Tips & gifts

[misstopgun]

We always leave on the regular tips as well as presenting those that were exceptional with a thank you card and additional cash at the end of the cruise.

 

We bring the party size bags of M&M's for the bar staff to place in their lounge. Sometimes they don't get a dinner break. Cd's have larger rooms without roommates so if we know of something they would like ahead of time, we bring them something small (like hair accessories in their favorite color) Jen Baxter loves and wears a lot of pink for instance.

 

We bring along individually wrapped packages of snack crackers, cookies, and trail mix for our own consumption. We usually don't finish all we bring so we leave whatever is left for the steward since they are individually packaged. I don't think I would ever leave left over wine or anything else that has been opened. That to me seems demeaning.

[chasinraynbowz]

We always tip extra cash, but on one particular cruise our stewardess asked where she might find a small fan like the one I had brought (small bedside fan for my hot flashes). I immediately unplugged it and gave it to her. I can easily get to Wal Mart or Wal Greens and get another one and they cost under $10.

 

She thanked me profusely. She told me that their cabins are pretty warm and the fan would help out tremendously. (I still gave her the extra cash. She worked hard for us that week!!)

[WetToes]

Chasinraynbowz - That was a good gift. Something you knew she wanted. Very nice of you. :)

[scooterpopsnana]

We always tip extra cash, but on one particular cruise our stewardess asked where she might find a small fan like the one I had brought (small bedside fan for my hot flashes). I immediately unplugged it and gave it to her. I can easily get to Wal Mart or Wal Greens and get another one and they cost under $10.

 

She thanked me profusely. She told me that their cabins are pretty warm and the fan would help out tremendously. (I still gave her the extra cash. She worked hard for us that week!!)

 

 

That was indeed nice of you. I too have hot flashes :eek: and always carry a fan. We have never been asked for it, but we always give it to our room steward.

[mcwebber]

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.

 

That's certainly not true of the casino staff. I gave the manager a large bag of Halloween candy and she was drooling as were the staff members she showed it to. I still tip plenty of cash. I had a room steward who told me she collects turtles. She was thrilled almost to tears when we gave her a silver turtle pin. I gave a Bud Light hat to a steward once and you would have thought I gave him $1,000. I'll see in a few days how much they enjoy some things I bring.

[rockraiders]

When someone gives me junk I don't want I always smile and act like it's the best thing anyone ever gave me. Then I throw it away. Cash and a heartfelt thank you is all that is needed.

[golfadj]

We always tip extra cash, but on one particular cruise our stewardess asked where she might find a small fan like the one I had brought (small bedside fan for my hot flashes). I immediately unplugged it and gave it to her. I can easily get to Wal Mart or Wal Greens and get another one and they cost under $10.

 

She thanked me profusely. She told me that their cabins are pretty warm and the fan would help out tremendously. (I still gave her the extra cash. She worked hard for us that week!!)

 

What a nice thing to do

[kac13090]

Hmmm.. My kids will go trick or treating and then the next am board a plane at 6am to miami. I will leave extra cash as tips but never thought of giving the crew the candy. We always donate it so maybe I'll bring it along for them!

[Blk_Amish]

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.

 

Really, the taste of something soft and sweet on your tongue is repulsive? I was not raised anglo-saxon or of American persuasion (came later) and to this day find the variety of American treats fascinating. Which culture do you think the taste bud won't react delightfully to a Hershey KISS. Understanding the need for so much of it or so many varieties is a different story. Maybe they don't understand the need for buffets or a 1/3 burger with double cheese, triple bacon, and avocado with a diet soda. That I agree can be repulsive but a sweet candy treat, yummy!

 

OP- international calling cards. Many are away from family and friends, so a cheap way to keep in touch.

[buddha'smoo]

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.

 

As an 8year employee, I can agree with this. American chocolate is one of the many things I could not acquire a taste for, we have such varied and appealing chocolate here in Europe there really is no comparison.

As for Hershey kisses, have literally never tasted anything so bland!

 

As many others have posted, cash is king, and highly appreciated. Hometown souviners are generally irrelevant to the person receiving them, I for one would have no interest in something from a place I've never been to.

[cruisehunter78]

To add to there tips. I also give Mio water enhancer for a small gift.

 

 

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[HardToPort]

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.

 

 

Surbie, You're correct that any token gift you give should not reduce the tip in any way. Amongst the crew, cash is king. I have gifted a couple of times, usually something they might not get elsewhere. On my last trip I took along a small jar of real maple syrup from Quebec Canada and advised our cabin steward to try it on his pancakes. (I prepay my tips and give $25 to my head waitress and $50 to my cabin steward at cruise end).

 

THE best thing you can do is praise them by name and in writing to the cruise line via the comment cards available at Guest Services. Ship management take guest comments about staff VERY seriously. The best staff get the best assigments and promotions.

 

Enjoy!!

[Landlocked_N_Texas]

I have a friend who works on a major cruise line and have met a few former employees of the same line. I was told that while at sea, they usually miss gum the most. My friend is addicted to Breath Saver mints, too, and said she stocks up when back at the home port. With this in mind, I gave a gift bag of gum and mints to the kids club staff with a cheesy saying - You have all "mint" so much to us - signed by the kids.

 

Next time I'll give cash to the councilors. It all goes into a common pot, whether candy or cash, but at least with cash they could use it for a group party or something.

 

I have given a dolphin magnet to a crew member who commented she collected dolphins and asked where I had gotten it!

 

By the way, I do tip cash for the dining room staff and room steward, and I make it a point to emanation great crew members by name in comment cards. I agree with others that this goes further than any token would!

[Surbie]

Thank you all for your replies. I really appreciated everyone's suggestions and ideas! Happy sailing to you all :)

[dabear99211]

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 like to take a few two stage cork screws with me, and give to the bartenders and bar servers that have taken extra care of me, they have to buy their own, so they have always been appreciated. Make sure they are the two stage type, that's the kind they use.

[Lerin]

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

 

Ahhh leftovers, what a great gift. :rolleyes:

 

imho the best gift you could give would be a note to their supervisor/guest relations/comment card about their wonderful service. Be sure to mention the person by name and be specific about what they did.

[Retiringworkingstiff]

For us, it's the universal gift i.e. cash, but that's just us.

[rufflesmom]

We were on the Magic in Sept with my sisters and bil's. We had a fantastic server in the dining room. My sisters and I were on the Magic last year in Sept and had this same server. When we found out she was on our sailing this year we asked for her table every night (anytime dining). My sister had broken her wrist 2 wks before the cruise. Our server cut her meat for her. On the last nite, we gave her and her assistants an envelope with extra cash. We also gave her a handmade ankle bracelet.

[LandlockedCruiser01]

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.

While sounds harsh, it's kind of true. Most mainstream American candy is just no good. It's laced with corn syrup, soybean oil, artificial flavors, and a brown mess that passes for chocolate. What I really enjoy is imported Polish chocolate bars and loose candy, sold in ethnic supermarkets in major cities. It's usually no more than $3 for one chocolate bar or $6 for 1 lb of loose candy. Since many crew members are from Eastern Europe, I'm sure that's the candy they'd enjoy more than the Hershey-type stuff, because they probably miss it after months of working on a US-based ship. (Although I'm sure they're resourceful enough to find an ethnic store in cities like Miami and New York.)

[BeachChik]

When someone gives me junk I don't want I always smile and act like it's the best thing anyone ever gave me. Then I throw it away. Cash and a heartfelt thank you is all that is needed.

 

I agree. They will always act appreciative.

 

When someone says they give them candy my first thought is they work on a cruise ship with tons of food including treats. People are free to do what they want but I personally find it a little condescending to give a grown adult candy as any kind of reward. They aren't children. They want money just like everyone else. On our last cruise we gave our head waiter an extra $20. I'm sure he can buy something he would like with that vs me purchasing something he won't like or can't use. I feel like with people that feel the need to give trinkets, it is more about the giver than the crew. It makes them feel good to give it even if the crew member might throw it away after they leave. Just my opinion.

[Surbie]

Sounds like money is the way to go.

[Landlocked_N_Texas]

I agree. They will always act appreciative.

 

When someone says they give them candy my first thought is they work on a cruise ship with tons of food including treats. People are free to do what they want but I personally find it a little condescending to give a grown adult candy as any kind of reward. They aren't children. They want money just like everyone else. On our last cruise we gave our head waiter an extra $20. I'm sure he can buy something he would like with that vs me purchasing something he won't like or can't use. I feel like with people that feel the need to give trinkets, it is more about the giver than the crew. It makes them feel good to give it even if the crew member might throw it away after they leave. Just my opinion.

 

I'm not sure about other cruise lines, but DCL cast members do not have access to the "tons of food" that passengers do. Their galley is quite different from the MDR.

[golfadj]

I agree. They will always act appreciative.

 

When someone says they give them candy my first thought is they work on a cruise ship with tons of food including treats. People are free to do what they want but I personally find it a little condescending to give a grown adult candy as any kind of reward. They aren't children. They want money just like everyone else. On our last cruise we gave our head waiter an extra $20. I'm sure he can buy something he would like with that vs me purchasing something he won't like or can't use. I feel like with people that feel the need to give trinkets, it is more about the giver than the crew. It makes them feel good to give it even if the crew member might throw it away after they leave. Just my opinion.

 

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[notawordok]

Cash is the best way to reward great service. My wife likes to make a few little gift bags with useful things like razors, shaving cream toothpaste, that I say they can use the tip money to buy but she feels like it is a nice gift since we have been told they have to buy these items on there own. I'm sure some are thankful to us when they get it and some probably go to the staff bar that night and make a joke of it. But it makes my wife feel warm and fuzzy so rock on.

 

Happy cruising and let the small stuff roll off and enjoy life.

[jimbo5544]

I agree. They will always act appreciative.

 

When someone says they give them candy my first thought is they work on a cruise ship with tons of food including treats. People are free to do what they want but I personally find it a little condescending to give a grown adult candy as any kind of reward. They aren't children. They want money just like everyone else. On our last cruise we gave our head waiter an extra $20. I'm sure he can buy something he would like with that vs me purchasing something he won't like or can't use. I feel like with people that feel the need to give trinkets, it is more about the giver than the crew. It makes them feel good to give it even if the crew member might throw it away after they leave. Just my opinion.

 

I agree. It is totally different than going to a an island where they can't get some things (still think cash is best there also, maybe with some extra treats). On a ship they can get anything they need or want. Dead presidents is the best solution.