tipping at palos...

[missmulan]

i was wondering about the tip at palos....the service was superb and our waiter gave me and DH a "third" appetizer, entree and dessert. we were generous with our tip but what is the guideline? do you tip a percentage of what is charged to your account....or do you tip a percentage of what you think the meal would cost if you were at a fine Italian restaurant?

 

[aprilgail2]

I tipped an extra 20 over the service charge, My friend and I had seperate "checks" and she did the same.

 

[princess Snow]

I would tip based on what your bill would be in a fine restaurant. Keep in mind that your tip is your waiter's wage. They make only $50/month otherwise.

 

[KYCruiseCrazy]

we tip 20-30 per palo's dinner/lunch. it depends on service. and service is always great at palo's

 

[natsmom125]

We discussed this before our cruise and we felt that you couldn't tip on the
service...because as someone said...the service in Palo is the utmost in dining service.

So we decided that we'd tip the amount based on what a dinner of those standards would cost us in a very expensive restaurant. Of course having our very favorite server, we added a little more than we have normally.

Phyllis

 

[Dancind]

Does the service fee count as part of the server's tip? That was my understanding.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

Does the service fee count as part of the server's tip? That was my understanding.

The service fee sort of counts as the server's tip. Like any of the auto-gratuities on board, the service fee goes into a pool for all of the servers. In the case of Palo (singular), the service charge is pooled and divided amongst the servers, bus people, bartenders, etc. Anything you add to that goes directly to the person who served you.

 

[MarkLem]

We tipped $30 last January for dinner

 

[AnnaS]

We also tipped $30. (party of 2)

 

[JimC]

Does the service fee count as part of the server's tip? That was my understanding.

From a number of sources we understand that the $10 per person service charge at Palos mostly goes to DCL and the wait staff get very little of it. It is a service charge to cover the fine dining at the restaurant. So we tip 15-20% based on what a fine dining restaurant bill would likely be. If the service is exceptional we go above the 20%.

 

[Rachie0507]

We tipped our waitress ~$20, I think, for 2 people. She was superb--very attentive and she kept us happy. DH and I hadn't even thought about tipping at Palo's until we realized how individualized the attention is. But we are new at this, so next time we will know ahead of time!!!

 

[spotdog]

I have been to Palo twice as a single woman. Both times I tipped the server $10 because I felt that I was treated like a princess.

I would have tipped more if I could afford it.

 

[RickW]

While I always tip extra a Palo, it should be noted that during the Q&A session with the Captain and the Senior Officers on the Panama Canal cruise, someone specifically asked about tipping in Palo.

The response from the hotel manager on the ship was: "The tip for Palo is included in the service charge"

However, as others have noted, the service is usually so exceptional that you can't help but add an additional amount.

 

[the kabuki]

Sooo......it sounds as if for a party of 2 the average tip is about $20-$30???
I've read the other threads about this service charge vs tip debate. Really just would like to know what most people do end up tipping regardless of the service charge

 

[cjckclan]

Just back from the 22 May Wonder. DH and I managed to go to Palo's the last night. What a great way to end the cruise.....since it does have to end.
$20 charge, $25 drink charges (2 glasses of wine and 1 dessert coffee), and $30 tip.

 

[My 2 Princesses Boat]

We tipped according to what a five star restaurant is! The service was so wonderful! The food was amazing!

When we turned in our tip sheet, we asked our waiter (the one that we had everynight) if everyone tips. She said some people don't tip at all! How aweful! These people work their butts off all week to make sure you have a good dining experience, getting the drinks you love, and the food you love and accomodating if there is something else you want to try ect. I can't beleive people dont' tip at all! I know some people will say, that maybe they can't afford to tip. But if you can afford to go on a Disney cruise one can afford to tip!

 

[MommaluvsDis]

Okay, so is the tip something you hand to your server at the end of your meal or something you add in your Palo envelope (I'm assuming that we get a Palo envelope at the same time we get the others.) So, am I correct in saying that it will be $10 from me and $10 from my cousin and then the extra we decide to tip, correct?

 

[Lisa F]

There is no Palo envelope. There IS a spot for additional gratuity on the slip you sign for the $10/person charge (and whatever alcoholic drinks/specialty coffees you order) to charge it, or I'm sure they will take cash.

 

[jrabbit]

Okay, so is the tip something you hand to your server at the end of your meal or something you add in your Palo envelope (I'm assuming that we get a Palo envelope at the same time we get the others.) So, am I correct in saying that it will be $10 from me and $10 from my cousin and then the extra we decide to tip, correct?

You need to tip at the end of your meal. There are not Palo "gratuity envelopes" but there is a charge slip for you to sign for the automatic charge for dinning in Palo. On this you can leave your additional gratuity.

 

[Favorite Auntie]

We have always left cash.

Everything I have read from official DCL info says that the tip IS INCLUDED in the service charge. BUT you can tip additional IF YOU WANT TO. We always tip additional, but like I said, from everything DCL that I have read, it is not necessary.