Stop Doing These 12 "Polite" Things Crew Actually Dislike
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- Going on a cruise? Avoid these seemingly polite habits that are secretly disliked by the crew. If you're going on a cruise for the first time, you might be surprised at how these polite things cruise passengers do can actually cause a problem.
While most cruise passengers aren't trying to be rude, these typically polite behaviors are best avoided. In this video we talk about when cruise travelers try to "help" the crew, when cruisers don't "complain" & even when cruise passengers tip the crew. Much of this is open to discussion & cruise culture can be different on various cruise lines etc.
Whether you're a first time cruiser or a seasoner cruise veteran, this video is full of fun cruise talk about cruise etiquette. Perfect for anyone going on a Carnival cruise, Royal Caribbean, Princess cruise, Celebrity Cruise, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America, Cunard, Disney & more.
These cruise tips & mistakes to avoid will surely help you to have the best cruise vacation possible.
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ABOUT ME
Hi! I'm Ilana! I live in Montreal, Canada with my husband Frank. We can often be found dreaming about and planning future cruises, ideally to hot and sunny destinations! I believe in having fun, being kind and that you are never too old, or too young, to live the life of your dreams!
Please note that I do not sell cruises on Life Well Cruised. This and all other videos are for entertainment purposes only. I share my own opinions, personal experiences and information with other cruise travellers, which I hope can be helpful. Please contact your travel agent or the cruise line directly for advice and any information specific to your booking.
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On my first cruise ever, ny wife and I had gotten back from having dinner at the Steakhouse, which at the time, was the only specialty restaurant on the ship. We ran in to our porter, and he asked how dinner was and we told him where we came from and he told us that he was going there for dinner later with his wife for their anniversary. My GF (now wife) and I went back to the Steakhouse and bought 2 glasses of champagne for them to enjoy at their dinner. The next day, our Porter was SOOO happy and grateful. Even though we asked it to be anonymous, he knew it was us. That afternoon when we got back on ship, we had a bottle of white wine in a chiller with 2 glasses and a corkscrew waiting for us.
@@jeffhirsch7861 wow!! Amazing story
I give an offering to our stateroom attendant in an envelope with a "Thank you in advance card," on the first day. I will say when I give it to him/her (I've actually only had men!) that I wanted to give them a little something in advance to perhaps get an extra treat or gift for them or a family member if they have an opportunity to go ashore." I know both from family who have worked in the industry and having asked the crew after cruising over 20 cruises, that this is always appreciated when done respectfully.
@@GeeBee212 We've almost always had men stewards too, except for one woman last year. Took me a little by surprise.
Off topic, but is your GeeBee212 by any chance a reference to a racing plane?
Another example of nice people being nice to people being nice to people.
Being nice to ppl what a concept. 🙏
The crew like two things: polite guests AND MONEY 💰
Then money you shall have 💵
I’m sure that’s very true :)
I’m glad you well
@@taratabor me?
Who doesn’t like money ? We all work right …
I was thanking our room attendant after a two week cruise and letting them know how much we appreciate them and they broke in and thanked us because our room was kept tidy and that helped them keep up with their chores. 😂 My mom would have been so proud 🤣
Great to hear that they appreciated this!! I think of this as part of appreciating the attendants ( including at hotels) - making their job a little easier! I also just like a tidy room in general.
When we go away, my partner always likes to leave the house "tidy for the burglars". She's the same on board. Easiest cabin to service on the ship!
May I comment on something you said in a previous video? You mentioned bringing a foldable laundry hamper. Might I suggest you line that hamper with a trash bag? When you put that laundry into your suitcase as you're packing up to leave, you are putting dirty, sweaty (and sometimes smelly) laundry directly in your suitcase. I like to bring 2 trash bags, one for darks and the other for whites. While I don't bring a hamper, I do put those two bags under a bed. I keep the opening to the outside and place my dirty laundry into the bags when I'm done wearing them, as you would with a hamper. When it's time to pack up, I lay them flat on the floor, step on them to make them flat, tie them up and put them into my suitcase. When I get home, my laundry is separated and I just empty each bag into the washing machine. No separating darks and whites, and my suitcase doesn't get contaminated.
This is an excellant idea!
@@debrabessette2699 Thank you:)
@@equalityforall8418 good idea
Funny , I’ve been doing the same the past 30 years of cruising and hotels .
I used a soft sided mesh hamper this cruise and just threw it over my shoulder to carry out. It wasn’t see through so it worked very well.
My husband and I always find out what kind of Specialty coffee our stateroom person likes. We will bring them one maybe 3 times in the morning time on a seven night cruise. They have always appreciated that. We also ask them if they need anything in Port that we could get them. There has been numerous times that we’ve gotten things for some of our stateroom attendants. My favorite thing to do on every cruise we go on….is to find attendants cleaning the restrooms. I hand them a handwritten thank you card with $25 in it. I feel like they are overlooked and want them to know that I appreciate their hard work and them keeping the restrooms clean. I’ve had several seem so shock and say this is for me???? The bonus part is I’ve never seen them open my card. It just does my heart good to put a smile on someone face.
this is beautiful...especailly the card and money for the restroom attendants😊❤ very very kind and thoughtful!
What a great idea. I've always thanked them for keeping the restrooms clean and tidy, but never thought about doing something like that. I will definitely put it into my plans for my next cruise in 4 weeks time.
I have I always ask stewards what they want me to do with dishes in the cabin. On all my cruises (over 30) with Princess I have been told to leave them in the cabin. I don't sail on other ships, but my husband uses a scooter, and you cannot go down the halls if there are dishes in the way, so I am glad that they want me to leave them inside. I think the best thing, is to ask, then do as they prefer.
@@kstaffen-justlovescruising great point. Asking is the best policy
@@kstaffen-justlovescruising thanks for confirming I asked too and wasn’t sure if Stewart was just being polite. I have only done 8 cruises with princess and rarely do I see trays in hall.
@@lynnfranklin5098I've seen driers in the hall, where the carpet had to be cleaned due to spills from plates. Different lines have different policies. Unlike Carnival, Princess does not have someone who goes down the halls to pick plates up, and that is something cabin stewards have to do.
i TOTALLY agree w u!!!!
Leave your husband at home. There are always going to be carts, vacuums and people walking those narrow halls.
I’m always thanking the various crew members for all that they do. Not just the wait staff and others you interact with but the person polishing the railings. The restroom attendants. security, maintenance, etc. They deserve to be thanked for their contributions also. It only takes a moment, doesn’t interfere with their job and the smiles are worth my effort.
Yeah, don’t buy crew members drinks. Give them a cash tip and let them decide what drink they may want or whatever else they may want to do with the tip. I always have some smaller bills or exchange larger bills for smaller bills at Guest Services. Those tips (however small they may be) will be much more appreciated. They also have crew bars and lounges where they can buy drinks at a much reduced price than what passengers pay anyway.
I agree. No drinks and no gifts. Even though they are very appreciative, they really want cash.
In Australia, I always tip at end of cruise. Their wages are a pittance of what we earn here and they have to pay for wifi to keep in touch with their families back home. They can be away from loved ones for up to 9 months and come from very poor countries so I appreciate their hard work and very long days.
I agree with you, it’s so true to put this in perspective
Shouldn’t their employers give them better conditions eg WiFi use , not a “pittance “ of a wage
so they don’t have to rely on tips .
They receive room/board/lodging, meals, and salary.
Just fyi I just heard that it may not always be your cabin steward cleaning the room on the last day. They need to get all the cabins ready so it maybe some one else. I don’t know how true it is but just a heads up. We always tip the same everyday. I tell them every time I see you you will get this much--. I try to encourage help both ways. Miss the turn down service.
@@CUTravel1st, agree, I also tip o5er staff not just steward.
Being a bartender on a cruise. One of the weirdest things passengers can do is bring their kids to the bar counter especially with leisure activities for them like coloring books, toys etc.
@@CruiseShipOnique oh my gosh, I never thought of that
Pulling a double shift there mate. Bartender and baby sitter. Mind you if the parents are doing that I do would which ones your baby sitting.
@@CruiseShipOnique as a guest I would give them the Sicilian side eye so hard they would leave voluntarily. Who brings kids to a BAR?!!! Yes it’s on a ship but it’s a BAR
@@LifeWellCruised they are the worst
I’m from Milwaukee so this is very confusing for me
All those years of watching the love boat is out the window. Ok every episode they got entangled with the guests. Lol. My childhood is ruined!! 😂😂
Haha those looked like fun times 😂
I am going on the “love boat” cruise in a couple of weeks.
@@mollyt7954Tell Julie we love her❤️ ask Issac for a Rita rocks, ask Gopher to dance, he needs the company😝😂🫢🙏🏻❤️
Unfortunately my husband tested positive for Covid Thursday night so we are not on the cruise. I am brokenhearted.
Last cruise we tipped our two cabin stewards 25 dollars each at the end of the cruise. They bear the bulk of the work taking care of us! 99 percent of the time they do a great job!!!
I had an instance where I had a spontaneous bloody nose, and the only thing available was a cloth napkin. Once under control, I flagged down a manager to let them know. They brought me a plastic bag so it could be disposed of in a safe fashion.
@@lisafieber3569 good story
it'd be funny if they had a special procedure for such a situation. like when someone at a fun restaurant has a birthday.
flashing lights! sirens! singing crew "don't move! stay where you are, we're collecting a biohazard! don't breathe! don't look! don't eat or apply makeup! we'll be done in a jiffy! and by the time this song is done....you all can relax again. and we're done! thank you thank you! you've all been great!"
wow so informative. thanks.
I agree with the tip at the end. The tip is for a job well done. How can you tip someone at the beginning? You don’t even know what they’re going to be like.
Also keep my cabin extremely neat and tidy, which I think is a help .
Any tipping that is done is done discreetly
When I was a waitress, “pre-tipping” was annoying bc it’s was like a bribe or like there was a “treat” for doing “good”. It also feels like there is extra expectation
Long ago…. Tips were to be given before in anticipation of good service.
That seems silly
The term tip comes from 'to insure promptness', so clearly there is a historical reason for giving someone a tip before service.
@@miralimdphd example number 2
My most recent cruise in May, friends went along that had never cruised. I had found out from another cruise friend that NCL didn’t do towel animals unless asked. First day on the ship I saw a young employee in our hallway (I don’t know what the proper name of his position was, I thought he maybe our cabin steward); I asked about the towel animals and he said it was no problem he would do for both of our cabins and then he told me who my cabin steward was. 7 days on that boat and I had NO contact whatsoever from my cabin steward. At the end of the cruise I gave this young man a nice tip because he did exactly what he said and was always very kind, polite and accommodating, he didn’t want to take it because he wasn’t a cabin steward; I did convince him to take it, it was just to show my appreciation for what he had done all week.
About 25 years and 15 cruises ago we were going into St. Thomas. We went to the port lecture and got the list of ships recommended stores. My wife wanted to buy a set of Amethyst ear rings for her mom.
While we were pulling to the pier I saw one of the officers standing at the rail. I went over and said hello. I then asked him if he would not mind telling me, where here does the crew buy jewelry.
He glanced over his shoulder then told me of a shop a street over from the main shopping street. I thanked him.
So, on shore we went over to this small shop. No other tourists were in there. We told him what we are looking for. He went over and pulled out a tray with over 100 Amethysts. He help us select two that match. Then wanted to know silver or gold mountings.
The price he quoted was very low over the main street shops. Told us to come back in an hour. We did, he did a wonderful job on them and my mother in law loved them.
Great story
Do you remember the name of the shop?
We had a similar experience, however it was on our honeymoon in St Thomas (1981🤩) we asked the hotel staff where they shop and found the recommended jeweler that sounds like the same one you spoke of!
Love love ST Thomas!
Back in that day it was unheard of!
And yes, we are still married 43 years later.
@@gwendolynworman2674inquiring minds want to know! Following with you!
I always tip in the beginning. I’m a solo cruiser and it ensures my safety throughout the ship. I’ve had security several times check on my well-being, which I truly appreciate. ❤
I am also a solo cruiser, celebrating 76th birthday this 0ctober cruise….i always give money at the beginning of my cruise…like you said they keep a check on you and are always making my cruise great.
Me also. Its just a safety thing.
I would think if you tipped lowkey it would be Ok. Not making a fuss, just putting money on the desk, marking it as a tip. Perhaps they could use the extra cash during the sailing.
Leaving it silently and discreetly wouldn’t give the impression of wanting something in retiren.
I give an "offering" to our stateroom attendant in an envelope with a "Thank you in advance card," on the first day. I will say when I give it to him/her (I've actually only had men!) that I wanted to give them a little something in advance to perhaps get an extra treat or gift for them or a family member if they have an opportunity to go ashore." This has always been warmly received. If I get extra care during my cruise great. I know both from family who have worked in the industry and having asked the crew after cruising over 20 cruises, that this is always appreciated when done respectfully. If they've gone above and beyond, they usually do, I leave a tip at the cruise end.
@@GeeBee212 I like this. No expectation of any special service wanted. But even in hotels I’ve been taught to tip each day. As a traveler, I give my utmost respect to those who are taking care of me as they generally do. I usually try to chat a bit if they want to. I keep it natural, we are equals, I’m just on vacation for the week.
I know some will not like this comment, but crew and staff members have no place to keep gifts. They will be gracious and appreciative of what you gave them, but unless it is something they can use, your gifts will be thrown out. If you want to do something special for a staff or crew member beyond cash, ask them if there is anything they need from port. Many of these hard working people do not get opportunities to get off of the ship very often. They may need toiletries, or perhaps they want a particular sweet from the port you are visiting.
@@pauleydm that’s a good point
Exactly! Toiletries and snacks are really appreciated. They use them to barter with other crew members, too!
As a wheelchair user, I would really love to see them STOP the practice of leaving trays in the hallways. Not only is it an every day hassle when on a ship, but also, a few years ago my son had a medical issue and I was in a rush to make sure he was okay, and was absolutely frantic trying to get people to move things so I could get to my son. It really brought to mind how awful this practice is for those of us reliant upon mobility devices in case of an emergency.
I am not using a wheelchair or anything like that.
I just find the look and often the smell of half eaten stuff left on the plates so disgusting.
Buns with only one bite taken, you can see the teeth marks
Half a pizza with stinky stuff on it
Fruit Sauce spills everywhere
You know what I mean.
i TOTALLY agree!!! and i do not leave dishes in my SINK at home I certainly do NOT want to see dirty dishes in a HALL on vacation!
@@m.m.4645Totally agree!
Exactly! Leave your trays in the cabin and call to have them picked up! It's a safety hazard on the floor of the hallway!
@@carmenhatfield4357 as one who sometimes needs a walker, absolutely!!
I learned several languages, of dominant crewmember populations. When I say, I learned languages, I learned conversational phrases, such as thank you, good evening evening, good morning, good afternoon. Crewmembers seem to love this, and it makes them smile when I respond in their own language. They are also happy to share with me their own language, and how to say those things. I have found that I got exceptional service from crewmembers when I showed them that I was very thankful for them and appreciated them, in their own language
After 30 years of working in restaurants I can say that people clearing and stacking their dishes was the bane of my existence. So difficult to smile as I picked them up. 99% of the time this meant extra work for me. Knives slipping off as I walked, unable to use both hands to collect dishes because the stack required both of my hands either because of instability or weight, more time spent at the dish pass through trying to organize them for the dishwasher, more silverware slipping into the trash as I try to scrape the food off of the plates and, yes, I had to fish it out of the trash. Many more reasons specific to every dining establishment.
Please just let your servers/busters do their job
And then TIP GENEROUSLY
Thanks for sharing this. I’ve heard this too, but you’ve explained it so well
I had a clerk at a grocery store scold me for how I was placing my groceries on the moving belt once. She told me to sort my groceries in a certain way, and I was like "WHAT?". The store required me to place my groceries on the moving belt, but there were never directions on how this was supposed to be done. I was shocked and offended at her approach. Come to find out, the girl was trying to earn some sort of reward by being the fastest checker. She was out of line. Regarding restaurants, if my dishes are not picked up and they are in my way, I will stack and move them out of my way. Sorry if that is the "bane."
I am also a former food server. I am also a consumer. I will only stack my plates if they've been in front of me for a long time. Pre-bussing should happen relatively quickly.
@@LongTimeCruisers Clerks find it helpful if you keep multiples of the same thing together on the belt. I try to do this, but given that we have to bag/box our own groceries now, I'm not going to let them dictate to me how to do things. I do what works best for me.
Ditto dishes. If they want it done a certain way, they should pick them up promptly. Otherwise, it's an accident waiting to happen.
I never tip before the cruise. Personally, I think it is insulting to presume that the room steward will not do his or her job unless given extra cash before the cruise. I never remove prepaid gratuities, and I give any extra tips at the end of the cruise with a verbal thank you for making our vacation special and written commendations on the feedback form from the cruise line.
That is how we do it as well.
@@marthagrant143 I tip ahead of time, not because I think they won’t do their job as well if I don’t, but because I want them to know I appreciate them because I know what a thankless job it can be. 🤷🏻♀️
@@ToriE1073 That's what the tip you give them at the end tells them.
I tip $200 at the start and another $200 at the end. I don’t find it disrespectful to tip, I find it as a way to just say thank you and I appreciate you.
@@sunshine7447 How many people in the room?
I most often cruise with Holland America (HAL). They traditionally have placed a note on room service trays saying to not place them in the hall but instead to call if you want the tray removed from your cabin.
In addition, lately I have noticed that in late morning, HAL sends a steward with a cart with a list of all cabins where people ordered room service breakfast. He will knock on my door and ask to collect my tray. Note, I am a slow eater and have always finished eating before the clean-up steward arrived. Often, I leave my cabin after breakfast, with my food tray inside my cabin, and the tray is gone when I get back.
I agree with others that food trays in the hall are a trip hazard, obstacle for many passengers, and unsightly. So I appreciate those that keep the trays in their cabins.
I do leave my tray in my cabin on HAL & agree I prefer that. Thanks for sharing
Thank you,...thank you!
I normally cruise Carnival. when I told my HAL room steward that on day one, he told me this rule. he said "Unlike Carnival, Please leave your trays in your room, place them 'Here' pointing to a counter inside the cabin, and he would collect them every morning room cleaning and evening room cleaning"
I'am a retired firefighter and people would bring us homemade treats from time to time, especially during the holidays. We would then have to throw the food out. We have no idea how this food was prepared and the sanitary conditions of the food prep area. Our Community Education Division. actually put out a public service announcement discouraging the practice of bringing food to our fire stations, unless it was bought from a store and sealed. Some of those treats looked amazing, but we could not take a chance of becoming ill.
😞😭
How about having pizzas delivered to the station (prepaid of course)?
@@HariSeldon913 That's not a problem, as long as it is from a pizza restaurant. In my 32 years of service, I don't think I have ever had a pizza given to us.
My grandmother was one of five ladies who home cooked meals for the volunteer fire department then took the food to the fire house and served the men. 70 plus years ago things were alot different.
@@bkmartin1958 They likely knew each other.
In the notes app on my phone I note the names of helpful crew so that when survey comes around I can mention them. I also put in notes about entertainment and excursions since the survey asks about those too. Also the ship app usually has a feedback option where if anyone is unhappy about something it can be resolved. Those notes on the ships app go to guest services where they can be acted on. Good to send compliments as well.
@@karenfrance1194 good idea
I do the same.
You can also ask to take a picture of their name tag. They like that, because they know when you mention them by name in the final survey, that has the largest impact on their performance rating
I take a pic of the name tag. Never get it wrong and I dont forget.
We always introduce ourselves right away, and give our room steward $100 at the start of the cruise and just say, “Thank you so much for taking care of us this cruise.” It’s not a bribe or an incentive for us. It’s the right thing to do, and it’s always been a positive interaction.
Doing this with the maître d’ of your dining room, will also ensure great seating and special service. Believe me.
Sounds like a bribe and makes you look like an uppity snob…
@CKWard, Thank you 😊. This is exactly what we do (even the amount). After reading some other’s comments & watching this video, I felt as if we were doing this wrong. I’m so glad I found your comment cuz we NEVER thought of this as a bribe as well. I’ve even joked w them about us losing it while gambling & said that they deserved it more 😂. It always seemed appreciated. Too each his own, I guess 🤍
We do the same exact thing
On my most recent cruise (got home about a month ago), I noticed that there was a small group of passengers who really liked one of the entertainers. After his sets were over they would wave him over and tell him they ordered a drink for him and for him to join them. My observation was consistently that he seemed like he would prefer to not join them but did so out of politeness. Time between sets, time when shifts are over, or breaks during a shift are times for crew members to take a break, take care of personal needs, etc.; not a time to entertain passengers and spend time with them.
I tend to tip at the end of the cruise but will also tip during the cruise if the situation warrents it. I also tip people beyond servers, steward, etc. For example, on my last two cruises I have tipped the women who cleaned the public restrooms I most consistently used as they kept them spotless and in good order (they were very appreciative).
Back when cruising was fun, we used to party with the crew in ports of call all the time. Lets just say that they never had to pay for anything and always were appreciative.
Cruising is still fun.
@John-qb8vd Nahhhh, not for us. Food has depreciated and way too many extras. Last time, I had a seven hundred dollar bill. And I was under the impression everything was supposed to be already paid for. They find ways to always get you.
In 2022, we stayed aboard the Ruby Princess for 7 weeks, and I got to know many of the crew and officers. So...I asked a lot of questions lol. One was about prepaying tips. Both our steward and our server in Reserve said that prepaying feels like the guests don't think they will do a good job if not 'bribed" (my word). Also, I've had many crew say that, while they like the cash tips, they would rather not get them from guests who are rude and demanding, and would rather them just be nice. I say do both! But in the very least, crew work hard and for long hours and guests need to always be appreciative of their professionalism and treat them kindly and with respect as human beings. And tip extra lol.
@@kstaffen-justlovescruising love this. Thanks for sharing these experiences & conversations
I tip halfway through about half what I tip at the end. It is not a bribe and it is not intended to quarantee service. I do it by leaving a small note with the cash simply stating that I appreciate the service they are providing, that they are doing an outstanding job abd we are glad we have a fine room attendant to take the edge of any concerns we have during our stay.
As an aside, I can't ever recall someone saying "That SOB just left me $20..... who does he think he is?"
Stop over thinking things for God's sake....
@mfo5939 I am totally confused by your last comment. What am I overthinking? I just said that I have been told by crew that getting a tip before they did anything makes them think that the guest doesn't think they are professionals and will do their best. I said nothing about not getting a tip? What you do, halfway through, would not make anyone think that. Your tip, at that point would for sure be seen as appreciation.
@@kstaffen-justlovescruising A tip is a tip is a tip. If the attendant has a bad feeling they should return it and explain to the guest what they think. In my many trips I was always thanked and made to feel good about it. Over thinking it is in reference to the possible 3 or 10 percent who would not like it or feel slighted. Were it me, I would think I was doing a fine job and the folks appreciated it.
Are you implying that 90% of crew would be fine being treated badly as long as guests left tips prior to even being served, because money is money? If so, that is a terrible opinion of crew members. Most people who work on ships are very proud of their professionalism and work ethics. I'm not talking about receiving tips after service to guests, that show appreciation of and thanks. I'm talking about pre-tipping to 'ensure' that you are treated well. I sincerely do not understand the point you are making.
The most numerous ethnic group that works the cruise liners are the Filipinos. Knowing how to say "Thank you" (SAH - la - mot) in their language always gets you a smile in return.
wow that is thoughtful!
Right, they’re thinking how much you’re pronouncing it wrong and laughing at your failed attempt to impress them…
@@buckygoldstein5354 Since Mrs. Rick and I were on our 50th wedding anniversary cruise it is a nigh certainty that she's been able to teach me the proper pronunciation of many Filipino words through the past five decades. Perhaps you can share with us your particular ties to the Pinoy community?
@@buckygoldstein5354 I work with Filipinos, and my pronunciation is horrible and atrocious, but they still really appreciate the fact that I am making an effort to connect with them, and I don't feel that they are being disrespectful behind my back. Many times they tell me they are impressed 🙂
@@TheOriginalRick 😂
I was always instructed that you should never put your trays in the hallway because not only is it a fire hazard if you had to evacuate, but people utilizing wheelchairs and scooters will have a hard time navigating down the hallway.
I agree with you on not tipping the room steward in advance and making some cheesey comment like, "There's more where that came from". That just seems sooo tacky and creepy.
I always tip in advance and the 1 time I didn't, it wasn't the same, so I tipped him half way through and things changed. Little gifts, towel animals, fruit, chocolates.
When you pre tip and say that it feels almost like bribe and it so uncomfortable.
@@user-ge5tm2on3e I give it and say, this is because I appreciate all your hard work.
Celebrity cruises just ask you to call and let them know there are dishes in your room, and then they are quickly removed.
The best
Good to know. I’ll be sailing on Celebrity for the first time in December. We love room service!
@@krooney63 Hope you will enjoy Celebrity. We pretty much only cruise them now. Check when you get onboard who it is you call to get dishes removed. I think it is the same number that you call for room service but can't remember for sure. They do continental breakfast for free, other room service is something like $10.
I have only been on 3 cruises - all Celebrity. On each cruise I’ve asked my Concierge cabin attendant what he prefers me to do with my finished trays. Two cruises told me to just leave them in my room and one cruise told me to put them just outside my door. So I guess I’ll just ask on each cruise!?!?
@@happycruiser Thank you for the info.
❤I tip at the end of the cruise! However, I do ask my Stateroom Steward for a robe, and when he comes with it: I do give a tip because it doesn't come with my balcony on Carnival. So, on embarkation day, they are really busy. So, I'm thankful and appreciative.
@@lisastrange6754 that’s a nice way to think of it
This is a good thing. I also give extra cash tips when I ask for something out of the ordinary.
Having worked with the general public in a job, I can tell you they never cease to amaze. Some tell you their life story, medical history, marital history and the list goes on, even intimate details which is very embarrassing.
As a passenger I keep it very polite and minimal chat (a quick hello, have a good day kinda thing). We tip in cash (local currency appropriate to the itinerary of the ship) at the end of the cruise directly to crew members.
Another important reason not to give food to crew is many are Asian and may be lactose intolerant which is very common in that part of the world. I'm lactose intolerant myself and rarely if ever eat anything people give me as gifts, I simply don't risk it.
We met a very wealthy person on a cruise once and he told us he always tipped the maitre d in the dining room on the first night of a cruise and always got the table he wanted for his party at whatever time they chose. It made us feel uncomfortable to hear him boasting of this.
It’s the old saying Money Talks
I always tip at the end of cruise to room attendant and some in the dining hall. I have never tipped anyone at the beginning of the cruise.
Years ago, from a baggage handler in Vegas I learned to tip many people in advance. I felt awkward at first and never considered it a bribe. We budget tips into everything we do, and are polite and generous. Yes it has at times given me extra perks. I am not deluded to think that people in the service industry are there to be my friend. They are there to make money. Tipping before, during and after is what these people live for. Being generous is just paying it forward. We give the cabin steward a great tip up front. Seeing that huge smile, we know that is $$$ is just showing our appreciation and gratitude for being alive, and being on a beautiful ship, in a beautiful location on a great vacation, and these people all make it possible. Also we have discreetly given tips in non-tipping countries when the service has been exceptional. We did it privately, and told the recipient they had made our trip extra special, and we knew it was not a tipping culture but to please accept it. It was always received with gratitude and never rejected.
I never really saw it as bribing a person either. As I heard from another cruising video "It just brings positive energy." or something along those lines basically 🤷.
Though with how everything is going up in costs I'm not sure if I can do that anymore outside of the usual baggage handlers, tour guides, & shuttle drivers (we always tip them). I feel guilty, but we really do got to watch our budget come our next cruise 💸💸💸.
@@Mrs.T504 i appreciate your way of seeing it. I definitely agree that generosity is an important value 👏
Upfront tipping is most definitely bribery. I’ve never seen anything so rude… it horrific.
Up front tipping isn't a bribe. It is insurance for the crew that the service they provide will be appreciated. The crew doesn't want coffee, a bottle of wine or other trinkets from you. They want cash. I give our stateroom attendant an envelope with an "offering" and a card saying "thank you in advance" every cruise, every cruise line. The people who tip more WILL get better service. The crew will go above and beyond knowing that they will be compensated. Sorry but it is just a fact of life. Do you realize how many people ask the crew for extra services and then leave the ship without tipping? Some of these very same people even remove the auto gratuities.
@@GeeBee212AGREE 💯% !! It’s a great way to show your appreciation up front, especially since I know a lot of people that either don’t tip at all or have their gratuities removed😢. Calling it “horrific” (comment before yours) is quite ridiculous & rude IMO 😉
I was on a cruise and all were told not to leave room service trays in the hall as they present a danger for walking.
We give a tip upon meeting our steward, not to ensure service but for thanks. We've left extra for extra service. And I at least pull up the duvet every morning...my mother would be proud!
We had the same wait staff on a 14 day Christmas/New Years cruise. They got to know our "quirks" and preferences and were so especially enjoyable. Diana's helper said at the end of the cruise that WE were so enjoyable to have served. We would have tipped them extra for making our dinners so special. We still leave extra for our steady wait staff. They knew my hubby needed the double espresso every night!
“Not to ensure service but for thanks”? Thanks for what? You literally have just laid eyes on your steward. I agree with all of the other things you do, but tipping before service seems insulting, especially since all of those extras and attention to preferences are very very typical from cruise staff. I have always received that kind of service, and sometimes above and beyond that, but reward appropriately at the end of the cruise.
Last year’s cruise on Carnival, we were asked to leave the tray in our room and call our room steward or room service to come pick them up. Seems like it has been a tripping hazard for folks visually impaired or with low vision.
@@bimiup1 very interesting. I wonder if this on all ships now?
"Seems"? Try definitely.
@@Shan_Dalamani that was a sarcastic “seems”
I start off with $100 per cabin and request 6 pillows , pillow top and ice. I continue to tip all week. I appreciate their help making my cruise relaxing .
Me too, except I only ask for pillowtop and a couple of extra pillows:)
We got our first pillow top last cruise. Didn’t know what we were missing. Great idea.
Excuse my ignorance, but what is a pillowtop?
@@lochiellass it’s an extra topper on the bed to make it softer. When then put the two twins together you may find they separate. The pillow top cover it and makes it more like a bed. So if you like cuddling it’s a big difference
@@CUTravel1st Thanks. We call those a Mattress Topper, which is what I thought you might mean. Good to learn something new today 😀
I always do prepaid tips and generously leave extra at the end. I also leave extra tips for really good bartenders. Of course this is for exceptional service, which I usually find.
@@donbarron5349 awesome! Thanks for sharing
I just finished a week cruise to Alaska and thank you for all your informative videos. I learned so much from watching them in the months leading up to my cruise as it was my first cruise.
Four days till our carnival cruise, your videos have helped so much thank you❤🌴
On our honeymoon we were on NCL Epic on a transatlantic repositioning cruise to BCN. We were in the dueling piano bar and my husband requested Billy Joel’s We didn’t start the fire. The musician actually said, “whoever just said that owes me a (insert beer brand here)” and started playing. My husband got the servers attention and bought the musician their beer. It was set down in front of him in the middle of the song and he was like omg I was kidding! And kept playing the song. When he finished the song he stood up and took a bow to a loud applause and drank his beer and said thank you and continued to take requests. It was so much fun.
We usually ask to have the same table/Servers in the Main Dining Room for the duration of the cruise, and tip a little each night. We have found that the Servers are very grateful and definitely seem to go the extra mile for us, however, we have had mixed results with "pre-tipping" our Room Attendant, and have now decided to wait until the end of the cruise to tip the attendant.
I tip at the end, I also don't tip the same. They all are great but some do go above and beyond.
Great video, cleared a few things up for me. I never was totally sure about food trays and plates. I try to leave things scraped down, stacked and covered. I've seen hallways trashed with food left outside . Poor stewards, it's so nasty for them and so easy to do it right. Thanks for all your good works helping us be more informed and better cruisers ❤❤
As a former restaurant employee & waitress, cleaning up after myself is HABIT. I don’t intend to offend anyone. I have always separated food & other wastes wherever possible. Even today: went after extra napkins to pick up a piece of gum on the floor of the restaurant.
My old school thought regarding pretipping....TIP....To Insure Promptness!
Funny story on our second cruise the seas were a bit rough . My husband was playing roulette and I went to lido to get us a couple hot dogs. I didn’t want to bring a whole plate to give him a hot dog so I noticed the little bags by the elevator! I put a hot dog in it, gave it to him, after he ate it he put his empty soda can in it and asked a crew member to throw it away. Later on I told my husband that I used a barf bag for his hot dog and he said “ that’s why he looked at me that way! “….. that poor guy didn’t know it was just trash haha
@@pennierea2115 oh my gosh, this is too funny 😂
So they don't recycle pop cans? I can't wrap my head around that.
As a Healthcare professional, I want to say, it is very dangerous to mix cleaners, especially in a closed space. Also, I once saw a man have a finger amputated cause he insisted in helping open a door for an employee, after the employee told him no. A father also passes out after agressively offering to hold his son for stitches. Please refrain from trying to "help". Thanks.
A tip is gratuity, which means you are thankful for something thing they did. I prefer to leave a tip after the cruise, especially if they did a great job..
😂😂😂 That was a funny story and I can see how that could be taken as being hit on….. lol! I have never brought a crew member a drink but I have purchased chocolates for a crew member daughters because he shared that he was going home soon after our cruise and his girls love chocolates. Then I add some candy canes in the bag because it was Christmas time! It was, still is a little hard to leave dishes outside the cabin, in the hallway, but now with less room service, that takes care of that! Thanks for sharing 🛳️🛳️
@@BeefromSC haha, we laughed about it too. Nice idea to make a package of sweets :)
I never leave plates in the hallway, I'm worried about people in wheelchairs having to navigate around my dirty dishes.
Exactly! Or medical staff rushing to an emergency with a gurney, or an emergency evacuation.......call to have your room service items picked up and leave them in the cabin please!
Thank you! My husband is mobility-challenged and items in the hall are difficult to navigate around. Often, he can't pass the cleaning cart (if it's just a half inch from the wall), so he's stuck waiting for me to get from our room to a main area. Sucks if it's a port day and I go out and he doesn't. Room service trays just add one more obstacle.
Don't leave trays or plates out in the hall. Most of the time they want you to call them and they'll send someone to pick it up (you don't have to be there). Leaving trays in the hall presents an obstacle for wheelchair and walker users. Just ask if you're unsure when they deliver the food and they'll tell you the procedure.
One of your best videos, in my opinion!
I've become more discouraged from giving feedback after a cruise we went on where we told the maitre d/restaurant manager that we loved our waiters, but the overall service was slow. This was when COVID was still affecting the industry's staff numbers more, but after we gave them the feedback, the waiters were acting different and were clearly not happy serving us after that.
It gave off the impression that the staff was yelled at and told we weren't happy with them, when we clarified with the manager that we know they're working very hard. I'd rather not upset someone that's handling my food or drink. It's not fair that the hard-working staff get the blame for low staff numbers, so I think twice now before saying anything to leadership.
@@james3910 that’s a good point. It’s honestly hard if you’re giving feedback on the moment, but not necessarily something they can change. You didn’t do anything wrong, but I’d probably only “complain” at the time, if there’s a possible solution that would be satisfactory. Likely this was just a bad time or situation. I’ve definitely felt bad for crew early on when they seemed understaffed & working so hard, so I understand what you mean
We had an amazing Steward on our last (first) cruise, and tipped him $10 daily, inside of a Thank Card, on top of the pre-paid gratuities.
@@ktaurus510 I’m sure that was appreciated
Our cabin attendant on MSC asked us to not put dishes in the hall. They said it can cause reprimands from supervisors to your cabin attendant, and to just leave them in the room for them to get.
I understand that some cruise lines ask that room service dishes be left on the floor of the hallway, but I think it’s a terrible idea. Consider the number of mobility challenged guests that need to get by. I have personally moved trays so people could get through. Such a hazard!
@@helent1835 I don’t like it either, and in some cases cruise lines will say to leave it in the cabin
At the beginning of the cruise when we first meet the attendant, we ask what we should do with room service trays. We do make a point of keeping our room tidy because (a) clutter makes the room seem smaller and (b) we don't want to make extra work for the cabin attendant. On the last day/night of the cruise we do tip not only our cabin attendant, but the dining room staff assigned to our table.
Many things not addressed here, but I'll mention one that most people don't even know it exists! There is a way to let the steward doing the tables in the MDR, that one is "done" with one's dinner..... and that is, putting the knife and fork going from "3 o'clock to 9 o'clock" (knife on top with serrated part looking down towards customer, and fork under knife with the prongs to the left (ie. 9 o'clock). If you ask any of the workers in the MDR, they ALL know this, so they should not even ask whether you are done or not, when placing these 2 pieces in the right place. "Try it..... you'll like it" (btw... other countries may have a slight variation of the above, but stewards know these, like going from "4 o'clock to 10 o'clock)
Another reason to leave your plates on the table in the buffet, is to ensure crew know that table needs cleaning for next guest.
Thank you for great info, as always! We have tipped our room attendant when we first meet them because I ask for extra towels, extra pillows, extra hangers, a full ice bucket, etc. The one time we never got to actually see and meet our room attendant and give that tip, I'm very sorry to say, we got the worst service ever. Obviously, it could have been that particular attendant, but we do still continue to give that "nice to meet you" upfront tip.
I just got back from an Alaskan cruise from the first full week in July. God put it on my heart to pray and then fill out encouragement notes based on words He gave me. The notes were actually seed paper in the shape of either a heart or a butterfly.
We had 48 total and had so much fun leaving them random places (to include a maid’s cart!) they were left in places either a crew or passenger could find them.
Great way to encourage a crew member, but also respect their personal time. And when they get back home, they can plant the note if they wish to do so :)
I find the crew LOVE when you bring good snacks. I met a lovely stewardess on a recent Royal cruise, and she mentioned one day the crew ship had run out of Cheetos. I was hailed a hero after arriving back to the ship the next day with a few bags for her, haha!
Great advice. My cabin crew introduced me to his supervisor and she gave me her card and said if I have a problem to give her a call, I said to the cabin crew member if I have a issue I'll contact you, he thank me.
I do tip a few times during the cruise, I tell them that I like to keep them happy. I saw that they do like it.
I never start a conversation with the crew members, but I see that they do like to converse with us. They do start long convos with us.
@@rifkymasri1065 great to know, sounds like it’s win win
Any cruiser who says not to tip, clearly has no idea how amazing that is to those crew members.
As a shareholder and top tier loyalty holder for 2 large cruise corporations, the single best way to make a crew member happy is to hand them cash.
And I’ve been to the crew bar in the evening many times because I’ve established relationships with senior staff and they’ve invited me.
We don’t provide drinks for staff but we never use our drink package total /day so we get cans of sofa and bring it back to our room and leave them in the fridge. We tell our room stewards we left sofa in our fridge for them and to take it to enjoy later. Apparently soda is quite expensive for them and they seem to enjoy this gesture.
Love that
Someone else suggested taking a picture of the face and name badge so when you fill out the survey at the end of your cruise you know who to give a shout out to
When I saw the picture of the hand with money, my first thought was "oh no! I tip all the way through the cruise! I shouldn't be doing it!" Thank goodness that wasn't the problem. I carry rolled up dollar bills, usually two to a roll, and tip servers, etc. as the day goes along.
@@elisa9833 same
I remember when the rules about crew/passenger fraternization were much more relaxed. I've attended a couple of crew parties many, many moons ago. I usually tip my cabin attendant in cash at the end of the cruise with a thank you card (this is over and above the standard tip that is usually added to your cruise fare). I also usually add a $2 tip to my liquor purchases over the included 18%. This ensures I get superior and prompt service at the pool bar or whatever venue I choose as my goto place which differs from cruise to cruise. Lastly, I usually drop off a box of Cuban cigars that I've bought on shore for the casino staff at some point during the cruise. They REALLY appreciate this.
I love the idea of asking my cabin attendant if they have a specialty coffee drink preference or would like for me to pick something up for them while I'm in port.
The crew works so hard and often are supporting families back home. I pick 5 crew members that improved my cruise and tip them extra.
Great video! I’ve been guilty of clearing and stacking plates during meals as well as pre-tipping my room attendant; thank you for the clarifications ❤
Leaving room service trays in the hall is a bad idea. Those halls are narrow and last cruise I went on with my sister in law, who uses a wheelchair, had a terrible time getting back and forth.
Your best video yet!!! I've cruised quite a bit, and just realized that helping with plates in the Lido deck is a bad idea! I know that the cruise lines work hard to separate food waste. Thanks so much!!!!
Crew members work very hard. We are always polite to them and thank them. Being nice doesn't cost anything. We also tip extra to our Steward and dining staff. Sometimes we tip before, sometimes we tip after. If it's a two week cruise we tip at the end of each week. I has nothing to do with better service.
The crew clearing plates only works on very well -staffed ships . Sometimes the pool area looks like a high school cafeteria, especially on sea days.
@@RAnnD78 this could be true, but there still isn’t a place to put things away on your own
HAL ships usually have a grey cart at the pool that you can place your plate/glass. I never leave it if I can't hand to a waiter directly.
@@lisabuchanan2714agree!
I understand the comments about not stacking or clearing your plates for the crew members but I will say I just recently got off a Carnival Cruise and while I was waiting for my parents to get their food I cleaned up my plates after I ate and I wiped off the crumbs on the table and put it onto my plate and covered it with a napkin. The crew member actually thanked me for it. He was like "that wasn't necessary but thank you you helped me", so I guess it could also be an individual thing too
Like in a hotel on land, I straighten things up but let the staff clean
@@christinagoggin9531 makes sense
I started tipping the cabin steward 20 years ago when it was just me and my 8-year-old son. At the beginning of the cruise, I would give them an extra tip and apologies for what my son was going to leave them during the cruise. During the day he would leave the kids area with his friends and go to the cabin to change and eat. Like most young kids there would be a mess in the cabin the cabin steward would have to take care of. Now I am 63 years old and am set in my ways. I tip extra at the beginning of the cruise because I want: a mattress topper, extra pillows, extra towels, and my cabin cleaned while I am at dinner. I ask for extra and expect to pay for it.
Ive found to tip extra in the beginning. Especially bartenders & food staff. With an occasional $5 tip as we go along in the cruise, they will service you FIRST, over other tourists waiting in line...
Great video.
Waitstaff and Cabin stewards work for tips. The prepaid gratuities get split among so many others, a note and $100/$200 is best for them bc they are tending to your personal needs/requests every day of the cruise.
Never thought of this before but giving a bar of chocolate to my room attendant when we arrive. We did tip them last time and our regular waiters and they were so incredibly grateful. They had made our holiday fantastic, they went above and beyond and we have a lovely photo with them and the one wanted a photo to send to his family back home.
I like to tip my cabin steward before hand because to many times I miss them at the end of the cruise. Also we have had stewards changed mid-cruise. This makes me feel better than just leaving an envelope and not having a personal connection with the person caring for us. Safe Travels.
Observation: Tipping is guided by the culture you are from, the culture you are visiting, and your own personality. I do think cruise tipping is unique because you are traveling with the same staff, sometimes for weeks or even months, who form a community all its own.
On a world cruise from Sydney to Sydney in 2014, we were reimbursed our entire gratuity fee because 99% of the passengers were Australians who do not tip. Being gratuitous Americans, we gave the staff generous tips our last day on board.
Our comments must be very confusing to first time cruisers. There is no one right answer. We have always received excellent service, even with special requests, by giving additional cash tips ,traditionally, quietly, in envelopes, face to face, with our sincere verbal gratitude. It works for us. To newbies I say, find what and how you are comfortable giving. Happy cruising!
I tip my cabin steward at the beginning of the cruise and I enjoy giving them a hundred dollar bill. It makes my day to see their excited face to get a nice tip like that.
I have never been on a cruise, but I am scheduled for next May. I really appreciate all of your tips.
On Viking Ocean we are told to call Room Service to have trays picked up. Do not leave them in the hall. In our staterooms we have a shelf with a coffee maker and/or and tea kettle to use. One time i thought i would be helpful and stacked our coffee cups on the tray room service picked up. Our room steward asked me what happened to the coffee service dishes and utensils so i told him. He very nicely said those dishes are specific to the staterooms, collected and replaced in conjuction with daily stateroom service. He had to make a separate trip to the room service kitchen to find them. It does help to ask before we try to help.
So glad I found your channel!! My mom and I just booked a mother/daughter cruise in Norway and we’ve been binging your videos to prepare and plan 😊
@@justanawesomeginger that’s awesome! Btw a Norway cruise video will be out this week
I only give additional gratuity after the cruise (I always pre tip on the card prior to the cruise) if I get extraordinary amazing service.
Thanks for sharing your experience. We often have the auto gratuity prepaid too, although it will depend for me how I booked
@@LifeWellCruised wait… because you know “insider” things… what about Celebrity and Royal? We only cruise with them so lmk if there’s a ship we shouldn’t prepay.
@@SipWatchTravel I meant if I book an inclusive package with tips. Groups often still have that
@@LifeWellCruised ohhhhh. Boo. I can’t do that. 😂
Interesting list Ilana.
Interesting about the trays in the hallway. On a cruise many years ago we were told not ti do it because trays in the hallway was ca safety hazard especially in an emergency. We were told to leave them in the cabin.
Tipping is a controversy. When our butler was extra helpful with my wife is setting up her phone & laptop with wifi I did tip him. I didn't say anything at the time. I think it was appropriate and yes he was probably a bit more attentive for the rest of the cruise.
Happy cruising Ilana.
@@rickk6700 it seems like it was something that went above & beyond & I’m sure you were appreciative
I have to agree with the other posters. A strong cash tip at the end of the cruise and an even stronger survey rating is what they want. I can only hope that the survey results that we leave make a difference for the crew.😊
Haha accidentally hitting on the piano player! 😜😂 He probably thought all his Christmases had come at once! 😊
🫢😂
I’m always the person who forgets to tip the housekeeper in a hotel, so I prepay tips beforehand. That way it’s all taken care of and I don’t have to worry that I’m forgetting something. I’ve had service that was above and beyond and will tip on top of that at the end of the sailing.
We take mattress toppers when we cruise as we find the beds are too hard for our comfort, so I always give the cabin Stewart $20 on arrival since the beds are already made and they have to strip them and remake them with the pads. We still tip them additionally at the end especially if we get great service.
My earliest cruises were in the late 1970s to the mid 1980, when any ship over 25,000 tons was considered "large." Experience has taught me that as the ships have grown, the rules have changed, and what was considered being polite became improper. Sadly, many older cruisers have not adapted to current protocols, and continue to live in the past. Thank you for explaining these changes.