Gifts for crew members

[FWRR3]

I believe that Dream crew members are currently not able to get off of the ship in PC to make their usual Walmart, etc. shopping runs. On a recent thread someone asked about what items they could take to give to crew members. I asked a current CM on the Dream and the following items were mentioned: Maxwell House Medium Roast Ground Coffee, Eucerin hand lotion, Gold Bond foot lotion and Head & Shoulders shampoo (and probably toothpaste). This should give an idea of the kinds of things that would be appreciated. I also remember someone previously saying chocolate bars were a desired item.

 

[DisneyKrayzie2]

Interesting didnt think of them needing gifts of basic things you can't get on ship. We were talking to our server on the last night asked if she gets days off, and she said she isn't even allowed off the ship with exception of serving at Cookies at Castaway Cay.

 

[Dug720]

They are able to order from Amazon, etc. and get deliveries.
The BEST gift is ALWAYS a) the gratuities and b) mentioning them by name on the comment cards.

Edit to add: I only point out that they are able to order from Amazon, etc. to make it clear they are not in some kind of deprivation desert where they cannot get things that they need. Sure it sucks that they can't get off the ship to get it in person, but they CAN get things that they need.

 

[meliscan]

They are able to order from Amazon, etc. and get deliveries.
The BEST gift is ALWAYS a) the gratuities and b) mentioning them by name on the comment cards.

Edit to add: I only point out that they are able to order from Amazon, etc. to make it clear they are not in some kind of deprivation desert where they cannot get things that they need. Sure it sucks that they can't get off the ship to get it in person, but they CAN get things that they need.

A friend on a recent cruise mentioned they are able to order from Amazon but sometimes it takes a while for the box to make it to them so if the ship is in port and they don't get their box they have to wait until the next time the ship returns and hope you get it then. They do have a commissary on board but it is a little pricey according to someone i talked about purchases.

 

[Dug720]

A friend on a recent cruise mentioned they are able to order from Amazon but sometimes it takes a while for the box to make it to them so if the ship is in port and they don't get their box they have to wait until the next time the ship returns and hope you get it then. They do have a commissary on board but it is a little pricey according to someone i talked about purchases.

Well, yes (and I have a relative who IS a crew member, so…) but most of them do order ahead because they have their preferred brands. And they are familiar with the shipping process (unless they are brand new to ship life, which Disney does not tend to hire for most positions). It’s all well and good to think about stuff, but honestly what if you brought Head & Shoulders and they use Aussie or Panteen? What if they have to use specific brands due to allergies or skin conditions?
Honestly it is just more practical to let them get their own stuff.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Well, yes (and I have a relative who IS a crew member, so…) but most of them do order ahead because they have their preferred brands. And they are familiar with the shipping process (unless they are brand new to ship life, which Disney does not tend to hire for most positions). It’s all well and good to think about stuff, but honestly what if you brought Head & Shoulders and they use Aussie or Panteen? What if they have to use specific brands due to allergies or skin conditions?
Honestly it is just more practical to let them get their own stuff.

Or an Amazon gift card, maybe?

 

[Cheburashka]

They are able to order from Amazon, etc. and get deliveries.
The BEST gift is ALWAYS a) the gratuities and b) mentioning them by name on the comment cards.

Edit to add: I only point out that they are able to order from Amazon, etc. to make it clear they are not in some kind of deprivation desert where they cannot get things that they need. Sure it sucks that they can't get off the ship to get it in person, but they CAN get things that they need.

And they're not going to have a lot of room to save 20 bags of coffee and tubes of toothpaste after a lot of people read this thread & decide to give them those items. And there's only so much chocolate one person can eat. I know, because I'm a teacher who gets a few pounds of chocolate from students' families every Valentine's Day. Very sweet of them, but I obviously can't eat all that so almost all of it is immediately given away. Before giving a gift, reflect and think, how likely is it that other people will give something like this, and how much of it can this person reasonably use?

I suspect that crew member was too polite to mention money, but when a person is doing a job for you, money is the appropriate way to show your appreciation.

 

[Cheburashka]

Or an Amazon gift card, maybe?

Seems strange to limit what they can buy with the money, when the easiest thing for you and them is simply to increase the tip amount to them from your account. Then they can spend the money on anything they really need or want, whether that is goods from Amazon, their savings, or the ability to send more money home to their family.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Seems strange to limit what they can buy with the money, when the easiest thing for you and them is simply to increase the tip amount to them from your account. Then they can spend the money on anything they really need or want, whether that is goods from Amazon, their savings, or the ability to send more money home to their family.

I agree - extra gratuity and a mention by name on the comment card is best.

But, of course, there are some that really want to do something "more personal". With Dug's report indicating that many of the CMs may use Amazon for stuff, that seemed like something a bit more personal.

 

[n2mm]

Someone just told me that dcl cast members are not allowed to take cash right now. has anyone heard that. I guess it could have germs. If anyone knows for sure, please let me know. I always stick extra cash in the envelopes and tip in cash for room service. I leave in 6 days….help.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Someone just told me that dcl cast members are not allowed to take cash right. has anyone heard that. I guess it could have germs. If anyone knows for sure, please let me know. I always stick extra cash in the envelopes and tip in cash for room service. I leave in 6 days….help.

Unless there's been a (COVID) change, the only CMs that I know of who couldn't accept cash were the kid's club CMs and officers.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Someone just told me that dcl cast members are not allowed to take cash right. has anyone heard that. I guess it could have germs. If anyone knows for sure, please let me know. I always stick extra cash in the envelopes and tip in cash for room service. I leave in 6 days….help.

I would interpret that more to mean non-tipped positions can't accept cash gifts, which is why people have brought on items to gift to crew members that can't accept a monetary tip. In the past, things like chocolate and magazines have been mentioned as good gifts for these crew members.

 

[n2mm]

Thanks….i mentioned to someone that I use a magnet clip to keep tip cash handy for when room service delivers and they said you couldn’t tip in cash right now. i guess I’ll still try unless i hear I can’t. I leave in a week. August 30th.

 

[SnowWhite2]

I honestly don't get this gift thing. Do you give gifts to your waitstaff at home? I eat out a lot and always give cash, never gifts to my favorite servers even during holidays. Most of these people are from different cultures, trying to earn a good living to support family at home. Trinkets and chocolate don't pay the bills. It is a nice gesture for sure, but really not practical.

 

[Cheburashka]

I honestly don't get this gift thing. Do you give gifts to your waitstaff at home? I eat out a lot and always give cash, never gifts to my favorite servers even during holidays. Most of these people are from different cultures, trying to earn a good living to support family at home. Trinkets and chocolate don't pay the bills. It is a nice gesture for sure, but really not practical.

I completely agree that money is more appropriate, but I think some people want to give gifts because they feel so warmly towards their servers on the ships.

 

[KT2038]

Thank you for the thought!
However we don’t really need gifts! Like previous posters have said, showing your appreciation with gratuities and mentions by name is amazing! When we get mentioned by name, we sometimes get rewards from our managers.
I know for myself and my team, we also do appreciate little candies that we can eat to keep our energy up

 

[n2mm]

Thank you for the thought!
However we don’t really need gifts! Like previous posters have said, showing your appreciation with gratuities and mentions by name is amazing! When we get mentioned by name, we sometimes get rewards from our managers.
I know for myself and my team, we also do appreciate little candies that we can eat to keep our energy up

thank you for posting. Can you clear up a current rumor please. Some folks are posting that under the current conditions we can not give cash gratuities. Is this true? for us, it mostly means for room service and putting additional cash in the envelopes at the end of our stay (for room host, restaurant servers). I leave one week from today, so wanted to know so that I remember to do the additional through guest services.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

Increase their gratuity and comment card mentions. The best gift for them