Tipping question

[tbuot]

Please don't flame me...

We are cruising with our 2 yr. old and our 5 yr. old ....

Question do you include the small children in the per person/per cruise tipping? I would be inclined to tip out for the 5 yr. old but not sure about the 2 yr. old.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

All passengers are included in the suggested tipping.

 

[ducklite]

Your servers and stateroom host will also be serving the two year old, and cleaning up after them. If anything, it's more work to keep a two year old happy. So absolutely you should tip for them.

We just got off a week on the Magic. We were in a Cat 3 suite with only three of us. This suite holds five. We tipped our host for five. He worked his butt off for us, everything from taking care of dry cleaning/pressing, keeping the room spotless (yes, I actually did the white glove test and could NOT find dust, even in out fo the way places), making great towel animals, etc.

We also tipped out dining room servers about 50% over the suggested amount. We gave prepaid phone cards to the staff of Common Grounds (there are five of them), and Godiva chocolates to our concierge's.

Anne

 

[tbuot]

thanks for your info. I wasn't trying to imply that the servers etc. don't work hard and don't deserve to be tipped. I was just needed some info.

 

[SweetSpot]

ducklite:

Did you find that they like the idea of receiving phone cards or should I be looking for something else? Do they provide envelopes for the other people or do you tip them on Friday night? I love the Godiva idea and phone cards are so easy to travel with. What type did you buy? I have no idea what type of card would be the best for their needs. Any idea of how many I would need if I have kids in the Oceanears Clubs (1 in 7 age group and 2 in 10-12)? Are there other people who provided a service for you that weren't within the normal tipping guidelines that you brought a tip for?

Sorry for so many questions.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by SweetSpot
ducklite:

Did you find that they like the idea of receiving phone cards or should I be looking for something else? Do they provide envelopes for the other people or do you tip them on Friday night? I love the Godiva idea and phone cards are so easy to travel with. What type did you buy? I have no idea what type of card would be the best for their needs. Any idea of how many I would need if I have kids in the Oceanears Clubs (1 in 7 age group and 2 in 10-12)? Are there other people who provided a service for you that weren't within the normal tipping guidelines that you brought a tip for?

Sorry for so many questions.

OK, as long as you asked...here is who we tipped or gave a little "something" to...

Room Steward, tipped close to 50% above the suggested amount, plus gave him a prepaid phone card (AT&T 500(?) minutes.)

Dining room head server, tipped about 50% over and gave a Disney trading pin only avaliable in NYC (Minnie as the Statue of Liberty)

Dining room server--about 50% over plus a 1/2 lb. box of Godiva chocolates.

Dining room assistant server--about 50% over plus a Minnie pin.

Concierge (two of them) 1 lb boxes of Godiva chocolates for each.

Common Grounds prepaid phone cards for each of five counselors.

Palo's servers... cash tip $10 for brunch, $20 for dinner, $5 for tea. This was on top of the "service charge" and automatic 15% gratuity on alcohol. We also took a 1/2 box of Godivas to Erika on the last evening.

For our server, head server, asst. server, room steward, the two concierge, and Erika, I also handwrote a thank you note on note cards I had brought from home. I was glad I did, because the phone cards and pins wouldn't have fit in the tip envelopes they provide. My son delivered the phone cards to the Common Grounds staff, and said they were thrilled to get them. One said as soon as they docked he was going to use it to call his mom They only provided envelopes for the people they suggest you tip.

I also gave the Minnie pins to the two guys who brought breakfast every morning on Friday, in addition to tipping them $5 every morning.

The Godivas did take a lot of space in my suitcase, but it came in handy to take home the souveniers I purchased The ladies who got them were absolutely thrilled

Anne

 

[SweetSpot]

Thank you ducklite! I have added thank you notes and phone cards to my packing list. Do you or does anyone out there know how many counselors there are in the kids clubs? I don't want to take a chance of forgetting someone who helped make my trip special. I really believe good service should be rewarded because it is so rare today.

 

[wovenwonder]

Do you or does anyone out there know how many counselors there are in the kids clubs? I don't want to take a chance of forgetting someone who helped make my trip special. I really believe good service should be rewarded because it is so rare today

Look at the sample kids clubs navigators - they list the names of the couselors that were in the clubs for that particular week. You will likely have different people -- but it would give you a pretty good idea as to how many to count on.
www.dcltribute.com
www.castawayclub.com

 

[wovenwonder]

I know that you meant to say a 1/2 pound box -- but it made me chuckle to think of you eating 1/2 the box and giving the rest to Erika!

 

[SweetSpot]

Thank you wovenwonder. I counted 12 for the 5 -7 group and 10 for the 10 -12 group. I'm going to check Sam's for cards. Hopefully they carry the correct type of cards.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by SweetSpot
Thank you wovenwonder. I counted 12 for the 5 -7 group and 10 for the 10 -12 group. I'm going to check Sam's for cards. Hopefully they carry the correct type of cards.

Yup! That's where I bought mine. I wanted to make sure that they would work for International calls and be reliable, so I bought the ATT, even though there might have been a few that were less expensive out there.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by wovenwonder
I know that you meant to say a 1/2 pound box -- but it made me chuckle to think of you eating 1/2 the box and giving the rest to Erika!

Can you imagine? EEEWWWWWW!!!

Anne

 

[4crusinransiers]

We also tipped far above the suggested amount. The service is outstanding! I wish we would have did the phone card thing too.
These people work hard and thier main sorce of income is the tips they get. To be away from their familys gor 6 months at a time, the phone cards are probably well appreciated!