To be not looking forward to NYC holiday

[Kakamora]

Because of a post I’ve just seen about servers complaining they’ve had a tip that doesn’t reflect what they spent on food.

Yes I know that tips top up their wages but I want to take my mum on some pretty fancy dinners while we’re there and just because I spend $100 dollars which I’ve saved up my minimum wage money for, I don’t see why some server thinks that’s entitles he to a $20 tip because I’m spending a lot of money.

It is annoying me thinking I will have to save around an additional £150 for tip money. I always tip, but I don’t think waitresses here in the U.K. (which I am part time, think that spending £100 you know people have budgeted for warrants an expensive tip

I give an envelope with $100 to the cabin steward on embarkation day

Absolutely your choice to make of course, but can I ask why? I get tipping at the end or even every few days if causing them a lot of extra work, but personally I'd worry that giving it upfront suggested they're not good enough to do their job unless they're almost bribed

Storm4star try going on any cruise forum and you'll find there are two really contentious issues - tipping and dress code. Smoking used to be a third, but that's gone over the side now (alng with the smokers? )

And as for the High Line...

Oh no, don't tell me it's rubbish?! When I last went to NYC it was only just open, still being finished, I think, and it was lovely.

I actually got the feeling that tipping 20% is not as common as you would be led to believe

Here's a good guide to tipping in the US. Tipping 20% is totally normal and common. I've lived here over 10 years and would generally tip 18% but round up to the nearest dollar.

www.daveramsey.com/blog/how-to-tip-no-guessing-gratuity

And as for the High Line...

I like the views from the High Line. There's also a great hotel at the southern end if you're looking for a good rooftop bar to have a drink when you've finished.

The food was the best bit for me! Although we didn't go to any restaurants, we just ate 'fast food' and by that I mean the new wave of healthy fast food that NYC seems to be inspiring. We had loads of delicious chopped salads and various soups. The underground bit of grand central station has a wonderful array of take away food. The massive variety of ethnicities and culture of 'new ideas' seems to inspire some really interesting outcomes when it comes to food there, in my opinion.

Yes. I work on a food magazine and this is exactly the sort of thing we cover a lot right now, and we are constantly listing New York restaurants from high end to fast casual to street carts.

I'm incredulous that people manage to go to New York and not find good food. That takes some skill.

Just returned from NYC...eating out is no cheaper than here in the UK, the service was not massively better either (getting tap water brought to the table the minute I sit down doesn’t warrant 20% tips in my opinion).

We certainly didn’t eat in fancy places, just normal run of the milky family restaurants and we were actually shocked at the prices. Yes we could have spent a fortune travelling to find a cheap restaurant or eaten in KFC but that slightly defeats the object.

Totally understand that it’s customary but that doesn’t mean it’s compulsory. OP if you get great food and great service tip accordingly and vice versa.

I work in midtown and eating here is dicey. You have to know where you are going.

My lunch staples are chick-fil-a on 6th and and 45th. For food trucks there is a whole line of them on 44th. The Americana truck with buttermilk soaked chicken is amazing. You just need one portion with fries for lunch for 2.

Chipotle is less popular now but I love it. One dish is enough for two meals. Digging is good too.

All these places are about $10 for lunch and no tip required. If you want a supermarket Whole Foods is on 6th Ave opposite Bryant park and food emporium is on 8th Ave and 48th (I think…might be 50th). Food emporium has a good beer selection with good prices.

When we eat somewhere with tableservice I leave a 20% for standard service. I leave more if my food is cheap or service is good. Breakfast yesterday was $10 for both DD and I. Our waiter was lovely and the bill low so I gave her $5.

You are not looking forward to visiting New York for this reason??

See I didn't even know you're meant to tip on cruises! Although I've never been on one or looked into it. My friends on one at the moment so will ask her about it when she comes back.

Last cruise I went on you were charged an amount per day for tips and this was added to you room bill. You could cancel it and tip yourself directly but the rumour was that there was a list of passengers who had removed the automatic tips and the service they got was supposedly less than other passengers as there was no guarantee that they would tip at the end of the cruise.

If you go on a cruise, my advice is to tip your cabin steward really well on the first day. They go out of their way to help you throughout the cruise then. Make a marked difference in the service you get.

I don't think some English people "get" tipping.
I read a post yesterday where a well known coffee shop were doing small refunds out if the tip jar. Unethical.

@Kakamora

"It isn’t my fault that they can’t pay their citizens properly."

You sound like a miserable old git, though you're most likely an immature entitled millenial.

You're prolly the type of person who goes to a non English speaking country and demands people speak English to you. Exclaiming "It's not my fault they don't teach their citizens English!"

Guessing you also aren't familiar with the expression "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

Hope you have the kinda holiday you deserve.

Absolutely your choice to make of course, but can I ask why?

It's what works for me/us. I've been on many cruises (although never a Disney one. NFW. There are no casinos on Disney cruises). I've never had a complaint about it, that's for sure and have had always had excellent service.

mmm, I love Chic-Fil-A! I go there as soon as possible when I am in the US. I used to love Chipotle, Want but I've noticed there are fewer and fewer of them about.

www.newyork.co.uk/tipping-in-new-york/

(a) Food in the USA - particularly New York - is no cheaper than anywhere else
(b) service is the USA is definitely no better than in other countries
(c) bosses who do not pay their staff properly should go out of business.
(d) A tip is for service over and above what it says on the menu.

If a bartender is earning $3 an hour, go work for somebody who pays properly.

And yes, I know that lots of US employees suck it up so they can get healthcare - a whole other discussion.

Dress code? Are they going on P&O cruises or Cunards? I mostly cruise with RC and it's pretty lax if you're not eating in the dining room. You can also slob out and go to the Windjammer. Although, I have to say, it's almost worth it to cruise with Carnival just for the burgers and pizzas (we've cruised with them several times to go on certain routes).

we could have spent a fortune travelling to find a cheap restaurant or eaten in KFC but that slightly defeats the object

As with many major, touristy cities you don't need to go far, though ... IME just a couple of blocks away from the main bits gets you a better meal at a much lower price and with far pleasanter staff

If a bartender is earning $3 an hour, go work for somebody who pays properly.

Yes, because everyone can just magic up an employer who 'pays properly'

Leftright
There are restaurants in NYC who are proud to pay a proper wage.
Choose to frequent them, choose to work for them, more will follow.
Employers LIKE the tipping system as it absolves them on responsibility.

And those restaurants might not be hiring, might not be able to offer the shifts someone needs, might not offer employee benefits the worker wants or needs, be too far away and result in higher commuting cost, a myriad of reasons why one person cannot just choose to work for them, it's victim-blaming nonsense to put the onus on the employee for their low pay.

I have never been to New York, and admit it is way down the list of places I would like to visit. However, when we visited Orlando every restaurant bill had tip "suggestions" at the bottom, ranging from 18 - 23%.

We found that the tipping system does make for (IMO) over attentive waiting staff which we found a tad irritating. We found some really nice self service restaurants near where we stayed, and had some lovely meals there. I am not familiar with New York, but it is worth considering eating at self service places because you won't have to tip.

it's victim-blaming nonsense to put the onus on the employee for their low pay.
Nope
the problem lies squarely with the employers
and the fact that the state government, despite voting solidly blue year after year, will not legislate to protect workers

and maybe more tourists should speak up about it rather than just coughing up

When I'm over my local host actively chooses fair pay restaurants for us to eat at

So thinking aloud.....how many tables can a waiter/waitress expect to wait on per shift ?

What is the minimum hourly wage you could live on in NYC? Granted everybody lives differently but for this discussion purpose let's just work out averages.

Is 15-20% enough / too little ? How much does the average meal cost ? Do servers work the average working week ?

I do sympathise with you OP, us brits are not used to the system. And it will bump up the cost of trip. But I imagine this is a once in a lifetime ? So go, enjoy, tip and forget.