We have two unrelated people in one stateroom. We are each going to use our own credit card. Will they split the gratuities or will they charge them all to my roommate's account as she is the primary name? Or can we go to guest services and have them split between our accounts?
I think I would like it better if they added to the cost of the cruise initially...
i wonder if automatic gratuities have a negative impact on crew performance.
You can do this yourself by using going to the DCL website and pulling up the Onboard Gifts section, there is an option for applying an onboard credit to a cabin as a gift.
__________________Can you direct me further to where i would gift someone onboard credit?
My problem isn't that they are doing this (I find it more convenient), it's how they are doing it. If final payment is due 75 days in advance, then any changes should be delayed so that anyone who is less than 75 days in advance has the chance to cancel without penalty.
I am disappointed to know that I am booked on the Magic for April 30th and no where is it in my paperwork that I will have my tips automatically charged to my account.
I think DCL has been back handed about this and I don't like that.
My problem isn't that they are doing this (I find it more convenient), it's how they are doing it. If final payment is due 75 days in advance, then any changes should be delayed so that anyone who is less than 75 days in advance has the chance to cancel without penalty.
I am disappointed to know that I am booked on the Magic for April 30th and no where is it in my paperwork that I will have my tips automatically charged to my account.
I think DCL has been back handed about this and I don't like that.
Not necessarily true. On our last cruise, because you chose to pre-pay your gratuities, they gave us the one sheet with the tip envelopes and stubs, thinking that was all they were getting. Remember? I had to go to our Concierge and do my own gratuities through him. I foresee something similar happening next week. Either that or they could end up billing all of the gratuities automatically to my account.This will depend on how you fill out the payment authorization forms. I have often traveled with my good friend and we each take care of our own expenses. She fills out the payment authorization form for herself, and I do one for myself. That should come in the cruise documents.
My immediate reaction to this is mixed. On one had, I am very glad for the servers/room attendants that Disney is moving in this direction to be consistent with other lines. I hope that very few actually go to Guest Services to lower or eliminate tips for skipping the MDRs, etc.
On the other hand, I hope this doesn't diminish the service we've come to expect. Most likely, it won't, but it does make me apprehensive.
I don't want to get blasted, but I agree with those not thrilled about this change. I probably will always leave the suggested amount for each of our servers and stateroom host, but I want the option. When we cruised last week on the Fantasy, I didn't feel the service was up to Disney standards. No, I didn't say anything because I didn't want anyone to get in trouble and I know that doesn't do them any favors, but there were some issues. Our stateroom host got blasted one day by his superior, so I knew things weren't going well for him. Our assistant server was adorable and sweet but by mid-dinner, she disappeared. If tipping is now mandatory, then standards need to stay a step above.
I think you totally misunderstand the change. Tips are NOT mandatory under the new plan! The cruise line is implementing a CONVENIENCE for passengers, a convenience that will just happen to reduce the rate of people not tipping.
IF you don't want to tip, IF you think the tip is too big, or IF you think service has been exceptional and you want to tip more, you just go to the guest services desk and tell them. They can increase, decrease, or eliminate the amount you are tipping in just a minute or two.
I don't know about you, but I don't like to decide on tips until the last day or two of the cruise - sometimes I tip more, sometimes I tip less. But at that point in time it seems everybody else is trying to get their tip tickets, so the line can be very long at guest services and I HATE standing there for so long! With automatic tips, most people won't be getting in that line, so if I want to make a change I can anticipate a very short line. Or if I want to tip more I can just stuff some leftover cash into the envelopes and completely avoid the line!
But don't think for a second that tips are mandatory! If I am receiving substandard service in the dining room, the tip amount will be reduced for whomever I hold accountable.
Another thing to keep in mind is on a tour of another cruise line, they POSTED in the galley the names and staterooms of those that removed their tips. This was seen by all servers. Not saying Disney will do this, but I wasn't impressed by the use of that information either. Search CC for the pics if you are interested.
CJM