Tipping "rant" by our assistant server

[lbgraves]

Does anyone know if DCL makes up for those that stiff the cm's?

No company does that.

We have not yet cruised but hope to this October. What are the percentages? We'd be a family of four(2 adults, 2 pre-teen DDs) on a 7 day Wonder.

I use to be a server and think of myself as a good tipper, usually 20% if not more.

Just curious how much we're talking? I would be extremely annoyed with some of the situations OPs have described, but I can't imagine not tipping at all. Like many here, I would tend to add on to the CMs who provided wonderful service.

The suggested tip is $12 pp per day for all tipped positions. This breaks down to $4 per day pp for server [food], $3 per day pp for assistant server [drinks], $1 per day pp for head server [manager of the serving station and responsible for behind the scene smoothness of meal along with helping on the floor when needed], and $4 pp per day for your room host.

I look at the servers' tips like this. For your family of four, that means $29 per day will cover tips for all your meals. At 20%, that would cover $145 of meals for your family over the course of the entire day -- your choice of buffet or sit down breakfast; your choice of buffet, sit down or quick service for lunch; and your choice of sit down meal in the MDR or Cabanas/TS/BB or quick service for dinner. If you have at least one sit down meal per day at WDW it is going to cost you WAY more than $145. DCL has it set up where everyone tips their dinner servers and not each server they come in contact with during the day. All of them rotate to staff the quick service and buffet at other meals, but are in their assigned MDR with you at dinner. Since that is the consistent CM you come in contact with, that is who you tip. If everyone tips their servers as suggested, then all of them will receive the appropriate amount -- as long as they have given good service that is.

 

[ZoeBell]

I think it's common from the folks on this board, but not the general public. The people I know who've cruised before (either Disney or otherwise) just pay the suggested tips and leave. They never even think about tipping more. I've asked them. Granted, this is maybe 5 different families, so I don't have a lot to go on

When I cruised in January I tipped the recommended amount for 3 of us. Didn't even think about tipping more. No complaints except for the "Excellent" speech. I didn't feel the service was magical. Service was great if not for a feeling of "Forced". You know the tricks, the small talk, etc. Some of it just seemed alittle rehearsed and like I said, forced. But I'm not judging, I actually felt sorry for our servers. Between my ears being plugged from the plane and both of their heavy accents it became a joke as the week went on.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

The suggested tip is $12 pp per day for all tipped positions. This breaks down to $4 per day pp for server [food], $3 per day pp for assistant server [drinks], $1 per day pp for head server [manager of the serving station and responsible for behind the scene smoothness of meal along with helping on the floor when needed], and $4 pp per day for your room host.

I look at the servers' tips like this. For your family of four, that means $29 per day will cover tips for all your meals. At 20%, that would cover $145 of meals for your family over the course of the entire day -- your choice of buffet or sit down breakfast; your choice of buffet, sit down or quick service for lunch; and your choice of sit down meal in the MDR or Cabanas/TS/BB or quick service for dinner. If you have at least one sit down meal per day at WDW it is going to cost you WAY more than $145. DCL has it set up where everyone tips their dinner servers and not each server they come in contact with during the day. All of them rotate to staff the quick service and buffet at other meals, but are in their assigned MDR with you at dinner. Since that is the consistent CM you come in contact with, that is who you tip. If everyone tips their servers as suggested, then all of them will receive the appropriate amount -- as long as they have given good service that is.

Thank you so much!! I greatly appreciate this info. This amount does not seem like very much at all.

 

[Aggiefan92]

We prepaid our tips. Does that include room steward? If you don't prepay, is the $12 per person per day automatically put on your bill? Do some people actually not pay that or they allowed to negotiate down and pay less? I'd hate for waitstaff to get shorted by thoughtless passengers that think hey we can save $100-$200 if we tip less.

 

[danfromca]

Here's one "tip" to keep in mind...

The dining service on DCL really is part of the magic - it's why many of us are willing to pay the higher prices that DCL charges compared to other cruise lines. So it's ok to expect competent, if not excellent service.

If you're not getting it, have a word with the head waiter. That's what they are there for.

On one of my cruises, the assistant server on the first night was a great disappointment - competent, but never smiled - almost surly. The main server did was indeed excellent, but the assistant was quite the downer.

So after the meal I went to the head server and described our experience - that she was competent, but it wasn't the "magical" experience we had come to expect.

The next evening you could tell she was making a real effort, and we appreciated it. I expect she had a tough conversation with the head waiter, but at the end of the day she got a bigger tip (at least from us), than she would have had we just put up with it.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I find the whole cruise tipping business rather annoying--and complicated.

As I understand it, the servers have no idea what tip they are getting until the last day??? Prepaid or not?? Extra or not??? Perhaps nothing????

I know it's a tough thing since you aren't paying for your meal as in a restaurant, but isn't there a better way to do this????

We're going on our very first cruise in Oct. (Fantasy) and already I'm bewildered (and a bit irritated) by this whole tipping business---

PS--We always tip 20% to our bartender or servers at "regular" restaurants.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I find the whole cruise tipping business rather annoying--and complicated.

As I understand it, the servers have no idea what tip they are getting until the last day??? Prepaid or not?? Extra or not??? Perhaps nothing????

I know it's a tough thing since you aren't paying for your meal as in a restaurant, but isn't there a better way to do this????

We're going on our very first cruise in Oct. (Fantasy) and already I'm bewildered (and a bit irritated) by this whole tipping business---

PS--We always tip 20% to our bartender or servers at "regular" restaurants.

I think it HAS gotten somewhat complicated over the yrs. If memory serves, in the decades growing up cruising, ALL of the tips were handled the last night in what I will call the "envelope ceremony." Partly nice partly awkward and glad to have it off your chest.

I suspect due to many many people over the yrs stiffing the servers, the cruise lines started using the convenience of the OBC.. Prob because people used up their cash and didn't have any left at the end of the trip.

On my several last CCLs, we left the tipping on the obc but absolutely nothing warranted anything else. (We usually tip room steward more but.the dining was awful. We were just inconvenient to them.)I also don't remember getting envelopes either. A few at the table did give more cash but it was just handed to them. However DCL providing the specific envelopes I'm sure DOES improve the likely hood that they will get more in tips. I don't think CCL bothered. DCLs WAS more complicated like they have tried to combine the old and the new systems together. But it was fine. We tore off the sheet for each server and added the cash we wanted and stuck it his envelope. It was awkward, it actually eased my conscience because it was the best best service I had had in prob 3 yrs. Even our head waiter warranted more tip! We saw him the entire dinner service and he handled at least two or three requests personally.

Tipping is very individual and I don't see it becoming all inclusive any time soon.

I can remember just about all my envelope ceremonies going back to 11 yrs old...

 

[shaned]

DH and myself have been on 1 cruise the Disney Magic, our servers Bradford and Allessandro were great. The only time Bradford mention about the card and excellent service was the first night, Bradford was very out going and Allessandro was more quieter. Allessandro was very attentive to our drinks. Always had our drinks waiting for us as we got to our table. We left more than the recommend amount for both of them and the room stewart.

 

[DisneyNurse19]

This will surprise most of you as i am from the UK and yes i always tip. I get very embarrassed when going out with friends in the UK and they don't want to tip. I will still leave the right amount (10% in the UK) and i know the server will not know that it was from me and not my friends but it makes me feel better.

In the US i will always leave 20% as 'When in Rome' , you do as the Romans do !

CM's in tipped positions do get a small wage but they are expected to make this up with tips, which they do, well above what other CM's get paid who are not in tipped positions

 

[luv2sleep]

I annoyed that the AS was so unprofessional as to complain about or discuss tips period.

I don't like handing out the tip envelopes. I'd rather them see their tips after I've left. Now that they are prepaid do we still have to do that or can they get them from guest services?

 

[DisneyNurse19]

I annoyed that the AS was so unprofessional as to complain about or discuss tips period.

I don't like handing out the tip envelopes. I'd rather them see their tips after I've left. Now that they are prepaid do we still have to do that or can they get them from guest services?

I feel the same as you sometimes it is awkward but maybe that is just me. They will still get their tips even if you don't hand the envelope to them. Last cruise we asked our Server to give the assistant server his as he had gone to pack as he was leaving to go on Vacation that morning.

 

[luv2sleep]

I feel the same as you sometimes it is awkward but maybe that is just me. They will still get their tips even if you don't hand the envelope to them. Last cruise we asked our Server to give the assistant server his as he had gone to pack as he was leaving to go on Vacation that morning.

Oh that's good to know. I hope I don't get strange looks or poor service on the last day because I'm letting them get their tips from GS instead of me. Think I skied tell them that's where they should get them or just keep my mouth **** and enjoy my morning?

 

[luv2sleep]

I find it awkward and don't get this enjoyment from personally handing them their envelopes like other people do.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We prepaid our tips. Does that include room steward? If you don't prepay, is the $12 per person per day automatically put on your bill? Do some people actually not pay that or they allowed to negotiate down and pay less? I'd hate for waitstaff to get shorted by thoughtless passengers that think hey we can save $100-$200 if we tip less.

The $12.00 per day breaks out to: $4.00 per guest per day to the room host; $4.00 per guest per day to the dining room server; $3.00 per guest per day to the asst server; and $1.00 per guest per day to the head server.

Yes, your gratuities will automatically be place on your onboard account. I'm not sure if it is posted each day (like on some other lines) or just one charge at the start of the cruise, but it'll be there.

Anyone can (and do) change/remove/redistribute the tips as they wish at Guest Services at any time. Yes, some people remove the tips entirely.

 

[rcchello]

I think we should take the serving staff on their word that they are supposed to give you excellent service. If they are not you should let them know while they can still do something about it.

If you want the same drink to arrive everyday as soon as you arrive let them know. If the service was too slow the first night let them know before it is too slow the second. If you want them to cut the chitchat or want more tell them as soon as you know. If you want smiles and are not getting them say something.

Also, if you don't like a dish tell them immediately, so they can find something you like.

We have found that the servers are very responsive and will do what it takes to give you excellent service. Sometimes it just takes a polite suggestion.

 

[Dug720]

I think we should take the serving staff on their word that they are supposed to give you excellent service. If they are not you should let them know while they can still do something about it.

If you want the same drink to arrive everyday as soon as you arrive let them know. If the service was too slow the first night let them know before it is too slow the second. If you want them to cut the chitchat or want more tell them as soon as you know. If you want smiles and are not getting them say something.

Also, if you don't like a dish tell them immediately, so they can find something you like.

We have found that the servers are very responsive and will do what it takes to give you excellent service. Sometimes it just takes a polite suggestion.

Even if I didn't know about the cards from here on the boards, I would never assume something the first night like "We want to provide you excellent service" had anything to do with "Make sure you put it on the card at the end of the cruise". I'd assume it meant "We want to provide you with excellent service." Period.

 

[Zeppelin]

My personal opinion is that it is never okay to talk about salary or tips and it is especially not okay to complain about tips to people that just gave you more than the minimum tip.

agree....

we had a situation with our main server last August on the Fantasy...i gave her an extra $15 (almost 20% more) plus the tip ticket on the final night- service was nice, nothing great- we've had better....the next day she gave us the cold shoulder at the disembarkation breakfast and was a snotty you-know-what towards us...

 

[caribbeandreaming]

agree....

we had a situation with our main server last August on the Fantasy...i gave her an extra $15 (almost 20% more) plus the tip ticket on the final night- service was nice, nothing great- we've had better....the next day she gave us the cold shoulder at the disembarkation breakfast and was a snotty you-know-what towards us...

OP here.... this is exactly what happened with our AS - she wasn't nearly as nice as she had been the previous nights. I guess at that point she knew she didn't have to be since she had already gotten her tip and was just venting her piled up frustrations to us. I forgot to mention in my original post that she also told us that Americans are hard to please.

I think we're going to stick to Cabana's on debarkation morning from now on.

 

[jahber]

agree....

we had a situation with our main server last August on the Fantasy...i gave her an extra $15 (almost 20% more) plus the tip ticket on the final night- service was nice, nothing great- we've had better....the next day she gave us the cold shoulder at the disembarkation breakfast and was a snotty you-know-what towards us...

Interesting. We've only been on 3 DCL cruises (plus 1 cruise on Carnival that the kids and husband voted the best vacation ever, but that's a different controversial topic ) We've never had a change in service on the last night, even when we forgot the tipping envelopes, which happened twice. Of course, the tips had already been charged to the room, so it's not like we didn't tip. In fact, on our first cruise, on the last morning I mentioned I wanted a chocolate croissant. Our server apologized profusely when he found out they were all gone. He offered to bring me anything else I wanted. I consider that excellent service up to the last moment. We saw him on our next cruise on a different ship and he remembered us. If we had known he had moved we would have requested him. So I think there is also some benefit to servers being "excellent" up to the last minute. For us frequent cruisers, it's an incentive to request them next time. I realize that's rare, but it can be profitable for a server to be popular.

That said, we eat at Cabanas now on the last morning. It's just more relaxing.

 

[Zeppelin]

Interesting. We've only been on 3 DCL cruises (plus 1 cruise on Carnival that the kids and husband voted the best vacation ever, but that's a different controversial topic ) We've never had a change in service on the last night, even when we forgot the tipping envelopes, which happened twice. Of course, the tips had already been charged to the room, so it's not like we didn't tip. In fact, on our first cruise, on the last morning I mentioned I wanted a chocolate croissant. Our server apologized profusely when he found out they were all gone. He offered to bring me anything else I wanted. I consider that excellent service up to the last moment. We saw him on our next cruise on a different ship and he remembered us. If we had known he had moved we would have requested him. So I think there is also some benefit to servers being "excellent" up to the last minute. For us frequent cruisers, it's an incentive to request them next time. I realize that's rare, but it can be profitable for a server to be popular.

That said, we eat at Cabanas now on the last morning. It's just more relaxing.

it wasn't the last night, it was the morning of disembarkation...i had given her the tip envelope on the final night...

what made it bizarre was she was ultra friendly to everyone around us, hugging and taking pictures with the kids, etc....she was cold and a real you-know-what with us and when my wife asked "would you take a picture with my daughter?" (who had grown to like her) she said "sure" and just stood there, arms at side, then left...even my wife asked "did you leave her a good tip?" based on the behavior...ironically the assistant server, who was not very good (slow) but who received an extra $5 above the tip ticket, could not be any nicer on the final morning...

now- i can't believe everyone around us gave her 20% more than the suggested tip as we had...i don't know what the problem was and really don't care...i let DCL know what happened in one of the post-cruise email survey's they sent us and will make sure when we get on the ship in August she is not our server....