Tipping the Maitre D

[pvbbrennan]

Is there any benefit in tipping the Maitre D on the first? My feeling is to hit him or her with a $50. Agree?

[George C]

Is there any benefit in tipping the Maitre D on the first? My feeling is to hit him or her with a $50. Agree?

 

I think that is a waste of money, if he did something for me on a cruise might tip him at the end

[CtheW0rld]

for what purose? what do you hope to gain? i almost never tip the maitre d' separately unless they have done something special for me. walking by to inquire how dinner was, does not qualify as special. for what it's worth - i was a maitre d' in a land-based restaurant for several years.

[dakrewser]

a tip is something you give after a service is performed, and it's based on the service.

 

Money given in advance is usually termed a bribe (or "grease"), given in hopes of better treatment.

 

But there's really nothing the Dining Room Manager (the position formerly called Maitre d') can do "extra" for you so trying to bribe him (as if this was a Las Vegas restaurant) would more than likely show that you're a clueless newbie - and that's not really something you want to be seen as, is it?

[big green]

On our last cruise for the first two nights of a fourteen day cruise we getting tables for two that were in noisy places with a lot of foot traffic with not very good service--so I spoke with the dining room manager about getting a table for two in a quite part of the dining room with not much foot traffic--he asked can you come at 6:30 pm every night ( we had any time dining) --I responded yes since that is perfect time for us---we received the same table for four set for two next to a window on the side of the dining room with a wonderful server and helper for the rest of the cruise--it was great. I tipped the dining room manger at the end of the cruise--because he not only got us the table but made sure everything was right for the rest of the cruise.

 

BG

[serendipity1499]

Is there any benefit in tipping the Maitre D on the first? My feeling is to hit him or her with a $50. Agree?

 

 

No I disagree..Don't see any reason to tip the Dining Room Mgr. (not called Matre_d' on HAL) unless he has done something special for you, such as changing your table as was done for big Green..

We don't believe in tipping on the first night either..We only tip those who have made our Cruise so enjoyable at the end of the cruise..And we put the tip in an envelope with a Thank you note..However when we go to the Pinnacle or another specialty restaurant, we leave extra either with the bill or give it directly to the Stewards who served us each night..

Cheers..:)Betty

[uppitycats]

Like everyone else..if he's done something special for you, then maybe a tip at the end of the cruise is appropriate. But there really isn't any advantage I can see to tipping in advance..

[iancal]

Never have. Never will.

 

There is no need to do this unless he/she does something very special like arrange some very large table together or what not.

[Taxguy77]

In 10 cruises, we only had any help or service from 1 M'D, and we gave him a nice tip at the end of the cruise. When we had envelopes for tips, (Not just a service charge) we usually had good enough service from the waiter and his asst. that we gave the M'Ds tip to them in addition to the "suggested" tip.

Now there is very little service and a daily charge for "employee pay".

[Krazy Kruizers]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

What do you hope to gain by tipping the dining room manager $50 at the beginning of the cruise?

I couldn't even tell you the name of the dining room manger (without looking at the Cruise Log) or what he looks like as we have not seen him on our last cruises for at least the last 4 years -- maybe longer.

[cb at sea]

Tip for WHAT? Unless you are really, really picky and a big pain in the ass, there's no need to pre-tip the Maitre' d at all!

[Pettifogger]

I'm not sure about whom we are talking. At the entrance to the dining room, there is usually a petty officer stationed to attend to incoming passengers. The Dining Room Manager may or may not be nearby as part of the welcoming committee. I suppose the DRM could choose to attend to the incoming passengers himself, but it's not usual.

 

I'd hope that a tip to either would be resented as demeaning.

[ginger and professor]

Its a cruise ship, you are not in Las Vegas hoping for a stage side table......

[Typhoon1]

Save your money.

 

If he/she provided you with some special service during the cruise, a reward at the end of the cruise might be warranted.

[Beejay4016]

I did read on one of the threads that you should tip your room steward $40 or so on day one as a way of ensuring (bribing?) really great attention during the cruise. I guess the original poster had come across a similar suggestion somewhere. Do these "No, no, don't do that" comments also cover the room steward? :confused:

[peaches from georgia]

I did read on one of the threads that you should tip your room steward $40 or so on day one as a way of ensuring (bribing?) really great attention during the cruise. I guess the original poster had come across a similar suggestion somewhere. Do these "No, no, don't do that" comments also cover the room steward? :confused:

IMO, yes. No need to bribe your room steward. You will get wonderful service and I don't see how any steward would not take it to mean that you think he won't do his job properly and professionally without being handed money first.

[vancouverfan]

All this tipping is getting out of hands, I even noticed that some private tour organizers now include tips as part of the price they charge.

 

Since tipping is personal and based on service received, it should only be given AFTER the service is rendered.

 

Tipping the staff ahead on the ship can also be interpreted by them as being a demanding or difficult person !

[Krazy Kruizers]

I did read on one of the threads that you should tip your room steward $40 or so on day one as a way of ensuring (bribing?) really great attention during the cruise. I guess the original poster had come across a similar suggestion somewhere. Do these "No, no, don't do that" comments also cover the room steward? :confused:

 

I can assure you that we do not tip anyone at the beginning of a cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

All this tipping is getting out of hands, I even noticed that some private tour organizers now include tips as part of the price they charge.

 

Since tipping is personal and based on service received, it should only be given AFTER the service is rendered.

 

Tipping the staff ahead on the ship can also be interpreted by them as being a demanding or difficult person !

 

Agree -- we only tip those at the end of the cruise who have made our cruise an enjoybale one.

[CtheW0rld]

I can assure you that we do not tip anyone at the beginning of a cruise.

 

same here. only when warranted.

[kazu]

I did read on one of the threads that you should tip your room steward $40 or so on day one as a way of ensuring (bribing?) really great attention during the cruise. I guess the original poster had come across a similar suggestion somewhere. Do these "No, no, don't do that" comments also cover the room steward? :confused:

 

Well, for me they do. I have never tipped in advance - the crew on HAL want to please - you don't need to give them anything in advance to insure IMO. I worked in the service industry and no one ever gave me money ahead of time (nor should they). You 'earn' your tips.

 

BTW - we did tip the assistant dining room manager when we had service issues and he actually helped take care of us when he saw the waiter was not doing a good job. He was fantastic and we enjoyed him very much:) of course, needless to say it was at the end of the cruise;)

[sail7seas]

We would never tip at the start of a cruise.

All of our tipping is done at the end.... unless for a most unusual circumstance.

 

It feels like 'bribe' to us and we don't like that nor do we ever think it necessary. We get wonderful service on all HAL ships and are appreciative for that. No need to provide gratuities in advance IMO

 

[Randyk47]

We would never tip at the start of a cruise.

All of our tipping is done at the end.... unless for a most unusual circumstance.

 

It feels like 'bribe' to us and we don't like that nor do we ever think it necessary. We get wonderful service on all HAL ships and are appreciative for that. No need to provide gratuities in advance IMO

 

 

Totally agree. I imagine if we had some special request, something we wanted done on a daily basis every day of the cruise, that was out of the ordinary then it might make sense but quite frankly I can't think of anything along those lines right now. I certainly can't imagine tipping the MDR management staff at the beginning of the cruise and would be hard pressed to think any reason to have tipped them at the end of the cruise based on recent experience. I do remember the days when the MDR manage staff was more involved, doing things like making the wonderful table side desserts like crepes suzette, occasionally escorting the ladies to the table, and so on. I think I may have tipped them back through maybe 2004 or 2005 but certainly not in the last few cruises.

[BassettMom]

I have a friend who takes a small cooler on every cruise (that doesn't have a refrigerator in the cabin). On the first day, he asks the cabin steward if he would keep the cooler filled with ice each day, and when the cabin steward agrees, he thanks him and gives him a tip that first day. I wouldn't consider this a "bribe" since the steward had already agreed--more like an expression of appreciation (but then I live in Las Vegas so maybe my opinion of tips is a little skewed :D).

[Randyk47]

I have a friend who takes a small cooler on every cruise (that doesn't have a refrigerator in the cabin). On the first day, he asks the cabin steward if he would keep the cooler filled with ice each day, and when the cabin steward agrees, he thanks him and gives him a tip that first day. I wouldn't consider this a "bribe" since the steward had already agreed--more like an expression of appreciation (but then I live in Las Vegas so maybe my opinion of tips is a little skewed :D).

 

That to me would qualify as a special request, something out of the ordinary, so I could understand tipping in essence ahead of time. Of course if they don't do it you're kind of out of luck since you've already tipped but at least your intentions were good.