Ahoy, Angela!
Thanks for stopping by the Moms Panel with your question.
Dining aboard a Disney Cruise is one of the best experiences my family has ever had. With wait staff that rotates to each dining room meal with you, they'll become friends by the end of your vacation! My kids have grown attached to our servers on every cruise, and have wonderful memories of them from our vacations.
Gratuities are a way to thank your servers for their awesome service. Disney Cruise Line makes it very simple to take care of tipping onboard - no need to carry cash with you to the evening meals! Wait staff tips are paid one time per sailing, and not after each meal. You can choose to pre-pay gratuities by contacting DCL at least three days before sailing. The standard recommended gratuities, shown
here, will be charged to your stateroom account, and a letter will be given to you at check-in, showing the charges. If you don't elect to pre-pay, the suggested gratuity amounts can be added to your stateroom account once onboard. You can also pay cash by visiting the Guest Services Desk at any time during your cruise.
You can make adjustments to your final gratuities at any time, especially to reward exceptional service. We've certainly had instances when a crew member has deserved a little extra for going above and beyond!
I hope this helps with your planning. Come back if you have any more questions, we're happy to help!
Anchors Aweigh! - Diane W.