Xtra Gratuities

[oam]

Along with the standard gratuity that DCL charges to your account for your stateroom host ,server ,assistant server and God knows why head server what amount have you given extra? The amount DCL withholds actually seems kind of small (except the head server). Just wondering what others do.

 

[Dug720]

Just clarifying... The head server is the one who keeps things running smoothly at dinner. In addition to consulting with allergies.

A good one will see if there is something throwing service off and work to correct it - be it having a chat with a team not working well together or stepping in to assist if a table is being extremely demanding of the server and assistant server at the expense of other guests.

They do a lot more than most people realize. It's not just an "extra" position.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Along with the standard gratuity that DCL charges to your account for your stateroom host ,server ,assistant server and God knows why head server what amount have you given extra? The amount DCL withholds actually seems kind of small (except the head server). Just wondering what others do.

Some people add additional cash to the envelope (along with the gratuity slip). Some people just go with the suggested gratuities. It's your call.

Also agree with Dug - the head server who does his job, you'll probably never see/need. A bad head server, you'll find out pretty quickly. He/she is also worth the gratuities.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

I always pre-pay the gratuities. I usually write a quick note of thanks (personalized for our experience), and if the situation warrants, will also slide extra cash into the envelope with the slip showing the pre-paid gratuity. From a non-monetary perspective, I also make note of excellent service on the end of cruise feedback card and have, occasionally, gone to the DCL site and contacted DCL corporate to praise individuals by name. I include our date of sail, first dining room & table so as to insure the correct CM get the praise. I work with a person who used to work as an engineer for Disney, and have been assured that the non-monetary feedback goes a long way to help those individuals with DCL. Just my experience.

 

[Marc D]

If you do not wish to use cash to add extra gratuities, you can also go to the front desk and have them modify the amount on the paper slips. Since we are not from the US, we keep only a small amount of US currency and prefer not to use it when possible.

 

[DisneyGirlMI]

Just clarifying... The head server is the one who keeps things running smoothly at dinner. In addition to consulting with allergies.

A good one will see if there is something throwing service off and work to correct it - be it having a chat with a team not working well together or stepping in to assist if a table is being extremely demanding of the server and assistant server at the expense of other guests.

They do a lot more than most people realize. It's not just an "extra" position.

Our head server on our recent Fantasy cruise was amazing. We didn't have any issues, either dietary or our serving team, that he needed to monitor, yet he was at our table every night making sure everything was ok, and just talking to us and our kids. He even remembered us from our cruise last year, when he was also our head server.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

If you do not wish to use cash to add extra gratuities, you can also go to the front desk and have them modify the amount on the paper slips. Since we are not from the US, we keep only a small amount of US currency and prefer not to use it when possible.

Great point and better idea!

 

[oam]

Just clarifying... The head server is the one who keeps things running smoothly at dinner. In addition to consulting with allergies.

A good one will see if there is something throwing service off and work to correct it - be it having a chat with a team not working well together or stepping in to assist if a table is being extremely demanding of the server and assistant server at the expense of other guests.

They do a lot more than most people realize. It's not just an "extra" position.

I apologize to head servers everywhere. I probably don't realize what it is they do as I like to think we are not very demanding. That being said the purpose of this post was to get some feedback on what others consider a reasonable additional amount to tip.

 

[Dug720]

I apologize to head servers everywhere. I probably don't realize what it is they do as I like to think we are not very demanding. That being said the purpose of this post was to get some feedback on what others consider a reasonable additional amount to tip.

I understood the meaning. But I felt like it needed to be explained what the head server does.

As Shmoo helped clarify, you do not have to be demanding to benefit from the work of the head server. Their primary job is to ensure that things run smoothly. And like Shmoo said, if they are doing things right (and don't have allergies (which is not "being demanding" - it's being able to live), you may not see them unless they come by to say hi.

But if they don't do their job well, you will know, whether or not you see them.

 

[lizabu]

I usually give the host/hostess, server, assistant server and head server an extra $10 per day.

 

[Bonnie1222]

Along with the standard gratuity that DCL charges to your account for your stateroom host ,server ,assistant server and God knows why head server what amount have you given extra? The amount DCL withholds actually seems kind of small (except the head server). Just wondering what others do.

I can certainly understand your concern about the head server gratuity. Our first cruise we never saw the head server until the last night when it was time to collect (early 2000s) but since then the last 6 cruises they have been amazing. We have even seen several past servers promoted. Most notably on the Fantasy, last Oct/Early Nov WC when Wit was our head server. Not only did he keep the place running, but he served and cleared tables, personally greeted every guest by name by the second night of the cruise and managed to spend time with us each evening talking about our day. The man was an amazing force. We gave him a much larger tip than Disney recommended. He certainly deserved it.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

We have given an extra $50 to our room stewards on both of our cruises. On our 7nt, we gave an extra $50 to our lead server and an extra $25 to our asst server. I spoke to each one face to face, thanked them for their great service and let them know we would be giving them extra gratuities.

I personally do not feel the suggested amount by DCL is enough, so I am happy to give more. We really bonded with our room stewards, and it was our joy and honor to provide them with extra gratuities. We sail again in five weeks, and I hope we have another amazing steward. I am in awe of all they do!

 

[cruiser21]

I usually give the host/hostess, server, assistant server and head server an extra $10 per day.

So on a 7 day cruise you tip an extra 280.00 dollars? .

 

[LAX]

Just out of curiosity, with DCL's fares usually running higher than other lines for comparable itineraries, are DCL crews better compensated than other lines or does the difference become mostly corporate profits?

LAX

 

[Melissa S]

We became friendly with our head server and kept in touch with him outside the cruises. Since we have had him the past five cruises he has been amazing and we have overtipped him each time. Our first cruise we did not tip our head server because the first time he introduced himself was the final night for tip collection. I disagree with the comment a good head server should not be seen. We are not demanding but expect a head server to at least stop by and give a quick hello each night or be visible during meal service.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We became friendly with our head server and kept in touch with him outside the cruises. Since we have had him the past five cruises he has been amazing and we have overtipped him each time. Our first cruise we did not tip our head server because the first time he introduced himself was the final night for tip collection. I disagree with the comment a good head server should not be seen. We are not demanding but expect a head server to at least stop by and give a quick hello each night or be visible during meal service.

I'm not saying a good head server should not be seen. But, if a head server is doing a good job, it's quite possible for his time to be taken up with assisting elsewhere than your table (especially if your table has no special requests). Remember, unlike your serving team, which only handles 3 tables, he's got at least 1/3 to 1/2 of the dining room he's overseeing. Yes, it's nice if they "stop by for a quick hello", but it's not always possible.

And there are many tables these days requiring special handling, it seems.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Along with the standard gratuity that DCL charges to your account for your stateroom host ,server ,assistant server and God knows why head server what amount have you given extra? The amount DCL withholds actually seems kind of small (except the head server). Just wondering what others do.

Depends on the cruise. I've given $20 extra to main server and assistant server on a 3 night and $100 extra to main server on a 7 night. My stateroom host usually gets $20 extra. There have been times when I haven't used the MDRs and I haven't tipped the servers extra. And, Yes, for God's sake, I do the regular tips in those cases. (Seems like someone always has to challenge me when I say I don't tip extra as if extra means the same things as regular tips)

I gave the Head Server $20 extra one time. He was fabulous. My last cruise, the head server checked on us every night, but she also gave us the excellence speech twice (out of dining 5 nights) and I ended up not tipping extra just because that was annoying. The other times, I didn't have any contact with the head server, other than them introducing themselves.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Question - if you don't see the head server on the last day to give the envelope, they still get their tip, right? Whatever was deducted at guest services? We had an envelop for each of our servers, including the head server, but he was no where to be found. He didn't come by and we looked, but couldn't find him, so we couldn't give him the envelop. We still had all the tipis deducted as planned, but I've always worried that he didn't actually get them. In hindsight, we should have asked the server to send him over, but at the time, we just weren't thinking we'd have to have him hunted down for us.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

Yep, they still get the money. Same thing happened to me and I asked guest services.

 

[Dug720]

Yep, they still get the money. Same thing happened to me and I asked guest services.

They will get it. I have also been told you can drop the envelope in the comment card boxes (just put their name on it) in the comment card box.