I work on 'independence of the seas'!

[SailingShelley]

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS!

 

How do you normally book your cruises? Do you use the Royal Caribbean website, or a third party site?

 

I would love to know, seeing as I'm a crew member and never booked a cruise before.

 

Previously, I used the phone exclusively direct to Royal OR do Next Cruise on board ships since you can get real time most current availability of cabins. I have recently become a travel agent and I can still call directly as my own agent for my cruises. If you use an outside agency, you cannot change anything directly but have to go through your agent.

You can also book yourself with Royal and fill out a form to submit a transfer for your booking to an outside agent but again when you do this, you can no longer Modify your booking but have to let your TA do it.

[pcur]

We have a lot of cruises booked next year. Do you have any suggestions for small gifts we can bring for our cabin stewards, and other crew members? Thanks!

 

(Besides that extra money we always give them.)

[SailingShelley]

We have a lot of cruises booked next year. Do you have any suggestions for small gifts we can bring for our cabin stewards, and other crew members? Thanks!

 

(Besides that extra money we always give them.)

 

Sounds like you need to open a new thread for this subject.

Or are you asking only Cruise guy?

The employees have very little extra space for Little things and appreciate Money. Maybe a special treat to eat from your hometown?

I did have an occasion when my Cabin attendant Sheridan, who had a daughter who collected pins from all the places her Dad sailed. I gave him a special pin that was custom for the cruise that had all the ports listed for our TransAtlantic. Chuck and I had him as our attendant for all 36 days on that ship. On a cruise the following year, he actually recognized me in the hall and told me his daughter loved it but I think that situation was an exception .

[Irie]

:)My wife and I usually give money.

But on the Allure onetime we met a young crew member

About to marry another crew member.

My wife makes beautiful scrapbooks. With the couples

Permission and at our expense she made a scrapbook that you could easily insert pictures into.

We mailed it to her.

She sent back a very sweet note of appreciation.

[sha88]

I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU GUYS!

 

How do you normally book your cruises? Do you use the Royal Caribbean website, or a third party site?

 

I would love to know, seeing as I'm a crew member and never booked a cruise before.

 

I ususally start at Royal's web site, pick my cabin, and book online, However, if I see that the cabin I want is not available, I will call and most often than not, that cabin is available, so it is a good idea to double check.

 

Thanks for taking the time to answer everyone's questions. A great thread.

[eileen226]

Love the q&a and your blog is great.

My question is, are crew members allowed to be invited by passengers to dinner in the specialty restaurants, dining room and or Windjammer? I’m assuming the specialty restaurants would incur a cover charge for the crew member.

[SailingShelley]

Love the q&a and your blog is great.

My question is, are crew members allowed to be invited by passengers to dinner in the specialty restaurants, dining room and or Windjammer? I’m assuming the specialty restaurants would incur a cover charge for the crew member.

 

When you dine in the Specialty Restaurants, it there any discount for your meals?

[ROYAL CARIBBEAN DUDE]

We have a lot of cruises booked next year. Do you have any suggestions for small gifts we can bring for our cabin stewards, and other crew members? Thanks!

 

(Besides that extra money we always give them.)

 

I personally like it when you guys take the time to fill out a 'deliver the wow' card, for crew providing excellent service. It gives you the chance to name specific crew members, and explain exactly what we did well.

 

This can go down well with our management, and Royal Caribbean.

 

I've kept all the cards I have received and I enjoy reading them back.

[ROYAL CARIBBEAN DUDE]

Love the q&a and your blog is great.

My question is, are crew members allowed to be invited by passengers to dinner in the specialty restaurants, dining room and or Windjammer? I’m assuming the specialty restaurants would incur a cover charge for the crew member.

 

We are allowed to eat in the speciality restaurants. But as shop staff, I wouldn't be allowed to actually dine with guests. I'm only allowed to dine with family members.

[The sea calls my name]

I have not read through this entire review, so I hope I am not duplicating a question previously asked. Can you tell me if the Diamond Lounge is accessible during the day for Diamond members? Is it a place where you can enjoy the outside seating area or read a book away from the public areas? Also, I know they serve breakfast. What is the usual breakfast fare served?

 

Thank you for your time.

[Ocean Boy]

I have not read through this entire review, so I hope I am not duplicating a question previously asked. Can you tell me if the Diamond Lounge is accessible during the day for Diamond members? Is it a place where you can enjoy the outside seating area or read a book away from the public areas? Also, I know they serve breakfast. What is the usual breakfast fare served?

 

Thank you for your time.

You can access the lounge and the outside area 24 hrs. a day. Don't expect much for breakfast. It is mostly pastries, english muffins, some fruit, juice, cereal, toast.

[taglovestocruise]

Hope you can shed some light on tipping. Are all tips pooled. Are extra tips given to waiters or cabin stewards kept by the person who receives them. Do the waiters or cabin attendants have a list of who is auto tipping or who has removed their tips. If tips are removed are the cabin steward or waiters questioned by supervisors. Are the servers in the Diamond Lounge at night volunteers or assigned and do they pool their tips. There is so much misinformation on these boards it would be nice to hear something definitive. We were on the Indy transatlantic last Oct. and had a great time with fantastic weather. Thanks for being so helpful.

[The sea calls my name]

You can access the lounge and the outside area 24 hrs. a day. Don't expect much for breakfast. It is mostly pastries, english muffins, some fruit, juice, cereal, toast.

 

Thank you for your quick reply and your help. I really appreciate it. That menu is actually perfect for me. I am going to greatly miss the Solarium Bistro. That was my go to place for Breakfast.

[chengkp75]

Hope you can shed some light on tipping. Are all tips pooled. Are extra tips given to waiters or cabin stewards kept by the person who receives them. Do the waiters or cabin attendants have a list of who is auto tipping or who has removed their tips. If tips are removed are the cabin steward or waiters questioned by supervisors. Are the servers in the Diamond Lounge at night volunteers or assigned and do they pool their tips. There is so much misinformation on these boards it would be nice to hear something definitive. We were on the Indy transatlantic last Oct. and had a great time with fantastic weather. Thanks for being so helpful.

 

Just so you know, Chris is not in the tip pool, and is not even an RCI employee, so any answer you get will be second hand and anecdotal.

[Milwaukee Eight]

Just so you know, Chris is not in the tip pool, and is not even an RCI employee, so any answer you get will be second hand and anecdotal.

 

 

 

As contract labor onboard, do they participate in Muster Drills like the regular crew?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Ocean Boy]

Thank you for your quick reply and your help. I really appreciate it. That menu is actually perfect for me. I am going to greatly miss the Solarium Bistro. That was my go to place for Breakfast.

The solarium is my go to place when on Oasis class ships and I, too, miss it when on other ships.

[The sea calls my name]

The solarium is my go to place when on Oasis class ships and I, too, miss it when on other ships.

 

I think I am going to miss a lot from the Oasis class. At night our favorite area is the Trellis Bar in Central Park. I'm spoiled by all that class of ship offers, but any ship is better than no ship. One other question, if you don't mind. We have booked a Junior Suite, our first. I know that Coastal Kitchen is open to us if space permits, but what about use of the suite lounge? We are Diamond Members, so that lounge is open , just curious. Actually, I do not recall seeing Coastal Kitchen on the deck plans for the Indy, so maybe that won't be an option.

[chengkp75]

As contract labor onboard, do they participate in Muster Drills like the regular crew?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Yes, part of the contract with the concession company (casino, shops, spa, photographer) is that the employees must follow all cruise line rules and regulations, including having to participate in mandatory drills without additional compensation. Some entertainers are given "passenger status" and do not have emergency duties or participate in crew drills.

[Clarea]

I think I am going to miss a lot from the Oasis class. At night our favorite area is the Trellis Bar in Central Park. I'm spoiled by all that class of ship offers, but any ship is better than no ship. One other question, if you don't mind. We have booked a Junior Suite, our first. I know that Coastal Kitchen is open to us if space permits, but what about use of the suite lounge? We are Diamond Members, so that lounge is open , just curious. Actually, I do not recall seeing Coastal Kitchen on the deck plans for the Indy, so maybe that won't be an option.

No Coastal Kitchen on Indy. JS guests have no access to the Suite Lounge, unles they are also Pinnacle level C&A members.

[ROYAL CARIBBEAN DUDE]

Hello everyone, I have exciting news!

 

I'm going to be joining Independence Of The Seas on December 1st, for the start of a new 6 month contract!

 

Do let me know if you any of you guys will be cruising then, and come say hello if you see me in the shops!

 

I plan on creating lots of content during this contract, so make sure to follow me on my social medias!

 

Instagram: ChrisWongVLOGS

Facebook: ChrisWongVLOGS

 

I can't wait to meet some of you!

[vickiw0318]

Welcome back.  See you next May.  

[ROYAL CARIBBEAN DUDE]

26 minutes ago, vickiw0318 said:

Welcome back.  See you next May.  

 

I look forward to it!

[bcalay]

2 hours ago, ROYAL CARIBBEAN DUDE said:

Hello everyone, I have exciting news!

 

I'm going to be joining Independence Of The Seas on December 1st, for the start of a new 6 month contract!

 

Do let me know if you any of you guys will be cruising then, and come say hello if you see me in the shops!

 

I plan on creating lots of content during this contract, so make sure to follow me on my social medias!

 

Instagram: ChrisWongVLOGS

Facebook: ChrisWongVLOGS

 

I can't wait to meet some of you!

 

I will be there Jan 3-7th!

[yogimax]

5 hours ago, ROYAL CARIBBEAN DUDE said:

Hello everyone, I have exciting news!

 

I'm going to be joining Independence Of The Seas on December 1st, for the start of a new 6 month contract!

 

Do let me know if you any of you guys will be cruising then, and come say hello if you see me in the shops!

 

I plan on creating lots of content during this contract, so make sure to follow me on my social medias!

 

Instagram: ChrisWongVLOGS

Facebook: ChrisWongVLOGS

 

I can't wait to meet some of you!

Hi Chris,

  We will be on Independence January 7-12.  Do you know which shops you will be at or is that up for grabs?

[ROYAL CARIBBEAN DUDE]

22 hours ago, bcalay said:

 

I will be there Jan 3-7th!

 

I will see you in the new year!