Cruise secrets that DCL doesn't tell you

[purceller]

Originally Posted by SEVP

Where can I find this passporter book? Not on Disney site, that i can find, anyway . . .

Thx
S

You can order here: passporter.com/dcl/guidebook.asp

If you order directly from this site (rather than a third party site) you can download a .pdf version to read right away...AND...have access to an online copy to browse from anywhere at anytime. Cool eh

Also, if you are a member of their discussion board community, you get a nice discount on the book.

Hope that all helps
Eric

[purceller]

Originally Posted by candeeapril

Does anyone have the newest edition of Passporter for Cruises? Does it include Dream? TIA

Better late than never I suppose. I can confirm that the Passporter have both Dream and Fantasy content, and quite detailed content at that. I am looking at the .pdf copy now, waiting for my hard copy to arrive in the mail. I've already red the .pdf copy, highly recommended, especially for first time cruisers like myself. So much to learn it appears for a first tme cruiser, if one wishes to get the most out of it. I keep telling folks they could have a night school class at your local community college for DCL

Eric

[purceller]

Originally Posted by melmar136

You can make business cards and get them for free on vistaprint.com too! In case you don't want to waste all of your printer ink!

Thanks for that excellent tip re the free keep in touch / contact / business cards

What did you put on yours? Just family name and contact phone number or what?

Thanks
Eric

[purceller]

Originally Posted by Susiesark

We saw our steward multiple times a day. By the end, I thought he was one of my kids. When I told him I really like the H2O products, he always left me extras.
I found out after we left the ship that the stewards are not paid a salary but rely ONLY on the tips they receive.

You have got to be kidding? They don't get paid a salary? I simply can't believe that to be true? Wow!!!

[kcashner]

Originally Posted by purceller

You have got to be kidding? They don't get paid a salary? I simply can't believe that to be true? Wow!!!

Hmmm....my understanding is that they do get a rather tiny salary from DCL (we were told $50 per month). In addition, they get transportation home at the end of their contract and back to the ship to begin the next contract. One CM made a point of telling me that he got transportation "all the way home to my door" as opposed to a flight to the nearest city. Obviously they get all their costumes (work clothes) provided along with laundry of those clothes, room and board, and health insurance. Yes, the vast majority of their income is from tips. As one server (who has a Ph.D.) told me, he can make 4-5 times as much on the ship as he can "at home."

CMs who are in non-tipped positions do get a decent salary. I'm aware of one situation where a CM requested to move from a salaried position (one of the guys who paints the ship while in port and does repairs) to a room host position because he'd get more in tips than in salary.

[Disney Dreams]

Originally Posted by purceller

You have got to be kidding? They don't get paid a salary? I simply can't believe that to be true? Wow!!!

From what we were told by our Head Server, this is correct for the serving teams. I think it is also true for the room stewards (although not sure on them).

This is why when there are discussions on this board about not tipping, we think it's very harsh. These cast members work SO hard, are away from family, have to pay for phone calls home, and do their part to make our vacations wonderful and incredible. And they do it all for the tips. Only.

- Dreams

[purceller]

Originally Posted by sunkisser

I got these for our upcoming cruise in August and am delighted. It has a character (I chose Pluto, Belle, Ariel and Minnie) the name of the ship (Magic) above and the dates of the cruise underneath as well as the child's name, all embroidered

Thanks for the great idea, will order for sure.

Eric

[purceller]

Originally Posted by Disney Dreams

From what we were told by our Head Server, this is correct for the serving teams. I think it is also true for the room stewards (although not sure on them).

This is why when there are discussions on this board about not tipping, we think it's very harsh. These cast members work SO hard, are away from family, have to pay for phone calls home, and do their part to make our vacations wonderful and incredible. And they do it all for the tips. Only.

- Dreams

Given this information, why on earth would folks be discussing not tipping? To make a point to DCL and have them change their policy? If so, not tipping is not the right way to make a stand, in my opinion. Having heard this, I'd be more inclined to treat the CM's extra well, not hold back the tips they work hard for.

Thanks to all for everything that is posted here. If I enjoy my first cruise as much as I am enjoying planning for it, we'll have a blast

Cheers
Eric

[Clochette nordique]

Originally Posted by purceller

Given this information, why on earth would folks be discussing not tipping? To make a point to DCL and have them change their policy? If so, not tipping is not the right way to make a stand, in my opinion. Having heard this, I'd be more inclined to treat the CM's extra well, not hold back the tips they work hard for.

????????????

We cruised on the Dream for the first time in May 2011. I'm booked for a Bday cruise on the Wonder in Feb 2012 and again for family fun on (hopefully) the Fantasy in Dec 2012 to be reported in November 2013.

Since we have a child with lots of special needs, I read everything I could about cruising on this board for the last 2,5 years. And it's the first time I read about CMs not having a salary. Why is this info not out from DCL? I ALWAYS THOUGHT, (Maybe being Canadian makes a cultural difference, here) that like at home, they receive a decent-enough-salary-to-be-completed-by-the-tips. No? We did, leave the "suggested" tip on our cruise. But I think the servers worked for more than that! We also brought fruits for our steward every day since I read before the trip that they don't really have access to it. But no salary?

Well, why don't DCL just charge more to include staff salaries, then?

Would any complain with DCL help? Or is it just a word to spread so people would know? But how many cruisers read this blog? In May, there was only 14 rooms in our Thread Meet. Not a lot compared to the guests that filled the Dream... So, how would the rest of the 4000ish people on the boat know?

Sorry, it's just too much for my "innocence" of the things of the world, I guess...

Anyway, Poussière de fée!

[Susiesark]

Originally Posted by Disney Dreams

From what we were told by our Head Server, this is correct for the serving teams. I think it is also true for the room stewards (although not sure on them).

This is why when there are discussions on this board about not tipping, we think it's very harsh. These cast members work SO hard, are away from family, have to pay for phone calls home, and do their part to make our vacations wonderful and incredible. And they do it all for the tips. Only.

- Dreams

I found out this information, after we disembarked, from the parent of a CM. I also learned that DCL takes very seriously, the comments and ratings on the comment card. If your server (wait staff/steward) gets anything less than an excellent, it is not taken lightly.
These CMs work very hard, 7 days a week, LONG hours, for months on end. I was reluctant to leave the suggested tip, because my vacation cost so much to begin with, but now I know to reward them for their service. My steward was awesome, and he got extra treats from us.

[sssteele]

Originally Posted by valbob89

The cruise specific pins we purchase usually end of with the other "treasures" we bring home, along with the memory pictures we purchase. I picked up inexpensive frames and mats from Michael's and made some of my favorite decorations. I have them hanging in my hall and everytime I walk by them I remember our wonderful trip and think about our next cruise.

Wow! These are great, but can't imagine what they would look like if I tried something similar. You did a beautiful job.

[miss missy]

great thread!! thx

[Queen of Oakville]

Originally Posted by kcashner

Hmmm....my understanding is that they do get a rather tiny salary from DCL (we were told $50 per month). In addition, they get transportation home at the end of their contract and back to the ship to begin the next contract. One CM made a point of telling me that he got transportation "all the way home to my door" as opposed to a flight to the nearest city. Obviously they get all their costumes (work clothes) provided along with laundry of those clothes, room and board, and health insurance. Yes, the vast majority of their income is from tips. As one server (who has a Ph.D.) told me, he can make 4-5 times as much on the ship as he can "at home."

CMs who are in non-tipped positions do get a decent salary. I'm aware of one situation where a CM requested to move from a salaried position (one of the guys who paints the ship while in port and does repairs) to a room host position because he'd get more in tips than in salary.

This is all off-topic on this thread ... but on our last RCCL cruise, I noticed several front-line workers wearing braces (in fact, a large majority). I'm guessing "Dental" is now being offer too as a perk to keep good employees.

[valbob89]

Originally Posted by sssteele

Wow! These are great, but can't imagine what they would look like if I tried something similar. You did a beautiful job.

Thanks - wish they looked good because I have talent but that is not the case. The one with the ship I bought onboard, it came with the matting. I picked up a frame at Michael's that had the glass in it. I just stuck the pins around the picture on the matt that came with it and stuck it in the frame. The one with our picture, one of the waiters took it with our camera so we didn't even have to buy it. I cut the cruise info off one of the many bulletins they give out on the ship. The matt came with the frame, again from Michael's. Stuck the gift with purchase pins on the matt. No talent.

[sssteele]

Originally Posted by valbob89

Thanks - wish they looked good because I have talent but that is not the case. The one with the ship I bought onboard, it came with the matting. I picked up a frame at Michael's that had the glass in it. I just stuck the pins around the picture on the matt that came with it and stuck it in the frame. The one with our picture, one of the waiters took it with our camera so we didn't even have to buy it. I cut the cruise info off one of the many bulletins they give out on the ship. The matt came with the frame, again from Michael's. Stuck the gift with purchase pins on the matt. No talent.

Very clever. Thanks for sharing the info.