cruzinfourfun Posted November 25, 2018 #1 Share Posted November 25, 2018 I am looking for some ideas, other than money, for crew members for Christmas gifts. We want to give something to the waiters in a specialty restaurant. Not expensive because it's about 20-22 people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger001 Posted November 25, 2018 #2 Share Posted November 25, 2018 They have such limited living and storage quarters, hate to say it....but money is the answer. It's the thought that counts. With that, they can buy what they need or get gifts for their family. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare luv2kroooz Posted November 25, 2018 #3 Share Posted November 25, 2018 Agree. Money is the preferred option, hands down. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare www3traveler Posted November 25, 2018 #4 Share Posted November 25, 2018 Money so they can buy internet minutes. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GUT2407 Posted November 25, 2018 #5 Share Posted November 25, 2018 Pieces of paper with pictures of dead people and numbers. they don’t have room for, nor need of trinkets. And some may not even celebrate Christmas. perhaps on a Port day ask if there s anything they’d like you to bring them back. but cash is King, 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmazedByCruising Posted November 25, 2018 #6 Share Posted November 25, 2018 23 minutes ago, cruzinfourfun said: I am looking for some ideas, other than money, for crew members for Christmas gifts. We want to give something to the waiters in a specialty restaurant. Not expensive because it's about 20-22 people. Other than money they might like pure gold. But they want and would very much appreciate money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare BirdTravels Posted November 25, 2018 #7 Share Posted November 25, 2018 (edited) Money and a very well written Hero card would be greatly appreciated. The Hero cards are gold to them. Edited November 25, 2018 by BirdTravels 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david_sobe Posted November 25, 2018 #8 Share Posted November 25, 2018 6 hours ago, BirdTravels said: Money and a very well written Hero card would be greatly appreciated. The Hero cards are gold to them. Yes and its fun to search out the crew members who are often over looked for Hero cards. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcell Posted November 25, 2018 #9 Share Posted November 25, 2018 Cash is king but what I noticed is that they have to pay (full price on board) for their toiletries, so cash and maybe toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, some advil/tylenol, a lotion? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare ColeThornton Posted November 25, 2018 #10 Share Posted November 25, 2018 1 hour ago, xcell said: Cash is king but what I noticed is that they have to pay (full price on board) for their toiletries, so cash and maybe toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, some advil/tylenol, a lotion? I can't fathom wanting to give a complete adult stranger a toothbrush and floss. 2 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xcell Posted November 25, 2018 #11 Share Posted November 25, 2018 Just don't give them yours... 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Laszlo Posted November 25, 2018 #12 Share Posted November 25, 2018 Ditto Cash is king, the crew members could care less about little trinkets. They have a very very limited amount of space to store things. Trinkets won't help to feed their families back home Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger001 Posted November 25, 2018 #13 Share Posted November 25, 2018 I can't figure they buy much on board except maybe emergency supplies. . The crew are usually off the ship in ports shopping for supplies at the frequent chain type stores located there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fabby50 Posted November 25, 2018 #14 Share Posted November 25, 2018 We're on a Christmas cruise this season and I agree, cash. It doesn't have to be much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LD Silver Posted November 25, 2018 #15 Share Posted November 25, 2018 Mercedes Benz e350 or cash. Either one is fine. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vpearlkc Posted November 25, 2018 #16 Share Posted November 25, 2018 Give cash. Don't be like the little old lady that used to pass out apples at halloween to the neighborhood kids 60 years ago. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zqvol Posted November 25, 2018 #17 Share Posted November 25, 2018 Don't give them a Christmas gift, unless you know that they celebrate the holiday. If you want to give them a gift that is OK, just don't call it a Christmas gift, call it a holiday gift. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare GeezerCouple Posted November 25, 2018 #18 Share Posted November 25, 2018 9 minutes ago, zqvol said: Don't give them a Christmas gift, unless you know that they celebrate the holiday. If you want to give them a gift that is OK, just don't call it a Christmas gift, call it a holiday gift. Twice when we arrived on board a ship for a Christmas (and New Year) cruise, we greeted our Butler and also our Steward with an envelope, and said, "This is for something special for your family for the holidays!" In all cases, their faces lit up. It wasn't a "tip"; it was a holiday gift. (We tipped regularly, later.) GC 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WYB! Posted November 29, 2018 #19 Share Posted November 29, 2018 Cash or tubes of Neosporin available in packages of 3 from BJ's wholesale club. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCT61 Posted November 29, 2018 #20 Share Posted November 29, 2018 Get them the same thing you get the waitresses and staff in restaurants at home 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdnsteelman Posted November 29, 2018 #21 Share Posted November 29, 2018 So people who want to give little gifts have hearts in the right place but just consider... these staff members will do a number of sailings during the holiday period and they will interact with countless guests on each sailing. If even a small percentage want to mark the season by handing out little gifts or stockings filled with candy, etc... these staff members will end up with a small mountain of "nice gestures" and "good intentions" that they have zero space for in their cramped shared accommodations. Almost all of them are woking these crazy hours every day away from loved ones because its the one opportunity they have to make a living to support families in the predominantly poorer countries from which they come. So put some currency in a card and write something nice in the card and give it to them in a non-tipping time and place... don't use the "gift" as a proxy for any tip you would otherwise give. And, like other posters have said, get a stack of hero cards from reception and be generous with those as well. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LrgPizza Posted November 29, 2018 #22 Share Posted November 29, 2018 While you might believe your intentions are good, you are actually being very selfish here. You are not thinking about the crew, but rather about yourself, and hoping to make yourself stand out, be remembered, and set yourself apart from other passengers, If your head and heart is in the right place, then you would give cash. It's not about your need to feel special, but about their needs. 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger001 Posted November 29, 2018 #23 Share Posted November 29, 2018 9 minutes ago, LrgPizza said: While you might believe your intentions are good, you are actually being very selfish here. You are not thinking about the crew, but rather about yourself, and hoping to make yourself stand out, be remembered, and set yourself apart from other passengers, If your head and heart is in the right place, then you would give cash. It's not about your need to feel special, but about their needs. Huh??????????????? 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LrgPizza Posted November 29, 2018 #24 Share Posted November 29, 2018 59 minutes ago, roger001 said: Huh??????????????? I'm not sure where you are confused. Sometimes people give gifts because they are thinking about the recipient. Sometimes they give gifts because they hope to personally get something out of it. This is clearly the latter situation, and therefore it is self-centered behavior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
April42749 Posted November 29, 2018 #25 Share Posted November 29, 2018 10 minutes ago, LrgPizza said: I'm not sure where you are confused. Sometimes people give gifts because they are thinking about the recipient. Sometimes they give gifts because they hope to personally get something out of it. This is clearly the latter situation, and therefore it is self-centered behavior. Yep....you need to think of the recipients, and their needs. Would you buy a blind person a book? And, please, call it a holiday gift. As a non-Christian and almost 70, I still get annoyed when people ask me if I put up my tree yet. Don't presume everyone celebrates Christmas. Do you remember the time, a few years back, when I posted said she wanted to give the steward a CD of her singing? That's the gift every employee is hoping for....lol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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