Yet another tipping question

[rpodvia]

First time cruiser and i promise i have searched the boards concerning this. My question is i know the suggested amounts the server, head server, etc.. should be tipped per guest, per evening. However, is that per evening of the cruise or per evening that they serve you? In other words, we are going on a four night cruise, but will be eating at Palo one night. Do we tip for only the three nights we dined with the servers, or is is assumed that they were there to assist/serve us all four nights and should be tipped for all four?

thanks!!

 

[amybethchristiansen]

The rule is per night of the cruise per person. The servers not only serve you at night, but throughout the day at the buffet, etc.

 

[brucechase]

First time cruiser and i promise i have searched the boards concerning this. My question is i know the suggested amounts the server, head server, etc.. should be tipped per guest, per evening. However, is that per evening of the cruise or per evening that they serve you? In other words, we are going on a four night cruise, but will be eating at Palo one night. Do we tip for only the three nights we dined with the servers, or is is assumed that they were there to assist/serve us all four nights and should be tipped for all four?

thanks!!

All 4 nights.

 

[rpodvia]

That's what i assumed, thanks for the confirmations.

 

[pam775]

Is there something on the actual DCL website that explains tipping? I've searched, but I haven't found anything and I looked under FAQ and dining?

 

[brucechase]

Is there something on the actual DCL website that explains tipping? I've searched, but I haven't found anything and I looked under FAQ and dining?

Look under the FAQ under onboard services. I copied and pasted it below since sometimes that site seems so slow (it might just be my internet connection)

What about gratuities?

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 $12.00 $16.00 $28.00
Dining Room Asst. Server $9.00 $12.00 $21.00
Dining Room Head Server $3.00 $4.00 $7.00
Stateroom Host/Hostess $12.00 $16.00 $28.00
Dining Manager Your Discretion
Room Service Your Discretion
Palo Gratuity included
Vista Spa & Salon Your Discretion
Babysitting Gratuity not expected
Shore Excursions Optional; not included in shore excursion price.
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.

 

[Disneydreamer5]

Hold the phones, so I don't have to tip $12 per person per day?
This is something that is reccomended not required?
I was under the impression that you HAD to give this amount.
Not saying I wouldn't but there a big difference in HAVE to and SHOULD.

 

[brucechase]

Hold the phones, so I don't have to tip $12 per person per day?
This is something that is reccomended not required?
I was under the impression that you HAD to give this amount.
Not saying I wouldn't but there a big difference in HAVE to and SHOULD.

Wow, there are a few hot topics on this board (and I am learning about more all the time) and tipping is one of them. But in answer to your specific question, NO it is not required, just appreciated.

Other hot topics - Dinner dress, Formal night, bingo, kids at the adult pool, taking kids out of school, saving seats at theater, saving seats at lunch. I'm sure I will find out more the longer I stay here.

 

[kcashner]

Wow, there are a few hot topics on this board (and I am learning about more all the time) and tipping is one of them. But in answer to your specific question, NO it is not required, just appreciated.

Other hot topics - Dinner dress, Formal night, bingo, kids at the adult pool, taking kids out of school, saving seats at theater, saving seats at lunch. I'm sure I will find out more the longer I stay here.

Yup, some topics always generate "interest!"

 

[imanazd]

Hold the phones, so I don't have to tip $12 per person per day?
This is something that is reccomended not required?
I was under the impression that you HAD to give this amount.
Not saying I wouldn't but there a big difference in HAVE to and SHOULD.

The $12 is per person per cruise, not per night. No wonder you were freaking out if you thought it was per night. Hopefully this makes it seem not quite so bad : )~.

 

[skohrs]

Wow, there are a few hot topics on this board (and I am learning about more all the time) and tipping is one of them. But in answer to your specific question, NO it is not required, just appreciated.

Other hot topics - Dinner dress, Formal night, bingo, kids at the adult pool, taking kids out of school, saving seats at theater, saving seats at lunch. I'm sure I will find out more the longer I stay here.

I have seen all of there controversies discussed on these boards excet for Bingo. I must have missed that. What is the controversy with Bingo?

 

[brucechase]

I have seen all of there controversies discussed on these boards excet for Bingo. I must have missed that. What is the controversy with Bingo?

The Bingo one was whether it was alright to allow kids to play bingo since it was gambling.

 

[lbgraves]

The $12 is per person per cruise, not per night. No wonder you were freaking out if you thought it was per night. Hopefully this makes it seem not quite so bad : )~.

Not sure where you got this impression from but it IS $12 per person PER night for all the tipped positions total.

 

[skohrs]

The $12 is per person per cruise, not per night. No wonder you were freaking out if you thought it was per night. Hopefully this makes it seem not quite so bad : )~.

Not sure where you got this impression from but it IS $12 per person PER night for all the tipped positions total.

I think imanazd meant that it was $12 per person per cruise for the waiter, and $12 per person per cruise for the stateroom attendant (assuming a 3-night cruise). The quote from the DCL website:

Per Guest per cruise 3-Night 4-Night 7-Night
Dining Room Server $12.00 $16.00 $28.00
Dining Room Asst. Server $9.00 $12.00 $21.00
Dining Room Head Server $3.00 $4.00 $7.00
Stateroom Host/Hostess $12.00 $16.00 $28.00

does not break it down by total of all positions per night. However, lbgraves is correct that if you add the nightly amounts for each position it adds up to $12 per night for each person in your party ($4 for server, $4 for stateroom host, $3 for asst server, and $1 for head server).

For my family of six, that adds up to a whopping $504 in tips for the week. We just always make sure to add that in to the total cost of the cruise when figuring out how much the cruise will cost.

 

[pam775]

Look under the FAQ under onboard services. I copied and pasted it below since sometimes that site seems so slow (it might just be my internet connection)

Thank you so much. I knew I must have been looking in the wrong place!!!

 

[jilljill]

The $12 is per person per cruise, not per night. No wonder you were freaking out if you thought it was per night. Hopefully this makes it seem not quite so bad : )~.

The $12/person is for each day and covers the tipped positions that are listed on the DCL grid above. So for our 4 day cruise for the 3 of us this summer the suggested total amt. is $144. and for the 3 of us on our 12 day cruise next summer the total suggested amt. is $432. We know this ahead of time and plan this amount into our budget.

 

[jrabbit]

Hold the phones, so I don't have to tip $12 per person per day?
This is something that is reccomended not required?
I was under the impression that you HAD to give this amount.
Not saying I wouldn't but there a big difference in HAVE to and SHOULD.

No flames from me here (I hope). You are right - you do not have to tip the 4 positions listed.

However, cruising's "dirty little secret" is that these people are not paid -- much -- by the cruiselines -> about $50/MONTH + room and board for about 100 hours per WEEK (or 440 per MONTH) of work. That's 11 cents per hour!! That's where the gratuities (tips) come in. We as the cruising public get to "pay" the wages of these people on top of what we spend for the cruise.

 

[carmie3377]

We as the cruising public get to "pay" the wages of these people on top of what we spend for the cruise.

The way I look at is if they did pay the cast members a normal wage, they would have to increase the price of our cruises. I would rather pay tips separately so they have an incentive to provide good service.

Same way with a restaurant. If the owners/companies paid a normal wage to servers with no tipping, they would have to increase the cost of menu items. Then, the servers have no incentive to provide good service. If they keep menu items lower and expect tipping at discretion, then the servers provide better service.

 

[jrabbit]

You will not get to much of an arguement from me.

 

[Precious25]

When I realize that some of the hostess/servers, are especially from poorer countries, like the philliphines, and are sending money home to their families, and for all their hard effort of serving us, ie. having your towels magically appear back on the rack, etc. the feeling of generousity is there that a tip isn't out of the ordinary.