Cruise Tips

Treat the Cruise Staff Well for Superb Treatment

Getting to know the staff onboard the cruise ship early can be a rewarding experience. They can offer many helpful and fun suggestions for both shipboard activities and ports of call. Not to mention the fact that many cruise ship staffers are seasoned pros who pride themselves on excellent service.

Some bartenders, for instance, are known to keep logs of previous customers and their drink preferences in case of repeat business. Imagine the ecstasy of having your martini mixed exactly the way you like it with your favorite brand of vodka and served to you on the first night of your second voyage as a repeat customer. It’s been known to happen!

As attentive as staff members are,

it is important and sometimes difficult for passengers to remember that the cruise ship is their home. It is imperative, therefore, to be mindful of ‘Staff Only’ areas and respect these areas as off-limits. It is equally important not to seek out staff members during their off-hours. If a problem needs immediate attention, another staff member should be on-call to handle the issue. If not, wait until the staff member you wish to speak with comes back on duty.

Cruise lines will sometimes add a service charge automatically to the cost of the cruise to cover staff gratuities. Find out ahead of time if this is the case. If a gratuity is not included, it is the passenger’s responsibility to tip the members of the staff who have served them throughout their stay. The easiest way to handle this is to give each staff member an envelope with their tip on the final night of the cruise. This should be given to each staff member directly.

The following gratuities are recommended by the major cruise lines:

A 15% gratuity should be automatically added to your bar bill each time you order a drink; however, if your bartender remembers your drink orders, decants personal bottles of wine, or provides other special services, it is customary to tip more. Some guests will also tip their maitre d’ and head waiter, though it is not mandatory.

Passengers are generally asked to fill out a comment card to help the staff better serve future guests. Because these comment cards are often used to determine staff members’ raises and promotions, it is important to take the time and note any particularly exemplary service provided. Be sure to mention any staff member who provided exceptional service by name. If a passenger does feel the need to offer criticism on the comment card, it is helpful to also offer a suggestion for solving the problem. It is much easier to address complaints if a solution is offered.

Additional Articles of Interest

• The clothing you wear into ports of call should err on the conservative side. You do not want to offend local customs, nor do you want to draw attention to yourself as a tourist. Leave short-shorts and mini-skirts onboard the packing tips… cruise ship and instead wear modest casual clothing that will be comfortable for walking around.

• Remember that crowded ports of call excursions are often a paradise for pickpockets as well. Never leave any valuable unattended and never, ever carry a wallet in your back pocket. And always keep your identification on your…