Tipping at Spec Restaurants ?

[GreenValleyDogWalker]

Hi

 

New to NCL - not used to booking and paying for Speciality Restaurants in advance....now that we've booked and paid for the dates/times we want - what is the practice for tipping ? - Anything "extra" expected as we finish our dinner ?(in addition to daily amount added to account ?

 

THANKS !!

[MeHeartCruising]

Nothing is "expected". Some will leave a tip, some will not. I have on occasion when I felt a special moment or the waiter did something that caught my sense of warmth. The majority of time, I do not leave a tip in a specialty restaurant.

[Pokeraddict]

Nothing is "expected but we always tip extra mainly because there are so many people attending your table plus the service is always great. We usually add $5 to the bill.

 

And while its a platinum perk I just could not go into Le Bistro for free dinner sit/eat and walk out.

[endymion6942]

Nothing is "expected but we always tip extra mainly because there are so many people attending your table plus the service is always great. We usually add $5 to the bill.

 

And while its a platinum perk I just could not go into Le Bistro for free dinner sit/eat and walk out.

Same here. Party of 4. LeBistro comp dinner. $20.00 tip.

[everettdav]

I think if your eating for free you should leave a tip!.

[njhorseman]

Nothing is "expected but we always tip extra mainly because there are so many people attending your table plus the service is always great. We usually add $5 to the bill.

 

And while its a platinum perk I just could not go into Le Bistro for free dinner sit/eat and walk out.

 

Same here. Party of 4. LeBistro comp dinner. $20.00 tip.

 

I think if your eating for free you should leave a tip!.

 

While we also normally tip in Le Bistro, the reason has nothing to do with it being a complimentary dinner. NCL specialty restaurant waiters are compensated from the same service charge pool as MDR waiters, so your getting a complimentary meal at Le Bistro doesn't deprive them of any income, because they don't get a piece of the restaurant cover charge, unlike the practice on some other cruise lines. We tip because of the exceptional service we usually get.

[johnql]

To the OP: sometimes yes, sometimes no. $5-10pp if the service is exceptional, which it often is. Nothing if it's just average (meaning good).

[Cruisebehindthescenes]

I am a former crew member on NCL and when I would go eat in the Specialty Restaurants (Crew pay the same cover charges as passengers in the Specialty Restaurants FYI), I always tipped 20%.. so anywhere from $2 - $5 depending on the cover charge.

[sdmike]

I don't typically tip extra in the specialty restaurants. I feel it's covered in my DSC. However, we did tip when the wait staff went above and beyond, like when my SIL asked for caramel on her ice cream and they went out and found some for her (didn't have any in the restaurant)