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Disney is going to begin autocharging tips on all of its ships
- Thread starter Disneyfalcon
- Start date
Okay, so someone please explain excursions for me. God, I hate sounding this stupid but I have never set foot on a cruise ship before and am a total nerd newbie on this.Are the excursions where you take tours or can we skip those and just go into town on our own?
Excursions from Disney are tours that you pay to take. There are all kinds of excursions - snorkeling, swimming with dolpins, tours of the city, sailing, kayaking, etc.
Many excursions are excellent and worth the cost, but if you're trying to save money or don't see anything that appeals to you, you can go on your own. You can stay on the ship, you can get off and walk around town, you can catch taxis to beaches, or you can even book tours directly with tour operators.
There are lots of choices.
G00fyDad
Well-Known Member
Excursions from Disney are tours that you pay to take. There are all kinds of excursions - snorkeling, swimming with dolpins, tours of the city, sailing, kayaking, etc.
Many excursions are excellent and worth the cost, but if you're trying to save money or don't see anything that appeals to you, you can go on your own. You can stay on the ship, you can get off and walk around town, you can catch taxis to beaches, or you can even book tours directly with tour operators.
There are lots of choices.
Okay. Thank you. :wave: I think that we will just have a go at it without the excursions for this first cruise. Baby steps. I don't want to scare my wife off with too much planned. She might never want to do it again.
flynnibus
Premium Member
Okay. Thank you. :wave: I think that we will just have a go at it without the excursions for this first cruise. Baby steps. I don't want to scare my wife off with too much planned. She might never want to do it again.
Part of the fun is where the boat goes! I wouldn't recommend skipping excursions as a whole.. just do it in moderation with a budget in mind.
What you are paying for in a way with the boat excursions vs doing it on your own is the 'bundled experience'. You have one point of contact, simple, and vetted. Vs having to shop around, find what fits your need, transportation, etc.
Don't let the money scare you.. there are excursions of all price ranges. You can browse them on the DCL website.
devoy1701
Well-Known Member
That was my original plan...going light on the excursions, until I saw the Xplor Park. Looks like a great time and it's the most expensive one on the list I think. Oh well. I'm sure it will be worth it! (crosses fingers)
Phonedave
Well-Known Member
The other problem is Guest Services is the ONE POINT of communication.
Tips payment / changes, Wave Phone Returns, Billing questions, etc etc. All are through the same Guest Services desk.
If they had dedicated lines, or seperate desks for things such as this during busy times, it would help. A dedicated Wave Phone desk would be a big help.
-dave
celticdog
Well-Known Member
Many other cruise lines have had pre-pay tipping for many years. The way I deal with the prepay is to not use the "suggested" amount but to set each server/steward at only $1. That way the cruise lines don't try and automatically set the amount. Then I can just provide each server/steward with an envelope with cash on the last day that is more inline with their service.
I still don't understand why I must tip the Head Dining Room Server when all they do is just smile and wave as we walk in. The room steward and dinner/drinks waiters really work for the money and deserve every penny.
I still don't understand why I must tip the Head Dining Room Server when all they do is just smile and wave as we walk in. The room steward and dinner/drinks waiters really work for the money and deserve every penny.
ChuckElias
Well-Known Member
I often tip the Head Waiter less than the suggested amount, but it really is unfair to say that all they do is smile. They make all the seating assignments, and change those assignments when a guest is unhappy. They make adjustments if/when a guest would rather have second seating, instead of main seating, etc. I have often also seen the Head Server assist in delivering meals or clearing plates when the Server is swamped.
Each head server on the "classic" ships is completely responsible for the dining experiences of roughly 250 people per cruise. That deserves some kind of compensation, IMHO, even if it might not be $3 per person per night. (On a 7-night cruise that comes to $5,250!!!
)Hmmmm, I just did a quick online search and found a recommended amount of $1 per person per night. I thought it was more than that. Anybody know for sure?
You're right celticdog. This new policy is much more in-line with other cruise lines.
The head servers recommended tip is $1 a night.
Here's how it breaks down per night:
Head Server $1
Server $4
Assistant Server $3
Room Host/Hostess $4
We've had one particular head server a few times whom I am not a fan of. He shows up on the first and last nights and I always reduce his tip.
We've had at least 3 others who were great. On our Fantasy cruise, our head server was over every night. He was taking the shell off our lobsters, cutting steaks for the kids, making recommendations, he was excellent. On our Dream cruise, one of my friends had many allergies and our head server was there every night to check on her and bring her the next night's menu so she could pre-order. On our Med cruise we also saw the head server just about every night. He was just checking in.
The head servers recommended tip is $1 a night.
Here's how it breaks down per night:
Head Server $1
Server $4
Assistant Server $3
Room Host/Hostess $4
We've had one particular head server a few times whom I am not a fan of. He shows up on the first and last nights and I always reduce his tip.
We've had at least 3 others who were great. On our Fantasy cruise, our head server was over every night. He was taking the shell off our lobsters, cutting steaks for the kids, making recommendations, he was excellent. On our Dream cruise, one of my friends had many allergies and our head server was there every night to check on her and bring her the next night's menu so she could pre-order. On our Med cruise we also saw the head server just about every night. He was just checking in.
jme
Well-Known Member
Sounds good to me. Less work on my part. I'm always going to at least tip the suggested amount. When I go above that I will just do it with cash. In some crazy bizarre event that I wanted to reduce or remove the tip, I have no issue with talking to guest services about it because I also would be talking with guest services about my crazy bizarre complaint.
G00fyDad
Well-Known Member
Holy c**p. Cutting up the steaks, and shelling the lobster? Ewww. Maybe it's just me but I do not like someone hovering like that and touching my plate while I am trying to eat. :hurl: I'll have to let them know up front to just show up from time to time. They'll get tipped better from me that way than to constantly be at the table interrupting our conversation and touching the food. LOL I get upset when we go out to eat and I keep repeating the same sentence to my wife because the server keeps interrupting and asking us questions.
It is not a tip if you have no choice in the matter.
A tip (also called a gratuity) is a voluntary extra payment made to certain service sector workers in addition to the advertised price.
I refuse to eat at or go to any place that automatically adds in a tip. The potential of recieving a tip is what keeps people in the service industry wanting to do their best. If I end up with a rude server, or housekeeper, or whomever, I reserve the right to NOT give them anything extra since they have dont nothing extra for me, even a smile and a couple extra times calling me "sir" might be enough for a tip.
In the past I have gone out to eat and not given a penny to the server because they did not do their job. On one occassion I was at a Diner and this one server was obviously not paying attention when the orders were taken but I let that slide. But when the food came, things were cooked incorrectly, or it was just the wrong food, but instead of just taking the food back to be prepared again, the server decided to argue with me. Long story short, I walked into the kitechen and asked who was "bussing" my table and stuck a $10 in his pocket and left.
A tip (also called a gratuity) is a voluntary extra payment made to certain service sector workers in addition to the advertised price.
I refuse to eat at or go to any place that automatically adds in a tip. The potential of recieving a tip is what keeps people in the service industry wanting to do their best. If I end up with a rude server, or housekeeper, or whomever, I reserve the right to NOT give them anything extra since they have dont nothing extra for me, even a smile and a couple extra times calling me "sir" might be enough for a tip.
In the past I have gone out to eat and not given a penny to the server because they did not do their job. On one occassion I was at a Diner and this one server was obviously not paying attention when the orders were taken but I let that slide. But when the food came, things were cooked incorrectly, or it was just the wrong food, but instead of just taking the food back to be prepared again, the server decided to argue with me. Long story short, I walked into the kitechen and asked who was "bussing" my table and stuck a $10 in his pocket and left.
Holy c**p. Cutting up the steaks, and shelling the lobster? Ewww. Maybe it's just me but I do not like someone hovering like that and touching my plate while I am trying to eat. :hurl: I'll have to let them know up front to just show up from time to time. They'll get tipped better from me that way than to constantly be at the table interrupting our conversation and touching the food. LOL I get upset when we go out to eat and I keep repeating the same sentence to my wife because the server keeps interrupting and asking us questions.
They did it all with utensils. I know when my kids were young, I greatly appreciated not having to get up and go do it myself.
But if it bothers you, you can definitely say no! Don't worry, i have never found them hovering at all. They are way too busy to hang out by our table. The good ones just seem to magically know when we need something! :lol:
I agree, it's not a tip if you have no choice. You do have a choice here though. Your account is charged at the end of the cruise and you can go to Guest Services and have the amounts changed.
I will say that automatic amounts make me not want to give anymore. I normally go for 20% but if the restaurant adds in 18% automatically, I figure that's how much they wanted and I won't add more.
flynnibus
Premium Member
The problem is across the total sum. By knowing many people will 'default' the staff know they are covered and won't be as motivated. You may cut their number as an individual but if most won't, the staff will learn no matter what... The total pay seems about the same. That's why these systems are bad. Encourages complacency.
Freshee61
Well-Known Member
I am on team against this new prepaid tip. I think you should have the option to do either to Pay upfront or later.
I belive more than 90 % of cruisers pay tips according especially when your paying for a disney cruise. I could see it happning on carnival or ncl where people might not tip because ncl service is stinky but even still most people tip. Either way imo i think you should have the choice or just stop this whole tipping separately and just include it in price. Tips are meant to at end after the service because some service really should be awarded and others not.
I belive more than 90 % of cruisers pay tips according especially when your paying for a disney cruise. I could see it happning on carnival or ncl where people might not tip because ncl service is stinky but even still most people tip. Either way imo i think you should have the choice or just stop this whole tipping separately and just include it in price. Tips are meant to at end after the service because some service really should be awarded and others not.
Yes, but guest comment cards carry more weight. We were told that if they get a few comments that say that there dining service wasn't exceptional, that they get marks against them. After so many marks against them, they are gone.
They aren't working hard just for the tips, they are working hard to keep their jobs.
Well then you don't need to worry! Because they are not prepaid, they are still paid at the end. The only thing that has changed is that Disney will automatically charge certain amounts unless you go to Guest Services to change the amount.
sweetpee_1993
Well-Known Member
I totally agree with the thought process that auto-tips have the potential to create complacency in the service CM's performance. A friend of mine who is a server at WDW confirmed with me a few years back that there are some servers that knowingly don't try as hard to give as good of service if they know their guests are automatically charged the tip (dining plan, TiW, etc.). However, in this situation it's my understanding that the Magic has been doing the auto-gratuities for some time now. I have yet to read on this or another very heavily-traffic'd fan forum that the service in the dining rooms or the stateroom hosts has diminished in any way. It may not be as detrimental to the service level as what you might be afraid of. :wave:
DVCOwner
A Long Time DVC Member
I was on The Magic when DCL was testing this. I knew about it in advance and still wanted to tip in cash. It was very easy to change my account tip to zero and hand out cash the last night. I did get great serve from are Cast Members at at dinner, so I add additional to each of their envelopes.