[shut the front door]

As a frequent cruiser (once a month) I saw a thread on reddit. The sub is for cruise crew and they answer questions about crew life on the ship. A cruiser posted a question and the replies were pretty interesting. I'm going to copy/paste the OP and replies for those that are interested.

OP:Gifts for crew

I cruise a good bit and I see people in cruise forums talking about how their room steward just loves them because they bring them trinkets from their hometown, candy, snacks ...
Tell me the truth, would you rather have cash or the stuff listed above?
Also, some people insist on tipping with $2 bills claiming that the staff loves that. others claim the staff has trouble using $2 bills because other countries think their fake.

The answers from crew members is as follows:
non-hyphenated_
•3h ago
Top 1% Commenter
Where do you think crew are keeping any gifts? It just gets thrown away. Crew cabins are tiny. Imagine over a 9 month contract that amount of crap you'd accumulate it even a few people each week gave a gift.
Reply: Believe me, I try to tell people this, but everyone thinks that THEIR handmade macrame keychain is something to be cherished forever.
Reply: non-hyphenated_
•2h ago
Top 1% Commenter
I'm ex-crew these days but the thing we were all good at is - for the want of a better phrase - fake sincerity. Your friends will absolutely believe that their cabin steward just loved that gift because it's our job to make you believe that and other things. It's a job and like anyone else in any other job we all want paying in something we can spend rather than keychains.
Keep trying! The rest of us will thank you for your efforts
zimbing
•2h ago
They want cash. We get very good at fake happy for customer service on ships.
McKMatt1970
•2h ago
Your room steward doesn’t give two ****s about where you come from and the traditional hometown snacks. They are being polite because that is their job. They are t your friends, they don’t remember you 12 hours after you leave the ship. They are there for one thing and one thing only……….CASH
Ok_Mulberry4331
•2h ago
Top 1% Commenter
As someone that was on a ship for years, no one wants that stuff. Everyone can buy what they need. Cash is you want to give something is best!
Due-Aside5276
•58m ago
Imagine for a minute that the room steward is one of your family members. Just there to make money to support his or her family. Now Imagine that family member asking you this exact question please. Whats your answer?
Firm_Airport2816
•38m ago
Cash, and NOT two dollar bills. It's not cute, it's just annoying, Now, if you want to ask them if they want something while you are in port, that's always a nice gesture. We always leave cash, but will ask if they need something useful like tide pods or snacks.


So there you have it. Proceed as you wish. But for the love of all that is holy, please stop spreading the false notion that cruise crew members like $2 bills. I realize it may give you a squishy feeling when he thanks you , but see above (they literally said they are trained to make you think they love you).

[Stu from NYC]

We work for cash and so do they.

Why would you think they want your little gifts?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Macrame keychains don't buy food for your family abroad. Tip cash.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

We work for cash and so do they.

Why would you think they want your little gifts?

Because the gift is a gold Rolex?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580

Because the gift is a gold Rolex?

A gold Rolex doesn't pay the grocery bill for your family. And wearing it while working physical labor 8-10 hours a day, 6 days a week, for 9 months with no break, is guaranteed to result in a broken watch. Taking your gold watch off and putting it in your shared cabin is guaranteed to eventually end up on someone else's wrist.

Tip cash.

[raananh]

My recommendation as a frequent cruiser: on the first day when you meet your room Steward, give a small tip ($$).

... magic will happen for the rest of the cruise without you needing to request it.

Then, on the last day, tip the rest.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by raananh

My recommendation as a cruise: on the first day when you meet your room Steward, give a small tip ($$).

... magic will happen for the rest of the cruise without you needing to request it.

Then, on the last day, tip the rest.

50 or so cruises never bribe steward or any crewmember to give good service.

Say please and thank you and they will reciprocate with great service.

[raananh]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

50 or so cruises never bribe steward or any crewmember to give good service.

Say please and thank you and they will reciprocate with great service.

What on earth made you think this a "bribe"?

If you bothered to read, I said "magic will happen for the rest of the cruise without you needing to request it."

So it's not a "bribe"! Period.

It's good will, on both sides.

And if you are not happy, then don't give a tip at all on the last day. Simple as that.

Enjoy you future cruises like I do.

[Ignatz]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

50 or so cruises never bribe steward or any crewmember to give good service.

Say please and thank you and they will reciprocate with great service.

Totally agree. No need to bribe the staff at the beginning of the cruise.

[raananh]

Originally Posted by Ignatz

Totally agree. No need to bribe the staff at the beginning of the cruise.

What on earth made you think this a "bribe"?

If you bothered to read, I said "magic will happen for the rest of the cruise without you needing to request it."

So it's not a "bribe"! Period.

It's good will, on both sides.

And if you are not happy, then don't give a tip at all on the last day. Simple as that.

Enjoy you future cruises like I do.

[NoMo50]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

50 or so cruises never bribe steward or any crewmember to give good service.

Say please and thank you and they will reciprocate with great service.

Hopefully, you do realize that the people who clean your stateroom, serve your food, bring you drinks, etc all work for tips. The salary paid to workers on cruise ships is relatively low, and it is the tips (not bribes) from appreciative cruisers that provide them with a liveable wage.

The staff on cruise ships work hard, for long hours, day after day after day for the duration of their contract. Please tell me you are not one of those cruisers who goes to Guest Services on the final night of a cruise to have the automatic gratuities removed from your final bill.

[Glowfromminnesota]

Now I am confused. I am not a cruiser and leave this week. We are going with a rather large group and we are told gratuity is already includes in our cruise fees? Tip again?

[peachpit]

Originally Posted by Glowfromminnesota

Now I am confused. I am not a cruiser and leave this week. We are going with a rather large group and we are told gratuity is already includes in our cruise fees? Tip again?

Just follow your heart.

[npwalters]

Originally Posted by Glowfromminnesota

Now I am confused. I am not a cruiser and leave this week. We are going with a rather large group and we are told gratuity is already includes in our cruise fees? Tip again?

Some people do but many do not (including me) unless there is some special service. The tips are not included but are added automatically at the end of the cruise.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by raananh

What on earth made you think this a "bribe"?

If you bothered to read, I said "magic will happen for the rest of the cruise without you needing to request it."

So it's not a "bribe"! Period.

It's good will, on both sides.

And if you are not happy, then don't give a tip at all on the last day. Simple as that.

Enjoy you future cruises like I do.

A Rose by any other name is still a Bribe. Exclamation mark!

And "magic" doesn't exist.