Paying for Tips *** DCL Makes a Change ***

[mickeynut1]

If tips are charged at the beginning of the cruise, do they still deplete them from your OBC before charging your credit card? Or to rephrase the question, can we still use OBC to pay the tips?

This is something I would like to know as well. If gift cards can be placed on the account, will those be used after the OBC but before your cc is charged? I was planning on paying cash for my tips, but since they will automatically be charged to my account now, it would be just as easy to get gift cards rather than carry so much cash.

If tipping is now mandatory, then standards need to stay a step above.

Tips are not mandatory. They are being pre-paid (in a way) as they are put on your account at the beginning of the cruise, but can also be decreased (or not paid at all) if you see the service is that bad. The only thing is it will take a little doing by having to go to guest services to do this.

 

[DisneyDream2B]

Does anyone know why the Dream is not included in this change?
Because of the shorter cruise lengths?

 

[sissy_ib]

but wouldn't this new "service" make some people feel like a cheapskate or just plain feel badly for having to ask them to reduce the charge, even if they feel it is justified?

I just don't like that..

I was on the January 28 Magic cruise. Our tips were charged to the room on the second to last night. The night they left the tip tickets and envelopes in our room.
If they stick with this schedule that will give people plenty of time to go to GS and add gift cards, rewards dollars, cash or anything else to their account first.
As far as tipping less, if you are tipping less it is probably for a good reason and you should be at GS anyways letting them know. No one will feel like a cheapskate unless they are being one.

 

[Postal68]

Our 1st ever cruise leaves on Sunday(Dream). How can I pre Pay my gratuities. I would love to have this taken care of and out of the way and just use my discretion for extra compensation for outstanding service.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

The tips are pooled on cruises. If the server is responsible for serving a table that has removed the tips, he/she is required to turn those tips in. On the other hand if the guest has given a tip in addition to what is being charged directly the server can keep it. There are always those cheapskates that claim they are tipping directly but in the end don't tip at all. If however the same server is claiming to not be tipped and therefore have nothing to turn in, he/she is either keeping the tips, which is against policy, or a really bad server and not getting tips.

On DCL the MDR servers get the whole amount of money they are given, via pre-payed gratuities, gratuities the Guest assigns to each CM or cash given over to a specific CM.

Ex Techie

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

Our 1st ever cruise leaves on Sunday(Dream). How can I pre Pay my gratuities. I would love to have this taken care of and out of the way and just use my discretion for extra compensation for outstanding service.

You can go to GS and prepay them once aboard.

Ex Techie

 

[Brumbie13]

First thought: This will dissuade people who leave extra tips from doing so.

Second thought: Those that care enough to leave extra tips will still go out of their way to do so.

Third thought: It's funny how, whenever anyone talks about tipping on this forum, they always feel the need to address the fact that they tip above and beyond the recommended amount.

Fourth thought: Just for the record, I tip above and beyond the recommended amount.

 

[lbgraves]

ITA that this should reduce the line at GS towards the end of the cruise, which will make it easier to have your tips adjusted. Last January we had a horrible room host. We didn't see her until day 5, and on day 3 I almost had to go to GS to request that someone prep our room for the night after the late show because the bunk still hadn't been put in place and the kids needed a place to sleep. Someone else in our section from the meet group found a suitcase under the bed that wasn't theirs, presumably left from the previous week's guests. When I went to GS to pay our tips the person at the desk asked if there had been a problem due to the amount we were tipping the host and took notes while I gave the details. He said that he would pass that information on. DS and the other DISer noticed several officers in our hall during the end of the cruise, so they obviously knew that there were issues.

The tips are pooled on cruises.

The server's and room host's tips are not pooled on DCL.

 

[H2OMama]

No one will fell like a cheapskate unless they are being one.[/QUOTE]

I agree!

 

[Cmbar]

I know I am being lazy, but could someone tell me what amount will be charged to my account. WE are a family of four in one cabin on a 7day Eastern on the Fantasy.

EDITED: Ok I think I understand. Should be 336.00 for our 7 night four person trip.

I always thought it was different amount for the room host, head server, assistant server and the other guy in the restaurants!

If they are precharging then anyone who has a four person room will get charged the same thing right on the same cruise? Just curious what that amount will be so I can be prepared. I can still add some cash into the envelopes on the last day right? That goes directly to those servers right or do they have to pool those too?

Thanks!

 

[ThePhantomsGirl]

Tips are not pooled.

 

[pixarmom]

I like the change. We were on the Dream last August and will be on the Wonder to Alaska this August. This new system sounds very convenient to me, and if the service is particularly good, we'll just add cash to the envelope.

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

I know I am being lazy, but could someone tell me what amount will be charged to my account. WE are a family of four in one cabin on a 7day Eastern on the Fantasy.

EDITED: Ok I think I understand. Should be 336.00 for our 7 night four person trip.

I always thought it was different amount for the room host, head server, assistant server and the other guy in the restaurants!

If they are precharging then anyone who has a four person room will get charged the same thing right on the same cruise? Just curious what that amount will be so I can be prepared. I can still add some cash into the envelopes on the last day right? That goes directly to those servers right or do they have to pool those too?

Thanks!

Use this from the FAQ sticky to check:

http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/

And dont be lazy, set an example to your kids......

Ex Techie

 

[Cmbar]

Use this from the FAQ sticky to check:

http://cruisetip.tpkeller.com/

And dont be lazy, set an example to your kids......

Ex Techie

I know I was being dumb! I was misreading the post from the DCL. We have $400 OBC so I was hoping that would cover the tips. Which it looks like it does and then I can put gift cards down for our extra stuff!

By the way I do like this idea. I like having it taken care of already and then we will add cash to any server we feel went above our expectations.

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

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

The tips are pooled on cruises. If the server is responsible for serving a table that has removed the tips, he/she is required to turn those tips in. On the other hand if the guest has given a tip in addition to what is being charged directly the server can keep it. There are always those cheapskates that claim they are tipping directly but in the end don't tip at all. If however the same server is claiming to not be tipped and therefore have nothing to turn in, he/she is either keeping the tips, which is against policy, or a really bad server and not getting tips.

I was responded to this comment. I have never been on Disney and have no idea of their policies.

 

[mhawk4]

I like the change. We were on the Dream last August and will be on the Wonder to Alaska this August. This new system sounds very convenient to me, and if the service is particularly good, we'll just add cash to the envelope.

We got off the Dream yesterday and used this method. It worked so well and it was so easy.

 

[srferson]

My gut reaction is negative.

And I think that's because gratuity should feel like something you are giving to show appreciation, not something that is being taken from you because it's standard practice. It may seem like a minor distinction. But psychologically I'm not so sure it is minor. Our minds and emotions are annoying like that. (Interesting. But annoying.)

But once I think about it logically...
We haven't been on a cruise yet (our first is next month) but from what I've read about the logisitics of tipping on the ship, this does seem like a sound decision on Disney's part.

 

[ldymcbth]

So will we still be handing envelopes to staff members on the last night?

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

So will we still be handing envelopes to staff members on the last night?

If you wish to!

Ex Techie

 

[extechie rbd/wdt]

My gut reaction is negative.

And I think that's because gratuity should feel like something you are giving to show appreciation, not something that is being taken from you because it's standard practice. It may seem like a minor distinction. But psychologically I'm not so sure it is minor. Our minds and emotions are annoying like that. (Interesting. But annoying.)

But once I think about it logically...
We haven't been on a cruise yet (our first is next month) but from what I've read about the logisitics of tipping on the ship, this does seem like a sound decision on Disney's part.

DCL call it a gratuity, as do other cruise lines.
It is "traditional" that on a cruise you pay a gratuity/tip/service charge to your servers.
That is the way it has been for a long long time, and thats the way it is on most cruise lines, not all. (Some higher end cruise lines DO include the gratuity/tip/service charge and there are none to be paid)

As long as you receive great and attentive service, just think of it as part of the cruise price.
If you receive service below your reasonable expectations mention it to the Head Server and hopefully they will rectify it the next evening.
If the below reasonable expected service doesn't improve then if on a shorter cruise reduce your tip as you have no option but speak to GS or file a complaint once the cruise is over.
If on a longer cruise ask to be moved to a different serving team and speak to GS about it and if it is still not rectified file a complaint once the cruise is over.

If the below reasonable service is from your Stateroom Host, then speak directly to GS. Hopefully it will be rectified. If Not speak to them again and file a complaint once the cruise is over.

Ex Techie