Divina Gratuity

[Clar5]

I just booked the Divinia for May 13th, and is my first time on this line. I was reading that it discouraged from tipping the steward and waiters in the dining room? I have always done so on Carnival and Princess. Can someone shed some light on this?:confused::confused::confused:

[plucasana]

In my opinion this is just a misunderstanding. What they do discourage is removing the autotips and tipping individually, because there are a lot of people on staff that benefit from the autotip that you do not see and hence would not tip when doing it by yourself. In my experience tipping ON TOP of the gratuity is not only welcome but also more or less expected.

 

 

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[nikkiw60]

There is actually something written not sure where that individual tipping is discouraged and if staff are seen accepting tips it could mean dismissal.

Can anyone confirm that I have read that and am not making it up?

 

Saying that we did tip extra to our waiting staff and steward on the last night. Bills folded small and given in a handshake (subtle? Not!)

And we also have a dollar tip for rooms service.

 

 

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[Catlady1977]

Hi

 

I tipped as I went along also, I tipped my room steward a lot as he really looked after my cabin and was a massive help to me, I also tipped as I went along to those who provided excellent service. Some say that once you've paid your service charge that there's no need to tip but I felt that some staff deserved an extra few dollars for being outstanding.

[nikkiw60]

 

This is from MSC UK, but I still think I have seen something else somewhere.

 

 

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[Tapi]

This is from MSC UK, but I still think I have seen something else somewhere.

 

 

Because of the varied clientele on MSC from countries with different views on tipping, I believe that this notice is designed to inform people from countries where tipping is not customary what the purpose of the auto tips is and to discourage people from removing them.

 

I know that there are several people that say that they'll remove auto tips to then tip in cash, but I believe that there will be even more that will remove the tips and won't tip at all because it's not customary in their countries. Maybe MSC felt it was necessary to write this policy because their service staff was getting stiffed.

 

 

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[jmele999]

We are also new to MSC. What about tipping in the YC (butler, concierge)?

[TonyLondon]

We have the unlimited drinks package as part of the Aurea deal, does that mean the gratuity is also included?

 

thanks

 

Tony

[CarolnLarry]

We are also new to MSC. What about tipping in the YC (butler, concierge)?

On our 14 day back to back cruise on the Divina we tipped the Butler, room steward, and waiters in Le Muse. They were outstanding and deserved every cent we gave them. We tipped no one else at anytime as there is a service charge that covers them.

:)

[AEckhardt]

On our 14 day back to back cruise on the Divina we tipped the Butler, room steward, and waiters in Le Muse. They were outstanding and deserved every cent we gave them. We tipped no one else at anytime as there is a service charge that covers them.

 

:)

 

 

 

Wouldn't the service charge cover the Le Muse waiters? If the DSC covers the waiters in the MDRs and we are "assigned" to Le Muse for being in the YC, I'd assume it to work similarly. We, of course, have no issue tipping on top of the DSC to those who truly make our trip special. Just making sure I understand how the DSC works on MSC as opposed to, say, NCL.

 

 

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[riclop]

I just booked the Divinia for May 13th, and is my first time on this line. I was reading that it discouraged from tipping the steward and waiters in the dining room? I have always done so on Carnival and Princess. Can someone shed some light on this?:confused::confused::confused:

 

You can if you want.

[GRANNYOFSIX]

Hi Nikki.....how are you? I also read the same thing that if seen accepting tips it could mean dismissal. Not sure where I read it....not sure if it was on their web site or CC.....however, like you we handed our steward, waiter in the DR and at specialty restaurants and bartenders extra $ discreetly and it was never refused. We did not order room service but we would have done the same tip wise. I do not think they expected tips at all on this cruise line. I hope you and Matt are feeling better. My cold lasted quite a while. Started feeling "normal" yesterday and feel great today......

 

 

 

There is actually something written not sure where that individual tipping is discouraged and if staff are seen accepting tips it could mean dismissal.

Can anyone confirm that I have read that and am not making it up?

 

Saying that we did tip extra to our waiting staff and steward on the last night. Bills folded small and given in a handshake (subtle? Not!)

And we also have a dollar tip for rooms service.

 

 

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[Beamafar]

From the MSC website:

 

Tips

MSC Cruises does not recommend tipping individual members of staff.

 

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Already-Booked/General-Information.aspx#service-charge

 

MSC does not forbid it - just does not recommend it. I always tip the cabin steward/butler and waiters in the MDR and sometimes other crew or members of the Entertainment team.

[nikkiw60]

From the MSC website:

 

Tips

MSC Cruises does not recommend tipping individual members of staff.

 

https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us/Already-Booked/General-Information.aspx#service-charge

 

MSC does not forbid it - just does not recommend it. I always tip the cabin steward/butler and waiters in the MDR and sometimes other crew or members of the Entertainment team.

 

 

It was more strongly worded than that and I am sure the word dismissal was stated.

I wonder if it was on the daily?

 

 

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[asctony]

What are the daily tips per person? Thank you.

[nikkiw60]

$12 pp per day on Divina

 

 

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[asctony]

$12 pp per day on D

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Thank You!

[Beamafar]

What are the daily tips per person? Thank you.

 

It depends on the region in which you're cruising:

 

http://www.msccruises.ie/en-ie/Already-Booked/General-Information.aspx#service-charge

[CarolnLarry]

Wouldn't the service charge cover the Le Muse waiters? If the DSC covers the waiters in the MDRs and we are "assigned" to Le Muse for being in the YC, I'd assume it to work similarly. We, of course, have no issue tipping on top of the DSC to those who truly make our trip special. Just making sure I understand how the DSC works on MSC as opposed to, say, NCL.

 

 

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We always tip extra for superior or exceptional service. Those people that I mentioned did way over and above anything you have seen on most other cruise lines. They were very receptive to the additional gratuities as a lot of other people do not tip anything over and above the standard cabin fees. :)

[AEckhardt]

We always tip extra for superior or exceptional service. Those people that I mentioned did way over and above anything you have seen on most other cruise lines. They were very receptive to the additional gratuities as a lot of other people do not tip anything over and above the standard cabin fees. :)

 

 

 

I understand that, but you said "we tipped no one else as the service charge covers them" which originally lead me to believe that the service charge did not cover those you mentioned, including waitstaff. Again, we're pretty liberal with our tipping, I was just curious who was and was not supposedly covered by the DSC in YC.

[asctony]

It depends on the region in which you're cruising:

 

http://www.msccruises.ie/en-ie/Already-Booked/General-Information.aspx#service-charge

 

Caribbean this month.

[stealthy]

Do what you want, but remember you have already paid for the "Service Charge"

[jmele999]

On our 14 day back to back cruise on the Divina we tipped the Butler, room steward, and waiters in Le Muse. They were outstanding and deserved every cent we gave them. We tipped no one else at anytime as there is a service charge that covers them.

:)

 

What is your recommendation for tipping the butler? On NCL, we start at $10 per person per day for the butler and adjust up or down according to service.

[AEckhardt]

What is your recommendation for tipping the butler? On NCL, we start at $10 per person per day for the butler and adjust up or down according to service.

 

 

 

That's pretty much what we did on NCL, and will probably do the same on MSC, the only thing that throws me is that I'm not quite clear on how the MSC butlers work. It seems there are multiple butlers that help you and not one assigned per cabin. If that's true, it makes tipping a bit more complicated.

[graphicguy]

So, this is from my YC Divina experience last Oct. Obviously, this cruise was Caribbean based, so not sure if any of this applies to MSC European cruises.

 

-Got a massage in the Spa. Masseus would not accept tip.

-Given the drinks were included in the YC, there were several waitstaff who served me. I saw no money change hands with any of them, including myself. So, not certain there. However, my Butler often served drinks in the YC in addition to his other duties. He took good care of me while I was on board. So, the last day of the cruise, I did tip him $50. He acepted the tip. Given I didn't drink in the other bars on board, no tip was given.

-The Concierge took care of quite a few things for me. I did tip her ($50), and she accepted it. But, there were other Concierge's. She was the main one who helped me.

-Le Muse....I think I tried to tip the server who took care of me on most (not all) meals. She would not accept my tip

 

I had 2 Butlers....one met me outside on embarkation day at the YC tent. He carried my luggage for me, escorted me to the check in area, and took me on board and turned me over to the Butler for the week while on board, who took care of everything else. I tipped him $5.

 

I left a $20 bill on my bed when I checked out of my cabin for my steward. I hope she kept it. But, not sure since I don't know if she got to the cabin before anyone else as I left pretty early.

 

Am sailing in November in the Mediterannean on Merivigila. I understand in Europe, passengers really frown on tipping extra to staff. Will probably tip for above and beyond service there if staff will allow me.

 

Hope this helps.