Tipping "rant" by our assistant server

[NWmom]

But to support the wait staff, i notice a lot of folks miss the last night in the MDRs. I wonder if it is because some folks don't tip. I understand in some countries tips are not generally provided by patrons. Also, some of the cruises I have been on lately aren't full. Well, a ship that has empty table means someone is not getting tips. That would be hard to handle if you have a family.

Most of us at least in the US live within our means at a minumum. Meaning we spend a large portion of what we make on a regular basis. The problem is that a large portion of the wait staff's salary is based on butts in seats, and when the ship isn't full or people don't tip, they may lose a bit of the pixie dust attitude we demand.

Same for the room host. One night our room host and I were just talking, and he showed me all the do not disturb signs posted beginning the afternoon of the final day. He stated, these folks will all be non-tippers. He wasn't asking me for more tip, just making a statement. He then told me to watch the MDR that night because (pointing at the rooms with the sign on them) they will not show up for dinner. And regrettably he was correct, the dining room was not as full.

Great discussion!

If we have a door Privacy please sign on our door on the last day-- it is because I am busy packing the suitcases and don't want them to see the room because I have started putting things on the bed and would have to move them. Plus it looks really messy and I don't want them to see that. They can have the image of me with my nice neat room in their heads. Packing day would totally erase that image, lol.

Usually when we head out for the day we put up the service room please sign. Then we stay out of the room for several hours to let them do their tasks without us in the way.

The Privacy please goes on about 4 pm when we are showering and dressing for dinner, plus we turn that extra lock. We have one hard of hearing person in our room and hearing aids are removed during showering and dressing. They can't hear any door knocks.

On the Fantasy they have a blinking light adaptor. They do not have them on the Wonder.

It only took one embarassing moment this last trip to realize that while they were indeed knocking- they needed to bang for this person to hear the knock. (everyone was dressed it was just the rooom host that was embarassed that he had walked in on us)- We added a -Please knock Loudly- hearing impaired person sign to our door.

I try and let the room host know in the morning as we head to breakfast that I will be packing off and on that final sea day around activities.

However, we also let the kids stay in the club until close the last night before sea day. So we are not out of the room all that early. (Hmm, we need to rethink that one)

The one thing I always try to remember on the last morning is that all the CMs on the ship are hurried - they have to get the final service done for the current cruise, in a timelt fashion so they can get you off the ship.

They then have hours of work to get done before the new guest start to board, so although it may seem they changed after getting the tip envelopes the previous night - I just assume it is because of the amount of work they have to get done that day and cut them some slack

That being said no server was ever rude to us - but they do seem more hurried!

We did a B2B on the Fantasy. Our servers were wonderful, they explained in advance that the last day of the cruise and first day of the next cruise are usually incredibly busy. Normally most people do not make it to breakfast in the dining rooms, but they do on that day.

Our server apologized in advance that it was a good bye and get to know you kind of day. That the next day was relearning everyone again. I am not doing it justice explaining what he said, but it made me aware that they are not changing on us after getting their tip envelopes, they really are swamped that day with the turnover happening. Plus he was excited at being off that day and was going to mail Christmas packages home.

Still smiles and niceness don't take much. He had plenty all the time. They lit up his eyes.
If the assistant server is leaving the ship, they pretty much have to go off as soon as breakfast is over which puts more burden on the server to finish some tasks they normally share.

I have been on 3 cruises and never had anyone talk about wages or tips. It surprises that so many have had this experience. Im sure that disembarking day is very hectic for the crew. There isn't much time to turn over a whole cruise ship for the next cruise. I am sure that not every bodies CM might not meet their expectations but they do work very hard. Our head waitress was a very nice and hard working lady. By the end of our cruise I could tell she was tired. One day she work the lunch buffet and than served dinner all night. But she still had a smile on her face and worked hard to please us. Its hard for anybody to be on point and happy 24-7, as what is expected of a CM. But talking about tips and wages is uncalled for. I look at it as begging for more money, and that should never be done.

I agree. I do think that by using the terms excellent in their first day speech and letting you know they want to give excellent service-it puts the phrase out there- they are so eager to please and want to please you- just let them know how to make you happy and they will do their best.

We also had one that took so much pleasure in serving that it was really beautiful. At the end of the B2B, I was not ordering all the courses. Just at the point of wanting some home cooking instead of fancy food. Plus that waistband concern after 14 days aboard. Server helped me choose the best of the lighter offerings and the more home cooking options, including mac and cheese one night. He really seemed invested in us having an experience that pleased us rather than us having the experience of what they thought pleased us. I hope that makes sense.

This is very interesting to me. Where I am from, tipping is usually no more than 10% and usually only if the service is above and beyond. If the service is just adequate, then you pay the bill and nothing else. That said, our minimum wages are enough to support people without the tips.

We only ever tip the suggested amounts (we usually round it up though), never occurred to us that Disney wasn't suggesting the right amount - is it very common to tip more if the service was just acceptable?

I still feel the tipping is a mystery. In restaurants we always do the 15% for okay service. Better service gets the 18-20%.
How do the suggested tipping amounts compare to those. Is it the 15%? Or is it more?
We've been guessing, but still think we may not be tipping as we would in restaurants at home.
If someone can clarify I would appreciate it.

 

[ALCooper3]

I still feel the tipping is a mystery. In restaurants we always do the 15% for okay service. Better service gets the 18-20%.
How do the suggested tipping amounts compare to those. Is it the 15%? Or is it more?
We've been guessing, but still think we may not be tipping as we would in restaurants at home.
If someone can clarify I would appreciate it.

I'm not sure how or why DCL sets the amount they set for tips, but I look at it this way. If you go out to dinner and spend $20 and leave a $4 tip that is 20%.

On DCL, If you think you would have paid more for the meal than $20, the $4 you gave the server was less than 20% and if you think the meal was not worth $20 then the tip was higher than 20%. Does that make sense?

 

[gomagic]

...

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

No problem, I knew I wasn't 100% correct, but I think the pronunciation is close?

I hope DCL takes very good care of him. As our first taste of DCL service, he has set the precedent quite high! If I can get back on the Dream, I will ask for him again.

I had assumed that the servers for Disney were all up to his par, but maybe we just got lucky. In which case, I don't know what we will do on a different ship...

 

[gomagic]

...

 

[mrsmith9]

I'm new to cruising and the idea of having the suggested gratuity amounts automatically billed to your onboard account.

We will be traveling with two small children, and unfortunately have been assigned the second dinner seating (first seating sold out). Our kids are usually fed before 6pm and fast asleep before 7pm. So I have a feeling we will be feeding them early at Flo's Café or Cabanas before sending them off to the kids club or bed.

So if the kids never go to the dining room, will the suggested gratuity amounts for them still automatically billed to our onboard account?

And what if none of us get to go to the dining room because we have to put the kids to bed before our 8pm assigned dining time?

 

[JoiseyMom]

I'm new to cruising and the idea of having the suggested gratuity amounts automatically billed to your onboard account.

We will be traveling with two small children, and unfortunately have been assigned the second dinner seating (first seating sold out). Our kids are usually fed before 6pm and fast asleep before 7pm. So I have a feeling we will be feeding them early at Flo's Café or Cabanas before sending them off to the kids club or bed.

So if the kids never go to the dining room, will the suggested gratuity amounts for them still automatically billed to our onboard account?

And what if none of us get to go to the dining room because we have to put the kids to bed before our 8pm assigned dining time?

You still need to tip. All the servers, take turns at the fast food places and Cabanas. And you should keep calling and get yourself on a wait list for Main Dining.

I have to say also, by putting your kids to bed so early they are going to be missing some fun. You might want to reconsider their schedules and nap them during the day so they can enjoy the shows and what the evening has to offer. It is a vacation after all .

Have you taken your kids to WDW? Do you have them in bed by seven there? Just curious. I know it is a personal choice. Our DD first trip was at 18 months and DS's was at 8 months. We didn't leave the parks until we were all done. Kids were in strollers and napped there and we all had a blast .

 

[ALCooper3]

I'm new to cruising and the idea of having the suggested gratuity amounts automatically billed to your onboard account.

We will be traveling with two small children, and unfortunately have been assigned the second dinner seating (first seating sold out). Our kids are usually fed before 6pm and fast asleep before 7pm. So I have a feeling we will be feeding them early at Flo's Café or Cabanas before sending them off to the kids club or bed.

So if the kids never go to the dining room, will the suggested gratuity amounts for them still automatically billed to our onboard account?

And what if none of us get to go to the dining room because we have to put the kids to bed before our 8pm assigned dining time?

Yes all members of your party will be charged the gratuity whether you visit the main dining room or not. You always have the option of going to guest services and removing some or all charges. It is up to you.

I suggest calling DCL and trying to switch to early dining. If they can't do it now, try again once on board. DCL will usually switch you if possible.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I'm new to cruising and the idea of having the suggested gratuity amounts automatically billed to your onboard account.

We will be traveling with two small children, and unfortunately have been assigned the second dinner seating (first seating sold out). Our kids are usually fed before 6pm and fast asleep before 7pm. So I have a feeling we will be feeding them early at Flo's Café or Cabanas before sending them off to the kids club or bed.

So if the kids never go to the dining room, will the suggested gratuity amounts for them still automatically billed to our onboard account?

And what if none of us get to go to the dining room because we have to put the kids to bed before our 8pm assigned dining time?

Have you read some of the threads where the parents loved second seating with their kids? You might be surprised! Its a vacation, and the kids don't all go to bed like they do at home. Case in point, 5 year olds singing in the Family Karaoke lounge past midnight! (Which I love!)

Also, others have pointed out that it worked great for them to see the shows since they could feed them at flos/cabanas, and see the show at 6:15 and then they weren't asleep at 8 for the shows. I wouldn't write off late dining just yet...

 

[lbgraves]

I'm new to cruising and the idea of having the suggested gratuity amounts automatically billed to your onboard account.

We will be traveling with two small children, and unfortunately have been assigned the second dinner seating (first seating sold out). Our kids are usually fed before 6pm and fast asleep before 7pm. So I have a feeling we will be feeding them early at Flo's Café or Cabanas before sending them off to the kids club or bed.

So if the kids never go to the dining room, will the suggested gratuity amounts for them still automatically billed to our onboard account?

And what if none of us get to go to the dining room because we have to put the kids to bed before our 8pm assigned dining time?

Yes, I think it was this thread where I broke down how the tips cover all meal service onboard since the CMs in the MDRs at night staff the other food locations during the day. My kids took naps every single afternoon until kindergarten, then on the weekends and went to bed at 7 p.m. On the ship that went out the window. There is so much going on around them that they seem to feed off the energy. I wish I had been able to plug into it. They lasted until 9:30/10 every night...later on pirate night for the fireworks.

 

[mrsmith9]

You still need to tip. All the servers, take turns at the fast food places and Cabanas. And you should keep calling and get yourself on a wait list for Main Dining.

I have to say also, by putting your kids to bed so early they are going to be missing some fun. You might want to reconsider their schedules and nap them during the day so they can enjoy the shows and what the evening has to offer. It is a vacation after all .

Have you taken your kids to WDW? Do you have them in bed by seven there? Just curious. I know it is a personal choice. Our DD first trip was at 18 months and DS's was at 8 months. We didn't leave the parks until we were all done. Kids were in strollers and napped there and we all had a blast .

We go to WDW often, 3-4 DVC trips each year, and we went to DRL last summer. We try and take the kids back to the room for naps, but they are always so hyped up that it never works. And inevitably they crash shortly after dinner every trip. Occasionally we will get lucky and get to see the 7pm ELP during Daylight Savings Time. I kept them up to see Wishes once, and that was a mistake.

Disneyland was disappointing, I so much wanted to enjoy it at night, but the kids never made it. I had to watch WoC alone from the room of VGC.

Maybe we will give the kids some Dramamine which might help them nap during the day.

We are on the early dinner waiting list, but were told that the chances were slim to nil of getting moved.

 

[scrapstoker]

I went to guest services on our last Disney Cruise. I asked them point blank if the tips were the only monetary amount that the four service positions earned. They said yes. They get room, board and tips. So not only do I tip, I tip well. If I can afford to take a cruise, I can do my part to give the staff a living wage. This is true of all or most large cruising vessels. That is why they are not registered to the US. They are all registered to other countries, even Disney.

Also, I had amazing service on the Magic and I vaguely remember my head waiter saying he was transferring to the Wonder. I would love to request him. How do you do that? I go through the Mouse for Less. Does my travel agent have to do it?

Thanks for all help!
Kelly

 

[lbgraves]

Also, I had amazing service on the Magic and I vaguely remember my head waiter saying he was transferring to the Wonder. I would love to request him. How do you do that? I go through the Mouse for Less. Does my travel agent have to do it?

Yes, your TA needs to contact DCL to submit your request for a server. You can only have one request so if you wanted a particular rotation that would have to be cancelled to get the server.

 

[MermaidsMom]

I am very confused, on other threads they say that tips are automatically charged to your account at the end of the cruise if you don't prepay. Where does an envelope or cash enter into it?

 

[cruisecrasher]

I am very confused, on other threads they say that tips are automatically charged to your account at the end of the cruise if you don't prepay. Where does an envelope or cash enter into it?

They give you stub receipts showing what you've been charged (the automatic gratuity) and envelopes to put the slips (and/or extra cash) inside for your servers/host. You can go to guest services anytime to adjust the auto gratuity, but many people adjust in cash.

 

[mrsmith9]

I am very confused, on other threads they say that tips are automatically charged to your account at the end of the cruise if you don't prepay. Where does an envelope or cash enter into it?

So you feel obligated to give additional cash.

 

[over50visits]

And what if none of us get to go to the dining room because we have to put the kids to bed before our 8pm assigned dining time?

Tipping is always at your discretion. That said, there are two important points for this question.

(1) The DCL offering is a cruise with evening dining in the MDRs. You do not have an option to book without MDR service (though you do not have to use it). So, your waiters are there for you, with empty seats, and they stand by in case you do show up. They have no choice, and by booking passage you have obligated their time and service. I've compared this with a taxi you call to your house, he waits outside for an hour, then you go tell him never mind. Do you owe him for the waiting time? Of course.

(2) Your waiters will also serve you at the buffet or in the dining rooms for other meals and on Castaway Cay. Your tips cover those services also.

 

[DaveH]

Our first few cruises, you had to go to guest services if you wanted to charge the tips to your room. There were a small percentage of folks which did not eat in MDR to avoid tipping. They either went to the buffet or just ate over the counter, I suspect that there were others who would skip the last night and morning breakfast to avoid tipping. I suspect now that you have to contact guest services to not charge the tips to your room there is less no tipping. I know in years past there has been threads that did not last long on how to avoid tipping or why should they tip if they never went to the MDRs. I am of the understanding the servers and such get less wages because these are tipping positions. I know for servers in the US the minimum wage at one time was half the regular.

On a side note if you have a server or assistant server who is poor let the head server know.

 

[lilpooh108]

So you feel obligated to give additional cash.

Really? I don't think so.

They've always given out the envelopes, even before the automatic charging of gratuities.

Since DCL charges a "real" gratuity rather than a unremovable "Service Charge" (like other cruise lines), IMO the envelope is there so that you can actually tip them. There is no implication you must give extra at all.

 

[PoohJen]

So you feel obligated to give additional cash.

I never do. If the service was exceptional, I may add additional. But I don't feel obligated to add cash to the envelope that already contains the charged tip.