Stateroom hosts

[DLgal]

Also, your towels will never dry. The rooms don't have much ventilation and the bathroom doors can't really be left open.

I can also basically guarantee that your stateroom host won't steal any of your things. They are accountable for your room the whole cruise and there is nowhere to hide on a cruise ship. They don't want to lose their jobs. Lock up wallets and expensive jewelry and leave t in the safe the whole cruise. There is no need to carry a wallet around the ship anyway. We always leave out electronics and they are never touched.

 

[FigmentSpark]

All my expensive jewelry will be in the safe at home. I don't take chances with that, heh.

I do remember someone admitting to taking one of the red pillows out of an empty, but open stateroom on another thread. While that person might have not ever stolen personal property, it does make me wonder whether the attendant ever leaves the room open, just to run to get something, which also leaves it empty for someone else to slip in and help themselves to something. So, even if a theft is not done by the attendant, there could be a risk of theft in that way. Do they leave the rooms empty and doors open ever for any reason?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

That brings me another question. I have one son that has 'claimed' the top bunk. If they put it away every day and he wants to lie down for some game/relax time, can we pull it down or is it just better to let him use our bed?

You can ask the steward to leave the bunk down during the day or find him/her if you want the bunk put down. It works with a key so only the room steward can raise and lower it. It might be better to just let him use the bed or the sofa.

 

[moremouse]

I only have one thing to add...

I had the DND sign in our door at all times that we were in our cabin. Some days I was in the cabin until dinner time. I just liked to lay out on the lounger on our verandah.

I told him that we really only needed clean towels and trash removed at turn down. Our stateroom attendant REALLY wanted in though.

They put a notice on our fish that said that he needed access to our room each day. A separate notice that said they needed to get out on our verandah (I guess from the outside) to clean/do maintenance. I felt bad about it. It was sort of embarrassing, but I'm going to be sure to let them know via housekeeping this time, as someone noted above.

We always leave, at least, the suggested tip amount. More if they go above and beyond.

We've never had an issue with things being taken from our cabin, or felt uncomfortable. Most of the important stuff is in the safe anyway.

Have a great cruise.

 

[Flossbolna]

All my expensive jewelry will be in the safe at home. I don't take chances with that, heh.

I do remember someone admitting to taking one of the red pillows out of an empty, but open stateroom on another thread. While that person might have not ever stolen personal property, it does make me wonder whether the attendant ever leaves the room open, just to run to get something, which also leaves it empty for someone else to slip in and help themselves to something. So, even if a theft is not done by the attendant, there could be a risk of theft in that way. Do they leave the rooms empty and doors open ever for any reason?

I am pretty sure that that post was a joke! When those red pillows were introduced there was a huge discussion abou how you would be charged for it when it disappeared. I think it happened to one poster and they had to go through hoops with Disney. That's why on that confessions thread someone "confessed" that they stole it. I haven't heard any issues with the pillow in a very long time!

 

[wcw57]

unless you want to see the towels or get the small chocolates, do want you want......
It's YOUR opinion that counts here. Like people are wont to say on other threads:
"It's MY vacation and I can...."
except, in your case, it truly IS YOUR vacation and you can do whatever you want without impacting anybody else.......

 

[FigmentSpark]

I am pretty sure that that post was a joke! When those red pillows were introduced there was a huge discussion abou how you would be charged for it when it disappeared. I think it happened to one poster and they had to go through hoops with Disney. That's why on that confessions thread someone "confessed" that they stole it. I haven't heard any issues with the pillow in a very long time!

Ah, well, I didn't know that was just a joke, heh. You see rooms open in hotels with no one around, as the staff is usually doing multiple things at once, so it wasn't totally outrageous to think a room could be left open and unattended.

 

[Starwind]

When I stay in hotels I leave the DND sign on for the entire trip, for privacy and security reasons.

On a Disney Cruise, as other have noted, I have a very different feeling and we do not put the DND sign up unless someone is e.g. taking a nap. Wallets and valuable, including electronics, are locked up when we are not in the room (well, the wallet pretty much stays in the safe anyway; and when I stay in hotels the same are locked up when I am not in the room even with the DND sign) and we don't bring jewlery beyond the watches we wear.

My recommendation is to take appropriate security precautions, but at least try letting the stateroom host do their job.

We are always excited to come back to the room to see what creative towel animal has been created - we tend to collect them so we have quite an animal farm by the end of a cruise (we leave them)

And we appreciate fresh towels and cleaned out trash (those containers are tiny). Sometimes we will just hang a towel to dry, and they WILL dry but take a long time; on our second cruise we gave up doing that and for the most part put them on the tub rim so it is clear to replace them.

We've also had great conversations with our room host and gotten some good advice - e.g. one day I was headed out of the room to do laundry, havig decided by the map the closes was the deck above. The stateroo host saw me and asked if I was doing laundry and where I was going for it, when I told him he explained that actually the deck 2 laundry room was closer because it was right beside the elevator so there was no walking back to the front of the ship. I was SO SO SO glad he told me this !! Wow !! Did multiple laundry trips that cruise and the next and made good use of the deck 2 laundry room. Definitely closer and easier to access.

SW

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

All my expensive jewelry will be in the safe at home. I don't take chances with that, heh.

I do remember someone admitting to taking one of the red pillows out of an empty, but open stateroom on another thread. While that person might have not ever stolen personal property, it does make me wonder whether the attendant ever leaves the room open, just to run to get something, which also leaves it empty for someone else to slip in and help themselves to something. So, even if a theft is not done by the attendant, there could be a risk of theft in that way. Do they leave the rooms empty and doors open ever for any reason?

We were in a Cat T midship room, deck 8 near the elevator area. Concierge get to go to thier rooms early. We were in our room on the Magic circa 1 pm, and the main staterooms open at 1.30 pm.

So we are in our room sitting down, and the stateroom host had some issues that required our door to be left open, we were not too concerned as we were in the room and just embarked.

At 1.30 pm the barriers came down and cruisers could go to thier rooms. As said our door was propped open but at that time the host wasn't there. We heard a male voice shout out, " let's go and look in a suite", and he and his family started to come into our room. He saw us, did a 180 degree turn, as you see in cartoons, with his family, and made a quick exit.

Yes there is a since of entitlement with some cruisers, if we were not there I am sure they would have toured our room.

Now as posted before the stateroom hosts do a wonderful job so you do want to allow them in, my son oversleeping has caused issues in the room not being made up. But keep valuables out of sight, as some cruisers feel they can go anywhere they want.

 

[SC Minnie]

We just got off the TA cruise. We slept in most of the sea days, DD slept in some days until noon. We put the Privacy sign out and our stateroom host, Ryan, would honor it. He would see her leave the room around 12:30 -1 and she would tell him 'good morning'. He would clean our room by the time we went back an hour or so later. After a day or so they get to know your family's schedule.

The trash thing is a biggie. There were 3 of us and somehow we managed to fill up the litter trash can every day.

The rooms do have a safe and we put our wallets, passports, and any extra cash in the safe. You don't need any of that except in port so no need to have it out anyway.

 

[Sir William]

Another pitch to let the steward come in and do their job. You'll enjoy the cruise more if you do.

We've never had any security issues with our stewards. We put valuables (electronics, wallets, passports, etc) in the safe and they stay there unless we need them. Everything else we try to put in a drawer, the closet, on the shelves, or in the suitcases under the bed so the steward doesn't have to clean up around our stuff.

I asked one of our stewards why they left the cabin door open when inside. He said it was so they had quicker access to their carts, which are left outside the door; to let guests know someone is in their room if they return; and for the steward's personal security since it is harder to be accused of theft, assault, etc if the door is left open for others to see in and hear. They are not supposed to leave the room open and unattended, and I've seen more than one close the cabin door to do something, then return to and reopen it to finish what they were doing.

I make a point of meeting our steward on the first day, and I make sure I greet them whenever I see them. If I see them in the passageway and they are carrying something or pushing their cart, I step out of the way to let them through, usually saying something to them about they are working but I'm on vacation so I'm in no hurry. I let ours know we drink wine in the room so ask they replace our wine glasses each day (the first day I get them from one of the lounges/bars). Invariably, they leave us a bucket of ice as well.

I spend a lot of time on our veranda, especially on sea days. If the steward comes in, I just let them know I'm on the veranda and they can do whatever they need to do. Mine have always knocked before entering and usually they will not enter if you're in the room, but excuse themselves to return later. They have also followed the open/closed door procedures I mentioned above, even if I'm on the veranda.

About the only time we put out the DND sign during the day is if we're changing clothes. I put it on the door on sea day mornings as DW likes to sleep in. One evening DW became ill during dinner so after putting her to bed, I put out the sign and returned to finish my meal (my servers even brought a fresh plate for me).

The cabins have sofa beds that are quite comfortable for napping. Both my kids and I have used it at one time or another for that purpose.

 

[Jwhittin]

We had the best host on our last cruise... every time he saw my daughter, who was 4 at the time, he said "hello Princess!" We loved that he did his magic each night and made her bed with the princess sheets, tucked her Minnies into bed, etc. You miss so much cute stuff if you don't have the hosts do their thing. It's almost my favorite part of the cruise!

 

[FigmentSpark]

It sounds like they become more than just 'housekeeping service'.

 

[gismo1554]

Thanks, everyone. It's more about our own privacy - not wanting to put away money or worry about things, or sleep in or nap without worrying about being up at a certain time. But yeah, if they are people that we get to know, that is different than the housekeeping in a hotel.

Remember it's a cashless ship so unlikely to have money lying around. Also I tend to put sign on when I go to bed and take off when up.

The towel animals I'm sure your kids will love! So much fun and an added extra in my opinion.

And the bin is tiny so needs emptying a lot - half is recycling and half normal - so that's also a good thing they do for you as no trash shoots to drop off at

 

[MUN]

My husband usually puts out the 'do not disturb' sign when we stay in hotels and it doesn't come off our door until we check out. If he decides to do that on the cruise, will it be honored or will they come in anyway? We usually just ask when we need stuff in a hotel (not often - the occasional towel). Also, will we be missing out on something with the service, if we do that?

Does your husband make you clean the hotel room while you are on vacation, or does he pitch in?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Remember it's a cashless ship so unlikely to have money lying around. Also I tend to put sign on when I go to bed and take off when up.

The towel animals I'm sure your kids will love! So much fun and an added extra in my opinion.

And the bin is tiny so needs emptying a lot - half is recycling and half normal - so that's also a good thing they do for you as no trash shoots to drop off at

Whilst the ship is cashless, I have a lot of local currency for ports of call, and $ for tips etc. - yes not left laying around, but there will be cash.

 

[Starwind]

Whilst the ship is cashless, I have a lot of local currency for ports of call, and $ for tips etc. - yes not left laying around, but there will be cash.

The DND sign is no guarantee someone won't come into your room (the chance is small, but not zero). Your safest option is to put cash and other valuables in the safe except when you are actually using them, as you should do at any hotel. The safe is in the closet and easy to get to and use.

SW

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

The DND sign is no guarantee someone won't come into your room (the chance is small, but not zero). Your safest option is to put cash and other valuables in the safe except when you are actually using them, as you should do at any hotel. The safe is in the closet and easy to get to and use.

SW

Yes I know that!

 

[gismo1554]

Whilst the ship is cashless, I have a lot of local currency for ports of call, and $ for tips etc. - yes not left laying around, but there will be cash.

Sorry yes I appreciate that I meant more that if you are anything like me you leave money around where you have just taken change out of your pocket and put it down. That's less likely to be the case on a cruise in my experience as you are more likely to be putting money away at the end of a trip etc.

 

[Sir William]

My husband usually puts out the 'do not disturb' sign when we stay in hotels and it doesn't come off our door until we check out. If he decides to do that on the cruise, will it be honored or will they come in anyway? We usually just ask when we need stuff in a hotel (not often - the occasional towel). Also, will we be missing out on something with the service, if we do that?

Another thing to remember is that most of the cabins are much smaller than your average hotel room and even with just two people can feel crowded at times. By keeping your personal items stored away (drawers, shelves, closet, etc), and allowing your steward to come in and empty the trash, replace wet towels, make the beds, etc, the room will feel much less cluttered. I'm always a bit surprised to see how much trash we generate so having the trash bins emptied several times a day is welcome.

Nothing wrong with putting the sign on the door when you're inside and want privacy, but I'd leave it off when you're out so the stewards can do their job.