Housekeeping moving to once a day?

[Cruise5life]

Stolen from another post.  
Truth 

 

 

[mek]

3 minutes ago, Denversail said:

I don’t book a cruise to do my “at home” routine.

I totally agree.

[Cruise5life]

6 minutes ago, Denversail said:

I don’t book a cruise to do my “at home” routine.

So you book a cruise to have your room cleaned 2x a day?    
I don’t book a cruise for service.  
I book for adventure in the ports.    
But that’s me.  

[mek]

13 minutes ago, Cruise5life said:

So you book a cruise to have your room cleaned 2x a day?    
I don’t book a cruise for service.  
I book for adventure in the ports.    
But that’s me.  

I think most of us book for the adventure, but service always has been and should be part of the package.  Exactly how to define "service" varies from person to person.

[Denversail]

14 minutes ago, Cruise5life said:

So you book a cruise to have your room cleaned 2x a day?    
I don’t book a cruise for service.  
I book for adventure in the ports.    
But that’s me.  

It isn’t really about the 2x a day. It is frustrating to continue to see the degradation of service. Prices are up. Gratuities are up. I’m paying more for less service and quality. I enjoy the overall cruise experience. 
 

I can see how people with more than two in a room can be impacted by only once a day service. I wouldn’t want to deal with pulling the beds out or putting them away. 

[S.A.M.J.R.]

43 minutes ago, Cruise5life said:

I’m out of ice while walking around I just hop up to the buffet.  

You carry your ice bucket while walking around the ship?

 

I do think comparing to what you do at home is a little "apples to oranges"... I mean people do go on vacation so they DON'T have to do the same thing they do at home. 

 

I still compare this more to a hotel stay.  And MANY hotel chains have gone from 1x/day cleaning to every 4-5 days.  I've never been to a hotel where they've pulled out/put up the sofa bed.  

[Ocean Boy]

31 minutes ago, Cruise5life said:

So you book a cruise to have your room cleaned 2x a day?    
I don’t book a cruise for service.  
I book for adventure in the ports.    
But that’s me.  

What do you do on sea days? And yes, I am still trying to catch up.

[S.A.M.J.R.]

12 minutes ago, Denversail said:

It isn’t really about the 2x a day. It is frustrating to continue to see the degradation of service. Prices are up. Gratuities are up. I’m paying more for less service and quality. I enjoy the overall cruise experience. 

This is totally true.  BUT, why shouldn't Royal find ways to cut costs/increase income PROVIDED people are still booking?  

[kmsnyg]

I somewhat understand the issue and anger for paying more for less (the Disney fans say the same thing all the time), though none of these changes bother me in the least.  And maybe I’m wrong about this (though I doubt it) but most passengers on a cruise are first or only a few timers. Unlike the folks who frequent this message board, most will not notice or care about the changes to 1/day service. Which means the complaints will only come from a few, and Royal won’t care. The head of Disney once outright said the company caters to the first time cruiser or park-goer, because they tend to splurge more. I don’t think the complaints will change anything and if you decide not to go, they’ll find a first-timer to take your spot.

[Ocean Boy]

On 2/19/2023 at 9:41 AM, nelblu said:

Hey, how about hanging them out on the balcony.🤣

Be prepared for a $25 charge for each towel that blows away.

[Cruise5life]

19 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

What do you do on sea days? And yes, I am still trying to catch up.

I enjoy the ship. The entertainment.  The scavenger hunts.  Depending what cruise line I’m on.    
just came off of 29 days at sea.   3 cruise lines.  No service.  

[Cruise5life]

21 minutes ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

You carry your ice bucket while walking around the ship?

 

 

  I said while I’m walking around the ship.

  
But I kinda do.   I carry a yeti with me everywhere.  And ice usually lasts all day.  

[Lionesss]

We have experienced modifications in services from RCI, Disney and resort vacations ever since COVID changed some of the ways things were done.

 

And for us it is probably the way of the future in some instances.

 

Now this is what we have personally experienced.

 

Yes, RCI over the years has made cutbacks.

Our first cruise out of COVID on Symphony, we did not get those logo ink pens, but were provided with free face masks and hand sanitizer.  It did not impact us.  Just  noted.  Also, how they separated seating at some tables and how masks were mandated in some areas.  And some events were for vaccinated guest only and you were given a wrist band to display that.

 

When we went to Disney, we were upgraded to the main building at the Grand Floridian, to the "Private" floor that you have to use two elevators to access.  This is where they provide service for celebrities so they can be left alone.  I guess we were celebrities.

If we wanted to have new towels or bed linens we left them out side our door in bags and we found them neatly folded on the desk in the room.  We made our own bed.

 

In Gatlinburg we stayed at the tree top resorts for a week.

If we wanted fresh linen, towels we drove our car to the service building and an attendant counted our linen and gave us clean replacements.

 

Now mind you, yea it is frustrating when you pay for a vacation and cutbacks occur, but, we love to travel and will plan what and where we want accordingly and still try to make the most of it.

 

Just wondering what will happen next.

 

Take care

 

 

 

[resetjet]

4 hours ago, Donsyb said:

So what is covered by “other hotel” then? (Quoting from the breakdown of RC tips, not your carnival screenshot which isn’t relevant to RC).

Every crewmember that in someway works for us and also gets tips not food related or room related.  Ie the guy who cleans the pool deck,  vacuums the halls….

 

there are 3 levels of “crew”

officers - self explanatory 

 

staff-  such as guest services,  photo,  gift shop,  entertainment,  engineering,  those that are salary only. Or salary plus commission.

 

crew-  housekeeping,  food and beverage,  casino etc.  those that get tips.  Quite a big number.

Edited February 20, 2023 by resetjet

[resetjet]

This is taken from princess site on a quick google.  All of these jobs are tipped with the room steward money.

 

The Housekeeping department is responsible for maintaining the highest level of cleanliness and service in guest staterooms, public areas, and open decks as well as providing laundry services to both guests and crew members. This department is also responsible for the movement of baggage on and off the ship and making sure the ship is ready for new guests each and every cruise. Entry-level positions within this department include Utility Cleaner, Accommodations Attendant, and Laundry Steward.

[Longford]

3 hours ago, mek said:

I think most of us book for the adventure, but service always has been and should be part of the package.  Exactly how to define "service" varies from person to person.

I have a different impression, than you.  Though, I'm a newbie having cruised just once recently.  But I spent a lot of time talking to, listening to and observing other passengers on my ship.  Few were first-timers and many took 2-4 cruises each year.  Adventure was gone long ago, for many.  They were familiar with each port of call, because of prior visits.  What they seemed to like most was the AI trip and the services provided onboard.  No, it wasn't a poll of the 2200 others on board ... but I did observe and listen to a great many fellow passengers.

[Longford]

1 minute ago, Longford said:

I have a different impression, than you.  Though, I'm a newbie having cruised just once recently.  But I spent a lot of time talking to, listening to and observing other passengers on my ship.  Few were first-timers and many took 2-4 cruises each year.  Adventure was gone long ago, for many.  They were familiar with each port of call, because of prior visits.  What they seemed to like most was the AI trip and the services provided onboard - and joining with friends or others they'd met onboard previous trips.  No, it wasn't a poll of the 2200 others on board ... but I did observe and listen to a great many fellow passengers.

 

Sorry, I meant to post an edit to the earlier comment of mine.  A 'senior moment' prevented that from happening.  LOL!

 

Edited February 20, 2023 by Longford

[HicksRA]

The next move will be leaving a large stack of towels, an extra set of sheets, a dustbuster and a bottle of windex in your room 

[Cigar King]

 

15 hours ago, cruiseboy89130 said:

If everyone would stop all their gratuities - it will hit Royal quite bad and they will think about further cuts.

 

Maybe it would be better if Royal doubled the gratuities, and just built them into the cruise fare.   Staff gets more money, and the cheapskates can't stiff em anymore.  Win, win.

 

[goldfish65]

Page 10 so it's a free-for-all now haha

 

Option 1) Be outraged all the time about cutbacks

 

Option 2) Make the best of the experience

 

Option 3) Don't cruise

Edited February 20, 2023 by goldfish65

[nelblu]

4 minutes ago, Cigar King said:

 

 

Maybe it would be better if Royal doubled the gratuities, and just built them into the cruise fare.   Staff gets more money, and the cheapskates can't stiff em anymore.  Win, win.

 

Unfortunately, the cutbacks will provide further support to those that remove the auto grats.😟

[Longford]

5 minutes ago, goldfish65 said:

Page 10 so it's a free-for-all now haha

 

Option 1) Be outraged all the time about cutbacks

 

Option 2) Make the best of the experience

 

Option 3) Don't cruise

Or, continue to post snarky comments.  🤐

[mek]

40 minutes ago, Longford said:

I have a different impression, than you.  Though, I'm a newbie having cruised just once recently.  But I spent a lot of time talking to, listening to and observing other passengers on my ship.  Few were first-timers and many took 2-4 cruises each year.  Adventure was gone long ago, for many.  They were familiar with each port of call, because of prior visits.  What they seemed to like most was the AI trip and the services provided onboard.  No, it wasn't a poll of the 2200 others on board ... but I did observe and listen to a great many fellow passengers.

I guess it depends on where you cruise.  If you're referring to the people who primarily live in Florida and constantly hop on Caribbean cruises, then perhaps you are right, but there are a lot of people who do more than just 7 night Caribbean cruises and for them, I think the adventure is the main attraction.

I've always said - if I do a Caribbean cruise, the ship/cruiseline is way more important to me than if I go to other places - where the itinerary is much more important than the ship.

 

(But regardless of the ship or itinerary -I want dry towels - LOL)

Edited February 20, 2023 by mek

[not-enough-cruising]

On 2/18/2023 at 9:03 PM, fredmdcruisers said:

And, unfairly, reduced tips.

No way around the fact that half the service does not equal the same amount of gratuity; basic economics. 

[Mum2Mercury]

14 hours ago, scorpluvsdolphins said:

False. 
Royal is $3.55 pppd

It was $3.55 before gratuities went up -- we haven't seen a new tips schedule. 

Consider, too, this is per person, so the cabin steward is probably getting close to $8/day for cleaning a two-person cabin.  Assuming everyone tips (and that isn't going to happen), a steward who cleans 25 2-person rooms in a week earns $1400 + room and board.  Hard work, but not bad money for a job that doesn't require anything except hard work and friendliness.  

BUT this isn't Royal's biggest concern.  

14 hours ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

How do you figure?  Let's say for all cruises starting today, no one tips.  So all of the workers lose out on that money.  They're upset, but they're under contract (I don't know how "tight" the contract is).  So now they have to work without getting that tip money until the end of their contract.  So the workers suffer.

 

Maybe new workers won't come on since they're not getting tipped.  So Royal has to do (or tries to do) the same with less. So the passengers suffer. 

 

After some time with that, Royal finally decides to give the workers a decent enough wage that they don't have to rely on tips.  How long until that happens? Until which the workers and passengers suffer.  Sounds like a plan! 👍

Agree.  Stiffing the little guy is not the answer.  

5 hours ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

Not necessarily.  The passengers COULD put the sofa bed back to a sofa/return it to a bed at night... you know, like people do in hotel rooms.

 

This isn't really any different than staying at a hotel in the US while on vacation.  In fact, many hotels have gone away from once a day cleaning and is now every 4-5 days unless you request otherwise.

Do people have to fold out sofa beds themselves in hotels?  I can't say I remember doing that.  

I'm also not aware of hotels cutting out daily service -- except Disney, where they offer a gift card for in exchange for foregoing daily service.

4 hours ago, Cruise5life said:

This would be great for me.   
wait.  I already do this.   I bring my towels to my steward and ask for a new set.  
And make my own bed.  
and there is an ice machine on board in the buffet.    If I can’t get my room steward to fill mine or I’m out of ice while walking around I just hop up to the buffet.   But it’s rare that I run out of ice while enjoying the ship.    My yeti hood ice for a day easy

How do you find the steward mid-day?  They aren't always on the hall.

 

I must admit I love ice, and I've noted a shortage on my last two cruises -- in the Windjammer and promenade Coke machine, I mean.  I never actually ask for it in my room.  I don't mind walking /picking up fresh ice when I want ti. 

4 hours ago, Denversail said:

I don’t book a cruise to do my “at home” routine.

Agree.