Comfort Card....What do you choose?

[firemanbobswife]

I've never been presented with a card but if I am on my next cruise, I am seriously considering selecting PM only.

 

When I cruise, I do so to relax and get sleep. I'm always worried about sleeping in so they can get to my cabin in the mornings. And when I'm in an inside cabin I get the BEST sleep. You can't tell what time it is and I'm constantly checking my alarm clock to make sure I'm out of my cabin by 10AM.

 

I take my showers at night and of course before dinner if I've been laying out or it's really hot or what have you, so I will just simply ask my room steward for fresh towels in the hall if I need them. My cabin never really requires tidying up as I am a super neat and organized person. If it weren't for my few things on the desk, you wouldn't know anyone was in there.

[ABQrobin]

we pick AM.... I like to have our beds made while we are out in morning. If we take an afternoon nap, no big deal. Steward always stops back by later in day to drop off new Funtimes, etc. Or ask if we need anything else.

 

Funny....our last cruise on the Freedom, our steward commented that he sees us more than most of his guests. We are in and out of room all day long, to get things, to change clothes, etc. He said some people he never sees after the first day as they have their 'do not disturb' sign out during day, then are gone out all evening. Us, never...we don't do casino or clubs, in bed by 9-10pm every night but up at 6am to go workout. It must be hard for the stewards to keep track of their rooms and what schedules everyone is on... who needs more 'service' and who doesn't want to be bothered all day. Its a job I would never want...

 

robin

[Techman360]

We just had our first cruise ever last month and I read so much about this before. On embark day my wife was the one that meet with our room steward as I was on deck or something. She did not know you could ask for both or that if you chose AM more than likely you would not get a towel animal at night which our ten year old was really looking forward to. When I told her that she went back down and when she came back said she ask for PM instead... I told her she could ask for both. But everything was great in the end. AM or PM towels were generally refolded or exchange and there was always ice in the bucket. One evening she did miss a towel animal but when we pointed it out, she made up to our 10 year old with two animals the next night including his requested monkey. First request was one of those huge alligators but we told him there was no way on that one. All in all we were both very impressed with the service and it sounds like what ever you choose, they will either still check in, if they have time maybe, and definitely work with special requests. I definitely can understand how the veteran cruisers dislike this change but for me, even when I travel for work I will put the do not disturb on my door a few day a week as I don't need someone cleaning my room daily. So we had no issue with this new policy.

[Yvonne]

We chose evening service. Before having a choice I sometimes told the room steward they didn't need to bother with our room the next morning, or I would just put a sticky note on the door letting them know that. I love not having to worry about leaving the room in the morning before I'm ready to, so the steward can clean. We are generally out of the room all evening so they have plenty of time to clean it then. We asked for ice, and extra towels. I honestly don't mind making our own bed in the morning, it only takes a couple of minutes. Having only once a day cleaning wouldn't be a deal breaker for me, you only get once a day in a hotel so really what's the difference?

[zdcatc12]

Was asked on the Legend in September, but never asked a few weeks ago on the Legend. The steward just asked what times we wanted. Just wondering, if they go down to once a day, does anyone ever reduce gratuities? For as long as I have been cruising, the gratuity has been based on twice a day service.

[WetToes]

Was asked on the Legend in September, but never asked a few weeks ago on the Legend. The steward just asked what times we wanted. Just wondering, if they go down to once a day, does anyone ever reduce gratuities? For as long as I have been cruising, the gratuity has been based on twice a day service.

 

 

If you read some of the comments above - it will be done.

I wouldn't reduce them.

[bury me at sea]

Just wondering, if they go down to once a day, does anyone ever reduce gratuities? For as long as I have been cruising, the gratuity has been based on twice a day service.

 

Naturally I will. I can't think of any instance where I would pay the same rate for half the service.

[Saint Greg]

I'd prefer PM because it's easier to be out of the room for that but since they start cleaning on day two, you've really been in the room for two days by the time the first service rolls around...so I switched to AM on the last cruise.

[firemanbobswife]

The way I look at it is if I select once a day service, then no I will not reduce tips. It's not that much of a difference anyway and isn't with the hassle trying to halve the RS portion.

 

Now if I am forced into it either by the cruise line or the room steward, then I may reconsider.

[Cushing985]

What are the typical time for AM and PM? My boyfriend is a late sleeper, so on sea days he's not going to like being disturbed. When we stay in hotels, we never get housekeeping the entire time we're there. I'm a bit OCD so our rooms are always tidy. I guess I'm asking if you HAVE to have it at all?

 

Well, that's the beauty of the "Comfort" card. It lets you pick and choose what services you want. In other words, it lets you customize the services the cabin steward provides. Unfortunately, there are some rogue stewards who insist it's AM or PM but not both. A trip to Guest Services normally takes care of that.

Edited July 8, 2017 by Cushing985

[Saint Greg]

I only choose AM. I know I'll be out most of the day. When I come back in the afternoon everything is done.

I may take an afternoon nap, or lie in bed. The steward still freshened up the room in the evenings, and left an animal.

Some nights I come back to the cabin early. I don't want to find the steward there.

 

May depend on the ship. When I had AM all they did at night was leave a fun times in a box outside my door.

[Cushing985]

Was asked on the Legend in September, but never asked a few weeks ago on the Legend. The steward just asked what times we wanted. Just wondering, if they go down to once a day, does anyone ever reduce gratuities? For as long as I have been cruising, the gratuity has been based on twice a day service.

 

We wouldn't reduce but I wouldn't leave anything extra as we normally do.

[tef43]

What's your preference and why?

Both, because that is what I want. I do not need any more reason.

[tef43]

Was asked on the Legend in September, but never asked a few weeks ago on the Legend. The steward just asked what times we wanted. Just wondering, if they go down to once a day, does anyone ever reduce gratuities? For as long as I have been cruising, the gratuity has been based on twice a day service.

If I select 2x, and the steward only provides 1x, then I will reduce tips and raise a ruckus with Guest Services.

[bury me at sea]

The way I look at it is if I select once a day service, then no I will not reduce tips. It's not that much of a difference anyway and isn't with the hassle trying to halve the RS portion.

 

Now if I am forced into it either by the cruise line or the room steward, then I may reconsider.

 

I will choose two as long as it's an option and will continue to tip as in the past. If Carnival reduces the service to once a day, then I will reduce the approximate $4.00 per person per day for cabin service by half. Not a hassle at all.

[firemanbobswife]

I will choose two as long as it's an option and will continue to tip as in the past. If Carnival reduces the service to once a day, then I will reduce the approximate $4.00 per person per day for cabin service by half. Not a hassle at all.

 

 

Like I said if I'm forced into it, then I might. If I voluntarily select once a day then it's not worth the hassle to go to GS and worry about $14.

[WiCruiseDreamer]

Was asked on the Legend in September, but never asked a few weeks ago on the Legend. The steward just asked what times we wanted. Just wondering, if they go down to once a day, does anyone ever reduce gratuities? For as long as I have been cruising, the gratuity has been based on twice a day service.

 

 

 

Gratuity should be based on quality not quantity.

[Towel Critter]

Gratuity should be based on quality not quantity.

I'm not sure that quality and quantity can be separated when it comes to service. If a waitperson only refills my glass once, but does it expertly, should he/she get the same tip as a waitperson who refills my glass multiple times and also does it expertly? The answer to that is, if you only desired your glass to refilled once, then yes. If you really wanted your glass refilled twice, but only had it refilled once, then no.:)

[deborahjo]

Well, that's the beauty of the "Comfort" card. It lets you pick and choose what services you want. In other words, it lets you customize the services the cabin steward provides. Unfortunately, there are some rogue stewards who insist it's AM or PM but not both. A trip to Guest Services normally takes care of that.

 

 

 

I would say it is the only way to cure a steward who insist on am or pm. Guest Services will fix it thru Housekeeping right away.

 

 

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[deborahjo]

We wouldn't reduce but I wouldn't leave anything extra as we normally

 

Wrong post

 

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[deborahjo]

If I select 2x, and the steward only provides 1x, then I will reduce tips and raise a ruckus with Guest Services.

 

 

 

Like.

 

 

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[rtap23]

Never been to guest services and probably never will. I'm very easy going and prefer to spend my time relaxing and not worrying about reducing tips

 

 

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[h0mbr3]

Like.

 

 

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Wife and I will request 2x next week......if we don't get that....tips are secondary to the wrath of a woman who does not have clean towels in the morning....

[TxDevil]

Since we got on the subject of steward tips - which do you prefer: giving them all the money up front, daily or at the end? And how much?

 

My first cruise wasn't a normal cruise as it was a themed cruise with a band. Nobody told me about tipping the steward and I'm not even sure I ever saw one, tbh.

[summersigh]

Both. Like my room straightened up in the AM. Also like my clean towels, ice and the bed turned down in the PM

This is what we expect as well. We try to be sure to meet the cabin steward the first day and let him know we want actual service in the AM

and only need "clean towels, ice and the bed turned down in the PM"

 

We're very tidy and easy to care for (as long as we get ice 2x a day ;p)