99% of the time My wife and I strive to be the most laid back guest and make it our priority to make our room steward, waiters, and bar tenders life as easy as possible. We try to set a schedule to be up and out of the room at the same time every morning and not return until we are certain they are done. Room is straightened before we leave with everything put away and the bed almost made. I know they do so much more but we pretend they only have to change the towels and empty the trash.
Two nights ago at a restaurant (not on a ship) I ordered tacos and the food runner (not the server) brought me a burrito. I was eating it and the server came by to check on us and was floored that I didn't complain. I've called NCL 3 times to make certain that my cabin for the next cruise (Oct 22 TA from Southhampton - Can't wait!) has a note for the beds to be separated. It's me and my adult daughter this time and last timothy put the beds together and then had to separate them. I felt really bad because he had just put them together for us. Same last name and all.
We were on an Alaska cruise in May and there was a couple BMWing to the maitre'd about something stupid. I couldn't take it any more and walked up interrupted the entitled couple and started complementing the maitre'd and kept talking over the complainers until they gave up and walked away.
Few things piss me off more than people abusing, yes I think that's an appropriate word, the staff. I don't think asking for an extension cord is abusive by any stretch of the imagination, and would have asked if it hadn't all worked out, but guess who gets recognized first when I walk up to a bar, or gets their laundry back that night, or gets brought an extra desert without asking?
The old cliché of catching more flys with honey and not being the boy who cried wolf serve me well. Now, when you're the excursion desk on the Spirt and start trying to spin a falsehood, I'll knock your dick in the dirt pretty fast...and guess who the pursers desk (sorry I'm old guest services) believes when I escalate it.
tldr: Yes I could have asked, but it's not my style and it gives the wife something to laugh at and take pictures of.