Tipping in pay restaurant?

[staceyvols]

When going to the restaurant that has the extra fee, I believe it's the Golden Fleece on Legend which is where I'll be in a couple days, should I tip the waiters or are they included in the s/s tips from the main dining room? Thanks for input!

[L2J]

Tip extra.

[alprzy]

I just came of fthe Miracle 8/14 and did the Nick and Nora's supper club. Added a tip for the wait team, definitely.

[yarlenna]

The service in Carnival Pride's David was marvelous. They certainly earned the extra $$$ we gave them.

[serene56]

Whats a recommended tip for good service? 15% of 50 bucks???

 

I would love to see a menu of Nick & Noras. been searching high and low. onhere--webshots cruise clues... nothing.

[cantw82cruise]

I tipped $20 when we ate a David's on the Pride.... I normally tip 20% for good service but the meal up there is discounted.

[staceyvols]

Thanks for the info. Did you all add the tips to the sign/sail? I think I would feel better giving cash, that way it's an immediate appreciation plus, I'm assuming, like all service related areas, cash is better. Thanks again for your responses!

[cruztime]

You can give cash or just add it to the bill you are presented which would then go on your sail and sign card.

[alprzy]

serene56

 

I don't have a hard copy, and this isn't everything but here's what I can remember:

 

**You can order as many of the starters/salads/desserts as you wish, but only 1 entree. They don'y say that, but our Head waiter at our nightly dinner told us. (and we took advantage of it)

 

Appetizers: Lobster Bisque (big chunk of claw meat right on top). Very Good.

Crab Cakes. Awesome

Escargot

Caviar

Breads (with 3 flavored butters)

 

Salads: Ceasar (prepared tableside, traditional)

Fresh Tomato and Mozzarella

Green salad with Mesculun

 

Entrees: Lobster Tail (very LARGE)

24 ounce Porterhouse

16 ounce NY Strip

9 ounce Filet Mignon

Alaskan King Crab Legs (cold)

13 ounce veal loin

Veal Chops (large, crown Style)

Surf and Turf (1/2 Filet Mignon and 1/2 Lobster tail)

 

*All the entree options are visually presented tableside prior to your ordering.

 

Sides: Mushrooms in a wine sauce

Grilled Veggies

Wasabi and Horseradish mashed Potatoes (to die for)

Baked Potato (with all the trimmings)

Asparagus

 

Sauces: Hollandaise, Bernaise, 3 Peppercorn

 

Desserts: Tropical Fruits and Berries

Cheesecakes

Creme Brulee with a phylo cigar(3 flavors) You get all 3.

Dark Forest type cake.

Ice Cream Sundaes/Sherberts.

 

As I said, this isn't every item, but represents what you'll see. Well worth the $25.PP. The wait staff is of the highest quality. This is their only gig on the ship, they work nowhere else. ENJOY it!!!!!!!!

 

AlPrzy

[serene56]

Al: it does help- thanks. The man does NOT like seafood. I thought that was all they serve. We are sailing on the Miracle during Valentines day with Valentines day being our formal night. I dont remember which nights they serve the Lobster coz I surely dont want to miss that. Am leaning towards a reservation while we are in Port until 7pm. Our dinner seating is for 5:45 so that night may be the best.

[alprzy]

serene56

Our lobster was served on the first formal night. Sunday night(day2). They also had prime rib the same night. We did Nick and Nora's on Wednesday while in Nassau which was a late depart day (10 p.m.). Had 7 p.m. reservations and the restaurant was barely 1/2 full. Dinner lasted a full 3 hours but seemed much quicker. Finished just in time to catch the 10:30 show in the Phantom Lounge.

We also had the 5:45 seating during the week, it was fine. Sat on the upper level with a table (booth)for 4. There were 4 of us so it was perfect. The majority of the perimeter seating both up and down seemed to be booths for 4, although the center sections had the larger traditional round tables for 8.

 

Al

[mfs2k]

In my opinion, the tip should be 15-20% of what the meal would have cost if you bought it retail, not subsidized... that would be a 20 to 25 dollar tip for 2 people.

 

Based on my conversations with one of the waitresses onboard the Conquest last October, I think the wait staff get stiffed often... and they do a great job.

 

By the way... Not sure if the policy has changed since October, but last year you could order 2 appetizers and 2 desserts if you want in addition to the salad and entree. Unbelievable... Everything was SOOOOO good!!!

[VentureMan_2000]

Okay, who is making up these rules? You're already paying a dining room tip and for the cruise food. You have a waiter in the main dining room that give very good service. Isn't the $25 per person the tip for the wait staff to give you an exceptional experience?

 

Where does Carnival provide guidelines for these reservation only Supper Clubs? Again, why do you think you should pay extra when you've already paid extra. Carnival would be making some decent money on wine and drinks.

 

If I had a nice evening out like this, I might spend $75-$100 on food and another $75-$100 on drink. $50 would work out to a 25%-33% tip. A very appropriate tip.

[steveaaaa]

Why tip anything extra? You paid an extra $25 to eat here that should be enough. If you tip here, do you remove a days worth from the other dining room?

Whats next, a charge for balcony seats at the shows?

A charge for towels and chairs at the pool?

Why not put a bill accepter in your cabin and you can insert bills to watch TV.

 

All tips for everyone should be included in the cruise fare so no one gets stiffed.

 

The extra's are out of hand

There is a desert bar,coffee bar,arcade,restuarant,shops,photo's,payper view,spa,ect,ect.

Steve

[mfs2k]

Because that is how waiters and waitresses are paid... That's the way it is.

I appreciate good service and I dont mind showing it with a good tip.

 

Mediocre service gets a mediocre tip, but i always tip..... Unless the waiter/waitress is horribly rude or obnoxious, and then I go to a manager and make sure they are aware of it. There's no excuse for lousy service.

 

If you want to stiff the server, that's up to you, but its the server who gets hurt - not the cruise line.

[irishgirl]

According to the Carnival website, the $25 you pay for the restaurant is to cover tips.

 

The reservation fee is $25 per guest, per entree. This fee includes the wait staffs' gratuity; additional gratuities are optional and may be extended in cash or to the guest's Sail & Sign Account, at the guest's discretion.

[madelinerose]

alprzy - Thanks for the Nick & Nora items. I did think it would be more gourmet, however. Seems like an upscale steakhouse with rather plain fare. Still going to reserve, though. :(

 

Were the tables for two against the upstairs railing? That's the impression I've gotten from pics. I'd like being upstairs looking down on the main room. We have a two-top confirmed.

 

You've been a wealth of info about the Miracle and N&N's. Thank you soooo much for your posts. They really are great! :D

 

Oh, and YES, we will tip extra...

 

 

QUOTE=alprzy]serene56

Our lobster was served on the first formal night. Sunday night(day2). They also had prime rib the same night. We did Nick and Nora's on Wednesday while in Nassau which was a late depart day (10 p.m.). Had 7 p.m. reservations and the restaurant was barely 1/2 full. Dinner lasted a full 3 hours but seemed much quicker. Finished just in time to catch the 10:30 show in the Phantom Lounge.

We also had the 5:45 seating during the week, it was fine. Sat on the upper level with a table (booth)for 4. There were 4 of us so it was perfect. The majority of the perimeter seating both up and down seemed to be booths for 4, although the center sections had the larger traditional round tables for 8.

 

Al

[VentureMan_2000]

"Because that is how waiters and waitresses are paid... That's the way it is. I appreciate good service and I dont mind showing it with a good tip. "

 

The whole world doesn't tip. That's not "the way it is". You are misguided by your American ways.

 

 

 

[cantw82cruise]

Tipping is always optional, you don't have to feel guilty if you don't like to tip. The wait staff works very hard up there. When the DW and I ate there it was our anniversary we had the early dining and had not seen a sunset yet. So after the appetizer we ask if we could go out on the deck and watch the sun set. They said sure, when we returned they had redone the whole table it looked like no one had ever sat there. It's nice and relaxed, we took time to dace a little before and after dessert. We felt the service was great, so we gave an additional tip. You do what you feel comfortable with...

[MizzouMary]

I would love to see a menu of Nick & Noras. been searching high and low. onhere--webshots cruise clues... nothing.

I don't know if they are the same, but here is the menu from "The Point" on the Conquest.

 

http://home.bellsouth.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=87&subpageid=63609&ck=

[mfs2k]

I really dont like it when people stiff a hard working waiter or waitress who is working for tips. I put myself in their shoes (and I find my feet hurt)... They have to slave over us for little money... Tipping policies in other countries seems irrelevant. These are US based cruises. (Lets not talk about ships registry) When I know service staff are working for tips, I have no problem rewarding good service. Cheap people deserve cheap service.

[VentureMan_2000]

These wait staff are not being stiffed. As stated by Carnival:

 

 

"The reservation fee is $25 per guest, per entree. This fee includes the wait staffs' gratuity; additional gratuities are optional and may be extended in cash or to the guest's Sail & Sign Account, at the guest's discretion."

This couldn't be more clear.

[steveaaaa]

Cheap people should have the right to cheap service. Like another topic on this BB, someone wants to ditch the room steward, he should be able to then.

The tipping thing is out of hand, it should all be included in the cruise fare and no one will get stiffed. In the US, we have labor laws and minimum wages. I know, waiters get much less. I would rather pay more for the food and have them get paid a decent wage than the whole tipping issue.

Steve

[VentureMan_2000]

But this topic is about tipping in the Supper Club, not in restaurants on the Mainland.

 

Why would Carnival set an additional price of $25 per person to cover gratuitees if they felt it wasn't fair?

 

Clearly Carnival should have contacted "those that know" better when deciding the tipping policies. I wonder if Carnival contacted "those that know" when Carnival decided that $10 per person per day was a fair tipping policy?

 

Or "those that know" when Carnival decided that 15% beverage gratuity was a fair tip policy for the bartenders/servers?

 

Or "those that know" when Carnival decided that $1 per bag was a fair tip policy for the porters?

 

Casino's should have contacted "those that know" when they decided that tips to card dealers would be pooled.

 

Mexican All-Inclusive Resorts should have contacted "those that know" when they decided that all tips are included in the price.

[serene56]

The people who work on ships are not under US law-- they dont even pay taxes. Thats why they get only 1 a day to work the hours they do... they rely heavily on tips. And most of them will go above and make sure you have agood vacation.

My man wont do the supper clubs since the "other:" food is good and it comes with the cruise. He dont want to spend 3 hours eating a meal either...so we saved some money. LOL