Tipping

[axsimpson]

Does anyone have a list of everyone we will need to tip? I want to make sure I have enough money set aside to tip at the end. Or do we tip as we go?

 

[Verandah Man]

Here is a thread about tipping, this might help you find your answers. Click on the link below:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=412672&highlight=tipping+questions

 

[webray]

Your head server, server and asst. server and your room steward.

If you eat at Palo you tip there as well...base the tip on what you would pay for the meal in an upscale restaurant.

 

[Little Twin Stars]

How much tipping should we pay for the towncare service?

 

[hilltopfamily]

and room service staff. Usually $1-2 for a small item/snack and a few more dollars if ordering entire meals or more than 1 tray.

 

[lbgraves]

Don't forget about the porters at the terminal. We gave them $5 for the 5 bags when we unloaded. I saved a $10 bill for when we came back though. We weren't the first in the terminal waiting for a porter but while everyone else was holding up their hands waiting for one...we got one almost right away with that bill in my hand. IMO it was more than worth it. He packed up all our luggage, even the carryons, and took them thru customs for us with the form. He then took them to our car & loaded them in the back for us. We were able to deal with getting the kids into their seats without having to worry about them getting restless while we packed up.

 

[axsimpson]

Is there any gratuity included in the price?
If so do we tip them extra on what is already included?

 

[ivanova]

bar tabs automatically include a 15% gratuity ... you need to add tips for spa, room service, and the tips at the end of the cruise for your wait staff and stateroom host.

We went way above & beyond on our wait staff tips ... and were a bit tight on our stateroom host tip (we were quite disappointed with him).

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by axsimpson
Is there any gratuity included in the price?
If so do we tip them extra on what is already included?

I've heard that some DCL packages booked in the UK include gratuities, but I don't think that's ever the case in the US.

I think many people tip more than the recommended amounts to the server, assistant server, stateroom host, and (less often) to the head server.

As noted by ivanova, there's an automatic 15% added to paid beverages, including bar drinks, wine with dinner, smoothies, and any other beverages that aren't free (with and without alcohol). There's a line to increase the tip, if you want to reward the drink server more.

If you have dinner at Palo, there's an automatic $5 per person charge for gratuities to the wait staff. If you have brunch at Palo, there's a $10 charge that pays for sparkling wine and gratuities; they don't break down how much goes to which, but I assume that somewhere between $3 to $5 goes to the wait staff. At dinner and brunch, there's a line to add more. Considering the excellent service at Palo, I imagine that many passengers add another $5 or so per person on that line. (And some folks on this board are very generous.)

 

[jilljill]

When you receive your documents there will be a page that lists RECOMMENDED tipping amounts that are based per person. You can add the tips to your shipboard account and get a voucher that you slip in each envelope or you can put cash in each envelope. The envelopes will be left in your stateroom the last day of the cruise.