18% Gratuity on Drinks

This will be a hot button item, but I am curious the answer to this question if anyone has an answer.

When you order a drink an on NCL (an most other lines) a 18% Gratuity is automatically gets put on the cost of the drink. Where does this money go? Into the server or bartenders hand or is it pooled? Does the cruise line take a portion of the 18% for themselves?

Also, I have always been one to tip for great service, but do not tip for bad service. If I am out at a bar at home and a bartender makes a good drink and is attentive, I tip well. When they are not and I have a hard time getting a drink or the drink is crap, I won't always tip.

Would you rather not have the 18% automatically applied and tip accordingly for the type of service given or do you like not having to worry about it and it being automatically included?

Just curious on everyones thoughts on this!

THANKS!

Hooray! Another tipping thread!

I do not know who gets the 18%. I don't bother to think about it since I have no control.

Since I have no choice, I just don't really care.

I don't like the auto tip, but since that is what they do, I just get another drink. LOL!

I asked my Texas Hold 'Em dealer if 'chip tips' were kept by the dealer they were given to or pooled. She told me they were pooled, which disappointed me. I wanted her to have them as she was the person dealing me good hands.

If tips given directly to a dealer are pooled, I would think that the 18% added gratuity is pooled also.

AT almost EVERY bar, anywhere, tips are pooled for that shift or bar. Not a big deal. Everyone gets what they are expecting! In casinos, tips are ALWAYS pooled...always...and distributed later. You simply can't tip a dealer personally...it goes into the "pool" container.

It's the way it works.

Why do you care??:rolleyes:Go drink.have fun, and enjoy

No one except NCL knows how exactly beverage tips and the DSC is divided up. I would never be rude enough to ask a crew member how they are compensated but I do know that the crew will give you all kinds of sympathy stories to get more tips. Happens everywhere.

Personally, I don't care. They get my 18% and nothing more. Of course, tipping is an individual choice.

No one except NCL knows how exactly beverage tips and the DSC is divided up.

This is why I like to tip as I go and get rid of the DSC. I just don't trust a big corporation to do the right thing.

The plus side though is that I actually save move on these DSC as I tip more with cash. I feel guilty for handing someone a just one dollar bill and will usually want to give more.

Why do you care??:rolleyes:Go drink.have fun, and enjoy

I asked because I believe the person doing the work should be compensated; especially if they go above and beyond. Someone who gives lackluster service should not benefit from one of his colleagues exceptional work. They should be made to give the same level of service.

Personally hate auto-tips. Rather tip as warranted.

I asked because I believe the person doing the work should be compensated; especially if they go above and beyond. Someone who gives lackluster service should not benefit from one of his colleagues exceptional work. They should be made to give the same level of service.

 

Personally hate auto-tips. Rather tip as warranted.

The reality is that each and every bartender on the ship busts their ass for hours on end each day. There just isn't any "lackluster" service -- especially from the bartenders.

I just don't understand what "level of service" one needs in order to have their goddamn mudslide mixed up for them. There is no "above and beyond" when we're talking about drinks on a ship. What is it that you expect? I think, for the most part, people believe "above and beyond" means the bartenders stop whatever the hell it is they're doing as soon as you approach the bar, address you by your surname, take your order without delay, and remain within speaking distance at all times so you can order another mudslide at will. And anything outside of this is "lackluster service."

What you're going to find is great service pretty much everywhere at all times. Leave the tips alone and stop making excuses for not tipping.

The reality is that each and every bartender on the ship busts their ass for hours on end each day. There just isn't any "lackluster" service -- especially from the bartenders.

 

I just don't understand what "level of service" one needs in order to have their goddamn mudslide mixed up for them. There is no "above and beyond" when we're talking about drinks on a ship. What is it that you expect? I think, for the most part, people believe "above and beyond" means the bartenders stop whatever the hell it is they're doing as soon as you approach the bar, address you by your surname, take your order without delay, and remain within speaking distance at all times so you can order another mudslide at will. And anything outside of this is "lackluster service."

 

What you're going to find is great service pretty much everywhere at all times. Leave the tips alone and stop making excuses for not tipping.

Many legitimate reasons why I wouldn't want to tip for poor service:

1. drinks can be made poorly

2. the bartender can have a REALLY bad attitude like they are doing you a favor or just plain rude. I have gotten that 16yo too cool for school attitude b4.

3. they can also "forget" your order

4. they can spill drinks all over you (do you really want to tip someone for spilling a drink on you, even if it was an accident?)

I can go on.

With that being said, I think the DSC thing is still cheaper than tipping individually. Cuz 2-5/drink really adds up when you getting drinks all day and then go to the bar/dance floor at night.

I always have singles to tip individually, plus leave the DSC in place. My oldest pays her rent by waitressing on the weekends, all of the tips are pooled.

This will be a hot button item, but I am curious the answer to this question if anyone has an answer.

 

When you order a drink an on NCL (an most other lines) a 18% Gratuity is automatically gets put on the cost of the drink. Where does this money go? .....

 

THANKS!

Please disclose your employment contract terms and where your monthly pay check goes. I am curious to know. Thanks.

I asked because I believe the person doing the work should be compensated; especially if they go above and beyond. Someone who gives lackluster service should not benefit from one of his colleagues exceptional work. They should be made to give the same level of service.

 

Personally hate auto-tips. Rather tip as warranted.

While the tips may be pooled, if you have an exceptional bartender or other employee who goes "above and beyond" you can fill out a vacation HERO card for them. This seems to means as much (or more) to them than an extra tip.

While the tips may be pooled, if you have an exceptional bartender or other employee who goes "above and beyond" you can fill out a vacation HERO card for them. This seems to means as much (or more) to them than an extra tip.

Do they get a bonus or something for filling them out? I have done so before and was always wondering what they get.

I give extra cash tips if I find a bartender that makes my drinks well since that is important to me but I never wondered if they get pooled, but I guess they are after reading this thread.

If I tip the bartender extra because my drinks are well made or they give me attentive service, it's win-win but I guess that's not the question.

In addition to the tips, I do fill out a Vacation Hero card and also use their name in the post-cruise survey since I was told that they use those forms for promotion.

This will be a hot button item, but I am curious the answer to this question if anyone has an answer.

 

When you order a drink an on NCL (an most other lines) a 18% Gratuity is automatically gets put on the cost of the drink. Where does this money go? Into the server or bartenders hand or is it pooled? Does the cruise line take a portion of the 18% for themselves?

 

Also, I have always been one to tip for great service, but do not tip for bad service. If I am out at a bar at home and a bartender makes a good drink and is attentive, I tip well. When they are not and I have a hard time getting a drink or the drink is crap, I won't always tip.

 

Would you rather not have the 18% automatically applied and tip accordingly for the type of service given or do you like not having to worry about it and it being automatically included?

 

Just curious on everyones thoughts on this!

 

THANKS!

When you leave a tip at a restraurant do you have any idea how much the server actually gets to keep?

I asked my Texas Hold 'Em dealer if 'chip tips' were kept by the dealer they were given to or pooled. She told me they were pooled, which disappointed me. I wanted her to have them as she was the person dealing me good hands.

 

If tips given directly to a dealer are pooled, I would think that the 18% added gratuity is pooled also.

If you want to make sure the cruise workers get the tip for themselves..try this tip:

1. ask the worker if they are getting off at the next stop.

2. get off the ship at that stop with cash tip firmly placed in palm of hand.

3. once all passengers exit ship..then the crew can disembark...so it may be 2-3 hours after.

4. continue waiting by the port.

5. identify the crew member who is exiting "remember...they will be dressed like tourists...not crew members"

5. approach said crew member and extend your hand for the "money shake'

6. walk away and enjoy the port with the time you have left before the ship lifts anchor.

7. or just tip the crew at time of service and spend that much more time in the ports.

Best,

Mark

I just got off the Pearl on Sunday and during the week tipped our favorite bar tender $5 a couple of times. Each time we came into Spinnaker, every bartender would come over and try to help us, so I would guess the cash tips aren't pooled.

As others have said, it doesn't matter what we think of it...it's the way it's done. I don't think about the 18% or how the crew is compensated. I don't consider that any of my business. I never understand why this is an issue for cruisers. Do those who demand to know how the tips are divided and how much goes to whom and whether NCL takes a cut go into a restaurant and grill their server over how much of the tip they keep and if they give some to the bus boy and whether the restaurant manager gets a cut? The crew isn't forced to work for them--if they don't like the way they're compensated or think the way the DSC is used is unfair, I would think they would look for employment with a different cruise line.

The reality is that each and every bartender on the ship busts their ass for hours on end each day. There just isn't any "lackluster" service -- especially from the bartenders.

 

I just don't understand what "level of service" one needs in order to have their goddamn mudslide mixed up for them. There is no "above and beyond" when we're talking about drinks on a ship. What is it that you expect? I think, for the most part, people believe "above and beyond" means the bartenders stop whatever the hell it is they're doing as soon as you approach the bar, address you by your surname, take your order without delay, and remain within speaking distance at all times so you can order another mudslide at will. And anything outside of this is "lackluster service."

 

What you're going to find is great service pretty much everywhere at all times. Leave the tips alone and stop making excuses for not tipping.

This will be a hot button item, but I am curious the answer to this question if anyone has an answer.

 

When you order a drink an on NCL (an most other lines) a 18% Gratuity is automatically gets put on the cost of the drink. Where does this money go? Into the server or bartenders hand or is it pooled? Does the cruise line take a portion of the 18% for themselves?

 

Also, I have always been one to tip for great service, but do not tip for bad service. If I am out at a bar at home and a bartender makes a good drink and is attentive, I tip well. When they are not and I have a hard time getting a drink or the drink is crap, I won't always tip.

 

Would you rather not have the 18% automatically applied and tip accordingly for the type of service given or do you like not having to worry about it and it being automatically included?

 

Just curious on everyones thoughts on this!

 

THANKS!

It is a service charge, not a tip or a gratuity, it goes to NCL.

If you leave gratuities those usually go to the person who rang the ticket. Cash goes to the person you hand it to.

The tips are pooled just like many land based bars. If you happen to give an additional cash tip then most likely that specific bartender will pocket it.

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Do they get a bonus or something for filling them out? I have done so before and was always wondering what they get.

I'm not sure exactly what they get. I've heard that they are looked at for promotions and that they also get special perks, such as time off but I don't really know for sure.

All I know is that when we have filled them out and mentioned it to the crew member they were super happy and excited.

Maybe someone here knows what the rewards are?

Many legitimate reasons why I wouldn't want to tip for poor service:

 

1. drinks can be made poorly

2. the bartender can have a REALLY bad attitude like they are doing you a favor or just plain rude. I have gotten that 16yo too cool for school attitude b4.

3. they can also "forget" your order

4. they can spill drinks all over you (do you really want to tip someone for spilling a drink on you, even if it was an accident?)

 

I can go on.

I guess... meh. I've just never had any of those problems on a ship. Really, are these types of things going on so often that people are driven to be concerned and preoccupied about the auto-grat and where it goes? Spill drinks all over you... seriously? How does a bartender spill drinks all over you? That simply doesn't happen.

I suppose if bartenders are consistently giving you bad attitude and "forgetting" your order, you might want to take a look in the mirror rather than the opposite side of the bar.

Honest to God, I never give the DSC or the auto-grats a single thought when I'm on the ship. Why are people so busy with this?