Dinner MDR tips

[1smudslide]

I don't find it wierd at all. It's like going to one of the restaurants with a group, where they automatically add 15% to the check. I always put down extra. I also don't get up without putting something on the table.

[garycarla]

NCL can consider it whatever they want. It's a tip. They explained it as such 10+ years ago when they went to freestyle dining and came up with the DSC.

 

Remember you can adjust the Daily Service Charge, up or down, by simply visiting the customer service desk. You do not need to provide a reason for your adjustment.

 

Why do you continue to tell people to stiff the staff in every single post you make?

[Vyhanek]

I have never seen anyone tip the dining room staff after a meal. The servers do not expect it!

 

However, they are very hopeful that you will write a very positive review for them on a special comment card. When they get so many special good comments they get a bigger piece of the DSC. "Hey, I'd like to write a nice compliment about your service, I'll mention you on my comment card". They will be very happy. This is tip enough for them.

 

It is a good point a pp makes about why we feel the need to tip in the specialty restaurants though. Why would we tip one set of servers but not the other?!

Edited January 15, 2014 by Vyhanek

[coyboy1971]

For what it's worth I always leave a tip...like most folks here in the $5 +/- range.

 

I do want to echo the other comments on the importance of filling out a comment card and dropping it in the box if you get extraordinary service on board. Those really help crew members with promotions and are shared by their managers by posting on crew bulletins boards etc. Be sure to note the crew member name, date, and location of the excellent service and what they did.

 

To me, this is a now highlight of any cruise. On the Jade I took a piece of stationary and jotted down my excellent service notes and addressed it to the Hotel Director about 5 days in. I dropped it at the desk that morning on the way to the gym. By 5 pm I had a note back from the Hotel Director and a bottle of wine in my room, and over the next couple of days the a couple of the crew that I had called out for making my cruise special came up to me and thanked me for taking the time to send that note (their big boss, the Hotel Director, had apparently shared it with them and their boss). These things are read, good and bad! Don't forget to share the good! :)

[mrs.cool]

I've never cruised on NCL before, only RCCL or Princess, but on those cruises I have never seen anyone tip anyone for meal service. They too do the tips at the end of the cruise thing, so I guess no one, including us, feels the need to double tip.

Bartenders are different, you add the tip when you sign the slip. But on this cruise we both the UBP, and a 15% tip is built into that, so I'm planning on ALL my tips already taken care of. I'm saving my cash for my shore excursions.

[vacation luvver]

On the Jade I took a piece of stationary and jotted down my excellent service notes and addressed it to the Hotel Director about 5 days in. I dropped it at the desk that morning on the way to the gym. By 5 pm I had a note back from the Hotel Director and a bottle of wine in my room

Wow! They gave you a bottle of wine because you wrote a complimentary letter, which cost you some time, but not any money. Good to know! I wonder if the people who give a few dollars at every meal are also given free wine.

[Alliezona09]

This is the first I've ever heard of anyone tipping at B/L/D in the MDR~ :confused: it never occurred to me to leave a tip daily, when I cruised RCCL & Carnival we'd tip extra at the end but now on NCL, it just didn't cross my mind~

[anandaindonesia]

I keep wondering if those who insist on tipping for everything, also tip their flight attendants...:confused:

Edited January 16, 2014 by anandaindonesia

[1smudslide]

Would you rather have a compliment from your boss or more in your paycheck. I work for the paycheck first. As far as the flight attendant, why? I tip people who work hard for little pay and few benefits.

[GORDONCHICK]

Good Vacation Hero cards can also mean additional paid days off - this was per a couple of servers we met on a few cruises.

[1smudslide]

I'll definitely fill one out if someone goes above and beyond. Washy Washy must get lots of extra time off then. He was fabulous.

[Valen9]

If you happen to get exceptional service filling out a Style or Hero card (or whatever they are calling those cards now) would be better than money.

 

Bonuses and promotions (or assignments) are based in part on those...

 

This. Those cards are what makes a real difference for the crew. I think you can get a stack at the service desk and leave them for anyone you really wish to reward... and it will be much more appreciated than a few bucks tip.

[1smudslide]

You're making it sound like they don't appreciate tips. I will fill one out if someone gives outstanding service, but, I will still tip. I waitressed for years when my children were young, so I tip waitstaff.

[newmexicoNita]

So who gets the service charge if the dining staff doesn't? Why not just go back to the old way of tipping everyone so that we know who is getting the money. Its a pretty fair amount of money - $24/day for a couple. I can give out a lot of tips with that kind of money if its not going to the dining staff.

 

yes, the wait staff gets the tips from our $12 a day, along with other crew members. As for going back to the old way, there are a couple of reasons this has been changed on all lines: 1-with open dining it would be a royal pain to try and tip individuals. and 2-there were too many people not tipping or not tipping much. Let's face it, a lot of people, some because of cultural policies and some cause they are just tight, do not understand the reason behind tipping. I am happy with the way it is done: I don't have to fill a bunch of envelopes at the end of the cruise, I know that $12 a day sounds like a lot, but broken down it really isn't and I feel more crew members are being recognized the way it is now.

[newmexicoNita]

I keep wondering if those who insist on tipping for everything, also tip their flight attendants...:confused:

 

nope,it is not allowed.

[Seafan22]

On my next trip I'm paying $3,000 a person plus the $168 Service Fee, I think that's enough. I realize that most of that is not going to the servers, but if I'm going to start that kind of analysis I'll want to tip every worker on the ship who does anything for me. I look at it as purchasing an all inclusive package, and I take that as it's stated.

Edited January 16, 2014 by Seafan22
wrong word

[GORDONCHICK]

On my next trip I'm paying $3,000 a person plus the $168 Service Fee, I think that's enough. I realize that most of that is not going to the servers, but if I'm going to start that kind of analysis I'll want to tip every worker on the ship who does anything for me. I look at it as purchasing an all inclusive package, and I take that as it's stated.

My guess is that you're sailing in a suite. If that is the case, your concierge and butler are NOT included in the DCS, so they will need to be tipped according to the service they provide.

[Love my butler]

Why do you continue to tell people to stiff the staff in every single post you make?

 

Never once told anyone to stiff any staff on any post I have made. Reading comprehension is not your strong suit.

[KeithJenner]

I have left a tip a couple of times in the MDR, when we thought the server was particularly good. Not because I felt I should (being British I'm used to not being expected to tip), but because I wanted to. In the same way as I do occasionally do so here despite tips often not being expected.

 

I'm more likely to leave a tip in the speciality restaurants. This is because we often find the service to be so good there.

 

Some of the servers we've had recently in Cagneys have been superb. After having a great experience, I feel even better for having thanked them in some way.

 

The point of the vacation hero cards should probably be explained better. A lot of our knowledge is speculation, or from comments by staff. Personally, I have never completed one, mainly because I meet so many great staff on a cruise that I struggle to pick any individual out. It had never occurred to me to do more than one .

[dales wife]

I'm guessing that the best servers/staff are in the specialty restaurants (as many here have stated) because they've been promoted to those positions. I would certainly hope our comments on the Hero cards plays a part in those promotions (and other rewards), otherwise why fill them out?!? We personally don't leave extra cash tips in the dining rooms (no one but the server would know), but on the last day of our cruise we do take time to fill out cards for those staff members who stand out in our memory at that point because their service was exceptional, meaning they went beyond what we would have expected. :)

[JacqueOCS]

It's been 5 years since our last cruise, so pls refresh my memory. When we buy a drink from the bar is the 15% grt automatically added or can we add our on tip once we get ready to leave the bar? Thank you for any info.

[KeithJenner]

There is 15% automatically added to all drinks purchases. You can add more if you wish.

[Barb Nahoumi]

When I receive exceptional service in the MDR, I fill out a vacation hero card for that server. I do the same for any employee who goes out of his/her way for me.

 

The employees promotions are based on positive comment cards, which can mean more than just a tip.

[samiams2]

So when I order a drink, and the 15% is added, does that go directly to the server that served me? If I add an additional tip to the 15%, does that go directly to the server that served me?

[punkincc]

So when I order a drink, and the 15% is added, does that go directly to the server that served me? If I add an additional tip to the 15%, does that go directly to the server that served me?

 

I'd like to know the answer to this as well. My guess is that it goes into the same pool as the DSC and divided up as NCL sees fit. That is why if we have an exceptional bartender, or we would like some exceptional service ;), we tip in cash to that person.