Tipping at main dining room, O'sheehans, other food questions

Do you guys pay any tips when you eat at the main dining room? How about specialty restaurants? Is O'Sheehans a paid or complimentary restaurant?

Are ice cream, pastries, and cake offered for free? Where can I get them?

And is there a special food table laid out some time during the week that is not in the restaurant? When I went on a Princess cruise, they had this nice arrangement of sushi rolls (complete with carved vegetables) right out in the open one day...I just happened to walk pass it and see it. I don't want to miss the NCL one if they have it. Thanks!

I never went to MDR last cruise. Had old UDP and Epic Club. Since I was in a suite and there is no service charge on dining in suite I always leave $5.

In complimentary venues the tip is included in the DSC. So, unless there is stellar service, or a special request, A tip is not automatic.

Sweets? Try the buffet. Shop with your eyes first.

NCL has soft serve help yourself ice cream stations. Usually near buffet.

I did not see a complimentary sushi/crudite bar on any if my NCL cruises. Sushi is ala carte. It is also, in limited quantities on the Moderno salad bar.

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Do you guys pay any tips when you eat at the main dining room? How about specialty restaurants? Is O'Sheehans a paid or complimentary restaurant?

 

Are ice cream, pastries, and cake offered for free? Where can I get them?

 

And is there a special food table laid out some time during the week that is not in the restaurant? When I went on a Princess cruise, they had this nice arrangement of sushi rolls (complete with carved vegetables) right out in the open one day...I just happened to walk pass it and see it. I don't want to miss the NCL one if they have it. Thanks!

You will be charged a daily service charge of approx. $14 pp pd. This will cover your tipping obligations in the complimentary dining venues. If you eat at a specialty restaurant or purchase a package you will pay an 18% gratuity on that to cover your tipping obligations. So, in all cases it's covered automatically by how it's charged, if you feel you have excellent service and desire to tip extra you are always able to do that.

O'Sheehans is complimentary

There are always desserts available when the buffet is open. Usually cookies and another pastry option during snack time and a variety of cakes, brownies, and usually a cobbler during meal times. Plus soft serve is available self serve most to all of the time. For an off time craving, O sheehans is open 24 hours and has dessert options.

Didn't see anything like you described on princess but there are often specialty things available by the pool. BBQ, things like that, on certain days.

I never tip MDR servers nor in O'Sheehans.

Sometimes on the pool deck they will have some things set out, fruits and burgers and stuff.

If you want a late night snack there should be a small cart of sweets and savories in the back of the Casino. I usually stopped by on my way back to the cabin after midnight and took a small plate up.

Popcorn is served at the late night movies in the atrium.

Otherwise you willl be paying for fancy pastries and coffee in the atrium Cafe --- get something from the buffet.

Those who are saying that the DSC 'covers' tips are wrong. The DSC is something completely different. There is of course no obligation to tip anywhere but trying to justify it by saying that the DSC exists is shallow at best.

They are not wrong, that's why there are so many threads regarding DSC and tipping. Be careful of what you say, calling those who've cruised many times wrong is insulting and for the most part inaccurate.

Those who are saying that the DSC 'covers' tips are wrong. The DSC is something completely different. There is of course no obligation to tip anywhere but trying to justify it by saying that the DSC exists is shallow at best.

Always nice and totally appreciated it you leave a few dollars at any sit down and be served dining facility. $5 is our usual but can vary. But as others have said, not necessary.

Phyllis

Those who are saying that the DSC 'covers' tips are wrong. The DSC is something completely different. There is of course no obligation to tip anywhere but trying to justify it by saying that the DSC exists is shallow at best.

I am offended you just called me shallow.

In the early days of traditional cruising we would give little envelopes at the end of the cruise to our yes, servers and room Stewards. The cruise model has changed and that has been replaced with a DSC. Call it a service charge call or what ever but it is not completely out of line to say it would be what the normal gratuity would be to your server if you were in a restaurant on land.

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I used to tip extra for all drinks and meal service but now that they have increased daily service charges, added automatic gratuities to specialty dining etc, I rarely tip extra. Just figure if we are paying almost $450 extra already charged to us for service charge or gratuities we have paid enough for a 7 day vacation.

Those who are saying that the DSC 'covers' tips are wrong. The DSC is something completely different. There is of course no obligation to tip anywhere but trying to justify it by saying that the DSC exists is shallow at best.

So, in your opinion, what does the DSC cover?

In fact, one of the precise reasons the DSC exists is that with the advent of freestyle dining, you no longer have the same waiter and assistant waiter during the week even if you eat in the MDR every meal -- and thus, the envelope-at-the-end-of-the-week model no longer works. In other words, OF COURSE part of your DSC goes to servers in the free venues -- that's what it's for.

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Do you guys pay any tips when you eat at the main dining room? How about specialty restaurants? Is O'Sheehans a paid or complimentary restaurant? NEVER

 

Are ice cream, pastries, and cake offered for free? Where can I get them? Plenty in the buffet; cookies at the right time of day (you may have to ask.

 

And is there a special food table laid out some time during the week that is not in the restaurant? When I went on a Princess cruise, they had this nice arrangement of sushi rolls (complete with carved vegetables) right out in the open one day...I just happened to walk pass it and see it. I don't want to miss the NCL one if they have it. Thanks!

HTH

Mike

It goes to the entire crew. It does not; it goes to those crew members who are likely to have contact with "all" cruisers. It does not go to "specialty" crew which is why there is an 18% charge in the spa etc. It does not go to those who have no contact with cruisers or their belongings notably the engineers and so on which is why they are paid a decent wage. A very small portion goes to any one given crew member. But the small portion that any one staff member gets from 2000+ cruisers become a decent amount over a week. That does not mean it takes the place of tips. Again it is up to each of us to tip or to however we deem appropriate, but saying you do not have to tip because of DSC is an excuse at best. Your argument assumes the ONLY way to tip someone other then an envelope.

I think a lot of people would love to see NCL explain what does happen to the DSC they collect from the cruisers. Then there would be lots less discussion about "tips" v "DSC".

The main problem is how to get round the enormous gap between those brought up to tip and those who find it abhorrent.

What do you think the euphemism "an incentive program that your service charge provides" is other than a tip, even if they don't want to use the word? And by the way, I was not suggesting that one shouldn't feel free to tip extra for those whom you feel you want to. But the fact is that the per day service charge supplements the salary the way that tips did, and are what the baseline recommended tip used to be.

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He / she is a troll ... look at the "join date" and you'll realize she / he is a veteran troublemaker who created a new user identity to troll the boards.

CC really should move toward real names only.

I have no control over how you feel about things. That is all up to you. If you read the FAQ on the NCL page the DSC never ever mentions a single thing about it being a replacement for tips of any sort. It is entirely up to each person on what to tip and when. However if you are going to choose not to tip just be up front about it and say you are not tipping instead of trying to make yourself feel better by making absurd justifications. FYI tipping is 100% voluntary and not required anywhere on the ship (see below). So it IS kind of shallow to try to justify it with the absurd rational that he DSC replaces tips.

 

 

 

Unlike most other ships in the cruise industry, there is no required or recommended tipping on our ships for service that is generally rendered to all Guests. While you should not feel obligated to offer a gratuity, all of our staff are encouraged to “go the extra mile,” so they are permitted to accept cash gratuities for exceptional or outstanding service if you care to offer them. Also, certain staff positions (e.g., concierge, butler, youth program staff and beverage service) provide service on an individual basis to only some guests and do not benefit from the overall service charge. We encourage those Guests to acknowledge good service from these staff members with appropriate gratuities. Additionally, there is an 18% gratuity and spa service charge added for all spa and salon services, as well as an 18% gratuity and beverage service charge added for all beverage purchases and an 18% gratuity and specialty service charge added to all specialty restaurant dining and entertainment based dining. Read more about the service charge.

Ok, I was answering in general for the general cruiser.

You do not know me or how I personally feel. How I tip is not how I would expect others to.

Actually, I love to tip. It means my cruise is great. Like I said, I tipped $5 each meal in specialty and Epic Club last month. (I was in the Owner's Suite by the way)... $1 with every drink. $100 extra to room steward. $70 to butler, $70 to concierge, and $40 to the asst concierges. This is just my tip. My sister and niece also tipped.

I have a history on CC for my attesting to tipping in suites. When I have dined in the MDR on any cruise line I have always put $5 under my plate. And I have always given a cash tip to the steward. Over and above whatever they receive frim the DSC.

Like I said, I never stepped into the MDR and only walked through the buffet last cruise.

I think if you read between the lines NCL is careful in their verbiage not to call the DSC a tip due to the cultural differences where some pax are anti-tipping. Furthermore, the FAQ's state that tipping is accepted for exceptional or outstanding service. What about the cruiser who received adequate or good service??? By your dictates one who does not give more is "shallow" because they did not tip in addition to the DSC, which by NCL's own FAQS do not say to tip for adequate service???

So, the "lecture" from you is really not needed. I made no absurd justifications as you accused me of. And I do not see other posters rallying to agree with your interpretation of NCL policies.

There is a difference to what I do (as a suite cruiser) and what I might post for the general cruiser.

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Some folks are going to have sore hands from patting themselves on the back. :rolleyes:

We always leave a tip in mdr and osheehans. $5 for dinner $2/3 for breakfast or lunch. But that's just us

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If you choose the pre-paid tips option that is added each day to your account while on board, no need to tip in the MDRs or any of the other complimentary venues. However, you may choose to leave an extra tip for excellent service. The extra pay speciality restaurants add a service charge. Same thing goes for any of the drink packages as well.

So unless you opt out of the daily service charges, you are tipping,

MARAPRINCE

All your tips are covered by the DSC...if you feel someone deserves more, then it's customary to tip on the last evening.

We always tipped at restaurants (specialty and MDR) last summer on the Pearl. And we often tipped at the bar. However, I didn't carry cash while on the ship. I instead added tips to the receipts we always had to sign. That way I paid entirely with OBC.

I see for this thread that many tip in cash. Is what I did a bad idea? I hope my tips got to the correct servers/bartenders. I was planning to do the same this summer as I will have a whole bunch of OBC to use.

We always tipped at restaurants (specialty and MDR) last summer on the Pearl. And we often tipped at the bar. However, I didn't carry cash while on the ship. I instead added tips to the receipts we always had to sign. That way I paid entirely with OBC.

 

I see for this thread that many tip in cash. Is what I did a bad idea? I hope my tips got to the correct servers/bartenders. I was planning to do the same this summer as I will have a whole bunch of OBC to use.

I wish that NCL would inform us of what happens to the Daily Service Charge, who gets what and if NCL "takes a cut". Also what happens to any 'tip' added to a bill and what happens to cash given to a specific member of staff.

No....DSC is there to compensate them.

I see for this thread that many tip in cash. Is what I did a bad idea? I hope my tips got to the correct servers/bartenders. I was planning to do the same this summer as I will have a whole bunch of OBC to use.

I have been told by many crew members that they get to keep any tips they are given by passengers and don't have to turn them in to the "tip pool". They also said they get tips that are from OBC. I did have one tell me he never got any tips. The consensus in my mind was that there was one liar and quite a few people who were telling the truth.

You can do two really great things to recognize someone that really made your vacation special. We often hear that a crew member that gets three complaints is fired, but they also receive kudos for receiving compliments from guests. There are "hero cards" you can get to compliment a crew member like your cabin steward if they have really satisfied you. Because this form of "thanks" goes straight to their manager also it means a lot to them.

The second thing is to tip them through your on-board account. They get the money, and the company knows you went out of your way to thank them, so it helps their reputation with the boss.

We always tipped at restaurants (specialty and MDR) last summer on the Pearl. And we often tipped at the bar. However, I didn't carry cash while on the ship. I instead added tips to the receipts we always had to sign. That way I paid entirely with OBC.

 

I see for this thread that many tip in cash. Is what I did a bad idea? I hope my tips got to the correct servers/bartenders. I was planning to do the same this summer as I will have a whole bunch of OBC to use.

Isn't the Pearl the only US flagged ship? I remember a coworker who sailed on the Pearl in Hawaii and tipped at every meal (3 times a day) since he never had the same waiter. Things may be different on the Pearl than the rest of the fleet.

MARAPRINCE