Tipping

[val2001]

Can an experienced cruiser give a "quick and dirty" guide for what is expected for tipping? and do wait until last day for room steward, etc.?

 

[val2001]

I also read this in other post:

"The counselors in the children's programming are not tipped positions, but appreciate a small gift (phone cards)"

Are those phone cards that need to be purchased at ship gift shop or can they use any phone card we purchase at home before boarding?

 

[disneybride96]

We found it easy to just put the tips on the onboard account. You do have to go to Guest Services to do this, but it only took about 5 minutes. They just printed out a little receipt that you then put in the envelopes they provided. Each receipt was personalized to server etc.

Since we had Palo's reservations on the last evening we weren't sure if we would make to to the dining room to present the tips to the waiters. This way we were sure they would get them!

 

[Verandah Man]

This was taken from the DCL website:

What about gratuities?
We'll make it easy. It is customary to give gratuities in recognition of service, which you will most likely be treated to in abundance aboard the ship. As a guideline, may we suggest the following:

Per Guest per cruise 3-Night 4-Night 7-Night
Dining Room Server 11.00 14.75 25.75
Dining Room Asst. Server 8.00 10.75 18.75
Dining Room Head Server 2.75 3.75 6.50
Stateroom Host/Hostess 10.75 14.50 25.25
Dining Manager Your Discretion
Room Service Your Discretion

For your convenience, a 15% gratuity is automatically added to bar, beverage, wine, and deck service tabs. All gratuities can be charged to your room charge.
At the Walt Disney World® Resort, 15% is the customary gratuity at restaurants and bars.

I think it best to purchase your phone cards at home and bring them along, it would be wise to make sure the phone cards can be used for international calling.

 

[jrabbit]

Remember, the above suggested tipping guidelines are per person. Yes, that includes you 3 year old child too. Tips are how those who are tipped get paid. DCL gives them room and board and about $50/month.

Also, for first timmers, some clarification.
Dining Room Head Server = There are 4 per dinning room. You will have one of them looking over your section. They manage the servers and assistant server. Your interaction with them will primarily be when entering and leaving the dinning room or if there is problem at your table or if there is a special event to celebrate (birthday/anniversary).

Dining Room Server is the person who takes your food order and will be delivering it to you.

Dining Room Asst. Server will handle your drink orders and help your server deliver you food to you. He/she will be the one cleaning up the table between courses too. If you order any drinks that carry a charge (alcohol, smoothies) you will be automatically charged a 15% tip.


Tipping: Just Do It