Tipping from Your Shipboard Account

[jhannah]

For those of you who have arranged for your tips to be paid from your shipboard account, how do you do this? Tell the front office? Fill out a form? Thanks in advance for your help.

[greatdanemom]

As I recall the stateroom attendants left the forms to fill out in our stateroom allowing us to put the tips on our shipboard account. We were later provided with envelopes and tip "coupons" with the staff's names and $ amounts we designated so we could give them the tips in person.

Cheryl

[jhannah]

Ah, that's nice ... still being able to hand them something. Thanks for the info.

[BEVLEV]

Hi,

When we were on in October, we went to the front desk and asked for the form ahead of time. We completed it early and handed it in there avoiding the lineups. They gave us coupons and envelopes for the staff. The cabin steward will leave them in your room but that is towards the end of the cruise and then you are fighting with everyone else at the desk to pay.

[tina4_98]

So if we decide to tip in advance do they give us something that says what's expected to tip??:confused:

[BEVLEV]

Yes...the form gives a recommended amount. Enjoy your cruise!!!!

[jhannah]

Here's what's on the DCL website:

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.

(Sorry I couldn't get the tabs to line up.)

[obmarcr]

hi, first time here. Never been on a cruise and considering Disney.
What if you don't like the service or just don't want to tip that much...what happens then?

[tina4_98]

I haven't been on a cruise either but from what i have read no one has really experienced bad service so not sure!!

[jhannah]

What if you don't like the service or just don't want to tip that much...what happens then? You simply tip less. But make the lower tip to the person whose service was less than you expected, and write a note telling them why. Don't just reduce your tips across-the-board, thus penalizing others who served you well.

If your service experience was bad enough to warrant a reduction in the gratuity, then also be sure to make the reasons known via your cruise questionnaire so management is aware of the issue.

[gatour]

Yes you can go to Guest Relations anytime during the cruise and and they will print out a form that will have a line item for each type of cast member (room steward, server, busboy, etc). Each line item will have the total suggested tip for entire cruise and you sign off of it. Alternatively there is another line where you can enter the total tip for that particular person. Another option is what I did, I was able to do , +x number of dollars for a particular person.

Guest relations then gave you some coupons to put in the enelops.

[MrPete]

Not only did I find that convenient, it was the only opportunity to experience the pursers desk.

What stuck me during my short wait was how immacualte everything was around that area, and how efficiently I was processed.

True Disney style.

[woody73]

hi, first time here. Never been on a cruise and considering Disney.
What if you don't like the service or just don't want to tip that much...what happens then?
The recommended tip amounts are based on cruise industry standards, not by DCL.

The level of service on DCL typically exceeds guests' expectations, so there is little chance you will not like the service.

If for some reason you don't like the service, deal with right away it onboard. For example, if you were disappointed by your dinner server, discuss it with the head server. If there is a problem, DCL wants to know early enough so they can address it.

Woody

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Not only did I find that convenient, it was the only opportunity to experience the pursers desk.

What stuck me during my short wait was how immacualte everything was around that area, and how efficiently I was processed.

True Disney style.

Disney had lot of nice touches including when you first board and they announce your name. I also thought it was nice to see the guy and girl translating the shows in sign language for the hearing impaired. I've never seen that on a cruise before.

Bill

[woody73]

We hand the tip envelopes to the crew members on the last night. But, if we are dining at Palo that night, we will hand the tips to the waitstaff one night early and let them know we'll be at Palo.

Unfortunately there are guests who stiff the waitstaff by not showing up on the last night when tips are traditionally given. We never want them to think we stiffed them by not showing up.

Woody

[jhannah]

Unfortunately there are guests who stiff the waitstaff by not showing up on the last night when tips are traditionally given. I've seen this happen so many times, and it's just wrong, IMO. That's one reason many cruise lines have gone to the "auto-tip" arrangement where $10 per person/per day is added to the shipboard account. Sure, you can go to the purser and have it reduced/removed ... but it takes a more positive effort than simply not showing up for the last evening's dinner.

[DCLCrew]

I would like to add that you are not only tipping for your 'dinner' service, but the crew serving you for dinner are actually working breakfast and lunch (in all about 85hours per week!) so u are really tippng for a full 3/4/7 days of breakfast/lunch and dinner. If you put yourself in their shoes, could you still smile as much as them day in/day out after working 85hours a week for 6 months straight?

[metrowon]

hi, first time here. Never been on a cruise and considering Disney.
What if you don't like the service or just don't want to tip that much...what happens then? Really what happens is nothing! You won't end up on Disney anyway, because it a Premium Cruise and you already don't want to pay for services, that you haven't experianced yet!
When did you ever go to work and not get paid, even if your employer didn't like your work, or work ethic. Don't even Go, if $150. 00 will brake your piggy bank. Every turn of your cruise will end up looking for reasons, not to tip instead of enjoying the cruise. Unbelievable premise! Metrowon

[metrowon]

Vegas Jim, if youv'e seen it before, than why did you ask again? Why prepay, if you don't know how well you'll be served? The ODDS are, and Vegas Jim, knows the Odds. The odds are Vegas Jim doesn't know, how to tip! And just gamble on your service! Don't prepay, don't even tip! Metrowon

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Vegas Jim, if youv'e seen it before, than why did you ask again? Why prepay, if you don't know how well you'll be served? The ODDS are, and Vegas Jim, knows the Odds. The odds are Vegas Jim doesn't know, how to tip! And just gamble on your service! Don't prepay, don't even tip! Metrowon

Metrowon,
I don't understand the venom you're spewing towards Jim. Jim is a fine upstanding gentleman and doesn't desrve to be treated this way.

I hope tomorrow brings a better outlook and your hangover isn't too bad.

Bill