Must we have our cabin 'cleaned' twice a day?

[clo]

I'm cool with the cabin stewards coming in in the morning but would rather just leave it at that.  I'm super tidy in hotel rooms and ship cabins 🙂  Should I just tell our cabin steward to that effect?  Also what's the routine with towels?  Is it like hotels where if you drop it on the floor they'll replace.  If not they won't?  We're pretty hard-core Left Coast environmentalists so reusing towels for several days is what we want.  And advice/info in this regard is appreciate.  TIA.

Edited October 1, 2019 by clo

[dcsam]

We haven’t cruised with Oceania yet (but are booked with them in December).  Like you, we don’t need towels changed daily.  I often rehang our towels and just let them know we won’t need the room cleaned (either am or pm).  They’re more than happy to oblige! 🙂

[Flatbush Flyer]

26 minutes ago, clo said:

..... hard-core Left Coast environmentalists 

Last time I checked, there was no salt water "Left Coast" in Reno.

In any case, there are tree huggers everywhere. So, please don't foster some unsubstantiated stereotype.

As for the towels, hang them up and they won't be replaced. However, remember that wet towels in a marine environment (compounded by the small bathroom) may stay damp far longer than you might expect.

[clo]

37 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

Last time I checked, there was no salt water "Left Coast" in Reno.

In any case, there are tree huggers everywhere. So, please don't foster some unsubstantiated stereotype.

I sincerely don't understand your point.  I see people here who want plastic straws and all sorts of other things so my point is environmentally driven.

[Essiesmom]

We don't require twice a day service because, well, it is difficult to get my sister out of bed before noon unless it's a new port to us and we have an excursion.  So I will have a little conversation with the attendant so they will not stress about not getting in the cabin in the mornings.  EM

[KS&JW]

If you hang up the towels they will not replace them.  Those towels we wanted refreshed we placed on the floor or in the tub.  They do different things in the evening 'cleaning'  This cleaning is when you get the currents or anything else that is distributed to the cabins.

[clo]

6 minutes ago, KS&JW said:

 This cleaning is when you get the currents

Ah, right.  But I'm guessing I can asked for that to be dropped off.  And BTW this won't affect tipping. Just like the late afternoon/early evening freedom of being ALONE 🙂

[azam71209]

Usually they do the cleaning when they know you are out of the room so it is not an inconvenience. Probably more difficult to ask them to change their routine and do all the cleaning, straightening at one time. But it is your cabin. Ask for what you need but realize that you may be making life a bit more difficult for a hard working crew member.

 

Mary

[clo]

6 minutes ago, azam71209 said:

Ask for what you need but realize that you may be making life a bit more difficult for a hard working crew member.

That had been my concern.  Thanks for your reply.  What do they actually do the second time around?

[KS&JW]

20 minutes ago, clo said:

Ah, right.  But I'm guessing I can asked for that to be dropped off.  And BTW this won't affect tipping. Just like the late afternoon/early evening freedom of being ALONE 🙂

 

They come when you are at dinner.  You will not be bothered unless you skip dinner. 

[clo]

20 minutes ago, KS&JW said:

 

They come when you are at dinner.  You will not be bothered unless you skip dinner. 

How will they know when we're at dinner?  But back to my original question can I just ask them to skip us in the PM  cycle?

[bigmjh]

1 hour ago, clo said:

"How will they know when we're at dinner?"

Hang the door tag when you go to dinner. As mentioned - just talk to your stateroom attendant or butler. It's been my experience that they are happy to oblige - a little less work in their busy schedule. They will also leave the "Currents" and whatever other paperwork outside your door.

[Flatbush Flyer]

2 hours ago, clo said:

I sincerely don't understand your point.  I see people here who want plastic straws and all sorts of other things so my point is environmentally driven.

My point is that enough folks already erroneously think that Left Coasters (i.e., CA, WA, OR) are all tree hugging socialists which, of course, is totally incorrect. Just ask any Armenian farmer in the Great Valley.

 

Nonetheless, you are certainly welcome to make a statement about the infinitesimal ecological effect of keeping your wet towels. Just don't suggest that it is a common Left Coast behavior.

[RJ2002]

2 hours ago, bigmjh said:

Hang the door tag when you go to dinner.

This is something we make clear with the steward/stewardess right from the start, and it REALLY helps them.  Do Not Disturb tag goes out late afternoon while we’re relaxing and getting ready for the evening, then the Service Needed tag goes out when we leave for drinks and dinner. Do Not Disturb back out for sleeping, then Service Needed out next morning when we’re off for breakfast. Rinse and repeat for the duration of the cruise. 

[Jay23]

5 hours ago, clo said:

 Thanks for your reply.  What do they actually do the second time around?

I have said this before on this site.  It is impossible for the cruise companies to please all of the people etc  ...................

 

The evening service  is not so much for "cleaning" as for "niceties"     ie  replacing towels that are left in the bath/floor,  leaving clean glasses, turning down the bed and laying out the Currents and any other information papers. Then they draw the curtains and leave a light on to welcome you "home" together with a chocolate on the pillow!       If you don't want any of these pleasantries,  leave the tag on the door handle and they will put the paperwork in the door slot.

 I have been cruising for 20 years beginning with the mass market companies and always keep the room tidy.  I have never been on any ship where this service was not offered.  I like returning to a  pristine bedroom after dinner, so of course I cannot imagine anyone not wanting it.   Obviously I could prepare the stateroom myself before leaving it, but, for goodness sake. I am on holiday.    J

 

[tvmovielover]

+1 on Jay23 above   They just straighten up, turn down the bed etc.  I have never put up the Do Not Disturb sign except in the am because I get up early and DH likes to sleep. They mostly watch and do the 2nd pass during dinner.  Someone watches.   It is harder on sea days for them to do the one time cleaning so then is the time to leave that sign up until you are ready for them and willing to leave and let them get their job done.

[LHT28]

4 hours ago, Jay23 said:

 If you don't want any of these pleasantries,  leave the tag on the door handle and they will put the paperwork in the door slot.

 

When did they start using  the tags for the door handle like in hotels??

Last cruise  in April  they still had the card you put in the  slot behind the cabin number for the  signs

 

[Rob the Cruiser]

8 hours ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

My point is that enough folks already erroneously think that Left Coasters (i.e., CA, WA, OR) are all tree hugging socialists which, of course, is totally incorrect. Just ask any Armenian farmer in the Great Valley.

 

Nonetheless, you are certainly welcome to make a statement about the infinitesimal ecological effect of keeping your wet towels. Just don't suggest that it is a common Left Coast behavior.

 

There are non-tree huggers on the Left Coast. We keep to ourselves, avoid political discussions and wonder why there is so much trash, including the "banned" plastic bags on the Bayshore (oops - Highway 101) from South City to San Jose.

Edited October 1, 2019 by Rob the Cruiser

[RJ2002]

43 minutes ago, LHT28 said:

When did they start using  the tags for the door handle like in hotels??

Last cruise  in April  they still had the card you put in the  slot behind the cabin number for the  signs

 

 

I actually prefer a card-type system. 

[clo]

Just caught up with all the replies that we offered while I was sleeping!  Thanks everyone.  Plenty of options.

[Go-Bucks!]

1 hour ago, LHT28 said:

When did they start using  the tags for the door handle like in hotels??

Last cruise  in April  they still had the card you put in the  slot behind the cabin number for the  signs

 

No doorhandle tags...still have cards that are placed in the slot behind the room number on the door (where mail is left). One side requests Privacy and the other side requests the Room be Cleaned.

Edited October 1, 2019 by Go-Bucks!

[Traveling Fools]

8 hours ago, RJ2002 said:

This is something we make clear with the steward/stewardess right from the start, and it REALLY helps them.  Do Not Disturb tag goes out late afternoon while we’re relaxing and getting ready for the evening, then the Service Needed tag goes out when we leave for drinks and dinner. Do Not Disturb back out for sleeping, then Service Needed out next morning when we’re off for breakfast. Rinse and repeat for the duration of the cruise. 

 

 

Bingo....communicate your wishes to your cabin steward/stewardess.  They will be happy to comply as you are just lessening their workload.

[clo]

1 minute ago, Traveling Fools said:

They will be happy to comply as you are just lessening their workload.

That's what I thought.  Win win.

[cbb]

OK, to summarize:

your cabin attendant will introduce him/herself day 1 of your cruise.  (there will be a little sign on the wall telling you the name of that attendant so if you don't catch it or forget it....no worries)

 

take that opportunity to tell him/her EXACTLY what you want daily.  We always say that Mr. Wonderful likes Diet Coke so pretty much everything else in the fridge can be removed.

 

We tell ours that we will place the "please make up cabin" card in the door when we leave in the morning for breakfast and it remains there until the attendant removes it.  We further state that in no way are we asking for them to do it immediately, but rather is an indication that we ARE out of the cabin.  Often they appreciate getting that early start--sometimes it means they can be done by noon.

 

I pack neon colored post-it notes and tell our attendant that if we need anything I will leave one of the post-it notes on the bed where it is hard to miss on white sheets!

 

If we are gone on overnights we tell them to make up the room for bedtime and they need to do nothing else for us.  

 

If we are remaining on board at the end of one cruise we tell the attendant that he/she will not be needed for that day or night.  We can make up our own bed and reuse towels as we do at home and they are grateful that it is one less room to have to do that very hectic day. 

 

We have sailed with O for many years and have yet to have a poor attendant.  They are wonderful.

[cbb]

and I forgot to say, that in the mid-cruise and end of cruise survey we ALWAYS commend our attendant by name.  If I see Head of Housekeeping in the hall, I tell her my cabin # and state that my attendant is excellent.  Those comments are passed on to the attendant.

 

 

Edited October 1, 2019 by cbb