner at home and eating great meals, so it was worth it to us. On the flipside, we didn't go to any of the live shows - I know lots of people consider them can't-miss events, but they just aren't our cup of tea. Like a previous poster said, something different for everyone! Personal preference.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

He is not saying they get a portion of tip that the main servers get, he is saying it is part of the service charge.

But the question is - what portion? I doubt that anyone here knows that answer. Speculation (in the past) has had the server's portion to be "less than $5". And that cut out of the service charge is supposedly pooled to be shared by all Palo servers. The additional cash tips someone may give go directly (and only) to their personal server.

 

[Chernabog#1fan]

It's my understanding that Palo servers do work the buffet on the last morning, so that all "regular" dining room servers can be in their correct dining room.

Yes, this is correct. Otherwise, I have not seen them working it.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

In the past when the service fee did include a contribution to the server, it was just $1 only per fee. The " search" facility in threads on this matter here on that forum will cover that.

It was a number of years ago, the top part was removed and the advice changed to " at your discretion.

It was never as high as $5, which when the fee was as low as -$10 pp in the past would be 50% of the fee. DCL says that the up charge all goes to " contribute to the extra food costs, which are actually above the current fee level.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Can you charge everything, including the tip to your room, or do you have to bring cash/credit card?

Also, if you don't leave a cash tip, but charge it, would it go to the intended person or be pooled?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Can you charge everything, including the tip to your room, or do you have to bring cash/credit card?

Also, if you don't leave a cash tip, but charge it, would it go to the intended person or be pooled?

You can add the additional tip on your charge slip that you sign. Or use cash. Any additional tips (regardless of method of payment) go directly (and only) to your specific server.

 

[Chernabog#1fan]

But the question is - what portion? I doubt that anyone here knows that answer. Speculation (in the past) has had the server's portion to be less than $5. And that cut out of the service charge is supposedly pooled to be shared by all Palo servers. The additional cash tips someone may give go directly (and only) to their personal server.

I agree, we will never know. But I think it is uncalled for him to be putting people down who do not tip additional. The majority of people who go on these cruises do not read this board. If they are use to sailing on RCCL, they clearly state that the service charge includes gratuity and there is no need to tip additional. At one time, DCL also had this on their website. I have always tipped additional, but think he is out of line to put others down who do not.

 

[steves100]

You are WRONG 100%. All tips are pooled and shared amongst all staff. The tip comes out of the service charge and has been confirmed to e by several both onboard and onshore. I am not cheap because I choose not add to the tip. The only tips that are not pooled are those that are given in cash directly to the crew member. It is a personal decision to tip extra, but when it is included in the hefty service charge, I feel no obligation to add to it.

you got to be kidding me, the service charge is hefty. As others have said I would not want to be your server. Just for a point of reference, do you tip the Disney recommended for everything else?

 

[steves100]

I agree, we will never know. But I think it is uncalled for him to be putting people down who do not tip additional. The majority of people who go on these cruises do not read this board. If they are use to sailing on RCCL, they clearly state that the service charge includes gratuity and there is no need to tip additional. At one time, DCL also had this on their website. I have always tipped additional, but think he is out of line to put others down who do not.

This has NOTHING to do with this boards, as I have said!

We have brought atleast 4 couples with us to Palo. ALL ASKED how we should tip, for you to infer that normal people would not know they should tip is just ignorant. Just ask!

 

[steves100]

Yes, this is correct. Otherwise, I have not seen them working it.

And they also work on CC, I have seen them, including the Head Chef!

 

[CarolynU]

Our server at Palo on the Wonder Sasha is amazing. He takes such good care of us and takes a huge pride in his job. He works amazingly hard and like all other servers misses his family for enormous periods of time just doing his job. He has become a family friend, and as such I would never dream of asking him about tipping, but we always take very good care of him, and it is our pleasure to do so.

 

[Chernabog#1fan]

This has NOTHING to do with this boards, as I have said!

We have brought atleast 4 couples with us to Palo. ALL ASKED how we should tip, for you to infer that normal people would not know they should tip is just ignorant. Just ask!

It is not ignorant to think that not everyone adds additional tip. In most countries, tipping is not customary, so people may not even think about it. In addition, if it says Additional Tip, which it does on the receipt, not everyone will think to leave additional.

 

[dcassetta]

In the past when the service fee did include a contribution to the server, it was just $1 only per fee. The " search" facility in threads on this matter here on that forum will cover that.

It was a number of years ago, the top part was removed and the advice changed to " at your discretion.

It was never as high as $5, which when the fee was as low as -$10 pp in the past would be 50% of the fee. DCL says that the up charge all goes to " contribute to the extra food costs, which are actually above the current fee level.

I have done a search on this particular topic on the threads. There is absolutely not a consensus. People have reported speaking to various cast members and gotten various answers about whether any portion of the service charge is a tip. These responses have come from guest services, management at Palo, and individual servers at Palo.


1. When was it $1?
2. Where does it state on the DCL site that the upcharge all goes to food costs?

 

[steves100]

It is not ignorant to think that not everyone adds additional tip. In most countries, tipping is not customary, so people may not even think about it. In addition, if it says Additional Tip, which it does on the receipt, not everyone will think to leave additional.

We have discussed this ad nauseam, we discussed other countries already! I give up.

 

[ILoveMyKellen]

I can see why people are confused about this. If you go www.mousesaver.com they say this about gratuities. "If you dine at Palo and/or Remy, many people add an additional tip to the per-person charge, though that charge is considered by Disney to cover the gratuity."

However, if you go to www.touringplans.com they say, "Palo and Remy Tips are Included in the Price. Kind of... Disney is clear as mud on whether that includes a tip for your server. Apparently there is a small portion of that cost that goes to your server. And when I say small, I mean about $5 split between several people at Palo. If you’ve ever experienced the level of service you get at either restaurant, you’ll know that they easily “deserve” more than that.

When a person gets on these boards to see if they can find information about tipping at Remy/Palo some say that a gratuity is not included at all.

Having been a server myself I always tip. How much depends on the service that I receive but I tend to tip very well. If gratuities are already included, like Tables in Wonderland, that changes how much "extra" the server gets. I just used Tables in Wonderland as an example but isn't that kind of the same concept? I would certainly tip more than the $5 dollars that Touring Plans says they get (I would tip the value of the meal) but everything I have read so far is certainly not clear at all.


I hope that I made sense?

 

[janiebubble]

The worst service I've had on 3 cruises with DCL was at Palo brunch. We were an inconvenience to our server who spent most of the meal charming the table next to us and ignoring us. We tipped, but only a small amount in comparison to the amounts quoted on here. Despite the food being lovely our experience with him really put us off. Maybe I was expecting too much, but on our comment card he is the only person we've not given the 'excellent' rating to.