SHould I bring a gift for my room Steward when I arrive?

[summersigh]

Just give them CASH :D We've never given cash tips at the start of the cruise.

 

We give extra $$ at the end of the cruise if the service was very good. We always leave the auto-gratuities in place. The stewards know who does that and who takes them off. ;)

[Anthomaniac]

Money. Their rooms are very small, they don't have room for "stuff" just give them money and a hand written note

 

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[RecoveryDude]

I have found that giving them $20 the first day gives me first class service all cruise ... they call me by name and bend over backwards to make me happy.

[maryred]

I agree with they previous posters cash is what the crew wants the most, seconded only by a letter of recognition to their on board supervisor. When you give them cash above and beyond the auto-gratuities the crew is usually able to use that to live off that of while on board and to send their entire paycheck home to family (most via a direct deposit format). Tipping to the crew is best done personally as the extra service is done, otherwise an envelope with the crew member's name left on the desk or dinner table at the end of the cruise is acceptable.

How much to give the crew and how often is a personal preference. For the cabin's cleaning crew and our MDR waiter servers we usually figure $3-5 per day is appropriate for their normal services on top of the auto-gratuities. We do give more if they go beyond or if we ask for special things.

As for the letter of recommendation, this gives a crew member bargaining points when it's time for their contract renewal. This could mean to them the ability to negotiate for better assignments within their division, extra days off, or training opportunities for a different position. In fact in the past year on 1 of our cruises on the Pride we were very impressed by a young man from the general housekeeping assigned to the deck 2. Every morning he would spend about 5 minutes talking to me while I would have my first cup of caffeine from the specialty coffee bar. He was trying to improve his English so he could move up to working as a cabin steward. In addition to that whenever he saw us in the casino he would ask if we wanted a drink server to come over. So when we had a chance we spoke directly to his head of department. Our next cruise on the Pride we found out that Carnival was paying for him to stay in the States to attend language and extra training courses to start him on the road to becoming a supervisor (apparently we were not the only passengers to note his extra hard work).

The only time it is appropriate to give a crew member a gift is if they indicate they want or need something. On the Splendor about 4 years ago one of the bartenders we frequented stated how much she like socks from a particular shop in 1 port but her day off was not at that port this contract. Since we generally shopped there we had no problem buying several pairs of socks which we gave her instead of extra cash tips each night.

[pascalburns]

you can give something at the start or end of the cruise.

you decide what or how much to give.:cool:

[summersigh]

In addition to giving a staff member, such as your cabin steward, extra cash, there is something else you can do that will be much better than a candy bar or some other gift. Write a letter to Carnival about the staff member, explaining how that person made your cruise an enjoyable and memorable vacation. Be sure to mention the person by name, and give details of what that person did to make you feel special. Letters of praise go into the member's personnel file, and mean a lot when it's time for a promotion.

Ditto !! :D

We always tip extra $$ at the end of the cruise for especially good service - like getting our ice filled 2x a day. :D We've never felt it necessary to tip beforehand - and we never remove the auto-gratuities. Staff can tell who does that and if you take the autos off but tip in cash the staff is required to turn that amount into the tip pool - not into their pocket.

[bnorris10]

Always tip cash and keep in mind gratuity beyond your daily charge is optional - I only give it if they deserve it - I have previously tipped before hand to try and get better service but now I tip afterwards or at the time of the good service

[kycruiser307]

Thanks! I will make sure I give my steward an extra CA$H tip on top of the one included in the cost. I have waited tables and understand how we depend on tips, I also loved all the special gifts my customers gave me. But in this case... I like the CA$H and note to Carnival. I like good service, I recognize good service, and reward for good service. : ) 6 days until my next cruise. Yipee

[ray98]

I have found that giving them $20 the first day gives me first class service all cruise ... they call me by name and bend over backwards to make me happy.

 

 

 

I get that same service and I tip at the end like normal.

[ryano]

I have found that giving them $20 the first day gives me first class service all cruise ... they call me by name and bend over backwards to make me happy.

 

 

And I dont tip the first day and get the very same thing :p:cool:

[linbobky]

I get that same service and I tip at the end like normal.

likewise! But, when I need something that is out of the norm I will leave a note and a couple of bucks on the note!:D

[JAMST3RZ]

Some people give a $5 every other day so on a 7 day they will still get $20 overall.

 

 

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[Jamericannn]

Cash is King. That's what they want.

 

 

I agree. Cash is better. They can get what they want. You don't want to take a gift that they don't really need.

[h_blond2]

Cash. That's why they are working....for the money, not the gifts.

[Anthomaniac]

Also, think about scale. If even two people give a gift every cruise and they work on 35 cruises per year, that's 70 t-shirts or trinkets. Just give money and a note at guest services about their good service.

 

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[sturderick]

I guess you get the message that most people think a little extra $$$ is the way to go. Just look at it this way...remember in Christmas Vacation when Clark Griswald got the Jelly of the Month Club instead of his usual Christmas bonus??? That should answer your question haha ;). I'm sure whatever you decide will be appreciated!!

 

Have fun on your cruise :cool:.

[cb at sea]

Do you bring a "gift" to the housekeeper in a hotel? Well, that's what the cabin attendant is...your "housekeeper"....

 

You will be charged tips that go to the attendant, waiters, ass't waiters and head waiter. You can tip more, if you feel the service warrants it.

 

Do you work for "gifts" or for money? There's your answer. You cabin attendant isn't a "friend"....they will be nice to you, but there is no need to bring gifts!

[WELDON]

I always write down my steward's name if I don't get a business card from them. I also write down the names of the waitstaff. When filling out the survey, a nice compliment about the people who serve you during a cruise goes a long way. Also if you need to check off something from 1-10 or poor to excellent, unless you put 10 or excellent, it is the same as poor. This helps the crew get better opportunities.

[nhsails]

Let's put it in a simple context: you get your end if year pay check, instead of Holiday Bonus you get a candy bar & tee shirt from your bosses vacation. See, easy. Cash if you ask them to go above normal duties or they volunteerily do. Simple.

[bucks724]

We gave extra cash (in addition to auto grats) at the end. And yes, a hug. Initiated by our cabin steward and welcomed by all three of us.

[Je Souhaite]

I have heard people say be sure to bring a gift for your room Steward to present to them when you arrive, because they make very little money and work so hard, and have so little, or to guarantee great service... I have heard suggestions of Int'l phone cards, candy bars, snacks,gift representing your home state, etc... and others say they don't want your stuff they have all the food and snacks they want and phone cards... Just give them CASH. What do you all think? WHat do you do? I will be on Carnival Sensation and I plan to tip but this is in addition to the tips.

 

Just bring cash. They don't leave their families at 6 months at a clip to get trinkets they will only be throwing away.

 

Phone cards are so 90's with Facetime and the like, they don't understand American love affair with bad chocolate, and they could careless about the rest, which according to their FB pages, make them think you think they are pets.

[Havingfun2010]

I have heard people say be sure to bring a gift for your room Steward to present to them when you arrive, because they make very little money and work so hard, and have so little, or to guarantee great service... I have heard suggestions of Int'l phone cards, candy bars, snacks,gift representing your home state, etc... and others say they don't want your stuff they have all the food and snacks they want and phone cards... Just give them CASH. What do you all think? WHat do you do? I will be on Carnival Sensation and I plan to tip but this is in addition to the tips.

 

Put yourself in their shoes. Do you want a bunch of garbage gifts that you need to throw out after each week, or do you want cash. They have all the food they need. They have internet service on the ship, so having phone cards are useless. If they want a candy bar, they can buy it. Why would they care about your home state? These people are not little children, but adults doing a job that they want to do. If someone came to your job and gave you a bunch of random, tourist gifts, what would you do? Remember, 25 rooms a week, 100 rooms a month, 2600 rooms a contract period. Do you want 2600 candy bars? Or do you want 2,600.00 extra in tips, so you can buy 2600 candy bars yourself!!!!!!!

[easyboy]

Just cash. Easier for you to bring, and for them to keep.

[DirtyDawg]

Just cash. Easier for you to bring, and for them to keep.

 

 

Another vote for cash. Pay it at the end, or at the beginning, or in the middle, but as long as it's cash, it's always good.

 

P.S. If you happen to be from Canada, don't give them our colourful plastic stuff, give them the boring green paper stuff.

;)

[crazyboys]

I have heard people say be sure to bring a gift for your room Steward to present to them when you arrive, because they make very little money and work so hard, and have so little, or to guarantee great service... I have heard suggestions of Int'l phone cards, candy bars, snacks,gift representing your home state, etc... and others say they don't want your stuff they have all the food and snacks they want and phone cards... Just give them CASH. What do you all think? WHat do you do? I will be on Carnival Sensation and I plan to tip but this is in addition to the tips.

 

I went on a cruise with my Sister last year and she had already pre-made one dollar bills in heart shapes that had like a little flower design right in the middle of the heart. I bet she had at least $100 of one dollar bills that she passed out as tips. The crew was so amazed and appreciated them so much. One crew member even told my Sister that she had heard from other crew members that there was a lady giving out "money hearts". It seemed to be a big hit. We even did some $20 money hearts for our wait staff and they wanted to learn how to make them, so we showed them. Just a thought.