Disney Cruise Line automatically adds gratuities for your main dining room server, assistant server, head server, and stateroom host. These charges can either be paid in advance when you pay for your cruise or they will be added to your onboard account and settled at the end of the sailing. The automatic gratuity system is meant to simplify things so you do not have to think about tipping throughout your vacation.
If you want to adjust the automatic gratuities, you can do so by visiting Guest Services during the cruise. You can request to increase, decrease, or remove the amounts. Adjustments can only be made while you are onboard, and you can only decrease gratuities if they have not already been prepaid before sailing. Most families keep the suggested amounts as-is, while a portion choose to add additional cash or increase the total if they feel service was exceptional.
Toward the end of the cruise, you will receive envelopes that correspond to each of the positions included in the automatic gratuity. If you have prepaid or leave the automatic charges unchanged, you will receive printed slips to place in the envelopes. Many guests choose to tuck extra cash inside if they feel their server or room attendant went above and beyond. Some cruisers like to add twenty dollars or more for their room host or main server, while a few choose to hand each person a small amount of cash simply as a personal thank you.
There is often some confusion about the head server. On many sailings, guests feel they barely interact with this person, and wonder why a portion of the gratuity is allocated to them. The head server oversees multiple dining teams and steps in to resolve dietary issues or service problems. Even if you only see them briefly, they are part of ensuring the dining experience runs smoothly behind the scenes. That said, if someone truly did not play a meaningful role in your experience, you are not obligated to increase their portion.
A small number of passengers remove the automatic gratuities completely and give cash directly to their server and stateroom host in the envelopes. This approach is less common and can be awkward for the crew, especially because the auto-gratuity system is how staff are fairly paid across the ship. If you choose this route, just be aware that you may have to explain your intentions at Guest Services and tip generously in cash to match or exceed the typical amount.
It is also worth keeping in mind that auto gratuities only apply to dining and stateroom services, so you will still want to bring cash for porters at the terminal, bar service if you prefer to tip extra, and room service. Room service is included in your cruise fare but the staff who deliver it are not included in the automatic gratuity pool, so a dollar or two per delivery is easy and appreciated.
Overall, try not to stress too much about tipping. The automatic gratuity that Disney sets is reasonable and fair, and you will not stand out if you simply leave it as-is. If someone goes above expectations, give a little extra. If you want to plan ahead, bring a small amount of cash. Most importantly, remember that the crew work very hard and appreciate acknowledgement, but they do not expect you to overthink every dollar.
