Gratuities When Dining In Multiple Venues

[sasset]

Searched, couldn’t find this.

We will be in a suite, with access to Luminae, Blu as well as MDR. Over the course of the cruise we will likely dine in all and, as such, will not have the same wait staff. How are gratuities handled beyond the prepaid?

[CruiseRQA]

I believe the gratuities are shared among the staff by some formula and so nothing more is expected.   However if you have a particular staff member that you enjoyed you can always tip them directly.  

[RichYak]

They know where you dine 

[Ex-Airbalancer]

14 minutes ago, sasset said:

Searched, couldn’t find this.

We will be in a suite, with access to Luminae, Blu as well as MDR. Over the course of the cruise we will likely dine in all and, as such, will not have the same wait staff. How are gratuities handled beyond the prepaid?

They know who your wait team  is in each dinning room , so it will go to that team 

Edited December 23, 2023 by Ex-Airbalancer

[1025cruise]

Just to clarify, your access to Blu is on a space available basis. You will need to coordinate with the Luminae Maitre D if you wish to eat in Blu.

[CHEZMARYLOU]

1 hour ago, sasset said:

Searched, couldn’t find this.

We will be in a suite, with access to Luminae, Blu as well as MDR. Over the course of the cruise we will likely dine in all and, as such, will not have the same wait staff. How are gratuities handled beyond the prepaid?

If you are asking about additional gratuities, when we only dine in a restaurant once we don't give any.  If the majority of our dining is in Luminae we give the Maitre 'd an envelope for the staff since they work as a team. 

[Oceansaway17]

4 hours ago, RichYak said:

They know where you dine 

yup that is why they ask for your room number please........

[WestLakeGirl]

The prepaid gratuity is divided by some sort of proprietary formula.  OP are you asking about wanting to give a gratuity above the prepaid when you go to a different dining room than your original assignment?

[DaKahuna]

 We only do additional gratuities at the end of the cruise when warranted.  The exception being if someone really standouts to us, we will use the additional gratuity form, available from the Retreat Concierge, and add an additional gratuity for that individual by name and position.  These go to the individual rather than to the team as any cash envelopes handed to them or to the maitre'd.  

 

 Unless we dine multiple times in Blue, as Retreat guest, we would not normally leave an additional gratuity, unless it was covered by the exception above. 

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by DaKahuna

[DingoMom]

We always take additional gratuities when we eat in a Specialty Restaurant for the server and sommelier. If they provide great service (which most of them do), we hand it to them in a handshake at the end of the meal. On rare occasions, we have skipped the additional gratuities just described.
 

When Celeb increased the Speciality Restaurants and added the 20% service charge, I no longer tip on every occasion.

[sasset]

5 hours ago, WestLakeGirl said:

The prepaid gratuity is divided by some sort of proprietary formula.  OP are you asking about wanting to give a gratuity above the prepaid when you go to a different dining room than your original assignment?

Yes. It seems the passing of the envelope on the last day may be awkward. 

 

5 hours ago, WestLakeGirl said:

The prepaid gratuity is divided by some sort of proprietary formula.  OP are you asking about wanting to give a gratuity above the prepaid when you go to a different dining room than your original assignment?

 

[prmssk]

23 minutes ago, sasset said:

Yes. It seems the passing of the envelope on the last day may be awkward. 

Many passengers do not pass an envelope on the last day as some just stick with the auto gratuities.  Others add additional tips to their account at guests services.  And some may slip them a tip at another time.  So that last day will  only be awkward if you make it awkward.

[the penguins]

15 hours ago, sasset said:

Searched, couldn’t find this.

We will be in a suite, with access to Luminae, Blu as well as MDR. Over the course of the cruise we will likely dine in all and, as such, will not have the same wait staff. How are gratuities handled beyond the prepaid?

When you check in at the MDR the Host prints out a slip which is your table number (you will be escorted) and the receipt for the table staff to ensure they get the tips due for that night. If you arrive without the slip the waiter will go and collect a copy.

[Cruise a holic]

We mostly dine in specialty restaurants- but breakfast in Luminae.  We typically give a few dollars extra for each meal.  Not everyone does- your call.

[PelicanLvr]

21 hours ago, sasset said:

How are gratuities handled beyond the prepaid?

As someone once said to me:

 

"Cash is always in good taste".