Tipping in Yacht Club

I know it is a subiect discussed before and I even found some threads about it but from a few years ago.

Can someone who sailed recently on Divina (and in the Caribbean) in the yacht club tell me how much are the tips? I know the service charge per person is 12$/day, added automatically to our account but what about the tips for butler, waiter, concierge. Are these tips given at the end of the cruise or every day?

Thank you!

The butler, waiter, etc. are included.

You may tip them more (we did, at the end of the cruise), but they are included in the daily charge.

I know it is a subiect discussed before and I even found some threads about it but from a few years ago.

Can someone who sailed recently on Divina (and in the Caribbean) in the yacht club tell me how much are the tips? I know the service charge per person is 12$/day, added automatically to our account but what about the tips for butler, waiter, concierge. Are these tips given at the end of the cruise or every day?

 

Thank you!

On our last cruise we did not tip anyone until the last day of the cruise. Then we tipped the Butler, cabin steward, and our two waiters in LeMuse.

Friends sat at the bar in the one club and would tip each time they were served. They swear they got top shelf scotch instead of the regular scotch. I never tried this as there was plenty to drink.

You paid a premium for the Yacht Club and you will still pay the daily fee so tips are not required.

I know others will disagree as some tip for everything they receive.

It's all included but you can tip extra for great service.

Thank you all for advices!!

Thanks was wondering about this also. I don’t mind tipping extra for service, but annoyed with Ncl with the Haven where the Butler/concierge aren’t included.

Everyone feels obligated to tip them even if you don’t really use them since they aren’t included in the daily.

Tipping is always a controversial subject. The daily charge $12.50 pp is supposed to cover everyone. I believe in rewarding excellence and the daily charge, to me, seems like a supplementary salary to make up for the traditionally low wages. There are historic reasons for the wage scale and the way it’s done.

We were in the Yacht Club in October and we did hand out envelopes on the last day. We took care of our waiter, asst. waiter, Maitre D’, Asst. Hostess, Butler and his Assistant. We were amazed with the personal attention they gave us and all the services they performed for us. I wrote a short note of thanks to each one of them and placed it in their envelope. We told each one that this was “a little gift” to say thanks. I can tell you that each one was very appreciative and gave us a heartfelt thank you.

Thanks was wondering about this also. I don’t mind tipping extra for service, but annoyed with Ncl with the Haven where the Butler/concierge aren’t included.

 

Everyone feels obligated to tip them even if you don’t really use them since they aren’t included in the daily.

When NCL raised the DSC and made it more for suites there was a short time (like 2 weeks) they claimed it was higher to cover the butler and concierge and quickly got changed back to they aren't included. From the NCL tipping threads the ranges most people post seem excessive IMO.

On MSC they do say no additional tips needed. We did tip butler, waiter, and one bartender. It gets to be a bit hard since you can have many different people interact with you in YC.

I wonder if I should bring around $200 in $1.00's, to tip the bar staff directly, for each drink?

I wonder if I should bring around $200 in $1.00's, to tip the bar staff directly, for each drink?

Why don't you bring $2 bills? They are different and will be more appreciated. I use the $2 bills and gold dollars and they are for exceptional service only....

WE returned a month ago from YC Divina, we noticed some people got better service than others. for instance sitting at the pool, the waiter would walk up to a couple every 30-45 mins, but not to us.

Then we started to give 3-5 dollars each afternoon and BINGO the service improved. in reality of you tip an extra 50 in small increments not too much to ask.

we did tip our butler and the Muse waiter and maître di as well,

You can play it by ear and see how it works

Why don't you bring $2 bills? They are different and will be more appreciated. I use the $2 bills and gold dollars and they are for exceptional service only....

it seems to be cute to you, but it is WAY harder for cruise staff to exchange into their own currency. And they get a much worse exchange rate. Crisp new bills in the most common denominations are best for tips to crew.

it seems to be cute to you, but it is WAY harder for cruise staff to exchange into their own currency. And they get a much worse exchange rate. Crisp new bills in the most common denominations are best for tips to crew.

Thanks for the info

Why don't you bring $2 bills? They are different and will be more appreciated. I use the $2 bills and gold dollars and they are for exceptional service only....

The color might be gold, but for "exceptional service" you give a dollar? Also, $2 bills are a pain because stores (wrongly) think they must not be real and sometimes don't want to accept them.

To answer the OPs question, I tipped some of the drink servers in the YC when I would receive my glass, but I tipped my Butler, asst. Butler, our waiters in Le Muse, the Maitre'D in Le Muse, and my favorite bartender at The One Pool separately at the end of the cruise.

They were all truly exceptional, and deserved every penny of it.

We are having a real dilemma as to how to tip in the YC on Meraviglia.  We did not see or meet our Butler until Day 3. Asst Butler who escorted us to cabin on day 1 , told us he was not assigned to our cabin and we would meet our asst Butler and Butler sometime later.  It turned out to be much later.

Ass’t Butler we found outside our room day 2, seemed confused when we asked why our room had no service  yet. (2pm. ) We wanted to take a nap.

He said he would come back in 20 minutes to do it and we should wait. 

Not sure if our asst butler was also MIA and that is why our room got skipped over. 

Now, it is our last day and they are constantly knocking on the door asking if we need anything. (DND is lit on )

I feel like now they just have their hands out.  

Concierge crew went way above and beyond on our cruise and they will receive our thanks and a gratuity.

Restaurant staff were average but, not attentive. Usually, staring into space as they ask what you are having.  After answer, asking same question again.  YC restaurant always seemed slammed and staff frazzled.

this morning Restaurant manager and waiters  arguing in front diners. Last night , apologies that they were busy and we would have to wait for service.  Again, waiters making negative remarks to each other.  Very stressful and not very professional . 

Sorry, just venting. 

Envelopes will be handed out tomorrow in the morning then we will disembark.

I can 'hear' the frustration in your post, phissy.  Can't blame you for venting!  It sounds like the crew are very unhappy on the ship.  The first weeks are very stressful for them, but that doesn't excuse the behaviour in the restaurant.

We usually tip our butler and regular waiter a little extra (an odd time, the sommelier and/or concierge if they go above and beyond).  A couple of times we've had butlers MIA - they never got anything extra from us.  On one cruise, the asst was wonderful;  we gave her extra and asked her not to mention it to the butler as we weren't tipping him.

If I were on the receiving end of what you've outlined, the only one getting an extra tip would be the concierge.  

I wouldn't give anything extra to the butler or the waiters.  It sounds like your experience was not what you should expect from the YC.  

We tipped "our" butler and "our" waiter in LeMuse. We also planned to tip our favorite waiter at Divina bar but unfortunately we didn't see him the last night.

On 3/25/2017 at 2:44 PM, corinna_paula said:

I know it is a subiect discussed before and I even found some threads about it but from a few years ago.

Can someone who sailed recently on Divina (and in the Caribbean) in the yacht club tell me how much are the tips? I know the service charge per person is 12$/day, added automatically to our account but what about the tips for butler, waiter, concierge. Are these tips given at the end of the cruise or every day?

 

Thank you!

Well, we had a thread on our first MSC cruise on the Divina in the YC where tipping was discussed, but more recently the YC on Seaside.

We've been on Seaside YC again B2B recently 3/2-3/16/19 and we've actually increased our 'envelopes on the day before the last sea day.  My wife hand writes (Catholic grade school, perfect cursive skills) notes to each recipient personalized with a comment or two about how they made our cruise so enjoyable.

PERSPECTIVE - We booked MSC YC long ago before it became noticed.  The demand is up and so are the prices.  We were actually uncomfortable telling others what we paid for the B2B after being apprised of what others paid.  So, we're in for short money.

We tipped our waitress $200 a week, her assistant $25 and the hostess $25; both per week.  Our waitress was 'worth it.

We tipped $100 to 1 butler, $50 to two other butlers, that took care of us in the lounge (we always got champagne and a certain select organic wine that I wanted), and $200 to one butler (Roy, week 2, after return from getting married so half was a 'congratulations gift).

We tipped $25 to 2 bartenders in the lounge and 2 at the YC pool.

We tipped our room steward and butler $50 each, each week.  We didn't use room service, and they only needed to make the bed and refresh the towels.  They were really nice, quick in the AM and worked together in the room (on 2 prior B2B YC's, never saw the butler to anything in the room so this was new).

It might appear to be too much, but again, we cruise a lot and our YC cruises are 'over the top, the service is 'over the top and we just totally enjoy the entire experience.

Please help me to understand why some would tip the maitre de.  What have I been missing out on??  On 3 MSC YC cruises, our maitre des have introduced themselves, seated us and chatted very briefly.  I don’t mind tipping for good or extra services, but what are maitre des doing for others that we’re missing out on?  ( We really are good tippers when we believe it is warranted.)

Normally, I would agree with you, Safe77.  However, we had very attentive service from a couple of YC asst m'Ds (there's only one ship's m'D who oversees all restaurants) on our YC cruises who well deserved a tip.

5 hours ago, Safe77 said:

Please help me to understand why some would tip the maitre de.  What have I been missing out on??  On 3 MSC YC cruises, our maitre des have introduced themselves, seated us and chatted very briefly.  I don’t mind tipping for good or extra services, but what are maitre des doing for others that we’re missing out on?  ( We really are good tippers when we believe it is warranted.)

The Maitre d’ is constantly overseeing and assigning waiters.  He is responsible for the management of the restaurant and is the arbiter of all mistakes and conflicts.  If you develop a repore with him and have any special requests then you might consider a small tip as away of saying thanks.  You never know when you will run into him again on another cruise and I can tell you from experience they have great memories.  

7 hours ago, CGTNORMANDIE said:

 

The Maitre d’ is constantly overseeing and assigning waiters.  He is responsible for the management of the restaurant and is the arbiter of all mistakes and conflicts.  If you develop a repore with him and have any special requests then you might consider a small tip as away of saying thanks.  You never know when you will run into him again on another cruise and I can tell you from experience they have great memories.  

Yes!   I remembered a certain Maitre d' from the suite breakfast and lunch venue on the NCL Sun (25 nights).  A year later I saw him in one of the specialty restaurants on NCL Epic. He recognized me and we chatted a few minutes.   He sent over a lovely bottle of wine.  

My niece is a vegan so we would always stop by our dinner venue a night before just to speak with the Maitre d'.   They always appreciated the advance heads up.  

We are just off the Preziosa, three weeks ago. Since the Preziosa only spends about 6 months in the Western Hemisphere I wondered if tipping expectations would be different among the overwhelmingly European passengers. I didn't wonder long, it's our choice. Our end-of-cruise envelopes were the same as a U.S. departure. Generous.

As to seeing your YC Restaurant Manager again and whether tipping may be remembered...  Giuseppe (Pepe) was our manager on Seaside and now on Preziosa. We expected to see him again on Meraviglia, but alas that contract assignment may be changed. And yes it was pretty obvious to other passengers that Pepe treated as old friends and had his staff take special care of us. He knew we would be taking good care of his staff at end of cruise. Pepe is so personable and professional and fun. A modest monetary thank-you in addition to verbal was appropriate and appreciated.

Dennis