Goodie bags for CM's

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I'd like to bring little goodie bags (candy: reece's, snickers...) for our room attendant, waiters and kids club CM's.

I have one child in the oceaneer's club and one at edge. I was wondering how many I should take for oceaneer's and edge CM's? 3-4 per club?

Any other ideas of what I can put in their bags?

 

[terrybsw]

I have given magazines in the past as I heard on these boards that CM's appreciate those.

 

[FigmentSpark]

I'd like to bring little goodie bags (candy: reece's, snickers...) for our room attendant, waiters and kids club CM's.

I have one child in the oceaneer's club and one at edge. I was wondering how many I should take for oceaneer's and edge CM's? 3-4 per club?

Any other ideas of what I can put in their bags?

Very thoughtful.

I don't know if this would be an issue, but you might consider chocolate that is peanut free. Sure, lots of people love peanut and chocolate, but there are some who may have allergies.

 

[Krissy22222]

What I have done for the kids club is to bring a big bag of individually wrapped candy for them to share. You should also write a note on it indicating that it is for the kids club employees, I have heard that they are not allowed to have it otherwise, not sure if this is true or not. I would say there are more than 3 or 4, closer to 10 at any given time.

 

[DisneyConvert]

Complementing your gifts, I have given a bag of brand new toothbrushes, paste, etc. Something they can buy themselves, but now won't have to.

 

[bbel]

What you described is perfect and will be very well received, especially if they're pocket sized (so maybe not chocolate if possible as it melts, although it never stopped me, just got messy in the mess haha). Don't worry about allergies too much for crew, if you have an allergy that means you can't eat something you won't really survive as a CM, in my time I met 1 cm with a food allergy...

As for number on the classics there are 4 edge Counselors, then around 15-20 in the club and same in the lab, (but they rotate through those 2 spaces). Also 4/5 in vibe and 4/5 in the nursery. Those numbers will be higher on the dream class.
But I wouldn't worry too much about numbers, it's just accepted that if you get there when it's there you get some, if not you don't, but you probably will next time lol.

As for anything else, mints are always good. Most CM carry a stash, sometimes you'll work 11 hours without getting back to your cabin...haha.

Just remember to include a note of where it came from (your names and cabin number) so we can say thank you in person the next time we see you.

 

[hanscarlet]

if you are doing individually wrapped goodie bags for the kids club CMs I would do about at least 10 or so... usually we just drop off an unopened bag of hershey kisses or chocolate of some sort and they usually put it in the break room for all the share... this last trip we brought too much water and so called the club and asked if they could take it and the lady said yes but that her manager would have to check it, so we put about 8 bottles of unopened water in a shopping bag along with chocolates we got from the stateroom host and dropped it at the kids club and she called the manager and the manager checked it out and accepted it. They are always really grateful when they get stuff in the kids club in our experience.

 

[MUN]

I'd like to bring little goodie bags (candy: reece's, snickers...) for our room attendant, waiters and kids club CM's.

I have one child in the oceaneer's club and one at edge. I was wondering how many I should take for oceaneer's and edge CM's? 3-4 per club?

Any other ideas of what I can put in their bags?

Do you know what your room attendants and waiters like best? Money! I'm not sure the kid's club CM's can accept cash, so perhaps those "goodie bags" can go to them.

 

[cmwade77]

Very thoughtful.

I don't know if this would be an issue, but you might consider chocolate that is peanut free. Sure, lots of people love peanut and chocolate, but there are some who may have allergies.

I would also recommend avoiding Peanut Butter for another reason: While in the U.S. having chocolate and Peanut Butter together is considered the norm, many countries consider it absolutely disgusting and don't understand how we can eat such things or anything sweet with peanut butter for that matter, so even Reeces Pieces would be out.

 

[cmwade77]

Do you know what your room attendants and waiters like best? Money! I'm not sure the kid's club CM's can accept cash, so perhaps those "goodie bags" can go to them.

Cash yes, but they do also enjoy treats, especially if you have some that are unique to where you live (that fall within the rules of being prepackaged, etc.) as they may not get there but like to experience things that are unique and mean something to you. Really, it is something that helps establish a connection with them and they will remember you on another cruise. Just remember if you are giving them something, keep it small, preferably something edible or something like a Magazine that they won't feel bad about disposing of after they are done with it as they have very limited space in their living quarters.

 

[Shanti]

Do you know what your room attendants and waiters like best? Money! I'm not sure the kid's club CM's can accept cash, so perhaps those "goodie bags" can go to them.

I agree that the best way to reward room & dining servers is with an increase in the tip, no matter how small, not with bags of goodies they may not like. They'd likely welcome a $5 bill much more than a $10 box of candy.

For a kids' club employee you're pleased with, a positive note about them on the Guest comment card is the best gift. It's their job, you don't really know them, so you don't know what kind of treats they would like. They also have extremely small quarters, so extra stuff can be more of a hindrance than a blessing.

In my job (teacher), I am given a ton of such treats, and don't want any of it. If I ate one fourth of what I was given, I'd be thirty pounds heavier. When given these, I say or write a nice thanks, then quietly hand it off to someone I can find who actually wants it. Many of the CMs given these goodie bags would likely do the same thing.

 

[Dug720]

Do you know what your room attendants and waiters like best? Money! I'm not sure the kid's club CM's can accept cash, so perhaps those "goodie bags" can go to them.

Actually even better than extra cash is for you to mention them by name on the comment card and/or in a follow-up email. Ultimately that means more in the long run than a little extra cash in the moment.

I would imagine that mentioning ANY crew member by name in a positive way would benefit them, more than cash or a bag of candy they may or may not be allergic to or able to eat.

 

[bbel]

When I was a CM, I would have appreciated a tiny piece of candy over a name on a comment card (which in my department gets you a single clap in the meeting and forgotten about 10 seconds later). Sometimes its nice to feel someone went out their way to physically give you something, and very little goes to waste in CM quarters, someone somewhere will enjoy it.

So, whether you get anything or not, thank you OP for thinking about CMs!

 

[Krissy22222]

When I was a CM, I would have appreciated a tiny piece of candy over a name on a comment card (which in my department gets you a single clap in the meeting and forgotten about 10 seconds later). Sometimes its nice to feel someone went out their way to physically give you something, and very little goes to waste in CM quarters, someone somewhere will enjoy it.

So, whether you get anything or not, thank you OP for thinking about CMs!

I am sad to hear that the name on the comment card doesn't mean much in your department! I'll continue to do both then, a comment and a bag of candy. Can I ask you as a former CM, I have often heard the tip to "bring books or magazines for the CMs." Are these types of items appreciated? It seems like there is very little down time.

 

[bbel]

I am sad to hear that the name on the comment card doesn't mean much in your department! I'll continue to do both then, a comment and a bag of candy. Can I ask you as a former CM, I have often heard the tip to "bring books or magazines for the CMs." Are these types of items appreciated? It seems like there is very little down time.

I think it's partly because we're such a big team with very little area for promotion (60+ counselors and only 2 management positions so move into on each ship...)
We don't give the excellent speech, but that's what gets us rewards. It's more common for managers to say X many cruises hitting X percentage and you'll all win....

But we don't do it for the rewards. Although they're nice and very much appreciated. If we wanted tips and promotions were in the wrong department haha.

Magazines always go down well, they tend to stay backstage and we flick through them while waiting to clock in or whatever. Books I've never noticed so can't comment, but that might mean they go quick. Honestly as a CM I wasn't a book person. I was always so tired if I tried to read I fell asleep and I could be reading a book the same 5 months contract and not finish it lol. But a lot do read a lot, its their way to swirch off and I know some who have English as an additional language often enjoy reading English books to develop their skills.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I decided on 10 goodie bags. This is our 4th cruise and I've always wanted to do this. Now to pack them, and the FE gifts. DH will probably think I'm nuts. BUT, this will mean extra room coming home. This will probably be our last cruise so we are doing all the things we have wanted to do but haven't.

In addition to candy, I'm going to add a thing of mints too.