Tipping servers/assistant servers

[JillSchorr]

just curious to everyone's thoughts on this.
On a 3 night cruise on the Dream, eating at Palo 2 nights and Remy on the other. Never even going to the MDRs.

Would you still tip the servers in the MDRs?

 

[GatorMomInNC]

just curious to everyone's thoughts on this.
On a 3 night cruise on the Dream, eating at Palo 2 nights and Remy on the other. Never even going to the MDRs.

Would you still tip the servers in the MDRs?

Yes.

 

[KristiMc]

Yes. Your servers are also working during breakfast and lunch or the fast food options on the pool deck.

 

[darkwing818]

Yes always, as noted by PPs

 

[FamilyHolidayPlanner]

Definitely yes

 

[Hundredacre]

Yes but it would annoy me for a minute or two when the grat tickets arrive in the room.

 

[Steelers0854]

Without a doubt. Unfortunately cruise lines have decided to build these auto tips in as part of the crews wages. It would just be like your employer withholding a days worth of pay from your paycheck because your boss didn't talk to you that week.

These guys work insane hours and almost always with a big smile on their faces. We often tip extra in addition to the auto tips as wel almost always receive exceptional service on board.

 

[cgolf]

Yes, but with some regret. The last few cruises we have found that we have had at least one of the dining team to be subpar and they got less of a tip and we added to the other members of the team. On our last B2B, our server was on his last cruise before going home and was incredible, but the assistant was one of the worst we had. We actually asked the head server to stay paired with him, but to get a new assistant on the second half of the B2B.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Yes. I just think of the minimum as part of my normal fare.

 

[LivingforDisney]

Yeh why not, you are paying an arm & leg for the cruise, why not pay the staffs wages whilst you're at it.
Too sarcastic? Sorry

 

[Plaid Princess]

I would for reasons others have posted, but I would likely not add additional cash beyond the "suggested amounts", which I generally do if I frequent the MDR's.

 

[MickeyEarrings]

Yes. It's your choice not to use their services while you pay the up charge to eat elsewhere, but they are still there serving you at Cabanas at lunch or in the MDR for a nice shutdown breakfast. They are deserving of a decent tip for all the hard work they do.

 

[n2mm]

Agreed....your servers can be found elsewhere during the day, esp. out on castaway cay too. I too wouldn't tip extra like I do when dining with my team. Our last cruise a few months ago we had a great team and they would actually tell us where they would be the next day, or if they were working the pirate party buffet. They always wanted us to stop by and say hi! We were also on a B2B and kept the same servers on both cruises.

 

[steves100]

just curious to everyone's thoughts on this.
On a 3 night cruise on the Dream, eating at Palo 2 nights and Remy on the other. Never even going to the MDRs.

Would you still tip the servers in the MDRs?

How can you guarantee you will eat at Palo twice?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

How can you guarantee you will eat at Palo twice?

You can get additional reservations (beyond the 1 pre-cruise reservation allotment) onboard, if there's availability.

 

[MUN]

just curious to everyone's thoughts on this.
On a 3 night cruise on the Dream, eating at Palo 2 nights and Remy on the other. Never even going to the MDRs.

Would you still tip the servers in the MDRs?

I wouldn't tip the full amount; however, I'm not sure how much less I would give my servers.

MUN

 

[Masonmj84]

Not to hijack the thread, but how much of a tip does a service team expect if you eat at the rotational restaurants for the entire cruise?

On our 7 night Fantasy cruises, we've always given them the full suggested tip plus an extra cash amount in the range of $15 to $25 each for the server/assistant server (and $5 to $10 extra for the head server). They always seem somewhat dissappoined, which makes me wonder if others typically tip a lot more.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Not to hijack the thread, but how much of a tip does a service team expect if you eat at the rotational restaurants for the entire cruise?

On our 7 night Fantasy cruises, we've always given them the full suggested tip plus an extra cash amount in the range of $15 to $25 each for the server/assistant server (and $5 to $10 extra for the head server). They always seem somewhat dissappoined, which makes me wonder if others typically tip a lot more.

The suggested gratuities are sufficient. If you feel your team (or just an individual) has done an exceptional job, you can tip whatever amount you feel is appropriate.

Typically, if you add additional cash to the suggested gratuities, or even if you don't, they don't know what you've tipped until after you're off the ship, unless you give them the additional cash in the open. We just put it in the envelope with the gratuity coupon, and they pocket it as soon as we give it. They don't open it then.

 

[Hundredacre]

Not to hijack the thread, but how much of a tip does a service team expect if you eat at the rotational restaurants for the entire cruise?

On our 7 night Fantasy cruises, we've always given them the full suggested tip plus an extra cash amount in the range of $15 to $25 each for the server/assistant server (and $5 to $10 extra for the head server). They always seem somewhat dissappoined, which makes me wonder if others typically tip a lot more.

I think this is normal. We used to give more extra cash. Have given $80-$100/ person. Not always- thats just our upper bracket. This last year we did tip extra once (40/person) and did not tip extra the other time (first time not giving extra cash- turning point with dcl for us). We still did room host both times. Even to the one who "refused" to give us shampoo. We also have always found the servers seem disappointed regardless of the extra amount. Not sure why. Our room hosts on the other hand are always very happy. But we are moving toward less extra tippong. Going in august with the mind set of not tipping extra at all. Partly because we paid an outrageous amount for the cruise. Most/night ever. Partly because we believe service at dcl has gone down.

 

[bumbershoot]

I wonder if there are some cultural reaction issues causing people to think they are disappointed? Because it makes no sense, not really.