"Left gratuity on table at Pinnacle Grill" ???

[Happy-d]

I read a member review regarding the Pinnacle Grill on Cruise Critic which stated, "Everyone in our party thought it was tops. The service, food and atmosphere were the best. I was really surprised the restaurant is never full. Yes, we left a tip at the table."

Is it customary to leave a tip at the table in just this restaurant on board the Zuiderdam? We're first-time cruisers going in March, and we appreciate your advice!!

[jhannah]

I prefer to hand any gratuity to a server in person and express my thanks. The only way I'd just leave it on the table is if he/she was no where in sight and we had to leave to get to a show or other event. But I don't recall ever noticing any servers in these alternative venues simply disappearing for more than a minute or two.

[Happy-d]

Thanks jhannah. So w/ the Pinnacle Grill, it's different than the main dining--where you tip at the end of the cruise on top of the automatic tipping/surcharge. Any other places/people we should tip immediately and not at the end of the cruise?

[doone]

When I ate at the Pinnacle last year, they brought the bill over to the table in a very nice folder, I signed it and left the tip in the folder.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

doone, we did the same but personally tipped our Wine Stewart. He was very good and went out of his way to get us the Champagne we like to drinkg even though they do not have it readily available in the Pinnacle.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We don't put the tip money if the folder as we want to make certain that each person who waited on us as well as the wine steward gets their tip. The person who cleans up the table and removes the folder might not share the tip money with the others.

[doone]

OH NO, I never thought of that and I just assumed the two waiters we had would share. The person who took our orders for drinks, was also one who helped take the orders. We had only two people for 11 of us, I hope they shared.

[jhannah]

The person who cleans up the table and removes the folder might not share the tip money with the others.
I seriously doubt this. Theirs is a close-knit fraternity ... and they all know what's going on. I'm sure there would be heck to pay if one steward was found 'hiding' tips from other stewards serving that table.

[Krazy Kruizers]

I've learned to never trust anyone - no matter how much they smile. There is always a rat in the pack somewhere.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

We don't put the tip money if the folder as we want to make certain that each person who waited on us as well as the wine steward gets their tip. The person who cleans up the table and removes the folder might not share the tip money with the others.


Before we even left the table our Main Food Server (female the last time) picked up the folder. So I knew it tip got into the right hands. It was the Wine Stewart we had a hard time finding at the end. But did find and personally tipped him.