10 Tips on Tipping on Your Disney Cruise

Gratuities on a Disney cruise can be confusing for first-time cruisers. There are some that are optional, some that are not so optional. I’ll try to break them down for you here!

1. Four Main Tipped Positions – There are four main tipped positions onboard. These are pretty standard on every large cruise line and will be automatically charged to your account onboard. Those are your stateroom host or hostess, your dining room server, assistant server, and head server. Disney pays these positions very little, if anything, and their income is dependent on the gratuities. There is a standard amount expected for each position, which works out to $16 per guest per night.

2. Two More Tipped Positions for Concierge – If you are sailing concierge, there are two additional positions that will be automatically charged to your account – the Concierge team and an assistant stateroom host. These work out to an additional $11.25 per guest per night.

3. You Can Prepay – If you would prefer, you can prepay the standard amounts for the above gratuities. You or your travel agent can add them to your cruise before you sail.

4. You will Receive Tip Envelopes – By the last afternoon of your cruise, you will find envelopes and perforated sheets of paper with each person’s name from the positions above, and the amounts paid for each. Tear off the slip of paper for each one and put them in the envelope. For everything that is charged to your account, the crewmember will receive the amount whether you hand them the physical envelope or not. If you add cash, you must give it to them personally.

5. You Can Change Amounts – These amounts can be changed onboard. I’m going to take a hard line here and say they should never be reduced. These crew members work very hard for these gratuities, often to send back to their families, whom they have left for months at a time, and it would have to be something absolutely egregious to merit reducing them. I’d say the odds are good that you will appreciate what they do so much that you will actually want to increase the amounts. On the last night of your cruise, you can add cash to those envelopes mentioned above or ask guest services to increase the charges to your account.

6. Bring Cash for Porters, Bus Drivers, and Excursion Operators – There are a few instances where you will need cash. If you drive or are dropped off at the port, there will be porters who take your bags from you and have them sent to your stateroom. I’d recommend giving them at least $2 a bag, with $5 -$10 minimum (or the equivalent in local currency if you are in a foreign port). If you take Disney transportation, have a few dollars for the bus driver who gets you there. You’ll also want to bring cash for excursion operators and drivers. I’d recommend $5-10 per person, depending on how expensive the excursion itself is (again, normally this would be in the local currency).

7. Don’t Forget to Tip Room Service – Room service is available 24 hours a day on a Disney cruise up until late night on the last night of your cruise. And unlike most large cruise lines, it’s free! You will want to tip the crew member who brings it to you, though. You can hand them cash or ask them for a slip to sign and add an amount to be charged to your account.

8. Bartender Tips are Automatic – Any drinks that are not included (alcohol, mocktails, canned sodas, etc.) will have an automatic 18% gratuity added. You can add to that as you like. There are some great bartenders onboard!

9. Spa Services are Also Automatic – If you take part in any paid spa services, they will have an automatic 18% gratuity added. You can add to that if you desire.

10. Upcharge Dining is Included (Kind of) – You will see a gratuity amount added to your bill at Palo, Enchanté, and Remy. It is my understanding that the automatic gratuity is split between the staff of the restaurant, and anything additional you add is just for your server. I recommend adding an appropriate amount for your individual server.

Do you have any tips or questions about tipping? Let me hear them!