Tipping "rant" by our assistant server

[jdb in AZ]

Btw I've never enjoyed the last morning breakfast in the MDR. It's rushed and the servers seem too busy to deal with you anymore. I've given the tips out the night before each time. I'd prefer to just leave the tip on the table the night before and skip breakfast that last morning. We can grab cereal, milk, and some fruit the day before and store it in the fridge, get room service to bring bowls and spoons the night before and just eat in our room. On the Fantasy we can go to cabanas that morning. Definitely doing that.

ETA: and I am not a high maintenance person who insists on excellent service, etc. It's just that the last morning breakfast is a little uncomfortable given the huge difference in how we are treated that day as compared to the other days. We also have the early seating so I feel bad for even going there and taking up their time because they seem so rushed. I'd rather just eat somewhere else and not feel that way.

We had breakfast at Topsider's the last morning of our cruise on the Wonder last month. They didn't publish it in the Navigator, but they were open, and we'd much rather eat about 8 a.m. up on deck instead of showing up for our assigned MDR breakfast. The food is the same, but it was quicker to go through the buffet line instead of waiting to be waited on.

 

[MikeAndNick]

This is one of my pet peeves. Tipping has gone from giving money to someone for doing an exceptional job to part of their wage that they expect. Many restaurants are starting to automatically add tips to the bill. The government is charging taxes on tips based on the amount of the ticket no how much we give. This is no longer a tip, it is an increase in the amount I am paying. The cruise ships have gotten where they do not pay many of the employees they just let them get paid by our tips. I am starting to see where the cruise ship workers are now expecting an amount above the standard gratuity (an additional tip). Our tip has gone to a wage and not they expect a tip on top of that

 

[luv2sleep]

We had breakfast at Topsider's the last morning of our cruise on the Wonder last month. They didn't publish it in the Navigator, but they were open, and we'd much rather eat about 8 a.m. up on deck instead of showing up for our assigned MDR breakfast. The food is the same, but it was quicker to go through the buffet line instead of waiting to be waited on.

That's good to know!

 

[caribbeandreaming]

This is one of my pet peeves. Tipping has gone from giving money to someone for doing an exceptional job to part of their wage that they expect. Many restaurants are starting to automatically add tips to the bill. The government is charging taxes on tips based on the amount of the ticket no how much we give. This is no longer a tip, it is an increase in the amount I am paying. The cruise ships have gotten where they do not pay many of the employees they just let them get paid by our tips. I am starting to see where the cruise ship workers are now expecting an amount above the standard gratuity (an additional tip). Our tip has gone to a wage and not they expect a tip on top of that

OP here - you described this perfectly! That's exactly what I felt like but didn't really know how to say it. It was as if the tip was just part of the wage, and we should have given over and above that for average service. Thank you!

 

[lbgraves]

... The government is charging taxes on tips based on the amount of the ticket no how much we give. ...

The restaurant calculates approximately 8% of the total sales should be received by servers as an average. The server then pays taxes based on that, which are deducted from their minimal hourly wage in the pay check. When I started waiting tables almost 25 years ago we were told that we had to claim that amount even if we didn't earn it. The manager also said that if we couldn't earn that much in tips, we should probably consider another job. The servers then have to tip out the bar tender, bus boys, hostess, etc from their daily tip total.

 

[ChrisParker]

Donning flame-proof vest. If servers are paid a living wage, tipping is less of an issue. It's criminal how little servers can be paid in some places. Assuming crash position.

 

[Zeppelin]

The restaurant calculates approximately 8% of the total sales should be received by servers as an average. The server then pays taxes based on that, which are deducted from their minimal hourly wage in the pay check. When I started waiting tables almost 25 years ago we were told that we had to claim that amount even if we didn't earn it. The manager also said that if we couldn't earn that much in tips, we should probably consider another job. The servers then have to tip out the bar tender, bus boys, hostess, etc from their daily tip total.

if you paid taxes on the tips you earned did you write off what you paid out??

 

[lisettemac]

I've read this thread and others on tipping and I confess that I still don't understand how it works. Could someone please walk me thru it?

If they put the "suggested tip" amount on my onboard charge, why do I need an envelope? Is it just if I want to tip more?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I've read this thread and others on tipping and I confess that I still don't understand how it works. Could someone please walk me thru it?

If they put the "suggested tip" amount on my onboard charge, why do I need an envelope? Is it just if I want to tip more?

In "days gone by" tips were handed out at the end of the cruise for good service.

Today's tipping is pretty much the same. Tip if you feel you've had good service, or don't tip if you feel the service was less than adequate.

Most cruiselines add a "hotel service charge" to your onboard account. These monies will be pooled and split among all the service people onboard. Typically you cannot remove this charge. For the most part this charge is in the $11.00-$15.00 range per day per cruiser.

On DCL, tips are suggested at $12.00 per day for each guest. The $12.00 breaks out to $4.00 per guest per day to your room host; $4.00 per guest per day to your dining room server; $3.00 per guest per day to your asst server; and $1.00 per guest per day to your head server.

You can opt to pre-pay your tips (have them paid upfront as part of your cruisefare), or your tips will be automatically added to your onboard account (to be paid at the end of the cruise). You may go to Guest Services onboard at any time and remove/change your tips.

If you do not remove your tips, on the second to last night with your nightly turn-down service you will receive tip coupons and envelopes. The coupons are 2 part and will indicate the name/position/amount of tip on them. You tear the coupon in half and place 1/2 in the corresponding envelope (they will have the position titles on them). At this time you may add additional cash, if you wish. You then hand out the envelopes to the proper person.

If you remove your tips from your onboard account, you will still receive the envelopes in your room for tipping.

I will point out, if you keep the tips in your onboard account and you don't hand out the coupons, the tips will still go to the person who should be getting them as the individuals will receive one check with all the tips on it, and not a bunch of smaller bills to be handled. Many CMs are sending their money home, so the one check thing is much more appreciated. Actually handing out the envelopes is embarrassing to some (it shouldn't be, it's really a nice way of saying good-bye and thanks).

I will also point out that there are people who do remove their tips from their onboard account, and don't tip.

 

[yajaira74]

Do servers only get one table per cruise? Do they work both early and late seating?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Do servers only get one table per cruise? Do they work both early and late seating?

Each serving team (server & asst server) generally will have a 4 top, a 6 top, and an 8 top to handle at each dinner seating.


Sometimes the numbers will vary, depending if tables were placed together for larger parties, but 18 people is an average amount for each team.

 

[Justacruiser]

for what it's worth, this is what I do.

I go to customer service before the final night and add too or take away tips. I have only taken a tip away once because a room host stole or misplaced my wife's diamond earrings. Anyway, I add too if I see fit. when they give me the tickets for the last night I verify the amounts I am supposed to tip. If you decided to add money after I have recieved the tickets you will need to take both tickets, which are tabbed together to customer service. They can print you out a new tick with the new amount on it.

Then I tear the tickets up. I don't hand the staff anything on the last night. That ticket is just a ticket. Has no monetary value at all. They will find out what they received from me in the end and it is not about my generousity but their service. I did the awkward envelope thing too long and it is just easier to say see you later.

Also, as I mentioned before, we always do the buffet now on departure morning. Let the CM's have the time to get ready for the next bunch of folks. And I don't want to do the goodbye thing all over. I let them know the night before we will not be dining in the morning.

One final thing, mention on this board who your outstanding servers and assistant servers were. And request them on future cruises. It actually looks really good when you request someone. And, they know that you appreciated their service. The outstanding staff will get a kick out you requesting them. Have done it several times now.

 

[luv2sleep]

for what it's worth, this is what I do.

I go to customer service before the final night and add too or take away tips. I have only taken a tip away once because a room host stole or misplaced my wife's diamond earrings. Anyway, I add too if I see fit. when they give me the tickets for the last night I verify the amounts I am supposed to tip. If you decided to add money after I have recieved the tickets you will need to take both tickets, which are tabbed together to customer service. They can print you out a new tick with the new amount on it.

Then I tear the tickets up. I don't hand the staff anything on the last night. That ticket is just a ticket. Has no monetary value at all. They will find out what they received from me in the end and it is not about my generousity but their service. I did the awkward envelope thing too long and it is just easier to say see you later.

Also, as I mentioned before, we always do the buffet now on departure morning. Let the CM's have the time to get ready for the next bunch of folks. And I don't want to do the goodbye thing all over. I let them know the night before we will not be dining in the morning.

One final thing, mention on this board who your outstanding servers and assistant servers were. And request them on future cruises. It actually looks really good when you request someone. And, they know that you appreciated their service. The outstanding staff will get a kick out you requesting them. Have done it several times now.

Kindred spirit! I never thought of tearing up the tickets and just not handing them out. I hate the whole process and feel its awkward. I'm going to do the same. I don't know why we have to hand them the tickets if the tickets are just paper. That's good to know! Phew! Glad to have a solution to my angst about this issue. Will definitely be doing morning buffet also.

Question: do you get any weird vibes by not handing them their tickets?

 

[lisettemac]

for what it's worth, this is what I do.

I go to customer service before the final night and add too or take away tips. I have only taken a tip away once because a room host stole or misplaced my wife's diamond earrings. Anyway, I add too if I see fit. when they give me the tickets for the last night I verify the amounts I am supposed to tip. If you decided to add money after I have recieved the tickets you will need to take both tickets, which are tabbed together to customer service. They can print you out a new tick with the new amount on it.

Then I tear the tickets up. I don't hand the staff anything on the last night. That ticket is just a ticket. Has no monetary value at all. They will find out what they received from me in the end and it is not about my generousity but their service. I did the awkward envelope thing too long and it is just easier to say see you later.

Also, as I mentioned before, we always do the buffet now on departure morning. Let the CM's have the time to get ready for the next bunch of folks. And I don't want to do the goodbye thing all over. I let them know the night before we will not be dining in the morning.

One final thing, mention on this board who your outstanding servers and assistant servers were. And request them on future cruises. It actually looks really good when you request someone. And, they know that you appreciated their service. The outstanding staff will get a kick out you requesting them. Have done it several times now.

Thanks for the info - I like this idea. But will they think you aren't tipping at all if you don't do the envelope thing?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks for the info - I like this idea. But will they think you aren't tipping at all if you don't do the envelope thing?

They might initially think so. But when they get their check and (if they do so) compare the coupons with the actual amount, they'll know that someone tipped them that didn't hand out coupons.

I don't know if with the check they also get some kind of printout showing which guests actually did the tipping, or if they only just get a check with no explanation.

 

[luv2sleep]

When I go to a restaurant and pay at the counter (diner type of place) I add the top there. I don't hand it to the server. I do the same with getting a pedicure, for example. I don't know why it can't be the same for cruises. We don't pay an individual dinner bill at the table before we get up and leave. We pay through guests services at a different location. Why can't this be adequate? Why is it encouraged to hand them the tips directly? The money is the same no matter how they get it. Is it more about the personal relationship someone (don't know who) is trying to foster in the cruise industry? I don't need that on vacation. I don't really care that much about the relationship I have with my servers though. They are great but I don't get much out of it other than they did a great job and provided us with great service.

 

[SigalTchelet]

I have read through this thread, which I found most enlightening. Can folks recommend servers? Someone mentioned a Hungarian server, I would like to request him. Does anyone know his name?

 

[gomagic]

I have read through this thread, which I found most enlightening. Can folks recommend servers? Someone mentioned a Hungarian server, I would like to request him. Does anyone know his name?

Looks like you are sailing on Fantasy and the person who mentioned the Hungarian server sailed on Dream. Currently, the server in question is scheduled to return to Dream at the conclusion of his vacation.

 

[SigalTchelet]

Looks like you are sailing on Fantasy and the person who mentioned the Hungarian server sailed on Dream. Currently, the server in question is scheduled to return to Dream at the conclusion of his vacation.

Awwww-bummer. Thanks. Looks like you are going on the Fantasy Eastern right before me.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I have read through this thread, which I found most enlightening. Can folks recommend servers? Someone mentioned a Hungarian server, I would like to request him. Does anyone know his name?

Here they are, our dynamic duo!

Meet Anak (Assist. Server) on left and Mihay (Server) on right. This, as mentioned, IS the Dream.

Hi Mihay! Miss ya!