Tipping

[tvguy]

While I've always seen the head server come around every night, understand if you don't see them, it is BECAUSE they are doing their job - keeping everything running smoothly for everyone in their section.

I REALLY came to appreciate the Head Server on our Disney cruise. And yes, because he was doing his job, you normally don't see them except when they come by a few times during the week.
On disembarkation morning, we had late seating for our final meal with our server team. We arrive and the idiots who had our table for early seating are sitting at the table. They had arrived a few minutes before, and our server said he had no idea how they were allowed in. The Head Server immediately stepped in, got us a different table, covered for our server and assistant server several times during the brief final meal so our team could say goodbye to us. All that amid the chaos the disembarkation morning breakfast is. They are worth every penny of the tiny tip they get.

 

[brentm77]

We’ve been on 7 Disney cruises usually around 7 nights each time, but only ever see or speak with the head server on the first evening (when it’s just a greeting) and the last night.

Just order lobster - they love to deshell the lobster! I have had some cruises where that is the only other time I seem them.

The above is a joke, because I agree with others, if I am getting great service by the server and assistant, but not seeing the head server, it means they are doing something right. I had one cruise where the head server would help serve dishes when the serving team was swamped and really appreciated it too. I increase my tip based on my overall dining experience, since that is the head server's main responsibility.

 

[Ralph&Pam]

In our experience (after 25 DCL cruises), head server interaction varies with the quality and experience of the server/assistant server team. When we’ve had an experienced serving team that clearly worked well together, we may have had less direct contact with the head server. In fact, we didn’t need much, since the serving team was so well coordinated. We noted on our most recent B2B on the Wish that two of the servers we had previously had on the Magic were now head servers. It made perfect sense, since these were two of the more effective servers we’d encountered. On the other hand, we have had situations where our serving team clearly needed the backup provided by the head server to keep up with the demands of the job. I suspect most head servers have a pretty good idea of which of their serving teams are able to manage independently and which need support and/or additional training. They then divide their time across the many serving teams under their supervision according to need.

 

[Aby]

I guess we’ve always been lucky with our head server. We are a low maintenance couple, no allergies or special requests. Our head server has always come to our table every night to say hello and make sure everything is ok and we definitely feel they have tried to connect with us. We have always been happy to tip the standard amount and often a bit more on top.

Aby

 

[anricat]

It's also interesting to note that there are positions within the dining room that aren't tipped positions. On our 9-night on the Fantasy last summer, our assistant server fell ill (not Covid, it sounded like probably Noro or something similar) and was out for a couple of days and we had someone else in his place. The fill-in was absolutely fantastic and at the end of the cruise I asked the Head Server if part of our gratuity for our assistant server (who was also excellent) would go to him or if we should provide a separate one. I was told he had a non-tipping position working on drinks and bread baskets behind the scenes for the assistant servers and he was taken care of and we need not provide a tip to ensure he was properly compensated for his work.* So there is definitely a difference between the tipped positions and not tipped positions and I wouldn't ever take that away from anyone. I just consider it part of the cruise fare. However, like others, I don't generally add to the Head Server (and I often do for the regular and assistant server).

*He came to say goodbye to us on the final night and we tipped him anyway.

 

[SleepyDeb]

I believe that part of the Head Servers’ job is to assign seating. We’ve always have been at a table with people who (at least on paper) would be a good fit, same family make up, same age range, etc. I imagine a group of head servers sitting in a room together and someone saying I’ve got a couple who are in their 60s, anybody else? Or I’ve got a family of three with a nine-year-old little girl. Anybody got a match?

 

[Lesverts]

Can someone clarify for me. I am going on my first DCL in a couple few months and the setup y'all describe is much different than the one I have use to. Just seems that DCL's Head Server is not what it is on other lines. I am use to Waiter, Assistant Waiter, Sommelier and bar service. 4 people. 2 directly tipped, 2 tipped based on your interactions with them.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I know there are a lot of opinions on the amounts people tip and I apologise in advance for another discussion on the topic but…

We’ve been on 7 Disney cruises usually around 7 nights each time, but only ever see or speak with the head server on the first evening (when it’s just a greeting) and the last night. I know they’re there to deal with issues and make sure that everything runs smoothly but if I’m honest giving them a tip always frustrates me. I have longer conversations with staff in the gift shop but don’t tip them. And there are so many positions on board needed to make the ship run who are not tipped. There are many services onboard which we choose not to use, we pay a high cost to cruise with Disney and part of the reason is the range of services on offer, so we’re happy to pay for services even if we choose not to use them. I just really struggle with the idea of paying a specific additional amount for a service which we don’t use.

Sorry for the rant but I don’t understand why it’s right that Disney/the industry believe that because someone has the title of server in their job description it requires tipping, in my opinion they should be providing me with a direct service or be included in the operating costs.

I know we can reduce/remove the automatic amounts and I should probably state that we do always leave the recommended gratuity regardless but it does frustrate us.

Curious if I’m on my own with this opinion or if there are others who agree?

Don't agree. The tip amount for the head server is such a small amount, that it doesn't really measure on the "how much I spent on my cruise" meter. And the Head Server is paid just like other tippable positions. Not like the officers and kid's clubs CMs (both untippable positions).

We just did a Wonder cruise and the head server stopped by our table every night. And that's generally what we see on all our DCL cruises. Only time we didn't was the one cruise where we were aware the head server was actually filling in for a couple of servers for most of the cruise.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Can someone clarify for me. I am going on my first DCL in a couple few months and the setup y'all describe is much different than the one I have use to. Just seems that DCL's Head Server is not what it is on other lines. I am use to Waiter, Assistant Waiter, Sommelier and bar service. 4 people. 2 directly tipped, 2 tipped based on your interactions with them.

The dining room(s) are divided in 3 sections (generally). Each section has a head server that oversees the dining service teams in their area. They make sure that things are moving smoothly, that special diets are covered, assist when necessary with service, and handle any issues that may arise regarding the service.

There is no Sommelier in the DCL dining rooms.

The auto-gratuity added to the onboard account is split between your Room Host, Dining Room Server, Assistant Server, and Head server (not evenly).

Each guest auto gratuity per night: $14.50
Room Host $4.75 (per night)
Dining room server $4.75
Asst server $3.75
Head server $1.25

 

[gisele2]

So , no money from the auto-gratuity on Disney cruise for the bar service or the sommelier ?

 

[happycamper47]

So , no money from the auto-gratuity on Disney cruise for the bar service or the sommelier ?

Nope! 18% is added to your tab that is split with the bartenders and bar servers, anything additional that you add goes to whoever's name is on the ticket.

 

[Dug720]

So , no money from the auto-gratuity on Disney cruise for the bar service or the sommelier ?

There is no sommelier in the dining room. And in the dining room your assistant server is the one getting your drink.

Purchases at a bar have a gratuity added onto them.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So , no money from the auto-gratuity on Disney cruise for the bar service or the sommelier ?

As noted, drinks (served from bars/alcoholic) have an 18% gratuity added. That gratuity is pooled to be shared by all drink servers/bartenders onboard. If you tip additionally to your drink server, they get to keep that part of the tip, it doesn't go into the pool.

 

[Lizardgi]

Only time I've ever tipped extra to the head server was when we had Witt as our head server.

Was Witt recently on the Magic? If so, we had him in February and he was amazing. He knew our names and stepped in quite a bit to help out. Was honestly like another server.

 

[kiford]

There is no Sommelier in the DCL dining rooms

But I've had assistant servers who would go to the sommelier or someone who fills that function to find me a wine pairing when there wasn't one listed on the menu or I didn't like it or want it for some reason (though that's rare - I usually like to turn my brain off on vacation and just go with what someone else who knows what they're doing suggests). By the way in which they've described the wine, I can't imagine that they just grabbed something so they must have spoken to someone. I have to assume that part of the autogratuity on the alcohol at dinner goes to that person (I also tip additional and a much higher one when they go out of their way for that).

 

[Ralph&Pam]

There is no sommelier in the dining room. And in the dining room your assistant server is the one getting your drink.

I’m not sure about the no sommelier in the dining rooms. I’ve done more than 20 Stem to Stern Wine Tastings on our many cruises over the past nine years. At every one, the presenting sommelier (usually the one from Palo on the Magic and Wonder and either the one from Palo or Remy on the Fantasy) has introduced one or two of the servers who are assisting with the tasting as being sommeliers from the MDRs. Also, when I had a wine question for our assistant server on one of our cruises, the assistant server had the dining room sommelier come to the table to assist. Some assistant servers are reasonably knowledgeable about the wine list. Others are capable of opening and serving a bottle of wine but have no real understanding of wine pairing beyond the recommendations printed on the menus.

 

[tinkerone]

When we first started cruising DCL, 21 years ago, you saw the head waiter on the first night and the last. We never saw him in between. It wasn't until about 10 years ago that we started to see them every evening. For us, I'm not sure if that is a good thing or a bad thing. We are people who like to have our meal without a lot of 'outside' conversation. A quick 'how was your day' suffices for us so to have someone linger just to talk doesn't sit well. Our cruise a few weeks ago, we had a head waiter who stopped by every night and had to toss in a joke about him being Ricco Chicco. It was worth a smile the first time but got old quick. We were with our grown children and their families so we didn't want to spend to much time with him but every night it was the same shtick and he just lingered. I'm sure lots loved it but he really needs to read a room better.
We once had a head waiter who insisted he had been our server 5 years before, did we not remember? No, we didn't. He didn't like that response and spent the week insisting that we should remember and pushed that narrative till the end of the cruise. It was really annoying.
The only time we have increased the Head Waiter tip was on one cruise where they lead us to a table with 3 other couples and once I realized, my face fell. Dinner with strangers is not my idea of fun. I know lots like it, we don't. He managed to get us a table with just us and didn't make a big deal out of it, I was very grateful.
As for a sommelier, I ordered the 7 bottle wine package on this last cruise since is was 6 adults. The head server was the one who walked us through it. He told us they have to take a course about wine, not sure where he said it was they take them but its some winery, they have to learn about the wines on offer and wines in general. He spoke about his journey with learning about the wines however, once again, I paid little attention to his speech as it went on for several minutes. He was very knowledgeable and gave good information. I believe he said that the head servers had to all go through this but I could be wrong with that.

 

[cmph]

Like PPs, this is the one position I don't up the gratuity for. I get that they are working behind the scenes. However, why bother coming around to ask about allergies when we literally just finished the meal, as happened this week for us. It's a bit late at that point! I did see ours serving special Indian dishes to a table near us, so he clearly did more for some folks than others.

I kind of consider head waiters (as a tipped position) to be a vestige of 'old' days of cruising. I'm not that old, but we did cruise when I was a kid in the 90s. Back then, head waiters flambeed crepes suzette tableside, de-shelled your king crab legs, and did other more active things for specialty food items. They don't really have special, active, duties now, in that same way. I guess having this leadership structure makes the most sense from an operational perspective, but they feel more like dining room managers than head waiters.

 

[happycamper47]

I did see ours serving special Indian dishes to a table near us, so he clearly did more for some folks than others.

It's very possible that party made a specific dietary request, so he handled that to allow the Server and Asst concentrate on their other tables.

I'm amazed at all the negative comments about the Head Servers, out of our 17 we only had 1 where we felt that he was not responsive to guests. I can't believe we are among a select few who have had that kind of luck.

 

[cmph]

It's very possible that party made a specific dietary request, so he handled that to allow the Server and Asst concentrate on their other tables.

Nope, it was day 4 (and only day 4). We heard their convo the night before, and they told him they liked Indian food and were looking forward to that on the lunch buffet the next day. (They were not South Asian.) They ordered other items on the Animator's Palette menu as well... no clue why he brought them massive bowls of extra food that mostly went uneaten. The dishes were 2 of the exact dishes I ate at the lunch buffet, so they must have had a lot around still.