Tipping at the Pinnacle Grill

N

nu2cruisin

Guest
It's my understanding that the tip is not included in the price when dining at the Pinnacle Grill ... is this correct?

We plan on eating there twice...is it okay to tip individually each time we dine there?
 
O

Orcrone

Guest
Elaine,

Tipping each time you go to the Pinnacle I believe is the standard way to handle tipping.

Marc
 
A

asctony

Guest
HAL now charges a $10.00 per day tip fee. So why does the team in the grill require additional tipping?
 
S

Southbound

Guest
ASCTONY -- I was wondering the same thing. Those staffing the Pinnacle Grill get a share of the $10p/p,p/d automatic gratuity, paid by many passengers who won't be dining in the Pinnacle during their cruise.
 
O

Orcrone

Guest
It's a good question. Unfortunately, although they share in the tips, I doubt there is anyway to tell for sure whether they get a decent amount and don't need to be tipped additional, or whether what they receive is a pittance. I'd prefer to err on the conservative side and leave a tip. An additional $10 or $20 tip on the top of the cruise is not going to make much difference.

However, with HAL's new stated tipping policy I would not blame others for taking the attitude that the $10 pp/pd goes towards their tip.
 
F

Frank Black

Guest
Bring cash. They will not add a tip to the bill in the Pinnacle Grill. They do a great job and deserve a tip. About $10 per couple is adequate.
 
O

Orcrone

Guest
Popdog,

Wondering where you heard that gratuity is included. Not being accusational, just that I've tried to learn that and have been unsuccessful.
 
P

Popdog

Guest
Ate in the Pinnacle in March on the Zuiderdam. I heard it when I asked the waiter.
 
O

Orcrone

Guest
OK, Popdog. Can't see the waiter lying about that to get a smaller tip. Thanks for the info.
 
B

Brad1185

Guest
No tipping please. HAL in their $20 fee should be able to take care of their wait staff. Its an insult to consider a tip above their charges.
 
O

Orcrone

Guest
Brad,

That logic makes as much sense as saying "They charged me X dollars for my cruise. Well in that fee they should take care of their wait staff.
 
S

sail7seas

Guest
Tip is NOT included in the $20 pp charge.

If your waiter said tip was included, he was referring to the automated tipping which is added to all pax accounts. The vast majority of that $10 pp per day goes to dining room stewards, asst dining stewards and cabin stewards. They divide the rest among many, many other categories of crew including front office staff. The tiny amount that trickles down to Pinnacle stewards is little more than a pittance and they depend upon pax tipping in the alternative restaurant. I CANNOT personally imagine anyone receiving the service you USUALLY will enjoy there and not tipping your dining steward and wine steward (if you have wine/drinks).

I truly know this to be true. Your stewards in Pinnacle will greatly appreciate if you say thank you to them in the traditional way if you have received good service.
 
B

BSeabob

Guest
If I have paid for the food already with my ticket what is the fee for in the Pinnacle if not for a tip. ?
 
S

sail7seas

Guest
You have paid for MOST of your food with your ticket. If you do not dine in Pinnacle but have all of your dinners in the Dining Room and/or Lido, you will incur no extra charges.

The $20 pp charge in Pinnacle is for the very high end, excellent quality menu selections that are not available in the Dining Room. The steaks in Pinnacle are on a par with the likes of the very best steakhouses and the fish/seafood is the best of the best. No cruiseship dining room can feed 1,200 to 1,800 plus pax that quality at the prices we are paying for most cabins on most HAL cruises.

A comparable dinner in a shoreside restaurant costs DH and me in the vicinity of $200-$225 if we share a bottle of wine similar to what we order in Pinnacle.

Tips are not figured in the per person extra charge.

It is totally voluntary to go to Pinnacle. If one does not wish to pay extra for dinner or pay extra for tips, there is absolutely no need to. Dinner in HAL's dining rooms is Excellent IMO but could never be at the extra high level of Pinnacle unless we paid a whole lot more to cruise.
 


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