Housekeeping moving to once a day?

[Julma]

On 2/18/2023 at 3:47 PM, Cruise5life said:

Who really needs service 2x a day?  
I know you’re on vacation but really.   Are you that messy?

I make my own bed when I get up. I’m up early and hate a messy bed and don’t like looking at it p, takes 2 minutes.  
only thing I use services for is ice every other day.  
Put your ice bucket in the cooler so it stays cold and lasts longer.  
who gets new towels every day at home?    

why waste there time with new towels every day.

And backing up the laundry.   I ask for new towels mid cruise 

but that’s me.   But man I see some messy cabins. That’s for sure.  

My husband and I are very neat.  I do like wet towels taken away.  The bathroom is small and towels don't dry well.  We will have a glass of wine and a snack while getting ready for dinner.  I'd like dirty dishes taken away.  I fear the halls will be littered with them.  I hope the new room service fee includes someone coming to pick up the dirty dishes and glasses.  If the room stew doesn't get them, again, I'm afraid they'll be in the hallway.  As mentioned, pull out and down beds need to be made up and broken down, hopefully there is a plan for this.  There is also a certain safety aspect.  Hair dryers, hot irons (hair) and other items are often left plugged in, this is a safety issue.  Do the rooms need a complete clean, no and I don't think we receive that.  I've had the same hand print on glass for a week.  One thing I'd be in favor of that would make cleaning the room easier, is getting rid of all the non essential pillows and chachki.  

[resetjet]

3 hours ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

Then, why in your mind is a cabin in the woods that different than a hotel?  Why is a ship cabin that different than a hotel?

Just pointing out they are all forms of lodging but are very different in what you do,  what there is to do and how you might use that lodging.  You will note that the way they are cleaned is all different as a result.  Plus at 150sf room, cruise cabins are the hardest to keep tidy,  especially with 3 or 4 in a cabin.  

[Stede Bonnet]

On 2/18/2023 at 11:42 PM, OSUZorba said:

I still want to know how they'll handle sofa beds and Pullmans and giving out paper campuses.

I am concerned about damp towels as we will be 5 in the cabin and shower morning and evening.

 

I don't want the sofa bed out all day but likely (hopefully?) we can fold it ourselves in the mornings.

 

 

[S.A.M.J.R.]

1 hour ago, resetjet said:

Just pointing out they are all forms of lodging but are very different in what you do,  what there is to do and how you might use that lodging.  You will note that the way they are cleaned is all different as a result.  Plus at 150sf room, cruise cabins are the hardest to keep tidy,  especially with 3 or 4 in a cabin.  

OK? 

My hotel room (or cabin in the woods) is for me to sleep, relax, and bathe.  

My cruise cabin is for me to sleep, relax, and bathe.

 

Seem pretty similar to me.  

[steveru621]

On 2/18/2023 at 8:13 PM, Wineaux007 said:

Don't need turndown service.  Just need bathroom refreshed, clean towels, ice, and dirty dishes removed.  I'm not a fan of placing them outside the door because they tend to sit there for hours.  

Cabin attendants are not supposed to remove anything from your cabin that is not in the trash can or on the bathroom floor.  If they do remove dishes, they are placed outside in the hallway.  The carts have no place for dishes.  They are picked up by dining attendants.

[steveru621]

Our first cruise with one-a-day service, on Serenade.  The problem, I was not asked if I wanted morning or evening.  Left the cabin attendant a note when I hadn't seen him for 24 hours.

 

My preference is mornings if I have to chose.  I'm not for or against it yet.  Wait and see how the week goes.  It's annoying that we are paying more for gratuities with less service.

 

It's probably not true, but it always seems the cabin attendant wants to clean when we are there.  We usually wait on the balcony.

 

RCI got really creative calling this a sustainability issue.  Complete B.S.

 

Let's see, $8/cabin/day gratuity, times 25 cabins, times 365 days = $73,000/year?

 

 

[Mum2Mercury]

16 hours ago, fredmdcruisers said:

How ridiculous! Who thinks like this? The door to the ice machine isn't locked. Maybe you should stand guard.

Well, first, I have never seen an ice machine on a ship that was open to the public -- so I'm thinking they are behind closed (if not locked) doors. 

Second, I'm thinking about a conversation in the teacher lunchroom during which one of the male teachers (who is now a well-respected principal) admitted that during his college years he was infamous for peeing in the ice machines in the dorm.  Since that day I have never used a reach-in-with-a-scoop type of ice machine.  

15 hours ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

But you're missing the other end of the equation... are they still getting bookings?  Still filling the ships?  Then they're not only making money (increasing costs), but they're not spending as much (taking away features).  Isn't that smart business?

The big things "on the table now" are the reduced cabin service and the cut-backs in the MDR.  

Will bookings fall off because of these reductions?  It's too soon to say.  Consider that most cruisers don't read these boards, so they may not be aware of these cut-backs until they experience them personally.  

3 hours ago, Julma said:

My husband and I are very neat.  I do like wet towels taken away.  The bathroom is small and towels don't dry well.  We will have a glass of wine and a snack while getting ready for dinner.  I'd like dirty dishes taken away.  I fear the halls will be littered with them.  I hope the new room service fee includes someone coming to pick up the dirty dishes and glasses.  If the room stew doesn't get them, again, I'm afraid they'll be in the hallway.  As mentioned, pull out and down beds need to be made up and broken down, hopefully there is a plan for this.  There is also a certain safety aspect.  Hair dryers, hot irons (hair) and other items are often left plugged in, this is a safety issue.  Do the rooms need a complete clean, no and I don't think we receive that.  I've had the same hand print on glass for a week.  One thing I'd be in favor of that would make cleaning the room easier, is getting rid of all the non essential pillows and chachki.  

- Agree that wet towels don't always dry well in the small, interior bathrooms -- especially if more than two people are sharing that bathroom. 

- Agree that dishes are going to be a problem.  

- Agree that pull-down and sofa beds are going to be a problem.  Consider that in a room using a 3rd /4th bed, the cabin steward is being paid a 3rd /4th daily tip.  When a family is paying for 3rd /4th person tips, they shouldn't have to pull out the bed themselves.  

- I like those "non-essential pillows", as I like two pillows as I read in bed.  

[resetjet]

1 hour ago, steveru621 said:

Our first cruise with one-a-day service, on Serenade.  The problem, I was not asked if I wanted morning or evening.  Left the cabin attendant a note when I hadn't seen him for 24 hours.

 

My preference is mornings if I have to chose.  I'm not for or against it yet.  Wait and see how the week goes.  It's annoying that we are paying more for gratuities with less service.

 

It's probably not true, but it always seems the cabin attendant wants to clean when we are there.  We usually wait on the balcony.

 

RCI got really creative calling this a sustainability issue.  Complete B.S.

 

Let's see, $8/cabin/day gratuity, times 25 cabins, times 365 days = $73,000/year?

 

 

You will likely get mornings as most want evening.  So thats a good thing.  Just dont sleep in or you will get nothing for 2 days……also i want to hear about the stewards attitude.  From what i have seen they are overworked and unfortunately do not get paid all of the extra tips. They are shared as oer contract with the other crew members in housekeeping.

[resetjet]

1 hour ago, steveru621 said:

 

Let's see, $8/cabin/day gratuity, times 25 cabins, times 365 days = $73,000/year?

 

 

Well there is your answer right there. They split the tips with assistant,  laundry,  dish guys,  hallway cleaners and managers.  They are doing alot more work for little more pay.

[kruzerci]

3 hours ago, steveru621 said:

Our first cruise with one-a-day service, on Serenade.  The problem, I was not asked if I wanted morning or evening.  Left the cabin attendant a note when I hadn't seen him for 24 hours.

 

My preference is mornings if I have to chose.  I'm not for or against it yet.  Wait and see how the week goes.  It's annoying that we are paying more for gratuities with less service.

 

It's probably not true, but it always seems the cabin attendant wants to clean when we are there.  We usually wait on the balcony.

 

RCI got really creative calling this a sustainability issue.  Complete B.S.

 

Let's see, $8/cabin/day gratuity, times 25 cabins, times 365 days = $73,000/year?

 

 

Please be sure to voice your concerns. It is BS.  

[Ocean Boy]

9 hours ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

Then, why in your mind is a cabin in the woods that different than a hotel?  Why is a ship cabin that different than a hotel?

For starters, a ship cabin very frequently changes its GPS coordinates....

[kirtihk]

On 2/24/2023 at 3:59 PM, S.A.M.J.R. said:

Well, there are people who like cruising like that.  Aren't river cruises just basically cabins?  

 

And I don't get your point honestly.  I fully believe that each customer is responsible for choosing what's "worth it to them".  I agree, if they took away the pool, buffet, hot tub, theater, or bars, I would no longer cruise.  If they did away with the casino, spa, sauna/steam room, or specialty restaurant, I would.  Why do cruise lines HAVE to cater to EVERYONE?  If you don't like what a cruise line is offering, don't sail with them.  Is this really that difficult?

 

I get (sort of) being upset.  But you'd think going to 1x day service is the end of the world the way people are complaining.

I think it’s my way of expressing myself (most people think of my statements the opposite of what I mean each time including you now - I was ironically tried to show what fun is to read the majority of complaints).  I was born and lived for the first 31 years in a country where one should use a special language to hide a true meaning of their thoughts.  I stopped using this language in 1991 when I came to US, but starting about 3 years ago I feel like using it once again (survival instinct prevails I guess).

Edited February 25, 2023 by kirtihk

[kirtihk]

On 2/24/2023 at 5:03 PM, zanydoc said:

Thanks @kirtihkfor allowing me to learn a new word today…embrocate! I think I’ll start using it in my everyday language 😊

Embarkation - shmarvocation; virus - shmirus; Covid - shmovid …

[time4u2go]

5 hours ago, resetjet said:

Well there is your answer right there. They split the tips with assistant,  laundry,  dish guys,  hallway cleaners and managers.  They are doing alot more work for little more pay.

Is it really a lot more work?  They are doing more cabins, but half as many times per day.  Is it really "little more pay"?  If the equation stated is true (which we obviously don't know), then it seems like a LOT more pay, as they are practically doubling their income.

 

Edited February 26, 2023 by time4u2go

[bucfan2]

8 hours ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

OK? 

My hotel room (or cabin in the woods) is for me to sleep, relax, and bathe.  

My cruise cabin is for me to sleep, relax, and bathe.

 

Seem pretty similar to me.  

I have no dog in the fight, so I’ll say it….not everybody uses their hotel room like you (not to mention some cabin in the woods). Not sure why you feel the need to defend it….it’s ok for you, and that’s great. And what they do is ok w/ them, and that’s great. Pretty simple.

Edited February 26, 2023 by bucfan2

[Straughn]

I just got off Jewel today. I had full service in the morning-bed, towels, vacuuming, bathroom cleaning, etc. I was solo and am very neat, so hard to tell if my evening service was standard. No true bed turndown, towels were replaced, used wine glass was replaced, and the Cruise Compass, as well as any other pertinent info sheet was placed on the bed. I  had towel animals two times (not a big deal to me, but I know others love them.)

 

After this cruise, I would happily go to one time cabin service per day in exchange for seriously improved food. Let’s not turn this into a food discussion. This is just my impression of things and what matters to me. 

[resetjet]

2 hours ago, time4u2go said:

Is it really a lot more work?  They are doing more cabins, but half as many times per day.  Is it really "little more pay"?  If the equation stated is true (which we obviously don't know), then it seems like a LOT more pay, as they are practically doubling their income.

 

When you clean twice a day lets say those cleanings take 15 min each when you clean 1 a day lets say it takes 20 do to having to cover all the bases. So 10 rooms would take 300 min at 15 min.  20 rooms at 20 min would take 400

min.  
The steward only gets 25% of the steward tip amount.  So if he normally got. $8 a room x 10 that $80 he would get $20.  With 20 rooms $160 he would get $40,  which is better pay but its more pressuring work to juggle 20 rooms.  Actually the numbers are coming in at 25 rooms from what i have heard. 

[not-enough-cruising]

51 minutes ago, resetjet said:

When you clean twice a day lets say those cleanings take 15 min each when you clean 1 a day lets say it takes 20 do to having to cover all the bases. So 10 rooms would take 300 min at 15 min.  20 rooms at 20 min would take 400

min.  
The steward only gets 25% of the steward tip amount.  So if he normally got. $8 a room x 10 that $80 he would get $20.  With 20 rooms $160 he would get $40,  which is better pay but its more pressuring work to juggle 20 rooms.  Actually the numbers are coming in at 25 rooms from what i have heard. 

More “impossible to quantify” math and financial breakdowns 

[resetjet]

1 minute ago, not-enough-cruising said:

More “impossible to quantify” math and financial breakdowns 

I did the math on the 25%. If you have a better answer,  lets hear it.  As for it taking 5 min longer,  that is my fair guess.  Personally i think its alot more.  But again if you have any answers lets hear them.

[time4u2go]

9 hours ago, resetjet said:

When you clean twice a day lets say those cleanings take 15 min each when you clean 1 a day lets say it takes 20 do to having to cover all the bases. So 10 rooms would take 300 min at 15 min.  20 rooms at 20 min would take 400

min.  
The steward only gets 25% of the steward tip amount.  So if he normally got. $8 a room x 10 that $80 he would get $20.  With 20 rooms $160 he would get $40,  which is better pay but its more pressuring work to juggle 20 rooms.  Actually the numbers are coming in at 25 rooms from what i have heard. 

Thank you for confirming what I said.  Their pay is basically doubled, possibly even more if they are doing 25 rooms as opposed to 10.  That is hardly "little more pay", as you originally stated.

[steveru621]

19 hours ago, resetjet said:

Well there is your answer right there. They split the tips with assistant,  laundry,  dish guys,  hallway cleaners and managers.  They are doing alot more work for little more pay.

Obligatory Gratuities
Waiter: $3.75 per day, per guest.
Assistant Waiter: $2.15 per day, per guest.
Head Waiter: $0.75 per day, per guest.
Stateroom Attendant: $5.00 per day, per guest.
Suite Attendant: $7.25 per day, per guest.
If you are paying gratuities you may want to know how they are broken down and split between the staff members. What is this? Stateroom attendants receive approximately 25% of cruise gratuities paid by guests. Dining room staff receive 43% and the remaining 32% is split between other hotel services.

 

My $8 is based on the average of two passengers in a cabin.  $10, with $2 going to support.

 

Someone mentioned they get only 25% of the cabin attendants' gratuity.  I don't believe that's true.  It's 25% of the total.  In either case, you are paying everyone's salary.

[resetjet]

15 minutes ago, steveru621 said:

Obligatory Gratuities
Waiter: $3.75 per day, per guest.
Assistant Waiter: $2.15 per day, per guest.
Head Waiter: $0.75 per day, per guest.
Stateroom Attendant: $5.00 per day, per guest.
Suite Attendant: $7.25 per day, per guest.
If you are paying gratuities you may want to know how they are broken down and split between the staff members. What is this? Stateroom attendants receive approximately 25% of cruise gratuities paid by guests. Dining room staff receive 43% and the remaining 32% is split between other hotel services.

 

My $8 is based on the average of two passengers in a cabin.  $10, with $2 going to support.

 

Someone mentioned they get only 25% of the cabin attendants' gratuity.  I don't believe that's true.  It's 25% of the total.  In either case, you are paying everyone's salary.

I did the 25%.  You waiter gets the same.  Its not 25% of total,  its 25% of the steward tip. It is backed up by alot of research of crew posts.  Also by simple math.  Unless you believe a steward gets $5 a guest per day or $10 a room x 25 = $250 or $1500 a week plus extra guests and extra tips plus his $1360 a month salary for a total of at least $7360 a month as a minimum.  It would push much higher with the extras.

[resetjet]

1 hour ago, time4u2go said:

Thank you for confirming what I said.  Their pay is basically doubled, possibly even more if they are doing 25 rooms as opposed to 10.  That is hardly "little more pay", as you originally stated.

Their tips have doubled.  Not the pay.  Since he only gets 25% of the steward tip its not that much more money.

[time4u2go]

Just now, resetjet said:

Their tips have doubled.  Not the pay.  Since he only gets 25% of the steward tip its not that much more money.

How exactly did you come up with this 25% figure?  Can you provide specific sources for this other than "alot of research of crew posts"?  Where are these crew posts?

[steveru621]

5 minutes ago, resetjet said:

I did the 25%.  You waiter gets the same.  Its not 25% of total,  its 25% of the steward tip. It is backed up by alot of research of crew posts.  Also by simple math.  Unless you believe a steward gets $5 a guest per day or $10 a room x 25 = $250 or $1500 a week plus extra guests and extra tips plus his $1360 a month salary for a total of at least $7360 a month as a minimum.  It would push much higher with the extras.

 

I respectfully disagree and stand by my $8.  After 20 years of cruising.