Gifts for Stateroom Attendant, etc

[TXdeVille]

Hey guys, for those of you who are DCL veterans, what are some good ideas for gifts for stateroom attendants? I would like to get them something that they would actually be happy to receive. We are going on the Christmas sailing. I've already got a box of chocolates for the counselors in the Lab. I've heard they like chocolate.

TIA!

 

[SnowWhite2]

Cash.

They don't have any room in their cabin for stuff. Cash is the most appreciated gift.

 

[Olga]

Cash!
With as much food as there is on the ship, the limited space in their cabin, and considering their current wages, cash is easily stored and the most appreciated.

 

[TXdeVille]

Cash.

They don't have any room in their cabin for stuff. Cash is the most appreciated gift.

Cash!
With as much food as there is on the ship, the limited space in their cabin, and considering their current wages, cash is easily stored and the most appreciated.

So...even more so than anything else?? I was going to do cash anyways (tips) but I remember reading a thread on here before about other things to get them that were greatly appreciated. I never can get the search to work for me.....

 

[Family-of-4]

I agree - Cash - their rooms are like a closet that two CMs live in. We made a personalized card that we put the tip voucher in (given to you by guest services when you charge the tip to your on-board account). Also, it is apparently important and good for them if you mention them by name on the comment card that is left in your room on your last night. Put their name in the section where it asks who made your stay magical (or something to that effect) and they'll appreciate it more than anything you can give them. Do that for your server and assistant server as well.

 

[mjy]

LEFTOVERS!

Seriously . . . I always give cash; but, I also make it a point to find out what kinds of things the steward can use.

The last cruise I was on, my cabin steward did all of his own laundry and was very happy to take my bottle of laundry detergent and my fabric softener sheets. (I was on my way to leave them in the laundry for anyone to find when I happened to ask if he wanted them. YES! was his quick response.)

So, I also asked what other things he might be able to use and left a bundle of stuff for him.

Every room steward is different but if you take a little time to get to know him or her, you will get some insights into what they may like.

 

[Pinkgurlshubby]

LEFTOVERS!

Seriously . . . I always give cash; but, I also make it a point to find out what kinds of things the steward can use.

The last cruise I was on, my cabin steward did all of his own laundry and was very happy to take my bottle of laundry detergent and my fabric softener sheets. (I was on my way to leave them in the laundry for anyone to find when I happened to ask if he wanted them. YES! was his quick response.)

So, I also asked what other things he might be able to use and left a bundle of stuff for him.

Every room steward is different but if you take a little time to get to know him or her, you will get some insights into what they may like.

We just made a note of this. I have the excel sheet of must brings so I could customise it for what we need and never even thought of this. Our room guy was awsome as were the other 2 or 3 girls on our deck that ran into everyday. I just read your post out to my wife and she agreed so next time we are going to just him or her. This would have kept us from having to bring back our left over little boxes of detergent....

 

[CraftyMouse]

While I agree with cash, and always have given our Stateroom Host more than the suggested tip amount, it can be nice to provide a small gift as well. Last year we sailed in December and I filled small holiday tins with Hershey's kisses. i got the tins at Michaels for $1 each so it was very inexpensive to do. The reaction I got to the gifts were amazing. We sailed the week after as well with a different stateroom hostess, but our SH from the first week would constantly stop us in the hallway to let us know how much she was enjoying the Kisses.

I've also gotten the little bite-size Milky Way/Snickers/Reese's and filled clear goodie bags with those. Chocolate is always appreciated and it's just a little way to give an extra thank you!

 

[kcashner]

Cash, food, and positive comments on the comment forms are probably the most important. As above, they have essentially no room in their cabins so have no use for "stuff." Their food is rather bland. My server said they get to eat "chicken, chicken, and more chicken," so any food stuff is appreciated.

You can't over-estimate the value of positive comments either on the comment sheet or in a letter or e-mail after you return. The comments are used to determine shift assignments, promotions, etc. One server told me that positive comments were "almost more important than tips."

 

[TXdeVille]

bump

 

[SILLYANDI]

LEFTOVERS!

I was thinking food leftovers until I read through your whole post...

 

[WeLuvDCL]

We have always just given cash but I do recall reading on another thread that phone cards were a great idea so they can call home to their families. I think we will do this on our next cruise especially since it's close to the holidays.

 

[kcashner]

The phone cards were popular several years ago before most of the CMs had international cell phones. They have really fallen out of favor now since most people have other ways to call home. Again, $10 in cash would be better than a $10 phone card--that way the CM can use it for his/her cell phone bill OR whatever he/she needs most.

For non-tipped positions (like child programming), and gift cards that aren't directed to a specific CM by name are used as door prizes at their parties.

 

[lbgraves]

I was thinking food leftovers until I read through your whole post...

Actually I did too because I know how much they and the club counselors appreciate any and all food that you bring them from the deck 9 service counters...pizza and chicken tenders and fries are big hits. They do get food but it is nothing like what we are treated to on the ship.

 

[nzdisneymom]

We will also be sailing over Christmas and I was trying to figure out what to do for our stateroom host particularly for Christmas day. These are great ideas.

One time when we sailed, I had made too many gift bags for the DIS exchange so we left those with the Lab counselors who were very grateful (rolls of Lifesavers and some other goodies).

I just bought too many small bottles of All detergent at Target - so now I will plan to leave them with my stateroom host as well.

 

[graysm]

I know I read on another thread that stateroom attendants like to receive gifts (small) from the area you live. Last year, we gave our stateroom host and servers Boston Baked Beans in a small ceramic container and a bag of gummy lobsters. They were a huge hit! We, of course, also gave them their well-deserved tips.