Room Stewards into my stuff

[wowzo]

I have been on 19 cruises and on the last 2 - I have had the room stewards (rs) taking things out of my (what I thought of as ) my private areas.

I always thought that drawers, closets and anything personal of the pax is not to be touched. (Being in the hotel business, that is what we taught our staff).

On the Volendam last March, the RS made reference to something I had in my closet (that I never took out of the closet until packing up time) and on the last night TOOK something out of my closet that I was saving until morning !!

Then on the Disney ship, May 7, the RS took something of mine that was on a table on the balcony that I was saving for my son. :mad:

So what's going on here, my cabin is mine until I walk out on the last AM. No one should be clearing out anything without my say so, or even looking in there.

Has anyone ever had this happen ??

MaryAnn

P.S. I did not use the comment cards to burn the guy - never saw the Volendam guy but told the Disney guy and his superior (who happened upon us in the hallway.

[doone]

I have never had a room steward make reference to anything I had put away nor take anything that I left out. I don't recall anyone else ever having that happen to them either. I am not saying it didn't happen to you, but, for me anyways, its the first I have heard of this on a HAL ship.

Now, Premiere Cruise Lines, my mother had a Gucci watch taken right out of her draw. We reported it immediately, they did nothing at all, as a matter of fact, we never heard a word from Premiere, no wonder they went "belly up" so to speak.

[missygirl]

To my knowledge I have never noticed that anything has been gone through and we have cruised on four previous ones. The only thing that I have ever heard was that a RS had went into a friends drawer on her cruise to retrieve her nightgown to fold into a flower. She said that what bothered her was this is such a personal item that she really didn't wanting stranger touching it and he did go through her things.

Missygirl:)

[Robin7]

The only thing that I have ever heard was that a RS had went into a friends drawer on her cruise to retrieve her nightgown to fold into a flower.

I had that happen on a Princess cruise. The RS got out one of my nighties and left it arranged on the bed with the chocolate after he prepared the stateroom for the night. We ALWAYS put our stuff away because I don't want the RS handling my stuff. So we spoke to him about it, and it didn't happen again.

On HAL (five times now), we've never had anything like that happen that I could tell. In fact, the Room Steward has often left stuff I wish he would have taken, like a half-empty cup of soda or those dumb fliers about jewelry sales at the shops. Now I'm just careful to put those things in the little recycling thing attached to the trash can and to leave only empty glasses.

Robin

[dakrewser]

I have been on 19 cruises and on the last 2 - I have had the room stewards (rs) taking things out of my (what I thought of as ) my private areas.
You seem to very carefully avoid mentioning what the "stuff" in question was - personal items, clothing or "souvenirs" which someone might consider simply waste or trash?

And, yes, they do clean in the closet.

[wowzo]

I didn't mention what the stuff was because that is not important -it is the going into drawers and closets that is the point. If it is important to you to know what the stuff is I'll let you know.

And throwing out something(anything) on the veranda.That was important to me, too.

And what is needed to clean in a closet until the guest leaves ? He did not clean well in the closet before we got there because there were the cardboard liquor boxes and dirty bathrobes from the previous people.

MaryAnn

[saltydog28]

wowzo-I'm wondering why you left something out on the verandah? It gets windy out there and items get blown off. Either out to sea or on to someone elses verandah. Maybe he removed it as a safety issue or didn't realize you wanted it.
Just a thought,
Pat.

[Randyk47]

Last, and only time, an RS got into personal stuff, that I know of, was on my very first cruise in 1994 on the Carnival Fantasy when the RS made something....a crab I think...out of my ex's nightgown. (More fitting than he probably realized.... :eek: ) We're typically pretty organized and while a table may collect some brochure or flyers, etc., we try to not leave too much out. Luckily HAL has only recently gone the "towel animal" avenue but our one and only towel thingie was indeed made out of towels, not our personal clothing. I don't like the idea of them going through drawers though and hope that doesn't become a norm or habit.

[jhannah]

We've never had anything pilfered on any of our cruises. I could see a steward looking in the closets, especially toward the end of the cruise, to make sure the life jackets are in there and neatly stowed for the next guests. But I can't imagine any reason for a steward to bother or talk about what he found in there. Yes, our "private space" should be just that.

[wowzo]

Pat - I thought so at first but the balcony was not windy and it was a solid railing chest high. A towel left on the back of a chair was not even moving.

Had this happened only once - I wouldn't feel as upset about it but the fact that it happened 3 times on 2 different lines makes me think that it is more frequent than I thought.

MaryAnn

[gizmo]

I am very confused over the OP's post. :confused: Taking things out of a private area ? I think the post is lacking in detail so it makes it difficult to comment. I think "what stuff" does matter.


I do know at one time, Carnival's RS would lay out night gowns for the ladies. And YES , the did go through drawers/closets to get the night gown. I have no idea if this is still a practice or not.

[Tricia724]

I can't say that I've ever had anything personal taken or disturbed, but I did notice something on one cruise that bothered me a little.

One night we brought a glass of wine back to the cabin with us; and since we had a bottle of wine in our refrigerator for in-cabin use, I decided to keep the glasses on hand. So, I rinsed them out, dried them off, and put them in a small dresser drawer that was not being used. When we opened our wine, I went to retrieve the glasses and they were gone. Now, the steward had to remove them because neither of us did....which brings up the question of why he was looking in a drawer that was supposed to be used for our personal belongings.

I guess I think that most stewards are honest and don't cross that line, but there is always someone who strays off the path. I'm one of those people who leave my bucket with casino money sitting on the dresser and who tosses my jewelry in an unlocked drawer, so one of these days I'll probably pay for being lazy. So far, I haven't had any problem.

[noblepa]

On our recent Oosterdam cruise, my wife had some small request for the steward. I don't even remember what it was. She left a note, asking him for what she wanted, along with a dollar bill as a small tip. When we returned that evening, the request had been filled, the note was gone, but the dollar remained.

I figured that the steward didn't want to risk any kind of misundertanding and be accused of taking money, even though we thought it was fairly clear that the money was intended for him. Now, especially in light of the current thread on tipping (possibly insulting staff by "bribing" them), maybe he didn't think it was necessary that we tip before a service was provided, or perhaps he was insulted by the amount.

BTW, we did leave the auto-tip in place and added a little extra at the end of the cruise.

I've left larger amounts of cash on the table or bed in our cabin on this and other cruises, and I've never had a problem.

[wowzo]

Tricia, that's exactly what I'm talking about !!! It's not the value of the item, it's the fact that drawers (& closets) are gone thru and things are taken away. He had no business even being in the drawer let alone taking the glasses. Doesn't matter who's or what's or whatever.

You get my point and it's disturbing - I wonder if the safe and our luggage (locked ) is the only place for privacy ?

M.A.

[kryos]

I guess I think that most stewards are honest and don't cross that line, but there is always someone who strays off the path. I'm one of those people who leave my bucket with casino money sitting on the dresser and who tosses my jewelry in an unlocked drawer, so one of these days I'll probably pay for being lazy. So far, I haven't had any problem.
Wow! These stories amaze me because I've never had any such problems on any cruise I've taken. Especially on my last cruise, I was blessed with what was probably the best room steward on the ship. But, I guess we all have to remember ... sometimes a dishonest one will slip through the cracks. Especially when a cruise line goes on a hiring frenzy, like NCL is doing right now with advertisements appearing almost weekly in the Sunday newspapers (probably in several major markets), there are going to be some people hired who are gonna be dishonest. They will be weeded out, but it will take time. During that time, some passengers can get shafted.

I'm the same as you ... lazy. I put my wallet in the safe shortly after embarkation, but have been known to leave it laying around after a day in port ... being too lazy to put it back since maybe there is another port the next day.

Hopefully, I'll keep getting the honest, upright room stewards. Hopefully, you will too.

Blue skies ...

--rita

[mickeyfitz]

I agree that there is normally no reason for a steward to ever be opening a drawer and almost never a reason to be opening a closet. I do expect some privacy in those areas, but I really don't understand the upsetment over the "thing" on the verandah which was mistakenly disturbed. It was afterall in plain sight and it is the steward's job to tidy up that area and I can only assume that he thought that the "thing" was to be discarded. Many guest leave their "things" all over the stateroom and verandah and expect the steward to pick up after them.

[wowzo]

He can 'tidy up' all he wants but unless it's in the wastebasket, he cannot decide what to throw away or keep.

How many times have we wished they have thrown something away and until it is in the basket it just sits there day after day ?:)

I just don't want anyone going thru the 'private' areas and personal stuff and deciding what goes or not.

You can decide what bothers you as I can. But I bet we'll all be more aware of what we thought was our personal areas.

M. A.

[Copper10-8]

Just like any hotel on land (except the Bates) it is not normal course of business, and I'm pretty sure not even allowed, for room stewards or anyone else employed by HAL to go through drawers and closets when that cabin is occupied during a cruise let alone remove guest's personal items from there. Be advised though, that there is HAL-owned property in some closets of a guest's cabin (multiple life jackets, an umbrella, a laundry basket and laundry forms come to mind) and in one of the drawers, you'll find a bible. Those could be the reason why a steward would need access to a closet but I doubt that he would do it when alone in the cabin and I'd think he would ask for permission from the pax beforehand. On the last night before or morning of disembarkation, our closets are empty with the exception of what we're wearing on our way home. When we are at breakfast, I could see our steward opening closets to verify that the life jackets are still there and would have absolutely no problems with that.

This topic has come up before with folks relating that their steward has used personal items on towel animals or in some cases, life-size towel people. I have had them use my sunglasses or a baseball hat:eek: (blew that one, now they know I wear them at times) on a towel animal. Those items have always been out in the open. It would not be OK with us if our steward was going through our drawers while we were still occuping the cabin and I would advise him of that.

[mickeyfitz]

The problem is that I have seen people leave trash and debris all around their stateroom and verandah, expecting their steward to take care of the mess and it is simply unrealistic to insist that nothing can be thrown out unless it is in the wastebasket. Unless I know what the "thing" on the verandah was, I am not ready to criticize his judgment.

[Krazy Kruizers]

So far we have had only incident - and it was on a back-to-back cruise. Zuiderdam, May 2005 - and it was not our cabin steward who took away our bottle of vodka. We were sitting out on the verandah while all the rooms were being made ready for the new passengers. After having lunch we decided to have a drink and when we went back inside the cabin our bottle of vodka was gone. Now our room steward knew that we were staying on for another cruise so he did our cabin first thing in the morning. When we discovered that the bottle was gone, we went looking for him. Instead we ran into the person incharge of checking the cabins after the room stewards have cleaned them and he said that he didn't realize that we were out on the verandah and that we were on for another cruise - AHHH - he has a list and should have seen that our names were on there for a second cruise. To make amends, a new bottle was sent to our cabin within a half hour.

[Gerd]

Hello everybody

I had a strange one with our cabin steward on our last Statendam cruise.

The steward has token stuff from a closed drawer next to my bed - those cards, which come every evening together with chocolate. The chocolate I collected for later, but the cards, I always put on the last day on the table.

But why the hell he has to look in the drawer, and to take something out.

Ones I detected it, I asked him why he did so – but his answers was really unlikely, that I was really surprised. That’s why I talked about it with the hotel manager. :confused:

I did not remark any change of attitude from him later on, i.e. no excuses, that’s why, on the end of the cruise, he did not receive the usually given "Trinkgeld" => German expression for Gratuity……

The auto tipping was, of course, not at all cancelled !! :)


G E R D



MS Rotterdam – 12 days Vikings and Czars - July 4th 2006
http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;10729;6/st/20060704/e/Vikings+%26amp%3B+Czars/dt/6/k/38b4/event.png

:confused:

[Casshew]

I've had my nightgown taken from the closet and laid out on the bed... it was kinda creepy. :eek:

[sail7seas]

I agree, KK....... That was not good! Happy to hear he did the right thing and sent a fresh bottle. :) Hope it was your brand. :)

[sail7seas]

We would be displeased if a cabin steward went into our drawers while we were occupying a room. I cannot think of any legitimate reason why it would be required or reasonable. I most assuredly would not want him seeking my lingerie to either set out for my use or for him to be looking for personal items he could use making the towel animals.

I think Copper made valid points regarding the closets. I have often asked stewards for more laundry/dry cleaning slips. They normally stock them in the entry closet of the Suites so it is reasonable he would be in that closet. Also, his point about life jackets and robes and umbrellas etc (HAL property) is stored in those closets.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Oh yes - it was replaced with the Grey Goose that we bought just a couple of days before the end of the first cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have noticed on our last several cruises that our room steward has left new laundry bags either on the bed or on the desk whenever we used one and needed to have it replaced. Our cabin steward did not place it on a hanger in the closet.

[sail7seas]

We've noticed we often have to ask for a new form after we send out laundry. For some reason, the last few stewards haven't automatically left a new one. No big deal. They've all been wonderful stewards, easy to find and happy to promptly fill any reasonable request. :)

[Grumpy1]

Prinsendam has the walkin closets, which have a fairly large floor area. since ours was a cruise of over 100 days, I would fully expect it to be cleaned a few times during the cruise. We found a place on the top shelf for the lifejackets where they were easily seen, and left one lower shelf open for the laundry basket, bags and forms. Everytime that laundry was picked up, replacement bags and forms were immediately placed in the basket in the closet. Nothing was ever removed from our cabin unless we placed it in the waste basket, with the exception of empty cans left on the bar, and what the steward considered to be over ripe fruit in the fruit basket. now, on that last point we differed. Slinkie and I both like bananas that are ripe. No green, nice mellow yellow with a few speckles. Just as we thought that the bananas would be just right in another day, they disappeared and were replaced with bright green ones. We started hiding them in a drawer. If our steward ever went into a drawer, we never were aware of it. We know he was in our closet, but nothing was ever removed.

[F11]

I am told that legally if they are suspious of something-drugs,liquor,they have a right to check and remove. Were you carrying drugs? or liquor?

[RevNeal]

On the Zaandam in 2004 my steward was wonderful. I had developed a habit, when coming back from a shore excursion, of emptying my pockets of any loose change. When I would return to my cabin after a cleaning I would notice that the coins would be stacked, orderly, on the table top. I kept emptying my pockets of change, and over the 21 days of the cruise the stacks of money kept growing. I think it was up to about $25 or $30 in coins by the end of the cruise.

When I went to disembark the ship I left the change sitting on the counter (I had already left a sizable tip in an envelope on the bed the night before). While walking down the hall, away from my cabin, my steward can running after me with the coins in a bag, shouting "Rev. Neal, you forgot your change!"

I smiled, thanked him, and told him to please keep it.
He grinned real brightly and said "but you left me a nice tip last night." And I laughed and said "true, but here's a tiny be more. Bet you didn't realize you've been stacking a part of your tip for the last 3 weeks." He laughed and hugged me (which surprised me).

[RevNeal]

On the Oosterdam in January I was rather annoyed that my Cabin Steward threw away the plastic dry-cleaner bags that I had packed my clothing in for transit to and from the ship. I had folded the bags carefully and stored them in the closet. On the 2nd to the last night aboard they vanished. :(

[dakrewser]

I would hope people would stop alluding to "stealing" on the part of the crew - that hasn't been mentioned by anyone - most especially the OP.

So what we're really criticising here - those who are berating the cabin stewards - is that they are acting like traditional personal attendants. That I do find humerous, especially from those who usually join me in bemoaning the erosion of "traditional" ship-board service.

But I do wish the OP would let us know the articles in question so that we might better understand the complaint. Was the item on the verandah a souvenir purchased in port? A napkin with someone's autograph? A plastic water bottle???

[RevNeal]

Dave,

I don't think that my cabin steward "stole" the plastic dry cleaner bags. It just bothers me that he opened the closets, found them, and decided to toss them. They were neatly folded and waiting my packing to return home. I've never had something like this happen before. It just frustrated me. Next time, I'm putting those bags into my luggage before storing the luggage under my bed. :)

[dakrewser]

Dave,

I don't think that my cabin steward "stole" the plastic dry cleaner bags.

I didn't mean that you had, Greg. Some posters specifically used words like "steal" in their notes, though. It was those I referred to.

[sail7seas]

Dave,

I don't think that my cabin steward "stole" the plastic dry cleaner bags. It just bothers me that he opened the closets, found them, and decided to toss them. They were neatly folded and waiting my packing to return home. I've never had something like this happen before. It just frustrated me. Next time, I'm putting those bags into my luggage before storing the luggage under my bed. :)

That happened to me so long ago, I forgot about it until you mentioned it, Rev.

When I pack, I NOW always put all our garments in dry cleaner bags and I automatically leave the empty bags inside our suitcases until it is time to repack.

Many years ago, a steward removed the bags from our closet....exactly as you mention happened to you.

He should not have IMO

[Crazy]

I had never had this problem. At the first of each cruise I tell my room steward that I am on vacation so don't worry about cleaning up to where I can't find my "stuff". My nephew brings my lap top, leaves it in the room, we have left things on the balcony, I am always leaving things out that probably should be in drawers but I have always had room stewards that respected my space.

[Copper10-8]

I am told that legally if they are suspious of something-drugs,liquor,they have a right to check and remove. Were you carrying drugs? or liquor?

Wrongo dongo on that assumption (the first one;) )

[Bramcruiser]

Never had anything touch or taken in any of our cabins. So far so good. I have to agree with those, however, that say their clothing and personal items are just that - personal. I have heard stories on these boards about clothing being taken out and arranged into animals or some other odd caricature but I think this is more odd than cute. If personal items were arranged in such a way I might make mention of it to the front desk to say I rather not have them touched.

Now if something was stolen then I'd be raising a big stink however I'd make sure I look around before I say a word. Once in a hotel in California we were so certain our travellers' cheques were stolen. So we reported it to the front desk. The next morning we woke up and found them. I went straight back to the front desk and apologized. It was a good thing that the night before I reported it in a calm fashion and didn't rant and rave and point fingers or I would have looked rather foolish the next morning.

[RevNeal]

Hey, Sail ... up until now I've not removed the plastic until I'm ready to wear each item of clothing. I never wrap my underwear or my easy-to-wash polo shirts or casual slacks, all of which go folded into my suitcase. Anything that's on hangers, however, I put in dry cleaner bags. Suits, dress shirts, dress slacks, hawaiian shirts, silk shirts, print shirts ... anything that might wrinkles, I keep them in cleaner bags. But I usually haven't removed them from their bags until I'm ready to wear them. Not anymore. I'll make removing them from their plastic a part of my unpacking process. It will slow that process down, but it will be worth it if I can keep the plastic bags safe in my suitcases.

[Grumpy1]

So what we're really criticising here - those who are berating the cabin stewards - is that they are acting like traditional personal attendants.You have a point there, Dave, but the vast majority of cruisers have never had a traditional personal attendant... other than Mommy or DW:D ... and would not be used to turning over the more intimate details to someone else, especially someone that you do not know well enough to have a high degree of trust in them. I don't think of HAL stewards as personal attendants and doubt that many others do either. if I wanted or needed a personal attendant, I would bring one with me that I knew well.

[Grumpy1]

If nothing else, this thread has made us all aware of things that might happen. Now that we know, we can probably head off problems with a little up front communications with the room steward. I know that from now on I will tell my steward that I do not want him/her to open any drawer in the room without my permission. In RevNeal's situation, I would leave the clothes in the bags until ready to wear them, but I would tell the steward that I will need the bags for packing and they are not to be thrown away. Also telling them that anything that you want discarded will be in or on the wastebasket should head off problems there.

[gophercruiser]

Have had some 24 cruises under our belts and cannot say that we have noticed any personal discretions being abused. I do not believe you did HAL any favors by not putting the incident on the end of cruise form as if it was serious enough to bring to the Forum, it should have been reported to HAL.

[dakrewser]

You have a point there, Dave, but the vast majority of cruisers have never had a traditional personal attendant... other than Mommy or DW:D ... and would not be used to turning over the more intimate details to someone else, especially someone that you do not know well enough to have a high degree of trust in them. I don't think of HAL stewards as personal attendants and doubt that many others do either. if I wanted or needed a personal attendant, I would bring one with me that I knew well.

It's interesting in this regard to note that one of the service that Celebrity's butlers offer to suite passengers is unpacking and packing service... i.e., it's part of the "suite life" to ghave someone handle all of your clothing.

[wowzo]

Hi - Seems like we all agree that the drawers in our cabin should not be opened and most believe that the closets are personal space - with a few exceptions - too. IMO the deciding what to take out of these spaces should not be allowed to continue. What might look like junk or unnecessary might have a value to that person (See Rev. Neal). Who are they to decide ?? It makes me mad.:mad:

Some people cannot get past wondering about what was taken from me - bear in mind - I still stress, it is not the item it is the deciding to take that is more important !!
Volendam:
I knew he was in my closet when he made reference to a clip on chair umbrella that I had in my closet.

A thermal coffee server was missing from the shelf by the safe in my closet. We wanted it on the last AM to get Lido coffee while getting ready to vacate the room. !!

Disney Wonder balcony : a full unopened bottle of soda and a souvenier book of matches.(wet towel was left out there and ashtray 1/2 full )

Another poster mentioned glassware taken from a drawer-I do remember a couple of years ago that happening, too. Just didn't pay attention then-should have been more aware.

MaryAnn

PS I have had liquor, snacks and such in drawers that haven't been taken (yet !)

[Mary Ellen]

My father & step-mom did have about $1000 taken from their unlocked nightstand drawer a few years ago (why they didn't have it in the safe, I don't know :confused: Maybe my 80+ dad was confused about working the safe, but they could have had us put it in our safe). I didn't learn of it until about a year later - as they didn't want to upset me and ruin the end of our cruise. They didn't tell anyone on ship as they knew they didn't have any way to prove the loss. I felt they should have told someone as if in the future there were other reports of similar losses in the (brand new) cabin steward's rooms, there would be some 'history'.

[mickeyfitz]

I did have my wallet stolen from room years ago on RCI( I forgot and left it out and it was gone within the 5 to 10 minutes it took to return to the cabin), bit it does seem that the main issue here is one of misunderstanding by the steward, not dishonesty or ill will, and the solution is the setting of boundaries- what we want and don't want from our steward.

[wowzo]

So sorry to hear of the thefts. Too bad, it can happen anywhere and will taint a good memory forever.

While I don't believe anything taken was with that intent- it sets up an atmosphere of distrust. I don't like going on vacation and having to put things in locked suitcases, etc. but I guess that's what it's coming to.

I will make sure the RS knows how I feel so there is no misunderstanding.

M.A.

[wowzo]

So sorry to hear of the thefts. Too bad, it can happen anywhere and will taint a good memory forever.

While I don't believe anything taken was with that intent- it sets up an atmosphere of distrust. I don't like going on vacation and having to put things in locked suitcases, etc. but I guess that's what it's coming to.

I will make sure the RS knows how I feel so there is no misunderstanding.

M.A.

[amusea]

The last night on a 12 day Crystal cruise I had left my work papers on the desk. My room is always neat so there was no confusing this with trash. Anyhow, the RS collected all my work papers from my desk as well as some from a shelf in my closet and threw them out! I was flabbergasted.
I immediately panicked and reported the incident to the front desk. They said that they would try to retrieve them from the trash compactor but, alas, the report came back that the papers had been destroyed. The RS said it was the last night of the cruise and he was getting ready for the next cruise. I said that as far as I know I had paid for transit that night and he was completely at fault. But - I never got any real apology from the cruise line.

[BasenjiMom]

I am very confused over the OP's post. :confused: Taking things out of a private area ? I think the post is lacking in detail so it makes it difficult to comment. I think "what stuff" does matter.


I do know at one time, Carnival's RS would lay out night gowns for the ladies. And YES , the did go through drawers/closets to get the night gown. I have no idea if this is still a practice or not.




Does anyone know if they get upset if there is no nightgown? LOL :eek:

[wowzo]

See that it is happening on a lines - and you are correct it is your cabin (and everything in it) until you are finished with the cruise.

Grumpy 1 is on the Baltic cruise and reported that the RS threw out 2 souvenier glasses on the desk - that they paid for !! He told the RS to only throw out what is in the wastebasket.

I am so aggrivated about this esp. when no attempt to apologize, retreive or replace the item is made !:mad:

Do we need to have little signs everwhere ? duct tape the closets and drawers closed ? Lock things in our luggage ?

Never had this happen in a hotel - even when they knew we were leaving the next day.
MaryAnn

[Celestia]

Upon arrival in our room we prop the door open until our Steward comes to introduce himself.

At this time we have ready for him the robes, umbrellas, laundry service papers and bags and any other unwanted items such as the room book, signage, warm sodas, etc. We have him sign our itemized list that he is removing these items from our cabin (important, so as not to be charged for the nasty used robe at departure). We also have him remove the ottoman (which is meant to double as your laundry hamper) and any other small furnishings we do not want in our way (one of us is mobility challenged). If the television is in our way we have that taken at this time as well.

We inform him that we do not want the beds turned down at night and request new bedspreads, which are not to be removed from the bed during the evening room servicing. We also tell him we do not want the closet 'cleaned' and we will place anything to be removed from the room in the wastebasket, otherwise all is to be left untouched. We ask that they not fill the icebucket, if ice is wanted we are well able to get it ourselves.

We are both very tidy people and really all we want from the room attendant is to vacuum DAILY, mop the bathroom floor DAILY, and replace soiled toweling. We make our own beds unless we want linen service. Beyond that we need little else from them. If they follow though on this, they will find themselves well rewarded come the end of the trip!

Any souvenier items are placed in one of our locked suitcases as we bring them aboard - this after the disappearance of brochures and other small items intended to go home with us from the desktop. Another case is used for laundry. We've yet to have any service people go through our luggage, though we have most definitely had them search through the closet and drawers in search of nightwear for 'making pretty' and yes, they do seem a bit non-plussed when they do not find any!

YMMV

[jessemon]

OK...here we go.
Someone in the drawers of your cabin taking out nighties might be a touch strange. Turning them into animals on the bed is funny. My wife would have me taking pics before putting them on the dresser and not wearing them the rest of the cruise. (Bigger tip for the "Cabin steward" for wife naked in cabin the rest of the cruise.)
At one time and still today on few lines and better resorts they still have a traditional turn down of the bed. Ladies nighty and gentlemans pajamas are layed out on the bed.
As to them being in closets and drawers...it might go under the heading of security and pilferage or cleanliness.
Someone long ago on this post mentioned that they had put "cruise line " wine glasses in a drawer. The cabin steward might have heard them rolling around on a sea day...opened the drawer and said..."Ah - Ha" someone trying to pilfer more glasses from us. How is he to know that they were just saving them to drink out of. My other question is if I am not mistaken...any cabin we have been on on HAL always has wine glasses (or maybe just tumblers) above the desk/dressing area.
On leaving things on the veranda...that is an open area. If it is a sea day it can be blown away even while a towel stays on the back of a chair simply because of the angle of the wind. If it is a port day the maintainance people who paint or clean windows could have been there. That is no excuse...but more than just the cabin steward can access the veranda.
As for the security idea...all crew are trained on issues of security. I am sure at one time or another that our dresser drawers have been gone through on a cruise. But have never noticed it. For the nonbelievers out there...they (the cruise line) have the right at any time to look in closets and drawers...
If you have a problem with the cabin steward making funny things with your jammies..."Tell them to knock it off". If something is missing...report it immediatly...
And in closing just remember one thing always...
It's a cruise...a vacation...relax and enjoy. Most of the time the crew is just trying to make you happy.:cool:

[happy cruzer]

I have two comments to add. I'm not trying to contradict anyone's observations or experiences.

1) I have think most of this is leftover from the "personal attendant" days. I have had some very good room attendants. They have taken good care of me. They put some of my things away for me and they take some things out for me. Since they see all my trash and clean my bed and bath, I don't think I have any important secrets from them and don't mind. My personal opionion - I know others differ.

2) Humorous story - The most outrage I have ever heard on this topic was on the old Noordam many years ago. The Noordam was nearing the end of her career and sailing out of Tampa at a pretty good price. We had some table mates from Alabama who bragged that they sailed the Noordam about every 4 months. They bragged that they had a full service of silverware at home from HAL as well as towels etc. Anyway, the last night apparently they had already packed up their loot because at dinner they were outraged that their suitcases had been opened and all the towels and things had been removed.

Just my two comments.

[wowzo]

I have never had a RS put away or hang up any of my clothing .

Any searching thru bags, drawers, closets, etc, should be with the knowlege and in the presence of the guest if anything is suspected. Yes, I know we are in International waters, etc. and rules of US law wouldn't apply. But If they want to avoid any assumption of theft, etc. They should do this.

Nothing that I reported taken, thrown away or missing was in the category of 'moved so it would not come to harm'. There are alternate scenarios that would apply in some cases.

Celestia, you certainly have this subject covered. I will use many of your ideas and thank you for posting in such detail.

If all this removing, looking around and opening private areas does bother you, I would tell them to only throw out what is in the wastbasket and to stay out of anything else. As I will be doing on my next cruise.

MaryAnn

[BasenjiMom]

I find this taking the nightclothes and folding into animals thing just very very bizarre.
I mean, how does the RS know what I'll be wearing that night? Sometimes I'm not even sure until the moment arrives. School girl, French maid, depends on my mood really. Am I to take his choice as an order, or merely a suggestion?

[Scrumpy]

I find this taking the nightclothes and folding into animals thing just very very bizarre.
I mean, how does the RS know what I'll be wearing that night? Sometimes I'm not even sure until the moment arrives. School girl, French maid, depends on my mood really. Am I to take his choice as an order, or merely a suggestion?

Good point! And from America's Heartland, too. ;) I guess a submissive would take it as an order, LOL!!! :confused: <Too funny; too, too funny:) - thanks so much for a real laugh!>

[Copper10-8]

I find this taking the nightclothes and folding into animals thing just very very bizarre.
I mean, how does the RS know what I'll be wearing that night? Sometimes I'm not even sure until the moment arrives. School girl, French maid, depends on my mood really. Am I to take his choice as an order, or merely a suggestion?

You go BasenjiMom! (BasenjiMom!@Do);)

[wowzo]

I would draw the line - when he asks you to model the choice of the evening:p

M.A.

[Starspangle1]

ya find my black bra. I'm telling ya I don't know where it went. I was on a Princess cruise to Bermuda (Pacific Princess) with a group of friends but we all had our own rooms just in case someone thinks that someone in my room took it by accident. I had put out my dress and black bra to wear to dinner that night on the spare bed and it was gone. I went to the RS and he said he didn't know where it went and he checked with the laundry service thinking it got mixed up with bedding but no luck there. Pissed me off, it was nothing fancy or anything that he would have wanted to show off to his friends but it was a fifty buck bra.
On the topic of RS going in closets or drawers, if they want to run the vacuum in the closet fine but to point out something that they had no business in in the first place. And about the glasses in the drawer, next time lock them up in you suit case. If what is true about them hearing them clinking that's why they took them, I don't buy that, RS shouldn't be in the drawers it could have been my handcuffs.

[bepsf]

First cruise aboard Oosterdam, I purchased those goofy souvenier glasses and left them on the desk. A couple days later - they disappeared, but I was so busy with excursions and parties that I didn't notice till packing the last night.

Oh well - I really didnt have space for them anyway and don't know what I would have done w/ them anyways. I guess I figured that he took them to clean the ice/sticky mess out and forgot to bring them back - not worth it to go scouting after them...

I've left suits of clothing strewn on the sofa and returned to find it neatly folded or hung over the back of a chair. I've come in looking for the dry-cleaning that I expected that evening and found it neatly hung in the closets. I keep my daily schedules piled up neatly on the desk as I know I'm going to save them - they're never bothered. Yesterdays undies and socks have been left on the floor in the bathroom and i've found them on the shelf below the sink - and the pajamas I left on the bed are folded neatly under the pillow. I've left my laptop on the desk and returned to find the steward mesmerized at the images on the screensaver - but never touched. I've lost some other pajama's on one of my trips (at least they weren't my favorite jammies w/ the cowboys on 'em :rolleyes: - probably shoulda looked under the pillows! ) - but who knows if it was in the hotel or on the ship? No matter - I figure it all works out in the end...

Now that verandah fires have become a safety issue, we should all expect that our belongings left out there will be brought in and placed somewhere. I also expect that since safety is an ever-present issue - stewards may be inclined to look in drawers to see just what it is clanking around in there to ensure there isn't a safety hazard - Wineglasses? Irons? Ashtrays w/ smouldering cigarettes? (people have done weirder things...)

I don't think that its unreasonable to ask the OP what the items were that the steward threw away - as with the dry-cleaning bags (one man's trash is another man's treasure) - it could have been an honest mistake.

I think that by and large, these guys on HAL pretty well know their limits.

[BasenjiMom]

Good point! And from America's Heartland, too. ;) I guess a submissive would take it as an order, LOL!!! :confused: <Too funny; too, too funny:) - thanks so much for a real laugh!>

LOL
America's Heartland, where the winters are cold and long, we tend to entertain ourselves.
I'm intrigued with this 'personal servant' idea, I've never had one. Could have a bit of fun with that!

[dakrewser]

LOL
America's Heartland, where the winters are cold and long, we tend to entertain ourselves.
I'm intrigued with this 'personal servant' idea, I've never had one. Could have a bit of fun with that!

I doubt it would be "fun" for you. A cabin steward is not the same as a hotel maid, but is trained in the tradition of personal service.

Sadly, far too many passengers are equally trained.

[BasenjiMom]

I doubt it would be "fun" for you. A cabin steward is not the same as a hotel maid, but is trained in the tradition of personal service.

Sadly, far too many passengers are equally trained.

Aw, I was just kidding.
But, I'm glad I read this thread, because now I know the reason behind the steward going through personal stuff, and will overlook it should it happen.
I have never had anyone wait on me, just wasn't raised that way, and admit to being a bit out of sorts when I stay in a hotel and people clean up after me. I actually clean a bit before I leave the room.
It will take some serious adjustment to my basic character to feel comfortable being so attended to on the cruise. Hopefully I will not become used to it LOL