We tipped the "recommended" amounts...

[poohmomof5]

Our philosphy is like Cat Mom's. We start out at the recommended amount and go up from there if the service warrants it, which it almost always does. In 68 cruises, I think we've gone below the recommended amount twice...can't remember why now, since it's be so long. We probably go over the recommended amount 80 to 90 percent of the time.

Since you have been on so many cruises, you must have had numerous servers. Do you request specific servers or just take who you get?

 

[homespun]

I've prepaid my tips to keep the bulk of the tips paid in advance, however, I do want to leave extra for exceptional service. So my question is, when you prepay tips, are the vouchers for prepayment delivered with the envelopes on the last night? I don't want servers/stewards to think they've been shorted when I put cash in the envelope as an extra.

Hoping someone can clear this up for me.

 

[karibritt01]

We tipped our room steward, head server, and asst server $10-15 extra. Our main server we tipped $20 extra. We had wonderful service, and felt that was enough extra to let them know that we appreciated them. They were all very gracious when we saw them the next day - in particular our room steward and main server. My thought is that if you are told the amount that you are expected to tip, then anything extra goes above expectations. I doubt cruisers not involved in an online community go above and beyond at all.

 

[deanna85]

We tipped the suggested amounts. We only ate in the dining one night, because our 2 year old is very wild. When we were there, the service was great.

 

[brucechase]

For a 7 day cruise between all the tipping it should equal about $500.00 for cruise.

Where did you come up with this amount????


For a family of 4, the tipping should equal $336 for a 7 night cruise. You can tip more if you want, but please don't give out wrong information. People rely on these boards to plan their vacation.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I've prepaid my tips to keep the bulk of the tips paid in advance, however, I do want to leave extra for exceptional service. So my question is, when you prepay tips, are the vouchers for prepayment delivered with the envelopes on the last night? I don't want servers/stewards to think they've been shorted when I put cash in the envelope as an extra.

Hoping someone can clear this up for me.

I also prepay my tips, and yes the vouchers will come with the envelopes. Then you can put the vouchers in the envelopes and include extra cash if you want to.

 

[tjbaggott]

Slightly off topic here, but I'm trying to figure out who was who in the dining room for our first cruise. It would help this time around when tipping.
The gentleman we saw the most was Putu, he took our dinner and drink requests, entertained my children by making things out of napkins (flowers, hats ect...) and SO much more. There were two other guys who we saw very rarely. So would Putu have been our Restaruant Server or our Head Server, and then what would the other two have been, what were their jobs because truthfully, one we were only introduced to on the first night, and never saw him again till the last night. The 3rd guy, I think brought us our drinks and topped up when needed, but didn't talk too much to us, paid the kids very little attention. Putu however, well, we never felt we were missing anything because of him, he was the be all and end all of our Disney Dining experience. So what would everyones specific duties here be?

 

[NancyIL]

DCL's "'recommended" amounts are higher than other mass market cruise lines, so I didn't tip extra on my Wonder cruise. While I prefer to hang onto my money as long as possible and never pre-pay tips, I always arrange to have them charged to my onboard account once I'm on the ship.

 

[karibritt01]

Slightly off topic here, but I'm trying to figure out who was who in the dining room for our first cruise. It would help this time around when tipping.
The gentleman we saw the most was Putu, he took our dinner and drink requests, entertained my children by making things out of napkins (flowers, hats ect...) and SO much more. There were two other guys who we saw very rarely. So would Putu have been our Restaruant Server or our Head Server, and then what would the other two have been, what were their jobs because truthfully, one we were only introduced to on the first night, and never saw him again till the last night. The 3rd guy, I think brought us our drinks and topped up when needed, but didn't talk too much to us, paid the kids very little attention. Putu however, well, we never felt we were missing anything because of him, he was the be all and end all of our Disney Dining experience. So what would everyones specific duties here be?

Your "head Server" is the guy introduced on the first night, and then you will rarely see him. He oversees the servers in the entire section, as opposed to waiting on particular tables. Your "Main Server" is the one that takes your orders, and interacts with you the most. Your "Assistant Server" is the one that brings and refills drinks, takes away dishes, and helps the main server as needed.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Your "head Server" is the guy introduced on the first night, and then you will rarely see him. He oversees the servers in the entire section, as opposed to waiting on particular tables. Your "Main Server" is the one that takes your orders, and interacts with you the most. Your "Assistant Server" is the one that brings and refills drinks, takes away dishes, and helps the main server as needed.

We saw our head server every night. I can't remember his name but he visited nightly. I guess it depends on the head server. And now that I know that he really stepped up by checking on us nightly, I feel bad about not overtipping him. I'll know for next time.

Our other servers were adequate and we tipped the recommended amount. The room steward was fabulous and got about 20% extra.

 

[inkkognito]

Since you have been on so many cruises, you must have had numerous servers. Do you request specific servers or just take who you get?

We usually take who we get because we like getting to know new crew members on board the ships. However, you have had some overlap just by chance.

 

[kcashner]

For a 7 day cruise between all the tipping it should equal about $500.00 for cruise.

Wait a minute...the recommended tipping is $12 per guest per day. On a 7 day cruise, that comes to $84 per guest for the week. I typically budget $100.

Your figure of $500 makes sense ONLY if you have 4 or 5 cruisers. We spend no where near that for the 2 of us!

There are 3 tipped positions in the dining room. The "Head Server" oversees several serving teams. Normally you will see him every night--he's they guy who comes around and asks if everything is OK. Unless you have special needs or your team is behind, he doesn't seem to do a lot, but in reality has a lot of "behind the scenes" responsibilities to make your server's life easier. He will specifically deal with any allergy issues or special occasions. He is most likely the guy some people are referring to as the Maitre D.

The Server (the title is not "main server") is the guy who takes your food orders and is directly responsible for your food and dining room experience. The Assistant Server is the guy who takes your drink orders, get refills, and helps your server.

Over all of these is a NON-Tipped individual who is the head of the dining room. Unless there is a major problem, you wouldn't talk with him normally, although he does walk thru the dining room periodically. He supervises the Head Servers and deals with problems/issues.

 

[Cheap Trick Fan]

The Assistant Server gets less tip but actually keeps busier than the Server.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

DCL's "'recommended" amounts are higher than other mass market cruise lines, so I didn't tip extra on my Wonder cruise. While I prefer to hang onto my money as long as possible and never pre-pay tips, I always arrange to have them charged to my onboard account once I'm on the ship.

How many different ways can you "prepay" these tips? If I want to pay before the cruise, do I call member services? Or DCL? If I pay when I check in at the port, can I pay cash or do they have to charge my charge card? When I prepay tips, do I still have to put "something" in the envelopes that say I prepaid the tips?

 

[lbgraves]

Slightly off topic here, but I'm trying to figure out who was who in the dining room for our first cruise. It would help this time around when tipping.
The gentleman we saw the most was Putu, he took our dinner and drink requests, entertained my children by making things out of napkins (flowers, hats ect...) and SO much more. There were two other guys who we saw very rarely. So would Putu have been our Restaruant Server or our Head Server, and then what would the other two have been, what were their jobs because truthfully, one we were only introduced to on the first night, and never saw him again till the last night. The 3rd guy, I think brought us our drinks and topped up when needed, but didn't talk too much to us, paid the kids very little attention. Putu however, well, we never felt we were missing anything because of him, he was the be all and end all of our Disney Dining experience. So what would everyones specific duties here be?

Puto was our assistance server with William in 2006. He was just as fantastic as William. It is great to see him promoted to server. Did he do all of his napkin tricks? DD still has the rose he made her.

 

[AnnaS]

last week when we departed the ship and I am now wondering if those recommended amounts are lower than great service should get?

I noticed our servers weren't as chipper as they had been on the other occasions that they served us, and have been feeling guilty for just tipping that amount.

They were fabulous to our family every dinner and really deserved a good tip.

In case we go on another one, I'd like to know what most people tip, the recommended amount, or more?

TIA

We have cruised 4 times and always tipped way above the recommended amount.

I have felt the same way - the next day the server and assistant server are quiet and seem down.

I have to think it's because they are exhausted from all the running aound and ready to start another week with someone else. I hope that is what it is -

 

[kcashner]

How many different ways can you "prepay" these tips? If I want to pay before the cruise, do I call member services? Or DCL? If I pay when I check in at the port, can I pay cash or do they have to charge my charge card? When I prepay tips, do I still have to put "something" in the envelopes that say I prepaid the tips?

You can pre-pay your tips in several different ways. First, you can call DCL (if you used a TA, you will have to work thru your TA....DVC member services IS your TA if you booked thru them). They can apply the tip amount to your onboard account.

I've never seen it done in the terminal at check in; don't know if it can be handled then or not. At Guest Services, you can either pay in cash or have it charged to your room charge. IN ANY CASE, when you pre-pay, you will either be handed the receipts at the time or they will be delivered to your stateroom. The receipt will consist of a 4 perforated tickets--one for each of the tipped position. Your portion will be stapled together, the ends that you tear off and put in the envelopes will be "floppy" since they go to 4 different people. You tear the ticket...put the half that goes to the CM in the envelope, and give it to them on the last night.

The only advantage of pre-paying before sailing is that you don't have to deal with it after you board the ship....but it only takes 5 minutes after you board. You don't even have to stand in line--just fill out the form, put it in the box, and the tickets will appear in your stateroom.

 

[brucechase]

...

The only advantage of pre-paying before sailing is that you don't have to deal with it after you board the ship....but it only takes 5 minutes after you board. You don't even have to stand in line--just fill out the form, put it in the box, and the tickets will appear in your stateroom.

There is another advantage to those who pre-pay tips with the Disney Visa credit card before you board. That would be a payment that should qualify for the interest free for 6 months promo.

 

[Alexander]

The Assistant Server gets less tip but actually keeps busier than the Server.

On our first two cruises, I have to say that the Assistant Server's service was far and above better than the Server's. This last cruise, we switched dining times one night and didn't have our assigned team, and again the Assistant Server was head and tails better than the Server. However, with our regular team, the Server was present so much more than the Assistant Server. So, yes, for the majority of our experiences, I would have to say that the Assistant Servers worked harder to keep my kids entertained and happy, as well as checking in regarding what we needed.

 

[Had2disneycruz]

Are you including room service and beverage tips in that too? And for how many people? We were 3 people, we did buy a few drinks and usually added $1 tip per drink on top of the 15% that was already added...for room service we tipped anywhere from $3 - $5, and we tipped about 20% - 25% above the recommended amount for our servers and stateroom host, but we didn't spend anywhere near $500 on tips! I thought we had been quite generous, too! Now I am wondering if we didn't do enough or do what is comparable to what most others do...

Our tipping was well over $500 but we have 6 in our family. That was just for our servers and stateroom attendant. It adds up, but they were worth every penny.