Cruise Ship Crew Want Us To Know About This

You are about to discover 6 genuinely surprising cruise tips and cruise ship watch-outs I have been told about by talking to crew members on cruise ships
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00:00 Start
00:42 Get What You Deserve
03:05 Getting To Know Crew Watch-Outs
05:32 Getting Answers and Solutions
07:03 Gratuities
08:47 Being Covered
09:32 Most Common Issues

[@notyourtypicalwatchreview2563]

It astounds me that people have to be told to be nice, especially to someone who brings you food.

[@sandie157]

True, but that's the reality. People treat those who serve them very badly

[@notyourtypicalwatchreview2563]

@@sandie157 I knew this Hindu gentleman, who came from a very rich family in India. They had servants, but treated them as a combination of family and employees; they truly believed in do unto others.

[@kellykerr5225]

They do. I’m a property manager of HOAs and condo associations. Last year, I put an entire board in a ti e out, then with a different one, I put the entire community on a time out. Some were mean to me but they really hated each other.

[@casey4602]

4 people you never want to piss off. 1. IRS 2. Person who prepares your food 3. Your waitress 4. Your mailman

[@jeannearc9879]

Yeap true.. always treat them nice..

[@mary-ruthflores4107]

This unspoken crew connections are so correct. One cruise I always got up early to bird watch, so I’m out there with my binocs as we were coming into shore and saw parrots in a tree, and a young crewman had never seen parrots close up. So I let him use my binoculars. The next day one of the officers were there asking me if I would like to go on a birdswatching trip that just had an opening. He said he heard how enthusiastically I was about birds from his young friend! It was so nice!!

[@HarvestHome2000]

That surprised me - I was sure you were going to say the crew member had got into trouble over this.

[@lorrainestrickland]

My husband and I were cruising on the Independence of the Seas. When we entered our cabin for the first time, we saw our bags had been delivered. One of our bags was shredded to the point we would never be able to successfully disembark without our clothes spilling out. So we asked our cabin steward for duct tape. He was extremely kind and asked us to fill out complaint forms regarding the bag. When we returned to our cabin later in the evening a brand new, tags on, identical bag was waiting for us on our bed. No need to ever be anything other than, at the very least, polite to the staff on board.

[@markg.4246]

I will be taking my first cruise later this month on Independence of the Seas. As a retired airline employee, I could not agree more about being polite to staff. A simple sincere "Please and Thank You", can and will work wonders. Since you are familiar with that ship, any suggestions for a new "senior citizen"? Thanks Lorraine. 🙂 Mark

[@lorrainestrickland]

@@markg.4246 Well, it’s been awhile since we’ve last cruised and so much has changed. If you’re interested in shore excursions do your research and book prior to boarding. Popular excursions fill up fast. And not to be a Debbie Downer but some excursions can be downright dangerous. Our last cruise on the Independence of the Seas was held up over an hour due to a fatal tour bus accident. It seems autos were not required to come equipped with safety glass. One of our passengers bought a seat on a tour bus. The bus crashed, rolled and shards of glass went everywhere. The passenger was killed as a result. Be smart. Be safe. Beyond that, relax and enjoy your cruise. 🙂

[@rgruenhaus]

Hard to believe a bag replacement was done right then! A similar bag as well?

[@lorrainestrickland]

@@rgruenhaus Identical. Not similar. Surprising, indeed!

[@programaths]

@@rgruenhaus When you operate big ships like that and probably smaller ones for billionaires, you've a network that allows you to satisfy the weirdest wills. So, finding the exact copy of a bag is not even bothering ^^ If you watch videos about butlers, you may quickly stumble on one explaining the weirdest request he got, to be fulfilled in the hour.

[@ventureout92]

Former crew member here. Please believe the excursion description when signing up for tours that include walking. If you have any walking difficulties do NOT sign up for a hike along the Amalfi coast, or up to castles/churches with cobblestones. The excursion staff are not in a position to tell someone they are not fit for a particular endeavor. As a crew member who escorted many tours, I cannot tell you how often someone ruined the experience for everyone else, by going too slowly, or simply being incapable.

[@conniehodges7448]

thanks for the info 👍

[@lynnebattaglia-triggs1042]

So sad that there are not travel groups for slow ambulators with canes, etc.

[@deathman1037]

@@lynnebattaglia-triggs1042 agreed as someone with a physical disability seeing posts like the above makes me think twice about going on a cruise especially seeing the attitude of if you can't walk fast you shouldn't see these places

[@VictoriaGates]

@@deathman1037 It's not "if you can't walk fast you shouldn't see these places" but tour time is limited and it's polite to consider if you want or need to go slower.. you should choose excursions that are more leisurely or ones that take you on transportation so it's easier for you as well.

[@lynn6221]

Thank you for addressing that problem. It happened to me on a trip. A woman who should have stayed home slowed us down to the point that we missed some sites. Plus she expected all of us to help her constantly, carry her purchases, find a place for her to sit when she wore out, expecting us to stay back with her instead of seeing the sites. It was horrible! We were all so happy to see her finally have to leave ! If your itinerary says - walking, find something more sedimentary

[@amosdarnell9813]

"Mafia" is a great way to describe it. Best example I have of this is one particular cruise we were on we tipped very well and was overly nice to a server on deck the first afternoon while waiting to leave port. It was a 7 day cruise and he ended up being the only person that waited on us the entire time. About 2 days into the cruise we found he "claimed" us so he made it his priority to find us wherever we were on the ship and took amazing care. Even at night when we would go to the shows he would find us and have our favorite drinks waiting. It's amazing how interconnected the staff are and even on a large, very busy ship they know where you are.

[@cclark5456]

I worked in the casino on cruise ships for 3 years, and we were paid $10 per day. Literally. All of our wage came from tips given in the casino. It was a similar situation with the cabin attendants, they relied on tips for their whole wage. This was a while ago, but I can't imagine cruise lines have made any positive changes since then for their staff. Also, most crew don't get any days off. They work every day for 6-9 months at a time, all day long. It's hard to stay cheerful when you don't get time off (you start to go a bit nuts), so the crew can be grumpy. I found the managers on board not very nice, so apart from being underpaid and overworked, you also have to deal with an unpleasant work environment. That's what broke me in the end. Add to that a cranky passenger and it's all a bit much.

[@02sparklestars02]

On our first cruise we had table mates that we clicked with. We were always the last table to leave after having laughed most of the meal. Our waiters and a few from other tables came and did tricks or told jokes. We all, as well as the servers had a great time. Years later on a cruise on the same line. I saw one of those servers. I made sure to speak to him saying we remembered him from a previous cruise. He was delighted and made sure he told other waiters that we’d remembered him. We made his day and I felt pretty good too.

[@thomashanks1033]

Hello Sophie how are you doing today. I wish you a happy new year. I believe you are in good health. I hope this year brings happiness, good health, prosperity love and peace all over the world, nice to meet you.

[@ccjohncc1]

So fortunate. I've been on just 4 cruises and only once did I have bad table mates. So I asked the staff if there is anyway possible that I could be placed at a different table because a couple of people at my current table are rude to waiters and are making me extremely uncomfortable. They said no problem 😊! So the next day I went to my new assigned table and was so happy. One of them was a gal I met before boarding that was a chaperone for a group of elderly that all came from the same retirement home. Also one of the gentleman recognized my name because he worked with my father 15 years earlier and met me when I was 16.

[@waynearbour8109]

We found a waiter we had a great time with about 3 yrs after we first met him..I recognized him immediately. He was from the Philippines, great guy.

[@bobgrate1637]

You should have given him a good tip.

[@tinaandes7391]

But maybe don’t hang out too long. Let those crew members go to bed!

[@jpurpleyou]

On one cruise (Norwegian Jade) I found the pool bars kept ignoring me as a female and waited on the men first-rather than get angry I found a bar that was kind to me and tipped them often-with cash-they gave me free drinks and took care of me. I used the comment questionnaires given out at the end to report the other bartenders but made sure the attentive staff got recognition.

[@Tee55118]

Nothing worse than a drunk female

[@ibrockinrobin67]

The saying that you get more with honey than vinegar is SO true. I recently returned from my very first cruise. In talking with my room steward (who was amazing), we ask him the best and hardest part of his job. He disclosed that they always have to smile and have a joyful attitude regardless of what they were experiencing. He shared that while on a cruiseship, he received word that his father passed away unexpectedly. He was in the middle if the ocean, working, and could not return home for a few months. While he worked, he had to smile and greet passengers, and quickly turn his head to hide his tears. It broke my heart. We never know what someone else is going through so we need to always treat others with kindness first. Also, we asked why no Americans wete on staff. He said because they are used to being paid hourly and staff only earns gratuities....so in other words, we Americans won't work for gratuities only.

[@dieseldragon6756]

I was initially going to make some quip about clearing limescale with Honey (I live in a hard water area and Vinegar works well for dealing with it) but then I came to what you said about your Steward having to still „wear a smile“ while dealing with some of the worst news imaginable. To say it made me cry is an understatement... 😢💐❤

[@Smokeyham]

Regarding Americans not usually working on the ships, I understand that recruitment for departments is usually done in various countries, i.e. housekeepers might be recruited in the Philippines while restaurant staff might be recruited in Hungary.

[@robertbarnier45]

I’m always astounded at how lovely most crew are considering how unpleasant passengers can be It’s the crew that often makes the cruise

[@dieseldragon6756]

Could you imagine a cruise without a crew? I doubt it'd even get out of port! ⚓🛑😉

[@nonnieofsix7107]

I’ve heard many people talk about how sweet and personal it is to give the crew individual gifts. Yes, very nice for someone not LIVING on a ship with limited space. Just give them cash. They will appreciate it much more and it’s something they can really use the way they want to use it. Thank you for mentioning this, Gary.

[@Jimulacrum]

Yup. The living quarters would be tiny even if they were single-occupancy (and they're not). There's no room for accumulating gifts from passengers, not to mention flying home with them in limited luggage space. The crew are away from their families for months at a time to earn money. There is no better gift.

[@fasthracing]

Maybe something like an ash tray that you have made at home in a pottery class at home would go down well?

[@bevricker4812]

At least if you are giving a gift make it a consumable. Candy lotion etc not a dust collector.

[@meg2249]

Not if they don’t smoke, and pottery is dicey when it comes to travel. Cash is far better.

[@davidandrew1078]

I have said this previously but very relevant here. Was on the Nieuw Amsterdam and I introduced myself to my cabin Attendant in Indonesian. My wife is fluent in the language, not a native speaker, and she had a long conversation with him. By the time we got to the Pinnacle Grill that night, we were personally escorted by the Maitre' D to a seat by a window. We then had amazing Silver Service in Indonesian, my wife loved it as she needed to practice the language. The, "Mafia"/Grapevine, worked quick. We got a little extra on each serving, and a throughout the ship we were greeted in Indonesian. The Senior Waiter always checked that we were happy wherever we ate, in Indonesian of course. Seems very few tourists speak Indonesian, especially on an Alaskan Cruise. Politeness costs nothing, as does a smile.

[@Geoduck.]

David, what a great story and one my wife and I share. My wife is Filipina from Philippines. She always politely speaks to Filipino staff in their language. I will use the limited phrases I know as well. It's respectful and kind and the smiles of gratitude are amazing.

[@Hawkeye2001]

I am trying to learn a few "polite words & phrases" in the local language where I'm traveling. It does seem to open a few doors, and gets a lot of friendly responses.

[@alikaalex]

​@@Geoduck. : I am half Filipino myself. Although I don't speak more than a few words of Tagalog, it's amazing the frequency with which the Filipino staff onboard can tell that I am "Fil-Am" and even that my daughter is 1/4 Filipino!

[@bougygurl4560]

Well there is Balinese language differs from Indonesian. I learned Bali terms over 13 cruises and I was a queen. I gave a weather report in Balinese one morning over coffee on lido and had like 10 people around me, all smiling broadly.

[@davidandrew1078]

@@bougygurl4560 Excellent. There are many dialects in Indonesia. Which is why Bahasa is a common language.

[@FormerlyDavid]

You discussed tips, but missed what I consider most important: how much? Is my attendant expecting $10 or $100? Do I spot the bartender who made me non-alcoholic drinks $1 a glass or $20 per night, or what? Does the 15/20% rule apply? I want to show gratitude, but I can only stuff my pockets so full of paper money.

[@ohasis8331]

LOL, I remember one night, a friend's wife who often gave service staff a hard time due to her own out of kilter ego was giving a more mature woman a dressing down (not deserved) and finished with the line "do you know who I am?" The woman calmly stated "madam, I'm sorry I don't know who you are but I certainly know what you are." The whole table erupted in laughter and the friend's wife was quiet for the rest of the night.

[@user-hy3fd2xw2t]

I'm reading the comments and some of you have the wrong idea. You do not have to "placate" to the crew. Just be courteous and friendly like you would to anyone that waits on you!! Just a smile goes a long way and they will help you in any way they can. I'm sure at your job, you like to be treated like a person, so do they. I have been on many cruises and the staff is always lovely to me because I don't look down on them or ignore their presence.

[@beckygilmore4798]

on my last cruise I was told that the surveys where you mention by name a staff member it helps them to build up enough for extra day off or free wifi. I always write out a letter of how well I enjoyed my cruise and how well staff did using the names. Anything to help improve staff's lifes.

[@kayekaye251]

That is great to know!

[@bonniecreevy2642]

I’ve been told this as well. I always fill it out now

[@liseohplease]

I just came back and did that both in written form and on the email survey.

[@kays749]

Taking a picture of the name badge is genius. That's my practice from now on!

[@zombiewulfgrld6055]

Yes! I started doing this a while back b/c I wanted to make sure I get the spellings correct f/my reviews. Also, at this age I simply can’t remember everything anymore.

[@lizmillan1]

Never be mean to someone who is alone in your bathroom with your toothpaste . 😂 I laughed so hard .

[@andreas4268]

It’s important to be NICE PERIOD especially when there is nothing to be gained.

[@bigblock502gilley6]

On my recent princess discovery cruise I had a staff member tell me that if they get 10 positive comments that they received a day off. However if they don't receive any comments they have to work an additional 1.5 hours. We have found a great way to make sure crew get positive feedback is to go to guest services and ask for a comment card. We fill it out right away and returned. Our experience has been princess will send a letter to your state room thanking you for your feedback along with what they do with the information.

[@agood1]

I think Ill pick up a stack and fill these out as I go thru the cruise...

[@paullatta]

I went on a Carnival cruise to Mexico. I spent a lot of time in the casino and my favorite server there was this little gal from the Philippines named Diwa. I always tipped her well. She always called me Mr. Paul. A year later I was on a cruise in the Caribbean when I heard that same young lady call out my name. She had switched ships. Now I know it's good business for a server to remember your name throughout the cruise, but I thought it was cool that she still remembered me a year later. Of course, I remembered her too.

[@ringerson4x4]

My wife and I went on our first cruise many years ago and took a behind the scenes tour of the ship. What we noticed most was the heat in the working areas of the ship. We saw certain jobs that were being done that most passengers never even think about. Notably the laundry department and the sanitation department. The crew that works in these jobs are typically entry level we were told and are low paying, and for the most part have no direct interaction with quest’s. This means nearly no way to receive a gratuity. My wife and I now go to the quest services desk on day one of our cruises and find out how many crew there are in these positions and put a few dollars in that number of envelopes for them, and have guest services deliver the envelopes. We can only hope that it makes there job a little more enjoyable when they are so far away from their families. We usually spend between $50 and $75 to do this depending on the size of the ship. It may even make the difference for some crew to be able to call their families or not.

[@johokeen1]

That's so thoughtful/kind. I am sure your gesture was much appreciated.

[@darrellaustin6269]

The cruse ship makes millions per trip

[@alexafernandez5743]

@@darrellaustin6269cruise no the employees…

[@Diana-007]

That is a very kind and decent thing to do, I always thought the prepaid gratuities we signed up for went to all staff I’ll need to make sure we do the same, those are some of the hardest jobs on board I’m sure! we also continue to tip extra for good service too although I feel the cruise staff should be paid appropriately and not have to rely on gratuities. 🥰🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

[@waynearbour8109]

Even with all inclusive drink packages, I tip a buck every time I order 2 drinks for wife and I. Put it under my seapass card. If I spend an extra 50 bucks on my bartender, its peanuts.

[@cdugral]

And please be nice to flight attendants as well. People mostly think they paid for a service, a cruise, a flight and think they are entitled to everything (even the impossible) without being nice. And no, we flight attendants do not even get tips. We are not even allowed to accept them. So for me it is most important to be nice. It doesn’t cost a thing but gets you so much further.

[@LucieInChicoCA]

Thank you for your efforts to enhance the safety and enjoyment of air travel. The last few years of virus nonsense, I typically fly with a bag of Ghirardelli’s individually wrapped chocolates and ask permission to trade for the face mask being offered when boarding.

[@magnoliaflower1020]

Yes, we have to be nice to them. I learned on my recent pre-Xmas cruise that they are working straight for 6 months and many of them cannot get down to go around on their days off when parked on the port due to pandemic precautions. They are tested and swab weekly for us. So, let us be nice and appreciate them if we want to enjoy the cruises in the future!🥰

[@orlandolzr]

Normally crew work for 9 months straight and companies that I have aquaitances working for test their crew daily. :)

[@leti-o]

Well said 👍

[@mamiemacfarlane4708]

@@leti-o Hola

[@leti-o]

@@mamiemacfarlane4708 whaaaaaaaaat up 😉

[@cinderella3000]

There's no day off, you have to work straight for as long as your contract is set. For many it's a minimum of 9 months

[@gratefultube]

"Be nice or nicer." Sounds like a good message for your next t-shirt, Gary.

[@paulready8897]

My piece of advice for avoiding the appearance of inappropriate relationships with a cruise member, is to always keep a safe distance away from them and only interact with them when necessary and keep the conversation as short as possible. For stateroom attendants and servers just give them a greeting, tell them what you want or need and say thank you and let them go about their duties. Basic rule is to let them go about their duties and don’t interrupt them unless it is necessary.

[@conniefrazier2356]

I understand that getting much too “friendly” with employees can cause them a lot of trouble up to and including losing their job.

[@alikaalex]

I've actually felt it would be helpful for the cruise lines to provide their staff with business cards. Would be helpful for remembering names and getting them _exactly right_ when writing up comment cards.

[@PleaseApplaud]

We tend to eat at the main restaurants with the same waiters each night, so our waiters and sommelier usually have their names on the table, but I try to keep the bar receipts so I have the names of anyone giving great service in the bars too.

[@loriwelln7321]

Carnival room attendants do give cards with their name and phone number in case you need anything

[@ChrisW228]

I’m a genuinely kind and friendly person. Every cruise I’ve been on, I wound up with more perks than people with years of loyalty points. Discounts on excursions, drink tickets, luggage tags to disembark first on the last day… you name it. They 100% take care of nice people.

[@kathryncashner3294]

We had a favorite server on a particular ship. We joked that each time we cruised, his former assistant server had been promoted to server due to his excellent ability to train as well as his service. There was one man who had started out as an assistant...we watched him go up the ranks until he was an officer in charge of all dining! After boarding, my friend and I went to lunch. He walked past and I addressed him by name. He instantly asked if there was anything he could do for us, did we need any reservations, etc. Needless to say, we were very well looked after on that cruise!

[@bobsides59]

Remembering a name is very important. Our waitress at our dinner meal was promoted to the Maître d’ at a specialty restaurant on board the same ship just a couple months after we sailed. She was so very excited to see my cruise mate on board and thanked her over and over again as without the mention by us she would have never had the opportunity to advance.

[@cindybogard8684]

A non-cruise example: Last week the woman in front of us was very rude to the box office attendant at the theater. When it was my turn, I began by saying, "She thanks you for your help. She just forgot to say so." I was in line to buy a parking pass ($10), and he gave it to me for free. Twelve nice words = $10 in this case.

[@symphantic4552]

This is a general rule for all service roles. From your McD's to your grocery store, your plumber, or banker... These are humans you're dealing with; treat them with due respect and friendliness. I did a few years of as a retail associate in my younger years and it taught me soooo much about people. I will ensure 100% my kids have the same educational experience growing up.

[@Skorpychan]

I worked retail for 8 1/2 years. It's hell, and rude customers make it even worse. Of course, bad managers made it worse still, and that's the main reason I ditched the industry. Aside from the low wages, back-breaking labour, being at the mercy of the elements, and getting sick all the time from badly-designed everything. 3 years out, and I'm never going back.

[@symphantic4552]

@@Skorpychan Good for you! What lessons did you learn along the way?

[@Skorpychan]

@@symphantic4552 Where absolutely everything was in my store, and just how crappy retail is. Oh, and that managers shouldn't say 'IF YOU DON'T LIKE WORKING WEEKENDS YOU SHOULDN'T WORK RETAIL'. Thanks, Karen, it's not like I had a choice of job offers. And also that people can SMELL customer service on you, and will badger you even when you're off duty. Even when you're elsewhere. Even through a closed and locked door, sometimes! I even get it now when out shopping, three years after leaving the industry. Probably because I still walk like I own the place, and can navigate a Tesco store with my eyes shut.

[@trainerstone]

I've always told my agents to be nice to everyone. Be VERY VERY nice to anyone who sees your food before you do or can detain you (Police, TSA, etc.) I'll add the alone w/my toothbrush to the list. Great series.

[@amyrivers4093]

I always feel sorry for staff who get treated badly by customers for something that they didn't do nor have the authority to change it. My Dad used to ask me why I asked supermarket staff, receptionists etc how they are doing that day. I explained that the majority of people complaining is nine out of ten times yet we forget to tell someone who is serving us how much we appreciate them and then tell their bosses what amazing service their employee provided. I choose to look at every situation to find a positive however I feel that this fast paced world seems to have a lot of people automatically focusing on the negatives.

[@oneluxelife]

My daughter, who is an “English as a Second Language” high school teacher always learns a few words in Filipino, Russian and Ukraine to converse or just say thank you to our room staff and dining rooms. You wouldn’t believe the extras that gets us!

[@fireballracer3948]

Great video. I’m an ex cruise ship senior engineering officer and absolutely everything in here is right on point. The hotel staff work their tails off and really don’t get paid much base. Actually going on our first cruise as passengers soon so your guides have been very helpful! Thanks

[@sparkymcplumpthepolydactyl2079]

As a former Bell Person at a fancy hotel, manners are everything. A sincere ‘thank you’ almost meant as much as tip. That being said, If you tipped well too….I would make it my mission to do anything you needed to make your time enjoyable.

[@AdamFrugoli]

I just got off the Jewel of the Sea and had a great conversation with our stateroom attendant… works for 8 months out of the year seeing the same hallways. I’m out enjoying life and they’re cleaning up after my family. It really took me back. The only thing that separated me from him was I was born in the United States and he was born in Malaysia. I tipped more than the auto tip.

[@BernhardSchwarz-xs8kp]

Two years later now (2024) all of what we learn from this video is still valid. This presenter has the talent to not just list a few items that come up about cruise traveling but he focuses right on the underlying issues that lead to them. Is is actually logical that tipping upfront will impact future services much more effectively than tipping the last moment when leaving the ship. Yet - hardly anybody seems to think about his fact.

[@chuckmeadows1581]

Thanks Gary. This was a very informative and helpful video. The fundamental key for me is RESPECT. Showing respect and interest in folks that are busting their asses to make sure passengers have a wonderful cruise experience is really important. In fact, it really enhances the entire cruising experience. Thanks for the "refresher" video.

[@ChrisW228]

I reduce gratuities for people I rarely or never see (head waiter comes to mind) and increase them for the people truly running around like crazy making my trip easier and more fun.

[@travelnomad2128]

I agree. I find the auto tips excessive esp now it's increased again. On my next cruise I'll reduce the auto tips and give cash tips to our room attendant & waiters.

[@Valdal98]

Taking a photo of the name badge is a great idea. I’ll remember to do that on our next cruise. Thank you for your channel. You always provide wonderful insights.

[@cathywilcox514]

Gary I was told by my cabin steward to tip the day BEFORE disembarkation as on the changeover day they flood the area with staff to strip and clear the cabins (they then may not get your cash gift to them)

[@bremars878]

Your stateroom attendants can be your very best friend on board.

[@lexx8207]

As a crew member myself i approve this information.👍🏿👍🏿

[@tipsfortravellers]

Cool! Great to hear! Thanks for watching

[@jimzeleny7213]

On a Queen Mary crossing 4 years ago, both of us tipped the band. They were thrilled and as a musician I can tell you that this rarely happens.

[@jamesdunlop8704]

I always treat anyone I am dealing with just like I would hope they would deal with me. Yes I have seen people treat staff like dirt and it is very sad to see. A Russian tour manager gave a presentation about the next port. She had a very slight accent but was clear and understandable .A passenger approached her and said they could not understand a word she was saying. She was so concerned about this that at her next presentation she asked passengers if they could understand her .The answer was yes. She then relayed the what had happened and was near to tears on stage. I approached her afterwards and reassured her that she was perfectly understandable .She was very grateful.

[@roundandroundmyworld]

I go out of my way to be nice to crew members, thanking them with a smile at all times. I've found on almost every cruise I've taken that the crew then go out of THEIR way to give me top-notch service, whether on the pool deck, in the dining rooms, or as cabin stewards. Simple and straightforward principle in all contacts with employees in any service industry (not just cruising), and I'm surprised that so many people continue to feel that rude, aggressive tactics are what get results.

[@thomashanks1033]

Hello Ken how are you doing today. I wish you a happy new year. I believe you are in good health. I hope this year brings happiness, good health, prosperity love and peace all over the world, nice to meet you.

[@peggyjeanlee8971]

And amazingly remember you the next cruise.

[@susankara7520]

I carry old business cards and ask crew members to write their name on the blank side of the card 'so I've got the correct spelling when I 'put their name in my report '" and they are always so pleased. It helps me also because if I forget their name, I have the card to refer to .

[@laratheplanespotter]

5:22 can I just say that this also applies to check in clerks, gate agents, flight attendants, and pilots if you’re flying? Iwas so impressed by the captain of my last flight that I asked for her full name . She showed me the flight deck and spent 20 minutes explaining how the Airbus A320 stacked up against the Boeing 737-800ng I’m familiar with. When I did the passenger feedback part of British Airways website to congratulate all the crew for being so awesome (for context, Heathrow announced the wrong gate and then we had to get on the airport bus to get to the aircraft. A couple started yelling at the gate agent then went on to also yell at the fight attendant and captain as well for something that was beyond their control. I stood up for them saying that It was the airport’s fault not the crews then we had a medical emergency on landing) I actually got a lovely letter from the Pilots saying thank you. I guess compliments are rarer than complaints.

[@geoffreystone1598]

Don’t forget the staff you meet cleaning the toilets. They are keeping us all safe. They do a tough job and perhaps have an eye on promotion to a better job. Remember their names and recommend them.

[@TheRaindancer10]

A wee bit off topic but is in regards to being nice to staff. When I stay at a hotel I do a "pre cleaning" of room. On check out days I include stripping bed of linen. I will also make my own bed if over night. Towels I gather and leave in tub. Wastepaper baskets I put all my trash into one basket to be removed. I don't know if this is taboo but I assume it helps. I do this because as a teenager I worked as a maid and doing 15 to 20 rooms daily by myself it was tiring. Thank you to all people of guest service positions. You are appreciated. 🌹

[@garythecyclingnerd6219]

This is just advice for life, really. Being kind to others gets you a long ways.

[@paulog9109]

No excuse whatsoever to be other than nice and grateful to those wonderful people who work so hard to make our experience as good as is posibly could be.

[@Snootyboss]

To be honest, as a hotelier for 30 years it is always a basic to be pleasant and polite to those who are looking after you. In my experience, the teams will always do everything they can to make guest experiences great. If you want we'll above what is the norm in sorting something for you that we wouldn't normally do, don't expect that if you've been rude or have spoilt the experience for other guests. In short, be a decent person and you'd be amazed how we can really help you in ways you didn't think possible.

[@waterpolowizard]

It amazes me this even needs to be said. It costs nothing to be nice

[@rcollins1202]

On one cruise we went to the port talk before St. Thomas. We were looking for a particular piece of jewelry for my wife’s mother. As we were pulling into port I saw an officer on deck at the railing. I went over and said hello and how you doing. Once we got friendly I asked him where does the crew shop when in St. Thomas. He leaned over and told me of a shop off the Main Street. We went there and got a better deal on what we we looking for. The owner actually made the piece for us, told us to come back in an hour. We did and were very happy with the item and price.

[@Bekindtoeachother]

Being kind, respectful and nice anywhere/everyday in life goes along way!

[@leoniekrafft9032]

We found out early on in our experiences is that the crew don’t always get off the ship at each port. I now always ask if they need anything from the shops such as shampoo/conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, snacks/drinks etc as they sometimes run out. I also leave behind used items for them especially if flying home.

[@HeatherTravels]

Since I taught school for over 20 years, I'm very good with learning names, and I always try to fill out the feedback forms that I am emailed or given from any hotel/cruise line, etc. that I receive right away, but taking a photo of the crew members' name badge is a terrific tip!

[@Milesco]

As a kid, I was always impressed with the ability of my teachers to quickly learn and remember the names of 25 or more students!

[@SandyToes75]

Numbers, math, a piece of cake. Names a real struggle. The pic is one piece I will remember for my next cruise. Thanks so much!

[@tsarina24honolulu87]

I hate that management even asks for that.

[@wildlemon1574]

Then you will have to take a picture of the face too. After all, this can cause embarrassment with badges 😂

[@johnh8705]

@@Milesco it's not that difficult if you see the same people everyday for 4 years or more. "Teachers" don't have super powers.

[@rmtmiller]

I load my bathroom with all my 'health and beauty products' right where I want them and have told housekeeping I'll take care of the bathroom since I didn't want any of my stuff moved around and tipped the person each day very well and also got all the extra bath towels and washcloths I needed. And I left tips before debarking. In addition, I tip well at each bar and they do remember you and you get really fast service that way.

[@gailjohnson9066]

I wish they would add the gratuities into the price of every Cruise. That way it's paid ahead of time and no one can shortchange the crew

[@alicedyment4219]

That's what I love about Azamara, the drinks and use of laundry machines are also included.

[@travelnomad2128]

It's the cruise line company that short change their crews. They should pay a living wage and tips are extra.

[@LynnEvarts]

I generally enjoy the crew far more than many other passengers. I love getting to know their names, where they’re from, their families, anything. I love hearing their stories of back home and their travels with work. I would love to write a book about crew members stories.

[@thomashanks1033]

Hello Lynn how are you doing today. I wish you a happy new year. I believe you are in good health. I hope this year brings happiness, good health, prosperity love and peace all over the world, nice to meet you.

[@donkiml5805]

On our Baltic cruise, we chose anytime dining, asking for a window table. We like to talk to the servers and find out about their home county/families. We received the best personal service and they even saved a window seat table every evening! It was the best dining experience.🥂🍽

[@kcloveonaleash]

You treated them like humans - not help and I am sure they adored you guys

[@jennaolbermann7663]

My husband and I talk to the crew about where they’re from too, it’s nice to get to know them a little bit and learn more about different people.

[@janethollman7894]

Our cruises on Royal Caribbean we have always been really well looked after. On arrival on our second cruise a bottle of perfume had been broken in my case. Everything absolutely stunk of it. Our room steward took everything away and it came back laundered and cleaned. All for free he didn’t take anything for the service he and others had done. We filled in our end of cruise questionnaires naming them. Plus the chefs who gave my hubby who is a chef a tour of all the kitchens.

[@ErikaEmody]

Re names and surveys- In the notepad of my iPhone, I keep note of who helped me and what they did that was so outstanding, so that I can communicate clearly on the post cruise survey

[@dicklambert1503]

Please always tip the crew especially the waiters/assistant waiters as they heavily rely on tips as their base salary is not that great. Also, unlike most of us, they are stuck in the ship providing great service with smile to you and your family while they have to wait for several months to see their families and loved ones. It is unfortunate that some of them have cut their already small income in order to pay for wifi to call back home. I'm sure they will appreciate every tip from guests knowing that they are doing a great job.

[@debbiegibson3604]

My husband and I always make friends with the bartenders who serve us every day. We always get the drink package so it's not like we get free drinks from them, but it's just more pleasant to get to know the people you deal with all of the time. Also, a woman I worked with who went on a cruise told me she took the gratuities off her bill. I thought less of her after that.

[@lissettemdernierdominiquet1898]

Being politely and respectfully nice makes your vacation a delight! Just don't over do!!! People can take it wrong. Never hands on!!!

[@ellenkirkpatrick7735]

You don't have to wait until you get the questionnaire to complement a crew member. I have gone to guest services and reported super service in the middle of the cruise. And boy does that get you great service the rest of the cruise. On my last cruise, I started joking with the Any time dining maitre d' a few days into an 18 day cruise. By the 5th day I was getting immediate seating every time I entered the dining room, even when there was a line.

[@BonVoyageCruiseTravel]

I know about the survey. I always take the photo of their name bag. It is so hard to remember the name! It is so important for their advancement. They really want this more than anything!

[@EmmaCruises]

On my last cruise, there was a man who didn't have a ticket to the theatre show and he was SO angry, swearing, pointing, shouting... It was his fault. He was asked to leave and stormed off. It's crazy, who thinks that's shouting is the way to get what you want?! :')

[@thomashanks1033]

Hello how are you doing today. I wish you a happy new year. I believe you are in good health. I hope this year brings happiness, good health, prosperity love and peace all over the world, nice to meet you.

[@paulortiz2035]

It works for Putin apparently!

[@bugwar5545]

It works a lot of the time. The establishment doesn't want drama, and that in itself may be enough to bend to accommodate the tantrum thrower.

[@mikkibarker8671]

Must have been NORWEGIAN. I will NEVER cruise with them again!

[@markanderson4163]

we always add $10.00 per day for the room attendant and butler, in cash...plus $5.00 per day to concierge, when we have them...we always add extra tips at the bars...you want better drinks??? tip a little more...they notice...maybe not day 1, but as the cruise goes on...it works.

[@BenG0]

Should really be nice to everyone... Not just people you *have* to be nice to..

[@nigelweir3852]

Crew got my new case ripped on plane fixed up , give him a large tip , happy to do so

[@nocalsteve]

When he said Mafia, I was really worried about getting thrown overboard.

[@karenrich3581]

It’s almost as important to leave positive feedback by name as leaving a cash tip

[@tessat338]

When I was in the airline industry and we had the opportunity to fly "Space Available" I always made sure to stress to trainees that they should be the nicest person that the airline employee had met that day and that one catches more flies with honey than with vinegar. I told them stories of several times that I was the last person to get seated on oversold flights, even before paying passengers because I was easy to accommodate and made a favorable impression on the gate agent.

[@thomashanks1033]

Hello how are you doing today. I wish you a happy new year. I believe you are in good health. I hope this year brings happiness, good health, prosperity love and peace all over the world, nice to meet you.

[@vondahe]

You were SA on an oversold flight? In the airlines I’ve worked for, putting staff travellers before revenue pax was an expressway to getting fired. On my second airline (006 will possibly tell you which), I noticed that spirit you describe. Other airlines had other traditions although older crew and crew of the merry persuasion would do everything in their power to make you feel good. Even flying non-rev on KLM I’ve gotten that treatment which surprised me. Super nice people in those blue uniforms.

[@tessat338]

@@vondahe Every flight I've ever taken on KLM was awesome. The particular carrier that seated me is no longer operating as a separate entity (Sniff) It got swallowed up by one of the larger carriers. I think that they had plausible deniability in that I was the only "single" passenger left in line. The rest were pairs or groups. Everyone else had gotten mad and stormed off for other flights. Passengers were being particularly rude to the gate agents that day. It was at EWR for a delayed flight after a bad thunderstorm and people were being loud, entitled, demanding and swearing at them. I gave the gate agents a sympathetic smile and commented that they were having a rough day. I said that I understood the situation and would appreciate anything that they could do to help me. The guy that I talked to sighed, pursed his lips and looked at the assorted crowd, put my boarding pass to the side and put some sort of sticker on it. Then he started calling the standby line and I was the last name called.

[@mariareyes-ku6194]

As a former crew member, we were not allowed to fraternize with passengers. We were allowed to go to the lounge where music was playing but not allowed to dance. If a passenger invited us to dance, we could accept or decline.

[@Stllno]

Being friendly is just good manners and respectful that works both ways! In regard to mixing with crew is so sad. Club Med (I.e. cruising on dry land) not only permits staff to socialise with guests in the bars etc. but actually encourages it - within respectful boundaries.

[@iggymawebb]

We were told that another way to help the crew (especially your cabin workers) was to make small gift bags with every day items such as soap, toothpaste, laundry detergent and the like. The crew has to pay for these things out of pocket at the ship prices. I know we have been thanked for those bags more than the money.

[@dannythemedic]

crew members have brand preferences, give cash

[@nicholeknight1893]

I tip extra cash when I cruise. They deserve it 👏🏾

[@genieess5403]

I agree that it’s very important to be nice and friendly towards the wait staff who work in your cabins and dining areas because if you’re a frequent cruiser like me you would be surprise how well they remember you next time you are onboard. I have run into so many of my head waiters and wait staff who transferred to other ships and we were so happy to see each other.

[@ralphchristianson]

With so much hate these days, this is good advice for anyone dealing with everyone around them beside on cruise ships. I am always amazed at people who give medical staff a hard time or people in groceries stores. On a cruise ship this would be more obvious in close quarters.

[@MovieJustin]

If the show is sold out, you just can't go. Enjoy your cruise and stop negotiating and bartering your experiences. Just act earlier on the next cruise.

[@fulltimer56]

I have only been on one cruise (so far) but I always say "Thank You" to anyone that helped me. Plus I always tip. Since I worked at places that a tip can make you or break you. I always tip..

[@playme129]

I'm an experienced cruiser. Yet I still found this very informative. I'm terrible at remembering names. Must work on that.

[@Simonet1309]

Just returned from our first cruise. Had a great time but there where a couple of times when I actually felt embarrassed by how rude some passengers were. They seemed to think the crew were some kind of sub human slaves.

[@margaretavery8489]

It is appalling how some people behave.

[@mikezimmermann89]

I’ve never understood how some people believe that they somehow “elevate” themselves by “lowering” others. Rudeness gains you nothing, and can set up up for some return unpleasantness.

[@tsarina24honolulu87]

I worked on a dinner cruise. I took pictures until they were perfect. I gave chocolate, roses and named everything in their seven course dinner. I rarely got tips or treated nicely.

[@RTD3]

Regardless of what cruise line employees are being paid now, or in the future, if the cruise lines stop charging or encouraging gratuities be given to employees, the level of service will drop like a stone. The cruise lines know this and that's why gratuities will always be a part of most cruise lines. I always consider it part of my fare as I know how hard they work and that tips are a good chunk of their overall pay. Good service is appreciated and should be rewarded. That's part of the game (human nature).

[@happytraveller2122]

Good info..I always leave a $ tip at the end but most days will leave a treat on the bed ( sweets, biscuits etc)..something they can share and enjoy during the day. But the best thing I do ( I think) is to leave our cabin spotless everyday.

[@stefcatz1]

I totally agree with leaving a spotless cabin. I don't want to add to their burden. I actually stayed in a hotel room with a friend one time and was appalled at how she left the room. I was so embarrassed!

[@user-hj4lv1jf9p]

Not a cruise staff. But I have worked several years in retail. In that venue as well as in many others, I've learned that people tend to complain most to the people who can do the least abour your problem(s)!

[@lisalamos3425]

We had a server tell us that they don’t have access to a bank, and so giving them cash made it very difficult to send home. He said they preferred extra tips to be added to the automatic gratuities.

[@dieseldragon6756]

That tip about photographing crew members name badges is a _brilliant_ one, especially for folks like me whose memory for names is atrocious...But please do remember due privacy considerations, particularly asking for permission first. There is the possibility some crew members might have concerns about their identities being recorded by passengers (Particularly true for any staff with high anxiety issues 🌻) so remember; _It's _*_always_*_ OK to ask if it's OK!_ 😇 The technologist/hacker part of me also wonders - If this becomes frequent practice - If cruise lines might start adding optical codes to staff name badges. In some respects this might be a good thing *if* it's used in a wholesome fashion...But this could also be employed nefariously too, so consider also carrying a notebook and recording names you need to remember in handwriting as well as/in preference to an electronic device. 🕵🔒👍

[@DJ_afroASH]

I went on independence OTS in November and I had extra cash I gave each person that helped us that week plus the pre gratuities we paid but I also gave them a large bag of Halloween candy on night 2 I had people coming up to us thanking us for doing that the rest of the week. Cash and candy go a long way

[@happytraveller2122]

Yep. I do that too

[@cruisenewsyoucanuse]

Everything here is true! It costs so little to be kind and take a genuine interest in the crew as you interact with them daily. So important to complete those end of cruise surveys. I always take a photo of the crew member with name badges as it’s so easy to forget after debarking. Awesome video with some great tips for cruisers!!

[@ryant2568]

the old saying "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar" meaning if you want someone to do something for you it is far more likely to happen if you are nice to them.

[@trevorjones7228]

These are great tips for everyday. It is surprising how quickly servers get to know you and offer something special for free. While holidaying in Rome we stopped at a particular restaurant a couple of times. We would chat with the owner. He started to stop us as we passed by and bring out a cake or pastry his chef had just baked. On our last night he give us all a glass of lemon cella.

[@mattschm5486]

Honestly being nice and friendly should be the default stance. Treat people like you would like to be treated yourself.

[@angelawilson4190]

You’re absolutely right about inappropriate behaviour. Someone I knew who was one of the musicians on a cruise ship became‘romantically involved ‘ with a passenger. He was discovered and instantly dismissed!