Tipping advice

[TinkTatoo]

I am wondering where and when you should tip.


I found the following on the DCL web site

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.......... $11.00 .. $14.75 .. $25.75
Dining Room Asst. Server.... $8.00 .. $10.75 .. $18.75
Dining Room Head Server.... $2.75 ... $3.75 ... $6.50
Stateroom Host/Hostess... $10.75 .. $14.50 .. $25.25
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.

Do you tip you servers on a nightly basis or on your last meal?

[Michelle]

I was under the impression it was not nightly Jakki, we were going to give them on the last meal etc.

[TinkTatoo]

I was under the impression it was not nightly Jakki, we were going to give them on the last meal etc.

That's the impression I got but I wanted to check - I also wanted to know who else to tip. Do you tip at the buffets or snack bars?

[corrinda]

Does this include children as well.

[CBR600]

Great question!

I also wondered if you tipped at buffets/snack bars. Are we supposed to tip $15 per person per trip including kids? So, a family of 4 on a 4 night cruise would tip -

4 x $15 for head server = $60

4 x $11 for assist server = $44

4 x $4 for Dining room server =$16

4 x $15 for starteroom host = $60

TOTAL - $180

Just to make totally sure - this amount is PER TRIP, NOT Per person per night is that correct?

[jad]

We went on a 4 night cruise back in December.

We were given little envelopes to put our tip in on the last night of our cruise - could either put cash in them, or go to guest services and charge to our credit card and put the receipt in the envelopes. Together with the envelopes was a guide with suggested tipping amounts on it.

The recommendations (and they are just that - recommendations) are per person, per trip. We ended up giving our stateroom host more than the recommended, and we gave the head and assistant servers the same amount, 'coz we felt the assistant was more helpful and friendly than the head.

[jdybnsn]

Great question!

I also wondered if you tipped at buffets/snack bars. Are we supposed to tip $15 per person per trip including kids? So, a family of 4 on a 4 night cruise would tip -

4 x $15 for head server = $60

4 x $11 for assist server = $44

4 x $4 for Dining room server =$16

4 x $15 for starteroom host = $60

TOTAL - $180

Just to make totally sure - this amount is PER TRIP, NOT Per person per night is that correct?

I'm not sure where you are getting your exact figures from, but you have the correct idea !

Tradditionally you give the tips at dinner on your last night - you can have them added to your on board account (they will print out a slip to put in the tips envelope) so that you can pay it all by credit card in effect.


You are still expected to tip the same even if you don't attend one, or any of the meals in the dining room, and even if you have very young kids/ babies......they still count.

Tipping anywhere else is entirely at your discretion (bear in mind a 15% tip is automatically added to any drinks you buy at any of the bars).

The only place we tipped extra was at Palo -but we didn't do any trips, or spa treatment etc.

Oh yes, and we tooks some $ bills for tipping room service...nearly forgot (the norm is a few $ per order).

[corrinda]

we are a family of three adults and six children so nine in total so will cost
$450 if im right.

[corrinda]

That will work out $450 for my party of three adults and six children for the three night trip.Thats if i have my figures right.Will have to remember to add that on to my overall bill since it is my treat for everybody.

[jdybnsn]

That will work out $450 for my party of three adults and six children for the three night trip.Thats if i have my figures right.Will have to remember to add that on to my overall bill since it is my treat for everybody.


This is one reason why transferring your reservation to a US T/A is helpful ...we already have $225 in onboard credits for our 7 night trip next year ($25 from DCL and $200 from DU)...this almost all of our tips paid for already :grin:

[Michelle]

May help someone, I am using http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/ for a rough guide to tipping.

I don't think you tip at buffets or snack bars.

[CBR600]

I'm not sure where you are getting your exact figures from, but you have the correct idea !

Tradditionally you give the tips at dinner on your last night - you can have them added to your on board account (they will print out a slip to put in the tips envelope) so that you can pay it all by credit card in effect.


You are still expected to tip the same even if you don't attend one, or any of the meals in the dining room, and even if you have very young kids/ babies......they still count.

Tipping anywhere else is entirely at your discretion (bear in mind a 15% tip is automatically added to any drinks you buy at any of the bars).

The only place we tipped extra was at Palo -but we didn't do any trips, or spa treatment etc.

Oh yes, and we tooks some $ bills for tipping room service...nearly forgot (the norm is a few $ per order).

I got the figures from Tinks post, she quoted the amounts directly from the DLC web site I just rounded the figures up for easy calculation ;) Just wanted to make sure that the amounts were per trip and not per person per night!
I always forget to factor in tipping to the overall budget and I REALLY need to start doing this as it certainly adds up to a heck of an amount over the course of a holiday if you dont pre plan for it! :omg:

[Sue F]

Thanks for the info. It really helped clear things up.

I read on another forum that many people take thankyou cards for putting their tips in and we were planning to do that as it seemed a bit more personal than the standard envelopes. Just got to find some nice ones now.

[disneydreamer]

We are going on disney Wonder and have booked through TCD according to them all port taxes and Gratuities are paid for in the price we paid them. I take it we will not get an envelope for tips at the end of cruise?

Jackie

[CBR600]

We are going on disney Wonder and have booked through TCD according to them all port taxes and Gratuities are paid for in the price we paid them. I take it we will not get an envelope for tips at the end of cruise?

Jackie

Wow really? never heard of anything like that before? I think port taxes are always included who ever you book with but gratuities? thats a new one on me :confused2

Would really like to know if TCD ARE going to pay your gratuities for you, and how they work it out/pay the servers?

It seems a bit odd because there is an automatic charge for tips on drinks and how would TCD know how much your bar or spa bill etc will be?

This is quite interesting - please be sure to let us all know how TCD plan on doind this eh? :wavey:

[jdybnsn]

Yes, I have heard of british travel companies paying for the 'recommended tips' on cruises...since the British do tend to have such a poor tipping record on cruises generally.:blush:

They should more than be able to cover these at the prices most British companies are charging compared with booking direct with DCL :angry: I nearly fainted looking at the Virgin prices - no wonder they are not popular over here !!

For peace of mind though, personally I would double check when you board the ship though, and bring some proof with you.....as it isn't the norm on DCL, and I wouldn't want any embarrassment at the end of the cruise due to this.

[ANGEL]

To clear up, no you don't need to tip extra at buffet/snack bars...as has been said, bars will automaticlaly add a tip when you sign for your drinks too. If you do have spa treatments on board, or at Castaway Cay tou can add a tip when you sign for your bill after the treatment. the only other place you tip anything extra (apart from the total at the end of the cruise) is at Palo, for excellent service!:)


This is a very good thread as I know the tips can come as quite a shock to those who don't consider them. Also be wary of how your drinks bill adds up over the length of the cruise!;)

[disneydreamer]

Yes, I have heard of british travel companies paying for the 'recommended tips' on cruises...since the British do tend to have such a poor tipping record on cruises generally.:blush:

They should more than be able to cover these at the prices most British companies are charging compared with booking direct with DCL :angry: I nearly fainted looking at the Virgin prices - no wonder they are not popular over here !!

For peace of mind though, personally I would double check when you board the ship though, and bring some proof with you.....as it isn't the norm on DCL, and I wouldn't want any embarrassment at the end of the cruise due to this.

Hi there

When I was pricing the cruises yes TCD were a little bit more expensive than DCL. I have an email in black & white as i specifically asked them if it included gratuities. I will be keeping this in a safe place and taking it with me.

Jackie

[rylisal]

We took cash with us to take care of tips, we did give our room attendant slightly more though as he seemed to work so hard! Server & assistant got almost same and head waiter just got his bare minimum as tbh they dont really do much!
We went by the scale as said at beginning of thread but I must admit, we only did it X3 of us as our toddler was too young we felt to be included!!
Didnt tip any other time though as not required to at Buffet or bars!
May have got it all slightly wrong but no complaints on last morning & servers were still really nice to us!!

[apollo163]

part of the launch crew for the magic at that time all of the british travel companies paid the gratuities in advance and we all knew it so alot of the time if we had a lot of brits on our station we could bank on double tips as guests did not realise

[scottishwee35]

Hi there

When I was pricing the cruises yes TCD were a little bit more expensive than DCL. I have an email in black & white as i specifically asked them if it included gratuities. I will be keeping this in a safe place and taking it with me.

Jackie

Hi Jackie

I have been searched about booking in UK and find that it is very expensive to book disney Cruise by UK.

I wish you book with Dreams Unlimited and wonder if anyone can help you to transfer it or rebooking with DU. As it is much cheaper than UK.

I hope someone can advise you what to do with it.

Scottishwee35

[disneydreamer]

On average how much do you think we would have to fork out for 4 people on 3 day cruise for gratuities? I'm seriously thinking of changing to DU. Got quote of $1600 for same cruise. So i need to add gratuities and any cancellation fee from previous company we have booked with. Still waiting for them to return my call from this afternoon. Do DU take over your full booking. i.e same stateroom numbr and same meal seating time? if you are transferring booking? Anyone out there help please?

Jackie

[Michelle]

Yes Jackie DU take over all the booking, everytyhing is kept the same.

Have a look on page 1 of this thread for tipping guide.

[disneydreamer]

Yes Jackie DU take over all the booking, everytyhing is kept the same.

Have a look on page 1 of this thread for tipping guide.

thanks tinkershell. I was hoping that would be the case as I like where our stateroom is situated and we have 1st meal sitting. DU quoting for 2nd meal sitting.

Hopefully If I allow around £120 for tips that should be enough.

Jackie:wavey:

[jdybnsn]

.

Hopefully If I allow around £120 for tips that should be enough.

Jackie:wavey:

Have a look at the link that Tinkershell posted on the previous page - that site will calculate the tips for you, as it depends on party size, and length of cruise.

Normally you cannot transfer from one U.S. T/A (travel agent) to another .....the T/As won't do this as they consider it bad business practice (ie stepping on each others' toes)...you can only transfer a direct DCL website booking to a US.. T/A....... you would have to cancel with one T/A, in order to book with another.

Quite how this might be though, transfering from a British T/A, I don't know as I'd imagine that this would be a very unusual occurance.
Good luck and let us know how you get on :thumbs-up