extras on ship

[djstweety]

I was wondering is everything included on ship or do you need to purchase soda cards, coffee cards etc.

[dvcconvert]

I was wondering is everything included on ship or do you need to purchase soda cards, coffee cards etc.


Pretty much everything is included. There is a 24hr soda station for beverages. Things like photos, tips, alcoholic bev's and some activities are extra.

HTH

[skelster]

The adults only restaurant, Palo, is extra as are spa services and babysitting in the nursery. This is the babysitting for babies, not the kids programs for 3+.

[carolina_yankee]

I think sodas and coffee are free only at meals and the beverage station on deck 9. I seem to remember paying for (charging) a soda in one of the lounges when I had wine and Jim had ginger ale, but my memory is hazy. Room service coffee, I believe, is free, but not room service soda.

They also sell snack/beverages outside the Walt Disney Theatre during show times. Think concession prices. However, I don't remember the pastries in the coffee bar being a charge item, and the counter services are always free.

Disney does give you a lot of leeway, but there are still extra charges here and there. You can buy a soda package, but it's just not worth it. You can also buy a water package (basically a case), which some people like and others don't feel they need. The shipboard water tasted fine, but we took the package for the convenience of the bottles.

You can also bring your own alcohol on board instead of buying their wine and beer, you just can't bring a hard cooler on board. The coolers in the staterooms will get items cold, but it takes a coupel of days, and they work better when full. They aren't exactly refrigerators, but they are a decnet size (at least for 2 people with beverages). We also picked up a 12 pack of soda in one of the ports to bring on board to augment our beverage station runs.

You will definitately want to consider a photo package. There are several different ones, and you can upgrade or downgrade depending on your actual needs. Photographers are everywhere, and it's easy to find 5 or more photos taken of you each day on display in the photo shop. If you want a photo, take it. They will disappear, but you can return it or exchange it for another one if a better one comes along.

Anyway - hope that helps.

Dirk

[Stimpy]

I think sodas and coffee are free only at meals and the beverage station on deck 9. I seem to remember paying for (charging) a soda in one of the lounges when I had wine and Jim had ginger ale, but my memory is hazy. Room service coffee, I believe, is free, but not room service soda.



Yes, that's still the case. :yes: Soda is only free from the restaurants & beverage stations. I'm not a coffee drinker but are the specialty coffees (or teas) at Cove Cafe also charged to your room? I don't think they are included, but I'm not sure.

I think everyone has already covered the extras. Also, I noticed a few people think that if they sign up for the wine tastings (or beer, tequila etc) that they drinks are included but they are not. That's an extra charge. I'm pretty sure they do say that in the Navigators though.

I'm a bottle water person too but we bring our own case of water on board with us. I think DCL charges around $25 for a case? We get ours for about $5.

[tiggerguy2000]

I cruised last november and they have a soda station with tea and I beleive coffee.If they could only have free beer then the cruise would be alot cheaper for us beer drinkers.My tab was a little high at the end of the cruise.What can I say I was on a boat for 4 nights and I was not alone at the bar.

tiggerguy:cheers2:

[mountainjourno]

Soda, juice and coffee are free 24 hours per day at the soda station on Deck 9, no special purchase required. (we went on a 7-day cruise in January, and another 7-day cruise last January and it was like that both cruises). They are also free at all meals.

Equally, they have a soft-serve machine with sundae toppings for you to use at any time you like. And if you didn't eat enough at your meals, there is an adult-only cafe with free pastries any time, as well as a pizzeria, hamburger/hot dog place, and healthy food bar with wraps, fruit etc - all free, any time during the day and the pizza stays open until late at night.

Lots and lots and lots of food and drink - more than you will ever be able to eat. All included.

You will need money for gratuities. Unfortunatley, the waiting staff do not get paid at all and completely rely on these "gratuities". But Disney does not tell you they are mandatory, and so sadly, some don't pay as much as they should, believing it is "extra" So please allow at least $11 per person per day, (covers "gratuities" for cabin staff and waiting staff) but more would be better because these people really work ridiculously long hours, and try very hard.

Otherwise, you only need money for souvenirs, tours, and alcoholic or non-standard drinks. Photos are expensive...bring a camera and ask someone to take photos for you!!

Have a great trip! :)

[Stimpy]

You will need money for gratuities. Unfortunatley, the waiting staff do not get paid at all and completely rely on these "gratuities". But Disney does not tell you they are mandatory, and so sadly, some don't pay as much as they should, believing it is "extra" So please allow at least $11 per person per day, (covers "gratuities" for cabin staff and waiting staff) but more would be better because these people really work ridiculously long hours, and try very hard.


I agree that it is definately important to tip the waitstaff (as well as cabin steward) but the wait staff is paid by DCL.....not well paid by any stretch of the imagination but they are paid.

[Rozzie]

Holy Crap, you can take alcohol and bottled water on board??? I had no idea! :confused:

Maybe I can finally talk Mr Roz into cruising, we always heard nightmares from our friends about $500 bar bills after a week of cruising.



Okay, you know I am going to ask. Is the coffee nescafe?

[skelster]

I agree that it is definately important to tip the waitstaff (as well as cabin steward) but the wait staff is paid by DCL.....not well paid by any stretch of the imagination but they are paid.
For the member cruise they said gratuities were included in the fare for this one cruise. I still plan on doing some tipping for exceptional service, but do you all think the "gratuities included" is on the level with the staff getting a fair wage?

[carolina_yankee]

The gratuities that Disney includes should be the suggested amount they advise guests to tip on the last night of the cruise. Whether that's up to the standards of a fair wage is another matter.

While I'm a generous tipper, I do believe that an employee who accepts a position for a set wage and is tipped the recommended amount is getting a fair wage - everyone knows going into it what the expectations are. However, we found nearly all positions, and definitely all tipped positions, to offer impeccable service, so we tipped more than the suggest amount. And, we did it in cash in the envelopes provided. I would definitely go prepared to offer additional gratutities and then make up your mind as to what seems appropriate based on the service you receive.

Dirk

[dvcconvert]

While I'm a generous tipper, I do believe that an employee who accepts a position for a set wage and is tipped the recommended amount is getting a fair wage - everyone knows going into it what the expectations are. However, we found nearly all positions, and definitely all tipped positions, to offer impeccable service, so we tipped more than the suggest amount. And, we did it in cash in the envelopes provided. I would definitely go prepared to offer additional gratutities and then make up your mind as to what seems appropriate based on the service you receive.


I agree with Dirk 100%.
The base wage isn't good, add to that the recommended tips - it's ok.....but in consideration of the level of service and attention most DCL CM's give - I've always tipped higher - especially (in my case) for my stateroom host + dinning servers. :)

[mountainjourno]

My waiting staff told me they weren't paid at all! They said it was soley gratuities (and they told us this when we asked, after we had already paid the recommended amount. They didn't offer up the information hoping to get more, we asked them when we were chatting shortly before leaving the ship)

Has anyone on here worked for DCL? I would love to find out the answer for sure... I was furious when I thought they weren't getting paid at all by DCL (I believe the cost of the fare should be increased to ensure they get the appropriate amount).

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

[dvcconvert]

mountainjourno asked:
Has anyone on here worked for DCL? I would love to find out the answer for sure...

I have - but not in an onboard guest service position. However, I can tell you without any doubt whatsoever, that all DCL cast are paid.


DCL official recuirtment piece on pay:

Crew Pay
Crew Members are paid bi-weekly in US dollars by check. All Crew Members are responsible for paying their own taxes. US citizens or residents have Federal taxes withheld from their checks. Other Crew Members must check with their own country's tax service to find out what guidelines they should follow.

It is unfortunate that your servers left you with that misunderstanding.

HTH

[carolina_yankee]

My waiting staff told me they weren't paid at all! They said it was soley gratuities (and they told us this when we asked, after we had already paid the recommended amount. They didn't offer up the information hoping to get more, we asked them when we were chatting shortly before leaving the ship)

Has anyone on here worked for DCL? I would love to find out the answer for sure... I was furious when I thought they weren't getting paid at all by DCL (I believe the cost of the fare should be increased to ensure they get the appropriate amount).

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
In addition to what Convert shared, I don't think it's legal to hire someone just for gratuities. I believe I saw on another cruise forum that they were paid $2-3 per hour (the tipped positions). I honestly think that with gratuities, they do pretty well for the cruise industry. That said, your server is your server 7 days a week and your cabin steward is your steward for 7 days a week 24 hours a day. They get very little time off for their 6 month contract. The number of times I saw a CM in the crew pool on an Eastern cruise? 0. Though I did see a few relaxing on the beach in Castaway Cay and I know they went ashore on the island stops. I have no problem tipping well. But our stateroom attendant made $150 off of us for our stateroom. He had 5 more staterooms. Depending on occupancy, he possible made more that week than I did!!

Working on a cruise ship is a totally different mentality. Several CMs told us they really liked it - they had no place to spend their money and no time to spend it, so it just accumulated in their accounts. A couple said they work a 6 month contract, then spend the next 6 months blowing their funds, then come back for a another 6 month contract. Some have worked continuous 6 month contracts for several years (I think they get 1-2 months off in between if they're continued on).

Every single CM we spoke with said that there was no comparison between working for Disney and working on another ship. Disney knows what they're doing (and so do the CMs). . .

Dirk

[Stimpy]

Maybe the servers you had were just exaggerating a bit? You know, instead of saying we get paid very little, "we get paid nothing". I'm not sure exactly how much they are paid, but I think the last figure I saw was about $40 a day? But they bust their behinds for 18 hour days!

I do agree that tipping is very important for the tipped positions. They have always gone above and beyond for us on every cruise. We also are very generous tippers. Unfortunately like you mentioned, there are people who do not tip at all....whether that is from "forgetting" or not knowing they are supposed to tip (although there are reminders everywhere), selfishly trying to save money, believing the staff do not deserve the "extra" money etc.

[mountainjourno]

Thanks for clarifying that, everyone.

I must admit, I would much rather just have the standard "gratuity" included in the cost of the cruise (whether that meant using more points, or needing to pay up front with a credit card when booking) and then be left to decide what extra (if any) I chose to pay. Even if they do get $40 per day, that is just abismal for what the hours they work and the labour involved.

For those that don't tip, or don't tip enough, I imagine it's in part because they believe it is "extra" to be paid only if they get exceptional service. Also, many countries don't tip. My husband and I are both Australian, and you don't tip in Australia at all. We live in Canada now, and both hate the whole tipping system - we'd rather just be charged more up front, so that the person will get paid appropriately! Of course the downside to that, is the service in Australia is rarely as good as here because many just do what they're paid to do, rather than go out on a limb to provide good service.

But I'm rambling here...!

[carolina_yankee]

Mountainjourno - glad we could help with your plans.

However, in defense of USA and DCL (and I agree - the whole tipping thing is easier elsewhere), we are a tipping culture and the tipped crew members are likely to do very, very well. Their base pay is just that, base pay on the assumption they'll get the balance in tips. Disney does make clear to guests what the expectations are, so I imagine it's only a few callous cads who stiff the CMs. By and large, Disney guests seem to be fairly generous.

Other ships make the gratuities mandatory, which helps the crew know they're not going to get shortchanged, but that could also discourage passengers from giving extra gratutities. A mandatory gratuity isn't gratuitous, it's just another payment on the bill as far as I'm concerned.

I'm not saying it's better or worse than elsewhere, just different.

Dirk

[mountainjourno]

A mandatory gratuity isn't gratuitous, it's just another payment on the bill as far as I'm concerned.

Dirk

I agree with your statement - but with the enormous amount of work the waiting and room staff do, they shouldn't have to rely on people being gratuitous. The staff who run the children's programs on the ships aren't tipped - instead, they get a set salary to do a great job caring for our kids. I don't understand why the waiting and room staff aren't also given a reasonable set pay, encompassing the suggested gratuity as a service charge. I think the $11 per passenger per day should be a guaranteed payment for services, rather than seen as a gratuity.

In my case, our family of four would rack up $308 in suggested minimum gratuities at the end of a 7-day cruise. When put in those terms, it seems like a lot of money for a tip at the end of a holiday! So if seen as a gratuity, I could understand people being reluctant to pay more, and people who don't understand how low the wages are in the first place (especially non-North Americans on board) would think it was crazy to tip so much. But if phrased as a mandatory service charge, they would all cough up. AND - I believe people would happily pay more for a gratuity if the mandatory service charge was paid as part of the ticket.

I guess I see it as... why should this person be waiting on me hand and foot, if I'm not going to pay them for it? It shouldn't be optional. The wording on the documents DCL provides is, "it is customary" and then they offer suggested amounts. I believe this should be changed to "mandatory" and preferably, paid when purchasing the tickets.

I understand about Canada and USA being tipping cultures, but know too well that many people outside these two countries just don't get it. Many think tipping is optional, not a payment for service. Which is why I understand the crestfallen look of my server and assistant server on our last day on the Disney Magic when they were telling us that many people hadn't paid the minimum amount. Yet their service throughout the cruise was the best I'd seen anywhere. Foreigners aside though, I'm sure there are also Americans and Canadians onboard who spent their money on souvenirs, drinks and tours, and then realise at the end of the trip, "oops - well...let's not tip as much...I mean, we have kids, so we'll just tip for us."

Anyway... I'm rambling again! ;)

[dvcconvert]

Mountainjourno

--So long as you assume your own personal responsibility for doing 'what's right' in your opinion/experience (And I believe you have/will)...all will be well :)

[carolina_yankee]

Mountainjourno -

I don't disagree in principle. One thing is for certain, we all value very highly the quality service we get from Disney CMs and are willing to give proper compensation for that service!!

Dirk

[mountainjourno]

Thanks... sorry I rave on so much. I'm a writer...that's my excuse!!