Pinnicle Grill tips

[Tarkus]

How would you feel about HAL printing a notice on both the reservation confirmation card for Pinnacle and on the menu language something like.....

 

"Gratuity is not included in the Per Person Cover Charge" Is that too subtle to 'hint' to folks a tip would be welcomed?

 

Is it too 'in your face' and some folks would be offended?

 

How about just inside the Pinnacle entry they had a stand with a small notice stating gratuities are not included?

 

What do you think would be a suitable way to suggest to people tipping might be something they would like to consider?

i'd certainly be content with this - and would not take offense.

 

there's enough confusion on this board among seasoned hal regulars - you can only imagine how confused non-cc hal-virgins must be as to what is proper procedure! :p

[dakrewser]

How about just inside the Pinnacle entry they had a stand with a small notice stating gratuities are not included?

 

What do you think would be a suitable way to suggest to people tipping might be something they would like to consider?

 

 

 

If there were a barrel next to the Maitre d's stand, with a flashing, day-glo neon sign saying "TIPS" and pointing down into the barrel, there would still be any number of cruisers who would "stiff the staff". :eek:

[peaches from georgia]

I think a note at the bottom of the menu would be the most appropriate, but I don't think HAL would ever do it or anything else which specifically mentions a gratuity. I think that the auto-tip is their answer to the whole subject.

 

We have no idea what amount the Pinnacle stewards are getting from the auto-tip, whether or not their wages are higher than the dining room stewards, and how much they do get from pax who eat in the Pinnacle (and we do always tip generously). There are just some thiings that we have to leave up to HAL and their employees to work out and not worry about ways we can make it better for the stewards. If they are not satisfied with their total benefits/pay they will go elsewhere to work and HAL will have to reconsider their compensation package.

[xpcdoojk]

I am going on my first HAL cruise in November, and I plan on eating in the Pinnacle at least one time. How do you tip the waiter? Do you give him/her a $10 or a $20 or do you add it to a receipt? IE do you get a bill for $20 per person, and it has a space on it for a tip? I would feel odd, pulling out a $20 and giving it to just the waiter or giving the waiter $15 and $5 for the assistant... etc. This just seems problematic to me. I am terrified to be finding myself somewhat agreeing with Brad1185 (Brad, are you looking at HAL since you hate RCI and X now due to no discounting, and charging a fee to eat at Johnny Rockets?:p :D ). Agreeing with Brad is a general no-no for me, so I would like advice on how to handle this.:D :p

 

thanks

 

jc

[Odd Ball]

The tip is included in the 10.00 per day that is put on your account.

 

If you choose to tip more, bring cash.

 

I am not into subsidizing salaries. If someone goes above and beyond, yes, I will tip extra. For everyday standard service, no I will not tip extra.

 

Out of many, many cruises we tipped the Maitre'd once, because he did something very nice for us.

 

I have a question. Why do some think a Pinnacle tip should be based on what you think you would pay in a restaurant?

[stanford's girl]

 

I have a question. Why do some think a Pinnacle tip should be based on what you think you would pay in a restaurant?

I have wondered this too.:confused: I don't tip on the food but on the service I receive. I know the difference between bad, good, great, and exceptional service. The type of service I receive, is what decides the tip I leave.

[Tarkus]

I have wondered this too.:confused: I don't tip on the food but on the service I receive. I know the difference between bad' date=' good, great, and exceptional service. The type of service I receive, is what decides the tip I leave. [/size']

not trying to be combative, but what exactly does that mean? that you don't tip as a percentage of food cost in a restaurant? so a $20 tip on a $15 meal will put you into one server's hall of fame while that same $20 tip on your $200 meal will get you surly looks?

 

based on what i've read here it strikes me that tips should be comparable to those left for wait staff in the regular dining room - while i normally tip 15%-20% of total bill in a fine restaurant, i'm not about to assume what the cost might have been if i was charged for pinnacle food in a fine restaurant then pay a percentage of that assumption. that just strikes me as inequitable, given what other staff onboard are earning for their services.

[xpcdoojk]

That is the conundrum.... Since HAL doesn't specify, we all make lots of assumptions, and they can not all be correct.

 

We had a group of 10 this weekend at a restaurant at a winery, and the couple ahead of me put a tip on their meal, so I didn't want to look out of place, and I put a tip on it. Since the bill wasn't itemized, I didn't really question the total, my wife scolded me afterwards because, of course there was a 15% gratuity included in the price. So the nice lady got a 15% plus a 20% tip on top of that. I won't loose sleep over it, but....:D $10 here and ten bucks there pretty soon we are talking...:D

 

jc

[ekerr19]

It is customary to use a percentage of the meal cost for tipping. Both DH & I worked as wait staff while in HS & college - because we have firsthand experience with how physically demanding the job is - we probably tend to tip "over" rather than "under", - in fact 20% is what we normally tip for fair or adequate service.

 

The $20 charge in the Pinnacle is by no means the cost of that meal - it is merely a "surcharge" for the upscale dining experience and food. It would be hard for me to imagine someone equating that surcharge as the cost of the meal.

 

We (and I speak only for myself and my husband) feel that a comparable meal in an establishment such as the Pinnacle - would cost about $150 to $200 here at home and that is what we choose to base our tip upon.

 

If you have received a gift certificate for a restaurant and the charge for the meal is nothing, would you not tip? Wouldn't you base the tip on the total cost of the meal before the "gift certificate" was applied?

 

I honestly don't understand how a tip could possibly be based upon anything else...

[stanford's girl]

Tarkus,

It means that if I order a $50 steak and it is overcooked and tastes bad , that I wouldn't dock the severs tip. The fault would lie with the kitchen. Now, if the food was good but the server was awful, then my tip would reflect his service. You can use what the meal costs as a guide if you want to. I've left big tips on small checks and small tips on big checks. I don't care about the "server's hall of fame" or "surly looks".I tip based on the service I receive, whether it is on land or at sea. :)

[dakrewser]

I am not into subsidizing salaries. If someone goes above and beyond, yes, I will tip extra. For everyday standard service, no I will not tip extra.

 

So you rarely, if ever, tip in restaurants? Or is, somehow, a restaurant aboard a ship different???

[stanford's girl]

That is the conundrum.... Since HAL doesn't specify, we all make lots of assumptions, and they can not all be correct.

jc

Which brings me back to my original question. Why doesn't HAL clarify the tipping procedure for the Pinnacle? Everyone has their opinion but there is no policy concerning this. HAL is very clear about the amounts to leave others so why not this one? Maybe they should add the tip into the surcharge.

[PRINSENDAM]

The $20 charge in the Pinnacle is by no means the cost of that meal - it is merely a "surcharge" for the upscale dining experience and food. It would be hard for me to imagine someone equating that surcharge as the cost of the meal.

 

We (and I speak only for myself and my husband) feel that a comparable meal in an establishment such as the Pinnacle - would cost about $150 to $200 here at home and that is what we choose to base our tip upon.

 

I honestly don't understand how a tip could possibly be based upon anything else...

 

 

 

ekerrm

 

Actually the true cost of a meal in Pinaccle Grill is probably just about $20. All ships have a food budget and the amount is something like $15 to $25 per person/per day. That includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, room service, afternoon tea, snacks etc etc. The amount in the budget depends on the cruise line itself and the standard of food that is served. Some of the cheaper ship might have a budget of around $15 and Queen's Grill passengers in QE2 might have a budget of around $3O to $35. (Sorry, I don't have the exact fugures. This sort of information is highly confidential. I am basing these amounts on the snippits of information which I have been able to gather. One of my last ships (working) had a budget for our crew of $3.50 per person/per day. We kept to that or all hell would break loose in Head Office!) So, the $20 charge in the Pinnacle Grill more than covers the exceptional food they serve.

 

One way to looook at the tips is that the regular dining room steward receives what $3.50 PP/ der day. That is for serving three meals. For two people, tipping the two waiters that serve you in the grill for just one meal $5 each would be way more than fair I think. $20 is very nice but I don't think it is necessary. As someone pointed out a few messages ago, we tip for good service not too cover the crew wages!

 

If they were to add a standard charge on the Pinnacle Grill bill of $5 pp, (making a total of $25) and state, 'All Grats included'... that would be fine, but you know, some would complain... and others would still tip more!!!!

 

Stephen

[HeatherInFlorida]

Hmmm ... it is something to ponder, though, when you think about it. Obviously, tipping has always been based on the cost of the dinner. And obviously, I agree with EKerr that if we have a coupon or gift certificate, we base the tip on the total cost of the dinner, not the discounted cost. We generally tip about 20% rounding up or down depending on the level of service.

 

But that would mean we should tip our dining room stewards a heck of a lot more than I certainly do because if each meal is worth $100/couple (which it is at the very least IMHO ... actually much higher than that when you consider the appetizers, soup, salad and dessert), then that would mean $20/night at the very least.

So now I'm wondering if we're below the norm in our tipping in the main dining room. Should our base tips in the dining room be $150 for a 7 day cruise (for 2)?

[ekerr19]

ekerrm

 

So, the $20 charge in the Pinnacle Grill more than covers the exceptional food they serve.

Stephen

 

Stephen - I understand what you are saying - I am thinking in relation to what the cost would be in a land based, upscale restaurant and perhaps should have clarified.

 

To me, the issue is just not all that complicated - people either tip or they don't, it's still a personal choice. I DO think people should tip based upon what the experience is worth to them, without being completely "nit-picky" about the whole thing.

 

For example, a water glass going unfilled for any period of time may send some folks into a tailspin, it doesn't bother me at all - and I would never reduce my tip because of it, but I know others who justify a lesser tip over things like this.

[ekerr19]

So now I'm wondering if we're below the norm in our tipping in the main dining room. Should our base tips in the dining room be $150 for a 7 day cruise (for 2)?

 

I think it depends on several factors. But, I would say that would be close to what we tip in the D/R for excellent service.

 

Again, that is just us - we tip what we feel the meal and service are worth to us. Many will disagree I'm sure, but we have our own preference and try to stick to it. :)

[cruzincurt]

If you often can afford to have dinner out at $200 per couple, you are obviously "well to do" and $20 is pocket change.

 

Does it take any more of the waiter's effort to deliver a lobster than a hamburger to your table? Then basing the tip on the meal cost is not the answer. What I often do is take the cost of the cruise, say $2000, and leave the $300 tip in the casino.

[1stMate]

So you rarely, if ever, tip in restaurants? Or is, somehow, a restaurant aboard a ship different???

A restuarant aboard a ship is completely different, unless meals are not included in the cost of the cruise. (A completely a la carte cruise? Is that possible?) The food is included in the cost of the cruise. The premium is for the service they are unable to perfom in the main dining room.

Besides, The Pinnacle is not a restuarant under any traditional defintion, it is an alternate dining facility. A premium is charged, although $20/pp is not a significant amount. You must factor in that liquor served in the Pinnacle has an automatic 15% or so tip.

So for a couple $150.00 for a meal, without liquor, would generate, at a land based restuarant, a $30.00 tip, sans liquor. The $40.00 premium more than covers the service, unless someone performs an extraordinary service.

 

The guys I wanted to tip were the boys in the Lido during lunch and breakfast. They were the most helpful and cheerful, unlike the main dining room staff.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Well, obviously I hate to be this honest and make myself come off cheap:o , but I think $150 tip for the dining room steward for a 7 day cruise is extremely high. It's essentially double the "suggested" amount. We have never left that much. We always (unless the service is really terrible) left well over the "suggested" amount, but never double.

 

All this just got me to thinking about tipping in general and I quite agree with Cruzincurt that serving a lobster takes no more effort than serving a hamburger and I can't help but wonder how this whole thing got started with it being a percentage of the cost of the meal.

 

Oh well ... not something that will ever be solved here because a lot of it is simply opinion. But it definitely is an interesting subject.

[gizmo]

But that would mean we should tip our dining room stewards a heck of a lot more than I certainly do because if each meal is worth $100/couple (which it is at the very least IMHO ... actually much higher than that when you consider the appetizers, soup, salad and dessert), then that would mean $20/night at the very least.

 

 

:rolleyes: Where did the 100.00 come from? Regardless, I don't see how MEATLOAF even with soap, salad and appetizer is worth 50.00 per person.

 

 

 

Prisendam,

 

You are right on the money !;)

[Time2sail]

:rolleyes: Where did the 100.00 come from? Regardless, I don't see how MEATLOAF even with soap, salad and appetizer is worth 50.00 per person.

 

 

 

Prisendam,

 

You are right on the money !;)

 

Meatloaf with soap will not be worth a tip:D

[HeatherInFlorida]

:rolleyes: Where did the 100.00 come from? Regardless, I don't see how MEATLOAF even with soap, salad and appetizer is worth 50.00 per person.

 

 

 

Prisendam,

 

You are right on the money !;)

 

 

Gizmo, the $100 comes from my estimate of what a meal in a fine restaurant consisting of an appetizer, soup, salad, as many entrees as you want, dessert and coffee would come to.

I believe that to be a conservative estimate. You certainly don't have to agree and of course you don't:rolleyes: .

[kryos]

Ok this may open a can of worms, but I have to ask.

So let me first say I always leave the auto tipping in place. I dont change it, and we always tip extra to those who we feel are deserving :) That said, Why tip the Maitre d' , he is the boss and in a bosses position and just walks around and chats with the guests and makes seating arrangements. I know thats alot but he gets paid a higher wage than those running back and forth to the kitchen ????? :)

My feeling exactly. Tips were never intended for those in management positions. I tip my servers. I have never tipped the Maitre d' and can't foresee ever doing so.

 

Like I said in another post. Tipping can get out of hand. Why not tip the officers, the entertainers, the maintenance people, etc., and other management people as well?

 

No, Tips were meant to add some income for the people in the lowest positions who don't make squat. It's unfortunate that restaurants, cruiselines, etc., place us in the position of having to pay help that works for them ... when they should be paying a decent wage to begin with ... but that's the way it is and I always tip generously a steward who takes good care of me. But I will not begin tipping their management staff too. That's going over the top, IMHO.

 

Like I said in another thread ... the thing that galls me is when you go into something like a Dunkin Donuts to get a cup of coffee take-out. The person packing up that coffee for you is the owner of the franchise, and he's got a tip bucket in front of him. No, buddy ... you probably make more money than me. You own the place. You're already well-paid. I don't think I need to be tipping you. I just ignore that tip bucket.

 

Sorry, but that's just how I feel.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[kryos]

Well, obviously I hate to be this honest and make myself come off cheap:o , but I think $150 tip for the dining room steward for a 7 day cruise is extremely high.

I think the $10 per day, Heather, is not just for the dining room steward. Some of that goes to your cabin steward as well.

 

I personally have no problem with the auto tips. $10 per day, in my opinion, is appropriate. Remember, since I generally book a cabin to myself ... that's only $70 per week. I will then tip extra for service personnel that have taken good care of me. They generally work very hard for those tips and they don't make much more than a dollar an hour in terms of a wage. Do you know that their living expenses onboard the ship are considered a part of their "wages," and that's how the cruiseline justifies paying them such a low hourly rate?

 

As to the bar staff, it is rare I give them anything other than the 15% gratituity added to the bar bill, though I did slip one particular server on a Princess cruise an extra $20 bucks on the last night because he was always friendly to me, always stopped to talk when he saw me seated in the Wheelhouse Bar by myself, and just did little things to make my cruise extra enjoyable. But he was definitely an exception.

 

Just as you said, tipping is a very personal matter and there is no one "right" way to do it. Everyone will tip (or not tip) according to their personal beliefs.

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[dakrewser]

Besides, The Pinnacle is not a restuarant under any traditional defintion, it is an alternate dining facility.

 

Yep, and the guy sweeping the floor isn't a janitor, he's a facilities engineer!

 

How far do you think you can bend the facts? It's a restaurant. The people serving you are waitstaff. They work, like most restaurant waitstaff, for tips.

 

If tipping bothers you that much, may I suggest you look for a different vacation option which doesn't presume that you will tip the restaurant wait staff. But you're going to have to look long and hard to find one...