Hardly Any Cruisers Know Cabin Stewards Can Do This!

[@bobbysmith4370]

On my first cruise, on a port day, I called for more towels. Our steward can in, but my cousin was in the bathroom at the moment. He was all smiles, and told me he would just put them on the sofa for now, and if that was ok. I told him yes. As he turned away, in the mirror, he no longer had his smile, but a deep sadness. When he turned around, he was all smiles, but the sadness was still in his eyes. I asked if he was alright. He informed me his grandpa died in his sleep last night. And, that he also raised him too. I noticed a tear beginning to form. Out of just being a compassionate person, I just hugged him. He hugged back, and out of sheer grief we were on our knees, as he sobbed uncontrollably. When my cousin came out I told her that his grandpa had died last night. She got down on her knees and hugged him too. A few moments later, there was a knock at our door. It was a neighbor, and heard someone crying loudly, and wanted to make sure everything was ok. He saw my cousin still hugging our steward, and I told him his grandpa died last night. The man walked past me, got on his knees, and asked the man if he needed a flight home, because he travels at lease one a week by plane,and has tons and tons of airline miles. Our steward told him the airline, but he would be leaving in two days when we get back, because his contract was over. But, that his grandpa would be buried by then, because of two over night layovers. The neighbor, said he has tons of airline miles and, he would upgrade his ticket to a one way, and he just needed to know his flight number, his ticket number, and full name on the ticket. Our steward thanked him, and said he cannot, plus thanked the neighbor too. The neighbor told our steward that if he did not give him the information, that our steward would be insulting, him, and his hospitality. So our steward complied. We then all left the room. A few hours later, I saw our neighbor with his family at dinner. He informed me that he was able to changed our stewards ticket to an hour later than the original ticket to be a nonstop ticket, and our steward got the new reservation number. Because of the inconvenience of the extra hour, he also got our steward access to the first class longe too. I told him that was very nice of him to do. Our neighbor smiled, and said, our steward will find out when he checks in, that his seat is a first class seat, that also fold down into a bed.

[@skjean621]

Thats a beautiful story.. its so nice to hear there are still kind ppl in this cruel world world ❤

[@beachbreath2504]

I Love this ❤ thank you for sharing!

[@ScDarkness913]

"Things that never happened" for 600 Alex

[@ruthfitzjohn4756]

We always ask to swap our large duvet for 2 single duvets - the key to a good night’s sleep and a long marriage.

[@dr.braxygilkeycruises1460]

🤣😂😅🤣😆👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾

[@lightwarrior432]

😁👌🏽

[@lightwarrior432]

@@dr.braxygilkeycruises1460 You still have TDS?

[@johnbwill]

us as well. Small club.

[@paulaylett8741]

Moving to our new cabin midway through a B2B Far East cruise on Celebrity Millennium we noted that a sizeable area of the floor was spongy. We immediately told our cabin steward who had only just arrived on ship. He could not understand why it had not been reported/fixed previously, but that he would ensure it was fixed without delay. The next day was a port day during which time our room had ben stripped, furniture removed, carpet lifted and concrete floor laid. On our return, nothing was any different except that the floor was now solid. The steward informed us that they had photographed where our belongings had been placed so that they could be returned to exactly the same positions, that the desk, coffee table and chair had spent the day on the balcony and that the bed 'had been on its holidays'!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Wow, that is impressive!!!!

[@paulaylett8741]

@@tipsfortravellers Indeed, we thought so too!

[@Mama2AWE]

Brilliant with the photos! I've actually had to do that prior to taking professional photos for a listing when a tenant doesn't care about selling the property (I'm a Realtor) and leaves a mess for me.

[@dabadoo7631]

wow they re-concreted your floor foundation , that's above and beyond

[@alisont308]

I remember on one cruise I took with my elderly Dad the buckle on one shoe broke and that left him with only sandals and his smarter evening shoes. I mentioned it to cabin crew who asked around amongst the crew. The shoes disappeared from Dads cabin and I got a call to go to reception where I was told the ships carpenter had kindly mended them. Shoes reappeared in Dads cabin and had been polished too. The carpenter was too shy to come to meet us so I got an envelope and sent a thank you note and a nice tip too.

[@ladyblueamb]

That’s awesome

[@leisamcpherson1317]

My daughter turned 21 on our last cruise in February 2024. I put up a banner for her. I also informed the cruise line of this information. Our lovely cabin person, Lector, on Majestic Princess, in Australia, made a beautiful tower cake from a variety of towels,with ribbon & placed her squishmellows & candy canes around the cake, on her bed. It was beautiful & a very lovely surprise for her. He created a beautiful birthday atmosphere for her. 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@JeaWis]

2 years ago on the Island Princess I ask guest services if someone could check on my husband (he had mild dementia and would occasionally fall) while I was on an excursion. They told me to ask my cabin steward. The steward not only checked on my husband but cleaned our room depending on what my husband was doing. E.g. he made the bed when my husband was in the bathroom. That steward helped give our son and me peace of mind. He was of course tipped extra for his outstanding service. And I gave him an outstanding commendation in the after cruise survey.

[@sharonlarsen3642]

We had a Celebrity cruise to Iceland last year and I loved the lotion that was provided so much and I asked our cabin steward if I could purchase it anywhere. He told me I couldn't that it was only available through the cabin staff. He very kindly provided me with a bottle to take home with me. It wasn't a new bottle but one that would normally be in a cabin but it was full to the brim with the lotion. I will never forget that kindness and every day I use the lotion I think of him and our trip.

[@paulreiche2746]

Now planning same cruise for next summer--any hacks or recommendations would be appreciated!

[@ElizabethHeinrich-uv5ef]

We were on a wonderful cunard cruise . My husband had difficulty getting his tie just right. The butler stepped in and made him look like James Bond. Please tip generously.

[@scottchace780]

Well if he could make my wife look like a Bond girl, I would tip generously!

[@ClaudeBawles]

First world problem indeed

[@shaleighreynolds3494]

Had one time we needed a topper on one of our mattresses…. I tipped him as soon as we got to our room, and asked for the topper. He had it on by the time we got back from dinner. He was always at the ready, appreciation and a little cash goes a long way!

[@Fegga1955]

Same here.Great guidance

[@batshevanivylerner8582]

it sounds trivial, but on the first few days we were on board our last cruise, our cabin steward gave us directions about the best route to take to get to wherever on board the ship we were heading (when he saw us leaving the stateroom). There are lots of ways you can go, but he always knew the fastest, least crowded, least annoying way to go!!

[@7wren]

Cabin stewards are some of the hardest working crew members and I doubt they are very well paid. And as Gary and others have pointed out, post-pandemic many cruise lines require them to take care of more cabins than ever before. They share in the pre-paid gratuities, but we always give our steward a nice extra tip. Something to consider if you’re able.

[@esterlyngibbs9880]

Amen u know that a fact am 1 on msc

[@Creativeworksbyalesia]

I didn’t know they share the prepaid gratuities. I must admit I always had the gratuities removed because I always gave each individual who serviced me a handmade card with cash, I always made sure to be very generous with the room stewards. I just thought they would appreciate the cash because I felt like after they were taxed or whatever on the prepaid gratuities they would end up with next to nothing however on my last cruise I did let the prepaid gratuities go through and I was also able to leave a tip with a card and cash as well.

[@juliegold9607]

A few years ago I broke my ankle two weeks before a cruise. I rented a scooter and went anyway. Another cruiser mentioned that I could have one of the beds removed to give me more room to maneuver. It was great advice. I could turn the scooter completely around in the cabin and it made my experience so much better.

[@brandywinetyson8115]

I’ve wondered about this for solo cruisers.

[@davidellis4084]

And if a cabin steward helps you, be sure to call them out positively in your cruise line questionnaire / review! It really does matter.

[@SquidandCatAdventures]

Agree. "give them a shout out" "spotlight them" "recognize them" "draw attention to" "call attention to"

[@calumshaw]

Always a US$200 gratuity when we meet him in the stateroom and $100 as we farewell the steward.

[@angelofamillionyears4599]

@@calumshaw You like to advertise you wealth !!

[@calumshaw]

No compulsory gratuities so I make up the difference with tips directly to those who furnish the best service. It has nothing to do with personal wealth.

[@angelofamillionyears4599]

@@calumshaw good for you.

[@catwilliams7538]

The hubby and I had a short Four Day in April...and our Cabin Steward was so tickled by my utter delight at the Towel Animals he made that I ended up with an extra one just because...I got a Pupper, and a Elephant, and a Sea Turtle, and a Piggy...and they were so cute!!! He had to have been laughing at this 57 year old lady just squeee'ing like a little girl over them...and they ended up on the back of the sofa in a row because I refused to unfold them or let them be taken away... (They are one of my favorite things on a cruise...silly, I know...but they just really delight me...)

[@margueritepeel]

There is a book put out on how to make towel animals

[@JK-nq1dl]

Finding joy in things is never something to be embarrassed by. My wife is a thirtysomething black woman and she adores her towel animals.

[@jackieannie3027]

I like your idea of putting them on the sofa to enjoy.

[@ericabaliotis6973]

First thing my husband does is let our steward know that I love towel animals, am mostly a giant child when it comes to them, and please don’t take them away because my teddy bear likes making friends. One trip, our steward got Vincent Bear in on the action wherever he could. They were posed watching TV, looking at the room service menu… stuff like that. The last animal that trip was a washcloth chipmunk. Very sturdy, with rubber bands, and the good eyes, small enough to stowaway. Stewards really can make your trip magical.

[@b133d1ngac3]

I love them too

[@rfmonii]

I'm glad you mentioned how the cabin stewards can work around your schedule. I work at night, so I normally sleep well past noon. On my first cruise I told the steward I sleep during the daytime, so she learned my schedule and would not service my room until I leave. I felt so guilty about that because I know it was an inconvenience for her (she was very young and very new to working on a cruise ship). But she did a wonderful job accommodating me, and I acknowledged that with a positive survey and a large cash tip.

[@blatherskitenoir]

Ha! I used to work front desk at a hotel. We literally had a giant moving box of forgotten chargers. Next time you lose one or need a spare and don't want to buy one, go ask at a hotel front desk. They will probably pull out a huge box from beneath the counter with an entire snarl of cords, and if you can detangle it, you get to keep it.

[@mhtammi]

Our cabin steward on our Mediterranean cruise two months ago was amazing. It was our first cruise and we had so many questions. He was so helpful and we tipped generously.

[@ShirleyEdwards-z3t]

When my husband was ill he found the room chair too hard to get in/out of & sofa was a no no only having one arm so the steward got him an old double proper armed chair which was wonderful & saved a lot of hard work for us both

[@laraatwell3638]

First cruise ever and I took a couple of nasty spills and returned to the ship a bit of a bloody mess with scrapped up knees. Our room steward turned into my Indonesian uncle and showed up with ice packs and bandages from the staff s collection long before I could get ahold of the ship’s doctor 😁. They are really great when you need them

[@juliegold9607]

Last year I fell on my face crossing a street in Aruba. I was also a bloody mess and had a black eye. My steward was very kind and the room service waiter went above and beyond for me. I gave them both rave reviews in the survey. The visit to the ship's doctor was my most expensive souvenir. 😁

[@BandManNC]

My wife and I both use PAP machines. The last time we were on Norwegian, the steward brought us an extension cord and distilled water to use with the machines. I was very glad that I didn't have to pack the added weight of the distilled water.

[@Reed-2big]

NCL told me we had to bring our own extension cord.

[@BandManNC]

@@Reed-2big I had better check on that one before our next cruise. But, we really did get one from the staff. He said he would have to look for one.

[@Reed-2big]

@@BandManNC Even when they tell us not to bring them, we’re told they will have to look for one😇 And yes, I’ve had cord brought that were too short too! With 2 CPAPs in the room we’ve become pretty good at jury-rigging configurations. No, we still don’t carry an extension cord when traveling internationally, but we do have a European power strip that has made things easier. Twice, aboard ship, the only plug has been the plug the light is plugged into, they take a pretty small adapter! Btw, those run bedside lights run on 220.

[@kimc555]

We brought our own water and cord. Because they may not always be available on every ship. We purchased both in the city we departed from at the local Walmart.

[@Reed-2big]

@@kimc555 it’s hard to carry it onboard a plane as they just want you to carry what you’ll need on the flight. Then it isn’t always easy to find it at your destination, we’ve gotten pretty good at it in Europe but not in South America. Domestically, transportation is an issue too. A few ships will order it for you and charge seems reasonable although I’ve not had to use that service. Shoot, I’m not even sure whether there is a Walmart near the Baltimore airport! For that matter, I’m not sure there is one close to the Orlando airport although I think there is one I see on the shuttle to the port. And Newark, I’m not sure of either. Yes, a lot of grocery store, in the US carry it too, but I can’t recall one near an airport/port. .

[@Rohnn2233]

I really love all the towel animals on all the ships. They brighten up my days always.

[@fabrisseterbrugghe8567]

I was sick for a couple of days on my cruise. My cabin steward brought me honey, lemon and hot water at regular intervals to help me feel better. Thankfully, it wasn't COVID.

[@spydude38]

On our last Viking Ocean cruise, we had a room that offered daily refill of our refrigerator with not only soft drinks but also alcohol and beer. I noted to the cabin steward on the first day that the only alcohol bottles in our fridge were clear (Vodka and Rum). I asked if we could get some Whiskey or Bourbon to replace those and he said absolutely. Later that evening after returning from dinner we came back to our room to find an entire full 750ml bottle of DeWars on the table. Later he told me that they were short on the Whiskey in the small airline type bottles and they had to improvise. Lucky me.

[@TonyHiggins]

Had a very similar experience on Viking Ocean - after the embarkation day, told the room steward what we preferred in our fridge and that we wanted a steady supply of ice, and both were handled flawlessly for the next 13 days!

[@aprilvoecks5877]

Viking River is similar. My best friend & I don't normally drink cola or beer. We asked if they had caffeine-free drinks like lemonade or ginger ale. We had lots of lemonade and ginger ale for the next 2 weeks.

[@bonnies122]

Just wanted to compliment the quality on the videos you make! They’re always super helpful, the perfect length, and the way that you link to other helpful videos gets me to click every time!

[@pamw565]

I would love you to do your next few cruises in an inside cabin and rate the different cruise lines. Money is tight and inside cabins are a better price for a lot of travellers.

[@renaissancelawyer]

It would be an entertaining show for sure. Bainbridge sails in steerage!

[@Tolpuddle581]

We met a lovely Irish couple on QM2 in February they were doing several legs of the world cruise from an inside cabin debarking in Hong Kong and flying home business class with the savings.

[@7wren]

We always book inside cabins on Oceania. We can actually afford a veranda or concierge level cabin, but we don’t spend much time in our cabin except to sleep, and we’re frugal people - with the thousands of dollars we save, we take an extra cruise 😊

[@carolynmurtaza1180]

I'm going on first cruise myself next year and booked an inside single cabin deck 8. Travel agent called and said for an extra £100 I could get a balcony cabin on deck 12... I paid the extra and can't wait.

[@lindamueller7592]

My husband always books an inside cabin, but I bid for a window for our New Zealand/ Australia cruise and he was looking out at the shore ALL the time.

[@FraserAtSea]

I'm always amazed when a cabin steward offers me something I had absolutely no idea I could ask them for. On my Cunard cruise through the Panama Canal last year, we had SUCH heavy rain in Costa Rica, and my cabin steward suddenly asked me if I'd like a couple of ponchos. I've also had these on an MSC cruise, too - I was so impressed!

[@ronaldmay8861]

Our Cabin Attendant on Island Princess was wonderful. I think he took care of our room every time we left it....14 days through the Panama canal.

[@jeremywhite92]

Distilled water - Every cruise we've been on, the cabin steward has been able to provide a gallon of distilled water for the CPAP machine.

[@KevinMontreal]

And I always tip my steward personally as they always take great care of me.

[@Puzzler-qv2hn]

Having taken 3 relatively short cruises, considering a river cruise, and always (well almost always) a very polite person, I see I still have a lot to learn about cruising! Thank you Mr. Bembridge for such helpful advice. Due to sciatica on my part and a disability on the part of my significant other I have learned that we have to think VERY carefully about river cruises. You pointed out lots of factors (so much walking, stairs, cobblestones for example) that I had never even considered. That said, it really is great fun to see you enjoy yourself on cruises I may or may not ever go on. We appreciate you!

[@jamesmarz3665]

Not a champagne enthusiast. Cabin steward swapped it out for Chardonnay on the first day on Celebrity cruise. Hurray!

[@lindseysharon259]

Really enjoying the silly little cuts to you with the pillows, the hangers, etc. Gave me a good giggle I didn’t realize I needed this morning! Thank you!

[@curetiamhices289]

Our Viking cabin steward was amazing. We asked for a bucket of ice on the 2nd day. After that, we always had a bucket of ice when we returned from our excursion. My wife broke a heel off her high heels and he took it to maintenance and they were able to fix it. My wife had red wine spilled on her white slacks by a fellow diner and our steward took them and got them cleaned. No stain whatsoever. These are just a few things.

[@barbarahallowell2613]

Changed our my balcony chair and table for a lounger on NCL. As a solo traveler on a transatlantic last month, this was absolutely brilliant. And blankets to go on that balcony lounger. Ok, and unlimited bathrobes. 😊♥️😊 Thank you Victor NCL Escape, 8 April to 5 May 2024. ❤❤❤

[@mikeshaw4610]

If you tip the room steward they will generally check with you to see if there is anything needed. This does not always work but on most of our cruises since we started leaving a tip on the first night the steward makes sure to check with us on most days. Normally we don't need extras but when we so it's nice not to have to hunt for them.

[@motherhenable]

I was on a Viking cruise when I caught a cold. I didn't want to spread it so I spent a few days in our cabin until my symptom abated. One day my lunch tray showed up, spaghetti, with no silverware. I called room service to ask that it be brought up. My cabin steward showed up to freshen the room and replenish my fluids. I told her and she checked on it and called it in. She checked back in 15-20 minutes and still no silverware so she called it in again. I got a call from customer service and explained. I had silverware in a few minutes. She saved my lunch and kept me in tissues and water and sodas. Great service which I wrote up.

[@NancyD2]

Basic travel tip..... if you forgot your charge cable, just ask the hotel front desk. They usually have a box full and your particular one is probably in there. Return it to the front desk...or leave it in your room when you check out!

[@AstriaStarwynd]

Even for laptops they'll often have a small collection they can see if they have the right one for your computer.

[@Tolpuddle581]

@@AstriaStarwynd True! On QM2 our cabin steward found a power cable to suit my Apple laptop in five minutes.

[@steveandsimon]

On our recent cruise we had a premium drinks package and a cabin steward every day offered us a complimentary bottle of wine to the room.

[@helenrizi4719]

Cabin stewards can bring items for disabled passengers such as shower seats and raised toilet seats. They have always brought in an extension cord for the CPAP and distilled water (usually a charge for the water). They have gotten plastic bags when I needed a cold compress.

[@toddshryock1634]

This is helpful - on our last cruise, our steward was always making up our room late in the day right as we were coming back in to get ready for the evening. Next time I will ask if he can do it earlier. Part of the problem is Norwegian basically doubled the number of room they are responsible for so it is a mad rush for them to get everything done. He also kept leaving the tip money we left out - we had to put it in an envelope with his name on it for him to take it even though we told him any money on the pillow was for him. Maybe that's a cruise line rule or something. All I know if those stewards work really hard so we always tip them well.

[@AstriaStarwynd]

Some places have rules that money can only be taken if it's clearly marked.

[@juliegold9607]

​@AstriaStarwynd It's that way with the dining room waiters.

[@banjetta]

Excellent info Gary, thank you - we keep an eye open on all our Cruises, hoping we might meet you one day! As soon as we are able to access our stateroom, I always request 12-15 additional hangers, as there are never enough!

[@christopherandkarencobb2821]

My husband got so sunburn that our Kevin. Stewart, he brought us ice and pillows for my husband I propped up his feet because they were badly burnt. He was wonderful

[@BAR55825]

When we cruise, I ALWAYS carry some cash on me, JUST SO I can give our steward a little extra each day in addition to paying for the work in advance they do for us!! Every cruise we’ve been on, our steward has ALWAYS been soooo nice and sweet, and that’s EXACTLY why I tip EXTRA!! They all work sooooo hard and I sure appreciate them immensely!! Tip them extra if you can! ♥️

[@tala1246]

How much exactly?

[@BAR55825]

@@tala1246 each day I give my cabin steward $20 in cash! And on the last day, I gave him $100 and this is IN ADDITION to the prepaid gratitude I paid!! ( seven day cruise) These guys and gals work soooo hard, seven days a week for nine months straight, they deserve a little extra money!! I will always do this too. I’m a giving person and when someone works hard and shows me, I most definitely tip well! (At least well for my family).

[@BAR55825]

@@tala1246 $20 a day

[@loumello8813]

We very rarely ask the cabib steward for anything other than specific drinks in the fridge.

[@jenelleprins5306]

The mini-bar is included on Viking. When speaking with an agent before my Viking cruise, I was told that soft drinks were available at lunch and dinner. However, when I mentioned that I don ‘t drink coffee, but prefer Diet Coke, they made a note to have the steward stock the mini-bar with Diet Coke. All this is free; well, included in the price of the cruise. That alone helps make Viking a good value. 😁

[@susan7775]

That’s just one of the reasons we prefer Viking. They also provide beer and wine at lunch and dinner

[@bigdchi]

@@susan7775 I think Viking nickels and dimes . The fact that they dont include soft drinks for free during the day is nothing but greed.

[@purpleh2786]

I'm afraid Viking is not good value for single travellers. Their single supplement starts at 50% and is often 100%!! Riviera, by contrast, have solo only cruises at sensible prices.

[@kimber4350]

RE the first tip of asking what your cabin grade gets you: I have found that on HAL if you are in any of the Neptune Suites that are not surrounding the Neptune Lounge, the stewards do not seem well versed in the Neptune amenities.

[@RodCleaves]

I've been on cruise in my life in 2016 but I still remember my steward's name. He was great.

[@MissGabriela829]

I was very impressed that my Cabin stewart was not just able to bring me an extension chord for my Cpap (I was on Celebrity-Siluette 2 weeks ago) but when I got back to my room she had also gotten me a gallon of distile water plus the 2 extra pillows I requested. I was sooo thankful.

[@francesgill8621]

Every cruise line I've been on, Holland, Princess and MSC have provided me with distilled water for my CPAP. Only Holland charged me $3 for the gallon.

[@MissGabriela829]

@@francesgill8621 good to know.. I have a Princess cruised booked and Virgin again in October .. last time I didnt ask for the distilled water with Virgin and I should have.

[@cathywilcox514]

Thank you Gary - I remember you saying in another vid about asking for a bathrobe and did just that and this lovely steward got me one from a Royal Suite who are allowed to take them home - and this was unused and for me to keep! These tips are really great and will definitely be followed! Thank you x

[@lynnwilson2474]

On our last Princess cruise my husband had a knee injury on an excursion. We asked our room Stewart if he could bring us an ice bucket and refill it each evening so we could make ice packs. He was most happy to do this and many days he even filled it in the am also.

[@sl4193]

Appreciate your guidance, Gary. Definitely taking note of the points you have made. Some of them would be transferable to land based trips. On occasion we have asked for less frequent linen changes, additional pillows and requested that the mini bar be emptied.

[@corner559]

This is by far the best cruise channel on KZbin. Another great video!

[@judyfrett5246]

My husband and I cruised in August, me in a boot. Our cabin steward brought us bags of ice each evening for me to ice my foot.

[@davidmarsden305]

I was on a cruise many years ago,I think it was Royal- I have to use a small folding mobility scooter. Anyhow I broke the base which supports the battery, going out to the prom deck, very small but steep ramp. I was desperate, without it, I couldn't go out. We managed to get back to the room, had a chat with the steward, who took it away and 4 hours later, returned it fixed 🎉 goes without saying, he got a nice drink out of it, in which I hoped he shared with the guy who fixed it? Saved my cruise. Well worth treating these stewards with the utmost respect, far more than just cleaners 👍

[@fredzephire4071]

Hi Gary, my last R/C cruise (Ovation O/T Seas ) the desk in my cabin only had a stool and i asked if i could get a chair with a back on it, it was in my room within five mins, was very happy with that👍.

[@gerharde]

A small chiller for my wife's medications. That mini bar "fridge" simply wasn't cold enough.

[@mrbillradio]

Our first cruise was a transatlantic with Princess. We’re going again this year. We had great service. It wasn’t a full cruise so that could have been part of the reason but our cabin steward was great. One thing I was disappointed with our last cruise was they told us to let Princess know when we got great service. Throughout the entire cruise I made notes and took their names. However there was no way to tell anyone. That was sad for me because I think that the employees get rewarded when they get compliments from guests. Anyway, we love Princess cruises and had a great time. Thanks for these videos. You do such a great job.

[@brucecallahan3580]

front desk usually has comments cards

[@cydneystephen2814]

Hi Sir Gary. Been fortunate that out of my 17 cruises spread among Princess, Celebrity, Carnival, Norwegian , MSC and Royal; have had wonderful cabin stewards. The only thing we needed daily was ice. Back in the day ice 🧊 and buckets were a given, now you have to ask 🤷🏻‍♀️. Even the ones that only give once a day service; they still brought ice every evening as requested. Thank goodness no issues. All pleasant. Only one was not much of a conversationalist but maintained a lovely room. 🤗

[@GlobalAdventurer]

I'm an easy cruiser. I only request cleaning every 3-4 days and make my own bed.

[@Tolpuddle581]

Same!

[@GrandDuchessAniya]

And I usually need only a fresh washcloth in the bathroom each day. I try to be tidy with my possessions because I used to work in a hotel and understand how difficult it is to clean the room if the guests possessions are thrown all over.

[@Kittycats26]

I agree. I actually prefer to keep my own space clean and tidy. All I need is a clean set of towels part way through

[@Reed-2big]

The strangest problem I had was there was no mirror over the desk. So, to dry my hair I asked for either a mirror, or a hairdryer! He brought a hairdryer and an extension cord but of course not all the plugs were going to fit together! We however had lots of adapters and with several of them we could convert so I could plug in and use the hair dryer! That was actually the second time I’d had such a problem! The other one just brought me a mirror which certainly was easier. Gary, you might want to encourage people to notice that most of our chargers: phone, computer, and CPAPs will run on either 110v or 220v. That big heavy block is converting to the devices power. We have only one device that will not run on 220, my electric toothbrush! On the ship I just use the 120 outlet, at a hotel I make sure it’s already charged so I don’t need to charge it! And yes, my camera battery chargers also work with both currents.

[@protow5041]

My last cruise I overpacked.. a lot.. So I left a note for the cabin steward to either throw away or gift to someone in need my fan, an extra charging cable, and our cruise approved power strip

[@Neicorr]

Your generosity will change the world! That’s a lot of overpacking.

[@sherry3661]

So you made your problem, their problem?! Not generous, your selfish

[@mikeh2006]

​@@sherry3661I don't see how it's selfish. If you need to bin something unsuitable for the general cabin waste, you need to give it to your cabin steward.

[@VoiceEnFuego]

​@@mikeh2006yeah Sherry clearly misses that you can not just throw everything in the trash can

[@mikeh2006]

@VoiceEnFuego sherry flushes nappies down the toilet then complains it's clogged

[@angelofamillionyears4599]

If we do not want any service will they get docked for not cleaning? We are like Mark Cuban, we do not want anyone in the room unless requested. thanks

[@janinegreer4771]

I feel sorry for the folks working on those boats. Long hours, and trips, tight quarters, time away from families. I spoke with a number of women who have to leave kids with relatives to work 😢. I noticed the enthusiasm at the beginning and by the 10th day, tired faces, waning smiles. Hard to unionize with so many people from different places. I've been on Viking and Sulverseas, both have excellent service.

[@mea3665]

Especially when utubers do vidios like this one !

[@mea3665]

We try to ask for as littel as possible since they work so hard, why make them work harder ! Only thing I ask for is an extra blanket for my legs because of my RLS.

[@401Blues]

Coordinating the time your out of the room with cabin steward for getting it clean is the best tip!

[@jdoe836]

LAUNDRY TIP - FOLD YOUR DIRTY LAUNDRY!! I did this on a cruise and the bag was stuffed, I think I had over two dozen items. You want to get things as flat as possible and wash items that are not bulky.

[@breadroomghost8764]

We roll and stuff

[@Marshal_Dunnik]

Once you come to realize how powerful a resource your cabin steward is, the "butler" service offered by some lines/categories loses its luster

[@Apollostowel]

I apparently get a butler on my cruise in September, but being that I’m only used to cruises between Finland and Sweden and Estonia, I have no idea what I’d need a butler for. It’s a family thing I wouldn’t have booked myself. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@m4x1k5guy]

I've only been on 3 cruises so far and found the cabin stewards to helpful, even beyond what I expected. Gary, can you do a video regarding cruise lines charging solo travelers more for double occupancy than if 2 people booked the same cabin? I was going to book a Celebrity cruise out of NYC to Iceland. The solo price for double occupancy was over $1600 higher than if the same cabin was booked for 2 people. I reached out to Celebrity through Facebook and was told that's the way the cruise is priced. I feel this this is really unfair to solo cruisers.

[@emmabarnard6012]

I'd be tempted to book the room for two and have the other person not turn up!

[@co7580]

On QM2 our cabin steward found my mum's pasport. Nobody else could help - he found it. It was on our embarkation day. It saved the Transatlantic cruise.

[@breadroomghost8764]

How did you get on the ship without the passport?

[@KZ1211-t2q]

I can only sleep on feather pillows and always ask the steward for 2. Only once were they unavailable. We also like the beds separated with the nightstands in between. We (and the steward) were very surprised on the Wonder of the Seas last month to discover that one side table was attached to the wall and could not be oved. We managed, but it made no sense as to why the ship was built like that.

[@angelofamillionyears4599]

Good points about asking the crew. thanks

[@darrenjennings]

For the handyman, I would give him a big tip😊

[@francesgill8621]

Lots of reasons a good cabin steward deserves an extra tip!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Yes agree. I always tip extra as they add so much

[@kathyhiggins2847]

While on a partial crossing of the old locks at the Panama Canal, our room steward was able to tell us the pest locations on the ship for viewing while going through the locks. One location was behind an unmarked door, we had a forward balcony type deck, with chairs, that was covered from the hot sun. It was fantastic!!!😎

[@Tripwithmeandmore]

On a recent cruise on Celebrity, my husband forgot his CPAP machine. Which in itself was bad but it just made my cruise horrible with him snoring. On the second night my steward was asking how my cruise was going and I told her that it’s great except that I can’t sleep at night because my husband snoring is keeping me awake, I had a pair of earplugs on my pillow that courtesy of Seward! Apparently you can get them free at customer service! It saved my vacation 😅

[@hettytravels]

I never need anything from my steward and rarely ask for anything except for twice a day ice!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Hope they are taking good care of you on your trip. It looks a great trip!!

[@hettytravels]

@@tipsfortravellers oh yes, they are! And from time to time they get treats from shoreside. Today are bags of hot chili flavored potato chips😜

[@joannbanks9963]

Same with us. Though on SilverSea I do like an evening caviar delivery!

[@ukallii]

I went on the Queen Mary 2 for 6 days. There was no bottle-opener in my room. I told my cabin steward day 1 and asked for one. He forgot (understandable). Asked again day 3. He said there was one. I assured him there was not and asked him to show me. He looked everywhere, couldn't find it. Admitted there wasn't one and he would bring me one. Nothing. Finally, day 5 (of a 6 day sailing), he got me a bottle opener. Other than that, he was great!

[@25dancemom]

We typically ask for a fan. We definitely sleep better with a fan running. Most of the time its no problem to get one.

[@keirjenkins7429]

On our 10-day 2022 Mediterranean cruise aboard the Norwegian escape we didn’t see our cabin steward once, not once. And it was like pulling teeth to get ice.

[@petergilbert144]

I will keep this in mind for my next cruise, next week!

[@TheNoeticSkeptic702]

My problem is Norwegian seems to be giving all the solo room beds that need toppers and feather pillows that I am allergic to. Last time I think they got a pillow I could sleep on from a member of the crew.

[@kimc555]

I see cabin attendants the same as housekeeping in hotels. I cannot imagine creating anymore demand on their busy day. No one’s getting rich doing their job.

[@RandomTheresa]

Exactly!!!!

[@bcaye]

I traveled for work for over two years, staying in a hotel three days/week. I never wanted daily service, I don't clean that often at home 😆 But I always left $5 each week for housekeeping. The last place I stayed it was a small locally owned place and always the same guy. I had permanent early check in because I worked 2pm-2:30am, so he would often be just finished when I got there. One week he approached me and said "It's not right for you to tip me. You never make a mess and you even strip the bed for me." I told him that wasn't my money, it was expense money and then it was okay 👍

[@MichelleWalterdoesArt]

I often hate the pillows in hotels (haven’t taken as many cruises) and sometimes I ask for a different pillow, sometimes I don’t. I guess I should try to get an alternative. If the default ones are down, and I ask for a firmer pillow, sometimes I’ve just been given ANOTHER down pillow to pile on top. That’s not really what I want. The one thing our cabin steward on Viking last year had to deal with was us asking for like a dozen bottles of water each day. Or I’d have to call down to housekeeping to get some delivered. In the future maybe I should just request they stock our room with a set amount each day.

[@AudreySmith-df2rc]

The heel tonight shoe came off, and a cabin steward check the shade to a handyman on the ship, who securely glued it once again

[@davidandrew1078]

On HAL my wife and I introduced ourselves in Indonesian. She is fluent. He could not do enough for us. Since the majority of Hotel Staff are Indonesian on HAL and can only speak Indonesian when spoken to first, we were sort of Celebrities. We got Silver Service pretty much everywhere, including the buffet. Just by speaking their native language.

[@vittoriovuocolo2438]

We never needed anything from cabin stewarts except for a sharps container since my wife uses insulin. I fetch my own ice from lido before we go to the cabin for the evening. A few can be bothersome coming into the cabin even with the do not disturb sign out. they were greeted by my big fat hairy half naked self when they opened the door while we were getting ready for dinner.

[@Rohnn2233]

Always informational. Thanks.

[@kd0r]

This was asked of a butler, but I'll bet a cabin steward could do it as well. We were in a suite, my wife likes to paint. We asked that a table covering be brought in so that she could paint on the table without damaging it. He did.

[@jwillisbarrie]

Thanks once again for adding actual captions for the Deaf.

[@belladaylight2132]

We always ask for an extra Blanket cover because my husband runs really hot when he sleeps and can not sleep under a blanket. I was also able to get my door lightened to get in and out of the room because I am in a wheelchair and could not get the door open for the life of me. They were able to unhook the autoclose thingy and after that I was able to open the door by myself no problem. For the record this was on a virgin voyages cruise which in general was super accessible. It is the only cruise I have ever been on but it was the most accessible accommodation I have ever experienced which is saying something because I travel a lot and have encountered a lot of problems over the years

[@Smellynelly67]

Like the comment before me, I too found that they don't cope as well,we are lucky enough to go in a Queens room onboard Cunard & of course you have a butler,which,in my opinion is just a steward but with even more responsibility,we asked for the simplest of things and he just wasn't coping,clearly new to the butler position , I felt so sorry for him but he told us he had almost 20 suites to deal with,which seems unachievable,considering they were all over the ship.These cruise lines, I know,are trying to penny pinch but it got to the stage, I didn't want to ask him to do much but when you pay big bucks for suites you do expect high standards and shouldn't feel bad for asking if he could please restock bottles of water 😕

[@DDGLJ]

20 suites? He's not a butler, he's a cabin steward no matter what his title is.

[@bridgetdavis9752]

After all of this you better remember to tip well. All these things take time, something very precious to these crew members.

[@calumshaw]

Our only ever request, always when we get to our stateroom - A hot water jug please (we take our own, preferred jar of instant coffee on every cruise). The very best perk on Princess is becoming Elite and getting free laundry!!

[@tipsfortravellers]

I do love the free laundry perk!!!!

[@juliegold9607]

My upcoming cruise on Princess will be my first as Elite. Free laundry is a wonderful perk.

[@patriciadalton4545]

We always make friends ds with our cabin steward On P&O they come to us in the afternoon at embarkation in Southampton They take notes if there is anything we need like extra hangers We usually tip at end of cruise

[@Brittany.Anderson]

I remember one night when i was in a hospital recovering from broken kneecap surgery asking to see if anyone had a charging cord i could borrow and one was brought to me as mine gave out. I have since then made sure that I have multiple charging cords for my devices.

[@vickimills459]

We are frequent floaters/fyers. We bring our own pillows as we find pillows too big, too bulky.

[@kathleengpink]

I’m just here to hear you say “for exaaahhhmple” a few more times because I can’t get enough 😊😂

[@BillandJennTraveling]

Good morning Gary from Southern Idaho usa! Came across your videos about a week ago and really enjoy them since we have a transatlantic Cruise coming up in April of 2025 . The information that you give is priceless we really appreciate it! This is absolutely our first cruise and we're very excited about it going from Tampa Florida to Rome was curious if you had any tips or advice in regards to contacting people who are on the same Cruise like a chat group of some sort to get more tips and ideas when cruising. Thanks so much Gary I apologize in advance but my texting voice texting is not working properly so there may be some errors.😅 where are you in the world today❤

[@tipsfortravellers]

The best option is the CruiseCritic.com Roll calls. They are perfect for chatting to people on the same cruise. Across on their site look for the Roll Call link, then find the line and then you can reach for your cruise

[@keithgormley974]

NCL suites, personal butler and concierge. Always a great experience and value.

[@stevebartley628]

I barely saw my cabin steward on my last 2 cruises. On one, the steward was replaced on day 3 with no explanation

[@creativeinfusion6570]

This has happened to us a couple of times - but we soon realized when staff « disappear « they are actually off sick - and of course health information is none of our business. We had one return to our room and he told us he’d been confined to his room with a cold.

[@anniecrawford5911]

Excellent information. Thank you for sharing.