Tipping in Specialty Restaurants?

[arabrab]

We're back from our lovely cruise on the Jewel, where we very much enjoyed the meals we had in the different specialty restaurants.

 

In looking at the charge slips, I realized that we weren't particularly consistent on the issue of tipping there, and in thinking about it I'm curious about how we should have handled it.

 

In every case we received excellent service from our waiters, whether in the main dining rooms or the specialty dining areas. We left the standard gratuity on our ship account (the $12 a day one) which we understand is split between the crew according to some formula.

 

So, are we supposed to tip extra because we ate in the specialty dining, or is this covered by the standard gratuity? If we should have consistently tipped extra, what percentage?

 

Looking back at my cruise documents and NCL's web site I don't see particular guidance on this, and I'm curious what others do.

[Rochesterboatingdotcom]

If the service is good, we always tip the standard 15-20% in the specialty restaurants.

[njhorseman]

Specialty restaurant wait staff participates in the DSC pool, so no additional tip is required. Of course if you find the service to be outstanding a tip may be appropriate, at your discretion.

[F5Loar]

Then I guess that is why NCL charges that extra $2 in auto tips that other lines don't so it covers all those fancy resturants half the passengers never eat in.

[uppitycats]

Some folks tip extra in the specialty restaurants, but I found service exemplary in both the MDR and the specialty restaurants, and nothing "extraordinary" in the specialty, and so we didn't tip anything extra there.

[mpk218]

Then I guess that is why NCL charges that extra $2 in auto tips that other lines don't so it covers all those fancy resturants half the passengers never eat in.

 

 

No , not really . It charges $2 extra to cover the cheap

schmucks that dont tip for quality service ;)

[DMAB]

No , not really . It charges $2 extra to cover the cheap

schmucks that dont tip for quality service ;)

Or is it a case of the cheap cruise line paying it's staff less and making up for it with the DSC?

[Arwenmark]

We're back from our lovely cruise on the Jewel, where we very much enjoyed the meals we had in the different specialty restaurants.

 

In looking at the charge slips, I realized that we weren't particularly consistent on the issue of tipping there, and in thinking about it I'm curious about how we should have handled it.

 

In every case we received excellent service from our waiters, whether in the main dining rooms or the specialty dining areas. We left the standard gratuity on our ship account (the $12 a day one) which we understand is split between the crew according to some formula.

 

So, are we supposed to tip extra because we ate in the specialty dining, or is this covered by the standard gratuity? If we should have consistently tipped extra, what percentage?

 

Looking back at my cruise documents and NCL's web site I don't see particular guidance on this, and I'm curious what others do.

 

When they first came out with the specialty places they said that the surcharge was a SERIVCE charge.

I see no reason to not view it as such. I who normally tip everyone under the sun, do not normally tip at the specialty places and it is NOT required.

That said you can certainly Tip if you feel something more is deserved or whatever but don't feel bad if you don't.

[garycarla]

I see another long thead about service charge, tips, wages, etc.

 

Anyway, of all the questions here, tips in the Speciality Restaurant is a real unknown to me. Some say the normal 15-20%. That sounds nice, but you are often getting what is normally a $50+ meal for $15 or $20. So, that sounds wierd.

 

I also have a problem with percentages when we order a bottle of wine. Our bill jumps by $30+ for very little extra work compared to the table next to us with multiple sodas, coffee, water, etc. Actually, that table wants more service, but no extra tip.

 

Meanwhile, if I eat in the MDR, I still get served, though the level might not be as good. They do not get an extra tip.

 

Not really complaining, but the whole thing is just weird.

[arabrab]

I see another long thead about service charge, tips, wages, etc.

 

Anyway, of all the questions here, tips in the Speciality Restaurant is a real unknown to me. Some say the normal 15-20%. That sounds nice, but you are often getting what is normally a $50+ meal for $15 or $20. So, that sounds wierd.

 

I also have a problem with percentages when we order a bottle of wine. Our bill jumps by $30+ for very little extra work compared to the table next to us with multiple sodas, coffee, water, etc. Actually, that table wants more service, but no extra tip.

 

Meanwhile, if I eat in the MDR, I still get served, though the level might not be as good. They do not get an extra tip.

 

Not really complaining, but the whole thing is just weird.

 

Agreed. I'm not arguing that there shouldn't be a service charge, or what the correct wage should be. I am surprised that there is so much variation on this particular tipping issue -- I guess that reflects that NCL has not seemingly clarified the expectation there. I'm also not sure if additional gratuities that you leave on a specialty restaurant bill are actually paid to the people working there or simply added to the general tip pool. (I'd actually be happier with them being added to the general tip pool, because it wasn't the case that we got better service there -- the service was excellent in all of the dining facilities on the ship. Much more consistent than the food, imo.)

[Pebbs48]

 

I also have a problem with percentages when we order a bottle of wine. Our bill jumps by $30+ for very little extra work compared to the table next to us with multiple sodas, coffee, water, etc. Actually, that table wants more service, but no extra tip.

 

 

I agree... Whether I order a $30 bottle of wine or a $100 bottle of wine, the service & amount of effort is still the same but the amount of tip varies greatly.

[terrymtex01]

OP, my opinion FWIW, is that we always tip almost every meal. If in a main dining room we usually leave a buck or two for each of us. Specialty restaurants we usually leave 20%. It's just what we like to do, but I do not think it is expected by anyone, other than room service where you should tip a buck or two per Pax being served.

[MAMATAMA]

we have never left a tip in a charged dining room, nor do we tip at the table,. If we find a waiter/waitress that we really enjoy, We will leave them a cash tip at the end of the trip.

[BIG_Steve]

OP, my opinion FWIW, is that we always tip almost every meal. If in a main dining room we usually leave a buck or two for each of us. Specialty restaurants we usually leave 20%. It's just what we like to do, but I do not think it is expected by anyone, other than room service where you should tip a buck or two per Pax being served.

 

20% of what the restaurant charges, or 20% of what you feel your meal would cost in a land restaurant?

 

That's not a loaded question. Just trying to figure out what others are doing....

[DMH15]

Then I guess that is why NCL charges that extra $2 in auto tips that other lines don't so it covers all those fancy resturants half the passengers never eat in.[/quote

 

And you may use services that I don't - so let's call it even.

[bplazo]

I was always assuming that part of the coverage charge was some of the tip, however, we usually leave an extra $20.00 tip just because the service has always been outstanding.

[Duff Man]

We always tip, generally guessing what the meal would cost "normal" price to calculate the gratuity.

 

Here's a funny tipping story about a specialty restaurant. On our last cruise (the fated Dawn!), Hugo the hotel director sent us a letter certificate with a complimentary meal. We already had reservations at Cagney's for the following night so we used it there. The comp also included a bottle of wine! The servers were excellent, very nice, and the meal was great. The problem was that, since the meal and wine were comped, there was no check to sign. And I didn't bring any cash that night (I guess the casino wasn't in the picture that night!). So what to do? I asked the server if it was possible to give us a check anyway, which he could not without any charge (he blushed when we said we didn't know how to tip them). So, to solve the problem, we ordered two glasses of port, which generated a check. It was problem the first time ever that I left a tip far greater than the check itself! :D :D