Steakhouse "service charge" and tipping

[n2knight]

I just give them the bird (in an appropriate denomination $10 for good service $20 for exceptional)

 

[shellann]

Of course not. Their job is to get as much money out of your wallet and into theirs. Your mistake was asking.

 

Probably. But I was fortunate enough to be born in a country where I can live comfortably and cruise with my family for fun whereas she was unfortunate enough to be born in a poor country where she has to cruise away from her family for work. If the luck of the draw had been different and I was in her shoes, I would have been glad for the extra $. I hope I would not have lied to get it but who knows what we would do to provide for our families?

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Probably. But I was fortunate enough to be born in a country where I can live comfortably and cruise with my family for fun whereas she was unfortunate enough to be born in a poor country where she has to cruise away from her family for work. If the luck of the draw had been different and I was in her shoes, I would have been glad for the extra $. I hope I would not have lied to get it but who knows what we would do to provide for our families?

 

You signature says "Nothing booked :("

 

I am waiting for someone now to come on and say that if you didn't tip so much, you would be able to cruise more. :eek:

 

One place I DON'T tip (where evidently some do) is the drive through at Starbucks. They place that little jar out there to give you the hint. Why should they get a tip, and someone at McDonald's not? :confused:

 

Tom

[elcuchio24]

Gibson's steakhouse in Chicago..one of my fav places to go....

 

 

$94 for the big porterhouse

 

http://www.gibsonssteakhouse.com/pdf/Gibsons_Chicago_Dinner.pdf

 

 

I always tip at the steak house....$60 wouldn't get u a drink and one steak here in Chicago

 

Here in Maine we pay about 80 cents for a .30-06 shell and stock our freezer with dozens of steaks every fall........:)

[shellann]

You signature says "Nothing booked :("

 

I am waiting for someone now to come on and say that if you didn't tip so much, you would be able to cruise more. :eek:

 

One place I DON'T tip (where evidently some do) is the drive through at Starbucks. They place that little jar out there to give you the hint. Why should they get a tip, and someone at McDonald's not? :confused:

 

Tom

 

LOL! We don't have anything booked because of the time factor not the money factor. :D

 

The waitstaff on either land or sea make well below minimum wage so we the customers are expected to make up the difference. McDonald's and Starbuck's staff get at least minimum wage, no?

[golfadj]

I wonder what would happen if someone wrote to John Heald and just asked him outright how much of the $ 30 do the servers get to keep?

 

My guess is he would pussyfoot around it and not answer the question.

 

In the future I will thank them very much for the service and leave without an extra tip.

 

Thinks should be black and white whenever possible. This is just Carnival obfuscating (sorry for the big word but it kind of fits) this issue.

 

However in all fairness the meail in the DR is usually excellent and as long as we are happy with our tablemates (and we usually are) we do not go that often to the steakhouse.

[MrPete]

Probably. But I was fortunate enough to be born in a country where I can live comfortably and cruise with my family for fun whereas she was unfortunate enough to be born in a poor country where she has to cruise away from her family for work. If the luck of the draw had been different and I was in her shoes, I would have been glad for the extra $. I hope I would not have lied to get it but who knows what we would do to provide for our families?

 

That's not unique to the ships. At a local restaurant we frequent, there's one waitress who not only serves you food, but serves up a sob story to get bigger tips...ala "pity poor me". Her breath could kill a horse as well.

 

I got her once, and actually undertipped her, as I'm not interested in any of my servers personal lives.

 

We scout out the place first before seated, so we don't have to encounter her again. But we do see she still does it. I guess no one has complained yet.

[MTemple212]

Gibson's steakhouse in Chicago..one of my fav places to go....

 

 

$94 for the big porterhouse

 

http://www.gibsonssteakhouse.com/pdf/Gibsons_Chicago_Dinner.pdf

 

 

I always tip at the steak house....$60 wouldn't get u a drink and one steak here in Chicago

 

 

Choice's, Choice's. Like I said at one point, you can't compare the two! To me, it sounds like you are getting ripped off!! No matter how good that porterhouse was, I wouldn't pay $94 for it, and I can afford it too. Best steak I ever had was at Chop's Grill on the Jewel of the seas. Service charge $20!

[jimbo5544]

I wonder what would happen if someone wrote to John Heald and just asked him outright how much of the $ 30 do the servers get to keep?

 

My guess is he would pussyfoot around it and not answer the question.

 

In the future I will thank them very much for the service and leave without an extra tip.

 

Thinks should be black and white whenever possible. This is just Carnival obfuscating (sorry for the big word but it kind of fits) this issue.

 

However in all fairness the meail in the DR is usually excellent and as long as we are happy with our tablemates (and we usually are) we do not go that often to the steakhouse.

 

This is just Carnival obfuscating

 

That is a big word....:eek:

[MrPete]

I wonder what would happen if someone wrote to John Heald and just asked him outright how much of the $ 30 do the servers get to keep?

 

My guess is he would pussyfoot around it and not answer the question.

 

Already done. Then he had to backpeddle. He didn't know either, apparently.

[Nunu]

MrPete needs more love in his heart. :p

[MrPete]

MrPete needs more love in his heart. :p

 

Actually, right now I could use a medium fillet mignon, and a mudslide. I may start with the mudslide.

[dan40]

From Carnival's website:

 

There is a nominal charge of $30 per person for dinner.

 

The $30 fee includes an appetizer, entrée, dessert and the wait staffs' gratuity.

 

Optional additional gratuities may be extended in cash or to the guest's Sail & Sign Account.

 

Reservation fee does not include bar service such as wine, liquor, soda and bottled water.

 

Guests can request a table anytime between 6 PM and 9:30 PM.

Requesting your table at least two weeks prior to your sail date is recommended.

 

Requested dates and times will be honored on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

If requested time is full, the next available time slot will be assigned.

Please allow 2 ½ hours for your dining experience.

 

Dress code requires that men wear jackets on the 'Cruise Elegant' nights of the cruise.

 

All dining rooms are smoke-free.

 

 

Exactly,

It says it ALL!

 

The $30 fee includes an appetizer, entrée, dessert and the wait staffs' gratuity.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

... This is just Carnival obfuscating (sorry for the big word but it kind of fits) this issue.

...

 

Shouldn't that be censored or something? :eek:

 

:D

 

Already done. Then he had to backpeddle. He didn't know either, apparently.

 

Yes - I recall that. Sometimes, when all that is needed is a simple answer... well, they let John take a stab at it!

 

Tom

[shellann]

MrPete needs more love in his heart. :p

 

Egads, I didn't mean to sound self-righteous. No judgement on MrPete or anyone else. In fact he was right in the first place...

[big_duck]

Shouldn't that be censored or something? :eek:

 

:D

 

Yes, because use of big words that people don't understand leads to them feeling insulted and threads being closed. :rolleyes:

[Nunu]

Egads, I didn't mean to sound self-righteous. No judgement on MrPete or anyone else. In fact he was right in the first place...

 

No problem. I'll judge him for you. :D

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Yes, because use of big words that people don't understand leads to them feeling insulted and threads being closed. :rolleyes:

 

your != you are. loose = not tight. lose = didn't win

 

 

.... and .... the most common one seen here on CC (insert drum roll):

 

Advice & Advise

 

(back to your regularly scheduled ping pong match...)

 

Tom

[elcuchio24]

.... and .... the most common one seen here on CC (insert drum roll):

 

Advice & Advise

 

(back to your regularly scheduled ping pong match...)

 

Tom

 

 

I'll advice you not to correct me, please.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I'll advice you not to correct me, please.

 

If I wanted your advise, I would have asked for it!

 

Tom

[WeBeCruisin']

Does "exceptional service" = "hovering"?

 

I don't want to be watched like a hawk while I eat nor do I need my water refilled each time I take a sip. If that's what it's like I'd rather just stay in the dining room.

 

On Celebrity, the maitre d' of the specialty restaurant would escort any woman who got up to visit the restrooms. Would that freak you out? :D He just seemed to intuitively know when you were "needed". :)

 

The attentiveness factor is one of personal preference. Many people consider the hovering to be the ultimate in service .... others are made uncomfortable. It depends on what kind of personality you have.

[WeBeCruisin']

Just think. If they told us how much of the $ 30 service charge represented the tip, we could than make an informed choice as to how much of a total tip they should get.

 

This way they make us guess.

 

I had been told that the entire $30 was for tips and that anything additional was strictly up to how generous you felt, but that nothing additional was required or even encouraged.

 

It was along the same principle as the $2 or $3 which you were charged if you went to the lido deck for the sit-down dinner with waiters and menus. That charge was strictly to compensate the waiters who would otherwise receive nothing at the end of the week for their work.

 

It's really not that big a deal. If you feel like leaving extra, do so.... if not, don't. Either option doesn't make you a bad person. :)

[golfadj]

I had been told that the entire $30 was for tips and that anything additional was strictly up to how generous you felt' date=' but that nothing additional was required or even encouraged.

 

It was along the same principle as the $2 or $3 which you were charged if you went to the lido deck for the sit-down dinner with waiters and menus. That charge was strictly to compensate the waiters who would otherwise receive nothing at the end of the week for their work.

 

It's really not that big a deal. If you feel like leaving extra, do so.... if not, don't. Either option doesn't make you a bad person. :)[/quote']

 

Hell I jsut think this is an interesting thread. Sorry for throwing in a big word that I may/may not have understood.

[WeBeCruisin']

Yes, because use of big words that people don't understand leads to them feeling insulted and threads being closed. :rolleyes:

 

Been there, done that. Egregiously so. :D

[elcuchio24]

Hell I jsut think this is an interesting thread. Sorry for throwing in a big word that I may/may not have understood.

 

It is a perfectly kromulent word and I appriciate your vocabulary.