Tipping

[tom1944]

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

 

[jimmymc]

You don't need to add any more than the prepaid tips for housekeeping and restaurants unless you want to. I personally think $10 per day above is a good benchmark for really exceptional service, and $20 is a bit crazy. At bars, I'll round up the autogratuity to the next dollar, or maybe add a bit more for a special drink. I'll also tip $5 for room service delivery and $5 to the porter per person.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

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

Tipping is totally a personal choice. From the pre-paid gratuities to anything additional. We typically only tip extra (at the end of the cruise) for those who've given us an over-and-above service.

The amount you tip extra, if you choose to, is up to you.

The auto-gratuities cover your room host ($4.75 per guest per day); dining room server ($4.75 per guest per day; assistant server ($3.75 per guest per day); and your head server ($1.25 per guest per day).

 

[NAB]

If you want to pay more you just put it in the envelope at the end of the trip with the paper they give you for the tips you paid ahead of time.

I have never seen anyone leave cash on the table etc. At least at the bar you can add to the tip on the slip, same with the specialty restaurants.

 

[Girl of the South]

I have left cash on the table if I eat lunch in any of the dining rooms. Usually $3. But I only eat there maybe 1/3 of the time.

I tend to leave extra to the room steward, maybe a little extra to dining room staff. Have never left as much as $10 per day. On a 7 day, I leave $50.

Maybe I need to up my game!

 

[Drfate102]

We usually use $10 per day for the Server, Assistant Server and Stateroom Host as additional and $5 per day for the Head Server unless we feel that they deserve some form of adjustment on that. And that is in addition to the automatic gratuity.

 

[tidefan]

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...

 

[Girl of the South]

And note you don't have to leave cash, you can make an adjustment on your 'bill'? I know you can do it at Guest Services. Can you do it on the app? I am not app savvy . . . .

 

[Evil Queen 2]

I always make sure to have some ones and fives (US funds) on hand to tip for room service when it is delivered. With the exception of 1 cruise (13 so far) we have always had excellent cabin service. They work hard and have a crazy schedule for turn around time on cabins. I always say tip what you feel comfortable with. I'm a confirmed over tipper, but then my son was a chef and I got to know lots of serving and support staff.

 

[Mommb]

Unless something unusual happens, you will have the same room attendant and the same dining room team every day (the servers rotate restaurants with you) so there is no need to tip every day. Some people who have a lot of special requests do tip the room steward at the beginning of the cruise as well as at the end.

I have read that most cruise staff actually prefer electronic tips paid through Guest Services (guests pay through their cruise account and cast members receive the money with their paycheck) because the money is easier to send home to families that way. They also gladly accept cash too, though.

 

[dina444444]

Just a note, while you can tip extra in cash I’ve always heard that the CMs prefer if you put it on your stateroom account because they then don’t have to get off the ship to deposit the money it goes straight to their account. I usually adjust the auto gratuity amount the 2nd to last night of the cruise at guest relations after receiving the slip in my room.

 

[bighuskermav]

I just prepaid my gratuities with (discounted) gift cards, and I don’t plan to give it a second thought on this cruise. When I get a drink - the 18% is added and I can just sign and go. I generally only drink beer so I think 18% is more than fair.

Sorry, but I really don’t feel like messing with those silly envelopes on the last night of the cruise.

 

[SleepyDeb]

We pay the auto amt. We’ve never had any service on DCL that made us think of lowering that. When we’re struck by how someone goes out of their way for us, we put extra $ in their envelop. There’s no way I’m going to stand in the crazy long Guest Services line toward the end of the cruise.

 

[tvguy]

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...

HAL used to be that way, when we cruised them in 2002. They allegedly stopped it because most passengers actually prefer to decide what to tip.

 

[tvguy]

I have read that most cruise staff actually prefer electronic tips paid through Guest Services (guests pay through their cruise account and cast members receive the money with their paycheck) because the money is easier to send home to families that way. They also gladly accept cash too, though.

Any Castmembers here who can comment? It was my understanding the many Crew Members send 100% of the automatic tip money home. The cash tips they get are the money they use for personal expenses, phone cards to call home, etc. Most don't qualify for credit cards so they have to do all those transactions in cash. As a matter for fact, a lot of Disney cruisers used to include a phone card as part of the cash tip. Those crew members are a big economic force in the ports as I recall seeing many "Free Shuttle" buses for crew members to malls in the ports, and Walmart.

 

[tidefan]

HAL used to be that way, when we cruised them in 2002. They allegedly stopped it because most passengers actually prefer to decide what to tip.

Virgin's crew members don't receive any"tips" at all. They are paid on a much different wage scale, so in essence, there aren't any tipped positions. You as the consumer just pay a higher price upfront so that you don't have to worry about it.

I really noticed it when I went to buy a $10 drink and it was actually $10, not $11.80...

 

[RedHead0186]

Any Castmembers here who can comment? It was my understanding the many Crew Members send 100% of the automatic tip money home. The cash tips they get are the money they use for personal expenses, phone cards to call home, etc. Most don't qualify for credit cards so they have to do all those transactions in cash. As a matter for fact, a lot of Disney cruisers used to include a phone card as part of the cash tip. Those crew members are a big economic force in the ports as I recall seeing many "Free Shuttle" buses for crew members to malls in the ports, and Walmart.

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

 

[tvguy]

Virgin's crew members don't receive any"tips" at all. They are paid on a much different wage scale, so in essence, there aren't any tipped positions. You as the consumer just pay a higher price upfront so that you don't have to worry about it.

I really noticed it when I went to buy a $10 drink and it was actually $10, not $11.80...

That is exactly how HAL was in 2002. They promoted like "we pay our crew enough that no tip is necessary or expected"

 

[kiford]

And note you don't have to leave cash, you can make an adjustment on your 'bill'? I know you can do it at Guest Services. Can you do it on the app? I am not app savvy . . . .

I've never seen the ability to do it on the app. I just go down to Guest Services and increase it. Not only do I rarely carry cash on me (especially US cash), I prefer to put it on the account. That way, if for some reason I don't see my servers or stateroom host, I can ensure that they get it.

 

[CarolynFH]

I've never seen the ability to do it on the app. I just go down to Guest Services and increase it. Not only do I rarely carry cash on me (especially US cash), I prefer to put it on the account. That way, if for some reason I don't see my servers or stateroom host, I can ensure that they get it.

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?