Can we decline house keeping on Princess ships?

[Lady Arwen]

3 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

I worked in the quality department for an acute care hospital in close conjunction with the infection control specialists so, I’m so aware of the protocols and so appreciate everyone that worked so diligently during those very difficult times.  I also retired in 2015, so wasn’t one of them.  I was so grateful and still am for each and every one of those heroes!  

Not all heroes wear capes.  

[PacnGoNow]

20 hours ago, BamaVol said:

Somewhere there is a box to check to eliminate paper documents, but some I think will be deemed necessary. I suppose you can ask the steward to hand them to you in the corridor. But that won’t always be possible. Just trying to think of ways to cut down on visits.

They can slide those under the door, instead of enter the room.

[Cruise Raider]

19 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

Not all heroes wear capes.  

💯 ❗️ 

[chengkp75]

20 hours ago, wsp2205 said:

I am surprised that it's a policy to have stewards and/or supervisors to come into the room to inspect the cabin, but from the security perspective, it kinda makes sense. 

Just so you know, the ticket contract gives the cruise line the right to search your cabin and luggage without your knowledge (without you being present) or consent.

[cr8tiv1]

@wsp2205

Welcome to cruise critic and the extreme ranges of posts.  My two cents that you can gloss over if you feel like doing.  I am also a germaphobic cruiser.

 

Wipe down the cabin with alcohol wipes (wet ones are not as good)

Wash my hands as soon as I enter the cabin

Wear a mask

Distance myself (when possible) from other passengers

You can usually view lecturers on your television rather than go to the daytime talks

Use hand sanitizers whenever I walk past one AND carry my own for after ordering meals, but before eating

Take the stairs whenever possible (very rarely use the elevator)

 

AND I still caught covid on one cruise (out of 6 post pandemic cruises).  I think I picked up the virus while on a long bus tour.  

 

These are my suggestions:

 

Hand your cabin steward a note on the first day outlining your desires.  Examples:

 

Please do not wipe down the counters or move/touch our items.

Please leave fresh towels on the bed (or wherever).

No need to change our sheets often (I think non-suites are every 4 days/suites every day)

Slip patter and other notices under the door

Please wear a mask upon entering our cabin

etc.  

 

I am not concerned about:

 

My sheets / linens (towels)

Brief interactions with my steward

Ice bucket exchanges

 

I am in that "OLDer" demographics and enjoy cruising.  If something should happen on your voyage, I can highly recommend the Medical Center.  First time ever in my years of cruising.  The doctor was a hoot and absolutely the best.  

 

Regardless of what you do, be cautious, be prepared, and enjoy your cruise.

 

[HaveDogWillTravel]

Bring a magnet and put it on the outside of your door. Ask your steward to put notices there. 
I use a 65 pound one that will hold multiple pages. 

[memoak]

This is how you have to act when you have Covid. They make you stay in your cabin for 5 days and if you want the toilet. Leaned you do it yourself. If you want linens changed they leave them outside your cabin. Personally I only do that when I am sick but if someone wants to clean everything themselves fine but I hope they don’t use that as an excuse to remove gratuities 

[GK95]

20 hours ago, SCX22 said:

Not to wash cloth napkins.  Towels and bed linens are fine because people don’t use those as snot rags.

No offense but I’d be way more terrified of what is on towels and sheets if I had a phobia or wanted to avoid contamination. Fecal matter is what is going to get you seriously ill. 

[beshears]

Your question just CAUGHT my eye, and I have not read what others have posted to you here. I understand you not wanting anyone to touch any of your personal items, etc. I will say in over the 30 years of cruising on about 20 cruises or more, our room steward, we have NEVER had a problem with them in any way. Now if you are concerned about money, jewelry, etc. than DON'T bring any where you could not put it in the vault, than you wouldn't have a problem in that area. I will say the room stewards do NOT stay in the rooms long, as your room is NOT the only room they have to take care of, so they are pretty busy, most of the time. It does make it hard on them, but they DO go with the flow, if someone is in their room and do not want the room steward coming in to change the towels or sheets, and they just come back later. Sometimes they come in twice a day, and if a person only wants once a day, then they will do that as well.

[philv]

I’m sorry but I just don’t understand the concerns expressed in this thread at all. One of the pleasures of cruising is having a fresh and neat cabin to come back to everyday. I can’t imagine living amongst the detritus that inevitably builds up over a seven day cruise (or longer!). I’ve always enjoyed the attention the steward gives our cabin and never had concerns over security or sanitation. Try and enjoy your cruise! 😎🚢

[Thrak]

17 hours ago, beshears said:

Your question just CAUGHT my eye, and I have not read what others have posted to you here. I understand you not wanting anyone to touch any of your personal items, etc. I will say in over the 30 years of cruising on about 20 cruises or more, our room steward, we have NEVER had a problem with them in any way. Now if you are concerned about money, jewelry, etc. than DON'T bring any where you could not put it in the vault, than you wouldn't have a problem in that area. I will say the room stewards do NOT stay in the rooms long, as your room is NOT the only room they have to take care of, so they are pretty busy, most of the time. It does make it hard on them, but they DO go with the flow, if someone is in their room and do not want the room steward coming in to change the towels or sheets, and they just come back later. Sometimes they come in twice a day, and if a person only wants once a day, then they will do that as well.

 

The only time I had an "issue" with valuables and the steward was the one time we spaced out and left the safe door hanging open. The steward left a note asking us to please be sure to secure the safe before leaving the cabin. These folks really don't want any chance of being accused of theft.

[VaCruzers]

The OP had no cruise experience, so has no idea of the cruise experience. Additionally, has no respect for experienced cruisers who have tried to set expectations. 

[damiross]

I'm on vacation.  No matter what, I will always use housekeeping.

[wsp2205]

 

35 minutes ago, VaCruzers said:

The OP had no cruise experience, so has no idea of the cruise experience. Additionally, has no respect for experienced cruisers who have tried to set expectations. 

Respect means never imposing anything one believes upon others. 

For those enjoy housing keeping service, pls enjoy it to the utter most. there is absolute no intention in this original post to CORRECT for that. The OP deserves every right to stick to whatever he and his family believe they would enjoy.  Respect is mutual. 
 

Edited February 16 by wsp2205

[cr8tiv1]

@wsp2205 This is your vacation.  Enjoy it the way you want to.  Your wants and needs are not interfering with any other passengers' enjoyment of their cruise.  

 

Please do request to speak to your steward's housekeeping manager to explain your desires.  This will avoid any miscommunications between you, your steward, and the higher uppers who will want to know why he isn't doing his job.  

 

Be flexible and be willing to modify your requests.  I am sure Princess (or any other cruise line) has had unique requests from passengers.

[wsp2205]

9 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

@wsp2205 This is your vacation.  Enjoy it the way you want to.  Your wants and needs are not interfering with any other passengers' enjoyment of their cruise.  

 

Please do request to speak to your steward's housekeeping manager to explain your desires.  This will avoid any miscommunications between you, your steward, and the higher uppers who will want to know why he isn't doing his job.  

 

Be flexible and be willing to modify your requests.  I am sure Princess (or any other cruise line) has had unique requests from passengers.

 

Pls explain how and why declining room service would interfere with other passengers enjoyment of their cruise!?! Exactly like you said, this is my vacation. I don't know who gave the right to so many people in this thread to be so judgmental about what kind of vacation is 'right'. 

 

I never understood why a lot of people stay away from the cruising way of vacation before reading through this thread and now I am getting it. 

Edited February 16 by wsp2205

[RocknRoll22]

20 hours ago, beshears said:

Your question just CAUGHT my eye, and I have not read what others have posted to you here. I understand you not wanting anyone to touch any of your personal items, etc. I will say in over the 30 years of cruising on about 20 cruises or more, our room steward, we have NEVER had a problem with them in any way.

You should go back and read all of the OPs posts. They were concerned about catching an illness or Covid from the steward or from linens provided by the ship, not worrying about the steward stealing something.

[cr8tiv1]

1 hour ago, wsp2205 said:

 

Pls explain how and why declining room service would interfere with other passengers enjoyment of their cruise!?! Exactly like you said, this is my vacation. I don't know who gave the right to so many people in this thread to be so judgmental about what kind of vacation is 'right'. 

 

I never understood why a lot of people stay away from the cruising way of vacation before reading through this thread and now I am getting it. 

My post said your decision would NOT impact other cruisers.

 

There are examples where a passenger will say, “It’s MY vacation”, and everybody else better get out of their way.  YOU are not in that class.  
 

You will be fine on a cruise.  Be prepared to run into others who do not take the same precautions as you do.  THAT, I’m speaking from experience.  
 

There are many good folks who are very helpful.  You will get to know them the more you read Cruise Critic.

[dockman]

On 2/14/2024 at 10:43 AM, SCX22 said:

Not to wash cloth napkins.  Towels and bed linens are fine because people don’t use those as snot rags.

u sure about that? Think about all the places a towel might wipe...and what people might do in bed...maybe bring paper towels and your sleeping bag.

[EDVM96]

What is an anxiety disorder?

 

An anxiety disorder is a type of mental health condition.
If you have an anxiety disorder, you may respond to certain things and situations with fear and dread. 

 

[bobpell]

This happened to us last time on HAL

The Captain announced on the first day at 1pm your cabins are ready.

We opened the door on our signature suite to a pig sty

The garbage cans were overflowing stench of food wrappers and bones

The beds were stripped and tilted

The balcony door was propped open.

We found our steward down the hall and we were advised the room was off limits and we were to go to guest services to get another room!!??

Guest services said no and that was our room!!

We played ping pong between our steward and guest services til 4pm. 

Two pigs were in our room and must have asked not to have any interaction with their room steward all cruise. He was very tight lipped when asked what and who was in our room on the previous cruise

Bob

[Cruise till you drop]

On 2/13/2024 at 7:39 PM, wsp2205 said:

It's just a personal preference that we don't like any strangers to touch our personal items including sheets and towels while we are still using them. It works fine with hotel stays…

So many questions but let me start with a few

1) you do realize that your cabin steward is touching your sheets and towels before you embark the ship?  So what’s the difference if it’s before you embark and during the cruise?

 

2) what’s the difference between a room steward at a hotel vs a cruise ship ?

 

3) In your scenario of not needing room steward service, are you still paying your gratuities or not?

 

 

Edited February 16 by Cruise till you drop

[Cruise till you drop]

7 hours ago, RocknRoll22 said:

You should go back and read all of the OPs posts. They were concerned about catching an illness or Covid from the steward or from linens provided by the ship, not worrying about the steward stealing something.

You can’t catch Covid from people touching your linens and towels.  I can’t believe I even have to type this sentence

[d9704011]

13 minutes ago, Cruise till you drop said:

3) In your scenario of not needing room steward service, are you still paying your gratuities or not?

Irrelevant to the stated desire about not having the steward touching the towels and bedding while onboard; an excellent opportunity to hijack the discussion into another tipping thread..... Bravo!

[Cruise till you drop]

5 minutes ago, d9704011 said:

Irrelevant to the stated desire about not having the steward touching the towels and bedding while onboard; an excellent opportunity to hijack the discussion into another tipping thread..... Bravo!

Question was to the OP

 

And it might be relevant depending on the answer

Edited February 16 by Cruise till you drop