Tipping basics for a newbie

[cph706]

Hi, I've read threads about tipping, but I need the basics. I understand that tips are not included & have found the link to the tip calculator, but I have a few questions.

Where can I prepay tips? Call or go to website? If I prepay, will the recommended amounts go to the right people? What if (heaven forbid!) I prepay and then somehow don't go? Will it be refunded if I have trip insurance?

When is it recommended that you prepay? Week before, couple of days before?

My idea was that I prepay the "regular" amount with a credit card, then bring cash for room service & exceptional service. I'd rather part with the money up front.

Any suggestions? Thanks for all the help!

 

[mackeymouse4eva]

I do not have the abswer BUT was just wondering the exact same things!!! Thanks for asking ...I look forward to the answers from the experienced DCL cruisers!!

 

[kcashner]

You can pre-pay tips by calling DCL (or having TA do it if you used one) with a credit card number. If for any reason you have to cancel the cruise, your tip money will be refunded to your card whether you have insurance or not--they haven't been paid to the people yet. You can charge any time up to 3 days before sailing. You can also charge tips to your KTTW card (which is tied to your credit card) after you board. There is a "black out" time between 3 days before sailing and the time that you board when things are being transferred from Celebration to the port--you will not be allowed to charge tips during that time.

You will get an envelope in your room with your tip coupons in it. You should note that the coupons have the right name on them for each position. There is a back up system where if you give the coupon to the CM, he/she can get credit for it even if it was issued in the wrong name...but it's easier for all if you verify the names.

You can charge the suggested tips and add to them with cash if desired...or you can go to GS and increase the charged amount. If you choose to charge tips to your KTTW card after boarding, you do not need to stand in line. All you do is complete and sign the form that will appear in your cabin (or request it from GS earlier) and deposit it in the collection box at GS. The coupons will appear in your room a few hours later.

Did I get all the questions covered?

 

[BigDaddyRog]

One more question, if you will......if room service is included with the fare...how would you go about figuring out how much to tip your room service waiter. Im assuming you tip them as the food is brought to the stateroom, not at the end of the cruise. Please correct me if Im wrong.

 

[mickeyfan1]

Yes, you tip room service on delivery, generally one or two dollars for snacks, and more for a full meal or meals.

 

[kcashner]

You tip the room service guy who brings the tray when he brings it. Most people do this in cash, but you can also put it on the charge slip (you sign the slip whether there is a charge or not to indicate that you got the food.

OK, this will generate various opinions...people tip anywhere from $1 or $2 per item ordered to $1-2 per tray to whatever they feel is "right." Bottom line, anything is appreciated. There is no way to calculate it that is "recommended" or "suggested." It's totally up to you.

If you order a couple Mickey bars, a $1-2 tip seems fine to me. I go more like $5 if I've ordered a full meal. IF you order charged items (alcohol, soda, etc) there is an automatic 15% gratuity on your charge slip. This applies with any bar item anywhere on the ship.

 

[disney 2010]

That's right you tip room service when they come. Usually a dollar or two more if you have ordered a lot. There are threads you can search about tipping room service and read several opinions about how much it should be. There doesn't seem to be recommendations like other positions

 

[cph706]

Thanks for all the replies, exactly what I wanted to know. One final question...if I call and charge the tips a few days beforehand, what do I do with the coupons/envelopes? I won't remember to whom I gave what, just that I gave the "recommended amount".

 

[mickeyfan1]

IIRC, the envelopes have the title on them, ie server, head server, etc. Tjhe slips you get back also have the names and titles.

 

[disney 2010]

On the last night you hand them to your servers and leave the stateroom host(ess) one in the room for turn down service.

 

[mackeymouse4eva]

Although I know this is subjective - what is an appropriate tip for PALO service?


Also there has been some discussion about other food service wait staff on board that may not receive tips. Do we need to tip at Breakfast/Lunch ( I thought this was staffed by our wait staff on a rotating basis )? Also someone mentioned the staff at Topsiders not receiving any compensation..I do not want to rude and not acknowledge someone appropriatly.


Finally for all of those extra CM that may have been of assistance ( kids counselors etc ) would a token of a phone card ( or something similar ) be adequate?


TIA !!!

 

[mickeyfan1]

Palo - there is a service charge of $15 p/p for brunch and dinner, $5 for tea. You will see people say they feel that is the tip, some say only part of it is tip. You can always add more, the service is pretty attentive, and there are fewer tables per wait staff.

The breakfast and lunch wait staff are also dinner staff, they do rotate shifts and serve all meals.

I believe the buffet staff are not tipped, as they are more in training.

There are a few other hreads that address the counselors.

 

[kcashner]

The tip that you give your service team at dinner represents a tip for all the service received during the week-- breakfast, lunch, dinner, fast food outlets. While no one will refuse a tip, it is not the usual to tip other than the last night.

The serving team in Topsiders for dinner are in training and are paid by DCL. Tipping is not expected.

The kid staff are not considered a tipped position. Anything received that does not specifically have their name on it (candy, gift card, etc) must be turned over to the manager and is used at/for a department party. All cash must be turned over. They will sometimes get to eat the munchies during the cruise...gift cards become door prizes, etc. So....you are welcome to tip, but if it's a gift card, be sure that it has the individual's name on it. The BEST thing you can do is to list a special individual on your evaluation or write to the cruise line about them after you get home. Good comments result in extra time off and become a part of their employment file and are considered at times of promotions, raises, etc.

 

[canabrits2]

Thank you!!!

This thread should be stickied.

I got answers to questions I posed in other threads and some I didn't even think of but would have thought of on board (like tipping childcare staff).

There are so many ettiquette issues that can be confusing if you haven't been cruising before (tip room service, envelopes, who gets what, how much per room/person, pre-paying tips, when to tip, Topsiders training staff, Palo tips etc).

I really wish DCL would have prepaid tips all up front and if you find a problem with service, you could just comment/complain and they fix it, instead of the mental hassle of tipping/not tipping/how much/when/different practices for different workers etc.

 

[jilljill]

Thank you!!!

This thread should be stickied.

I got answers to questions I posed in other threads and some I didn't even think of but would have thought of on board (like tipping childcare staff).

There are so many ettiquette issues that can be confusing if you haven't been cruising before (tip room service, envelopes, who gets what, how much per room/person, pre-paying tips, when to tip, Topsiders training staff, Palo tips etc).

I really wish DCL would have prepaid tips all up front and if you find a problem with service, you could just comment/complain and they fix it, instead of the mental hassle of tipping/not tipping/how much/when/different practices for different workers etc.

I have bolded your one statement above and just wanted to say that the childcare staff do not expect tips since they are a non-tipped position. We've been on many DCL cruises and not tipped the staff of the club/lab.


Actually tipping is very easy and not as confusing as it seems to be made out to be here on DIS. There are only 4 tipped posititons, which DCL spells out on their website and in their printed literature along with their suggested amounts. Room service tips are totally up to each individual - some people on here suggest a nominal amount and others suggest more than you would give your server for the day. If you read DCL's info on their website about Palo it says that $5 of the $15 surcharge is your servers tip - if some choose to give extra that's up to them but don't feel pressured to give more just because so many people on here suggest it.

 

[annabell08]

I agree that this thread should be stickied. It is the best and most positive information I have seen on any forum about tipping.

Thanks for the information.

 

[dylan'smom]

...
Actually tipping is very easy and not as confusing as it seems to be made out to be here on DIS. There are only 4 tipped posititons, which DCL spells out on their website and in their printed literature along with their suggested amounts.

Room service tips are totally up to each individual ... If you read DCL's info on their website about Palo it says that $5 of the $15 surcharge is your servers tip - if some choose to give extra...

So true! Not all that complicated. And also once you are onboard you will have lots of info for tipping the 4 mentioned positions delivered to your cabin, so no worries.

 

[mackeymouse4eva]

This has been the MOST helpful thread on tipping that I have found!! Thank you all for your suggestions!! I am traveling on the EBTA and wanted to make sure that all of the staff are aware of my appreciation - of course I will use comment cards and thank you's, but I know monetary ( or similar ) compensation is valued. The information on the childcare staff was very informative ( about them turning tips/gifts in etc ) - I know that they are not normally a tipped position but I thought a token gift would be nice after they have had my child for 14 days!!!! I think I read on some other post or site that some people had used phone cards as a useful token of appreciation. Maybe I will try to bring a treat that they can share.!


Thanks again for the help!!

 

[caderi]

In my experience, most cruise company add their standard tips to your account. You would not see that until the last day of your cruise when you get your final statement.
If you want to tip more or less you would need to go to customer services and fill a form indicating what typs you want to make.