Tipping

[Boardwalk Family]

Would like to hear any thoughts on tipping, especially for the wait staff. The first cruise we went along with whatever Disney recommended. This past cruise, the service was so extraordinary (as in Great) that we tipped extra. My understanding is that the wait staff's entire salary is based on tipping. Thanks!

 

[RedSox68]

They get a minimal salary -- but very minimal. Most of their income is definitely from their tips. We always pre-pay our tips via the cruises recommendations, and then bring cash. If the service is above and beyond, even by bartenders, etc., we add extra cash to the envelopes. And we always bring ones and fives for room service.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I normally tip extra. I don't add to the recommended tip if I get regular, expected service, but that usually doesn't happen.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

Have never done a Disney Cruise but on another cruise line, I tipped at the beginning of the cruise in the hopes of securing good service for the week. This was advice I got from others who went on cruise lines who assigned you one specific room steward and if you had one specific dinner waiter/waitress. But in that instance (Norwegian), the staff varied from day-to-day and it had the flexible dining options so you never knew who you were going to get. A bartender would likely remember you going forward, but your room steward may not since they seemed to rotate around. And your dinner waiter/waitress may not be the same person since you could dine where ever you wanted. So check that out - if you have a specific group or assigned person(s), tip at the beginning and they will probably remember you and take good care of you. But I wouldn't rely on the fact that the auto-tip collected by the cruise line actually goes to the staff. I hope it does - but I doubt it.

 

[Drusilla99]

I usually take care of the tips before we leave so that's one less thing to pay for while we are gone. If the service is above & beyond, we add cash to the envelope that's provided on the last night so they'll see what they're getting plus the cash. We have done this before, usually with stateroom hosts.

 

[Drusilla99]

But I wouldn't rely on the fact that the auto-tip collected by the cruise line actually goes to the staff. I hope it does - but I doubt it

With Disney, they give you forms to hand to the people you're giving tips to that are printed with the tip amount and your name and stateroom number so you can actually hand this to the people you are tipping even when you've pre-arranged the tips. Doing it this way, the employees see what they are supposed to be getting, so I feel pretty confident the staff are getting their tips. I've never pre-paid tips on other cruise lines, so I guess this may not be standard.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

With Disney, they give you forms to hand to the people you're giving tips to that are printed with the tip amount and your name and stateroom number so you can actually hand this to the people you are tipping even when you've pre-arranged the tips. Doing it this way, the employees see what they are supposed to be getting, so I feel pretty confident the staff are getting their tips. I've never pre-paid tips on other cruise lines, so I guess this may not be standard.

This is great! I hate wondering if people truly get this.

 

[Gus Orozco]

So I have a question with tipping as well...

so when do they deduct the money from your account for the tips? when are we given the forms to put how much for each person?

thanks!

 

[dreadpiraterose]

Our first cruise we tipped the standard, assuming that was normal and we just didn't know any better I guess. We definitely tip extra now. In some cases we almost doubled the tip, because we just had such wonderful experiences with staff. We don't always do cash. Sometimes we go to Guest Services the night before and have them add more and charge it to the credit card on file, but that's because we don't do much with cash and we wanted to tip more than we had on us.

 

[Alohadan]

If you go to Palo, tipping is important. We have been to Palo and have always tipped extra. The tip is automatic on any alcohol. From what I understand, the gratuity for the dinner is basically for the food, not the service. The tip we leave does vary depending on the service received. If you go to both dinner and brunch at Palo, then you are likely to be given the same server (at least that has been our experience). However, the tipping guidelines for Palo are nonexistent, except here on the message boards.

 

[msmama]

I know it'll change but can someone give a rough amount of what is recommended and for who(or at least how many people)? For a 7 day cruise for example.

Is it a suggested amount per day no matter what trip length?

is the booking actually the cheapest part of the trip?!?

 

[IAMASTITCHER]

As previous posters have mentioned, we do the prepaid gratuity then add cash to the envelop if we felt service was better than expected. I have also tipped the bartenders when doing the adult beverage classes. For room service, we always bring a bunch of $1 bills and tip 1-2 dollars.

 

[IAMASTITCHER]

I know it'll change but can someone give a rough amount of what is recommended and for who(or at least how many people)? For a 7 day cruise for example.

Is it a suggested amount per day no matter what trip length?

is the booking actually the cheapest part of the trip?!?

Its roughly $14 per day - covers dining room and room steward

 

[Quellman]

We don't tip in cash for the serving team or state room host. We visit guest services to add the additional amount to their accounts. The reason being in talking with most crew members they don't have need for the cash and have to spend valuable time at the pursers office "onboard bank" to get it added back electronically to be able to send the money home or anything else. They don't have much use for cash on board, and it isn't like you are saving them taxes on their wages by doing so. I know others feel differently and report otherwise, but it was the preference of the crew members I have spoken with.

So I have a question with tipping as well...

so when do they deduct the money from your account for the tips? when are we given the forms to put how much for each person?

thanks!

They add it to the 2nd to last night of your voyage. You are given the forms for the tips the last night of the voyage. They will be in your stateroom.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We don't tip in cash for the serving team or state room host. We visit guest services to add the additional amount to their accounts. The reason being in talking with most crew members they don't have need for the cash and have to spend valuable time at the pursers office "onboard bank" to get it added back electronically to be able to send the money home or anything else. They don't have much use for cash on board, and it isn't like you are saving them taxes on their wages by doing so. I know others feel differently and report otherwise, but it was the preference of the crew members I have spoken with.


They add it to the 2nd to last night of your voyage. You are given the forms for the tips the last night of the voyage. They will be in your stateroom.

Interesting, we have always added cash to the envelopes. I will reconsider.

 

[TestingH2O]

I know it'll change but can someone give a rough amount of what is recommended and for who(or at least how many people)? For a 7 day cruise for example.

Is it a suggested amount per day no matter what trip length?

is the booking actually the cheapest part of the trip?!?

Its roughly $14 per day - covers dining room and room steward

It's $12 per person per day.

If I recall correctly, this breaks out as:
$4 for room steward
$4 for server
$3 for assistant server
$1 for head server

 

[kiford]

Have never done a Disney Cruise but on another cruise line, I tipped at the beginning of the cruise in the hopes of securing good service for the week...So check that out - if you have a specific group or assigned person(s), tip at the beginning and they will probably remember you and take good care of you. But I wouldn't rely on the fact that the auto-tip collected by the cruise line actually goes to the staff. I hope it does - but I doubt it.

On a DCL cruise, your wait staff and room attendant are assigned to you for the entire cruise. But even if you pre-pay tips, they don't receive it until the end of the cruise so it makes no difference to how they treat you. Tipping bartenders is different. On DCL, all drinks have an automatic 15% tip added but it's shared among all of the bar staff. If, however, you add more on top of that, the specific server gets that. We always add extra, even if it's just a small amount, and I find that they definitely do remember you and your preferences. I usually will try to frequent the same one so that they get to know me and always add that extra tip. And yes, the tips to the dinner servers and room attendants goes specifically to them.

 

[ludari]

I always do the standard prepaid gratuity for each of my service team (dining & stateroom attendant) and add cash to the envelops for everyone.

 

[bumbershoot]

This is great! I hate wondering if people truly get this.

I don't know why you would wonder this.

I know it'll change but can someone give a rough amount of what is recommended and for who(or at least how many people)? For a 7 day cruise for example.

Is it a suggested amount per day no matter what trip length?

is the booking actually the cheapest part of the trip?!?

Pretty sure the exact info is findable on the DCL site.

 

[Viviene Anthony]

We tip (anywhere) according to how our service is. Mediocre, they get the very minimum... outstanding, they get a nice fat tip. I will pay the suggested amount for gratuities according to the FAQ from the DCL website... https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/faq/onboard-services/gratuities/ ,but also plan to bring some extra cash for those who deserve some extra acknowledgment.