Tipping

[kiford]

Can you do that at GS earlier in the cruise, or do you have to wait for the 2nd to last night or last full day, when lots of others are wanting to do the same thing?

You can do it at any time but most people wait until closer to the end of the cruise to see how much they want to add. We never go below the recommended but don't always go above that (although we add tips to all drink chits as we purchase them) so we tend to wait until the last night. Last cruise I waited maybe 2 minutes in line the night before. It wasn't crazy busy.

 

[Kennywood]

A Valero self-serve gas pump

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

I saw this section of an article on tipping.

Disney Cruise Line​

• Automatic gratuity charge: None.
• Details: While Disney doesn't add an automatic gratuity charge, it suggests that passengers staying in most cabins pay $14.50 per day in total when tipping various dining staff and room attendants. The suggested amount for passengers staying in concierge cabins and suites is $15.50. Passengers can prepay the amount in advance or on board. Also, an 18% gratuity is added to bar, beverage, wine and deck service bills, and an 18% gratuity is added to bills for spa services.

We prepaid the $14.50 referenced above but I understand we might want to tip separate from that. My wife and I are non-drinkers, but I figure we would want to leave a tip every day for housekeeping and our restaurant staff. Is there anyone else we would need to consider giving a tip?

Is leaving an extra $10-20 every day for the individuals you tip adequate?

At restaurants we tip 25% and round up to an even dollar amount for the credit card

On the Dream they added the tip without our authorization.
I have the letter that was placed on our bed listing the charges.

It was confusing amongst everyone how it was written.
It read like a daily charge, but the tips listed were for were totals for the entire trip.
It confused everyone, not just us so we asked and got it clarified.

Not much money and it was OK by us when we figured it out.
We still tip $20 a day cash to each of the servers and the cabin attendant. Read that per day.

The Brits in our group do too.

We tip in cash, generously and up front with a few crew.
In several conversations with crew they said it's the most appreciated and they retain the most money with a cash tip in US dollars.

They treat us so fantastic in ways too numerous to list, and in some ways I best not mention.

The Cove we give $20 to who usually serves us every day, and the bartender that takes extra special care of us we give $50, not per day, just on the last day.

The Dream is going into Dry dock and 1/3 of the ships service crew is heading home and the extra traveling money is appreciated.
It goes a lot farther in their home countries.

We ain't no big shots nor trying to be nobody nor expect others to do the same. We have no house payment, no electric bill (solar) no car gasoline bill (solar charged for free) no credit card balances,, and it's not a lot of money anyway but means so much to the crew.

The crew member that would normally be called the Head Purser on other cruise lines heard of our groups modest generosity and thanked us all in person with amazing kind and warm hearted words I'll never forget.

 

[dcassetta]

A Valero self-serve gas pump

Since it’s self-serve, shouldn’t the tip go to you?

 

[71 Truck]

In 23 years my wife and I have been on 14 seven day cruises with Disney. In that time there was only one person who only received the minimum.
Many years ago we had a head server who we saw for about 30 seconds on the first day than less than a minute on the last day, he got the minimum.
Some will say if you did not see the head server during your cruise that meant there were no problems and they were working back stage, however every head server before and after at least stopped by our table almost every night to at least say hi. They also would be working the dinning room to help their staff where needed.
Other than this one individual every crew member we have encountered has gone way above and beyond and were compensated well above the minimum.

When we started cruising with Disney there was no prepaid gratuities, at least none that I was aware of.
We always tip way above the suggested amount in cast except in the one case listed above.

When they added the option to pre pay it made it easier for us because we did not have to bring as much cash with us.
When we add extra gratuities we add them in cash. We were told they like to have some cash for when they get off the ship in port to be able to do some shopping or in some cases go out to get something to eat.
When it come to bar staff tipping we were told the auto gratuity is pooled with the entire bar staff on the ship and anything you add above the prepaid amount the bartender got to keep. We were told this is to make sure if a bartender was placed in a slow location for a few weeks they at least made some money to make it worth it.

The crew work long hours seven days a week for the most part, they deserve every penny they earn from what I have experienced over the years.

 

[brentm77]

In 23 years my wife and I have been on 14 seven day cruises with Disney. In that time there was only one person who only received the minimum.
Many years ago we had a head server who we saw for about 30 seconds on the first day than less than a minute on the last day, he got the minimum.
Some will say if you did not see the head server during your cruise that meant there were no problems and they were working back stage, however every head server before and after at least stopped by our table almost every night to at least say hi. They also would be working the dinning room to help their staff where needed.
Other than this one individual every crew member we have encountered has gone way above and beyond and were compensated well above the minimum.

When we started cruising with Disney there was no prepaid gratuities, at least none that I was aware of.
We always tip way above the suggested amount in cast except in the one case listed above.

When they added the option to pre pay it made it easier for us because we did not have to bring as much cash with us.
When we add extra gratuities we add them in cash. We were told they like to have some cash for when they get off the ship in port to be able to do some shopping or in some cases go out to get something to eat.
When it come to bar staff tipping we were told the auto gratuity is pooled with the entire bar staff on the ship and anything you add above the prepaid amount the bartender got to keep. We were told this is to make sure if a bartender was placed in a slow location for a few weeks they at least made some money to make it worth it.

The crew work long hours seven days a week for the most part, they deserve every penny they earn from what I have experienced over the years.

I have noticed that the good head servers jump in and help when things are crazy. The not great ones only show up to take the shell off my lobster tail and to say goodby, it seems.

 

[71 Truck]

I have noticed that the good head servers jump in and help when things are crazy. The not great ones only show up to take the shell off my lobster tail and to say goodby, it seems.

My wife and I will ask our travel agent to ask Disney Cruise line for us to be assigned to a certain head servers by name. We will give her at least three names of head servers we have had in the past hopping one of them is on the ship.

 

[Carohs]

We appreciate when the head server walks around to check on the tables. The touch of saying hi and the opportunity to make sure we're all good. Inevitably one of us will have ran out of butter, bread, water, ketchup, or something somewhere along the line and because they're so busy we haven't been able to get our server's attention. It's little things like that, that enhances our dinner experience and are quick fixes that we notice. I have had the head servers that are all behind the scenes, who introduce themselves on the first night and give you the schpiel the last night who I wonder what their role was in my experience. As long as everything went smoothly, they get the standard from us tho.

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

No one got seafood this past cruise. Server warned the table it was either fishy, stinky or not very good. This every evening.

Diz cruise food is either amazing every night or mediocre. Makes the cruise less interesting when it’s not so good.

 

[LAS2AMS]

If you cruise with Virgin, you don't have to worry about any of this! I wish more cruise lines would go to that model...

You can buy packages on Princess and other lines that include it. Will still be cheaper than Virgin most of the time. Alas, there’’s no such thing as a free lunch. In a few years, I’m betting gratuity will no longer built into the base price on Virgin…0

 

[LAS2AMS]

On the Dream they added the tip without our authorization.
I have the letter that was placed on our bed listing the charges.

It was confusing amongst everyone how it was written.
It read like a daily charge, but the tips listed were for were totals for the entire trip.
It confused everyone, not just us so we asked and got it clarified.

Not much money and it was OK by us when we figured it out.
We still tip $20 a day cash to each of the servers and the cabin attendant. Read that per day.

The Brits in our group do too.

We tip in cash, generously and up front with a few crew.
In several conversations with crew they said it's the most appreciated and they retain the most money with a cash tip in US dollars.

They treat us so fantastic in ways too numerous to list, and in some ways I best not mention.

The Cove we give $20 to who usually serves us every day, and the bartender that takes extra special care of us we give $50, not per day, just on the last day.

The Dream is going into Dry dock and 1/3 of the ships service crew is heading home and the extra traveling money is appreciated.
It goes a lot farther in their home countries.

We ain't no big shots nor trying to be nobody nor expect others to do the same. We have no house payment, no electric bill (solar) no car gasoline bill (solar charged for free) no credit card balances,, and it's not a lot of money anyway but means so much to the crew.

The crew member that would normally be called the Head Purser on other cruise lines heard of our groups modest generosity and thanked us all in person with amazing kind and warm hearted words I'll never forget.

The article is somewhat dated. Disney moved toward automatic gratuities a few years ago. If you want to modify or remove the amount, you need to take it up with guest services.

They periodically charge the credit card on file on longer cruises and on short cruises with large purchases. I’m sure they could reverse the charges if need be.

 

[tidefan]

You can buy packages on Princess and other lines that include it. Will still be cheaper than Virgin most of the time. Alas, there’’s no such thing as a free lunch. In a few years, I’m betting gratuity will no longer built into the base price on Virgin…0

True. Princess Plus is a great deal, actually.

However, it feels like more of a culture thing on Virgin. Just one of many things that operate differently (for the better IMHO) there.

 

[LAS2AMS]

True. Princess Plus is a great deal, actually.

However, it feels like more of a culture thing on Virgin. Just one of many things that operate differently (for the better IMHO) there.

Virgin Group has a storied history of innovating/ setting the bar. But eventually its peers catch up/ Virgin costs cost and its product deteriorates to the point of equilibrium. Would be surprised if the same thing didn’t happen to Virgin Voyages.

It’s much easier to control your product quality when you’re small. Consider DCL - it’s in a unique position as it’s rapidly growing its fleet and will have to do mass hirings to cover it … at the same time most of its long-time employees (who joined when the company stared) are retiring. Won’t be long before we read endless ‘it just isn’t the same’ threads.

 

[Mags2002]

Maybe @Mags2002 can share her perspective/what she's heard from other CMs?

I have asked around and some prefer cash and others prefer electronic, so whatever you as the Guest finds easier is perfect. Thank you all for being so kind and generous to these crew members