Christmas and our room steward

[NKG6002]

I would like to leave something extra for our room steward who has to work on Christmas. Does anyone know the shift hours for the stewards ? Is there a daytime and evening steward or is only one assigned from making beds and cleaning room to turning the beds down at night? Thanks in advance !

[riffatsea]

One steward but may have "helpers" who work throughout the day. You can't tell for sure until you are on board. Remember money for tips is better than small doodads. Not everyone celebrates Christmas so don't assume working on that day is a burden.

[wrigley80]

They will work a morning shift an evening turndown shift. There are 2 that work together. Your head room steward and then an assistant

[MexicanMama]

What you are suggesting is kind and thoughtful, but what they would want is cash. The quarters that they live in are tiny, less than half the size of a normal stateroom and they also have to share this area with another person. They don't have room for extras. They miss their children terribly and are doing their very best to support their families back home. On a Princess cruise we had an amazing stewardess, we asked her lots of questions and she was so kind to share her life with us. She works for 9 months on, 3 months off. Her husband can't find work at home so he stays home with the children while she is away for them 9 months of the year! Six days after she was home for her last time off her oldest son died. She was back at work and away from her family and support system, for 9 months, less than 3 months after he died. This is how important these jobs are to most of these amazing people. Give them cash for their families.

[Orison]

I would like to leave something extra for our room steward who has to work on Christmas. Does anyone know the shift hours for the stewards ? Is there a daytime and evening steward or is only one assigned from making beds and cleaning room to turning the beds down at night? Thanks in advance !

 

Although he or she may not even else rate or know about Christmas, anything extra should be nothing but cash.

[riffatsea]

Just to be clear, they don't all have an assistant. Sometimes they do the AM and evening themselves.

 

[tbbtravels]

What you are suggesting is kind and thoughtful, but what they would want is cash. The quarters that they live in are tiny, less than half the size of a normal stateroom and they also have to share this area with another person. They don't have room for extras. They miss their children terribly and are doing their very best to support their families back home. On a Princess cruise we had an amazing stewardess, we asked her lots of questions and she was so kind to share her life with us. She works for 9 months on, 3 months off. Her husband can't find work at home so he stays home with the children while she is away for them 9 months of the year! Six days after she was home for her last time off her oldest son died. She was back at work and away from her family and support system, for 9 months, less than 3 months after he died. This is how important these jobs are to most of these amazing people. Give them cash for their families.

 

 

I am doing both candy and cash this time. I have read some like the candy and I know you can't go wrong with green. I get casino perks and normally give them to my stewards - most like the junk food and alcohol - I know they can pass it along if they don't like it.

I just want to leave them something to make them smile and know that I appreciated their efforts. Chocolate has that effect.

Most of the staff go above and beyond to make sure we are happy. I have cruised with the workers than do exactly what they are suppose to and not 1 thing more and I have cruised with the ones that hang out and chat and try extra hard. Those are the ones I want to make smile with chocolate if I can.

[tbbtravels]

Just to be clear, they don't all have an assistant. Sometimes they do the AM and evening themselves.

 

 

And their tips depend on how many work with them and how many rooms they have as well.

 

I took a behind the scenes tour on carnival last month on the Conquest. I found out they NORMALLY make between 50.00 and 100.00 every 2 weeks and then their tips. The guide said that salary was normal for carnival for both room stewards and food wait staff.

Like a previous poster said about princess - carnival also works contracts at 6 to 9 months and then they get 2 or 3 months off as vacation. Carnival flies them home and back.

Also 1 last thing I found interesting - carnival ship contract employees pay tips too. They don't make their own beds, wash their clothes or cook their own food - so they pay tips too.

[serene56]

cabin stewards are supposed to be "off" between the hours of noon and 5pm.

 

The assistants you see are hired by the cabin steward and they are paid by the steward.

 

cash is the best gift they do not need our stuff from home.

 

as for candy-- grand daughter gives out hershey kisses for valentines day as that is when we sail. Do you know that not one of those people know what a hershey kiss was?

[MrsPhoenix91]

as for candy-- grand daughter gives out hershey kisses for valentines day as that is when we sail. Do you know that not one of those people know what a hershey kiss was?

 

 

Not surprising at all, but I bet they knew what to do with the money!

[cb at sea]

Nice thought, but they work for money, just like you do!

[ccruisequeen]

Perhaps a phone card so they can call family from port.

 

 

I still cruise for Warm Chocolate Melting Cake (with 2 sugar-free vanilla ice-creams)

[Orison]

Perhaps a phone card so they can call family from port.

 

 

I still cruise for Warm Chocolate Melting Cake (with 2 sugar-free vanilla ice-creams)

 

That's so 90's. These days it's skype and facechat. For free.

[Orison]

cabin stewards are supposed to be "off" between the hours of noon and 5pm.

 

The assistants you see are hired by the cabin steward and they are paid by the steward.

 

cash is the best gift they do not need our stuff from home.

 

as for candy-- grand daughter gives out hershey kisses for valentines day as that is when we sail. Do you know that not one of those people know what a hershey kiss was?

 

You will find most "foreigners" don't understand our love for mostly bad chocolate.

[Lerin]

 

as for candy-- grand daughter gives out hershey kisses for valentines day as that is when we sail. Do you know that not one of those people know what a hershey kiss was?

Good gracious why would they? Why would anyone outside the USA(aka: crappy chocolate makers of the world) know anything about Hershey?

I do notice the person who posted this is from PN so I understand if that is a part of your life ;)

 

Agree with the majority: cash, cash, cash, and leave a nice note on the comment card.

[evandbob]

I would like to leave something extra for our room steward who has to work on Christmas. Does anyone know the shift hours for the stewards ? Is there a daytime and evening steward or is only one assigned from making beds and cleaning room to turning the beds down at night? Thanks in advance !

 

$$$

[tbbtravels]

 

$$$

 

Are you sure Bob? :D

[tbbtravels]

 

$$$

 

Are you sure Bob? :D I was hunting a giggle face , hah we don't have one.;)

[NKG6002]

I planned on a pre-paid calling card :-)

[mommom of 7]

That's so 90's. These days it's skype and facechat. For free.

 

No this is not free !!!!!!!!!!!! That is why when you are in port you see any staff & crew that is off head to the free wi fi just like the rest of us. It is always said just follow the crew & they will take you to free.

As far as them tipping yes they do tip the steward's just like we do.

They do there own laundry & the staff can send theirs out BUT it comes back the same gray white as ours. I'm sure the Captain get's his done, will ask next week when we meet him.

Char

[firemanbobswife]

I planned on a pre-paid calling card :-)

 

 

That is a sweet gesture, but a lot of crew have prepaid US cell phones that they use when they are in US ports to call back home so they don't use the calling cards. Plus they also can also use wi-fi while on the ship. That's not free, either, but the days of the calling cards I think are going away.

 

I would say stick with cash and maybe a small picture of your family (or take one with them and have it developed on the ship if you want it to be even more special). Put your name, sailing date, and email address if you want to give them the option to keep in touch.

[loubetti]

CASH is KING!

 

Don't give candy, they may not like it! Almost no one on these ships is American. Do not assume that they will like what we do.

 

If you want, buy a generic "holiday" card (not Christmas) and put your cash in it.

 

We need to make a sticky post about this!

 

Just give CASH

[forwardcabin]

We gave our cabin steward a really big tip after he left this for us one night...

 

[evandbob]

Are you sure Bob? :D I was hunting a giggle face , hah we don't have one.;)

 

Absolutely, Tina, $$$ = universal language:D