Tipping the dining staff

[SeattleAl]

Quick question for a person who hasn't cruised in 20 years, I understand that most tables in the MDR have a waiter and an assistant. When tipping, do you tip both, or only the waiter. If both, do you tend to tip the same?  Thanks!

[Ourusualbeach]

10 minutes ago, SeattleAl said:

Quick question for a person who hasn't cruised in 20 years, I understand that most tables in the MDR have a waiter and an assistant. When tipping, do you tip both, or only the waiter. If both, do you tend to tip the same?  Thanks!

Unless uou rrmovevyhe automatic gratuities then tips for both waiter and assistant are covered.  Feel free to tip more if you feel they warrant it.

[njkruzer]

25 minutes ago, SeattleAl said:

Quick question for a person who hasn't cruised in 20 years, I understand that most tables in the MDR have a waiter and an assistant. When tipping, do you tip both, or only the waiter. If both, do you tend to tip the same?  Thanks!

You are automatically charged each day for gratuities that includes dining room staff, your stateroom attendant and several others.  Sometimes you may have prepaid these (look at your confirmation).  You can give additional gratuities if you want.  You are charged 18% gratuity for drinks you order. 

[LeeW]

Normal gratuities is around $4/day for waiter and slightly less for assistant waiter.  Supposed to be increasing soon.

[BirdTravels]

1 hour ago, SeattleAl said:

Quick question for a person who hasn't cruised in 20 years, I understand that most tables in the MDR have a waiter and an assistant. When tipping, do you tip both, or only the waiter. If both, do you tend to tip the same?  Thanks!

You tip both the waiter and assistant waiter separately. We would tip the waiter and assistant waiter about $10/day (above whatever trivial amount they get from the daily service charge). 

 

Even if we have MTD, we ask to be seated with the same waiter/assistant waiter each night. 

Edited July 31, 2022 by BirdTravels

[brillohead]

I tend to tip them individually, and the amount depends on the level of service.  (Typically it's $20 each, but again, depends on the level of service.)

I "customize" my meals a lot, because when I cruise, I do several sailings in a row. It gets boring having the same exact thing every single week, so I will mix-n-match my meals.  Sometimes I'll have a couple appetizers as my entree, or I'll have the vegan entree as my side vegetable, or I'll have a small portion of the pasta as one of my sides, etc.  I know this makes extra work for the waiter, and so I give a bit of extra cash on the last evening.

I also go through a LOT of liquid during a meal, due to a medical condition.  If I don't have a drink available, I can't eat anything at all, and the meal comes to a full-stop until my glass is refilled.  An assistant waiter who keeps my glass filled at all times also gets a bit of extra cash on the last evening.  

But as long as you've kept your Daily Service Charge/Gratuities in place, you're not obligated to tip any more than that.  Anything above and beyond is entirely up to you.
 

[flamingos]

Each gets an envelope, if you choose to tip above the automatic gratuity. We tip $20 each for the week.

 

What is different from when we started to cruise is we have stopped tipping the Head Waiter. We never see him.

[sunlover2]

8 hours ago, flamingos said:

 

What is different from when we started to cruise is we have stopped tipping the Head Waiter. We never see him.

It's unfortunate but I agree! 

[la_croisiere_s'amuse]

8 hours ago, flamingos said:

What is different from when we started to cruise is we have stopped tipping the Head Waiter. We never see him.

 

18 minutes ago, sunlover2 said:

It's unfortunate but I agree! 

Crazy, isn't it? I'm not 100% convinced they still exist, whereas we used to have head waiters like this guy from a family cruise many years ago. He made napkin chairs for the teddy bears on formal night and helped them drink their wine. Now he got a GREAT tip! 😄

 

[brillohead]

The only time I ever saw the Head Waiter was post-COVID when ships were running at reduced capacities... then I'd see them almost every night, they'd refill waters or bring more rolls, stop to chat, etc.  

By the time capacity picked up, the entire dining room was so short-staffed that the head waiters didn't have time for niceties -- they were scrambling around trying to get everyone served.

[rudeney]

I've always been a bit resentful of being expected to tip the head waiter.  Most of the time, we never see them.  One in particular on a DCL cruise was a smug jerk.  But then we had one on a cruise a few years back who was wonderful.  He came around each night and talked to his guests.  He would occasionally lend a hand to his staff.  That was what I always thought a head waiter should be. 

 

One night, I mentioned to him that he was the first head waiter we had really ever interacted with.  He explained that our waiter was actually on his last cruise as in that role - he was being promoted to a head waiter.  Because of our waiter's excellence, this head waiter had very little little to do and could spend time with his guests.  He explained that when you don't see the head waiter, it's usually because they are behind the scenes solving problems with their staff.  Anyhow, he changed our perception of head waiters.  

[boscobeans]

There are usually several "Head" waiters or assistant maitre d's in each dining room and they appear to supervise an entire section.

We always make it a point to speak to them and they always pop by during our meals and even when we dine during the MDR breakfasts and lunches they will see to our needs. 

They do get an envelope on the last night as do the waiter and the assistant.

[prmssk]

Assuming you leave on the auto-gratuities (or pre-pay them), any additional tips are a personal decision.  Some tip extra.  Some don't.  There is no right or wrong answer although I would work under the assumption that they don't necessarily share any extra tips so if you want to tip both your waiter and assistant waiter, then tip each separately.

 

As for head waiters, sometimes it is the head waiter that handles dietary restrictions (I can't remember who took care of that on our last Royal cruise) and if that is the case, we often tip our head waiter at least a little bit since they take care of my dietary restrictions.  Otherwise, I'm not sure I would tip them today (like we may have years ago when they did more).

[Cigar King]

9 hours ago, flamingos said:

What is different from when we started to cruise is we have stopped tipping the Head Waiter. We never see him.

Was pleasantly surprised on a recent cruise when the head waiter came by every night.  Even saw us and greeted us at the door a few times.  Was happy to tip him at the end of the cruise.

 

[LittleJoefromKokomo]

Depending on service I usually tip the waitor and assistant waitor a $20  each a few times during the cruise. Not every night but atleast 2-3 times in a 7 day cruise. If service was really bad 

I don't tip extra outside the prepaid tips.

 

[ONECRUISER]

2 hours ago, boscobeans said:

There are usually several "Head" waiters or assistant maitre d's in each dining room and they appear to supervise an entire section.

We always make it a point to speak to them and they always pop by during our meals and even when we dine during the MDR breakfasts and lunches they will see to our needs. 

They do get an envelope on the last night as do the waiter and the assistant.

25-35yrs ago might only see HW 1-2 times a Cruise, usually second to last nite before last/Tip nite telling us all he did for us behind the scenes. 20 yrs ago was Father raising 3 young Kids, those Cruises Head Waiter was around and attentive to our needs doing lot extra things for us. Then PreCV there was 6 Head Waiters just for Deck 4 Main Dining for Radiance Class Ships. Was lucky got to know one and he took care of me VERY WELL for 3 yrs on my Fall Cruises. Since then might meet HW on 1/3 my Cruises, just did B4B and didnt have any of them stop by my Table... 

[Joseph2017China]

Oh my gosh, a tipping thread......The answer is, simply you pay a daily gratuities, and it covers all your tipping needs.  Plain and Simple.  

 

Just like anyplace else, if you want to start tossing money to everyone outside the daily tips, you can, just like you can put money in the tip jar at Starbucks.  Your choice, and your business.  

 

But note this, tipping on a ship, and the amounts is customary for the ship not the USA.  What you do in the USA, is not the same thing as a ship, or any international port.  I tip per customs, not beliefs

[island lady]

We always have prepaid gratuities.    In addition we leave a 5 dollar bill on the table after every meal, including breakfast.  On fancier dinner nights, or extra service provided...a 10 dollar bill.  

 

Specialty restaurants...20 bucks usually.  

[LMaxwell]

We put money into a thank you card and sign it "To our waitstaff team" from "The _____family, room 1234..." then hand it to the primary Waiter or Waitress for our table.  

[DirtyDawg]

The auto tips/service charge covers your tipping for the wait staff during a cruise. If you want to tip extra for some extraordinarily wonderful service that's up to you. As for the amount you may be thinking of for any of those extra tips, remember this the internet and everyone on the internet looks like Brad Pitt or Beyonce. 😉

 

Edited August 1, 2022 by DirtyDawg

[retired dude]

we give the waiter nd assit waiter a tip every night. it isn't much probably $5 each, but i do admit that the service is better than if you don't...kinda like the old days in vegas, you tip , you get taken care of, you don't you don't.....life is good

[sunlover2]

19 hours ago, la_croisiere_s'amuse said:

 

Crazy, isn't it? I'm not 100% convinced they still exist, whereas we used to have head waiters like this guy from a family cruise many years ago. He made napkin chairs for the teddy bears on formal night and helped them drink their wine. Now he got a GREAT tip! 😄

 

YES! My kids always got spoiled by the head waiters. They looked forward to going to the MDR. Those were the days 😊 

 

[sunlover2]

3 hours ago, island lady said:

We always have prepaid gratuities.    In addition we leave a 5 dollar bill on the table after every meal, including breakfast.  On fancier dinner nights, or extra service provided...a 10 dollar bill.  

 

Specialty restaurants...20 bucks usually.  

We do the same

 

[LittleJoefromKokomo]

6 hours ago, retired dude said:

kinda like the old days in vegas, you tip , you get taken care of, you don't you don't.....life is good

Exactly, several times the bartender "forgot" to charge for coke, mineral water or other non alcoholic drinks for my wife when I tipped a $5 each time when ordering beer for myself. I have also been given a free beer in the casino bar when tipping $5 or $10 on my precious order. Not always but it happens sometimes.

[yogimax]

1 hour ago, UnregisteredUser said:

Exactly, several times the bartender "forgot" to charge for coke, mineral water or other non alcoholic drinks for my wife when I tipped a $5 each time when ordering beer for myself. I have also been given a free beer in the casino bar when tipping $5 or $10 on my precious order. Not always but it happens sometimes.

Sorry, but why would you "tip" $5 or $10 for a beer?