Past Celebrity Employee - Answering Your Questions

[Faygelah]

Cruiseemployee, thank you so much for responding to these questions. Your insights are fascinating.

 

Something I've wondered: have you ever seen a same-sex couple chosen for the newlywed/not-so-newlywed game or to sit at the Captain's Table? I've always tried to talk up the SoHo to try to wangle a seat at the Captain's Table. As half of a male couple, I have wondered if the SoHo might anticipate other guests' uncomfortableness with a gay couple, and we might not have a realistic chance.

[HeatherInFlorida]

........As half of a male couple, I have wondered if the SoHo might anticipate other guests' uncomfortableness with a gay couple, and we might not have a realistic chance.

I sure would hope not:( !!! How ridiculous would that be!:confused:

[Lois R]

Hi..from what I was just told on the Constellation the people who are chosen to sit at the Captain's Table directly come from Corporate.....the Social Hostess doesn't have a say so or not about who is picked.

 

Hi Heather:)

[Two@Sea]

Faygela, just gotta jump in here and let you know I got a great chuckle out of your screen name. Very clever! As for your questions, have to agree with Heather. Shouldn't we all be past that by now?

 

Marsha

[ocngypz]

SOHO NO MO. Captain's Club rep (male or female).......CT invitees from HO with RM doing fill -ins.

[joramrose]

Thanks for a very informative thread. I love reading it.

 

Here is my question. Not sure if this applies to someone working ON a ship but maybe you would know. Have you ever had an experiance with a cruise being overbooked? Any stories as to what deals were offered to get people to give up their cabins or what the hotel manager may have had to do to make sure everything worked out?

 

Bill

 

 

I have a story for Mr.Bill

 

This happened on a cruise I took some years ago, on a Greek ship in and around the Greek islands. For all I know, it may have been the original Celebrity line!

 

Anyway, it was early May, the first cruise of the island season. And it was every evident at the dock that we were not all going to fit on that ship, which had room for about 750 passengers.

 

The captain, the hotel manager and a number of excite tour guides (I think there were maybe six different escorted tours waiting to board, and I think that was what caused the problem) -- they all tried to sort it out.

 

One entire tour got left behind.

They were not very happy.

 

I had been bumming around Greece solo, and when they got to me, the hotel manager got a gleam in his eye and said he could accommodate me if I woud give up my larger cabin for two other passengers. Yeah?

 

He assigned me to share with the cruise director. Since he knocked off some of my fare, I trudged way down below the main deck and squeezed into this little tiny cabin with two bunk beds, one above the other. And a bathroom about the size of my hot water heater closet. Youo had to sit on the stool, pull a curtain around you and use a hand-held shower.

 

 

Anyway, a few minutes the CD walks in -= a tall handsome French girl. She took one look at me, muttered oops and disappeared. She was not happy about sharing her space!!

 

She returned in a few minutes, apologized and we got acquainted. She turned out to be a lovely person, and that cruise was great fun. She knew all the places to go on the islands, and took me with her, even to dinner with her boy friend on Rhodes! The cruise was fantastic becauses of Monique.

 

I'm not sure all cruise crews would be happy sharing their facilities with a passenger, and I am not sure all passengers would want to. But it was that or stay ashore for me, and I am sure glad I took a chance.

 

love

joan

[nhcruiser]

Best Thread that I have read in a long while! Really focused people asking real "Cruise" related questions and not auguring. When we sailed the Zenith a few years ago we were most impressed by the Cruise Staff and Cruise Director.

 

Cruiseemployee – Thank you for your time and effort! Happy Holidays to All!

 

[cruiseemployee]

gizmo - Not too sure but my guess is that they do buy it duty free. Lots of perks sailing in international waters. Again, just a guess.

 

bizou3 - That's a very good idea and would be welcomed with open arms. I honestly haven't heard of the SO HO or ACD doing that but I imagine they would. The key here is that the phone cards the crew uses are different than any cards a guest would use. So you would actually have to give the money to the SO HO or ACD to get you the phone card to give to the crewmember. But nonetheless a great idea!!!

[cruiseemployee]

Deb in Cali - Phone cards are good, but honestly, the best thing still is money. American money is universal and to some of the less developed countries, a few extra dollars are huge to these people. There really isn't too much else that is prized by the crew. We have access to a lot of islands so there really isn't anything unique that we can't get. As far as your comment about the officers treating some of the crew members badly, I've seen it too. Some officers don't hide the fact that they yell at their staff which is really sad. It should never be done in front of a guest; nevermind at all; period. Some people (like any other job) are on extreme power trips, especially on a ship. There's nothing that I as a fellow crew member can really do though. Comfort that member, that's about it.

 

Next person (sorry thread is too long and can't go back to see your name) - No the orchestra or others don't have any special benefits compared to the other staff. They're all grouped under "staff".

 

GENERAL INFO: There are 3 different classes of crew. Crew, staff and officers. Each has their own priveledges. Crew are not allowed in guest areas when not working. Staff are allowed in guest areas but there are restrictions. Can't use the pool, restaurant, only certain times for buffets. That sort of stuff. Officers have even more leeway than staff. Just how it works on a ship.

 

Mr. Bill - I know that we have had overbooked cruises before, but I honestly don't know what was done. I just heard about it sorry.

 

John Taylor - Formal night is a suit jacket and a tie. Or a tuxedo. A hawaiian shirt is not allowed during formal night. Now, here's the problem...It usually isn't enforced. There's no particular position on the ship that is the dress police. My rule of thumb is if you're unsure, always dress up. Better to dress up than down. Before the show, many people do go change. BUT HERE IS SOMETHING NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW... MOST ENTERTAINERS, PRODUCTION CAST DON'T LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE IN THE THEATRE ON FORMAL NIGHT WEARING SHORTS AND CASUAL!!! It's true. They really appreciate it when the crowd is dressed formally and stays that way during their show. And they also love it when a crowd is into the show. Believe me; they talk about it after the show. Whenever we ask them, how did the show go??? It's all about how the crowd reacts.

 

Renorita - I don't know specific rooms but a little tip for you. For quietness, try to avoid being close to an entrance to a hallway. Most of the time in the morning when the stateroom attendants are cleaning the rooms in their hallway, they'll leave their cart near the entrance to the floor. If you're near that cart you know what I mean; it's loud. Avoid that.

 

Ships R Great - Honestly never heard of that before. I don't know. I still think money is the best thing...lol. As far as something extra, sure why not. We're always looking for something free!!! You wouldn't offend anyone don't worry. I remember when a guest bought me a bottle of champagne at the end of the cruise. Only happened once during my contract so it was memorable. So I say why not. Go for it.

 

Heather in Florida - Your comments really made me laugh. Yes we did pin nicknames to guests. In fact we cruise so many weeks that they seem to kind of meld so that you can't remember each particular one. To help us out, we remember something unique about the cruise and then use that. For example, "hey, you remember the drunk lady cruise???" or "rememer the guy from the crazy cruise?" We use these nicknames to distinguish each one. And when a guest mad us mad, we vented about it. Told our peers. Just how it is.

 

Ingrid - yes they do take them seriously. In fact, at the end of a cruise if you try to hand your card to someone like an activities staff who says goodbye to you as you leave, they're honestly not even allowed to take them from you. Head office wants to avoid tampering of comment cards. So they do this

 

crookedstick - I don't think it would help. You would have to make certain that the person you're giving this to is aware that it's part of their overall tip and not something extra. Because if you don't tell them, then they'll think that you failed to give them the correct amount at the end.

 

Just add water - mentioned the different classes earlier in this reply. As far as mixing classes, sure we all have a drink with each other. But usually you do keep with your people you work with. Most ships have 2 crew bars. One used to be the "crew bar" and one was the "staff and officer bar". In the last year that's changed to a smoking and a non-smoking bar. Everyone is allowed to go to both bars now. It was different before. For the most part though, you stick around the people you work with. I honestly didn't know many dining staff because their hours were so different from ours. Just never got to know them. AND YES, I DO HATE BINGO!!!! Love calling it though. Love to make the little jokes...the more lame, the better.

 

Laddee bug - I would inform the Maitre'D at the beginning, good idea. You aren't expected to tip then, but if you eat regularly at the buffet, then I'd recommend tipping there. So either way your tipping. Just not as much at the buffet. (Don't know y you wouldn't go to the dining room though)

 

gkm - very good question. The answer here is again first impressions. We will know by about 10pm the first night how the cruise is going to be. When people first get on, how many people complain at the guest relations desk. How many people take the champagne when they come on. How many people are excited the second they step on the ship, or how many just wanna go sit down. How many people are at the shows the first night. How many are in the casino. How many are partying the first night in the disco. If you meet a group of people the first day that are excited to be there and are happy-go-lucky, then you know that you're in for a great cruise. If you can remember a particular crew members name and say hi to them when you pass them in the hallway, they know that you're a very nice person who really does care about the crew. You're there to share our home. Not invade it. Our job is to remember your name. If you can do the same, that's huge.

 

Faygelah - Nice name...lol...finally got it...anyways, no I haven't seen a couple get selected for the Newlywed game. Usually a CD decision. We had 2 guys pretend they were gay and tried to get up there, but we knew they were lying so didn't even put their name in. Unfortunately, it still is perceived as akward at the captain's table. Which is kind of ironic because the percentage of gay people working on a ship is much higher than on land.

 

Lois R - Yes, suites first. They pay the bigs bucks so they get the first chance. Just how it works. Don't know if it's changed in the last few months but i knew the SO HO on my ships and they always asked the Activities staff to keep an eye open for them for any interesting and genuine people they've met. So don't know about your comment...

[Prewelli]

Maybe cruiseemployee ought to start his own business advising all of us who have so many questions and worry about our holidays - when I read everyones posts (including my own) we all sound so concerned about doing the right thing - hey guys this is a vacation we should all learn to go with the flow.............

 

 

My only real beef is about the cleaning gantry on Celebrity - if they leave it outside my cabin I get really angry....................

 

Thanks to cruiseemployee for all his patience - he must have been a great employee.:cool:

[ALuckyChrm]

Lois R... I was on the same cruise as you, in a Suite and a Captains Club Elite member (supposed to be one of the benefits)... I didn't get an invite though! I did however get a beautiful flower arrangement that was supposed to be from the captain.

 

Faygelah... In my opinion I think that's the reason I wasn't "chosen," when I travel under different circumstances I don't have any problems. I don't think they feel comfortable with the gay couple issue even though Celebrity is very gay friendly.

[Lois R]

Hi..I was told about who is picked for Capt Table by the Captain's Club Rep....I am guessing he knows who is chosen because Corporate gave him a list for both formal nights. He didn't choose them...and Constellation no longer has a Social Hostess.

 

Hi Lucky....too bad we didn't meet!!! There are quite a few folks popping up now who were on the sailing......we had a great ROLL CALL.......would have been nice to meet all you other cruisers too!

[tbelian]

Wallie5446 - Sorry, but can't tell you. I'll be vague and say I was never on the century class. Don't wanna blow my cover

 

If you dont work for the cruiseline anymore, what are you worried about? Give us the info, you have nothing to lose (apparently, unless....???!!!) ...

[wallie5446]

If you dont work for the cruiseline anymore, what are you worried about? Give us the info, you have nothing to lose (apparently, unless....???!!!) ...

Hummmmmmm..... unless ... I agree.

[SuiteCruising]

Faygelah,

 

My partner and I have been at the Captain's Table on the Millennium.

The gay issue was not a problem at all.

 

Bob

[marc and jan]

I'm sorry, but I don't see what the big deal is for this person to reveal himself/herself to us. Isn't it just enough that our questions are being answered? Please don't scare them off, I find this thread very interesting, and it looks like lots of others do also.

[cruiseemployee]

Tbelion - I would like to keep all of my options open. Don't burn bridges. Revealing myself might hinder this in the future. Would't you agree?

[wallie5446]

Jan,

 

The reason some of us are trying to verify, is because it is 'Against' RCI policy for any employee to post any information concerning the Co. or on ship happing's Period. No if's and's or but's. How do I know ? Personal first hand experience, as my Daughter, a member of Cruise Critic, used to work for RCI.

[seagulls]

Please stop pushing Cruiseemployee for personal information! Please respect his wishes and be thankful that he is willing to enlighten us a little.

[cruiseemployee]

Wallie - I am not divulging any information that is going to hinder RCI's ability to conduct business. I am merely giving tips as to how to cruise better. No financials; if you have a problem with my info, then I suggest you not read this thread anymore...Does it offend you? And tell me what verifying my identity has anything to do with the valid items I'm pointing out?

[tomc]

I'm over here from the HAL board simply because I want to learn how to be a a better passenger. Some of the "inside" information will help me do that. I think "cruiseemployee" is doing a great job of being discreet as to what should be posted. After 14 cruises (all HAL), I am still learning how to be a good guy onboad and not one of those who is remembered for all the wrong reasons. Thanks for the info!

[cruiseyguy]

wallie 5446-why is it your "duty" to enforce RCI policy? Cruiseemployee-many thanks for your efforts. Don't burn out doing these posts-take a break, if necessary, and come back later for Round 2.

[wallie5446]

Nope, does not offend in any way. Just why are you getting deffensive that I question your prior status, just cause you state it is so ?

[wallie5446]

wallie 5446-why is it your "duty" to enforce RCI policy? Cruiseemployee-many thanks for your efforts. Don't burn out doing these posts-take a break, if necessary, and come back later for Round 2.

Dont care to enforce anything, but the old phrase, you can fool some of the people most of the time ? What would you do if he wanted to give a some great stock tips? Any one could make the blanket statements being given by a wizard hideing behind a curtin.

[cruiseemployee]

Wallie - believe what you want to. I'll just be a part of the critic society and help out the fellow cruiser. Not trying to get in any trouble. Just wanna help everyone cruise to be more aware of their surroundings. Possibly appreciate cruising a little more. And don't worry, won't give out any stock tips. Not why I'm here. (not that I know anything because I don't)