Tipping the Maitre D

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llp1958

Guest
In July when I was on the Fascination we were waiting in line for the doors to open for dinner. From my vantage point there were two lines flowing into the dining room with the Maitre D standing in the middle. My guess there was maybe twenty come couple in front of us. Not one person gave an envelope to the Maitre D. When we got up front and handed our envelope to him. He seemed very appreciative and grasped my hand what seemed a very long time. (Reminded me of a young boy who invited people to his birthday party and no one brought gifts! LOL!). When we were seated we were near the front entrance, I continued to watch and hardly anyone had given an envelope to him. I know it passengers choice and all that. But on the other cruises I went on it seemed at least 50% gave envelopes.

Just an observation.

Three weeks til my next cruise Conquest.......can't wait!

Linda
 
S

serene56

Guest
A lot of people think-that if the matre de did nothing personally for them he doe snot require a tip.
A matre De is a salary employee so he makes enough without getting a tip.
What people need to know is its becuase of him that you had wonderful table mates..or a good view.
Its his job that the wait staff is completely trained. People also think thats him doinghis job so why tip- Im sure 5 bucks in an enevelope isnt gonna hurt anyone.

Did you matre de go around to the tables on the last night== they usually do and that is when envelopes are given.
 
I

Irish Girl

Guest
Unless he does something special for you, there is no need to tip, he is paid a good salary. I think the only time we had a Maitre D do something extra, was on the Voyager of the Seas. He had the chef make us garlic cream soup on a night it was not being served.

Most cruises I've been on, the only time I see the Maitre D is the last night of the cruise.
 
B

BlueChef

Guest
It's been my experience that not all envelopes or cash are 'seen' being handed to the Maitre d'. Most folks don't make a big deal out of it, like waving the envelope at him (LOL), but quietly hand him their envelope, which he slips into his pocket or on the shelf at his podium, indiscretely.

From what I learned from the Food & Beverage director on one cruise, just over half the passengers tip the Maitre d'. I tip him only if he has performed a special service for me - like changing my table assignment, or even if he has been an extra-ordinarily friendly/fun guy during my cruise.
 
M

masq

Guest
We have also only tipped the Maitre D if he has done something extra for us.
On our 'trip from hell' the Maitre D was able to seat all nine of us together at one table...I think he actually moved other guests to different tables to accomodate us. We tipped him very well for that. :)

Masq
 
C

Cruizer

Guest
If the Maitre D does something for you then I agree the Maitre D deserves a tip. Otherwise, look at the numbers. If the Maitre D works on a ship with 2000 passengers every week, and each passenger gives the Maitre D only $1.00 for the week, that comes to $2,000 per week, or over $100,000 per year.
 
B

BlueChef

Guest
Cruizer, good point. Except - you have to remember that most ships have two dining rooms, which means a Maitre d' in each. So you have to cut your figures in half. LOL
 
C

Cori

Guest
On our cruise, I felt a bit put out that the CD kept repeating in ship-wide announcements that we needed to tip our Maitre'd. We didn't tip-- because we made no speacial requests, asked for no favors, and couldn't have picked our maitre'd out of a line-up--- I don't think we saw him even once. I'm not complaining about that, mind you, but we just didn't feel that a tip was warranted.

Granted, he trains the dining room staff-- but I'm paying for a cruise; I should hope that I can EXPECT staff to do their jobs. If you like your kid's third grade teacher, do you send money to the teacher's college professor?! And as for him being responsible for us having great tablemates... well, unless we request particular tablemates, isn't that really just "luck of the draw?"

Now if we made a special request, well then that's a totally different story-- of course we would tip.
 
B

BlueChef

Guest
Cori, I don't care for the CD making all those announcements about the Maitre d' either. Kinda nerve-wracking, and certainly a bit pushy.

The Maitre d' is standing at his podium every evening and greeting guests as you walk in. He usually has an assistant there with him. All smiles. Nice folks, and sometimes they make their way around the dining room asking if everything's ok. Surely you saw him at some point? But, as I said earlier, I don't usually tip him.
 
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Cori

Guest
Okay, I guess I must have seen him then. But I would no more tip for that experience than I would tip the girl who writes my name down for the seating wait at Cracker Barrel, you know?
 
N

nimbex

Guest
we've tipped 50% of the time... one time we didn't... we were able to "palm" him a $20 to change our table (NOT expected... we showed our thanks this way and did not tip later). We did tip after two table change requests on the destiny... where that sly guy "palmed the $$ back into my husbands hand!!!!!.. saying your having an enjoyable dinning experience is what I'm here for.... now THAT is service... yep... gave it back to him at the "apropriate time"....

I hadn't thought that tipping prior to the last night might make others uncomfortable and feel the need to start it up as well to get their needs met... which is not the case. (heard the lady behind us saying... we've got to pay to switch our tables?)... ugh! and oops! not as sly as we'd thought!

so yes I agree that it IS all in the job description and no tip is REQUIRED... jut apreciated if you feel it's something you want to do. I HATE the pressure to tip from the CD or the capers.... brings out the opposite response from me.
 
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NellieB

Guest
Tip EARLY! My husband always tips the Maitre D the FIRST night! (The "palm" thing) Wonder why we always get great service and lots of special attention?

NellieB
 
B

BlueChef

Guest
LOL Nellie. You might just be surprised to learn that you DO get great service even if you DON'T tip.
 
G

gram

Guest
The only time we tipped the Maitre D was last December on the Carnival Triumph. This man came over to our table every evening and wanted to make sure everything was alright. He even remembered what we drank and our names. This man was all over the dining room every night talking to the guest. He really deserved a tip.
 
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