ajames Posted July 23, 2009 #1 Share Posted July 23, 2009 What is the practice here? Does one tip the waiter/waitress when dining in a specialty restaurant (e.g., Cagneys)? If so, how much does one tip? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeanettep Posted July 23, 2009 #2 Share Posted July 23, 2009 What is the practice here? Does one tip the waiter/waitress when dining in a specialty restaurant (e.g., Cagneys)? If so, how much does one tip? Thanks. Yes, we tip at the specialty restaurants and base the tip on what we would pay for a meal in a fine dining restaurant at home and of course, the service we receive (always excellent!). I'm not sure, and maybe someone else can confirm this, but I think the wait staff share in the tips. We try to tip in cash but if we forget to take cash, we just write the tip on the slip that you sign at the end of your meal. The cost of the specialty restaurants vary as I recall from $10 to $25 -- I think Cagney's is $20 per person. We've never eaten at Cagney's (my daughter is vegetarian) but always go to LeBistro ($15) where they offer a vegetarian choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mooder Posted July 23, 2009 #3 Share Posted July 23, 2009 What is the practice here? Does one tip the waiter/waitress when dining in a specialty restaurant (e.g., Cagneys)? If so, how much does one tip? Thanks. A lot of people do, we do because we always receive exceptional service in the specialties, but you do NOT have to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajames Posted July 23, 2009 Author #4 Share Posted July 23, 2009 That sounds reasonable and appropriate. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyrrhus Posted July 23, 2009 #5 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Yes, we tip at the specialty restaurants and base the tip on what we would pay for a meal in a fine dining restaurant at home and of course, the service we receive (always excellent!). I'm not sure, and maybe someone else can confirm this, but I think the wait staff share in the tips. We try to tip in cash but if we forget to take cash, we just write the tip on the slip that you sign at the end of your meal. The cost of the specialty restaurants vary as I recall from $10 to $25 -- I think Cagney's is $20 per person. We've never eaten at Cagney's (my daughter is vegetarian) but always go to LeBistro ($15) where they offer a vegetarian choice. So you tip based on a $100 to $200 a person vs the $25 a person you might be paying on NCL? Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
floridacruiser63 Posted July 23, 2009 #6 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Yes, we tip at specialty restaurants. Outstanding service deserves it and we have always encountered excellent, outstanding service at all specialty restaurants! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mooder Posted July 23, 2009 #7 Share Posted July 23, 2009 So you tip based on a $100 to $200 a person vs the $25 a person you might be paying on NCL? Michael I sure don't base it on what the meal would have cost me at home. I am sure some do, but the crew always seem very pleased to receive anything at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjbdtz Posted July 23, 2009 #8 Share Posted July 23, 2009 We do not tip extra. We have been advised that there is no more need/requirement to tip in the speciality restaurants, than there is in the MDR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
faymuiheng Posted July 23, 2009 #9 Share Posted July 23, 2009 Cagney's on the STAR is $25/person. We usually always tip, but like $5 each time. Not necessary, but we just like to... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikerAl Posted July 23, 2009 #10 Share Posted July 23, 2009 We enjoy the wonderful service in all of the specialty restaurants, and usually tip $20 for the two of us. While it is not necessary, the service we receive calls for it, IMHO> Al Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zeno Posted July 23, 2009 #11 Share Posted July 23, 2009 It depends: If the service is good, yes we will leave a small tip. I guess we are cheap because we don't tip to the level that we would of we were paying the "real" price at a land restaurant. Only once did we not leave a tip at a specialty restaurant (for some reason the service was really NOT good one night in Le Bistro on our last cruise). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrymtex01 Posted July 23, 2009 #12 Share Posted July 23, 2009 I hate to say that I can not remember how much we tip for the specialty restaurants. I can't remember if it is $10.00 or $20.00 but I know it is one of the two. I can't swear to it, but I believe NewMexicoNita posted once that if you leave it on your room key, they have to share the tip with all of the servers (Nita forgive me if that wasn't you or if you said something different). Maybe she will read this and confirm or deny. I do know since I read that we always try to leave cash, but I am sure they appreciate it either way. Trust me, they apprecaite any amount of tip you leave as they know you are doing extra and showing your appreciation. We try to always tip in the MDR's and Cagneys for breakfast and lunch as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sottovoce Posted July 24, 2009 #13 Share Posted July 24, 2009 You've already left as a tip some part of your $12/day gratuity charge, just as you would have if you dined in a non-surcharge restaurant. We look at the additional charge for the specialty restaurant (e.g., $15/person or $30 for two at Le Bistro) and tip an additional 15-20% of that surcharge amount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pyrrhus Posted July 24, 2009 #14 Share Posted July 24, 2009 I sure don't base it on what the meal would have cost me at home. I am sure some do, but the crew always seem very pleased to receive anything at all. I hope not, otherwise the "affordable" speciality restaurant is looking expensive :) Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katesowner Posted July 24, 2009 #15 Share Posted July 24, 2009 Whether or not you decide to tip, do take time to fill out the little comment card when you receive excellent service. We ate early in the Asian restaurant. It was not busy at the time, and our 2 waiters were exceptional and chatted a bit with us as they served. The senior waiter told us that promotions are greatly helped by positive comments on these cards. His hope was to continue to move up in the NCL organization. As we normally do, we left a tip, and we also filled out the cards. I think they were more happy to receive the comment cards than the tip. I picked up several cards at the reception desk and filled them out for other employees who gave exceptional service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrymtex01 Posted July 24, 2009 #16 Share Posted July 24, 2009 You've already left as a tip some part of your $12/day gratuity charge, just as you would have if you dined in a non-surcharge restaurant. We look at the additional charge for the specialty restaurant (e.g., $15/person or $30 for two at Le Bistro) and tip an additional 15-20% of that surcharge amount. You know now that I read your posting that is exactly how we do it. I was thinking Cagneys when I posted and for some reason always think of Cagneys as $25.00 PP, which for us would be a $10.00 tip. I always leave a 20% tip when I tip because the math is just easier for me.. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajames Posted July 24, 2009 Author #17 Share Posted July 24, 2009 A lot of different opinions, I see. Does NCL provide any guidance on tipping in the specialty restaurants? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashdog_1 Posted July 24, 2009 #18 Share Posted July 24, 2009 We do not tip extra. We have been advised that there is no more need/requirement to tip in the speciality restaurants, than there is in the MDR. For what it's worth, on another cruise line we use it is stated that the surcharge is basically the tip for exceptional service (although surely some of the cost is for a better cut of meat, or an item that can't be found elsewhere in the free restaurants) and there is no need to tip more, but it's up to the individuals being served. Therefore, extrapolating, I'd guess that is true on NCL. I've only eaten in one surcharge restaurant. And on that occasion the food nor service were any better than what we'd have had in the main dining room and we did not leave anything. I do think that if we'd been really "wowed" we might have left something. I was dining on the first night of the cruise, with people from the roll call. We discussed the matter and it was a mutual decision. BTW it was the Italian restaurant on Dawn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajames Posted July 24, 2009 Author #19 Share Posted July 24, 2009 FYI... from an article entitled, "When Do I Tip on My Cruise?" http://www.leisuregrouptravel.com/archives/December2005/Cruise1205.pdf Specialty Restaurants and Gratuities New specialty restaurants create more dining alternatives and more tipping questions. Some cruise lines include the tip in the dining fee. Those who include the gratuity in the surcharge are Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Costa Cruises and Holland America Line. Cunard Line and Princess Cruises believe the guest has already paid restaurant gratuities, so no additional gratuity is required. The surcharge is for the restaurant and not for the service. This is similar with NCL’s ships, where the “service fee” covers guests dining regardless of the restaurant selected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ericktina Posted July 24, 2009 #20 Share Posted July 24, 2009 What is the practice here? Does one tip the waiter/waitress when dining in a specialty restaurant (e.g., Cagneys)? If so, how much does one tip? Thanks. Yes--we always tip in these restaurants, and usually give the maitre d' something too. Cagney's is a little different situation in our opinion. If you are in a suite and have the option to dine there for breakfast and lunch, there is no surcharge to "cover" the gratuity. It seems to us it is even more appropriate to tip at that time. We have never felt that any of the servers in specialty restaurants expected anything, and we are aware that many do not tip extra, which seems to be fine with them--you will never be made to feel as though you have made a faux pas, but their wonderful service is always worthy of a special thank you in the form of an additional gratuity should you choose to reward them in this way. And, yes, the STLYLE cards mean a LOT to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrikeRider Posted July 24, 2009 #21 Share Posted July 24, 2009 I did not tip in the specialty restaurants. I did not think their service was over and above the MDR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uppitycats Posted July 24, 2009 #22 Share Posted July 24, 2009 The servers rotate through the specialty restaurants and the MDR. We didn't feel the service was anything exceptionally better in the specialty restaurants. We didn't leave an additional tip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flashdog_1 Posted July 25, 2009 #23 Share Posted July 25, 2009 I've read about the crab benedict at breakfast in Cagney's but nothing about what the lunch menu has that is special. Anyone have that menu? in case it is open for non-suite passengers for $12.50 on any sailing I'm on, I'd love to know. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikerAl Posted July 25, 2009 #24 Share Posted July 25, 2009 The servers rotate through the specialty restaurants and the MDR. We didn't feel the service was anything exceptionally better in the specialty restaurants. We didn't leave an additional tip. We were told by two servers, one in Cagney's, and one in le Bistro, who were specifically contracted to work in those restaurants. One was ouystanding, the other just good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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