Tipping

[flyboyswife]

How do you tip wait staff on NCL?

 

Standard 12% that's auto added? What do you do at specialties? If you give extra, is it a set amount each night ($10 for 2?) or a percentage(15-20%) of the surcharge/bill?

 

I know I'll likely give more to cabin crew, but they remain the same throughout the trip...I'm worried about the folks I may only see once but who do a great job.

 

I'm used to CCL boards where a thread like this could get ugly. Not my intent. I know tipping is subjective, just looking to understand what others do. Thanks in advance!

 

PS I've read the tips (pun intended!) on the NCL website FAQs. Just looking for real life responses. Thx!

[johnql]

How do you tip wait staff on NCL?

 

Standard 12% that's auto added? What do you do at specialties? If you give extra, is it a set amount each night ($10 for 2?) or a percentage(15-20%) of the surcharge/bill?

 

I know I'll likely give more to cabin crew, but they remain the same throughout the trip...I'm worried about the folks I may only see once but who do a great job.

 

I'm used to CCL boards where a thread like this could get ugly. Not my intent. I know tipping is subjective, just looking to understand what others do. Thanks in advance!

 

PS I've read the tips (pun intended!) on the NCL website FAQs. Just looking for real life responses. Thx!

There is a $12pp/pd service charge. The service charge covers your wait staff, room steward, and many others behind the scenes. Tipping anything beyond that is entirely optional and at your discretion depending on the level of service received.

 

There will be a 15% automatic gratuity added to all bar tabs. There will also be an 18% automatic gratuity added to spa treatments. Anything beyond these amounts is entirely optional.

 

Tipping in the surcharge restaurants is also optional and not expected. However, some people do leave a tip when they receive exceptional service. In those instances, amounts reported here on CC vary - $5-10 is not uncommon.

 

Your butler and concierge (if applicable) and the Kids Crew staff are not covered by the daily service charge and therefore should be tipped according to the level of service provided.

 

The person delivering room service is sometimes tipped by passengers (again, at your discretion) more or less based on the amount ordered and being delivered. $1-2 is not uncommon; $5 is not unheard of, but no tip is perfectly acceptable, too.

 

Hope this helps.

[sdmike]

There is a $12pp/pd service charge. The service charge covers your wait staff, room steward, and many others behind the scenes. Tipping anything beyond that is entirely optional and at your discretion depending on the level of service received.

 

There will be a 15% automatic gratuity added to all bar tabs. There will also be an 18% automatic gratuity added to spa treatments. Anything beyond these amounts is entirely optional.

 

Tipping in the surcharge restaurants is also optional and not expected. However, some people do leave a tip when they receive exceptional service. In those instances, amounts reported here on CC vary - $5-10 is not uncommon.

 

Your butler and concierge (if applicable) and the Kids Crew staff are not covered by the daily service charge and therefore should be tipped according to the level of service provided.

 

The person delivering room service is sometimes tipped by passengers (again, at your discretion) more or less based on the amount ordered and being delivered. $1-2 is not uncommon; $5 is not unheard of, but no tip is perfectly acceptable, too.

 

Hope this helps.

 

I could not have typed a better response even if I spent an hour on it. Good stuff, John.

[sparks1093]

I could not have typed a better response even if I spent an hour on it. Good stuff, John.

 

I agree!

[soaringfalcon]

I'll third it! Excellent response.

 

OP...it's always good when you're looking to give more. No one will attack then LOL.

 

I think you'll find that the staff is incredibly hard working and eager to please.

[aloisia]

Do you have to hand out envelopes to staff? (like Disney) or is it automatic through your account? I didn't care for the envelopes - a lot of running around the last night.

[Warmer Climes]

No envelopes. The DSC is charged to your shipboard account every day or you can prepay the DSC on the NCL site.

 

I do take some envelopes with me because I usually tip the cabin steward extra. Last cruise we were in a suite and I tipped the concierge and butler because they are not covered by the DSC.

 

Another thing is that at the customer service desk there are Style cards, with which you can recognize outstanding service of a crew member.

 

Have fun on your cruise!

 

Barb

[fergusonvt]

At the specialty restaurants we tipped 20% of the bill.

[Barb Nahoumi]

Do you have to hand out envelopes to staff? (like Disney) or is it automatic through your account? I didn't care for the envelopes - a lot of running around the last night.

 

The 12.00 service charge is automatically added to your on board account daily. You can settle the account before disembarking, or it is charged to your credit card.

[Barb Nahoumi]

No envelopes. The DSC is charged to your shipboard account every day or you can prepay the DSC on the NCL site.

 

I do take some envelopes with me because I usually tip the cabin steward extra. Last cruise we were in a suite and I tipped the concierge and butler because they are not covered by the DSC.

 

Another thing is that at the customer service desk there are Style cards, with which you can recognize outstanding service of a crew member.

 

Have fun on your cruise!

 

Barb

 

The crew appreciate favorable comments on STYLE CARDS. These can help to further their careers with NCL----leading to future promotions.

[SteveH2508]

They also have envelopes at the customer services desk.

[flyboyswife]

This was all helpful. And you're all much better behaved than the CCL commenters :). I was nervous about asking (and we love CCL)!

[sdmike]

We're not always this civilized, but I guess you caught us on a good day. :D

 

I suspect that you will see a post or two soon from folks that want to make sure you know that NCL calls the DSC "optional" and that you can have it removed if you work hard enough at it. That's normally when two sides form and the fur starts to fly a bit. The majority believes that while true, this is bad advice for several reasons. If you want to have some "fun" do a search on DSC or tipping. :)

[SuiteCruiser]

We're not always this civilized, but I guess you caught us on a good day. :D

 

I suspect that you will see a post or two soon from folks that want to make sure you know that NCL calls the DSC "optional" and that you can have it removed if you work hard enough at it. That's normally when two sides form and the fur starts to fly a bit. The majority believes that while true, this is bad advice for several reasons. If you want to have some "fun" do a search on DSC or tipping. :)

 

Don't put the poor girl through all of that! She's leaving with such a nice view of how civilized we all are, now to get the thread to drop to page 4 and all will be well :)

[SteveH2508]

We're not always this civilized, but I guess you caught us on a good day. :D

 

I suspect that you will see a post or two soon from folks that want to make sure you know that NCL calls the DSC "optional" and that you can have it removed if you work hard enough at it. That's normally when two sides form and the fur starts to fly a bit. The majority believes that while true, this is bad advice for several reasons. If you want to have some "fun" do a search on DSC or tipping. :)

 

I suspect FJD lost their crayons :rolleyes:

[marelind]

I had heard the STYLE cards are no more. :cool:

[TEACRUISER]

I usually tip a dollar extra on drinks and $5 at least extra at any specialty restaurant. I have always experiences superb service on NCL and budget that in to my spending.

[slotaddict]

I had heard the STYLE cards are no more. :cool:

 

Just came home from the Star...Style cards sometimes are delivered to your room, I was however on a weekend cruise....I went to the desk and they were sitting right there...I filled it out regarding are waiter, we loved her and followed her around the dining rooms so she could serve us...she was a delight....I wanted to make sure NCL knew what a special person she was....

[DMH15]

I could not have typed a better response even if I spent an hour on it. Good stuff, John.

 

I was thinking the same thing... NICE!

[Fine and Jim Dandy]

I suspect FJD lost their crayons :rolleyes:

 

Nope, still have a full box of crayons.

 

The only thing I will add regarding the OP's questions. The DSC covers tipping for EVERYONE on board except the butler, concierge and kid's club staff. Feel free to tip extra to anyone else, but it is not required or expected.

 

As a former soldier, teacher and police officer, you are welcome.

[sparks1093]

Nope, still have a full box of crayons.

 

The only thing I will add regarding the OP's questions. The DSC covers tipping for EVERYONE on board except the butler, concierge and kid's club staff. Feel free to tip extra to anyone else, but it is not required or expected.

 

As a former soldier, teacher and police officer, you are welcome.

 

It doesn't cover room service, the bar staff, or the spa staff either.

[SteveH2508]

Originally Posted by Fine and Jim Dandy

Nope, still have a full box of crayons.

 

The only thing I will add regarding the OP's questions. The DSC covers tipping for EVERYONE on board except the butler, concierge and kid's club staff. Feel free to tip extra to anyone else, but it is not required or expected.

 

As a former soldier, teacher and police officer, you are welcome.

 

It doesn't cover room service, the bar staff, or the spa staff either.

 

I think that the casino staff are not included either.

 

FJD - glad to hear you are 'ammoed up' still ;)

(from a former soldier and current teacher)

[sparks1093]

I think that the casino staff are not included either.

 

 

Ah, excellent point. I don't think about that because I don't play the tables (or I should say I haven't yet:)).

[Fine and Jim Dandy]

It doesn't cover room service, the bar staff, or the spa staff either.

 

You are correct the DSC does not cover bar or spa staff. However, that staff is tipped automatically 15-20% on your bill. So no need to tip them twice. Room service is covered by the DSC.

[sparks1093]

You are correct the DSC does not cover bar or spa staff. However, that staff is tipped automatically 15-20% on your bill. So no need to tip them twice. Room service is covered by the DSC.

 

There is no need to tip twice (although I believe the numbers are actually 15% and 18%). But several reliable sources on this forum and elsewhere have attested to the fact that room service is not covered by the DSC.