Maitre'd bottom fishing for tips

[m steve]

Almost every cruise we had requested a table for 2 but always check when we board and they never seem to honor it. I go to the MD and have him change it and give him a 5 and he seems to remember my name when we come in or when he stops by the table. They have this info on their computor so it isn't that difficult to remember and I will tip again at the end of the cruise if he does some extras like bringing the next day's menus by or giving me a menu to take home.

[big_duck]

bump

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/community/guide.cfm#15

[CaptainEdwardJohnSmith]

Over the years we have established quite a few friendships with dining room staff, we seem to bond more with Head Waiters/Dining Room Captains rather than with Maitre D's.

 

We have had special meals cooked for us, we are particularly fond of certain Asian (not necessarily Chinese LOL :p ) foods. On our Panama Canal cruise that we returned from last week we were 3 times treated to our favorite Asian dinners and boy, Oh Boy did the passengers in surrounding tables smell the aroma and we had a couple of them taking pictures of our dining table decked out with like 5 specialty dishes. Many told us they didn't know you could order "within reason" a special meal, if you give the chef 24 hours notice.

At the end of the cruise we tipped the Head Waiter/Dining Room Captain handsomely, as well as our Waiter and the Assistant Waiter. After each meal we always sent a short thank you note to the chef who prepared our meal with a small financial token of appreciation. All this we did thru our Head Waiter/Dining Room Captain whom we have gotten to know well over the years so we felt he should be the one who deserves the optional tip.

Just wanted to share our experience on this one.

Happy cruising everyone :)

[Minnesota Lady]

Over the years we have established quite a few friendships with dining room staff, we seem to bond more with Head Waiters/Dining Room Captains rather than with Maitre D's.

 

We have had special meals cooked for us, we are particularly fond of certain Asian (not necessarily Chinese LOL :p ) foods. On our Panama Canal cruise that we returned from last week we were 3 times treated to our favorite Asian dinners and boy, Oh Boy did the passengers in surrounding tables smell the aroma and we had a couple of them taking pictures of our dining table decked out with like 5 specialty dishes. Many told us they didn't know you could order "within reason" a special meal, if you give the chef 24 hours notice.

At the end of the cruise we tipped the Head Waiter/Dining Room Captain handsomely, as well as our Waiter and the Assistant Waiter. After each meal we always sent a short thank you note to the chef who prepared our meal with a small financial token of appreciation. All this we did thru our Head Waiter/Dining Room Captain whom we have gotten to know well over the years so we felt he should be the one who deserves the optional tip.

Just wanted to share our experience on this one.

Happy cruising everyone :)

Thank You soooooooooooooooooo much for the info you wise man!:D

[CaptainEdwardJohnSmith]

Thank You soooooooooooooooooo much for the info you wise man!:D

 

don't call me that, you make me feel OLD, ;) ;)

WAIT, I AM OLD lol :p :D

[Minnesota Lady]

don't call me that, you make me feel OLD, ;) ;)

WAIT, I AM OLD lol :p :D

Captain, you are not old in years, maybe and could be. But you pass us such good wisdom that you get the honor, and it takes honor, to earn the Knowledgeable Old Cruising Fart Award!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D

[clgcrusier]

Apart from supervising the waiting staff?

 

Apart from assigning seating in his restaurant?

 

Apart from meeting and greeting?

 

Apart from ensuring that one is seated at one's regular table on each new cruise?

 

Apart from ensuring that cabin service is dealt with efficiently?

 

Apart from noting when one is coming back and ensuring his records of that are accurate?

 

Apart from ensuring at lunchtime that one is happy with the menu that evening and, if not, taking an order for something else?

 

Apart from ensuring that someone is available to meet and greet by name?

 

Apart from ensuring that each diner is wished a good evening by name on leaving the dining room?

 

You mean, apart from that lot, what does a Maitre' D do?

 

Matthew

 

When you've been on the same ship a dozen or more times, I suppose he would recognize and call you by name, especially when he KNOWS you're good for a tip. . .:rolleyes: That is not the norm for most people. And I would be ESTATIC if I made that kind of salary.

 

APART from assigning my seat (and somehow I doubt it was him personally) he has done none of the above for me. . .I'll pay the guys and gals that are up front taking all the guff and running their azzes off!

[clgcrusier]

We have never tipped the Maitre'd extra, until our last cruise. We requested a seating change as soon as we boarded; they had our group of twelve split into tables of four and eight. Since we had FIVE young men with us, we knew that would not fly! On our first night at dinner we had just been seated when the Maitre'd arrived and offered us a round table for 12 just inside the dining room, he called it the Captain's table. We accepted and enjoyed our cruise much more having dinner each night as a group. Well, our first evening we were about the last to leave the DR as our service was SLOW; not bad, just slow. Our waiters were wonderful, but obviously had too many tables to serve. Night two when the Maitre'd stopped by and asked, we told him our waiters were wonderful, but service slow, and our bar waiter was never around until our meal was almost over. From then on, our bar waiter was there when we arrived and our meals came much quicker. Being seated behind his podium gave us the opportunity to see him in action. He had eyes like a hawk and if a waiter even bobbled a glass, much less broke one, he was on top of him AND his head waiter. I felt kinda bad for the waiters, but this particular Maitre'd kept the dining room in order. Again, we were able to see this guy doing his job and doing it well, and for the same reason we tip our room stewards above and beyond for a job well done, we tipped him.

Funny note: one of his female assistants spoke to one of the men at our table one evening. She walked over and whispered something in his ear. When she walked away and we all asked what the secrecy was about he laughed and said she had asked him to please not rock back in his chair! He had leaned back to say something to his son and she saw him; said it was "dangerous" and he could injure himself!

 

If I saw a Maitre'd treat his waiters like that, my inclination would be to TRIP him, NOT tip him!:mad:

[clgcrusier]

double post

[Mikew0805]

If I saw a Maitre'd treat his waiters like that, my inclination would be to TRIP him, NOT tip him!:mad:

 

Treat them like what? :confused: From what I read they were on top of issues, not mean to the wait staff. Did I read it wrong?

 

-Mike

[VentureMan_2000]

Y'all have this solved yet...?

[PINEVIEW01]

Sorry, Matthew. You lost all credibility with that one, friend. Hundreds and even thousands of people cruising every trip, and you expect anyone to believe the Maitre d' recognizes you by sight the minute you walk into the restaurant? Unless you are Tony Blair or a member of the royal family, I think you're bloody full of it.

If you look at the posters sig. it only list Curnard past and future. Not sure why they are on a Carnival site. I think they just clicked off one board.

[PINEVIEW01]

I tip sometimes but on one of my cruises the Maitre'D moved my party after the first night of dining because a family wanted to sit at our table, near other members of their family. I thought it was rude to just move us with no advance notice and we were much closer to the window. We didn't find out until we came to dine the following night. It turned out our server was far superior, but it still wasn't a good feeling initially.

We a group of four were seated at a table for 8. The other family of four wanted there 15 year old GS served wine everynight at dinner. The GF was very stuffy and clearly did care for us. We got a call after dinner telling us our table change request was being honored. I informed them I didn't request a table change, did not want a table change and would not except a table change. The next night we all showed up at the table. The MD came to our table and told the other four he had a both for the four of them. Two other couples came to our table that were force to move. We told them about the people that forced them out of theire both. The mother cam back to say the change had nothing to d with us but, that they needed the privicy of the both as their 15 year old DGS drank wine with them every meal.

[clgcrusier]

We a group of four were seated at a table for 8. The other family of four wanted there 15 year old GS served wine everynight at dinner. The GF was very stuffy and clearly did care for us. We got a call after dinner telling us our table change request was being honored. I informed them I didn't request a table change, did not want a table change and would not except a table change. The next night we all showed up at the table. The MD came to our table and told the other four he had a both for the four of them. Two other couples came to our table that were force to move. We told them about the people that forced them out of theire both. The mother cam back to say the change had nothing to d with us but, that they needed the privicy of the both as their 15 year old DGS drank wine with them every meal.

 

Just curious-what is GS and DGS? I'm getting slow in my old age. . .:p

[clgcrusier]

Treat them like what? :confused: From what I read they were on top of issues, not mean to the wait staff. Did I read it wrong?

 

-Mike

 

Perhaps I'm reading too much into it. I guess I just feel that to treat employees like they are inept because they spilled something on a moving ship in very crowded conditions makes for a crummy boss. . .that is what that statement sounded like to me.

[jetskier]

Just curious-what is GS and DGS? I'm getting slow in my old age. . .:p

 

I would surmise GS is Grand Son and DGS is Darling Grand Son.

Dave

[Theicom1]

40-60k a year plus room and board all meals included. What does that add to the 40-60k per year???

 

Also, NO income taxes!

[clgcrusier]

I would surmise GS is Grand Son and DGS is Darling Grand Son.

Dave

 

Duh, Cindy-:o Thank you. . .

[clgcrusier]

Also, NO income taxes!

 

I've raised a family of 4 kids on about a 3rd of that-and I'm pretty sure I do a LOT more work than the glorified emcee in the dining room. . .:rolleyes:

[indie]

Just returned from the Inspiration ~ we had no problem with tipping our maitre d' (ajimi) in the Mardi Gras dining room. With his help we were allowed to switch our dining time and we were placed with 2 other couples we enjoyed. Our service was prompt and pleasant and the food was excellent. Also saw him on the Lido deck at lunch and at the late night buffets (checking to make sure everything was ok) He was very visible and obviously interested in the "food experience" ~walked thru the dining room nightly to make sure everyone was satisfied with food and service. The Inspiration is the first ship we have been on that still gives the galley tour. Felt the maitre d on this ship did alot more for his money than on other ships and he ran a good dining room with pleasant staff - I think he deserved any extra tips ( and it is optional so no one needs to stress about it if they dont want to tip)

 

we were on the same cruise, and we thought ajimi was great. We tipped him as well because we felt he deserved it. He came to our table every night we ate at the dining room. And we spoke to him frequently outside of the dining room.

[big_duck]

Boy I'm glad I'm not a Maitre d', it seems like a no win job:

 

• 
  
• Nobody seems to be able to spell it.
  
• If you stand around your station you get accused of doing nothing to earn a tip.
  
• If you go out into the dining room and meet and talk to the guests you get accused of fishing for tips.
  
• If you correct an error by a waiter you are accused of being mean.
  
• If you don't enforce the dress code you upset the traditionalists.
  
• If you do enforce the dress code you upset the "It's my vacation" types.

:rolleyes:

[clgcrusier]

Boy I'm glad I'm not a Maitre d', it seems like a no win job:

• Nobody seems to be able to spell it.
  
• If you stand around your station you get accused of doing nothing to earn a tip.
  
• If you go out into the dining room and meet and talk to the guests you get accused of fishing for tips.
  
• If you correct an error by a waiter you are accused of being mean.
  
• If you don't enforce the dress code you upset the traditionalists.
  
• If you do enforce the dress code you upset the "It's my vacation" types.

:rolleyes:

 

 

That be why he makes the "Big Bucks," Don-;)

 

But I honestly do not feel that a salaried employee should be making tips. . .

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

We have tipped Ajimi, Bimal, Paul, Yusuf, Babu, Victor F., Dario, Robert, Stipe, AND OTHERS thanks to their running a tight ship - we, for the most part, have had VERY good service in the dining room. Without a Maitre d' who has a firm grasp on things, chaos would ensue...!

 

I don't care what their salary is or isn't. If I feel that they are doing something - directly or indirectly - to improve my experience, I will tip them. We have tipped cooks in the supper club who went above and beyond (special requests) as well as individuals flipping burgers and making sandwiches in the deli. The plumber who comes to our cabin to fix our toilet, and the fellows who come to take down balcony partitions.. We tip (extra) to waitresses who are "Johnny on the spot" as well as dealers in the casino (pit personnel and cashiers too). And don't forget tour operators and bus drivers!

 

Tips, in our case, range from $2 to $50.

 

We DON'T tip the captain, the CD, as well as many others.

 

As one can easily surmise: WHO you tip and HOW MUCH is all specific to us as individuals. There is no RIGHT or WRONG. :)

 

Enough said! ;)

 

 

Tom

[Cruzfan34]

• If you go out into the dining room and meet and talk to the guests you get accused of fishing for tips.

:rolleyes:

 

No, I would have loved it if the Maitre D' would have come to our table every night to see if everything was to our liking. I would never have thought that he was just "fishing for tips", but doing his job. But if he waits until the end of the cruise to come to our table, then I would say he is sucking up.

On our first cruise the Maitre D' was mingling with guests every night and he was quite entertaining. On our second cruise, I never even saw the Maitre D' until the second-to-last night, and then I didn't even know who he was. And yes, it did annoy me that I found an envelope in my room for his tip.

Is there an envelope left for the waiters and the room steward, etc.? No. I really don't understand why the Maitre D' gets such special treatement. :rolleyes:

[big_duck]

No, I would have loved it if the Maitre de would have come to our table every night to see if everything was to our liking. I would never have thought that he was just "fishing for tips", but doing his job.

 

I would agree, however earlier in this thread, that is exactly what someone said. ;)