Disney Cruises

[nomoretslt]

@Dean I generally don’t pay attention to influencers.
@Ckhawaii … sorry to get off track, but wanted to give you my take on tipping on a Disney Cruise. We take care of those who have direct contact with us. Bartenders I would tip directly at time of purchase. If you go to the upcharge restaurants (some only have Palos, others have Palos and Remy, not sure of the newer ships) we tip there at time of service.

Enjoy your Alaska cruise. Chance of a lifetime.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

I suspect it varies from cruise line to cruise line and they generally don't spell out exactly who is getting a take. The list apparently includes members of the culinary team, busboys, dining support staff, laundry staff and in some cases, bartenders though I suspect it varies by cruise line. I've seen multiple stories of issue when tipping was removed and reports from influences that have spoken to many cruise staff on the subject as well as a couple of former crew members who went on record on the subject. Here were a couple of YouTube viideos I easily found on the subject.

,

I haven’t cruised in ages and am going on my first DCl cruise in 10 years next month. I didn’t “prepay” the gratuities. That’s not what you mean when you talk about tipping “removed” right? I assume the gratuities will just get added to my bill at the end of the cruise?

 

[Dean]

@Dean I generally don’t pay attention to influencers.
@Ckhawaii … sorry to get off track, but wanted to give you my take on tipping on a Disney Cruise. We take care of those who have direct contact with us. Bartenders I would tip directly at time of purchase. If you go to the upcharge restaurants (some only have Palos, others have Palos and Remy, not sure of the newer ships) we tip there at time of service.

Enjoy your Alaska cruise. Chance of a lifetime.

Just realize that on some cruise lines there are people who are included in the tip pool that you would be missing and that it is possible this may affect your service at some point though you may or may not realize it. I get it, I prefer direct as well but the downside isn't worth it to me given the current setup. IF I were going to do this I'd tell those I intended to tip directly what I was intending.

I haven’t cruised in ages and am going on my first DCl cruise in 10 years next month. I didn’t “prepay” the gratuities. That’s not what you mean when you talk about tipping “removed” right? I assume the gratuities will just get added to my bill at the end of the cruise?

No it's not. I believe all of the mass market cruise lines add the gratuities automatically to your bill if you don't prepay. What's being discussed here is going to guest services and having them remove those gratuities. Part of the reason that cruise lines have moved from individual tips to this method is because tipping is inconsistent done individually. I've personally seen an example under the old system (cash direct) where people have skipped dinner the last evening to avoid tipping dining staff. It's generally recommended not to prepay unless there is a discount doing so and there generally isn't. The only "discount" I've personally seen is for Viking River where if I prepaid it was in USD but would get charged in Euro's if done onboard. OTOH, there have been questions raised whether the tips are landing where and how they should though I have not seen any confirmation and I've seen it discussed a several times from people with a lot more knowledge and insider info that I have. Every time I've seen it discussed the conclusion was there was no credible evidence the staff were not getting what they were supposed to under the current system but you never know.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Just realize that on some cruise lines there are people who are included in the tip pool that you would be missing and that it is possible this may affect your service at some point though you may or may not realize it. I get it, I prefer direct as well but the downside isn't worth it to me given the current setup. IF I were going to do this I'd tell those I intended to tip directly what I was intending.

No it's not. I believe all of the mass market cruise lines add the gratuities automatically to your bill if you don't prepay. What's being discussed here is going to guest services and having them remove those gratuities. Part of the reason that cruise lines have moved from individual tips to this method is because tipping is inconsistent done individually. I've personally seen an example under the old system (cash direct) where people have skipped dinner the last evening to avoid tipping dining staff. It's generally recommended not to prepay unless there is a discount doing so and there generally isn't. The only "discount" I've personally seen is for Viking River where if I prepaid it was in USD but would get charged in Euro's if done onboard. OTOH, there have been questions raised whether the tips are landing where and how they should though I have not seen any confirmation and I've seen it discussed a several times from people with a lot more knowledge and insider info that I have. Every time I've seen it discussed the conclusion was there was no credible evidence the staff were not getting what they were supposed to under the current system but you never know.

Any idea if the $250 onboard credit for DVC members can be applied towards gratuities?

 

[Dean]

Any idea if the $250 onboard credit for DVC members can be applied towards gratuities?

No, but I doubt it can be. It's common for cruise lines to not allow OBC for gratuities. Once on board after your first days gratuities post, you can look on your account and see though, no need to spend time going to guest services.

 

[ljmiii]

I haven’t cruised in ages and am going on my first DCl cruise in 10 years next month. I didn’t “prepay” the gratuities. That’s not what you mean when you talk about tipping “removed” right? I assume the gratuities will just get added to my bill at the end of the cruise?

"Prepaid" is indeed somewhat ambiguous. Once upon a time you had to tell DVC to add prepaid gratuities and so it both meant that you would pay before your voyage and that you would pay beforehand through DCL rather than directly with cash.

Then some number of years ago (5?...though I'm sure others remember better than I) that swapped and the default was to add it to the bill. So now it's prepaid in the sense that you're paying beforehand through DCL but not in the sense of paying before you sail.

Unless you actually do tell DCL to add it to your booking in which case it still is prepaid in both senses.

 

[nomoretslt]

Any idea if the $250 onboard credit for DVC members can be applied towards gratuities?

On my previous DCL cruises, the onboard credit can be used for anything. If you want to use it for tips, then I think you would have to go with the prepaid version. They don’t hand you $250 in cash to spend, it appears on your invoice. You can use it for excursions, bar tab, gift shop purchases (but with Disney prices won’t got too far), maybe bingo. Upgrade to Palos.
And don’t forget to stop by the DVC member desk….they will give you a free gift every day. We got nice Magic band sliders last time. Some other trinkets. We also got a special magnet for the door. They used to do a member mixer with mimosas, but not sure if that is still the case.
Enjoy your first DCL cruise. We will be on the Wish in September.

 

[Sugarcubesea]

On my previous DCL cruises, the onboard credit can be used for anything. If you want to use it for tips, then I think you would have to go with the prepaid version. They don’t hand you $250 in cash to spend, it appears on your invoice. You can use it for excursions, bar tab, gift shop purchases (but with Disney prices won’t got too far), maybe bingo. Upgrade to Palos.
And don’t forget to stop by the DVC member desk….they will give you a free gift every day. We got nice Magic band sliders last time. Some other trinkets. We also got a special magnet for the door. They used to do a member mixer with mimosas, but not sure if that is still the case.
Enjoy your first DCL cruise. We will be on the Wish in September.

@nomoretslt , We are on the Wish in September as well, are you taking DCL transfers over to the ship?

 

[nomoretslt]

@Sugarcubesea not any more. We now live close enough to drive to a DVC for one night (studio) low points, drive to Port Canaveral (one hour) the next morning, park at port parking, and either drive home after cruise or drive back to Disney for remainder of vacation.
That being said, when we lived in the northeast, and DCL/ DVC had a great deal, we would fly to MCO/Orlando, stay at the Hyatt or was it Marriott right at the airport, they used to have a great partnership…you could leave your room in the morning, get free breakfast, they would retrieve your luggage from your room and it would get to the port and your cabin. We would board the DCL cruise bus (which we would pre arrange thru our T/A) and it was all good and easy. It is also easy to have them pick you up at your resort if you are doing Disney before your cruise or after your cruise. And bring you back to the airport (Orlando only as I remember).
I would never fly down on the morning of a cruise departure. Go the night before and stay in a hotel or a dvc or whatever. No guarantee that your flight will leave on time or even leave.

 

[TheHolleys87]

Note, the MCO Hyatt still has bus transportation to PC for DCL. You can reserve your room via Hyatt or via DCL. I don’t know whether breakfast is still included, but they do pick up your luggage from your room, and you take a bus from the hotel that is separate from the other MCO to DCL buses. So whether spending the night at WDW or at MCO, you can arrange bus transfers to PC.

 

[rickandcindy23]

What I really love about a Disney cruise:
1) The food is always outstanding at the restaurants, every single one, better than the specialty dining on Norwegian.
2) The cabins sleep up to 5 people, unlike Norwegian with their cabins that require a Haven accommodation for more than 4.

 

[ljmiii]

What I really love about a Disney cruise:…
2) The cabins sleep up to 5 people, unlike Norwegian with their cabins that require a Haven accommodation for more than 4.

I agree…except that you need to book a family stateroom (or suite) to accommodate 5 people. Normal staterooms can only accommodate 3 or 4.

 

[nomoretslt]

The split bath is great too! My DD recently went on a RC mega ship…bath looked beautiful, but all in one room. I like the two separate rooms and two sinks. We’ve been lucky with the VGT rates….sometimes we will get the family sized room.

 

[AnnaS]

Family of five. Our first cruise we booked two connecting inside rooms. I think it was less than the family stateroom. We graduated up after each cruise . One oceanview and one across inside, two oceanview, eventually balcony and one inside. After the first one, I shared with my husband and daughter and sons separate cabin. We made it work for 8 cruises (two cruises with just DH later on).

 

[Sugarcubesea]

We just got back from our 1st ever Disney Cruise, purchased it on July 4th for a GTY special rate and I really enjoyed this vacation so much

 

[nomoretslt]

@Sugarcubesea we just go off the Wish. What a beautiful ship. Four nights was definitely not enough (but the price was right and it meshed with our DVC plans). Food in dining rooms was very good, the servers were outstanding and friendly. I love that they follow you each night to your different venue. It was so easy disembarking. Castaway Cay was wonderful…..only spent a couple hours there…..a huge storm rolled in later in the day.
The ship itself was very confusing and we got turned around a number of times. We lucked out getting a family sized veranda on the 11th deck. I had way too much soft swirl ice cream.

 

[bizaro86]

Some good last minute deals just dropped:

40% Off Sale on Halloween & Christmas Disney Cruise Line Sailings! - Disney Tourist Blog

Disney Cruise Line has released a new deep discount, offering 40% off to the general public on select sailings. This is the latest (and best) of several special offers that are currently available, including others aimed at Floridians, Canadians, , and this post shares a look at the options...

www.disneytouristblog.com

 

[rickandcindy23]

@Sugarcubesea we just go off the Wish. What a beautiful ship. Four nights was definitely not enough (but the price was right and it meshed with our DVC plans). Food in dining rooms was very good, the servers were outstanding and friendly. I love that they follow you each night to your different venue. It was so easy disembarking. Castaway Cay was wonderful…..only spent a couple hours there…..a huge storm rolled in later in the day.
The ship itself was very confusing and we got turned around a number of times. We lucked out getting a family sized veranda on the 11th deck. I had way too much soft swirl ice cream.

The ice cream was good. My granddaughter was 9 months old on our Disney cruise, and I would stay with her while the family got off ship. She knew we would be going for ice cream. Disney should add Dole Whip. Raelynn would have loved that.

The server we had was so attentive on our cruise. His name was Ninad. He remembered our favorite beverages from meal to meal. We would sit down at our table, and no need to wait for the beverage. My sugar-free dessert was always delicious, and each night they were different.

I even remember that Ike was our steward. He made some amazing towel animals for our grandkids.

This was 10 years ago, believe it or not.

 

[Sugarcubesea]

@Sugarcubesea we just go off the Wish. What a beautiful ship. Four nights was definitely not enough (but the price was right and it meshed with our DVC plans). Food in dining rooms was very good, the servers were outstanding and friendly. I love that they follow you each night to your different venue. It was so easy disembarking. Castaway Cay was wonderful…..only spent a couple hours there…..a huge storm rolled in later in the day.
The ship itself was very confusing and we got turned around a number of times. We lucked out getting a family sized veranda on the 11th deck. I had way too much soft swirl ice cream.

@nomoretslt , We were on the WISH from September 8 thru 12 and I agree it was a beautiful ship and 4 nights was not enough.

We just booked a 5 night on the Disney Destiny that is set to sail for its first voyage this November. We booked for September of 2026 and its for 5 nights and I'm so excited, we also lucked out in that we were given a deluxe family oceanview extended veranda on 10 on the Wish, with the guaranteed verandah offer we took.

For our cruise it rained on sail away day and they had to move that indoors and wow it was so hot from so many people being in there

 

[nomoretslt]

@bizaro86 thanks for that, my daughter alerted me about those deals. A quick look shows shorter cruises. When I get back home I’ll take a better look.
@rickandcindy23 10 years later and you still remember names! I bonded with one of our servers….she admired my outfits and DH’s and we discovered our shared love for Ross Dress for Less. She was looking forward to her few hours of down time after docking so she could get a ride in the “company van” to go to the local Ross.
@Sugarcubesea it rained for pirate night and they brought it indoors. It was nuts. We went back to our cabin….I was hoping to see the fireworks from the veranda, but they were on the other side of the ship. It was a rough night on the sea. But the sea bands worked well….did not experience any naseau.