Coastal Kitchen Tipping

[trihawks1]

Usually in MDR, we always do early seating so we have the same staff and table every night. We give our tip to wait staff the last night.  Our next cruise on Symphony we plan on eating at Coastal kitchen for 4 of 6 nights of the cruise.  What do people typically tip for the wait staff and do you do it each night since you might not get the same staff?

 

also, if you use the concierge, do you tip them as well?  
 

 

[LisaLisa87]

We were on Harmony last week and ate at CK three times. We were told on the first night that we would have the same server all three nights, and we did. We left a cash tip each time anyway. We tipped both concierges at the end of the week. One of them did more for us than the other, and we split the total accordingly.

[reallyitsmema]

23 minutes ago, trihawks1 said:

Usually in MDR, we always do early seating so we have the same staff and table every night. We give our tip to wait staff the last night.  Our next cruise on Symphony we plan on eating at Coastal kitchen for 4 of 6 nights of the cruise.  What do people typically tip for the wait staff and do you do it each night since you might not get the same staff?

 

also, if you use the concierge, do you tip them as well?  
 

 

 

We tip at the end of the week if we are eating all of our meals in CK.  We typically get a few waiters for the week, though some ships are better at having you have the same waiter all week.  If we are only doing a few dinners, we would likely tip each night.  We have also given the manager an envelope to split between the waiters when we have had too many to remember them all.

[Cigar King]

We tip after each meal...5 or 10 bucks per.

[neverbeenhere]

Sawbuck

[cruisegus]

Depends if we are eating there because we are a full suite (then consider that as part of the price paid for the suite)

or

as a Pinnacle (then we think an tip at each meal is appropriate)

[George C]

We tip for each meal amount depends on service , for concierge we tip depending on what they do for us anywhere from 0 to 100

[Mikew0805]

I tip for each meal. 

[pcur]

32 minutes ago, cruisegus said:

Depends if we are eating there because we are a full suite (then consider that as part of the price paid for the suite)

or

as a Pinnacle (then we think an tip at each meal is appropriate)

 

Coastal Kitchen gratuities are only included if you are booked as a Star Class Suite passenger on ships that have Coastal kitchen.

 

The amenities list specifically states that all other Suite classes no gratuities are included.

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-royal-suite-class

[bonsai3s]

9 minutes ago, pcur said:

 

Coastal Kitchen gratuities are only included if you are booked as a Star Class Suite passenger on ships that have Coastal kitchen.

 

The amenities list specifically states that all other Suite classes no gratuities are included.

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-royal-suite-class

pcur...Question: On ships with CK, a Pinnacle has an assigned table in the MDR...but eats at CK and specialty restaurants only...where would the auto grats go? Thanks. 

[MaryEBS]

I tip every meal because the wait staff does rotate and I prefer to know the waiter who was assigned receives the tips.  

[Lionesss]

40 minutes ago, pcur said:

 

Coastal Kitchen gratuities are only included if you are booked as a Star Class Suite passenger on ships that have Coastal kitchen.

 

The amenities list specifically states that all other Suite classes no gratuities are included.

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-royal-suite-class

I am pretty sure your gratuitous are included in your cruise fare for star. As indicated in that link. 
When we stay in CLS (sky) the hostess records our suite number.  Puts in computer. And our tips are directed to CK. 

 

Found out by asking why they book by cabin.  number and not name. 
 

So. CK does get share of gratuities we pay 

 

Be safe. 

[mafig]

What is Gold and Silver dining?

[alfaeric]

They know which dining room you eat in every time you eat there.  So the waiters who served you will get the tips you pay.  

 

I know this as we were eating dinner in the MDR when the head waiter in CK called the section head waiter to talk to us.  

 

It's fine to pay more tips-we do, too.  But your base tips follow where you eat.

[cruisegus]

2 hours ago, pcur said:

 

Coastal Kitchen gratuities are only included if you are booked as a Star Class Suite passenger on ships that have Coastal kitchen.

 

The amenities list specifically states that all other Suite classes no gratuities are included.

 

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/what-are-the-benefits-of-royal-suite-class

Your reference on not covered gratuities applies only to Sea Class, which is Jr Suites.

That is why I said "Full Suites" which are Sky and Star, and have guaranteed access to CK.

[Tree_skier]

13 minutes ago, cruisegus said:

Your reference on not covered gratuities applies only to Sea Class, which is Jr Suites.

That is why I said "Full Suites" which are Sky and Star, and have guaranteed access to CK.

Not to speak on @pcur's behalf but her reference also shows it is not included in sky class as well.  She is 100% right

 

 

 

Edited September 16, 2023 by Tree_skier

[reallyitsmema]

Lots of wrong information in this thread.  Star class includes all gratuities, not just Coastal Kitchen gratuities.  Sea class and Sky class do not include gratuities.  If someone dines in Coastal Kitchen, their dining gratuities are directed to Coastal Kitchen for the nights they eat in Coastal Kitchen.  If they eat in the MDR, their dining room gratuities will be directed to their waiters their.  The OP asked about tipping in CK.  Many of us tip above and beyond the standard gratuities and leave those gratuities in CK at different times, some nightly, some at the end of the cruise.

 

Carry on......

[bonsai3s]

29 minutes ago, mafig said:

What is Gold and Silver dining?

Gold and Silver Dining is unique to the Spectrum of the Seas.

 

Gold Dining is for grand suites and above, and Pinnacles.

 

Silver Dining is for JS and above, and D+ & Pinnacles.

 

* Access to the Gold Dining by Pinnacles can be limited based on number of P's. Same with Silver Dining, D+ access will be limited depending on the number of P's.

[cruisegus]

11 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

Not to speak on @pcur's behalf but her reference also shows it is not included in sky class as well.  She is 100% right

 

 

 

That line specifically refers to the now $18.50 per person per day gratuity that is added daily to cover housekeeping and dining.

 

But you'll are certainly entitled to your opinions.

[cruiseboy89130]

16 hours ago, bonsai3s said:

pcur...Question: On ships with CK, a Pinnacle has an assigned table in the MDR...but eats at CK and specialty restaurants only...where would the auto grats go? Thanks. 

Into Royal‘s pocket - as always! Why would it make a difference to them.....they distribute the way THEY want anyway!

[hazmat1]

No matter where I dine I always tip in cash.  The crew seems to like it a lot better😊