Thank you gifts for CMs

[needalatte]

I read in another thread that some people give phone cards as a thank you gift for CMs that gave them exceptional service while onboard. Just wondering if there is anything else that would also be appreciated? Or is cash (above and beyond the normal tipping) the way to go? (Myself, I can always go for a Starbucks card, but I don't think it would be too useful on the ship!)

 

[pewing]

Would love to listen in on this one

What about giftcards for the Children's Program workers and Flounder's? Anyone give any other gift?

 

[natsmom125]

I have given phone cards in the past.

I learned from a CM's mom, that they could also use cards from Penny's, Sears, Wal Mart, Target....places where they can get "clothing" not supplied by DCL.

One of our servers told us that each week, on the regular Magic/Wonder schedule, a bus load of CM's are taken to the Florida Mall in ORL to shop for whatever it is they need. I know there is a Penny's and Sears there and Wal Mart is on the way. And I believe they can also get off the ship and go shopping when they are in Port.

Hopefully the CM'S mom will read this post and help out with suggestions and let us know if anything has changed.

Phyllis

 

[WDWLVR]

First and foremost for exceptional service we always tip extra in cash. We then give phone cards as well. They have been very well received. On the Christmas cruise we also gave out Target gift cards on Christmas eve as a little extra. I had heard Target and Wal-Mart are right near the port and where the crew goes to stock up on personal items.

 

[ivanova]

I read in another thread that some people give phone cards as a thank you gift for CMs that gave them exceptional service while onboard. Just wondering if there is anything else that would also be appreciated? Or is cash (above and beyond the normal tipping) the way to go? (Myself, I can always go for a Starbucks card, but I don't think it would be too useful on the ship!)

If you give cash to a non-tip position (like a kids counselor) it is my understanding that the POOL those tips and share it equally.

If you give them gift cards valued at $25 or less I believe they can keep them (have to report them to their manager) but gift cards worth more are turned over to their manager and used as incentive prizes.

 

[pewing]

If you give cash to a non-tip position (like a kids counselor) it is my understanding that the POOL those tips and share it equally.

If you give them gift cards valued at $25 or less I believe they can keep them (have to report them to their manager) but gift cards worth more are turned over to their manager and used as incentive prizes.

Good to know. IMHO I think it is rotten to take someone's well earned tip and put it up as prize! I will probably get some phone cards and some Walmart cards. I like to tip well for exceptional service....which I am expected to be the case

Do most people follow the tipping guidelines? Just asking b/c that makes me feel better...I know their salaries are very low. At first I was a bit taken back by the 'tipping instructions', but in the end...I am more than willing to pay.

 

[txaggie94gigem]

one thing i took on the cruise with me last year was CANDY! some people on these boards had said that the CMs do not get much candy...i went after halloween and bought TONS of candy (75% off) and was able to give huge bags (almost grocery bag full each) of candy to the oceaneer club and oceaneer lab....they seemed extremely greatful and were digging through it for handfuls of candy before i left the club! I also took some nerds rope (our local sams club gave you a box of 24 with each $1 donation to kids miracle network) and applied a label to them that said "Thanks for making our cruise magical"...i kept these in my bag i carried around and handed them to employees with a tip when they brought a drink or room service...i truly believe the candy was a big hit....and all the candy probably cost less than $20...

I agree with what others say in that if one person does something to deserve a big ti they should not have to share....the answer to this would be lots of gift certificates in smaller amounts so they do not have to share!

 

[jrabbit]

Do most people follow the tipping guidelines? Just asking b/c that makes me feel better...I know their salaries are very low. At first I was a bit taken back by the 'tipping instructions', but in the end...I am more than willing to pay.

We really don't know how many people give gratuities to the folks in the tipped positions. I do know that there is a percentage of people that do NOT tip at all while on the ship. Is it up to the rest of us to make up for those that don't tip - I don't think so. We tip (usually over the guidelines) for two reasons: 1) they give excellent service (wait, did I just say "excellent" - must have heard the speech too many times ) and 2) because it IS their salary - since cruise lines don't pay them squat!

------------

As far a extra "presents" go, we've heard that the CM's (specifically the kids club councilers) love chocolate

 

[CruisingCA2005]

For those going on West Coast Cruises, I'd recommend getting Target gift cards rather than Wal-Mart gift cards. There's a Target 5-10 minutes away from the pier but the closest Wal-Mart is over 1/2 an hour away.

 

[danicaw]

We included one of the stock pictures of the Magic going through the canal (from Shutters) for some of our tips. We signed the picture and thanked them for the wonderful time right on the picture.
One of the CMs said they were going to send it home to wife and daughter.

It was in addition to our tip, we didn't reduce our tip to include this, nor would we have increased it by the cost of the picture had we not given the pictures, it was just an added token on our appreciation.
The all crew we interacted with on this trip were all wonderful, amazing, outstanding....you get the idea.

 

[pewing]

"... it is their salary - since cruise lines don't pay them squat! "

Good to know. Hard to believe...with what we pay I am glad that I learned about this now...so I can bring some extra goodies

 

[Shoevg]

As a former cast memeber, I do know that phone cards are especially nice. Some of the cast memebers are not always able to get off the ship, like the stateroom host or hostess, because of the long work schedule or quick turn around. Have a phone card they can go down to the phones that are located in the crew quarters and use the phone to call home. When I worked in Children's programming, we would put all our gifts together and go to disney world for a breakfast, or do something special as a team. It not only allowed us to get away from the ship for a morning, but it also brought us together and we were able to spend time together outside of the ship.

But the best thing is if you think a cast memeber is exceptional, mention there name in the suggestion form or tell there supervisor. These comments are taken serious and will go on the cast memebers record for when promotions come up or further career advancement is wanted.

We do appreciate those of you that make note of us, although we do what we do because we love it and we like to see everyone having a good time and enjoying themselves. I always liked to see repeat cruisers, because it meant that we had been doing our job right.

 

[inkkognito]

Although we primarily recognize crew members with additional $$, we like to give them Florida lottery tickets too, as a little bit of "fun."
Barb

 

[rsjj]

since our DSs will be in oc, and will be interacting with lots of counselors, how many "gifts" shall we prepare to bring? any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated!

 

[the kabuki]

So what are the average amounts of these gift cards?

 

[minniemoms]

AS far as Wal-Mart goes, there was a Walmart right across the street in PV, that I heard quite a few of them got off and went shopping, so if you only have a walmart near by, they could use it there.
We paid the suggested amount in their envelopes, and then the next morning, paid each of our severs an additional $20.00 bill. They looked so pleased.

 

[CM_Mom]

The ideas already posted are good. FYI, the crew has a crew shuttle in CA that will take them to the Long Beach Wal Mart. I talked to DD last week while she was shopping there.

Something no one has mentioned is Crew Appreciation Cards. A fellow Diser, Tagrel, has created some in Word format that you can download, edit and print before you leave. Check out http://www.tagrel.com/APP/CMCards.shtml. I think these are a great way to show appreciation for crew members, especially those that do some small service that you might not want to tip, such as a seaman cleaning the rails or someone vacuuming in the halls. Maybe send one to the chef or give one to the cruise staff.

Another suggestion for those with kids in the clubs is to make handmade thank you cards for the CMs as a pre-cruise activity. The CMs appreciate then and it helps your kids plan to have a good time.

As to how many...there are usually 12-13 CMs in each age group so very few choose to give gift cards to all of them. If you want to give something extra to the CMs who made your child's cruise special, talk to your child in your cabin with the navigator which has the pictures of the CMs across the bottom. Then your child can show you the picture of which CMs were special to them if you don't already know. If the specific person isn't in the club when you go to give the "whatever" it will reach them if it's in an envelope with their name on it.

And finally...Comment by NAME. All the crew wear their nametag and as was posted earlier, recognition by NAME on the comment cards is added to their personnel file and considered during evaluations.

 

[krhardy]

What we did on our last cruise was ask some of our servers (didn't have the kids, so the kids club counselors were a non issue) what were some of their favorite things that they just couldn't get on the ship. Then, in one of the ports, we took a bit of our own shopping time, and went and got those items. They were VERY well recieved. Our server, Antonio from Mexico, liked gummi bears. We gave him 3 bags on the last night, and the next morning, he said that he had already eaten a whole bag. Our assistant server, Pema from India, missed magazines she couldn't get onboard, particularly cosmo. So, we gave her a selection of magazines. Things that aren't particularly monetarilly expensive, but really meant a lot to the servers.
I think one of the things I'm going to do for the kids club counselors on our next cruise is homemade goodies of some sort that they can put in their break room (if such a thing exists). I know they dont' get "home cooked" food very often. Being that we are cruising at Christmas time, I always have LOTS of goodies ( I can't help it...Christmas baking has been programmed into me from birth).
Just some ideas.

 

[mmouse37]

I read on these boards a few times that no home-baked/cooked (non store packaged) goods were allowed to be brought onboard....don't know if it is true or not, but I remember reading it.

MJ

 

[challada]

Besides tipping over the recommended amount, here is what we just did last week for our room attendant, server and assistant server (couldn't stand our head server so just gave him recommended amount since he didn't do anything than come by every night to remind of us his name):

Tip + extra cash (we charged slightly higher than recommended then added cash to each envelope as well)
Phone cards (they all thanked us the most for these- got 60 min cards at Target for $5)

My kids each made thank you cards for our room attendant.

Our server and assistant server showed interest in our pins, etc, so we gave them each:
1 of the LE pins for our Mexico Inaugural
1 of the signed "Ducky" prints that were LE for our cruise

Our server then got a bottle of vodka from my parents and assistant server got a bottle of wine.