Corresponding with CM's

[PenskeSth1]

We recently have gotten a holiday card from a CM off the Magic. Could someone please tell me how I would go about writing back to them. I mean where would I send it so that they(the CM) would recieve it. There was a yellow sticker on the back with his position and a address for the port I am guessing. DH and I would just like to keep in touch with this person. Has anyone did this before?
Sorry if this is a stupid question.

Thank you all in advance
Michele

 

[jilljill]

Use the address that was on the yellow sticker. Make sure you put their name and department/position. They will receive their mail.

 

[rae519]

Word to the wise!

Be careful with correspondence with CM's. These wonderful, loving people CAN be fired for this activity - whether it be e-mail or regular mail. Keep all this to yourself and do not discuss it at any forum.

I highly recommend that you find a trusted DIS member who will take your message to the CM directly while on ship.

Nothing is worth jeopardizing their jobs - even a good friendship.


Rae

 

[KaitlinsMom]

They can be fired for receiving mail? Rae, do you know why?

 

[rae519]

NO, not fired for receiving e-mail - I mean the fraternization between staff and guests is FORBIDDEN - and yes, there have been CM's who have been terminated for fraternization. I am just very cautious about discussing this due to the concerns that I have for their job security.

Rae

 

[PenskeSth1]

geesh we did not know this. That is a shame that they get in trouble like that though. We just wanted to say thank you for their kindness to us while on the ship and to let them know we got their card. Punished for being NICE, what is this world coming too?

 

[rae519]

We wanted to gift our stateroom hostess with a box of chocolates and she that she could be fired from taking a gift from a guest. What's the big deal here? We give them money (tips) but nothing else? What is the DCL "official line" on this? Calling cards are okay, chocolate is out? Tips are good, a thank you note is not?

After so many cruises, I am sure that Barb/Tony could enlighten us more on this - it is very hard to maintain friendships with CM's but I am NOT saying it is impossible. Both would have to be very, very careful in what and how and to whom something was said and even then..........

Usually on Thursday or Friday, I spend the time writing thank you notes to those who have made the cruise special for us - including my servers, hostess and anyone inbetween. That way I know I can personally hand my tip and the thank you to them at the same time - (but no chocolates!).

I also think that by writing trip reports and specificially mentioning those who have made our cruise special, we do them a greater service - we put their name in print and acknowledge them before a larger audience and of course, our Disney Thread spies!

Rae

 

[kcashner]

My daughter frequently brings some note paper and writes short thank you notes at the end of the cruise. When someone has been really special, I write to guest services at DCL and give names and specifics. I feel that one of the best things I can do for a special CM is to place a good report in their personnel file.

 

[PenskeSth1]

Thank you all for your input, we definitely DO NOT want to get anyone in trouble or worse fired. I did write a letter in great detail and tell DCL which CM's made our vacation that much more memorable and dropped it off at Guest services. We also hand delivered each tip envelope personally to the appropriate CM with our thank you's tucked inside. It still is a shame!
Thank you all again.

 

[inkkognito]

Rae,
I'm not sure of the exact guidelines, but one that I have heard is that there is a dollar limit on what they can accept. I don't know if that's true of all positions, and I don't remember what it was, but I learned about it when a CM friend of ours got in trouble. Now, we pretty much stick to thank you cards and small gifts like phone cards, lottery tickets, and chocolates, which have seemed to be okay.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[missydisney]

We are sailing on 12/23/04 and were planning on making a small stocking for our room steward , maitre'd and wait staff. Is this not acceptable. What a shame for the holidays. Does anyone know the exact guidelines?

 

[jwann]

Here's what we did:
When we were on the cruise, we fell in love with our server. At the end of our cruise, we asked him when his contract was up and what his mailing address would be when he left the ship. He was going back to Trinidad to stay with his mom. When the time came for him to be off the ship and at his mother's house, we sent him a big USA care package for his family with a letter, drawings from the kids, a picture of us with him on the cruise, books, little toys, candy, etc, etc.

 

[rae519]

inkogniteo -Thanks Barb - I knew that you'd have the insight of this situation. Biggest fear I have is that I or another well meaning guest would do something that we would consider NOTHING and DCL would terminate a CM for it.

Nothing is worth jeopardizing an individuals job for!

jwann - MOST EXCELLENT IDEA!!! There are CM's who complete their contract and are able to continue friendships that were begun on ship. That was a very loving and considerate gift you sent him but knowing you from past postings, I would have expected it from you! ; )

Rae

 

[TCPluto]

This is confusing. On our trip last month, our server provided a ship address and told us he cold receive mail which was addressed to him.

We saw several servers addressing this issue with guests and none of them acted as if the practice was tabboo in any way.

Strange...

 

[Verandah Man]

I have sent an e-mail to DCL asking what their policy is regarding this issue. When I hear back I will share it here.

I, too, would not want to get any of my CM friends into any kind of trouble.

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by Verandah Man
I have sent an e-mail to DCL asking what their policy is regarding this issue. When I hear back I will share it here.

I, too, would not want to get any of my CM friends into any kind of trouble.

Smart man, Andy!
Best to get it from the "mouse's mouth"!

Rae

 

[PenskeSth1]

Jwann, that was an excellent idea. Wish I would of thought of that while on the ship.

Andy, I hope DCL responds, would love to hear what they have to say.

 

[Verandah Man]

Following is the response I received from DCL regarding corresponding with CM's:

Our cast and crew are welcome to communicate with our guests beyond the guest’s scheduled sailing. It’s a way of continuing the vacation experience for many of our guests. However, we do prefer that our crew limit their correspondence to written cards and letters, as the integrity of e-mail communications can be compromised. So, please feel free to keep the cards and letters coming.

Occasionally, a crewmember will receive a request that they will have to decline and will explain to the requestor that our company does not allow fraternization between crew and guests. We expect all of our crew’s interactions with guests to be professional and courteous, and not outside of the cast member’s regular job responsibilities.

In a nutshell, corresponding with crewmembers is great. Asking them to meet you at the mall for lunch is bad. Please let me know if this helps to clarify the differences, or if you have any other questions.

 

[rae519]

Originally posted by Verandah Man
Asking them to meet you at the mall for lunch is bad.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!
I really got a kick out of that one!!!!! I thought for sure that some of the CM's would love to come to Passaic for a little deli sandwich!

Rae

 

[ohiominnie]

On our last Wonder cruise our server asked if we'd mail him a copy of a pic we had taken with him and my ds. He told us he'd give us his address the next morning at breakfast. Sure enough, the next morning he had an address label stuck to an index card and handed it to us. It was actually a PO box in Merritt Island.

I doubt they have a ton of time to write notes and letters back, but I'm sure they appreciate a note from former cruisers. Glad to hear it won't get them fired!!!