Tipping the concierge . . . the poll . . .

[Im_A_Princess]

I've never heard of an automatic concierge tip. There is an automatic tip applied to ANY bar item, but this goes to the bar staff. The 15% is pooled and divided among all the bar workers; any additional you add to the slip goes to the person who actually served you.

Originally on DCL concierge was a fully salaried position. There were no concierge tip envelopes, and a tip was not expected. The "story" (whether true or not) is that so many guests asked about concierge tipping that it was changed to "your discretion" and an envelope is supplied. At the time of this change, the salary to the concierge staff was reduced--thus, they are no longer a "fully salaried" position. My understanding is that the concierge tips are pooled and divided among the concierge staff--while you do have a person assigned to your room, they work as a team to provide coverage to all guests 24/7. In addition, at least on the larger ships, there is a "concierge manager;" I have no info as to how he does or does not figure into the tip sharing.

In regards to the bar 15% automatic charge, does the person who brings your drink to you (like at the pool) get a part of the 15%? Or does he only get a tip if you put an additional amount on the tipping?

 

[kcashner]

In regards to the bar 15% automatic charge, does the person who brings your drink to you (like at the pool) get a part of the 15%? Or does he only get a tip if you put an additional amount on the tipping?

The person who brings you the beverage at the pool or elsewhere is part of the bar team and gets a share in the 15% pool. If you add any additional tip, it goes directly to him since he served you. This applies to any bar item, whether it is a can of coke, a bottle of water, or an "adult beverage." It also applies to some of the "hidden" bar items like a case of bottled water or the little light up things they sell for kid glasses.

 

[dylan'smom]

Just curious if there are any opinions about the data I included on my prior post from other cruiselines.
DWF

The only time i cruised with a butler, it was with Regent and he was not the same as my room 'stewardess' (as they call them), but he declined tips, as that is their policy. It's the only line I've ever been on where I truley felt I was a guest, rather than a customer. Love regent!!

DCL will probably come out with a suggested amount at some point since they do give out the envelope!

Most of our DCL cruises have been in suites too. I use the basically the same $2.50 pp per day as my base amount for concierge, adding more as necessary. We are a family of 5.
We try to be fair but I don't want to go overboard with the tipping because we are already paying a hefty premium to sail in a suite.

I agree - to me, that seems entirely appropriate, but if someone feels moved to give them a whole lot more (like so many do in palo for some reason), then I feel like you should follow your own hunches & inclinations, for sure.

I've never heard of an automatic concierge tip. There is an automatic tip applied to ANY bar item, but this goes to the bar staff. The 15% is pooled and divided among all the bar workers; any additional you add to the slip goes to the person who actually served you.
.............

The difference here, I think, is that it was for a private party order. We have gotten charges of a surplus tip on items that they deemed "extras" much the way they do alcohol, but it's confusing because you don't know that ahead of time. We had a similar thing happen when we ordered a couple party trays in a suite.


I sort of wish I could take this survey over again...lol First of all I read it too fast & only voted one option! Secondly, I think I would state less than I did before, because I'm so reminded of how we really didn't get very good service at all. Can you imagine if tips were automatically added? Oh well JMO....

.

 

[disneywonderfun]

The only time i cruised with a butler, it was with Regent and he was not the same as my room 'stewardess' (as they call them), but he declined tips, as that is their policy. It's the only line I've ever been on where I truley felt I was a guest, rather than a customer. Love regent!!

DCL will probably come out with a suggested amount at some point since they do give out the envelope!





I agree - to me, that seems entirely appropriate, but if someone feels moved to give them a whole lot more (like so many do in palo for some reason), then I feel like you should follow your own hunches & inclinations, for sure.





The difference here, I think, is that it was for a private party order. We have gotten charges of a surplus tip on items that they deemed "extras" much the way they do alcohol, but it's confusing because you don't know that ahead of time. We had a similar thing happen when we ordered a couple party trays in a suite.


I sort of wish I could take this survey over again...lol First of all I read it too fast & only voted one option! Secondly, I think I would state less than I did before, because I'm so reminded of how we really didn't get very good service at all. Can you imagine if tips were automatically added? Oh well JMO....

.

My wife and I sailed Regent when it was Radisson Seven Seas and went to French Polynesia. I agree that it was wonderful that all the tips were already included as were house wines at dinner (and a couple bottles of alcohol were also placed in our cabin). It truly made us feel like special guests instead of feeling like we had to worry so much about tips. When concierge guests spend somewhere between 18 and 30K for a suite on a summer cruise for seven nights, it would be nice just to have one less thing to concern ourselves with (i.e. how much am I supposed to tip the concierge team). In fact, in some ways, I wish Disney would simply include all tips for concierge guests in their cabin fare. It would just make the experience seem more refined for me.

DWF

 

[Bonniec]

When you order things like drinks or room service, is there not a bill that comes so you can see what's being charged?

 

[RJAYL]

Concierge (on DCL) used to be a non-tippable position. You can tip now.



Since the dining room servers and room host are doing stuff automatically for me everyday throughout the cruise, we tip as suggested, and, many times, add additional.

If I've already paid extra to be in concierge, I would only tip additional to the concierge staff if they do extra stuff for me, at the time the service is rendered.

Love this train of thought when we first started sailing Disney tipping was not allowed for concierge, so there were no worries as to whether you were tipping appropriately. Concierge guests do pay a Big Premium for being in Concierge, tipping should be for exemplary service not because it is expected!

 

[BethA]

When you order things like drinks or room service, is there not a bill that comes so you can see what's being charged?

The room service cm will have a receipt for you to sign so you will know.

 

[disneywonderfun]

Love this train of thought when we first started sailing Disney tipping was not allowed for concierge, so there were no worries as to whether you were tipping appropriately. Concierge guests do pay a Big Premium for being in Concierge, tipping should be for exemplary service not because it is expected!

I know what you mean. It is interesting, because it is almost as if the pro-tipping people have brought us to this situation even though there were the best intentions to start. A subset of people wanted to be able to tip for amazing service. Concierges accept those tips. Disney knows people are tipping, so lowers their salary (allegedly). Concierges now need tips to earn what they were making before the tipping process started. Now, everybody feels uncomfortable about the process.

I liked the days-gone-by when the DCL concierge staff seemed more like a profession than a service industry. Concierge guests already pay a premium for that service, but now tipping is rapidly becoming an expectation (if I am reading things on this board correctly). I have no problem giving the concierge staff some extra bucks, but I suspect they would prefer to return to the days when they were strictly salaried if given the chance.

There are more than a few places in the world where physicians are routinely given a "tip" (not really called that) for seeing patients. I personally am glad that does not exist in the US. I think it just lowers one's chosen profession. Again, I suspect the concierge staff would have been more than happy to have never gone down this road in the first place.

DWF

 

[RJAYL]

I know what you mean. It is interesting, because it is almost as if the pro-tipping people have brought us to this situation even though there were the best intentions to start. A subset of people wanted to be able to tip for amazing service. Concierges accept those tips. Disney knows people are tipping, so lowers their salary (allegedly). Concierges now need tips to earn what they were making before the tipping process started. Now, everybody feels uncomfortable about the process.

I liked the days-gone-by when the DCL concierge staff seemed more like a profession than a service industry. Concierge guests already pay a premium for that service, but now tipping is rapidly becoming an expectation (if I am reading things on this board correctly). I have no problem giving the concierge staff some extra bucks, but I suspect they would have prefered to return to the days when they were strictly salaried if given the chance.

There are more than a few places in the world where physicians are routinely given a "tip" (not really called that) for seeing patients. I personally am glad that does not exist in the US. I think it just lowers one's chosen profession. Again, I suspect the concierge staff would have been more than happy to have never gone down this road in the first place.

DWF

I agree with this but after thinking it over feel that this is a Disboard only issue, those who sail DCL & are not Disboard members or creepers have to use the real world for an example. I.E. if you are in a hotel with a concierge you would only tip them if you used their services & then again that would be at your option! So I truly believe that this should remain either optional or not at all. The day Disney starts giving Concierge guest recommended tipping amounts is contrary to what being a Concierge guest is about!

 

[Ravenne]

When you order things like drinks or room service, is there not a bill that comes so you can see what's being charged?

The room service cm will have a receipt for you to sign so you will know.

As I understand it, room service is included. How does that work in regards to tipping? Can you still charge a tip on your tab? Or is it best to bring cash and tip along the way? Or do you leave one big tip at the end of the cruise?

 

[jayteadunn]

Many have heard the same report about salary being lowered and tips making up balance. Has anyone spoken to any DCL shore staff to confirm it?

 

[jcjen519]

Many have heard the same report about salary being lowered and tips making up balance. Has anyone spoken to any DCL shore staff to confirm it?

we got off concierge fantasy sat. after talking on board it is my understanding they are not paid much if anything. they do largely rely on tips. was told some give envelopes and then head to gs to have the tips removed so when they go to cash it in they get nothing. fwiw we gave 150 for seven days 3 people in the party. no real special requests but they were amazing and really made the week.

 

[FJS961]

we got off concierge fantasy sat. after talking on board it is my understanding they are not paid much if anything. they do largely rely on tips. was told some give envelopes and then head to gs to have the tips removed so when they go to cash it in they get nothing. fwiw we gave 150 for seven days 3 people in the party. no real special requests but they were amazing and really made the week.

Thats a shame if true. There is such a premium paid that a portion should be their salary.

Dream class ships have 41 concierge cabins. If full and guests tipped avg of 150, divided by 3 hosts thats over $2K per week each on tips alone.

 

[TLSnell1981]

We were told, concierge is no longer a salaried position.

 

[AlexandNessa]

we got off concierge fantasy sat. after talking on board it is my understanding they are not paid much if anything. they do largely rely on tips. was told some give envelopes and then head to gs to have the tips removed so when they go to cash it in they get nothing. fwiw we gave 150 for seven days 3 people in the party. no real special requests but they were amazing and really made the week.

That is a total scumbag move if I ever heard one (handing in vouchers that one knows will be worthless). If people weren't going to tip, they should own it. Not be a dirtbag and pretend to tip. SMH.

 

[PizzieDuster]

That is a total scumbag move if I ever heard one (handing in vouchers that one knows will be worthless). If people weren't going to tip, they should own it. Not be a dirtbag and pretend to tip. SMH.

I'm not getting this. Some people turn in vouchers with nothing on them? Why turn them in? You mean the tip envelopes are empty?

My brother is thinking of cruising concierege. So, will he be getting envelopes for their tips too? I'm confused. I'm Miss DCL to them and I want to be able to tell them. (The Fantasy) Otherwise, his wife will claim "no clue". I'll keep my name calling to myself ...lol but you get the idea.

 

[cieslack]

I'm not getting this. Some people turn in vouchers with nothing on them? Why turn them in? You mean the tip envelopes are empty?

My brother is thinking of cruising concierege. So, will he be getting envelopes for their tips too? I'm confused. I'm Miss DCL to them and I want to be able to tell them. (The Fantasy) Otherwise, his wife will claim "no clue". I'll keep my name calling to myself ...lol but you get the idea.

I think OP is saying the people wait until they get the vouchers in the stateroom, put them in the envelopes, distribute them, and then go to GS and remove the tips from their bill thus the vouchers are worthless, but by the time the servers, etc. find out, the "dirtbags" are long gone.

I don't think concierge is the same process, but I'm sure someone else will answer

 

[ktb2002]

You get an envelope for concierge with a piece of paper to fill out yourself with your own gratuity amount since it isn't an auto tip. I just used cash in the envelope.

 

[gomagic]

we got off concierge fantasy sat. after talking on board it is my understanding they are not paid much if anything. they do largely rely on tips. was told some give envelopes and then head to gs to have the tips removed so when they go to cash it in they get nothing.

Thats a shame if true.

That is a total scumbag move if I ever heard one (handing in vouchers that one knows will be worthless). If people weren't going to tip, they should own it. Not be a dirtbag and pretend to tip. SMH.

I think OP is saying the people wait until they get the vouchers in the stateroom, put them in the envelopes, distribute them, and then go to GS and remove the tips from their bill thus the vouchers are worthless, but by the time the servers, etc. find out, the "dirtbags" are long gone.

I don't think concierge is the same process, but I'm sure someone else will answer

We have been told the exact same thing by multiple people onboard. I truly feel for the servers & stateroom hosts when this takes place. Yes, in reality it could happen to the concierge hosts also because you are given the option to charge the whatever gratuity you choose to give them to your account.

 

[KLK622]

We tipped $200 last week on the Fantasy for 3 people w/ a few extra requests (husband forgot a belt and they found one for us, high chair in our room, ect.)...I was skeptical about tipping them before we left but once we received the service I couldn't imagine NOT tipping them. They were awesome and just did so much for us during the week. We also tipped the very nice guy who made our drinks all week during the happy hour $20 and he seemed thrilled. I don't know if other people normally tip him, but we did b/c we would have had to tip for drinks if we ordered them at the bar. We didn't tip seperate for our cabana host service b/c 2 of the 3 members of the team were at the cabanas on Castaway Cay day and we felt like it was an extension of the service we received on the ship.

But, we also tipped just about everybody else extra and I don't consider myself an over tipper...but the service we received was just so above and beyond that we felt everybody deserved it!