Typing with Phone Cards?

[swandiverpatt]

Have read on here the great idea of tipping with pre-paid phone cards. For those of you who do this, what denomination to you use?

 

[GenieDana]

You may be better off using Target or Wal-Mart Gift Cards. You can put any denomination on them ($5, $10, etc.) and the crew "Fun Bus" definitely goes to Target when in port (we witnessed these two times now for 7-day sailings). We saw lots of crew carrying Target (and Winn Dixie) bags back to the ship after getting off of the bus.

Our servers (both from the Philippines our last trip) told us the crew routinely uses the internet to communicate with their families, including WebPhone and other services.

 

[swandiverpatt]

That should be "TIPPING"! Guess my fingers weren't awake yet!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by swandiverpatt
Have read on here the great idea of tipping with pre-paid phone cards. For those of you who do this, what denomination to you use?

I've never done this, but it seems like a nice idea.

Just remember that the phone cards are really just for DCL crew in non-tipped positions (such as child center counselors) as an extra thank you, or as a little something extra for your servers or stateroom host above and beyond the money tips.

The four major tipped positions (stateroom host, server, asst. server, and head server) rely on tips for almost their entire income, and they need to be able to provide money -- not phone cards ar Walmart cards) to their families back home. Although it may seem more considerate to provide gift cards, I imagine that cash (either actual cash or tips charged to your onboard account) remains the top preference for those who earn their pay almost entirely through tips.

 

[GenieDana]

FYI - On this last cruise we asked our Stateroom host (Praveen) how many cabins he worked. He said 15 (Deck 6, CAT 6).

Our servers (Ferdinand and Freddie) did 2 tables, ours - a party of 15 and one other (family of 4). I do not know if they worked both 1st and 2nd seating, but they also rotated into Topsiders and worked there.

 

[ThreeCircles]

This subject has come up on the boards on numerous occasions and I must say that it really confuses me!

It is probably a well-established fact that most individuals would prefer cash tips rather than a phone card or gift card to a specific store. And yet, people continually suggest that these items are something "really nice to do for the crew."

I guess I just don't get it.

Many crew members send cash back home to families. Many may have little or no use for a phone card or gift card. What gives? Just give cash and a nice Thank You note.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

Good morning ThreeCircles.

It is probably a well-established fact that most individuals would prefer cash tips rather than a phone card or gift card to a specific store. And yet, people continually suggest that these items are something "really nice to do for the crew."

Many crew members send cash back home to families. Many may have little or no use for a phone card or gift card. What gives?

I guess they can use the phone cards to call home and make sure the cash arrived...

 

[Cruise]

Originally posted by ThreeCircles
This subject has come up on the boards on numerous occasions and I must say that it really confuses me!

It is probably a well-established fact that most individuals would prefer cash tips rather than a phone card or gift card to a specific store. And yet, people continually suggest that these items are something "really nice to do for the crew."

I guess I just don't get it.

Many crew members send cash back home to families. Many may have little or no use for a phone card or gift card. What gives? Just give cash and a nice Thank You note.

I think the confusion arises in two ways.

1 - These cards should be given IN ADDITION to suggested tips if you feel like you want to give "a little something extra" to the crew member. The confusion arises when people think the cards should be given IN PLACE OF a cash tip. In any case, extra cash may be more appreciated than extra cards.

2 - These cards should be given to CMs that traditionally aren't allowed to accept cash tips...not those who DO accept cash tips. However, many people have had sucess giving cash tips to CMs working in the children's programming even though some say they aren't allowed to accept cash tips. One might want to offer a cash tip and, if refused, have a card on hand to offer instead.

Julie

 

[swandiverpatt]

And I truly meant it as an "extra", not an "only"!

 

[ducklite]

We tipped the four main tipped positions about double the suggested, and added a phone card and handwritten note as well. The phone card was an added gesture, on top of a generous although much earned tip.

I also gave pohone cards to each of the counselors in Common Grounds which are not tipped postitions as I felt that they deserved a little something.

Anne

 

[Cruise]

To answer the original question, my local Sam's Club sells a package of 7 cards worth 120 domestic minutes each for a little less than $30. I'd probably pick these up. Depending on which country the person is calling to, the cards could actually end up being worth anywhere from 60 minutes of call time to 15 minutes of call time each.

Good luck,
Julie