Important note about gratuities!

[Disney Fans]

I was just going to say that!

You have got to be kidding $1500.00 a week is great in the US. That is $78,000 per year not bad. I know a lot of people who wished they made that per year. You must make A LOT Of money if you think that $78,000 is nothing?????
I copied this over: In 2006, the median annual household income according to the US Census Bureau was determined to be $48,201.00

 

[aan1701]

I asked a cruise staff member (who will remain nameless out of respect) He told me the tip position CM's make a small sallery and then DCL detucts the some for the room and board. So, if I get good service, I tip well. If I do not I give the minimum. That simple. If a bar tender gives a free drink or two, I add a tip for him, as the extra tip (not the auto tip) goes right to the bartender.

 

[CraftyMouse]

You have got to be kidding $1500.00 a week is great in the US. That is $78,000 per year not bad. I know a lot of people who wished they made that per year. You must make A LOT Of money if you think that $78,000 is nothing?????
I copied this over: In 2006, the median annual household income according to the US Census Bureau was determined to be $48,201.00

$1500 a week is an unrealistic number. Most of the stateroom hosts/servers make about $1000-1100 per week with assistant servers making closer to $750 per week. And don't forget, also, that in every 2-year period they have 6 months of unpaid time. A more realistic yearly salary is $45,000 for servers/stateroom hosts and $30,000 for assistant servers.

I am not trying to argue. It just really frustrates me when the numbers are misrepresented. While mine are rounded they are much closer to actual figures. Of course some people over-tip and some don't tip at all, but it's a good base. And, again, don't forget that this is for 12 hour days and no days off in a 6-month period.

 

[pgsahm2]

i started at 6:30 this morning and it is now 11 p.m. i did have some down time today but as a rule....cooking, cleaning, getting to work, working, getting home from work, cooking supper, cleaning house ,laundry, dishes, book keeping, etc. 12 months a year. i think a lot of people work this much. we are just looking at it from a different point of view. i don't get paid for my extra hours.
and if i could work for 5 years, 12 hour days and then start my own business you want to believe i would and i'd work plenty hard.
again, just my thoughts.

I was just about to post something similiar! I've been working 12 hour (or more) days, 7 days a week for 8 1/2 years now for NO monetary pay. Somehow it seems I'm getting the shaft.... Maybe I should add a tip jar to the kitchen table?

FTR, on our one and only cruise (so far) we took a certain amount of money to tip and ended up leaving all of our servers and room attendants more than we expected to. We felt it was well deserved.

 

[Disney Fans]

$1500 a week is an unrealistic number. Most of the stateroom hosts/servers make about $1000-1100 per week with assistant servers making closer to $750 per week. And don't forget, also, that in every 2-year period they have 6 months of unpaid time. A more realistic yearly salary is $45,000 for servers/stateroom hosts and $30,000 for assistant servers.

I am not trying to argue. It just really frustrates me when the numbers are misrepresented. While mine are rounded they are much closer to actual figures. Of course some people over-tip and some don't tip at all, but it's a good base. And, again, don't forget that this is for 12 hour days and no days off in a 6-month period.

That was SO NOT my point. The comment was about $1500 a week not being anything but laughable. My point was that if anyone makes $1500 a week in the US that is doing $30,000 above the national avg. People who work hard for their jobs off ship or on ship should all get credit. That is why I did not say anything about what the cruise ship workers make. Please don't put words in my mouth. Thanks
I do have a good friend whos daughter worked on the ship and LOVED it!! Says it has been a GREAT job. Free room and board and so she has no apt./home cost living alone if you a single, no bills and has been able to pay her student loan off. Her mother says it is so much better then working for a job here in the states and then on top of being paid a low salary and then also paying a car note, rent, et., water, food, well she said it really adds up the cost of savings. So, I think it is great and they need tips just like everyone else but they are in a job that 1000's would love to have because of the way they can save money and now days it is hard to save money. And lets face it my DH and most people who work 80+ hours never get over time. That is sadly how it is with most compaines. There are much much worse jobs to have then working on one of the best Crusie ships around.

 

[Disney Fans]

I was just about to post something similiar! I've been working 12 hour (or more) days, 7 days a week for 8 1/2 years now for NO monetary pay. Somehow it seems I'm getting the shaft.... Maybe I should add a tip jar to the kitchen table?

FTR, on our one and only cruise (so far) we took a certain amount of money to tip and ended up leaving all of our servers and room attendants more than we expected to. We felt it was well deserved.

I totally agree. There are so many people in the world who work hard and never get credit. So, here is a CHEER for everyone that works hard!!!!

 

[mommasita]

Please, Please let us debate this in a friendly manner. So much on this board lately is getting bitter and ugly. There are better things to argue about folks. This is not one of them. We don't have to share others opinions, but at the end of the day you must respect each other. If you have edited posts, then it is because it is sarcastic, and goes against the rules here.

Thank You

 

[imheather]

$1500 a week is an unrealistic number. Most of the stateroom hosts/servers make about $1000-1100 per week with assistant servers making closer to $750 per week. And don't forget, also, that in every 2-year period they have 6 months of unpaid time. A more realistic yearly salary is $45,000 for servers/stateroom hosts and $30,000 for assistant servers.

I am not trying to argue. It just really frustrates me when the numbers are misrepresented. While mine are rounded they are much closer to actual figures. Of course some people over-tip and some don't tip at all, but it's a good base. And, again, don't forget that this is for 12 hour days and no days off in a 6-month period.

craftymouse,

The fact is you do not really know how much they make and either do I. We are all just guessing here The point is they should not use guilt as a way to make a bigger tip.

Heather

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Maybe I am dim but was somebody being sarcastic? I thought it was all nice and polite. Any way I am in the middle of a 14 and half hour shift with 1 and half travelling at either end, Wish I was working on the disney cruise line

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Yes because at least Christian the cruise direct would be there and it would be better weather than scotland

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Ah, I think I get it, so the moderator can edit posts, have I got that correct? God I am dim!!



I was in the dominican republic once and the workers there were disgraceful, it was embaressing the way they were only after your dollars, makes me not want to give them anything! Def NOT like that on the disney ship for us though, they were all lovely and not pushy at all.

 

[wallyb]

Wow!
Who knew this would be such a contestable topic.
Let's discuss religion instead.

 

[imheather]

Wow!
Who knew this would be such a contestable topic.
Let's discuss religion instead.

Or politics

Heather

 

[wallyb]

Or politics

Heather

Or Heelys!
I've seen some brawls over them on the DIS.

 

[patsal]

$1500 a week is an unrealistic number. Most of the stateroom hosts/servers make about $1000-1100 per week with assistant servers making closer to $750 per week. And don't forget, also, that in every 2-year period they have 6 months of unpaid time. A more realistic yearly salary is $45,000 for servers/stateroom hosts and $30,000 for assistant servers.

I am not trying to argue. It just really frustrates me when the numbers are misrepresented. While mine are rounded they are much closer to actual figures. Of course some people over-tip and some don't tip at all, but it's a good base. And, again, don't forget that this is for 12 hour days and no days off in a 6-month period.

Wow with a Master's Degree and teaching full time I only make about $500 per week. It is all about choices, I'd never want to be "stuck" at work 24x7 like these people are, but the wages really are not as pitiful as I thought they were. Of course my workday is 7.5 hours and I get to go home! As for me I intend to tip well, I am usually the one doing all the waiting on around my house and often at work as well, so for me tips were part of my budget and I intend to be appreciative of those who are willing to make the personal sacrifice of family and really any alone time to make my vacation better.

 

[tinkerone]

Or Heelys!
I've seen some brawls over them on the DIS.

whats a heely?

 

[mommasita]

whats a heely?

The running shoes that roll. Type of roller skate..

Back to the topic

 

[Kurby]

But with tips, he pulls in about $2,300 a month. From that, he must pay for his own visas, airfare, uniforms and supplies. Carnival Corp. withholds a $500 deposit as insurance that employees will complete their contracts.

$2300 a month is about what bil brings home. he's a chef, pays for his uniforms, pays for food even though he never eats at the hotel he works at and doesn't make tips. so they are about even in the "salary" department.

and while they make the same money it certainly doesn't seem like it. we live in Canada. pay high income taxes and sales taxes, our rent is high, our cost of living is very high

and while one might say it's sad the money these positions pay and the tips they receive may be low or high you can't compare their standard of living with ours.

a lot of people who work on cruises aren't coming from the US, Canada, Australia, UK where the cost of living is very high. they come from countries where it's much lower and maybe that $2300 a month goes a very long way in their home.

and while i think people should be paid for the job they do and not have to rely on the passengers paying tips to make up their salary i don't want to have to pay double the cost for a cruise to do so.

there will always be people who don't tip and it shouldn't be said that they "stiffed" the waiters or room attendants - tipping by definition is an option and one shouldn't feel guilty for not tipping. saying if you could afford the cruise you could afford the tip isn't the right thing to say either. there are a lot of people who save 2 - 5 years to take 1 amazing vacation. it isn't just the cost of the cruise it's the cost of flights, buses, cabs, hotels, the cruise itself and not everyone books excursions or spends tons of money in the shops, and there are some who book the first class airfare tickets, cat 1 or 2 cabins, and leave good or great tips but they shouldn't be applauded for it and those who leave none, little or minimum tip shouldn't be chastisized either.

i think people should just stop talking about tips all together - i don't think you'll find anyone, especially on this kind of format, saying that they never tip. most people don't talk about their own salaries but they have no problem saying they left a huge tip or even give a dollar amount.

 

[Futurist]

Please, Please let us debate this in a friendly manner. So much on this board lately is getting bitter and ugly. There are better things to argue about folks. This is not one of them. We don't have to share others opinions, but at the end of the day you must respect each other. If you have edited posts, then it is because it is sarcastic, and goes against the rules here.

Thank You

I'm new to this thread, and to the DIS forums (fora?), but I'd like to add a point. I worked on a ship for a year between high school and college, and was paid very little. (It wasn't a cruise ship, and it was QUITE some time ago, so I can't comment on the numbers being quoted in this thread.) We fetched up in a variety of African and South American ports, and I learned two things. First, what doesn't seem like much to us seems like quite a lot to people elsewhere, so don't judge by our standards.

The second thing I learned was from a friend, also on the ship. We were shopping in an open air market, and I bought an amazing wooden carving for $5. As we were leaving, I commented to him that I was never sure if I got the best price, or whether I had grossly overpaid. He turned to me and gave me one of the best pieces of advice I've ever received: "Rich, if you got something you really want, and you paid a price that you think was really good, then you got a bargain, whether or not it was the best price."

I've been lurking on a lot of threads, and we all seem fascinated by both the CMs and the Mouse That Soared, and with good reason - they are incredibly unusual. So, as to tipping, (and my DW and I are going on our first cruise next January), my feeling is: it doesn't matter a bit whether or not someone is making a lot of money by my standards, by their standards, or by U.S. minimum wage. Most CMs give such exceptional service (from the times I've been to DisneyWorld and Disneyland) that I'm eager to thank them. The tips I expect to give will be well beyond the suggested minimum - where warranted. Good CMs give real joy - why not applaud? And I always remember: money is the sincerest form of applause, because you earned it with your own sweat and hard work.

It's a bargain.....

Richard

 

[ROIE01581]

The number one question that I'm always asked about working on the ship is, "What were the rooms like?" Let me tell you, the first time I opened the door to my crew room, it took my breath away (not in a good way, either!). I don�t think it's possible to imagine how tiny a crew room is without actually seeing it! Seriously, your mind can't even fathom such things.

When I opened the door to my home-away-from-home for the first time, the door swung into the room and immediately took up half of the interior space. To my left was a wall that had two narrow desks, each with one shelf above with metal railings so your items wouldn't fly off during rough waters. We had a television on one of the shelves, which broadcast the guest television channels as well as an additional movie channel for the crew.

Immediately in front of me were two bunk beds. I don�t think they were even full-size twin beds, they were so small. Thankfully, though, they each had a curtain that could be pulled the entire length of the bed so that you could sleep while your roommate had the lights on. Though we each had two closets, which would hold about eight hangers each, most of the storage was in and under the bed. The headboard and footboard could be lifted up for some small storage and we each had a drawer under the lower bunk. That's it.

If all of this wasn't depressing enough, I hadn�t even stepped inside the "bathroom" yet, which was being hidden by the opened room door. Crew bathrooms are very reminiscent of airline bathrooms, only with a really tiny shower in the corner. The shower is in the shape of a triangle, and you can�t lift both arms up at once without hitting the shower curtain and having it cling to you. The toilet and sink were crammed in there, too, with very little storage space.

The room was entirely too small for one person (although more senior members of staff did get single rooms), but imagine putting two people in it at the same time -� there was no room to even move around, since we had about nine square feet of open floor space. When my boyfriend sent me a bouquet of flowers on my birthday, the flowers ended up taking up so much room that we had pollen on our clothes for about a week, since the flower arrangement consumed about half of our usable walking area by the door. At Christmas, my family wanted to send me a small tabletop tree to decorate. They just couldn't comprehend that there was literally no surface space to set a tree on.