Tipping is it really necessary??!!

[Michelle2]

Allow me to walk you through a day of a server or asst server on DCL. They are in their dining room for breakfast by 6:30am, where they work thorugh multiple seatings of patrons, then immedeatly being setting up for lunch. Generally they more to a different dining room or to Topsiders, where they clear tables, refill drinks, make sure the buffet is stocked and everyone is happy in the dining room. This continues until appx 2:30-3:00, where they then get a break for a little over an hour. Around 4:30 they are back at their dining room preparing for the first rotation of guests...they run for you countless times, fill your drinks, get your food, wipe up spills, and entertain your children. Sometimes they perform a show for you too. This continues for the next 6 hours, then they begin setting up the dining room for tomorrow. They leave the dinin g room usually a little after 11:00. They work for you all day, whether you see them or not, and they make $50 a month from Disney. They do this 7 days a week, with no day off until their contract ends. Your room steward? He gets 4 hours of sleep a night, max.
Also allow me to point out that they are not college students "out for an experience". These are adult men and women from other countries, with families to support. Their bills at home don't go away jsut because they are sharing a shoe box sized room on a boat. Many of them have multiple children at home. They don't leave their families for months on end for a great experience, it's to make a living to support their family. If they make more than you, it's because they probably work harder and longer hours than you, and they sacrifice a lot to be there to support their families. They work to give you the vacation you pay for that they could never imagine bringing their children on. Sacrifice buying a drink at the pool every day or another Disney sweatshirt that will get stuffed in the closet when you get home to show these people that you recognize and appreciate their hard work.

As a person that worked as a server while I was in college, I assure you that $2.83/hr doesnt go very far. It pays your taxes and thats about it. Tipping is your paycheck, and there is nothing more frustrating than working your butt off to give your customer quality service and provide them with everything they ask and to be left with nothing. Would you work for free? I don't think so. 15% in a restaraunt is a base line, exceptional service should be rewarded with more.

I totally agree, I was thinking the same things.

We love to cruise and we tip with how much we can afford. We have far more expenses with a cruise then just the cruise it self. But I don't think that I need to justify my reasons on here because obviously it will just be twisted and turned anyways! So good for you I commend the ones that tip no matter how the service is. I guess you are just a better person then the rest of us that tip according to the service!

Your posts confuse me greatly. First you said you tip what you can afford, but then say that you tip based on service....which is it?
I think maybe that is why people may seem like they are twisting and turning your statements around because you seem to contradict yourself here and there. First you make it seem that you are not tipping because of the strict budget and cruise cost, but then say that you reserve the right to tip based on the service.

If it is the first scenario (tip what you can afford), that's awful. I am not name calling or bashing, but I truly would feel sorry for the servers you get.
If it is the second scenario (tip based on service), then alot of people do not have a problem with that. I know that we all appreciate our right to judge what tip is given based on service standards. Most of the comments I have seen on this thread have agreed in some form or another.

I just think most people are confused is all, I know I am. It really can only be one or the other, and both are cited.

 

[perdy1234]

We are cruising on a tight budget so yes we will be tipping based on what we can afford and on how the service is. I am not going to tip if the service isn't there why would I?? Why would anyone?? Tipping is a voluntary action. It is neither a expectation nor a obligation. The cm take these jobs based on wages and so forth not on tips. Yes they are told that they can make up to a certain amount on tips but nothing with tips is a guarantee therefore they shouldn't be relying on this as part of their wages. Its all a matter of opinon and how you look at things.

 

[sunshine1259]

Why is it so wrong to only tip what you can afford to tip? Maybe that is partly what is wrong with the economy today.

In my opinion, you then should only order/pay for what you will be able to minimumly tip. I have done this on occasion. If I have X amount of dollars, I try to to order what I will have tip enough for.

And I agree with you. That is what is wrong with this ecomony. People buying things that they can't afford to pay for. And that includes things that tipping is recommended.

 

[Forever42]

Why is it so wrong to only tip what you can afford to tip? Maybe that is partly what is wrong with the economy today.

So then why did you choose one of the most expensive weeks of the year to cruise and take excursions, if you "can't afford" to add on tips? That right there is purchasing more than you can pay for. There are many, many more affordable weeks during the year to cruise, even if you're using DVC points.

 

[DCLMan]

Why would you go on a cruise line if you expected the service to be bad??

I'm not saying the service is going to be bad. I'm talking in general terms.

 

[adlgel]

If you have $100 to spend on a dinner out, you don't go somewhere and order $100 worth of food and drink- that would either imply that you have no intent to tip (even though you seem to be aware of the fact that these individuals are paid well below minimum wage specifically because they are expected to receive significant $ in tips that would cover the difference) or you assume the service will be so bad that no tip would be warranted (again previous posters have raised the question about why go somewhere that the service is assumed to be so bad you wouldn't tip). The vast majority of people order about $85 worth of food so that they have money to cover tax and tip. If the service is not acceptable, then yes, don't tip but that decision is made during and after the meal experience, not before.

It does certainly sound like from your previous posts that you are either 1.) assuming the service will be so bad that no tip will be necessary or 2.) not intending to tip because you want/need to use that money to cover the cost of your cruise, excursions, etc. In my opinion, both of these scenarios show a lack of courtesy or respect for the people providing the service to you on this cruise. They certainly are assuming that tips will make up a vast majority of their wages so thank goodness for them that most people do not appear to think as you do when it comes to tipping.

 

[Disneynut25]

If the service is poor why should you tip at all?

I think it's absurd to leave a tip if you receive poor service..... I do not tip at all if I receive poor service!!! If the service is fair then I leave the standard 15%. If the service is exceptional then I leave 20% or more......

 

[perdy1234]

I think it's absurd to leave a tip if you receive poor service..... I do not tip at all if I receive poor service!!! If the service is fair then I leave the standard 15%. If the service is exceptional then I leave 20% or more......

Thank you that is exactly my point!

We are cruising this time of year because of events going to in my life that make this trip very important to take this year and during this time. I guess that the United Stated has very different standards than what I am used too. Where I live people are paid a decent wage and the tips are bonus.

 

[Anal Annie]

We are cruising on a tight budget so yes we will be tipping based on what we can afford and on how the service is. I am not going to tip if the service isn't there why would I?? Why would anyone?? Tipping is a voluntary action. It is neither a expectation nor a obligation. The cm take these jobs based on wages and so forth not on tips. Yes they are told that they can make up to a certain amount on tips but nothing with tips is a guarantee therefore they shouldn't be relying on this as part of their wages. Its all a matter of opinon and how you look at things.

I keep following this thread like I'm watching a train wreck happen or something. It sounds like you are assuming that your service is going to be THAT bad before you even go that you can justify not tipping. Maybe in your mind you've already decided that it's going to be that bad. And as someone else asked, WHY would you go & book a cruise on one of THE most expensive cruiselines at THE most expensive time of the year on a ship where your expectations are SO low?! You know from reading these boards that the majority of the people are VERY happy with the service they have received on DCL. Your expectations must be WAY out there somewhere. There is no way in the world I would ever compare DCL service to Applebee's or McDonald's! In fact, we consider our Applebee's service to be so bad that we ONLY do curbside takeout so we don't have to put up with the service. IF we thought DCL was that bad we certainly would never return as you obviously are.

Perdy, nobody can wrap their minds around this whole thing that you've got going here! You're here...you're there...this reason...that reason...bottom line, it sounds like you don't want to tip. Period. The title of your thread is "Is tipping really necessary"? What does that say?

Yes, tipping in this situation is voluntary, but it is also expected. If your service is THAT bad you should be speaking to the dining room manager and if that doesn't fix it then you need to make a formal complaint with Guest Services or something. You should not tolerate it just so you can say you didn't think they deserved a tip so you can save yourself a couple hundred bucks. That really is a drop in the bucket.

 

[Forever42]

Thank you that is exactly my point!

We are cruising this time of year because of events going to in my life that make this trip very important to take this year and during this time. I guess that the United Stated has very different standards than what I am used too. Where I live people are paid a decent wage and the tips are bonus.

So then the right thing to do is to include base tips as a necessary cost in the cruise, and budget on top of that. Yes, if that means you have to skip an excursion or do it on your own, or not buy certain things, or book a different category, or book a lower hotel room the night before the cruise, then that is the right thing to do.

What you're saying in the end is that you don't want to pay for things that you don't see a "direct benefit" from. Since you get an item when you purchase a souvenir you're willing to do that, but since you don't have something in your pocket when you tip, you're not willing to tip.

Yes, it is different in the US, and as others have said, the right thing to do is to go with US customs.

Edit: if we're also going to go down the "well they knew that going in" for the people who work for DCL, they were told that they would receive tips for their services. The "average pay" that you see floating around DOES include tips.

 

[perdy1234]

Opinon doesn't really seem to matter on here does it!? I do not share the same view as many of you on here. But I know that there are others that do. Everyone is entitled to tip as they please. Thank you for your opinions and recommendations. I am going to have a wonderful time on my cruise as its a chance to forget everything else in a person's life. I hope that everyone else has a wonderful cruise as well. Disney is truly magical and I think that is what everyone needs to remember!

 

[sunshine1259]

So then the right thing to do is to include base tips as a necessary cost in the cruise, and budget on top of that. Yes, if that means you have to skip an excursion or do it on your own, or not buy certain things, or book a different category, or book a lower hotel room the night before the cruise, then that is the right thing to do.

What you're saying in the end is that you don't want to pay for things that you don't see a "direct benefit" from. Since you get an item when you purchase a souvenir you're willing to do that, but since you don't have something in your pocket when you tip, you're not willing to tip.

Yes, it is different in the US, and as others have said, the right thing to do is to go with US customs.

Edit: if we're also going to go down the "well they knew that going in" for the people who work for DCL, they were told that they would receive tips for their services. The "average pay" that you see floating around DOES include tips.

The same could be said for people going on cruises. They know going in that tips are recommended and therefore, should budget accordingly.

 

[perdy1234]

The same could be said for people going on cruises. They know going in that tips are recommended and therefore, should budget accordingly.

Exactly tips are recommended not required!

Just a quick note to let eveyone know that I have decided to cancel all of our excursions and set that money aside for tipping. This way I know that I will have enough money to cover tips. I will still tip according to the service but will make sure that I still tip. Thank you for your advice and helping me see why people tip!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Some thoughts....

If someone goes on a vacation expecting bad service at a place,-Do not book it.

Disney has the highest standards of service, their staff work very hard, and then Tips which are clearly stated at booking, in FAVQ's on cruise information, on tickets should be paid.

If in the unlikely event that service is bad, you speak to a head server or guest services and they will correct it, so any adjustment should be minimal as it is in your power to ensure you have the best vacation ever.

Tipping in most cruise lines is tradition, we might agree/disagree with it, but the staff work for us very hard and justify our full recognition and appropriate compensation for the great time.

 

[29apr00]

Thank you that is exactly my point!

We are cruising this time of year because of events going to in my life that make this trip very important to take this year and during this time. I guess that the United Stated has very different standards than what I am used too. Where I live people are paid a decent wage and the tips are bonus.

But you are not cruising where you live. You are cruising with a company whose employee's are expecting a tip for the service they provide you.

Opinon doesn't really seem to matter on here does it!? I do not share the same view as many of you on here. But I know that there are others that do. Everyone is entitled to tip as they please. Thank you for your opinions and recommendations. I am going to have a wonderful time on my cruise as its a chance to forget everything else in a person's life. I hope that everyone else has a wonderful cruise as well. Disney is truly magical and I think that is what everyone needs to remember!

Disney is magical but their service isn't tip-worthy?? If you had such horrible dining room service on your last trip, don't eat in the dining room this time. Then your waiter would not be working for free.

 

[perdy1234]

Last time on our cruise we were not sure how to go about complaining about the service. How do you complain about the service and to who so that we are better prepared this time? We probably won't be eating in the dining rooms much on this cruise but hopefully if we do the service will be better than the last time

 

[goofy4tink]

In response to the above post from jship210 I am speaking from experience on our previous dcl cruise. None of things happened for us in the dining room and yes I have had better service at an Applebees and I tipped the lady for it. Calling a person scrooge like, and if I can sleep at night comments is bashing and uncalled for. I appreciate actual comments pertaining to why youtip or how you tip but not the riduculing. That is just uncalled for. When I am paying thousands of dollards for a cruise I do have a certain height of standards that I expect to be meant if I am going to tip accordingly. We love to cruise and we tip with how much we can afford. We have far more expenses with a cruise then just the cruise it self. But I don't think that I need to justify my reasons on here because obviously it will just be twisted and turned anyways! So good for you I commend the ones that tip no matter how the service is. I guess you are just a better person then the rest of us that tip according to the service!

Okay..how about this as a solution? I can well understand not wanting to tip when you got less than stellar service...truly I can. Why not put money aside, assuming you are going to get service that is just out of this world. Then, by the end of your trip, if you find that the service just did not warrant the tip, don't pay it. BUT...I would also make a note, for the powers that be, as to why you aren't tipping at the 'recommended' rate.

I see where some have said that where they come from tipping isn't the norm. But, here in the USA it is considered the norm. I said it before....if I go someplace with different customs, I learn about them so as to not offend anyone. When in the US, it is customary to tip. That's the bottom line.

perdy...I noticed you said that you had cancelled your excursions in order to be able to tip appropriatly. That's commendable. But be careful...you may now have a really great expectation of what the service should be. You've done away with fun times for your family, so if things don't measure up, you're sure to feel really badly toward your servers.
I would just try to save a bit extra for tipping, and keep some fun excursions.
But, again, no one should feel pressured to tip for less than good service. And you need to let someone know about the bad service, otherwise, that CM will continue giving bad service, and others will suffer as well.

 

[goofy4tink]

Last time on our cruise we were not sure how to go about complaining about the service. How do you complain about the service and to who so that we are better prepared this time? We probably won't be eating in the dining rooms much on this cruise but hopefully if we do the service will be better than the last time

Good question..not really sure. Maybe the Guest Services area could point you in the right direction.

 

[mommasita]

Last time on our cruise we were not sure how to go about complaining about the service. How do you complain about the service and to who so that we are better prepared this time? We probably won't be eating in the dining rooms much on this cruise but hopefully if we do the service will be better than the last time

Guest Services would be a start. I would not let it go, if the quality was not there.

 

[adlgel]

The first course of action would be to share your concerns with any instances of poor service in the dining rooms with your head server. Most of the time they stop by your table the first night (ours stopped by just about every night) to ask you how everything is. They are always in the dining room during the dinner service, so even if they don't stop at your table you can find them in the dining room to express any concerns you may have.

During my recent cruise, our head server stopped by during the middle of the cruise to ask how things were going and if there was anything they could do to improve our experience. We took that opportunity to let him know that while very friendly and accomodating, our server spoke very softly and it was sometimes difficult to hear him. I would not decrease my tip because of this particular feedback, but I did think it was feedback that would be useful for the server to hear.

If the head server does not seem to do anything to address your concerns, you can go to Guest Services to see what can be done. My experience is that you need to be very specific with the concern and with its severity - i.e., it if is just minor feedback you should say so - if it is significantly affecting your dining experience in a negative way you should also make that clear. We had an issue with a door on the deck directly below our cabin slamming all night long. After 3 calls to Guest Services and it still hadn't been fixed, I expressed my opinions about the situation very calmly but very clearly and said that I was not leaving the Guest Services desk until the problem was adequately resolved to make sure they understood how much of a problem it was.