Extra Charge Dining Room Tipping

[Tammiko]

Hi there,

I am new to Cruise Critic and have spent the last couple of days going over all of the information you have all been sharing. Wow! Overwhelming! Thank you, I almost feel like a seasoned traveler and I've only been on one cruise. My question is this... my sister said that she went for the extra charge dinner and said that the real cost is in the tipping. She said that there are several people you must consider. Help, I don't want to look like an idiot there. What should I be doing? Oh, I am leaving for a last minute back to back East and West on the Glory for the 21st and 28th sailing in October out of Port Canavral. Thanks, Tammiko.

[cathyoo]

No expert here but on my last cruise we dinner at the extra charge Supper club. I believe I've read the $30 per person is for the tips but I was never told that offically (at least not that I noticed). We were a party of 3 couples and each couple tipped $20. It was well worth it for us. However, it definitely was not a requirement. We only tipped with our bill and did not tip individuals. I hope we did it right.

[Catrin]

We did the same.....

 

We were charged $30.00 each for the dinner... tips included.

 

We decided to tip and extra $20.00 - the service was THAT GOOD.

 

ALthough not mandatory, I have never met anyone from Carnival who won't accept and extra tip gladly! ;)

Catrin

[dbrucern]

We have eaten at the supper clubs on each cruise we have taken and have always put an additional tip on the table for the service although it was not expected. The meal is fantastic and service excellent.

[EngIceDave]

I too left $20

 

I asked the Hostess the protocol, and she said it is not required but is appreciated.

[Leo Jay]

I too left $20

 

I asked the Hostess the protocol, and she said it is not required but is appreciated.

 

Ditto everyone else. Absolutely not necessary, but plan to feel inspired to do so. We also tipped the musicians, but that was really because we went twice and danced quite a bit. And we're musicians too, so gotta take care of our own. ;-p

[VentureMan_2000]

Is it $30 per couple, or per person...?

[zaandam_2]

Is it $30 per couple, or per person...?

 

per person

[irishgirl]

It is $30 per person and that includes the gratuity, you are not required to tip extra.

 

I have never received extraordinary service in the supper clubs and the food was not exceptional, good, but not exceptional.

[virginiab]

The meal is $30 per person.

[I Luv Crusin]

I've enjoyed our meals in the supper club. The food was great. The service was good to VERY slow. In fact, on the Liberty in Med the chef came out to apoligize for the slowness but gave no explanation. :rolleyes:

 

We've tipped each time. I didn't think the 30.00 per person WAS the "tip" but the cost of the whole experience. If the service is above and beyond I'd tip more but not I'm not sure how much!

 

Lesley

[I Luv Crusin]

We did the same.....

 

We were charged $30.00 each for the dinner... tips included.

 

We decided to tip and extra $20.00 - the service was THAT GOOD.

 

ALthough not mandatory, I have never met anyone from Carnival who won't accept and extra tip gladly! ;)

 

Catrin

 

Was that 20.00 per person or per couple or a group? Thanks!

[VentureMan_2000]

Hmmm... seems to me that the food is already paid for when you paid for the cruise, so the cost of food can't possibly be part of the cost of your Supper Club dining experience. Therefore, the $60 per couple has to only be for service rendered... that is, the $60 is the Gratuity.

 

I don't know what kind of restaurants you all go to, but a $60 tip is akin to a 20% TIP on a $300 meal. I'm sure the dinning food value here is closer to $150 per couple... making the Gratuity a wopping 40%.

 

Now, for fine dining, a 40% gratuity is a bit high, but not outrageous. But I certainly don't think anyone should feel obligated one bit to TIP additional.

[VentureMan_2000]

Oh... one more thing. If you do want to TIP additional, it needn't be cash. You can have the TIP added to your S&S card.

[Catrin]

Was that 20.00 per person or per couple or a group? Thanks!

 

Our tip was a TOTAL of $20.00. That was for just my husband and myself.

 

Catrin

[Catrin]

oops, duplicate post

[I Luv Crusin]

Most food IS included in your cruise price but the supper club and the coffee shop so I think the 30.00 per person is the cost of the food. After all it's supposed to be better quality than you'd find in the dining room.

 

It's just frustrating to be told tips aren't required then to find out that they are expected, on some level. I don't have a problem tipping if service exceeds expectations but I've rarely experienced that in the supper club. I've eaten in the supper club 3 times and once on HAL Veendam.

[BeckyMax]

The number of comments about the quality of the service has my curiosity wandering. What was it about the service that was so exceptional? I'm actually starting to worry that maybe the staff will be hoovering over me and topping off my drink each time I pick it up. We have had some very excellent servers in the dining room so I can't imagine what they could possibly do to make it soooooo much better that you would want to leave a large tip. I am not opposed to tipping, I figure what is it going to kill me in the grand sceme of things and my DH was once a waiter, so we typically tip at least 20%, then round up to the nearest dollar. Just wandering what we can expect that is going to be so much better.

 

Becky

[zaandam_2]

they pre-chew the food for ya ;)

[VentureMan_2000]

Well... the fact that the Hostess said you do not need to tip additional [even though it would be appreciated] tells me that you are not paying for the food, but for the service.

 

The Supper Clubs provide you more intimate dining, a fresh locally cooked 4 course diner, and personalized service... as well as live music and dancing.

 

I'm still contending that you need not tip for this dining experience. But I'm not knocking anyone who wants to.

 

My point is, if someone can barely afford this experience but wants to take advantage of it... they need not worry about all the people with wads of money who feel the need to TIP freely.

[jerchele]

We just returned from the Pride today. We too tipped 20.00 total for the two of us. The food was far superior to the dining room and was definatly worth an extra 30.00 per person. They did not hoover over us but were attentive. They have several people serving you - and we were HAPPY to offer a tip - service was that good!

[EngIceDave]

It is a level of service to be expected of the finer restaurants.

 

The food is not the same as in the dining rooms, it far surpasses it.

It is haute couture dining.

 

I went to the restroom, and when I return my napkin was refolded and placed back on my plate as it was when I arrived.

 

The food is all made to order and arrives well-timed, hot and fresh.

The presentation of each course is exquisite.

 

It is $30 per person, incl tip.

I tipped more because of two reasons, I thought the service warranted it and walking out without doing so would've made me feel guilty.

(I am a good tipper since I worked in the service industry in the past)

 

The specialty restaurant is not for kids or anyone who does not understand, appreciate or enjoy high end food, portions, taste and quality.

 

I have dined at fine restaurants in both the US and Europe, and I am telling you that it is very good.

[VentureMan_2000]

EngIceDave... thanks for a nice balanced review... and for the confimation the that price is $30 per person, incl TIP.

 

And I do not condem anyone who wants to TIP more for superior service. I just wanted to convey that the average Joe need not forgo this dining experience because an of extra $20 in TIPs above the $60 charge per couple.

 

Thank you... :)

[Roadpossum]

As others have said, the $30.00 pp charge includes the tip, much the way tips are automatically added on cocktail orders. However, even at the bars, if I get excellent service, I will sometimes add an extra gratuity to let the server/bartender know that I appreciate what they are doing.

 

We have dined twice in the supper clubs and loved it both times. The food and service were far above what is found in the traditional dining room (and that's pretty good). The size and quality of the tender aged steaks, the fresh seafood, and the other entrees, appetizers, side dishes, and especially the deserts, are a level or two above the quality food that is included in your cruise fare. I'm sure the lions share of the $30.00 goes to pay for that giant porterhouse or lobster tail and probably not toward a tip as others have suggested. A meal for two like that would easily run $150.00 - $200.00 in a fine restaurant back home (including tax & tip).

 

Personally, I didn't mind leaving an extra $20.00 tip based on the service we received each time. But if the service is poor, or you have a bad experience, you are not in any way obligated to tip. The same goes for the automatic tips for your steward and dining room staff... You can always adjust the automatic tip up or down based on the service you received. The bottom line is that there is no expectation of an extra tip, so what you do is really up to you.

[Catrin]

My point is, if someone can barely afford this experience but wants to take advantage of it... they need not worry about all the people with wads of money who feel the need to TIP freely.

 

Believe me, we do not have WADS of money... and we do not have a NEED to tip freely!!

 

We were on a pretty strict budget for this cruise. But the money we saved on limiting our casino visits, not playing BINGO, passing by the Inch of Gold, and not going crazy on pictures....... we were able to spend $80.00 on not only a fantastic meal, but a wonderful experience.

 

The one thing we love about cruising... is that there is NO RIGHT OR WRONG way of doing things. Participating in all the activities is BY CHOICE. Gambling, Bingo, Video Games is BY CHOICE. Drinking until you pass out is BY CHOICE.................. and spending a wonderul evening and feeling the need to tip accordingly is by CHOICE too.

 

What the cruiselines do - letting the passenger guide their Cruise destiny is what makes the vacation so appealing to many of us.

Catrin