Can we decline house keeping on Princess ships?

[Wishing on a star]

Hey....   everybody has their 'things'....

This poster did not start out making negative comments.

They asked a clear and respectful question.

Several have done their best to advise.....

Everyone,  remind yourselves to think twice before hitting SUBMIT.

[RocknRoll22]

2 hours ago, wsp2205 said:

we actually don't even use those linens and always bring our own compact travel linens after covid. Yes, many of these things are due to covid precautions since I m traveling is a 78 year old who is more susceptible to things than the rest of us with stronger immune system.

OK, I'm confused.

 

It's fine to be concerned with catching an illness, so precautions are OK. But, if you're really susceptible and concerned with catching something, I don't think being crammed together with 3000 other passengers for a week on a cruise ship would be a good suggestion.

[Wishing on a star]

RocknRoll,  I was once asked to leave the wakeview area of a ship, that was NOT crowded, as I went to admire the view and snap a photo, by a woman who said... something like...   "I don't like to be around people"  or too close...  I was polite....  but I was thinking. WHAT!!!!!   Like, are you serious...  on a cruise ship????    

Edited February 14 by Wishing on a star

[wsp2205]

I don't expect this post to receive so many comments -- seriously I thought it was a naive new cruiser entry level dumb question. But reading through the comments is fun. 

No we don't bring our own silverware or napkins. Covid is the only thing we really are paranoid about because of my mother's age and health condition, but she really wants to see Alaska so we decided to take the risk, but we plan to take as many precautions as possible, including wearing masks indoor, choosing a less busy time to eat or order room service, sanitizing our rooms as much as possible on 1st day (that's why we don't like it to be cleaned by the staff), and bring our own compact towels and compact linens. Honestly the towels/linens thing isn't really about covid, but more a habit we get into after watching a documentary about the secrets of hotel industry. we do plan to wash linens mid-way through the cruise trip and self serve laundry is actually one of the reasons we chose Princess over other options. We don't plan to go anywhere crowded. The purpose of this cruise trip is to see glaciers, not to enjoy the ship itself. It's likely we will get off the ship for 3 full days and stay outside on the deck for most of the last 2 days when there is glacier view. 

Edited February 14 by wsp2205

[Cruise Raider]

1 hour ago, wsp2205 said:

I don't expect this post to receive so many comments -- seriously I thought it was a naive new cruiser entry level dumb question. But reading through the comments is fun. 

No we don't bring our own silverware or napkins. Covid is the only thing we really are paranoid about because of my mother's age and health condition, but she really wants to see Alaska so we decided to take the risk, but we plan to take as many precautions as possible, including wearing masks indoor, choosing a less busy time to eat or order room service, sanitizing our rooms as much as possible on 1st day (that's why we don't like it to be cleaned by the staff), and bring our own compact towels and compact linens. Honestly the towels/linens thing isn't really about covid, but more a habit we get into after watching a documentary about the secrets of hotel industry. we do plan to wash linens mid-way through the cruise trip and self serve laundry is actually one of the reasons we chose Princess over other options. We don't plan to go anywhere crowded. The purpose of this cruise trip is to see glaciers, not to enjoy the ship itself. It's likely we will get off the ship for 3 full days and stay outside on the deck for most of the last 2 days when there is glacier view. 

Enjoy your cruise!  
 

[Guest Snaxmuppet]

4 hours ago, SCX22 said:

Not to wash cloth napkins.  Towels and bed linens are fine because people don’t use those as snot rags.

I bet some do 🤢

[insidecabin]

I suggest you do the behind the scenes laundry tour the ships laundry is an amazing operation.

 

Ship laundry is pretty much automatic with predetermined cycles, temperature and detergent  doses for the types of linen.

 

I would be very concerned about the public laundry rooms  as they won't have the same attention to detail and you have no control over the use by previous passengers.

 

You could be washing your towels/sheets in a machine that has just had a load of skiddies put through on low temp and minimum/no  cleanser.

 

 

 

 

[Camberley]

You have clearly weighed up the significant other risks of cruising with so many others on board, esp. if going with someone who is vulnerable - and fair enough.
 

I totally get the allure of the glaciers etc: sometimes there are risks to be taken for the other benefits, whereas for some they would not. Each of us is so different.

 

I hope you have a wonderful cruise - and one that is as hygienically safe as is possible for a cruise. Enjoy the experience.

 

 

Edited February 14 by Camberley

[capriccio]

3 hours ago, insidecabin said:

I suggest you do the behind the scenes laundry tour the ships laundry is an amazing operation.

 

Ship laundry is pretty much automatic with predetermined cycles, temperature and detergent  doses for the types of linen.

 

I would be very concerned about the public laundry rooms  as they won't have the same attention to detail and you have no control over the use by previous passengers.

 

You could be washing your towels/sheets in a machine that has just had a load of skiddies put through on low temp and minimum/no  cleanser.

 

 

 

 

That was one of my favorite stops on the Behind the Scenes ship tour!  From the washing (in very hot water) to the machines that did the ironing was fascinating.  The only complaint I've ever heard about the laundry was that passenger clothing sent to it is also washed in hot water so don't send anything that would shrink.

[insidecabin]

11 minutes ago, capriccio said:

That was one of my favorite stops on the Behind the Scenes ship tour!  From the washing (in very hot water) to the machines that did the ironing was fascinating.  The only complaint I've ever heard about the laundry was that passenger clothing sent to it is also washed in hot water so don't send anything that would shrink.

Newer ships should be moving to cold wash and cool drying.

 

Out last behind was on NCL new ship Viva and because the main laundry space was undergoing maintenance we got an extended tour in the area used to process  the passenger laundry with more explanation than on the regular tour that focuses on the tunnel wash and the dry/folding machines.

 

[EDVM96]

3 hours ago, Camberley said:

I hope you have a wonderful cruise - and one that is as hygienically safe as is possible for a cruise. Enjoy the experience.

Image a 14 day cruise where the cabin steward doesn't clean the toilet. Enjoy the experience.

[Steelers36]

10 hours ago, Bgwest said:

So happy that you’re here!

You are one of my “forum heroes”

 

10 hours ago, gvre said:

 

Always enjoy your comments joined in 2000 and just over 2K posts

Thanks.  I am not quite sure how it got to so many posts.  I know I participated a lot in some Roll Calls for longer voyages.  I don't do social media other than this forum.  It must be due to the information sharing and the largely great group of folks participating here.

[SCX22]

2 minutes ago, EDVM96 said:

Image a 14 day cruise where the cabin steward doesn't clean the toilet. Enjoy the experience.

 

There's a toilet brush by the toilet provided in every cabin.  All you have to do is borrow the chemicals from the steward and clean it yourself.  That's what we did.

[Lady Arwen]

5 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

 

Thanks.  I am not quite sure how it got to so many posts.  I know I participated a lot in some Roll Calls for longer voyages.  I don't do social media other than this forum.  It must be due to the information sharing and the largely great group of folks participating here.

You and I share so many similar values and opinions and I’ve relied on your wisdom many times over the years.  Even when we occasionally have a difference of opinion you have always shown respect and courtesy.  It’s members, such as yourself, that make Cruise Critic a welcoming and informative forum.

 

Thank you for all you do for us.  Cheers, my friend!

[Wishing on a star]

I am not sure why I am even still here on this thread!!!

But, about the toilet...  These toilets do not seem to have the full rinse-and-flush as household toilets...  It does not take long to notice the odor....

I occasionally take a bottle of hot water (which is sometimes very very hot on a cruise ship) and do my own quick rinse-and-flush....  

Just a tip !!!!

[VaCruzers]

• Might be a challenge since many of us experienced cruisers know that the cabin attendant hangs out under your bed to ensure your cabin is quickly serviced as soon as it's vacated for meals, shore excursion, ship exploration, etc. 🤣
• Hope you enjoy your cruise, but based on the info you've shared, I question as to whether this is the best type trip for your group.

[Itchy&Scratchy]

18 hours ago, wsp2205 said:

we actually don't even use those linens and always bring our own compact travel linens after covid. Yes, many of these things are due to covid precautions since I m traveling is a 78 year old who is more susceptible to things than the rest of us with stronger immune system.

the linens on the bed aren't going to transmit covid to your 78 year old companion. But infected people in a theater or  other crowded venues will. If you are worried about infections, I'd worry about being in a very enclosed space with several thousand coughing and sneezing peeps.

 

We cruise with my 75 yo diabetic father and 73 yo mom. It would not occur to us to make them bring linens on a cruise with them because of my father's diabetes. They've already had covid at home 3 times. They never caught it on a cruise.

 

We do not need a cleaning service every day, so we put a DND sign on once in a while. But not for the duration of the cruise, and not for the same reasons as yours. In the past if we kept that DND sign on for longer than a day, we would get a call from the housekeeping supervisor. So, we don't keep it on every day or for longer than a day. We do want our trash removed and wet towels replaced at least sometimes. Some of the cabins are humid, and towels do not dry out.

 

Cabin attendants do not usually touch our stuff, although it happens once in a while. You may want to ask them not to touch your belongings, but there is nothing personal about them removing trash or cleaning your toilet. 

Edited February 14 by Itchy&Scratchy

[Itchy&Scratchy]

5 hours ago, SCX22 said:

We took out and emptied our own trash and put out our used towels in the housekeeping carts.  We tracked down the steward to exchange towels.  Have to admit we didn't do as good a job in making our bed as the stewards.

There's a toilet brush by the toilet provided in every cabin.  All you have to do is borrow the chemicals from the steward and clean it yourself.  That's what we did.

who wants to work on vacation?????

Edited February 14 by Itchy&Scratchy

[Lady Arwen]

31 minutes ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

who wants to work on vacation?????

Agree!  I will not be cleaning a toilet or searching for clean towels on vacation.  We keep our cabin very tidy and clean, but this is too extreme for me.

[SCX22]

56 minutes ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

who wants to work on vacation?????

 

25 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

Agree!  I will not be cleaning a toilet or searching for clean towels on vacation.  We keep our cabin very tidy and clean, but this is too extreme for me.

That was only during the restart to minimize contact.  We really didn’t even leave our cabin except to go to port or to eat.  No show for us either at that time.  You have to remember this was the time where if you tested +, you physically had to move to a different cabin in a quarantine section of the ship.

 

As far as working on the ship, remote work and faster ship Internet has allowed us to cruise more because we can work on the ship.  Prior to the pandemic, we would never think of cruising almost monthly or going on a 30 day cruise.  Now, we can.  Most of the older people that we have to explain our lifestyle to have told us that in their time, they actually had to show up to work.

[Lady Arwen]

1 minute ago, SCX22 said:

 

That was only during the restart to minimize contact.  We really didn’t even leave our cabin except to go to port or to eat.  No show for us either at that time.  You have to remember this was the time where if you tested +, you physically had to move to a different cabin in a quarantine section of the ship.

 

As far as working on the ship, remote work and faster ship Internet has allowed us to cruise more because we can work on the ship.  Prior to the pandemic, we would never think of cruising almost monthly or going on a 30 day cruise.  Now, we can.  Most of the older people that we have to explain our lifestyle to have told us that in their time, they actually had to show up to work.

I totally understand.  Those were different and challenging times and I can see why you kept to yourselves.  I’m a retired endodontist, and yeah, back then I had to show up to work. lol

[Itchy&Scratchy]

8 minutes ago, SCX22 said:

As far as working on the ship, remote work and faster ship Internet has allowed us to cruise more because we can work on the ship.

well, we also have a child who we do not homeschool.

 

Last time on Enchanted we bought the wifi plan (one device) for my DH's work because his manager told him he had to, but he wasn't able to actually work. Two factor authentication, something-something. He was able to communicate with co-workers and subordinates, but not more than that. 

 

And I don't want to work on vacation, period. Like ever. 

[Cruise Raider]

3 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

I totally understand.  Those were different and challenging times and I can see why you kept to yourselves.  I’m a retired endodontist, and yeah, back then I had to show up to work. lol

You may get a kick out of this .. 

During CoVid, we were very much locked down here in California.  After several months of being closed, my first outside human contact was with my dentist.  I honestly cried as I felt like I got my life back on that very day! Bless your hearts for being there for us during atht time when we needed, not only our dental needs taken care of, but for the human contact!  

[Lady Arwen]

Just now, Cruise Raider said:

You may get a kick out of this .. 

During CoVid, we were very much locked down here in California.  After several months of being closed, my first outside human contact was with my dentist.  I honestly cried as I felt like I got my life back on that very day! Bless your hearts for being there for us during atht time when we needed, not only our dental needs taken care of, but for the human contact!  

Actually I retired in 2015, so I didn’t have to worry about my practice.  However, many of my friends and colleagues did.  You wouldn’t believe the protocols implemented every single hour of the day to allow them to keep seeing patients.  They worried about every single patient and it was a stressful time.  Thank you for recognizing your dentist’s dedication and being a good patient!

[Cruise Raider]

2 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

Actually I retired in 2015, so I didn’t have to worry about my practice.  However, many of my friends and colleagues did.  You wouldn’t believe the protocols implemented every single hour of the day to allow them to keep seeing patients.  They worried about every single patient and it was a stressful time.  Thank you for recognizing your dentist’s dedication and being a good patient!

I worked in the quality department for an acute care hospital in close conjunction with the infection control specialists so, I’m so aware of the protocols and so appreciate everyone that worked so diligently during those very difficult times.  I also retired in 2015, so wasn’t one of them.  I was so grateful and still am for each and every one of those heroes!