Looking for gift ideas for our servers and stateroom host

[auntie]

When you have a strong conviction, but you don't have a reason behind your strong conviction, all you can do is make fun of those who don't agree with your conviction.

Don't take that away from her, it's all she's got in this argument.

"Her"..here.

Gotta just love how it appears to be YOU who get's to judge whether a conviction is strong. It would appear that if the opinion is not in agreement with yours then it is without merrit.
I believe I posted my reasons for not believing a gift other than CASH was necessary.

Seriously..it was joke, lighten up.


____________________

 

[twindaddy]

Let me just say, I AM SORRY FOR EVER POSTING THIS QUESTION ON THE DISBOARDS!!! It appears that some people just can't be polite and answer a simple request for a suggestion on a gift giving idea! This is suppose to be ( or at least I thought it would be) a fun place to get some "nice feedback". For being Disney related, it has turned into the most UN-MAGICAL place on earth.
I know everyone has their opinion of this matter. That is CLEAR as a bell. What I don't get is why certain people find it necessary to be rude and why they can't simply give a nice suggestion instead of telling me I shouldn't give a gift if I want to. These are also the people who probably open up a gift someone has given them and before thanking the person, tell them they don't like it. Really people if you can't simply give me a suggestion on a nice gift, then don't respond!! END OF STORY

There will always be morons like that, not so much on here but especially over on cruise critic. That site is full of nasty. I would just use the ignore button and then you never have to see the posts of those that feel better about themselves by poohing all over you.

In April, I gave all of my tipped positions a box of girl scout cookies. My Server, Assitant Server, and Head Server had no idea what they were but thanked with a big smile. yes, there are still people in the world who have never had thin mints!

My stateroom host was very happy with the cookies, and I left him all my left over drinks. I told him the last night anything I left in my cabin edible was for him, he winked and said no problem. I left him about ten waters and a bunch of soda.

I also recieved outstanding service from Tai at the future cruise desk, who bended some rules and met with us outside his normal hours to help us. He was over the moon about the cookies, he had them before and was ecstatic, jumping up and giving me a "guy" hug. I also gave a box to Fiona on the cruise staff, who was our favorite all week, and she was very happy.

I gave a huge bag of candy and two boxes to the kids club staff, and once word spread later that day several of them came up to me and said thank you, they would be very much appreciated during their weekly meeting.

I would tip extra cash to those that can accept it, and maybe bring some small food item for those that cant, prepackaged of course. They will be very appreciative.

I look at it this way: If someone I was serving for a week gave me a gift, even if it was something I detested (like fruit cake), I would be touched they thought enough of me to give it, even I gave gave it away.

 

[Texas lady]

yes, there are still people in the world who have never had thin mints!
QUOTE]

Say it ain't so!!!!

Those are my favorite~

 

[Brumbie13]

I believe I posted my reasons for not believing a gift other than CASH was necessary.

I don't believe anybody was arguing over the idea that giving a gift other than cash was "necessary."
This is a thread about going above and beyond [cash] in order to do something thoughtful for a cast member.


Your "reasons" for your idea that we shouldn't go above and beyond cash to do something thoughtful for a cast member were basically that:
1)We should just give them more cash; and
2)that they just throw the things we give them away anyways.

Both of those points were already addressed before you even posted in this thread. To summarize:
1) People who want to go above and beyond are ALREADY likely giving extra cash. Is there a hypothetical point in which we have finally given enough extra cash that we can be allowed, in your mind, to go "above and beyond" and also give the stateroom host a gift? If I give them an extra $10 tip, have I given them enough to give them a $5 gift? And if not, then if I instead give them an extra $15 tip, have I THEN given them enough to give them a $5 gift? This question can go on forever. The point is, according to you ideas, we will have never given enough tip to justify also giving a gift, and that just doesn't work.
2) What a person does with a gift I give them is not my concern. Whether they keep it the rest of their life, give it away, trade it, or throw it in the trash before I even leave the ship is irrelevant. We hope for the best when we give someone a gift, but we can't control what the receiver does with the gift we are given. Just because people might not have a use for a gift we give them does not mean we should never give anyone a gift.


Basically, the biggest problem I have with your and jlwhitney's ideas is that you two are telling people how to spend their money. In one aspect, you're right, I DON'T find any merit in the opinion that it is your place to tell others how they should to spend their money.

 

[jmjmomof3]

The night we were packing to leave our suitcases in the hall, I asked our stateroom host if he wanted some unopened packages of gum, candy & individually wrapped Mrs. Field's cookies. You would have thought it was Christmas morning for him. He thanked us numerous times for those items and explained that every time he went somewhere (? can't remember) he always bought those cookies.

 

[wannagoback]

I think a heart-felt thank you note would be very appreciated! Add in a hand-drawn picture from your kids and you have something that is personal, meaningful, and takes up no space. We have a Fuji Instax camera and have used it to snap and print pictures of people (or pets) with our kids and leave it behind to help them remember the fun moment.

 

[Jessica_Mouse]

We made goodie bags filled with candy (M&Ms, taffy taffy, tootsie pops, etc) for our FE gifts back in May...I brought along an extra couple of bags to give to our room host, and all our servers in the DR....they all loved it!!

 

[MartDM]

Sue, I'm really sorry all these naysayers have upset you. Every time this question comes up, there are numerous members who leap to to the conclusion that anyone giving a gift is giving a crappy gift, is shorting the tip, or getting the CM something useless. Methinks they doth protest too much (and they can't spell tchotchkes either ). Their baseless theories should not be used to squash your good will. And Brumbie13 - kudos to you for trying to lend some clarity to the issue & trying to get Sue's question answered!

On our last cruise, we left a 3# bag of fun-size assorted candy with Guest Services as a thank you for autographing our son's pillowcase - they went nuts for it (were even play fighting over it). We gave our stateroom host, dining room server & asst. server, and concierge all one of our FE gifts, which was a small bag candy locally made in our town - they were delighted and very interested in trying something new. Further, we received an abundance of treats in our FE that we didn't want to put in our luggage due to weight - we asked our stateroom host if he & his pals could use the stash - he excitedly took it and said it would definitely be enjoyed!

AND...are you ready for this? This was in addition to us tipping nearly double for them all, giving glowing reviews on the comment cards, and following up with a detailed letter to DCL about just how great these folks were. Shocking...we tip, write comments, and can provide a little smile to these folks too! Is that so darn terrible that you all have to argue about it every time this gets brought up??? Why is it so hard for you to let someone do something nice?

If you don't get it or don't want to do it, fine - don't. But don't keep starting arguments with people who want to. I can tell you from my own experience that, even if the item itself isn't the perfect gift for them, these folks really do appreciate someone making the gesture, someone going a little out of their way to be nice, someone trying to give them a moment of pleasure while they do one of the hardest jobs I know of. Lay off already

 

[kuhltiffany]

The tone on these boards can get rather nasty at times, can't it?

Anyway, we chatted a bit with our stateroom hostess on our last cruise, she was working to send money home, so lived very frugally. We had brought treats (liquorice, gum, etc.), and left her one very morning with a nice note from the kids. She was quite touched, and said it was much appreciated since this was a treat directly for her...

 

[the_princess]

yes, there are still people in the world who have never had thin mints!
QUOTE]

Say it ain't so!!!!

Those are my favorite~

I'm one of them and clearly missing out on something

 

[the_princess]

Let me just say, I AM SORRY FOR EVER POSTING THIS QUESTION ON THE DISBOARDS!!! It appears that some people just can't be polite and answer a simple request for a suggestion on a gift giving idea! This is suppose to be ( or at least I thought it would be) a fun place to get some "nice feedback". For being Disney related, it has turned into the most UN-MAGICAL place on earth.
I know everyone has their opinion of this matter. That is CLEAR as a bell. What I don't get is why certain people find it necessary to be rude and why they can't simply give a nice suggestion instead of telling me I shouldn't give a gift if I want to. These are also the people who probably open up a gift someone has given them and before thanking the person, tell them they don't like it. Really people if you can't simply give me a suggestion on a nice gift, then don't respond!! END OF STORY

You asked a very relevant question... Some people just don't read the questions but answer on something completely different. I'm new to the whole cruise thing, so I would like to know about these things.

 

[squirrel]

I'm bringing an air freshner for the stateroom host. It's a nice spray one that I got for free with a coupon (just paid the tax). It's not a kind I would use because of my asthma (I avoid sprays) but I think most people would like it.

Since most CM's onboard share rooms, I thought it would be a nice gift. Something that most would not spend their own money on but would enjoy as a gift.

I have not thought of a gift for the servers yet.

 

[Disney Yooper]

I brought Mackinaw Island fudge and a deck of Michigan playing cards for our stateroom host. I left them for him on different mornings. He thanked me for both and mentioned he had something similar to the fudge that he enjoyed in his home country.

I also tipped quite a bit extra for our servers and stateroom host as well as gave glowing reviews in the survey mentioning them by name.

Thanks for asking the question. I am always looking forward to my next trip and new ideas.

 

[LittleGirlGrey]

Poor Sue, I hope you're still checking back on this. I agree on the gift thing. If someone REALLY stands out to my mom and myself when we're on the cruise, and there are way more then one we do tend to give a small gift. We're originally from Alaska so we give them a small pin or postcard or whatnot *since a lot of people are very intrested in Alaska*

Our last cruise our head waiter REALLY stood out to us, he was amazing. And we had the wine package and didn't use one of the bottle of wine. We told him to pick any off of the list and he could have it. He was stunned, and very thankful. And he really deserved it.

So give a gift by all means! I live in DC now and I'll be bringing some small trinkets *Cherry Blossom pins and such* to give bat the end of my Hawaii cruise.

 

[IrenicMom]

Our special "thank you" gifts (again, above and beyond the tipping and extra tipping - think that dead horse is beat enough?) have always been iTunes cards. They're easy to pack, take up little to no space, and in tipped positions, slip easily into tip envelopes, too.

 

[sue]

It amazes me how rude some people can be on these boards. What has happened with society? Do people really feel the need to squash a persons kindness? Although you may not enjoy or even like a gift someone has given you, wouldn't you at least show some compassion towards the gift giver?

I look at the type of board this is and say "Disboards, these people love Disney and all it stands for" Disney to me stands for Happiness, Love and Compassion towards others. Now, I look at 99% of the posting to this simple thread and see nothing but people who think their opinion is the ONLY opinion and by gosh, you better agree with it! These people are also the people that are probably picking every aspect of their cruise apart and can't be happy to save their sole. Personally, I hope I am not cruising with a single of of them!!

For those of you that have been posting to this thread with positive feedback and for those of you who have actually given me some fun gift ideas, I want to say thank you!! I have gotten some very nice ideas and I know if it were me receiving any of them, I would be grateful that someone thought enough of my services to acknowledge me over and above the tipping that has been left. It is a given that I will be writing a letter to DCL with glowing remarks and names of these individuals who make my vacation extra special.

So, with that all being said, everyone have a magical day and find another inquiring sole who would like some help Your job is done here.

 

[Minnie Monellen]

I included vintage postcards of the Statue of Liberty in our FEs for our NYC to Canada cruise. I had considered incuding these postcards (stamped) in the tip envelopes.
Unfortunately I was not able to get back to the NYC store prior to cruise departure..

 

[kgoldenh]

Let me just say, I AM SORRY FOR EVER POSTING THIS QUESTION ON THE DISBOARDS!!! It appears that some people just can't be polite and answer a simple request for a suggestion on a gift giving idea! This is suppose to be ( or at least I thought it would be) a fun place to get some "nice feedback". For being Disney related, it has turned into the most UN-MAGICAL place on earth.
I know everyone has their opinion of this matter. That is CLEAR as a bell. What I don't get is why certain people find it necessary to be rude and why they can't simply give a nice suggestion instead of telling me I shouldn't give a gift if I want to. These are also the people who probably open up a gift someone has given them and before thanking the person, tell them they don't like it. Really people if you can't simply give me a suggestion on a nice gift, then don't respond!! END OF STORY

just my 2 cents. We asked our room steward etc while on the cruise if there was anything they would like that they cannot get. A few were very honest and we shopped in ports or on board for the something special. I wish I could have surprised them with something but it is hard to get something before you meet. One of my friends collected school supplies to send in the CM's name to his old school. Another sent a photo of her head server to his family along with a letter from her kids who thanked them for sharing their dad.

 

[mmouse37]

Enough of this...time to close.

MJ