tipping for an infant? and another ??

[toescat]

I would not tip the servers at all. I would however tip the cabin steward or host as they will bring diapers and empty the trash which includes the diapers. This will be the first time in many years that I will have to tip the staff as both Carnival and Princess puts the tip as one of your daily charges. We have always brought extra envelopes and gave more money to the cabin steward and waiters when they have good. I have had however, a bad cabin steward once on Princess and I did not give him anything extra as we are always out of our cabin around 6:30 in the morning and some days my husband would go to the cabin around three to sneak in a little nap and our room would not be done. We started getting clean towels off of the cart for our room. We alway tell our cabin steward when we see him for the first time that we are early risers and you can take care of our room early to get it out of the way. We went to hotel services and complained and they took the tip for the steward off of our bill.

 

[Edd]

You know you can go to customer sevice and request they not charge your on board credit. They will wipe out the first day and not charge any further. Also the Carnival daily charge includes an amount for the kitchen employees. I think it is $1.50 daily. I don't know how they divide it up though.

I knew you were agreeing with me. On one cruise the assistant head chef came out and talked to us at the table. We talked aobut key lime pie and they next night he sent me a full key lime pie. I was told I could not tip him, but would have slipped him some extra if I saw him on the cruise. I didn't.

 

[justmestace]

True, I've only cruised with steerage. I'm sure that is true...you pay for that though. I know that concierge is awesome on many other lines, for sure. My comparison is strictly apples to apples...regular cabin to regular cabin.

I guess I read the line "Cruising with Disney, rather than the cheapy...." as meaning the ship on the whole. Either way....no biggie.

 

[jilljill]

You know you can go to customer sevice and request they not charge your on board credit. They will wipe out the first day and not charge any further. Also the Carnival daily charge includes an amount for the kitchen employees. I think it is $1.50 daily. I don't know how they divide it up though.

I knew you were agreeing with me. On one cruise the assistant head chef came out and talked to us at the table. We talked aobut key lime pie and they next night he sent me a full key lime pie. I was told I could not tip him, but would have slipped him some extra if I saw him on the cruise. I didn't.

Since tips are not automatically charged to your onboard account with Disney this was not accurate to post without saying what cruiseline you were discussing.


**I just wanted to mention this, not to pick on you, but to point it out in case someone read it out of context and thought DCL was now automatically charging tips to the onboard account.

 

[jilljill]

Can we please keep this thread on track with the OP's question of tipping on a DCL ship.
Thanks


OP, there are 3 servers that you tip; the head server, server and asst. server. The head server oversees several teams of servers which is why his suggested tip is so much lower than the server and asst. server. The server is your main waiter/waitress that takes your orders and serves your food, which is why his suggested tip is the most. The asst. server is in charge of your drinks and usually clears the table.
Hope this helps in clearing up the 3 server positions that are tipped.

 

[Disney Vegas]

Yes be preparred to have people disagree with you. Just remember it is an opinion and just be ready to hear the opinions. With that said, I want to adress the servers for breakfast & lunch v/s dinner. Your entire serving team as you are aware follows you each night to each restaurant as you rotate. From Head Server down to Asst. Server. So you will see them each night you are eatting in your "assigned" rotation. If you choose to eat pool side, room service or Buffet; then you get the additional staff. Now for breakfast and lunch they rotate which restaurants are open and the staff rotates taking turns as teams working in them. They serve ANYONE who chooses to do sit down as a meal. The teams also rotate in and out of TopSiders/BeachBlanket. This is also the case on Castaway. So they are always serving as someone's servers somewhere. It is funny to watch, you can tell if a team belongs to someone's dinner rotation, when eatting in other restaurants. For example, we headed up for lunch at Topsiders one afternoon and there was our crew. They were responsible for everyone there, but they gave us extra attention because they "belonged to us." Once our team was assigned to CC. That was the best CC lunch we hadve ever had. They had special food for my daughter already waiting and when they saw us, they went in the back and got it. So for breakfast and lunch eat anywhere you choose, but you have a 1:4 chance of getting your team.

Now as far as tipping. There are many past threads on this. I will try to find one for you. Yes it is assumed you will tip for the baby. You are not paying anything else for them but taxes and fees. So it is assumed. Now as far as dinner goes... If you are just breast/bottle feeding then you may have a point of not tipping your Dinner service team. If that baby will be in FLounders during your dinner time, then you have a point. If you are bringing the baby in a stroller and the assist server is needing to navigate around it, position the stroller for you, then I do not know if you have a good point. If the baby is needing a highchair, they set that up, they clean it before and after, they position everything so to accommadate the baby. They mat the table for the baby, then again I think you should tip. If your baby is eatting solids, they bring pureed food, if you have your own, they heat it for you. They even bring extra dishes for you. They will bring additional crackers, they will even bring applesauce, they will bring water/containers to heat bottles. They do a lot. They pick up all those little Cherrios on the floor. I think it is easier to take care of adults than kids.... So depending on your baby's age; depends on if I would side with or opposite of you about the dinner staff.

Now as far as your SRH.... For sure you should tip for a baby. They bring you a diaper genie and as my friend said, they emptied the genie even before the breastmilk had gone through the babies intestine. They make up your baby's bed many times a day and tip toe around baby's nap time. They bring things to heat bottles and thake that stuff away when you are done. They will bring a fridge if needed and keep that tucked so neat away. They give you extra towels and take those away. If a crawling baby, they even pay extra special detail to cleaning the floor everyday three times a day. These guys more than deserve a tip for an infant. They fold your stroller when needed and if a DCL stroller, they will even take it away and bring it back when needed. These guys do so much extra for our little bundles I can not even think of everything.

Not paying anything else for the baby but taxes? They are charging the same price for Colin as they are for me. I didn't know they do all of that for a baby, I didn't know they will puree the food etc...wow, that's worth a tip from Colin for sure. I am just suprised at all of the things they provide for a baby. Most places ignore the fact that you have a baby, besides bringing out a highchair.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Not paying anything else for the baby but taxes? They are charging the same price for Colin as they are for me. I didn't know they do all of that for a baby, I didn't know they will puree the food etc...wow, that's worth a tip from Colin for sure. I am just suprised at all of the things they provide for a baby. Most places ignore the fact that you have a baby, besides bringing out a highchair.

I would recheck your ressie that his DOB is accurate. Children under 3 only pay taxes and port fees.
DCL is not just about making kids happy. They don't like to see frustrated, exasperated parents either.
This is service waaay beyond what you see/get in WDW.

At busy breakfast buffet I was trying to find an empty for our group of 6, (me, dh, our 2 kids, my parents) I found one quickly but it was missing 2 chairs. I wanted to save the table while mom took my kids through the buffet line but then she started to make me a tray. When I asked her to wait, I'd get it myself or it will be cold by the time I get to it, (in a barely noticeable frustrated tone) a crew member with an Aussie accent dropped in out of no where and said, "Ma'am, what I can do to help you right now?" He got us 2 more chairs in no time and heard me mention to my mom that I needed to go find dh who was wandering around looking for an empty table. He asked for a description of him and set off to look for him. Too bad dh's description is same as 90% of the dads on the ship. He tried anyway and apologized when he couldn't find him.

I was amazed and wish I caught his name.

Anyway, long story to say they want you to have a great vacation too, not just kiddies!

 

[kcashner]

Children under 3 USED TO pay only port taxes and government fees. They now pay a cruise fare also. This started in 2010. It was initially 1/2 of the 3+ year old fare.

If you are seeing an infant charged the same amount as an adult, there is a serious problem! Call your TA immediately. They will be charged the same taxes and government fees (everyone is charged the same for this as they are assessed per passenger; this is NOT money that DCL gets to keep!)

They will do whatever you need for your child--try to keep him entertained, dance him around the dining room (with your permission), puree food, bring special food, etc.

 

[Edd]

Babies are not usually on most other cruises. DCL has the Disney characters that a baby recognizes and enjoys, therefor is in a much better position to take care of the babies. I wouldn't carry a baby on any other cruise but DCL.

 

[AWHOFAN]

You do not have your regular server for breakfast and/or lunch. they follow you for dinner.

As for tipping....I guess that is a personal decision. Be prepared for people to disagree with you. If the baby is 3 months old and literally eatting NOTHING then I could see your point. If the baby is old enough to be given fruits/veggies that have been mashed up and/or delivered by the servers then it might be another story. I have always tipped for my twins and they have been cruising since they were 8 months old.

Jess

I AGREE with above. That said this is how PEOPLE MAKE A LIVING. Would you like the bread winner to go to work and the boss say "no money for you today just work for free". I work in a tipping, grautity job and thats how we make our living and are able to go on our first Disney cruise. Another way to look at "Have you ever gave a bum a dollar to get away from you, no service no help just begging" A worker is only trying to make your day better by working many hours and no days off. 2010

 

[anna08]

When my children were highchair users was when I tipped servers the most at restaurants - there was always extra clean up under their chair that the rest of us did not generate!

 

[smoof]

I will tell you, I don't know the right answer to this, but I will say we cruised with another family who had a 5 month old, and although she wasn't served a meal, the servers did serve her. As I said, she was 5 months old, tiny. So, she didn't fit in a high chair. They got her propped up safely every night, and offered to bring anything to her.

 

[atinkerbellmom]

Not paying anything else for the baby but taxes? They are charging the same price for Colin as they are for me. I didn't know they do all of that for a baby, I didn't know they will puree the food etc...wow, that's worth a tip from Colin for sure. I am just suprised at all of the things they provide for a baby. Most places ignore the fact that you have a baby, besides bringing out a highchair.

Children under 3 USED TO pay only port taxes and government fees. They now pay a cruise fare also. This started in 2010. It was initially 1/2 of the 3+ year old fare.

If you are seeing an infant charged the same amount as an adult, there is a serious problem! Call your TA immediately. They will be charged the same taxes and government fees (everyone is charged the same for this as they are assessed per passenger; this is NOT money that DCL gets to keep!)

They will do whatever you need for your child--try to keep him entertained, dance him around the dining room (with your permission), puree food, bring special food, etc.

Okay, I have just gone to price an example for you and I guess Kcashner must be right in that they are charge a little extra now, but for sure not full fare. I know when my relatives went in December 2009, they totally made out, because the toddler was 2 years old when they boarded and turned 3 3 days into the cruise. She got the best of both worlds because they only charged her the $268 for cruise taxes and port fees. When we traveled with DD 6 years ago this was the case as well. Well, I just priced out a cruise as an example and the price went up $388 for the infant. I want to say that if the rules have changed, then the fare they are charging still is not the full price of let's say a 3 year old. The ONLY way an infant pays the same fare as you is if the infant and you are the only 2 people booked to that room. This is the case with any baby/child. Rooms are booked on Double Occupancy; so this reason and only this reason should they charge you that price. Call DCL, even if you booked through a TA. Ask them to price out a cruise for you; the same one you are going on with your same category room with the same ages of people cruising. Once they give you the final price; then ask them to give you the breakdown of each price. Each person's fare, taxes, all goverment fees and insurance. You will see that you are not paying the same price for him. If you used a TA and was given a different price; then looks like you need to call your TA. Enjoy your cruise.

 

[Disney Vegas]

Children under 3 USED TO pay only port taxes and government fees. They now pay a cruise fare also. This started in 2010. It was initially 1/2 of the 3+ year old fare.

If you are seeing an infant charged the same amount as an adult, there is a serious problem! Call your TA immediately. They will be charged the same taxes and government fees (everyone is charged the same for this as they are assessed per passenger; this is NOT money that DCL gets to keep!)

They will do whatever you need for your child--try to keep him entertained, dance him around the dining room (with your permission), puree food, bring special food, etc.

I called the cruise lines 2 seperate times (once, before he was even born) and said "you KNOW he's not even 1 yrs old and he won't be eating or drinking much of anything and if he does it will be 1/8th of what we are taking in, so is this correct? I have to pay full price for a baby who isn't using the services provided the way an adult would? and both times they said YES, age 0 to adults pay FULL price even if they are 1 week old, there are no discounts of any kind unless they are running a special, and so far, they are not.

 

[kcashner]

Are you saying they pay the full child's rate? Because that's what I'm seeing when I look up prices.

For instance, June 13 Wonder 5 night sailing, cat 6 first 2 passengers total $3768 (1884 each). Third passenger is $1204 if 12 or under, add $80 if over 12. 4th passenger in same cabin is same as 3rd. These prices include ALL taxes and government fees.

Same cruise, cat 9 First 2 $3088 (1544 each), 3rd (under 13) $1134.
Same cruise cat 12, first 2 $2308(1154 each) 3rd (under 13) $1064

I picked this date/category at random. Granted, this is a lot more than I paid a year ago, but then both ships were sailing out of Florida.

So, if your infant is the 3rd or 4th person in the cabin, he/she would not be paying the same fare that you are in any category.

 

[tjbaggott]

Perhaps the infant is the 2nd person in the cabin if it's only he and his mom in that cabin. In that case, Yes, the infant, regardless of age would pay full adult fare, wouldn't he? I'm sure thats the way it goes.

As for tipping, I had issues on my very first cruise about tipping for our youngest too. At least I did until I saw all they were doing for him, then of course I tipped for him as well, and chided myself for having issues with it in the first place LOL.

 

[b00kw0rm429]

And on NCL, they no longer call it an automatic tip, it is a daily service charge and can not be reduced. The assumption was too many people were trying to reduce the tip, or not tip at all.
Even in a restaurant on land I have an issue with tipping a percentage of the bill. Does the person work any harder serving me a $20 entree than a $5 entree? Why should they get a tip that is 4 times bigger just because I bought the steak instead of the burger?

Speaking on the size of the tip regarding the bill...Servers pay taxes which are determined by their sales. Hourly salary is about $3 these days. If every person paid a set fee, let's say $3 on whatever they ordered, servers might be paying taxes on money they didn't get...Serving is a difficult job, I don't advocate paying a hefty tip if the server was terrible. I was a server in the past and have little patience for incompetence...just pay what is deserved, adding to or subtracting from as needed, but keep in mind that servers must declare sales. If your bill is bigger, servers pay more in taxes.

 

[Disney Vegas]

Perhaps the infant is the 2nd person in the cabin if it's only he and his mom in that cabin. In that case, Yes, the infant, regardless of age would pay full adult fare, wouldn't he? I'm sure thats the way it goes.

As for tipping, I had issues on my very first cruise about tipping for our youngest too. At least I did until I saw all they were doing for him, then of course I tipped for him as well, and chided myself for having issues with it in the first place LOL.

That's right, it is only myself and the baby in my cat. 11 room and it is $900 for each of us.

 

[Edd]

All rooms on all ships are sold at Double Occupancy price. That means the first two persons in the room pay the full amount, everything. I go single on RCCL once in a while and I am charged double for the room less the port taxes and some other charges that a second person would normally occur.

 

[ibouncetoo]

That's right, it is only myself and the baby in my cat. 11 room and it is $900 for each of us.

There you go.

If it would make you feel any better, you could look at it this way (I am the queen of rationalization)

For you to take the cruise by yourself it would cost you $1350 (due to the single supplement charge, as all cabins are based on double occupancy, as mentioned). So you are then paying $450 to bring your infant along with you. (Figures 'generalized', port taxes etc would modify amounts)

.