NatureTravelPants

The point of the Vegas shooting is that when an extreme and unforeseen act of violence occurs, many companies/events in related fields will look at increasing their security measures so that it doesn’t happen there. Most of these security increases are fluff that have no real effect on preventing future crime; moreso that if it ever does happen again they can point to the additional security measures that they took. I find it hard to believe that most hotels are ok with someone occupying a room for a week or more and no employees stopping by the room in that time. It’s unusual and arouses suspicion.

 

 

 

 

 

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Sure, this link is from a hippy-dippy blog but it points to real incentives some hotels are giving guests who decline housekeeping: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mnn.com/lifestyle/eco-tourism/blogs/amp/skip-housekeeping-during-your-next-hotel-visit

So not all hotels would find this supicious or unusual.

I just checked out the ship, it looks like all cabins have an abundance of windows and light. It's an upscale ship, with upscale clientele, I would say it would seem out of place for a passenger to totally pass on cabin service. These passengers thrive on the ultimate experiences. With the passing on cabin service, what else would the OP decline on. Seems to me IF I EVER had the occasion to experience something like this, I would ultimately take advantage of everything offered..

 

OH, I hope the OP does take advantage of any laundry service on board...

You mentioned the high level of service. I would think that includes catering more to the needs of an individual client. In my case, it would be reduced service. If it's out of place, I don't mind. I'm paying a lot of money for this cruise and I want to be comfortable. The price alone should allow me to have that. With only 16 passengers I don't think I'll feel out of place for long. I'm sure I'll make friends with fellow passengers and staff. I don't plan on using laundry service unless I were to have a bag go missing. It's only 8 days.

I also leave my rooms very clean upon check out. :)

I can think of several reasons.

 

They need to make sure that someone isn't trashing the room; that someone isn't sick/collapsed/dead; that there hasn't been a crime committed, or someone hasn't jumped overboard, etc. Even housekeeping things related to plumbing/air conditioning etc. mean staff has to access the cabin. You may find deliveries - wine, fruit, etc. from a travel agent, family/friend, loyalty ambassador.

 

I just don't think you can compare a hotel room to a cabin on a moving ship. Big difference between spending a few days in a hotel room and often 7 or more on a ship. I frequently spend 10 or more days in the same cabin; don't spend that long in the same hotel room.

 

I just think having housekeeping or security check a room is a routine occurrence. Quite honestly I think the majority of passengers enjoy the extra pampering and not having to clean up, change the linens, etc.

All of your listed reasons can apply to a hotel room as well except for jumping overboard. None of them have to do with increased security in the wake of the Vegas shooting, which is what my reply was referencing. I agree the majority of passengers probably do enjoy these services and I'm very happy they get to experience them. I prefer not to, which should also be fine.

Due the shooting in Vegas last year, if someone refuses to let housekeeping in at least every other day it's now raising a red flag

What is your source for this information?

Edit: Okay, interesting, I was able to see that Disney resorts and Hilton HOTELS have started policies to check on rooms more often. I've traveled a lot since the Vegas shooting and have not had any problems with my request. I tend to not stay in the same hotel for long. I also frequent B&B's, air B&B's, and Inns - not major chains. Much of my travel is abroad where hotel owners aren't on as high an alert.

I'm not sure why a cruise ship would have the same concern. Don't they screen your luggage before boarding?

I’m not sure why people are saying the steward will come in no matter what, security may get involved... I typically do not have my room cleaned on a cruise. I, too, don’t like people in my room when I’m not there. Usually I will see the steward in the hall cleaning rooms at some point and ask for new towels and trash removal. It happens while I’m still in the room. Totally not a big deal.

Your answer helps. I just may book more cruises knowing this. Ha, I knew I couldn't be the only one who felt this way. :)

Why bother the captain with this? Speak with Head of Housekeeping if you feel it necessary to go over the steward's head. :) IMO.[/quote

 

It doesn't matter. There are nine staff members on the boat. I'll find the most appropriate and talk to them. :)

Eight cabins or two thousand cabins it is still a cruise. Still has guest services, security, housekeeping, etc, the difference is one person may do several jobs. But being a small boat it will be even easier, just talk to the Captain and express that you do not want staff in your cabin. It will not be a issue.

I will do that. You have been very helpful! :)

As already noted, there are only 18 passengers on the catamaran. Steward will have multiple duties thus totally different than a cruise ship. Not sure how tips are handled and OP did not comment.

Gratuities have been included in our price but I'd like to tip a little on top of that if service on board is really good. I would imagine the steward would still have other duties and possibly opportunities for me to tip. If everything runs smoothly service-wise I plan on leaving a little money in our room on the last day, too.

I did not realize that Celebrity now has several ships in the Galapagos. I have been on a Catamaran of that size in French Polynesia. The housekeeper was one person who also did other jobs in addition to cleaning our cabin. The luggage may be taken directly to the ship at a smaller pier that our larger ship could not access. The catamaran was a lot of fun. Enjoy!

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I am so excited for this!

not going on a "cruise"

 

all discussion is moot ......

 

sounds more like a dive 'liveaboard' to me ....

 

any comparison to a 'cruise' is accidental!

Weird, it was marketed by Celebrity as a cruise... Anyway, I don't think it's fair to say the discussion is moot. I had a legitimate question and I've found some of the responses to be very helpful. If I got something out of it, it's not a moot discussion.

I've seen the prices on the kind of trip you are taking, as as much as I would really like to, I don't think I'll ever choose to do it. But I hope it's a bargain for you.

 

Would you mind talking about how you get there? (no costs, just the logistics)

I booked all my own flights directly. We're using American Airlines from Miami and flying into Guayaquil two days before the cruise. The next afternoon we're flying LATAM to Balta, taking the 10-minute ferry to Santa Cruz, and staying one night there. We will arrange transfer back up to Baltra to meet up with the cruise people late the next morning. After disembarking on the last day of the cruise, we're flying back to Guayaquil and staying over night before heading back to the states. I like to keep some buffer time between flying in and out in case of delays.

Ideally, we would have liked to spend time exploring mainland Ecuador. If we had more time it would have made more sense to fly in and out of Quito. Unfortunately, our work schedules do not allow more time. We will save mainland Ecuador exploration for another trip - perhaps combining with an Amazon adventure!

I like to book directly with hotels and airlines, so booking a cruise is very different for me. It's a lot of money but I don't see myself (at this point) booking any other cruises. The only exception would be an Antarctica trip - that one would have to be a cruise as well.

Maybe the Celebrity ship is different, but I've been researching Galapagos trips this weekend (on private boats). Most (if not all) of them do not allow toilet paper in the toilets (like you often find in developing countries). That is trash I would definitely want taken out daily, so you would want to check on that.

Haha, yeah I read that too and thought that might be the case. If so, they can certainly take the trash out every day, which I am fine with. I still don't want them making the bed or cleaning the room. Actually, ESPECIALLY if they are handling baskets of used toilet paper - all the more reason to limit the amount of things they handle in my room on a daily basis.

Why are you ignoring those that want to know how often you change your sheets at home? I don't know ANYONE that does this.

I think you meant to reply to pris993. No one has asked me how often I change my sheets and I never brought it up. (And I don't know anyone who changes their sheets every day or requests it in hotels.)

.

 

I started a similar thread before. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2540639

Consensus was a bit that you'd "be screwing up the system". Which is not how the steward reacted, but simply asking couldn't hurt I guess.

Thank you - the thread you started is helpful! I read through the responses. Many seem a bit over-the-top. I will just be straightforward with the steward from the beginning but will stay open-minded about their possible reactions. I'm not sure why it is so different on a cruise ship - housekeeping inspections, etc. It seems excessive. It really should be just like turning down services at a hotel.

Lol, but think of all the repurcussions. There will be so many quitting their jobs to become a cabin steward on a Galapagos islands cruise!

How many people do you know, who get PAID to relax and enjoy a free cruise to the exotic Galapagos islands???

That's not how a business works. If there were no demand for a service, the company would have no need to employ people to provide that service. Many people like to be pampered on a cruise so that hypothetical situation won't happen.

I have been paid to do some amazing traveling. If my housekeeping refusal means the steward on my trip gets an easier job for one week in the Galapagos, I have no reason to be jealous of that. I seriously doubt everyone on my cruise will decline these services.

Now we have gotten off topic.

Normally, a room steward services 15 cabins on a regular cruise. So, a catamaran with only 8 cabins may have only 1 room steward.

If the other 7 cabins are as kind as you and relieve him of his duties, he will be the luckiest room steward.

Getting paid a salary plus gratuities to relax and enjoy a FREE Galpagos cruise!

That would be fine with me: win-win :)

Considering the exhorbitant price of the Galpagos cruise, Celebrity has trouble even selling the 8 cabins.

How much did this cruise cost? Do you really think that it is worth it?

The price was high but comparable to other companies we were considering. We chose this because we had strict dates our cruise had to fit into. Also the boat and room looked clean and the catamaran seemed more stable in the water compared to the smaller yachts we were also looking into.

I can speak more to the value of the cruise once we return.

I think everyone who responded assumed you were sailing on a regular Celebrity cruise ship. Responses were all geared to cruise ships - hallways, do not disturb signs, servicing of the cabin, security, etc.

 

I think most respondents did not realize the Xploration is not a cruise ship. It is a catamaran with 16 cabins - very different!

 

Perhaps you should ask on the Celebrity board as to how the catamaran is serviced. Might be totally different than a Celebrity cruise ship.

That's a good suggestion. I didn't think of that. Thank you!!

First of all, there have been so many responses. Thank you for your time and thoughts!

We are all individuals and have different values, expectations, and comfort levels - clearly. And that's okay. I don't require or want my bed made or turned down. Trash removal is nice and can happen every couple days. I'd like to request towels when I need them. Other than that, I don't like the idea of anyone in my room when I am not there. Someone mentioned a "worst case scenario": steward folding my pajamas and putting my sunglasses on a towel animal. I would hate this and find it an invasion of my privacy. These are the kinds of things I am trying to avoid.

I have traveled in many different countries and have never had a problem with refusing housekeeping in a hotel. The point of my question was to gauge if it's much different on a cruise ship. It seems like they are entering the room several times a day more than a typical hotel and offering more "services" I don't want.

And I am not so worried about security and suspicions. We will be on a boat with only 16 passengers. I am sure we will all know each other well within a day or so!

Thank you! That makes me feel better!

I recently booked a Galapagos cruise for 7 nights on Celebrity Xploration. I have never taken a cruise before in my life but I am really excited about this one! Seeing the Galapagos is my dream!

I travel a lot in and out of the US. One thing I dislike is housekeeping entering my hotel room. For multiple-night stays in a land-based hotel, I always keep the 'do not disturb' sign up and tell the front desk I don't want any interruptions. I ask when I need new towels. I set the room up how I like it after check-in and don't like the idea of someone being in there when I am away. I won't get into all the reasons but it makes me very anxious and stressed-out.

I realize this will be different on a 7-night cruise. We may need trash taken out and new towels periodically - I just don't think we need it every day. Ugh, one review says this staff enters your cabin SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. Is this true? Can I refuse at least some of the housekeeping/services as I do in a hotel?

If I have to compromise for my dream trip, so be it. I just want to know what to expect and prepare for. :)