Current Youth Activities CM -- Ask me anything!

[Talking Hands]

Do some of the CM know how to sign? My grandson uses sign language at home. He is hearing but will not always respond to voice. Also are there computer ga4 yomes appropriate to a 4yo. He is compute freak

 

[CMontheseas]

Do some of the CM know how to sign? My grandson uses sign language at home. He is hearing but will not always respond to voice. Also are there computer ga4 yomes appropriate to a 4yo. He is compute freak

Some of us do! But just like any other language, there'll be no guarantee that they'll be on your ship or work in the area that he's in at the time (we can't really devote much time to certain kids that need us to communicate, the way our rotations work.) I know on our own time some Counselors were teaching each other how to sign, speak in Portuguese, but this was purely external to work hours!

 

[CMontheseas]

Some of us do! But just like any other language, there'll be no guarantee that they'll be on your ship or work in the area that he's in at the time (we can't really devote much time to certain kids that need us to communicate, the way our rotations work.) I know on our own time some Counselors were teaching each other how to sign, speak in Portuguese, but this was purely external to work hours!

And Yes, we have computer games geared to the younger set! Mostly Disney, if thats any surprise haha!

 

[UK mum of 4]

In the nursery is it the same cm every day or does everyone rotate? I suppose what I mean is if I leave my toddler one day will she recognise the cm the next day or will they be different?

 

[CMontheseas]

In the nursery is it the same cm every day or does everyone rotate? I suppose what I mean is if I leave my toddler one day will she recognise the cm the next day or will they be different?

The nursery team is quite a bit smaller, so the likelihood would be higher that the counselor would be there at some point, we tend to know our schedules a day or so in advance so you'd be able to ask when they'll be in.

 

[DisenyDarley]

How long are you on the cruise for how long do u get holiday

 

[CMontheseas]

How long are you on the cruise for how long do u get holiday

Oh gosh, you mean how long we work/live on board for? On average 4-6 months, with maybe 4-6 weeks inbetween where you're officially not on your contract to the company. This is where I am now. Most of us take this time to consider coming back, or leaving for more stable life in land!

 

[MomsOf2boys]

I really love reading all if your insights. I'm very glad to hear that you do in fact get recognized and rewarded for comments. I take lined paper and keep an ongoing list to attach to my comment card. I also speak of certain people to concierge and have heard "thank you for your words to concierge" so I know they heard.

I'm shocked that they feed the crew so boringly with all the food guests waste on board. My son, who was 16 on our last cruise, asked our room steward what he should order from room service each evening for his pre dinner dinner. My son is a very picky eater and would snack before the theatre and dinner. Whatever the room steward suggested, my son ordered for him and left on the table with a note saying "thank you" or something. It was always gone and a different suggestion for the next night. Lol

 

[Wendy&Grumpy]

We sail Saturday on the Fantasy. My daughter is 13, turning 14 in two months.

Her older siblings are 24, 22, and 18, so she's very mature for her age and thinks the Edge is too "babyish" (I know, teens, LOL!).

Some have said their close-to-14's have been allowed to go to Vibe instead - is that true?

Thank you!

 

[CMontheseas]

We sail Saturday on the Fantasy. My daughter is 13, turning 14 in two months.

Her older siblings are 24, 22, and 18, so she's very mature for her age and thinks the Edge is too "babyish" (I know, teens, LOL!).

Some have said their close-to-14's have been allowed to go to Vibe instead - is that true?

Thank you!

Can't say for sure if they'll allow it, but it's happened before! We'll want to see that she's made a solid attempt to try Edge and show them her maturity first

 

[Wendy&Grumpy]

Can't say for sure if they'll allow it, but it's happened before! We'll want to see that she's made a solid attempt to try Edge and show them her maturity first

Thanks! I'll let her know!

 

[n8nally]

Thank you so much, CMontheseas for starting this thread and for answering everyone's questions! I think you are showing an awesome attitude and it is clear you love Disney and your job!

As a former WDW CM I know what it's like to be able to help guests have a magical vacation and it was truly the best job I ever had! Even though the pay was little and the managers were sometimes tough and the rules were sometimes crazy and I had to watch what I said and keep to the Disney Look and on and on!!!

My question is: On our Dream cruise my kids and I fell totally in love with our serving team (Head Server, Server and Assistant Server). They truly made our trip amazing and we all cried on the last morning during breakfast. My DS15 and DD12 still talk about them and they had the idea to send them a care package on the ship. You indicated that mailing items/correspondance to a DCL CM might be a bit complicated. Can you expand on that a bit? If we wanted to send a small care package with goodies like magazines, candy, phone cards, snacks, etc. how would we do it? How long would it take? How can we find out exactly what ship they are now on if they've moved? We have full first and last names, but that's it. Is it even possible????

Thanks in advance for your replies! You ROCK!!!!

 

[n8nally]

Also wanted to add that my kids never visited the Vibe or Edge. Just personal preference I guess. It was our first cruise and they were happy to hang with me.

I didn't want you to think we only loved our serving team and not the counselors. We just didn't have any counselors

 

[lilbuddy88]

So much for trusting our Lifeboat Captain.... He made a big deal out of it at the time (Dream). Sorry for the bad info everyone!

Don't feel bad I was told the same thing. I wonder if we were on the same sailing

 

[CMontheseas]

Thank you so much, CMontheseas for starting this thread and for answering everyone's questions! I think you are showing an awesome attitude and it is clear you love Disney and your job!

As a former WDW CM I know what it's like to be able to help guests have a magical vacation and it was truly the best job I ever had! Even though the pay was little and the managers were sometimes tough and the rules were sometimes crazy and I had to watch what I said and keep to the Disney Look and on and on!!!

My question is: On our Dream cruise my kids and I fell totally in love with our serving team (Head Server, Server and Assistant Server). They truly made our trip amazing and we all cried on the last morning during breakfast. My DS15 and DD12 still talk about them and they had the idea to send them a care package on the ship. You indicated that mailing items/correspondance to a DCL CM might be a bit complicated. Can you expand on that a bit? If we wanted to send a small care package with goodies like magazines, candy, phone cards, snacks, etc. how would we do it? How long would it take? How can we find out exactly what ship they are now on if they've moved? We have full first and last names, but that's it. Is it even possible???

Thanks in advance for your replies! You ROCK!!!!

No worries, much appreciated!


Now assuming you were a WDW CM, you live in Florida? It might end up in our mail sorting facility Miami/Port Canaveral within a week I reckon, but you're right - its tricky to know whether they're still on board, or at home, or transferred, or ...terminated! I wish I could say you could simply ask a crew member on the Dream - but between departments, we honestly don't know each other's full names!


It wouldn't hurt to call DCL directly with the Crew member's name and country of origin, and politely ask if they're currently on a ship. But from within the States, Id give it 2 weeks to reach a ship just in case!

 

[cpeters]

I know i'm echoing several other people, but THANK YOU for starting this thread and taking YOUR time to answer all the questions. I have read several things that I had not heard anywhere else. I hope you will continue to post and I''ll definitely continue to read/learn!

 

[cpeters]

Sorry, duplicate post.

 

[CMontheseas]

Don't feel bad I was told the same thing. I wonder if we were on the same sailing

Oh you know what- were you already at your Assembly station during a drill when they told you this? If so, their instructions might make more sense to me (I was an Assembly Leader too!) (Also, not sure where we're getting lifeboat captain/muster station vocabulary from, were they called those before my time? ) You see, when you "check in" with your Assembly Leader or Deputy Assembly Leader, we don't really want anyone leaving again if they've shown up without their kids. We'd rather they safely sat calmly and didnt panic and felt assured their kids would be delivered.

For us upstairs though, we'd likely still be waiting with the kids saying "What happened to their grownups? Why aren't they coming?". Also note that in the event of an emergency, families should be sent a message saying to please pick up your child from the Oceaneer ____ upon the first signal.

 

[lbgraves]

Oh you know what- were you already at your Assembly station during a drill when they told you this? If so, their instructions might make more sense to me ...

Yes, they tell you this at the muster drill the first afternoon.

n8nally, if you know the CM's full names have you looked them up on facebook or google to contact them and find out if they are currently on one of the ships? Many CMs have FB accounts. I am surprised at how often they check in and post there when onboard.

 

[cpeters]

Ditto...phone went crazy! :-D