Tipping Envelope Etiquette

[ahain]

First time cruiser as well.

So, if I've prepaid my gratuities, I'll get cards to slip in the envelopes? And if I chose, I can add extra cash to the envelopes?

Yes.

 

[ahain]

What is the benefit of prepaid gratuities? Shouldn't you experience the service first?

I think "prepaid" is a bit of a misnomer....the "prepaid gratuities" are added to your ob-board account, but you don't actually "pay" them until the end of the cruise. During the cruise, you may choose to increase or decrease the amount of gratuities that are on your account.

 

[stsomewhere]

I hated the tickets/ envelopes. I sailed on Carnival in Sept and NCL in Dec. The tips were added to our onboard account. We never had to hand out slips.

On DCl, we like to dine at Palo on the last night. You can just drop off the tickets to guest services.

 

[mmouse37]

First time cruiser as well.

So, if I've prepaid my gratuities, I'll get cards to slip in the envelopes? And if I chose, I can add extra cash to the envelopes?

Correct!! Or the standard tip is fine as well if you don't feel the need to tip extra.

What is the benefit of prepaid gratuities? Shouldn't you experience the service first?

It is merely a convenience and to some extent, to make sure the servers get their tips. I think it was mentioned that about 1/3 of people skip tips on average on all cruises so by the cruise line auto charging the tips it makes it less likely that the servers will be stiffed. They actually started this policy in the Med either last year or the year before because they found the tipping habits/customs of Europeans was quite different than the U.S.

You still have control over your tips. If you feel your servers or room host do not deserve the tip or you want to leave a lesser amount than the suggested you can go to guest services and have them taken off or reduced. If it helps I have been on 30 DCL cruises and I never felt they deserved less...usually I felt they deserved more but there also times we just left the suggested amount. I find having the tips auto charged is one less think I have to think about onboard.

Leavings tips or handing out envelopes is really nothing to get anxious about. If anyone feels awkward then just leave them on the table and walk out but to me that is more awkward after you have spent a few days interacting with your servers.

MJ

 

[rentayenta]

How much is the standard tip that the ships adds? I realize we can give/add what we want. Just curious what they consider standard?

Thanks!

 

[Maineiak]

I think "prepaid" is a bit of a misnomer....the "prepaid gratuities" are added to your ob-board account, but you don't actually "pay" them until the end of the cruise. During the cruise, you may choose to increase or decrease the amount of gratuities that are on your account.

I guess I'm confused. I have an itemized fare/payment statement from DCL via my TA that specifically lists "Pre Paid Gratuities" of $108.00 for a 3-night cruise. This was included in the total and we are PIF now. When you say "you don't actually 'pay' them until the end of the cruise" do you mean the servers don't physically get the tip until the end? Because my credit card statement says they're certainly paid!

I struggled with the concept myself but my TA suggested it so we wouldn't have to worry about them later.

 

[mmouse37]

I guess I'm confused. I have an itemized fare/payment statement from DCL via my TA that specifically lists "Pre Paid Gratuities" of $108.00 for a 3-night cruise. This was included in the total and we are PIF now. When you say "you don't actually 'pay' them until the end of the cruise" do you mean the servers don't physically get the tip until the end? Because my credit card statement says they're certainly paid!

I struggled with the concept myself but my TA suggested it so we wouldn't have to worry about them later.

When booking some TA's and some DCL reps already add the tips to the total price when booking. Sometimes they don't (this is a fairly recent development). So, if you are already PIF then you will still get your tip vouchers delivered to your stateroom along with envelopes but you won't see a gratuities charge to your onboard account since you already paid it. So, yes, you would just hand the envelopes out at the last dinner.

For example, my upcoming reservation DOES NOT have the tips prepaid yet so when I board the ship at some point DCL will charge my tips to my onboard account and I will receive my vouchers and envelopes but I will see the tips charge listed on my onboard account that I pay off at the end of the cruise along with the rest of my onboard charges I made. Hope that is not too confusing!!!

MJ

 

[Maineiak]

When booking some TA's and some DCL reps already add the tips to the total price when booking. Sometimes they don't (this is a fairly recent development). So, if you are already PIF then you will still get your tip vouchers delivered to your stateroom along with envelopes but you won't see a gratuities charge to your onboard account since you already paid it. So, yes, you would just hand the envelopes out at the last dinner.

For example, my upcoming reservation DOES NOT have the tips prepaid yet so when I board the ship at some point DCL will charge my tips to my onboard account and I will receive my vouchers and envelopes but I will see the tips charge listed on my onboard account that I pay off at the end of the cruise along with the rest of my onboard charges I made. Hope that is not too confusing!!!

MJ

Not confusing at all. I was just getting worried where the other poster indicated it was a misnomer and not really paid, because I have statements and charges that indicate otherwise!

 

[mmouse37]

How much is the standard tip that the ships adds? I realize we can give/add what we want. Just curious what they consider standard?

Thanks!

Just fill in the info.....and click the total column to get amounts

http://disneycruiselineblog.com/cruise-planning/tip-calculator/


MJ

 

[ahain]

I guess I'm confused. I have an itemized fare/payment statement from DCL via my TA that specifically lists "Pre Paid Gratuities" of $108.00 for a 3-night cruise. This was included in the total and we are PIF now. When you say "you don't actually 'pay' them until the end of the cruise" do you mean the servers don't physically get the tip until the end? Because my credit card statement says they're certainly paid!

I struggled with the concept myself but my TA suggested it so we wouldn't have to worry about them later.

My apologies....I've never experienced this, as my gratuities have never shown up on my TA account and have been posted to my on-board account.

 

[Maineiak]

My apologies....I've never experienced this, as my gratuities have never shown up on my TA account and have been posted to my on-board account.

No problem, sounds like this may be a newer practice!

 

[mmouse37]

My apologies....I've never experienced this, as my gratuities have never shown up on my TA account and have been posted to my on-board account.

Some have posted here that during the booking process some reps and TAs have been asking if people would like to include the tips at the time of booking, instead of onboard. This is a fairly new process.

MJ

 

[taylor3297]

No problem, sounds like this may be a newer practice!

Some have posted here that during the booking process some reps and TAs have been asking if people would like to include the tips at the time of booking, instead of onboard. This is a fairly new process.

MJ

Our cruise was Jan 20, and we prepaid our tips one week in advance. It was on our credit card statement for the date we prepaid.

Now at the end of our cruise, we got a listing of all our our on board charges. The tips were listed but at the end there was a credit for the same amount.

 

[ahain]

Thanks for clarifying that some TAs are now asking if guests want to actually "prepay" gratuities. I love these boards and the wealth of info posters provide in the spirit of helping.

From the DCL FAQ website although I don't know how well it will translate here with copy & paste):

Q: What about gratuities?


A: It is customary to give gratuities in recognition of service, which you will be treated to in abundance aboard the ship. As a guideline, we suggest the following, but gratuities are always at your discretion:




Per Guest per cruise

3-Night

4-Night

7-Night



Dining Room Server

$12.00

$16.00

$28.00



Dining Room Asst. Server

$9.00

$12.00

$21.00



Dining Room Head Server

$3.00

$4.00

$7.00



Stateroom Host/
Hostess

$12.00

$16.00

$28.00



Dining Manager

Your Discretion



Room Service

Your Discretion



Palo

Your Discretion



Remy

Your Discretion



Senses Spa & Salon

An 18% gratuity will automatically be applied to all spa services.



Vista Spa & Salon

An 18% gratuity will automatically be applied to all spa services.



Babysitting

Gratuity not expected



Port Adventures

Optional; not included in port adventure price.


You can choose to pre-pay gratuities for your party up to three days before your vacation begins by contacting Disney Cruise Line; or, for the convenience of our Guests who have not pre-paid, the suggested gratuity amounts will be added to your onboard account, based on the length of your voyage as shown in the table above.

If you wish to modify or make changes to the gratuity amounts or would like to pay in cash, please stop by our Guest Services desk, located on Deck 3, Mid-ship, at anytime during your sailing.

Please note, a 15% gratuity is automatically added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service tabs. All gratuities can be charged to your room charge. (At the Walt Disney World Resort, 15% is the customary gratuity at restaurants and bars.)"

 

[MND]

Why is it awkward?

Just hand the person the tip envelope and thank them for their service. Easy peasy!

Mike

 

[TiszBear]

Each time we have cruised we have done cash in evelopes adn handed them to the respected person on the last night. For out cruise in September later this year, I already have envelopes made up with the standard amount for each person and another with extra funds in it. When i first get on the ship all envelopes are in our room safe and the last day I personalize each envelope with the person's name and a short note. It is then I can add extra to an envelope if needed. This is worked for us and have not had a problem.

 

[over50visits]

What is the most common practice everyone uses for tipping and using the tip envelopes on the cruise? I kinda felt bad giving the envelopes when I was only leaving the standard tip. They'll get their tip even if you don't hand out the envelopes, right? I've seen some people bring their own cards and use cash in addition to the standard tip.

Make me part of the minority (at least in this thread) who thinks giving the envelopes is not awkward at all!!! We have always created a (temporary) friendship with our servers, speaking to them, finding out about their lives, generally giving them respect. They have always returned it several times over. At the last dinner, giving the envelopes is simple, quick, and a pleasure. They don't linger over it, they don't open it, they just put it in their pocket and seem genuinely grateful. It's easy and fun, and there is no question of timing. We just do it when we get a chance. Never, ever has it been in the least uncomfortable.

If we include extra cash in the envelope, we're doing it because we appreciated their super service, not because we expect them to notice on the spot and be extra grateful to us. That's not what the extra is for. They'll find it later when they open the envelopes, and I hope they feel rewarded for their efforts.

It's easy, well deserved, and a small part of the dining experience. And a tradition.

 

[houseofduck]

On our last cruise, we handed the envelopes to our server, assistant server, and head server at the end of our last night's dinner. The other family that was sitting with us didn't use the envelopes because it was their first cruise, they had prepaid, and didn't realize that you were supposed to use the envelopes. When they saw us hand over the envelopes, they explained what they had done to our servers. The server said that it was fine, no big deal, and that he didn't even open the envelopes. This was surprising to us because, along with the ticket, we always leave a little extra in cash in the envelopes. Not wanting to make our table companions even more uncomfortable and hoping that the server was just trying to be polite and make them feel better, we said nothing.

Has anyone else had a server say that they don't open the envelopes? I really hope that he did open ours!

 

[JohnDS]

On our last cruise, we handed the envelopes to our server, assistant server, and head server at the end of our last night's dinner. The other family that was sitting with us didn't use the envelopes because it was their first cruise, they had prepaid, and didn't realize that you were supposed to use the envelopes. When they saw us hand over the envelopes, they explained what they had done to our servers. The server said that it was fine, no big deal, and that he didn't even open the envelopes. This was surprising to us because, along with the ticket, we always leave a little extra in cash in the envelopes. Not wanting to make our table companions even more uncomfortable and hoping that the server was just trying to be polite and make them feel better, we said nothing.

Has anyone else had a server say that they don't open the envelopes? I really hope that he did open ours!

I guess I read the whole thing and misunderstood it. Why would you give an envelope, if you tipped on your account and were not giving anything in cash? Just to hand over an empty envelope? I would have assumed that anyone giving an envelope was giving cash.

 

[Bear3412]

.... Not wanting to make our table companions even more uncomfortable and hoping that the server was just trying to be polite and make them feel better, we said nothing.
i agree.

....has anyone else had a server say that they don't open the envelopes? I really hope that he did open ours!
i'm confident if handed an envelope any cm would open it, as it may contain cash.

hth