platinum (free dinner), tipping?

[tokidoki]

All my platinum and up cruisers,  when you have your comp dinners, do u leave a cash tip, since its not pre-added, or can u use OBC?  thx

[dexddd]

We've had some pretty good ones and some not good ones.  I don't typically carry wallet or cash around and at the really good ones I've added tip to bill.  In some cases, the servers have said bill is zero so no bill given and no chance to tip.

[Love my butler]

1 hour ago, tokidoki said:

All my platinum and up cruisers,  when you have your comp dinners, do u leave a cash tip, since its not pre-added, or can u use OBC?  thx

The Discretionary Service Charge (DSC) covers the tip at ALL specialty restaurants.  Of course you are free to tip anyone you want anytime you want.  Just don't let others guilt you into double or triple tipping.

[esm54687]

10 minutes ago, Love my butler said:

The Discretionary Service Charge (DSC) covers the tip at ALL specialty restaurants.  Of course you are free to tip anyone you want anytime you want.  Just don't let others guilt you into double or triple tipping.

actually the DSC expressly states that specialty restaurants are excluded from it.......  the 20% gratuity charge on the SDP covers the "tip" in the specialty restaurants.   Additionally, the OP's question is about the Latitude Platinum Comp meal so regardless of DSC or SDP the comped meal is independent. 

Edited December 15, 2019 by esm54687

[tokidoki]

6 minutes ago, esm54687 said:

actually the DSC expressly states that specialty restaurants are excluded from it.......  the 20% gratuity charge on the SDP covers the "tip" in the specialty restaurants.   Additionally, the OP's question is about the Latitude Platinum Comp meal so regardless of DSC or SDP the comped meal is independent. 

That’s y I am confused, since the dinners on NCL, but is the tip? 

[podgeandrodge]

As the platinum meals are free, and as others have pointed out, the DSC does not apply in speciality in any event, your bill/check will be zero if you purchase nothing extra.

Given that 20% is the standard gratuity in general, we would always give a cash tip for that to the waiter (hoping they share it with other asst. waiters) or add it to the check sometimes if given one.

 

They shouldn't lose out on the gratuity just because we are getting a free meal would be my thinking.

[tokidoki]

1 minute ago, podgeandrodge said:

As the platinum meals are free, and as others have pointed out, the DSC does not apply in speciality in any event, your bill/check will be zero if you purchase nothing extra.

Given that 20% is the standard gratuity in general, we would always give a cash tip for that to the waiter (hoping they share it with other asst. waiters) or add it to the check sometimes if given one.

 

They shouldn't lose out on the gratuity just because we are getting a free meal would be my thinking.

Mine too

[SeaShark]

To clear up the misconceptions:

 

Specialty restaurant staff DO benefit from the DSC.

NCL does NOT state that the specialty restaurant staff are excluded from the DSC.

 

This has been previously discussed, and CONFIRMED by an NCL Hotel Director (now General Manager). See post #26 in this thread:  https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2207047-specialty-dining-tipping/page/2/?tab=comments#comment-47305240

 

 

 

 

 

[podgeandrodge]

3 minutes ago, SeaShark said:

To clear up the misconceptions:

 

Specialty restaurant staff DO benefit from the DSC.

NCL does NOT state that the specialty restaurant staff are excluded from the DSC.

 

This has been previously discussed, and CONFIRMED by an NCL Hotel Director (now General Manager). See post #26 in this thread:  https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2207047-specialty-dining-tipping/page/2/?tab=comments#comment-47305240

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks.

But in this case anyway, the DSC is not relevant as this is a free meal and the speciality would normally attract a specific gratuity.

[NLH Arizona]

Some folks leave tips and some folks don't.  They are not expected, but are appreciated by the server, no matter what the amount is.  If I feel the service is above and beyond, I'll leave a tip.  

[SeaShark]

6 minutes ago, podgeandrodge said:

Thanks.

But in this case anyway, the DSC is not relevant as this is a free meal and the speciality would normally attract a specific gratuity.

 

Why would a specialty attract a gratuity any differently than the MDR would? 

[tokidoki]

My original question was simply concerning the platinum perk, since 20% isn’t part of the free meal, is the staff getting stiffed if we don’t tip or is NCL including it in our perk? 

[esm54687]

1 hour ago, SeaShark said:

To clear up the misconceptions:

 

Specialty restaurant staff DO benefit from the DSC.

NCL does NOT state that the specialty restaurant staff are excluded from the DSC.

 

This has been previously discussed, and CONFIRMED by an NCL Hotel Director (now General Manager). See post #26 in this thread:  https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2207047-specialty-dining-tipping/page/2/?tab=comments#comment-47305240

 

 

 

 

Quote

 

 

A specialty restaurant staff member MAY receive a piece of the DSC only if they work in the MDR, buffet or other locations that are "general passenger use" which is what the DSC is for ........ however, if a specialty restaurant waiter were to ONLY work in the specialty restaurant they would NOT receive anything from the DSC (as far as tips but they would receive things from the incentive program).  This was stated by a NCL Hotel Director (now General Manager) at a CC Meet & Greet in May 2019 when asked why the 20% gratuity for SDP & UBP (now PBP) wasn't rolled into the DSC.

 

I can make it look official with a bunch of xxxxxx to look like a correspondence and point out the post you referenced is 4 years old and things can change 

Edited December 15, 2019 by esm54687

[tokidoki]

Got my answer, as someone on FB pointed out, the service charge is included! 

[debnjoe1438]

3 hours ago, esm54687 said:

actually the DSC expressly states that specialty restaurants are excluded from it.......  the 20% gratuity charge on the SDP covers the "tip" in the specialty restaurants.   Additionally, the OP's question is about the Latitude Platinum Comp meal so regardless of DSC or SDP the comped meal is independent. 

Where did you find this information? This is new to me, as I thought the DSC covered all restaurants and housekeeping.

[luv2kroooz]

1 hour ago, tokidoki said:

My original question was simply concerning the platinum perk, since 20% isn’t part of the free meal, is the staff getting stiffed if we don’t tip or is NCL including it in our perk? 

No right or wrong and no official word from NCL. Tipping is a personal preference. You should do whatever feels right to you.

[esm54687]

11 minutes ago, debnjoe1438 said:

Where did you find this information? This is new to me, as I thought the DSC covered all restaurants and housekeeping.

The DSC covers all things that are used by everyone..... pool staff, complimentary food locations, stewards, housekeeping, buffet, electricians, plumbers, etc.  The DSC does not include staff that cost a "premium" such as butlers, bar staff, specialty restaurant staff, casino staff, youth center and spa staff for example.  This is why the 20% is added to SDP, PBP, spa and you may tip separately butlers and casino etc. 

 

https://www.ncl.com/faq/money-matters

https://www.ncl.com/faq#!#what-is-onboard-service-charge

 

and attending the M&G and asking..... 

 

[debnjoe1438]

7 minutes ago, esm54687 said:

The DSC covers all things that are used by everyone..... pool staff, complimentary food locations, stewards, housekeeping, buffet, electricians, plumbers, etc.  The DSC does not include staff that cost a "premium" such as butlers, bar staff, specialty restaurant staff, casino staff, youth center and spa staff for example.  This is why the 20% is added to SDP, PBP, spa and you may tip separately butlers and casino etc. 

 

https://www.ncl.com/faq/money-matters

https://www.ncl.com/faq#!#what-is-onboard-service-charge

 

and attending the M&G and asking..... 

 

Thanks for the information

[tokidoki]

was happy to read that the service charge for the comp platinum dinners are covered by NCL under lattitudes.  With great service, I have the choice to add.  

[podgeandrodge]

On 12/16/2019 at 12:46 AM, tokidoki said:

was happy to read that the service charge for the comp platinum dinners are covered by NCL under lattitudes.  With great service, I have the choice to add.  

You read this where? Thanks. 

[tokidoki]

19 minutes ago, podgeandrodge said:

You read this where? Thanks. 

its under latitudes perks

[podgeandrodge]

32 minutes ago, tokidoki said:

its under latitudes perks

My understanding is that you're not liable for gratuities,  but that's different than saying staff will get gratuities on a free platinum meal. Safer in my opinion to pay a notional 20%. Doubtless, others will disagree!

[tokidoki]

4 minutes ago, podgeandrodge said:

My understanding is that you're not liable for gratuities,  but that's different than saying staff will get gratuities on a free platinum meal. Safer in my opinion to pay a notional 20%. Doubtless, others will disagree!

it does state "gratuities", are included in this free perk, so the 20% is given to staff. 

[podgeandrodge]

42 minutes ago, tokidoki said:

it does state "gratuities", are included in this free perk, so the 20% is given to staff. 

Thanks. Can you link please!

[tokidoki]

13 minutes ago, podgeandrodge said:

Thanks. Can you link please!

Post #18, has link to latitudes rewards and look for specialty dining