Question about tipping at the kids' clubs

[Mulan's Ma]

I know that the counselors do not expect tips, but can they accept tips if offered? I have seen phone card information, and candy discussions, but what about cash? Does anyone know for sure?

TIA,
Linda

 

[mark & sandra]

We had the same question when we cruised this past january. We asked a counselor and she said all monetary gifts were given to the manager and then used for a party for all the counselors. If you want your gift to be more personal, giving gift cards might be a good idea. When docked in Port Canaveral, some of the staff goes ashore and some shop at a local WalMart...Mark

 

[Mulan's Ma]

THanks for the quick reply!

Linda

 

[talicskai]

We gave some special counsellors Walmart Gift Cards - they were very appreciative and we found it to be more personal than cash.

Teresa

 

[kaykels]

Aside from tipping them at the end, if you REALLY want to do them a favor, sneak them some FOOD. On the night that they put out the big dessert buffet, make up a plate and take it to the kids club AT NIGHT (not during the day... the bosses are watching). Watch their eyes roll back in their heads. I don't think they feed them very well. Everytime we did this they were SO SO SO excited.
On the night of my son's birthday they give us a big sheet cake. We were much too full to eat it. We took him to the club that night and gave them the cake. All of the counselors thanked us over and over again. After that we became the "cake fairies" and dropped off goodies almost every night.

 

[travel with kids]

On our last cruise, we took phone cards to give out plus a few Maine products (maple syrup, blueberry jam, a pine needle scent pillow-very good for the bathroom). I also purchased photographic cards of our area (mountains, ocean, moose, snow) and my DD wrote what she most enjoyed on the cruise. They were all very appreciative. Two of the counselors wrote my DD a thank you in return and slipped it under our cabin door our last night.