Cabin Stewards - couple of questions

[voljeep]

How many cabins are they typically assigned? - posting about regular interior and balcony rooms across the hall.

 

I'm guessing fewer for mini's and full suites?

 

and what do they do when the ship goes into drydock? - go home, or 'have' to stay on ship and clean all the crap caused by the contractors?

[JF - retired RRT]

How many cabins are they typically assigned? - posting about regular interior and balcony rooms across the hall. A guess...18? I think that's the # I've heard.

 

I'm guessing fewer for mini's and full suites?

 

and what do they do when the ship goes into drydock? - go home, or 'have' to stay on ship and clean all the crap caused by the contractors?

My understanding is they stay on the ship and are (maybe) assigned other duties??

[fishywood]

I've heard numbers ranging from 16-18 to 30+ cabins.

 

 

Yes, fewer when assigned to mini-suites or suites. At least for suites the theory is while fewer cabins, more opportunities for additional tips as suite pax tend to ask for more extras. In practice what I have heard is that when a steward is rotated to suite duty they are desperately looking to trade with someone still assigned to regular cabins. As the heavier demands more than cancel out having fewer cabins. And the higher tips (beyond the $1-2 higher DSC) is pretty much a myth.

 

Usually they are assigned other tasks on the ship during drydock. Depends on their contract status, and their Visa status as recognized by the nation where the ship is in drydock--their only option if they do get time off is likely the usual escort to the airport and directly onto a flight to their home country. Except in this circumstance at their own expense. Even if given time off checking into a hotel for a mini-vacay is almost always not a legal option.

[voljeep]

10-15 minutes per cabin ?

[fishywood]

10-15 minutes per cabin ?

 

 

No more that that for daytime service, and well under half that time for evening turndown.

 

Many cruises ago my steward had a trainee in tow each time she serviced the cabin. One evening they stopped by early (I was just chilling before late sitting dinner) so I stepped back while she let fly. The trainee and I watched in awe as she sprayed the sanitizing mist in the shower, cleaned the toilet and bathroom floor, wiped down the counter and mirror, swapped out the wet towels, emptied the wastebaskets, put any stray clothes neatly on the chair, any stray papers neatly on the desk, refilled the ice bucket, turned down the beds and lay chocolates on the pillows--in under five minutes.

[skynight]

How many cabins are they typically assigned? - posting about regular interior and balcony rooms across the hall.

 

I'm guessing fewer for mini's and full suites?

 

and what do they do when the ship goes into drydock? - go home, or 'have' to stay on ship and clean all the crap caused by the contractors?

I heard 18

During dry dock they may take leave, or they may stay on the ship for deep cleaning or other duties.

[Thrak]

I was going to ask our steward on our recent cruise (disembarked on April 1) how many cabins he handles but ended up asking the steward for the neighboring cabins instead as she was right there when I thought of it. We were in a forward balcony and she said she was assigned 18 cabins.

[greenie082756]

No more that that for daytime service, and well under half that time for evening turndown.

 

Many cruises ago my steward had a trainee in tow each time she serviced the cabin. One evening they stopped by early (I was just chilling before late sitting dinner) so I stepped back while she let fly. The trainee and I watched in awe as she sprayed the sanitizing mist in the shower, cleaned the toilet and bathroom floor, wiped down the counter and mirror, swapped out the wet towels, emptied the wastebaskets, put any stray clothes neatly on the chair, any stray papers neatly on the desk, refilled the ice bucket, turned down the beds and lay chocolates on the pillows--in under five minutes.

 

OMG!!! I do appreciate everything they do and for the extras I request when we first board. That is just amazing!

[-Lew-]

At least for suites the theory is while fewer cabins, more opportunities for additional tips as suite pax tend to ask for more extras.

What might be these extras you refer to requested by suite passengers that are not requested by those sailing in other cabin categories?

[DrivesLikeMario]

I asked many, many crew members two weeks ago on the Crown what they were going to do during the drydock. They ALL said they would be staying on the ship to work. I was surprised at how many weren't looking forward to it, as it seems like it would break up the monotony. Maybe it had to do with not getting tips or long days. ??

[Times Prince]

We will often book a balcony cabin aft of the aft elevators. For the last couple of years the stewards have told us they have 19 cabins to service, including the aft suites.

 

That's a lot.

[cruzsnooze]

What might be these extras you refer to requested by suite passengers that are not requested by those sailing in other cabin categories?

I'm usually a suite passenger and ask for absolutly nothing. I'm a neat freak as well so my cabin is always tidy. I was wondering what that poster meant also.

[compozer]

Many times construction workers stay in the cabins so the crew still has to prepare food for them. And the cabins need to be clean but not sure if every day.

[Coral]

I was reading a FB page about the Sapphire dry dock. Several wait staff are assigned as fire watch. They have a fire extinguisher and water spray bottle and stand and watch contractors who are doing something that can cause a fire (welding, etc...). The contractors are not allowed to work with out someone watching over them for potential fire.

 

Several of the store staff, dancers, youth staff, cruise staff are key runners. They have master keys and have to let contractors into different rooms, etc... They have to supervise the contract employees when they are in the rooms.

 

Apparently the staff work 6-10 hour shifts when in dry dock. They also do a lot of cleaning. It sounds like hard work and not "time off"

[DrivesLikeMario]

The cabin stewards on the Crown were doing a deep cleaning according to the ones we talked to and nothing else on the cabins themselves. Carpet was going to be replaced by contractors.

[susancruzs]

I was on Plaza Deck for my recent 30 day Emerald Princess cruise and my cabin steward said he had 17 cabins. He was from the Philippines and has been with Princess 21 years.