What Gratuity to Leave at Specialty Restaurant?

[LouieT]

We usually tip something, even with the upcharge.  Yeah, probably don't have to. But if the server is really great, we like to.

Edited November 6, 2018 by LouieT

[rkacruiser]

10 hours ago, simonpjd said:

This thread makes me wonder what Americans would do sailing with P&O. There is no daily gratuity charge. There is no service charge added to every drink. And this is very very popular with us Brits.

 

I'd like to experience this myself.  Trying to obtain information, and book, a P&O or a P&O Australia cruise from the United States is not simple and rather discouraging. 

[San Diego Ellie]

Thanks to everyone who gave useful feedback to my actual question!

 

[Seadog & Sea Hag]

Don’t tip them at all 

[Doug R.]

On 11/5/2018 at 4:36 AM, Scottygirl1 said:

 

I totally agree.  As a New Zealander, I find tipping very strange.  I will leave the tip added to my cruise but doubt I'll be tipping for anything else.  We did leave substantial tips for our room stewards on our two previous European cruises (as well as the auto tip) but I don't think we will on our next cruise.

 

On 11/5/2018 at 1:39 AM, kenexx said:

It’s relevant because as an Australian who always leaves auto tips in place I don’t feel at all compelled to start handing over dollar bills every 5 minutes.  

 

Some tipping cited in this and other threads is way excessive and should not be used as a guide for tipping. We do tip room service a couple of dollars when they deliver but otherwise do not tip unless the service was beyond what is expected such as the extra we gave to the steward on our last NCL cruise. We do not feel compelled to tip extra in the specialty restaurants or elsewhere. I understand that tips are in order for the kids club and the spa, however we do not participate.

 

Tipping culture has gotten way out of hand in the United States. I am appalled by tip jars at fast food establishments where the workers are paid minimum wage at least. It has gotten way out of hand. 

[RSWBADGER]

Princess Web Page

https://www.princess.com/learn/faq_answer/onboard/experience.jsp

 

During your cruise, regardless of which Princess ship you choose, you will meet staff who provide you with excellent service. Crew members often rotate to different vessels within the Princess fleet which helps to maintain our high standards on every ship. These dedicated workers reflect our philosophy that all crew on all ships are but one family who share in our success.

 

To simplify the tipping process for our guests, a discretionary gratuity of $15.50 per guest for suites, $14.50 per guest for mini-suites and club class, and $13.50 per guest for interior, oceanview, and balcony staterooms. This gratuity will be shared amongst those staff who help provide and support your cruise experience, including all waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, and housekeeping staff across the fleet.

 

For your convenience, this gratuity can be pre-paid online via Cruise Personalizer. Alternatively, you may call us at 1-855-500-7690 and reference Special Services item number 0591. Pre-payment is available up to 2 days prior to departure.

A 15% gratuity is added to bar charges, dining room wine accounts, and Lotus Spa® services. This is shared amongst the beverage staff, their support staff and Lotus Spa® personnel.

 

Casino dealers and youth staff do not share in these gratuities. We know you will find these services onboard exemplary.

Please note gratuities will be deemed undisputed unless a request to modify is received prior to disembarking the ship.

[Seadog & Sea Hag]

12 hours ago, RSWBADGER said:

Princess Web Page

https://www.princess.com/learn/faq_answer/onboard/experience.jsp

 

During your cruise, regardless of which Princess ship you choose, you will meet staff who provide you with excellent service. Crew members often rotate to different vessels within the Princess fleet which helps to maintain our high standards on every ship. These dedicated workers reflect our philosophy that all crew on all ships are but one family who share in our success.

 

To simplify the tipping process for our guests, a discretionary gratuity of $15.50 per guest for suites, $14.50 per guest for mini-suites and club class, and $13.50 per guest for interior, oceanview, and balcony staterooms. This gratuity will be shared amongst those staff who help provide and support your cruise experience, including all waitstaff, stateroom stewards, buffet stewards, and housekeeping staff across the fleet.

 

For your convenience, this gratuity can be pre-paid online via Cruise Personalizer. Alternatively, you may call us at 1-855-500-7690 and reference Special Services item number 0591. Pre-payment is available up to 2 days prior to departure.

A 15% gratuity is added to bar charges, dining room wine accounts, and Lotus Spa® services. This is shared amongst the beverage staff, their support staff and Lotus Spa® personnel.

 

Casino dealers and youth staff do not share in these gratuities. We know you will find these services onboard exemplary.

Please note gratuities will be deemed undisputed unless a request to modify is received prior to disembarking the ship.

Except Australia & New Zealand 

[MissP22]

On 11/4/2018 at 1:26 PM, -Lew- said:

 

Waitstaff do not share in the cover charge.

 

This has been confirmed many times with restaurant personnel and a number of Food & Beverage Managers. 

True, but they do still receive their daily gratuity allowance. 

[johnatsis]

When you sign the bill for the cover charge, there is a place for tip amount, if you add the tip to the bill it goes into the “tip pool” shared by all the waiters - if you leave a cash tip ( what we do) it goes directly to your waiter and not the pool.... We normally give them $10 cash depending upon service 

[mtmorrisgirl]

Kansas Gal asked if the staff in the specialty restaurants work only in those restaurants or rotate through the main dining rooms.  We once had a wonderful waiter at Sabatini's who we saw working in the Horizon Court the next evening.

[MISTER 67]

The daily hotel service charge covers the waitstaff in the specialty restaurants along with your regular dining room waiter and cabin steward plus a few more you never come in contact with. There is no reason to give these people extra gratuities but yet we just about always do to our MDR waiter and his assistant along with our cabin steward as along as we feel they have exceeded expectations. We have only dined in one specialty restaurant (57 cruises) and it was back in 2007 on a European Cruise and it was a comp and I can't remember if we left a tip or not.

Edited November 14, 2018 by MISTER 67

[Ep010835]

On 11/5/2018 at 12:25 PM, c-boy said:

"Some even try to bribe the crew by paying money for service not yet rendered."

 

In the case of the room steward, I tend to think of it as establishing expectations for our next few days together. 

I will always let them know they will receive an equal amount at the end of the cruise if my expectations have been met. 

Strictly a business transaction. Albeit a highly personal one. 

[Colo Cruiser]

We never bribe.

[Ep010835]

33 minutes ago, Colo Cruiser said:

We never bribe.

 

bribe

/brīb/

persuade (someone) to act in one's favor, typically illegally or dishonestly, by a gift of money or other inducement.

"an undercover agent bribed the judge into giving a lenient sentence"

synonyms:

buy off, pay off, suborn;

 

Doesn't' fit my definition. Guess you and I must have gone to different schools. 

 

 

[Colo Cruiser]

2 minutes ago, Ep010835 said:

 

bribe

/brīb/

persuade (someone) to act in one's favor, typically illegally or dishonestly, by a gift of money or other inducement.

"an undercover agent bribed the judge into giving a lenient sentence"

synonyms:

buy off, pay off, suborn;

 

Doesn't' fit my definition. Guess you and I must have gone to different schools. 

 

 

“The passenger bribed Stewart to do his job”.

[Ep010835]

Nope. Wrong again. The passenger provided the steward with an understanding of his expectations for service during the cruise. BIG difference. Nothing typically illegally or dishonestly going on here. 

[Kingofcool1947]

On 11/4/2018 at 7:40 AM, San Diego Ellie said:

We do not usually eat at specialty restaurants when we are cruising, but our booking includes one.  What gratuity is it customary to leave ?  Thanks for any  replies.

 None.  18% automatically tacked on to your cost.

[SeaMatesNYC]

7 minutes ago, Kingofcool1947 said:

 None.  18% automatically tacked on to your cost.

18% tacked on for/as what?  I suggest you are confusing this with something else.  Perhaps for bar and dining room wine purchases?  Even then, I believe the percentage is 15%...

[neverbeenhere]

TIPS - To Insure Prompt Service. 

 

GRATUITIES - a word meaning TIPS.

 

BRIBE - this is what you do in politics. 

[Potstech]

Bribe is paying someone inorder to get them to do something extra for you or to et better service at the detriment of others. Politics s not the only place bribes are used.

[Kingofcool1947]

On 11/4/2018 at 4:05 PM, mcrcruiser said:

A $60 cover  charge with a $20 tip is a .33% tip . Even a $80 cover charge with a $20 tip is a 25% tip . What is the average  tip in USA restaurants ?

 

20-25 percent.

[Kingofcool1947]

On 11/5/2018 at 8:34 AM, Kansas Gal said:

Does the wait staff in the specialty restaurants only work there or do they rotate through the MDRs?

Don’t they include the Specialty waitstaff in the gratuities automatically added to your final cruise bill?

But, I read somewhere there are those kind of PAXs that have the automatic gratuities removed from their cruise bill on general principle.    Because they can give less than recommended.  Or give no gratuities  whatsoever.

King

Edited November 17, 2018 by Kingofcool1947

[caribill]

4 hours ago, Kingofcool1947 said:

Don’t they include the Specialty waitstaff in the gratuities automatically added to your final cruise bill?

 

Yes, they are included.

[c-boy]

 

 

  boy this thread made a left turn..What Gratuity to Leave at Specialty Restaurant?

Edited November 17, 2018 by c-boy

[rockdoctor]

On 11/4/2018 at 12:26 PM, -Lew- said:

 

Waitstaff do not share in the cover charge.

 

This has been confirmed many times with restaurant personnel and a number of Food & Beverage Managers. 

Not true. The ship knows where you are eatting. Those serving you get the gratuity. Whether it is MDR for breakfast or ATD or Suite Breakfast in Sabatini DR or Club Class or Pub lunch, the appropriate staff get their due. We tip extra when due.