Specialty Dining Gratuities

[W283386]

Four or five years ago I ate in a specialty restaurant (first time on 25 cruises) on Celebrity and at that time your cover charge took care of the gratuities but of course you could add to it.  Now that the service charge no longer covers the gratuity what is a fair amount to tip?  I would imagine 15% or 20% like on land would be all right.    Any suggestions?  The thought of paying $120 for one meal or about 8% of my total cruise cost seems high.  From the cruise planner - "all cover charges are per person.  Additional items such as beverages, menu supplements, food and wine pairings and gratuities are not included."

[Bo1953]

Yes, 15%+ of the meal cost will be fine.

 

bon appetit and bon voyage

[Ken the cruiser]

Just thought I'd mention as food for thought what our Raw On 5 waiter as well as the maitre d' told us when we added a $25 tip to our bill when we were on our Edge B3B in August. He pointed out and it was later confirmed by others any tips added to a SR bill will go into the general dining room gratuities "Pool" that will subsequently be distributed to the applicable dining room staff at the end of the cruise based on a predetermined algorithm.

 

I'm not sure, though, what happens to $$$ handed to individual servers. My guess is that it goes into their pocket. However, there is one exception I'm aware of and that has to do with sommeliers. If for example you buy a bottle of wine, the specific sommelier taking the order gets to keep any tip added to the bill. As we were on a B3B and had plenty of nonrefundable OBC to burn, we used this option to tip our sommelier rather than giving her $$$ at the end.

 

Anyway, just though I'd pass this little tidbit along. Not sure if this rule was in place prior to COVID, but they sure made it sound like it's in effect now. At least on the Edge anyway.

[Hlitner]

30 minutes ago, Bo1953 said:

Yes, 15%+ of the meal cost will be fine.

 

bon appetit and bon voyage

Ok Bo, lets a couple of ole cruisers take this to a somewhat logical conclusion.  When Princess (and many other cruise lines) moved to multiple dining options (a few decades ago) the old tipping/gratuity system of giving envelopes of money to various crew no longer worked.  One could not tip their waiter, assistant waiter, etc. since they moved around and were served by various folks on different nights.  So Princess (and other lines) developed their so-called "auto gratuity" which some lines have recently renamed "crew incentive."  The idea was that everyone automatically paid into a fund which was then distributed to various crew members based on a top secret formula.  After all, why should the passengers have any idea who actually got these funds and how much they received.

 

So now we get to the issue of alternative restaurants (on many cruise lines).  Suddenly the auto-tips (or crew incentive) apparently is not good enough for the staff that work in certain venues.  So although folks are led to believe that their auto tipping replaced the old individual tipping...now the cruise lines make use of "tip guilt" to "encourage" passengers to tip even more then the ever increasing auto tips.  On some lines it becomes almost comical when, for example, you pay for a drink, the tab includes an automatic tip (15 -20%) and then there is line on the receipt where you can add even more tip.  So, you have paid your auto tips, 15-20% on top of auto tips, and having an extra gratuity line is a "tip guilt" technique to get folks to tip even more.    Oh, speaking of autotips consider that a person booking a suite is asked to auto tip more then folks in a regular cabin....even though they have already paid a big premium for their suite. 

 

So I cannot wonder where this ends.  Will they soon have a tipping jar located at the tender stations and on tenders?  Will cruise directors ask for "tips for jokes?"  Will the person that tests the pool water then walk around with "tip chits" asking for tips because they test the pool water?

 

I am not anti tip (I am an American) and have always been generous with crew members who provide me direct services!  But when the cruise lines promote tips on top of tips on top of more tips and then do not include this in the cost of a cruise (which is marketed in many brochures and online) it is somewhat deceptive.....especially to the many cruisers who come from different cultures that do not believe in tipping or that tipping should be limited to a relatively small amount.  As we learned the first time we went to Australia, "we pay our people a living wage and they do not expect tips"  Go to Japan and many folks consider tipping....rude and inappropriate!  

 

Hank

[Jim_Iain]

34 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Just thought I'd mention as food for thought what our Raw On 5 waiter as well as the maitre d' told us when we added a $25 tip to our bill when we were on our Edge B3B in August. He pointed out and it was later confirmed by others any tips added to a SR bill will go into the general dining room gratuities "Pool" that will subsequently be distributed to the applicable dining room staff at the end of the cruise based on a predetermined algorithm.

 

I'm not sure, though, what happens to $$$ handed to individual servers. My guess is that it goes into their pocket. However, there is one exception I'm aware of and that has to do with sommeliers. If for example you buy a bottle of wine, the specific sommelier taking the order gets to keep any tip added to the bill. As we were on a B3B and had plenty of nonrefundable OBC to burn, we used this option to tip our sommelier rather than giving her $$$ at the end.

 

Anyway, just though I'd pass this little tidbit along. Not sure if this rule was in place prior to COVID, but they sure made it sound like it's in effect now. At least on the Edge anyway.

 

Ken -  I was told something similar in Muranos  last week.   We were in an upper suite so the meal was at no additional cost.    No bill was given to us at the end of the mean,     I asked the Restaurant Manager for a bill to add on gratuities.   

 

He asked if I wanted to tip the complete server pool on the ship and I said no.   He explained that the tip was included already and  if I left the tip charge on my room the tip was shared to the entire ships wait staff pool.    If I left a cash tip it would be pooled to the Muranos staff only. 

[fstuff1]

1 hour ago, W283386 said:

Four or five years ago I ate in a specialty restaurant (first time on 25 cruises) on Celebrity and at that time your cover charge took care of the gratuities but of course you could add to it.  Now that the service charge no longer covers the gratuity what is a fair amount to tip?  I would imagine 15% or 20% like on land would be all right.    Any suggestions?  The thought of paying $120 for one meal or about 8% of my total cruise cost seems high.  From the cruise planner - "all cover charges are per person.  Additional items such as beverages, menu supplements, food and wine pairings and gratuities are not included."

 

wait.. WHAT?

celebrity doesnt bake the 20% tips into your bill?

 

that $50 charge for Murano is just the restaurant?

 

yike... I assumed that the 20% auto-tip was included. (i usually sail NCL and the 20% auto-tip is added when you buy the dining package.)

[fstuff1]

5 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

 

Ken -  I was told something similar in Muranos  last week.   We were in an upper suite so the meal was at no additional cost.    No bill was given to us at the end of the mean,     I asked the Restaurant Manager for a bill to add on gratuities.   

 

He asked if I wanted to tip the complete server pool on the ship and I said no.   He explained that the tip was included already

 

so if you're eating at Murano for free because you're in an upper class suite, then Celebrity pays the tip?

good to know if Celebrity gives it to you for free, tip is included.

 

high casino tiers get free drink packages good at any bar.

i always wondered if tip was included...

 

[dazey]

I just went on to Celebrity's Specialty Dining site and it does say gratuities not included. I have eaten at many specialty restaurants over the years and thought the gratuity was included but did add something extra on the slip(i.e. Sushi on 5) if I ever got one if extra service was given.  Is that mention of gratuities not included just for an "extra" amount?  Is this new?  Need to know as we are sailing(I hope) in 50+ days and have many specialty dinners reserved.  Do not want to double tip for sure but do want to do the right thing for the server.

 

I am sure you all(CC) will get the right answer for us.

[Ken the cruiser]

12 minutes ago, fstuff1 said:

 

so if you're eating at Murano for free because you're in an upper class suite, then Celebrity pays the tip?

good to know if Celebrity gives it to you for free, tip is included.

 

high casino tiers get free drink packages good at any bar.

i always wondered if tip was included...

 

If you think about it, you're already paying the default dining room server gratuities, regardless of which dining room you're eating in, if your booking has gratuities included. So why should ANY additional gratuities be baked into the SR charge? Are the servers in a SR that much better than in Luminae, Blu or any MDR for that matter, as you can only eat in one dining room at a time.

Edited September 29, 2021 by Ken the cruiser

[fstuff1]

7 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

If you think about it, you're already paying the default dining room server gratuities, regardless of which dining room you're eating in, if your booking has gratuities included. So why should ANY additional gratuities be baked into the SR charge? Are the servers in a SR that much better than in Luminae, Blu or any MDR for that matter, as you can only eat in one dining room at a time.

 

on ncl, specialty dining rooms waiters are excluded from the daily tips thus the 20% tips charge when you buy the dining package.

assumed the same of Celebrity.

 

but makes sense if Celebrity's specialty dining personnel was included in the $15.50 daily tips charge if 20% auto-tips werent added when you paid the cover charge.

 

Edited September 29, 2021 by fstuff1

[fstuff1]

duplicate

Edited September 29, 2021 by fstuff1

[luv2ndhalf]

I learn so many new things reading these boards…. I have followed along for years but very rarely post. COVID has changed so many things! Like so many on CC, we have cancelled, rebooked, cancelled, rebooked…..It finally looks lik e we will be able to sail on a short cruise on the Summit next week~Not even sure we will get off the ship…it will just be amazing to be at sea-Hurray!

So….  I’d like to confirm tipping etiquette , since I don’t think my tips have been going to the correct people -

If we add “extra tip  “ on a signed receipt at a restaurant/bar, it goes to the entire staff off that restaurant/bar? What if we leave cash on the table? When we leave extra tip, we really just want  it to go to our server (and then hope he shares it with his team)

Is cash in an envelope the best way to give extra to our butler and housekeeping?

Thanks!

[Bo1953]

8 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

If you think about it, you're already paying the default dining room server gratuities, regardless of which dining room you're eating in, if your booking has gratuities included. So why should ANY additional gratuities be baked into the SR charge? Are the servers in a SR that much better than in Luminae, Blu or any MDR for that matter, as you can only eat in one dining room at a time.

To be clearer, you do mean what ever "dining room" each of us are assigned to for daily dining and not Specialty Dining.

 

Where, as I understand it and practiced in the past, the fees charged for dining in Specialty Dining included gratuities and now they, gratuities, are not...

 

Just a part of the ever changing landscape of cruising, specifically on X.

 

bon appetit and bon voyage

[rucrazy]

Does anyone else remember when they rolled out "specialty dining" the service charge was to tip the staff?.. not to generate income for the corporation.. just saying while we are in the camp of tipping for service I find it interesting the need to do so...

Stay Safe.

[Bo1953]

5 minutes ago, luv2ndhalf said:

I learn so many new things reading these boards…. I have followed along for years but very rarely post. COVID has changed so many things! Like so many on CC, we have cancelled, rebooked, cancelled, rebooked…..It finally looks lik e we will be able to sail on a short cruise on the Summit next week~Not even sure we will get off the ship…it will just be amazing to be at sea-Hurray!

So….  I’d like to confirm tipping etiquette , since I don’t think my tips have been going to the correct people -

If we add “extra tip  “ on a signed receipt at a restaurant/bar, it goes to the entire staff off that restaurant/bar? What if we leave cash on the table? When we leave extra tip, we really just want  it to go to our server (and then hope he shares it with his team)

Is cash in an envelope the best way to give extra to our butler and housekeeping?

Thanks!

Since we cannot be sure if an "extra' tip is left on the slip where it goes, an envelope is the better way to go, that way you actually see the person who it is intended for AND if they choose to pool it, then that is for them to decide accordingly.

 

You did what you wanted for those whom you knew made a difference in your sailing and rewarded them as such.

 

Cheers and bon voyage

[Ken the cruiser]

14 minutes ago, Bo1953 said:

To be clearer, you do mean what ever "dining room" each of us are assigned to for daily dining and not Specialty Dining.

 

Where, as I understand it and practiced in the past, the fees charged for dining in Specialty Dining included gratuities and now they, gratuities, are not...

 

Just a part of the ever changing landscape of cruising, specifically on X.

 

bon appetit and bon voyage

I can only refer back to what I was told recently not only by the Raw On 5 folks, as I noted above, but also the Luminae wait staff we got to know quite well on our B3B. But, yes, the Pool is shared with all dining rooms, to include the buffet from my understanding, based upon a variety of factors included in the algorithm.

Edited September 29, 2021 by Ken the cruiser

[rucrazy]

2 minutes ago, Bo1953 said:

an envelope is the better way to go, that way you actually see the person who it is intended for

If I can't hand my appreciation over in person.. then just I don't tip.. I don't like myself for a day or two..(but I get over it)  I know people who steal money from co-workers smh

[PTC DAWG]

I usually leave $20 on the table for the Wife and I at a specialty.  CASH is king.  

[Bo1953]

14 minutes ago, rucrazy said:

If I can't hand my appreciation over in person.. then just I don't tip.. I don't like myself for a day or two..(but I get over it)  I know people who steal money from co-workers smh

I agree, yet I find that going to The Martini Bar helps with not liking myself for a short period of time to get over it... LOL

 

Cheers and bon voyage

[hcat]

We now add extra tips by handing $  to maitre d of BLU  or  the Specialty venues to split among  their staff.

(We assume it would include kitchen staff.)

 

On the EDGE  4 Mdr plan for the restaurants we ate at most often including Tuscan E breakfast, , we tipped maitre d.'s and our fav server teams.. was much appreciated.

 

Once you hand over cash.. it is no longer in your control   but better than

giving it over to X!  Praise on comment cards is also appreciated.

Edited September 29, 2021 by hcat

[dazey]

I do not recall receiving a slip at the end of our specialty dining visit which we paid for before the cruise..  Will we now be handed a slip showing no payment due but requesting gratuity?  Is there a sign reminding people that no gratuity was included?

 

 

[rucrazy]

37 minutes ago, Bo1953 said:

I find that going to The Martini Bar helps with not liking myself for a short period of time to get over it.

Imagine that! 🍸

[Denny01]

As one of the ‘ole cruisers’, I’ll stick with what Bo is suggesting. I tip with cash directly and I don’t worry about how it’s all changing and if I’m encouraging the Cruise Lines to add more direct gratuities and so on.

 

I pay for what I need/want and I pay what I can afford, and I don’t worry about giving someone who is working on a ship too much! 

 

Den

Edited September 29, 2021 by Denny01

[RichYak]

1 hour ago, Ken the cruiser said:

I can only refer back to what I was told recently not only by the Raw On 5 folks, as I noted above, but also the Luminae wait staff we got to know quite well on our B3B. But, yes, the Pool is shared with all dining rooms, to include the buffet from my understanding, based upon a variety of factors included in the algorithm.

The more I read, the more I feel like this is the way on X. The staff in specialty restaurants is tipped not out of the service charge, but out of the general pool, which includes gratuities from many who may never eat there.

[fstuff1]

27 minutes ago, RichYak said:

The more I read, the more I feel like this is the way on X.

The staff in specialty restaurants is tipped not out of the service charge, but out of the general pool, which includes gratuities from many who may never eat there.

 

To the OP of this thread:

there's no need to tip extra at specialty restaurants. 

They're already tipped.

 

edit:

so when you buy a beverage package, are tips included?

 

Edited September 29, 2021 by fstuff1