Tips in Palo

[drdelsol]

We tipped $20, to our account. Our server was the best we has in a long time and not chatty. She even apologized for interrupting our hand holding when bringing dishes. also got a thank you note on our door from her.

 

[jilljill]

Originally posted by alikat99
We just sailed on 10/11 and went to Palo one night. We had the regular $10 charge + 1 drink and I think the total after our additional tip was about $40. I think that the meal was well in excess of $100, and was fantastic!!! Marco was the best too!!! We had completely earned that "extra" tip. If it weren't for Marco, our experience would not have been the same!!!

A bit OT - Would that be Marco from Brazil with no accent?!?

 

[Stepharoonie!]

We tipped our server well (I can't remember, I think it was $20?); we ordered two glasses of champagne, so the price was a little higher than normal; they will just easily charge it to your stateroom. I think had we brought cash, we would have left that instead. Actually, do they accept cash as a tip?

The cheesecake was amazing! I highly reccommend it!

 

[Favorite Auntie]

I agree that the food at PALO was incredible, definitely the best on the ship. But....our server (I don't even remember his name) was nothing special. It was myself, my friend and my parents, so no romantic meal here...but he was very scarce and bearly said anything to us. I have also read about other PALO servers bringing extra desserts, or appetizers or something to try...not when we went. He was all business.

Just wanted to share that I read - not sure where - the Passporter maybe- that the $5 pp service charge is split between ALL the servers in PALO, it doesn't go to just your server.

 

[married@wdw]

While it really doesn't relate to the topic at hand, the cruiseline does not take note of whether you'll be eating in your assigned dining room or not the night you reserve Palo. You are welcome to eat at both if you like (though I still don't know how people do this -- I can't finish one meal, much less two!).

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Keep in mind that the $5 per person charge is an automatic gratuity charge -- not a cover charge, not a dinner charge. According to DCL's official Fun Onboard Q&A page:
<DL><DD>Is there a romantic restaurant just for adults?
The ship features an adults-only alternative restaurant called Palo. Dining hours
for Palo are 6 - 11 p.m. Reservations are required, and taken (once on board)
on a first-come first-served basis. Palo dining is limited to Guests 18 and older.
There is a service charge of $5 per Guest for gratuities.</DD></DL>
So, for a couple, that's an automatic $10 tip. As with tips in US restaurants, I think it's safe to say that the tips are divided among various people who serve you.

My guess is that most Palo diners don't tip above the mandatory tip and the automatic tip on the drinks. DCL is essentially saying, "we've automatically charged you the appropriate amount for tips," although there is a line on the bill to increase the tip.

The service at Palo is excellent and the servers really deserve more.

There are some very generous people on the DISboards. Whenever the question of tipping at Palo comes up, they post that they leave $20 or $30 or even $40 above the automatic tips. I assume these people also leave $50 tips on $100 meals when they dine at restaurants back home. I don't think that's common or expected, either at Palo or at a dinner house on dry land.

If a couple adds another $10 in addition to the automatic $10, that's a $20 tip, plus the automatic tips on the drinks and wine. That seems like a good tip.

Whether you tip nothing extra, a few dollars extra, $10 per couple extra, or you choose to be very generous is a personal choice. Nobody reading this board should feel they must budget an extra $25-40 per couple for Palo dinner gratuities above the $5 per person automatic gratuity charge.

By the way, part of the $10 brunch charge goes toward the glass of sparkling wine or sparkling cider that comes with the lunch, so the tip portion is probably only around half of the $10 per person charge.

 

[buzz5985]

We figured the meal would cost about $125-$150 in the Boston area and tipped an additiona $30. We also had to ask which bill to add the tip to. We had a bar tab (lemon Martinis - yummy), and our waiter told us to put her tip on the bill for the "Palo experience".

I would also like to point out that our server told us there was only 1 Chocolate Souffle to a table. and she put this order in a little after we had decided on the main course, in order to have it ready in time. I wish I remembered her name, but she was very attentive - she only had 2 tables. We went early - 6 pm. We wanted to be there during sunset.

 

[Lisa F]

Horace,

Thanks for posting that. It seems like sometimes that people get carried away when talking about tips and newbies might wonder what's customary. I think there is the perception that your meal on Palo is somehow "free" therefore you should tip super super super generously to make up for the fact that you're not dropping $100 on the meal. When cruising on DCL, nothing is "free" but is included in the cruise fare that you already paid dearly for (and DCL itineraries do cost a LOT more than itineraries on other cruise lines).

buzz5985, if my server told me it was only one souffle per table, they would only get their autotip! We have been to dinner at Palo 4 or 5 times on our last 3 cruises and DH and I ALWAYS get our own souffles. I think there might be war if we were forced to share. What about a table for 8, they have to split a souffle 8 ways? Someone's hand would get stabbed with a fork in my family!

Lisa

 

[Tigfanjeff]

Originally posted by Lisa F
[B

buzz5985, if my server told me it was only one souffle per table, they would only get their autotip! We have been to dinner at Palo 4 or 5 times on our last 3 cruises and DH and I ALWAYS get our own souffles. I think there might be war if we were forced to share. What about a table for 8, they have to split a souffle 8 ways? Someone's hand would get stabbed with a fork in my family!

Lisa [/B]

Last cruise (10/11)

Palo two nights, four adults, 8 souffles (and they would have brought us more if we asked). I think we had a total of 14 deserts and 12 main courses. We ate a lot

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Originally posted by buzz5985
I would also like to point out that our server told us there was only 1 Chocolate Souffle to a table. and she put this order in a little after we had decided on the main course, in order to have it ready in time.

**One** per table? That's odd. The table behind us (4 adults) each had a chocolate soufflé to themselves. Our waitress told us about the desserts right before our main course came out, because it takes 20 minutes to make the soufflé. My boyfriend ordered that, and I ordered the cappuccino cheesecake, so that way we each had something to try. She said if we both wanted the soufflé, we could.

We also were grateful because she gave us 3 appetizers....we each ordered one, and then a pizza to try as well. She was a great waitress, I just wish I could remember her name...Sera?

 

[webray]

We had Marko from Italy...he was outstanding. Yes, we did tip him very well...but, we tip all of our excellent servers very well.

 

[wdwdclfan]

The ten dollars can be enough, or not, we felt we WANTED to leave more of a tip. This was our choice.
I like the idea of the calling cards.

 

[CruisinKate]

My husband and I love Palos. We've never had better service anywhere, anytime.

On our last cruise in September, I didn't end up liking the main course I ordered and our server immediately ordered something else for me and had it ready in 5-7 minutes and it was excellent. He was the perfect server

If we were traveling without the kids, we would eat in Palos all the time.

For dinner, we tip excellent servers at Palos about $30.00 over the cover charge. I don't know how the Palo servers are compensated by Disney. It would be interesting to find out. If it is similar to the other servers then most of their compensation comes from tips.

One of the things that makes the Disney vacation so wonderful is the crew. When my kids talk about the vacation one of the things they say first is how nice everyone on the ship is. I don't mind tipping well for a vacation which is my idea of heaven. These people have bettered my life for the week we are there.

I can't thank the Disney staff enough for creating such a wonderful environment for our family.

Kate

 

[ivanova]

It was suggested to us - and we're going to try it on the 11/16 Wonder - that since we have "main" (early) dinner seating to get a Palo's reservation as late as possible one night and "double dip" (2 dinners w/ all the yummy desserts in one night).

This is because we don't want to miss any of our nights in Triton's, AP or Parrot Cay.

 

[AuntyBrat]

If we do it the first night, we can sleep late since no one has any gotta be somewhere plans on Nassau day!!!!!!!

 

[GenieDana]

On our last cruise this June, DH and I ordered the chocolate soufflé. Our waiter brought one of every other dessert served that evenig to "try". He also brought two extra (different) main courses than what we ordered, to "try" and samples of the different pastas.

Needless to say we were vey gratefull, and very full! No doubt, Palo service is great!

 

[ducklite]

We had Erika for brunch, she was incredibly attentive, excellent service!

I want to think that we left an additional $20 tip at brunch. We likened it to brunch at the Four Seasons, $50 per person plus any alcohol. So we felt $20 plus the auto tip on the extra champagne we ordered was about right.

For dinner I want to think we left $25 extra plus the auto tip on the alcohol. We compared the dinner to places where we usually spend about $125-$150, so again just about right.

I also left $5 at tea. The tea was pleasant, but not as "involved" as grand tea at the Plaza or even the GF.

I think that the "service charge" is actually split amongst several people, so an extra tip for the server while not required, is certainly deserved.

Anne