Welcome Aboard, Shannon!
How exciting that you are planning for your first cruise aboard the beautiful Disney Dream! It won't be long now, before you are relaxing on a deck chair, watching the ocean go by, and maybe even sipping a frozen beverage.
You can indeed pay your
gratuities before you set sail, by calling your Travel Agent or Disney Cruise Line directly at 800-951-3532. Gratuities are $12 per person, per night, broken down like this:
Dining Room Server $4 per person, per night
Dining Room Assistant Server $3 per person, per night
Dining Room Head Server $1 per person, per night
Stateroom Host/Hostess $4 per person, per night
So, for a family of four, on a 4-Night cruise, you would give $48 per night, or $192 total. On your final day of your cruise, your stateroom host/hostess will leave small envelopes for gratuities in your stateroom. There will also be a gratuities paper, with each of your servers and stateroom attendant listed. You will tear this sheet apart and put each person's "receipt" into their envelope. The envelopes are marked with the crew member's positions. If you choose, you may add additional gratuity to these envelopes.
I hope you have wonderful first cruise!
Happy Cruising, Tracy V.