Why do the changing tip policies . . .

[SeaSpray]

The thought that people are THIS upset that they have to tip their servers is mind boggling.

I don't understand it, either. DCL is doing me a favor by automatically adding the tips to my onboard account, and placing the tickets and envelopes in my cabin for the last night. One less thing to think about while on vacation.

For the record, we're sailing on the Magic next month and our cruise documents DO mention that the tips will be automatically added to our onboard account, and that any changes can be made by simply going to Guest Services.

 

[TDC Nala]

Why not sail another line if Disney's policies seem like a money grab? There are lines that include gratuties in the fare price. (They may or may not be just as or more expensive than DCL, since there is an observation on the thread that with the prices DCL charges, the tips should easily be included in the current pricing).

If one planned to pay the recommended tips or more, how is Disney now "squeezing more money out of the passengers" by automatically charging the tips to the passenger account at the start of the cruise? Passengers can still have the tips reduced or fully removed if they go to Guest Services. And they're not paying more tips than they would ordinarily pay.

Of course there are going to be those who say "I don't want to have to go to Guest Services and stand in line to change the tips." Can't say anything that will alleviate that, except that you can go anytime, even at a time when the line might be shorter or nonexistent.

 

[disneywonderfun]

For those who asked, no I did not need to pay off my cruise more than a year in advance. I just do not like to keep thinking about paying for a cruise longer than I have to. Perhaps that is why any adjustments to the process are bothersome to me.

For those that like auto-tipping, wouldn't it make more sense for Disney to include gratuities in the fare? That would make things even more easy. I know I would rather just pay an extra $300 for gratuities before I even get on the ship. Best cruise my wife and I ever had was one in French Polynesia where everything was included, no charges for wine at dinner, gratuities already included, etc. Just makes it easier on everyone.

DWF

 

[TDC Nala]

The lines that have all-inclusive are generally the most high end luxury lines - the ones with all verandah staterooms, smaller ships for a lower crew to passenger ratio, personal butler for each stateroom, etc. The lines catering to families and those running large ships don't typically do this, so I'm not surprised that Disney doesn't. One of these lines, Silversea, has a restaurant onboard that one can book for an extra $200 charge for a multicourse degustation menu including wine pairings. (You can get the same sort of thing at Remy - if you order the wine pairings separately - if you don't want wine, it's $75.)

 

[justmestace]

For those who asked, no I did not need to pay off my cruise more than a year in advance. I just do not like to keep thinking about paying for a cruise longer than I have to. Perhaps that is why any adjustments to the process are bothersome to me.

For those that like auto-tipping, wouldn't it make more sense for Disney to include gratuities in the fare? That would make things even more easy. I know I would rather just pay an extra $300 for gratuities before I even get on the ship. Best cruise my wife and I ever had was one in French Polynesia where everything was included, no charges for wine at dinner, gratuities already included, etc. Just makes it easier on everyone.

DWF

Here's where the All-Inclusive would/could become a problem......anyone who is there to serve you already KNOWS that they've received their "tip", so why go the extra mile for you???
If it's included in the price of your fare, and you got lousy service, then what??

The change that's been made is not that big of a deal. Even after all that you've said, I still don't get why this is a problem.
But please, don't feel you need to repeat yourself just because I'm confused.

 

[ilovetexas]

For those who asked, no I did not need to pay off my cruise more than a year in advance. I just do not like to keep thinking about paying for a cruise longer than I have to. Perhaps that is why any adjustments to the process are bothersome to me.

For those that like auto-tipping, wouldn't it make more sense for Disney to include gratuities in the fare? That would make things even more easy. I know I would rather just pay an extra $300 for gratuities before I even get on the ship. Best cruise my wife and I ever had was one in French Polynesia where everything was included, no charges for wine at dinner, gratuities already included, etc. Just makes it easier on everyone.

DWF

This argument doesn't hold water. One of two things is true: you either tip appropriately or you don't. If you do, then you already consider the cost of tipping in the total cruise expense. The math really isn't that difficult and DCL shouldn't have to change their business model because their passengers refuse to use a calculator.

You keep saying you're a business owner. Do you really not plan for expenses in advance? Because either you do because you know you should, or you don't and you need to plan on being out of business soon.

I've got a nifty little excel spreadsheet that I use when planning a cruise. It calculates all costs (INCLUDING TIPS) and changes based on number of days, number of travelers, etc. It really isn't hard to set up for someone who has even a basic knowledge of excel. If you'd like, I could send you a copy. That way, you won't have to "keep thinking about paying for a cruise longer than you have to". You just have to think about it once and write the check!

 

[reimero]

My DW and I are soon-to-be first-time cruisers (like, in a couple of weeks.) So we don't really have a baseline for how things were. That said, I'll relay a conversation I had with my DW a few weeks back:
...and we need to plan for tips...
Tips? You have to tip on a cruise?
Yeah, it's explained somewhere on the DCL website...

It's one of those things where if you're not aware you're supposed to tip, you're less likely to tip, and far less likely to tip appropriately (or, at the very least, you're not going to be resentful of the fact that you get hit with this unexpected expense at the end of your voyage.) Now, because I've been reading the boards and the fine print, I had been building tips into the overall cost. To a newbie, or to someone who deals with tips rather infrequently, it's just not something you think about.

My inclination is to think that the pilot program on the Magic was successful enough that they simply decided to roll it out across the fleet. I don't think of it so much as an effort to cut costs/increase profits as it is a more streamlined mechanism to reduce unpleasant or unexpected surprises at the end of the cruise. Most people here do expect to tip, but that information isn't always obvious or evident to a newbie.

 

[justmestace]

My DW and I are soon-to-be first-time cruisers (like, in a couple of weeks.) So we don't really have a baseline for how things were. That said, I'll relay a conversation I had with my DW a few weeks back:
...and we need to plan for tips...
Tips? You have to tip on a cruise?
Yeah, it's explained somewhere on the DCL website...

It's one of those things where if you're not aware you're supposed to tip, you're less likely to tip, and far less likely to tip appropriately (or, at the very least, you're not going to be resentful of the fact that you get hit with this unexpected expense at the end of your voyage.) Now, because I've been reading the boards and the fine print, I had been building tips into the overall cost. To a newbie, or to someone who deals with tips rather infrequently, it's just not something you think about.

My inclination is to think that the pilot program on the Magic was successful enough that they simply decided to roll it out across the fleet. I don't think of it so much as an effort to cut costs/increase profits as it is a more streamlined mechanism to reduce unpleasant or unexpected surprises at the end of the cruise. Most people here do expect to tip, but that information isn't always obvious or evident to a newbie.

EXCELLENT POINT!!!


We're going to our first All-Inclusive resort this fall.....we had no idea how any of it worked, let alone the tipping. I had to research to find out that even the tips are included.....but I guarantee that if someone goes above and beyond, they'll still be getting a cash tip from us.

 

[dream2011]

All the crew deserve a good tip they all work hard to make our vacations special

Have a good cruise everyone
Cathy

 

[RedSox68]

The Palo/Remy tipping "guidelines" peaked my curiosity, so I contacted HAL about our upcoming cruise. We booked the specialty restaurant Pinnacle Grill. It costs $25/pp for dinner. I just contacted them to see if that includes the tip or if we should plan on tipping. This was their response:

"Gratuities are added to your onboard account. No need to tip at dinner. We create a cashless society on board which includes the Pinnacle Grill"

Why can't Disney be that clear?

 

[itutorfortravel]

I have not read this entire thread but wanted to say that we just sailed on the Fantasy a couple weeks ago and did not have tips automatically added to our stateroom account. We had a sheet to fill out where we indicated the amount we wanted to give each person and then had to take the sheet down to guest services for the tip vouchers. Perhaps that is changing?

When cruising, we always plan for our tips and always tip at least the recommended amount. If we get bad service (which has happened), we tip the recommended amount only and at the risk of being flamed I hate doing even that. I feel like I am reinforcing bad service by tipping them what is suggested, but nonetheless I do it because I know that's the bulk of their pay. I don't know if others struggle with this or what the right thing to do is, but it seems like if tips are automatically charged there is not much of an incentive for those servers who don't go the extra mile to improve.

If the service we get is really good, we tip much higher than recommended and are glad to do so. It's a small price to pay for the pampering we get that entire week And we feel that by showing our appreciation in the way of extra tip money, we are complimenting that server or host/hostess in terms of what they do to make cruising extra special for their passengers. Hopefully that will motivate them to carry that tradition forward for future guests!

 

[Niebz]

The thing that bugs me a little about this thread and all the others on tipping is the insinuation by some (not all) that if you don't tip above the recommended amount you're a cheapskate. A disney cruise is expensive, why should I be made to feel guilty for tipping the recommended amount? It is after all recommended. It's not that I don't appreciate all the amazing service I receive. I do, that's why I always tip. I don't know, the whole topic (and especially the "I always tip extra" comments) seem a little crass. Sorry, JMO.

As to topic at hand - I'm actually happy about the auto tips because it saves me a little time on my cruise. I just hope my servers don't consider me ungrateful if I only tip the recommended amount. With the rising costs of travel we have to stick to a pretty tight budget on vacation (or we won't be travelling at all).

Edited to add: whenever we encounter a CM that does go above and beyond we also leave a comment card at guest services praising them

 

[RedSox68]

The thing that bugs me a little about this thread and all the others on tipping is the insinuation by some (not all) that if you don't tip above the recommended amount you're a cheapskate. A disney cruise is expensive, why should I be made to feel guilty for tipping the recommended amount? It is after all recommended. It's not that I don't appreciate all the amazing service I receive. I do, that's why I always tip. I don't know, the whole topic (and especially the "I always tip extra" comments) seem a little crass. Sorry, JMO.

As to topic at hand - I'm actually happy about the auto tips because it saves me a little time on my cruise. I just hope my servers don't consider me ungrateful if I only tip the recommended amount. With the rising costs of travel we have to stick to a pretty tight budget on vacation (or we won't be travelling at all).

I personally have never thought anyone was a cheapskate for tipping the recommended amount - we have done it many times. We have embellished the tip for truly outstanding crew that went above and beyond, but not that often. My pet peeve are the people who don't think they should have to tip at all because of the costs of the cruise.

 

[hrhdhd]

The Palo/Remy tipping "guidelines" peaked my curiosity, so I contacted HAL about our upcoming cruise. We booked the specialty restaurant Pinnacle Grill. It costs $25/pp for dinner. I just contacted them to see if that includes the tip or if we should plan on tipping. This was their response:

"Gratuities are added to your onboard account. No need to tip at dinner. We create a cashless society on board which includes the Pinnacle Grill"

Why can't Disney be that clear?

You should go to the HAL board on Cruise Critic and search for the threads about tipping in the Pinnacle. I assure you that even when cruiselines make things clear to you, others won't see them as clearly as you do.

 

[Niebz]

I personally have never thought anyone was a cheapskate for tipping the recommended amount - we have done it many times. We have embellished the tip for truly outstanding crew that went above and beyond, but not that often. My pet peeve are the people who don't think they should have to tip at all because of the costs of the cruise.

Thanks, ITA

 

[RedSox68]

You should go to the HAL board on Cruise Critic and search for the threads about tipping in the Pinnacle. I assure you that even when cruiselines make things clear to you, others won't see them as clearly as you do.

Nahhh, I don't want to go THAT route and get more flustered

 

[FJS961]

I don't think that the auto gratuity is a bad thing - it makes it easier when you plan on leaving the "suggested" amount. I think the OP had the thought that perhaps (pure speculation) DCL might reduce what they pay CMs because of it. The example given was how DCL reduced what they pay concierge CMs when they made it a tipped position. Also, all along the surcharge for Palo (/Remy) was supposed to include the gratuity and now that seems to be changed ... I think thats what started this debate.

As far as "all inclusive" is concerned, I have vacationed at all inclusive resorts where gratuities were prohibited yet the service did not suffer at all. I can see however that it is possible that there could be a loss of incentive for good service if tips were not expected. I think the CMs will still be gunning for those larger tips and written comments despite this auto gratuity feature. As previously stated, guests can reduce the tips if the service deserves it.

 

[disneywonderfun]

This argument doesn't hold water. One of two things is true: you either tip appropriately or you don't. If you do, then you already consider the cost of tipping in the total cruise expense. The math really isn't that difficult and DCL shouldn't have to change their business model because their passengers refuse to use a calculator.

You keep saying you're a business owner. Do you really not plan for expenses in advance? Because either you do because you know you should, or you don't and you need to plan on being out of business soon.

I've got a nifty little excel spreadsheet that I use when planning a cruise. It calculates all costs (INCLUDING TIPS) and changes based on number of days, number of travelers, etc. It really isn't hard to set up for someone who has even a basic knowledge of excel. If you'd like, I could send you a copy. That way, you won't have to "keep thinking about paying for a cruise longer than you have to". You just have to think about it once and write the check!

Your response is simply mean spirited and I will just leave it at that.

DWF

 

[disney1990]

We always prepay our Disney Cruise tips. It's the very least we will ever tip for the great service we always get. 99.9% we add to the envelopes because they crew has "been the best".

 

[RedxPanda]

Interesting thoughts!

Speaking of bottom lines, if you have Netflix streaming, or another way to rent dvds. Check out 'Cruise Inc', a CNBC special about cruise lines trying to be profitable. Quite interesting! It follows an NCL ship for one week, but also talks to their CEOs and such about some of the other parts of their company and how hard it can be just to break even.

Makes you wonder just how profitable DCL really is, with the increased base fares but no casino and (probably) reduced alcohol sales b/c of the # of kids. Fuel costs alone are .