specialty restaurants tipping

[gizfish]

Is the charge for dining at a specialty restaurant considered to be a tip or do people tip on top of that?

[SissasMomE]

Is the charge for dining at a specialty restaurant considered to be a tip or do people tip on top of that?

 

We usually leave $10 for the 3 of us - depending on the service. The least I've ever left was $5.

[Rocket_man]

The charge doesn't include a tip, but I believe the waitstaff is included in the overall tip pool. I still tip them $10 or so, which still doesn't feel like much for great service in a nice restaurant.

[Demonyte]

Is the charge for dining at a specialty restaurant considered to be a tip or do people tip on top of that?

 

Cover charge is not and doesn't include a tip. The staff in speciality restaurants is regular dining room staff and they are covered by the service charges. If you get good service, you probably would want to tip them.

[sdmike]

As others stated they ARE included in the DSC, but we generally leave something anyway. I think we left $10 for my family of 5

Edited February 24, 2014 by sdmike

[DMH15]

Agree with group. If service is great. I tip in Specialty. $5 - $10.

 

 

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[hamrag]

We usually tip $5pp i.e. $10 for the two of us. We had an exceptional experience on Valentines night in Le Bistro, $49p cover charge with wine pretty much "on tap" and tipped $20.....probably had too much wine!!

[albertamom]

I'm trying to remember back to our POA cruise. I'm pretty sure that we added the tip to the charge slip. Is that what most people do, or do you leave cash? Does it matter which way you do it (in terms of who actually receives the tip)?

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I'm trying to remember back to our POA cruise. I'm pretty sure that we added the tip to the charge slip. Is that what most people do, or do you leave cash? Does it matter which way you do it (in terms of who actually receives the tip)?

That is what I was going to mention. I believe even if you pre-pay don't they bring a brill of sorts and there is a line to add the tip. I know I have done this in the past and that I did not bring cash with me.

[Ilovesailing]

We too usually leave $5 to $10 pending on service.

[hpecorari]

We leave $5.00 for the two of us, however, since we're not drinkers and a bottle of wine always is included (CAS and Platinum Latitudes) we always ask our server to recommend a wine they like.....then ask them to bring it to the table unopened. They think we're bringing it back to the room but at the end of the meal when we give them the $5.00 we also give them the bottle of wine!

 

Harriet

[CP Tech]

I always leave a cash tip.. Varies from $5-$20 for the 2 of us depending on service (I'm generally a very good tipper when service is above good).

 

I'm also the guy who leaves $10 each morning on a pillow in our cabin for our steward if they are doing a great job. Then $50 on the last morning.

 

I have a lot of friends who work in the service industry, on land and at sea. I believe in rewarding good service.

 

You should see the servers at my normal sushi/hibachi restaurant when I sit in their area. I've been known to tip 50% when I receive exceptional service.

 

These people are working hard for you. They deserve to be rewarded.

[Love my butler]

The type of restaurant I eat in on the ship doesn't change the tip I leave. The folks working in the MDR are usually putting in much more effort, due to staffing shortages, and deserve a tip just as much as any of the specialty restaurants.

 

I get the feeling from many cruises that tipping in the MDR is a bit unusual.

[NMLady]

That is what I was going to mention. I believe even if you pre-pay don't they bring a brill of sorts and there is a line to add the tip. I know I have done this in the past and that I did not bring cash with me.

 

As Platinum members there was no charge for our Le Bistro dinner. So no bill or any other paper was given us to sign at the end of the meal. We left cash for the tip. Service was outstanding.

[newmexicoNita]

Is the charge for dining at a specialty restaurant considered to be a tip or do people tip on top of that?

 

The charge has nothing to do with tipping. It is a charge like any other restaurant on land; they are specialty dining rooms thus the extra charge. There is also no cut and dry policy about extra tipping: we usually tip $5 for 2 of us, but some tip more, some not at all. it is up to the individual. I do know the wait staff is part of the tipping pool, but in the specialty dining rooms they are the best; we feel they deserve a little extra. We always leave cash, as putting it on the bill, we have been told, means it goes into the general pool. We want the waiter/waitress to get the whole thing.

Edited February 25, 2014 by newmexicoNita

[vicqilynn]

What about the haven resturaunt? I guess I would put this in the category of specialty resturaunt and tip. What do others think?

 

 

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[BrPanthers99]

This is actually the first time I have heard at tipping at a specialty restaurant and I have never seen it don't with the 7-8 times I have gone.

 

Interesting

[Demonyte]

What about the haven resturaunt? I guess I would put this in the category of specialty resturaunt and tip. What do others think?

 

What should others think? As said numerous times in this thread, restaurant waiters rotate between different restaurants and are under the same incentive program funded by service charges. If you receive service that you think is worth tipping, go ahead. If we get good service, we tip regardless of which restaurant we're in.

[Dorhead1230]

 

I get the feeling from many cruises that tipping in the MDR is a bit unusual.

 

We tip in the MDR, too, but didn't see it too often, either. We eat lunch there only on the first day, but eat most of our dinners there, and we leave $5 after each meal. We might have done $10 at Moderno, but our waiter was ridiculously on-point and attentive. We also tip the cabin steward a few times, and the casino bartenders for every drink (but we do have free drink cards, so we're not paying the automatic gratuity).

 

We're also New Yorkers, though, so as Steve Martin says in My Blue Heaven, "I tip everybody! Actually, it's not tipping I believe in, it's over-tipping." :p

[hpecorari]

What should others think? As said numerous times in this thread, restaurant waiters rotate between different restaurants and are under the same incentive program funded by service charges. QUOTE]

 

Absolutely correct! We just came off the Star and one of our favorite wait staff who did the breakfast and lunch in Cagney's was being moved into the MDR when that cruise ended. According to her it's much harder to wait staff and is much more demanding on wait staff in the MDR.

 

BTW, hosts move from Specialty restaurants to MDR's as well.

 

Harriet

[SissasMomE]

The type of restaurant I eat in on the ship doesn't change the tip I leave. The folks working in the MDR are usually putting in much more effort, due to staffing shortages, and deserve a tip just as much as any of the specialty restaurants.

 

I get the feeling from many cruises that tipping in the MDR is a bit unusual.

 

I agree with you, and we always tip in the MDR. If we utilize the buffet, we leave a few bucks there as well.