Tips & gifts

Does anyone suggest giving small gifts to a few of your favorite Carnival staff or is it better to just stick with tips? I understand that they are very limited with space, so I know it would have to be something small. I also understand that they are mostly working for tips, so by no means would we tip them any less because we brought them something. There are just those few who are so good that I thought it would be a nice gesture, but I would like others opinion about it.

Does anyone suggest giving small gifts to a few of your favorite Carnival staff or is it better to just stick with tips? I understand that they are very limited with space, so I know it would have to be something small. I also understand that they are mostly working for tips, so by no means would we tip them any less because we brought them something. There are just those few who are so good that I thought it would be a nice gesture, but I would like others opinion about it.

 

If I was going to do something like that I would tip.

In addition to tips, we gift any sodas to our room steward. I do bring hand stamped cards, because that is my hobby, to write personal notes to those who have most helpful.

My nephew worked on several Carnival ships over a 3 year period. He showed us his cabin that he shared with one other colleague on the Magic. The cabin seemed like it was about 1/2 size of an inside cabin. There was just enough room to for 2 people to bump into each other at every turn. So not really any room for anything other than necessities. A tip would be a better thank you than a knick knack that they have no room for.

Give nothing but cash. Anything non monetary will end up in the trash.

Give nothing but cash. Anything non monetary will end up in the trash.

Not true.

Does anyone suggest giving small gifts to a few of your favorite Carnival staff or is it better to just stick with tips? I understand that they are very limited with space, so I know it would have to be something small. I also understand that they are mostly working for tips, so by no means would we tip them any less because we brought them something. There are just those few who are so good that I thought it would be a nice gesture, but I would like others opinion about it.

I think if you want to go out of your way to recognize someone who's gone above and beyond for you is just to tip more, or give a tip in person in addition to the tips charged to your S&S account. That extra tip should be accompanied by a heartfelt thank you that recognizes the extra effort made.

We work for money and so do they. Unless you are sure they would like something like candy or something would give cash.

When we have wine left over from our box we will offer it and leave it for room steward.

I've never thought about this, but now that you've brought it up. I'm thinking a hand written note that recognizes their above and beyond work ethic written on their behalf, but given to the ship's Staff Director....this would be worth a lot to their future endeavors.

Cash is the best and easiest for all involved...:D

Cash is the best thing to give - one size fits all, the right colour and doesn't matter if it is duplicated. The couple of times I gave a gift was when I went ashore at a port and asked our steward if they wanted or needed anything specific picked up - one time it was a special kind of chocolate and another time it was coffee beans and another time it was a brand name shampoo other than that I would not give a gift as they have no room for stuff. I like the personal note to the powers to be as it will go into their files

I my work, I appreciate a hand-written note and cash (or gift cards). Since gift cards aren't that practical, give them some money. Depending on their circumstances, they may be sending everything back home to feed a family (sometimes several families).

We always tip the room steward and our head waiter cash, but this last trip, someone in guest services really went above and beyond to help us with a minor problem as well as a Carnival dancer. We bought both of them a nice box of chocolates in port, with a note attached and they were both very greatful.

I always thought it would be a nice gesture to give the staff little gifts to show my appreciation until I saw this youtube video of what their cabins look like. Can you imagine if even just one or two guests gave them something during a sailing? 6month contract, X amount of guests giving gifts during each sailing, sometimes 5 sailings a month. Even if it was a small something, after 6 months they honestly will have NO where to put it.

The best thing we can do for staff is to let their supervisors know what a wonderful job they have done or increase the amount of tips we give them if they are outstanding.

This video really opened my eyes

Just cash and a pat on the back on the comment cards. Just as All4Fun noted they simply do not have the space. Your gift you spent money on in most cases would end up in the trash. Then what good is the gift and the gesture?

Happy Cruising!

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Give nothing but cash. Anything non monetary will end up in the trash.

I'm impressed that you would know this about every staff/crew on every ship :rolleyes: .

All4fun, thanks for posting that video. I knew they would have cramped quarters but WOW! You sure would have to like your bunk mate, that's for sure. I wonder what the average length of time someone stays employed on a cruise ship. For me, I don't think it would be long.

Having said that, cash is king! Lol

The only thing I have ever given a barwaiter as a tip was the small flashlight on my lanyard. He asked for it instead of $. (This was when you could get free drinks in the casino 'just because'.)

Usually it's only money and comments on the survey.

Also, only give regular bills. $2 bills and $1 coins are not believed to be real money.

As posted in the past, shirts with your hometown team, John Deere trucker hats, and a cd of you singing in the shower are all acceptable gifts. :D

Give nothing but cash. Anything non monetary will end up in the trash.

That is definitely not true.

I know I will get all sorts of nasty comments, but, here goes.

I ALWAYS do the automatic gratuity and additional cash. Always! However, I carry candy and lots of it. I give a candy dish to the guest services crew the first day and refill it each day. I also pass out candy to any and all crew I meet in the hallways and around the ship. I started this one year when we did a Christmas sailing. DH and I boarded the ship in our Santa's hats and we had a blast doing this, so we made this a tradition. As for the candy dish at guest services. That come from a personal experience I had on a cruise. Last time I even made beaded bracelets for the girls who worked there and NOT once in the week did I not see them wearing them.....and they all ran to the candy dish when I filled it. I also have candy dish in the room and tell the room stewards to help themselves. Last cruise, I had a pack of M&Ms left and I handed them to one of the stewards. She said she was going on her leave the next day and she was going to give them to her 3 year old daughter.

Like others said, their quarters are very small.

As posted in the past, shirts with your hometown team, John Deere trucker hats, and a cd of you singing in the shower are all acceptable gifts. :D

Why do folks deliberately spread misinformation?

Or do they genuinely not know any better?

That is definitely not true.

 

I know I will get all sorts of nasty comments, but, here goes.

 

I ALWAYS do the automatic gratuity and additional cash. Always! However, I carry candy and lots of it. I give a candy dish to the guest services crew the first day and refill it each day. I also pass out candy to any and all crew I meet in the hallways and around the ship. I started this one year when we did a Christmas sailing. DH and I boarded the ship in our Santa's hats and we had a blast doing this, so we made this a tradition. As for the candy dish at guest services. That come from a personal experience I had on a cruise. Last time I even made beaded bracelets for the girls who worked there and NOT once in the week did I not see them wearing them.....and they all ran to the candy dish when I filled it. I also have candy dish in the room and tell the room stewards to help themselves. Last cruise, I had a pack of M&Ms left and I handed them to one of the stewards. She said she was going on her leave the next day and she was going to give them to her 3 year old daughter.

 

Like others said, their quarters are very small.

If you'd take a further look, many cultures outside the anglo-saxon and american persuasion do not understand our taste for candy, and personally find it repulsive.

If you'd take a further look, many cultures outside the anglo-saxon and american persuasion do not understand our taste for candy, and personally find it repulsive.

Having been an educator at a college for several years, I am aware of other cultures and tastes. However, have you ever had window washers and floor sweepers call out to you each day as you pass because you gave them a small piece of candy the day before, or have a waitress in the main dining room come hug you because it was Christmas and she was missing her family. All you did was fill an empty water glass on the table and leave if for her. I know that warm feeling and your sarcastic remark can not take that away from me.

I do not know where you live, but if your name "Pine Bluff" is any indication, it is possible I may have taught your or someone you know ;)

When we cruise Christmas I already plan to bring a bunch of candy. If it makes them smile great. If they don't like it and hand it on fine.

Why do folks deliberately spread misinformation?

Or do they genuinely not know any better?

They were kidding. Did you not notice the :D ?

OP - I'm with the others. The gift they really want is cash.