Savlamara

I keep seeing it thrown about people refuse to pay "full price" for "half service." How about you all call Carnival and tell THEM that you will only pay half of the cruise fare? See how that goes for you... Its obvious the people complaining are using the poor stewards as the scapegoat when they should be calling Carnival and complaining. Half service is only being provided meals half of the day or entrance to your room. Going fron twice a day to once is NOT half service especially when its not written ANYWHERE not on their website or in any documentation that its policy to get such service twice. You people are being so extreme its ridiculous. Once again taking it out on the wrong people.

If I go into a restaurant and they stop serving something I used to order all the time I have 2 choices, pick something else or go to another restaurant. You dont sit in the restaurant and DEMAND that you get what you want. Just like you dont go into a restaurant and because you spent more then you thought on the food you stiff the waiter. Its just WRONG.

Nothing is wrong with complaining but you are taking it out on the WRONG PEOPLE. The stewards probably hear it all day and they cant do anything it. They arent going to be heard by Carnival. How about calling Carnival up and voicing your concerns? Writing them a letter? Post on their social media boards with your complaints so its visible to people who actually can make change??? The bitching and moanin to the stewards (and even guest services for that matter) just hold them up from doing their already hard jobs.

Some say you can chose both day/night and some say its only once a day. Its already been established that they pilot things on some ships. This is the same thing that happened with the American Feast/Table, everyone was in an uproar and it STILL started spreading fleetwide.

I STILL blame carnival for not letting people know ahead of time that their sailing will be one where its being piloted. But then again many dont even read their contract oremails before the cruise so that would probably be ignored heavily as well.

Unfortunately this is what happens when staff is cut and they are given more to do. Many guests complaining about not seeing their room stewards all week, they are too busy working and have no time for pleasantries anymore. Increase in work means they have to take shortcuts that they had time to do thoroughly before.

I'm one of those, because Ive always tipped in cash.

 

But carnival in no way wants to add that amount to their fares. Bin fact that's why they are trying to get more things into the sail and sign card, just to make you think you are getting a great fare. The dirty secret is, once you add fare, tax port and on board expenses, you are paying about twice your fare.

So basically your taking it out on hard working crew because of your lack of budgeting and reading skills. No secret. When you book your given the option to add gratuities. Or did you skip over that part?

We're going on the Dream in April and I don't expect to fight with the steward if I choose both AM and PM (which I intend to). If the steward insists it's one or the other and a call to the Head Housekeeper doesn't take care of it then I will not tip above what I've already pre-paid. I won't pull the "suggested" tips as I do recognize that is the bulk of their salary.

Newsflash, Dream is one of the ships where once a day service has been done. No need to fight with the steward, its already going to be in writing in the documentation you get when you arrive in your room!

I am not cheap, in fact we usually tip extra to the steward, however if I am told I am paying tips for twice a day service, then I will get twice a day service. When in a restaurant you tip on how good the service is and the total of the bill. If a waitress told me that she was too busy handling more tables and I would have to get my refills myself or she could only come by my table when she serves my food and no other time, then I can guarantee you that I would cut her tips.

 

If the company policy is you can chose both and the steward says no, then you bet the tips get cut. If the steward is trying to make less work for himself then he will lose out on some tips. If the policy is not communicated correctly to the ships and stewards then that is a company issue, not my issue.

 

This inconsistency is what is the most frustrating. What do you do? Print a post from JH stating you can chose both? Would that make a difference?

Who told you that your tips are paying for twice a day service? Was that in writing anywhere? I only know the gratuities indicate they are extended "to the shipboard staff for their services." NO WHERE in the contract or on Carnival webpage or documentation does it ever say the grats are for twice a day service. So it really isnt "policy" for twice a day service.

What's interesting to me is that, out of all the cruises I've been on, I can't recall a single instance where I overheard people complaining in the hallways, casinos, lido deck, lounges, MDR, elevators, guest services line, etc. I only see people complaining behind the anonymity of the internet.

Or at guest services the last day of the cruise when they are trying to remove the gratuities.

You do understand we are talking about people who come from countries where the min wage for unskilled labor, which is what they are, is 30-60 us per month right.

 

In comparison to their neighbor at home, they are making a fortune which is why the job is so highly sought after and why they work for years.

 

Look it up if you don't believe me.

 

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I dont need to look up anything. If you read upthread I already mentioned i have 2 family members who work on board. And although they arent stewards or waiters, I know the salary of those are $50-100 per month and they DO depend on tips to get by. You also fail to realize that many people do remove tips, so those of you who claim they are "making a fortune" are totally misinformed. Even your precious John Heald has brought up the amount of passengers that remove tips on his page multiple times so NO, they arent making close to that $38k or whatever you claim you think you know.

Wonder if my clients analyze "my salary" down to the minutia to make sure that they aren't paying me more than "they" think reasonable.

 

Wonder if anyone actual knows how tips are divided amongst all the staff on a ship? I just know that my Approx. $12 tip per day is divided amongst the service staff, the wait staff, those who man the buffets. Do tips filter down to the kitchen staff, the cleaning staff and all the behind the scenes personnel that we don't actually have contact with. I, for sure, don't know.

 

Personally I'd like Carnival to get rid of all tips and just increase my fare by the "tip" amount and then I wouldn't give a hoot about who gets what and I wouldn't be at all concerned about who is doing what....but then we live in a tip happy society where some folks actually believe a tip is about service "above and beyond" when it is actually about paying a "livable" wage to many service employees.

 

Wonder how many of us would work as hard and for as many hours as a ship's staff does with just an occasional day off...I know that I wouldn't even consider it.

 

And, again, for me the bottom line is whether I am getting value for the money I spend for and while on a cruise. If I thought, for one second, that I was getting "screwed" I'd quickly find another vacation.

THANK YOU. This is exactly why I said they should include grats in the flippin fare.

We use ones made for smartphones like this one.

http://www.amazon.com/LIFETIME-WARRANTY-Universal-Waterproof-Snowproof/dp/B015N3GKWU/

They hold our smartphone, SnS card, passport and a few bills all in one.

Read my post #75 in this thread.

 

They are not making anywhere near that much.

 

They are CURRENTLY (before the change) doing 25-27 cabins per day and the head steward makes $1.50 pp, the assistant makes $0.75 pp.

 

Assuming 25 cabins x 2 per cabin x $1.50 = $75 per day

The assistant makes half that amount, so $37.50 per day

I believe contracts can range from 4 months on, 2 months off to 10 months on, 2 months off. So during a year that would be working anywhere from 8-10 months out of the year. During the time they are working, they work 7 days a week, probably 12+ hours a day. Assuming they work the max 10 months per year ...

$75/day x 300 days (10 mos x 30) = $22,500/yr

 

That amount could be higher or lower for a head steward based on how long their contracts are, how many guests are in the cabin, how many cabins they have, and if any of their cabins remove the gratuity (or leave them extra), but this gives you a good general ballpark I think. My math falls right in line with articles I have read that say stewards make 1600-2600/mo. At 10 months a year, that's $16,000-26,000/yr.

 

A "full ship" is all the staterooms occupied at 2 per cabin. So that means a Conquest class ship has approx 1500 cabins at 2 per room = published capacity of approx 3000. I looked up the max capacity for Conquest class ships which is approx 3600, assuming every single cabin that is rated for more than 2 passengers is filled to max capacity. Which I would think would be rare. I know out of our group, we usually have at least one, sometimes many cabins that are rated for 3 or more that only have 2 in the cabin. But, for this assumption, let's assume the ship is filled to absolute max capacity and the steward works the max months per year.

3600 max / 1500 cabins = 2.4 average people per cabin.

25 cabins x 2.4 per cabin x $1.50 = $90 per day

$90/day x 300 days (10 mos x 30) = $27,000/yr

 

ASSUMING the $1.50 stays constant and Carnival doesn't lower the amount the head steward gets or dilute it somehow, using my same math above but 35 cabins ...

35 cabins x 2 per cabin x $1.50 = $105 per day

$105/day x 300 days (10 mos x 30) = $31,500/yr

 

And also assuming the ship sails at Max capacity and they still get $1.50pp

35 cabins x 2.4 per cabin x $1.50 = $126 per day

$126/day x 300 days (10 mos x 30) = $37,800/yr

 

All of the above calculations are for the Head Steward, remember the assistant receives only half as much.

Thank you for doing accurate math. This whole thread is why I really WISH Carnival would take the lead in making gratuities mandatory or built into the fare. Anyone can pass by guest services on any day after the 1st day and hear a number of people requesting removal of grats, the last day is the worst. Its done way more often then people think. Which makes their pay way less.

Stay hydrated and only eat a palm sized portion of carbs at each meal. The rest is fair game.

So sorry you had to miss your cruise!

But as for the flight, call them and tell them what happened! I had to miss a flight (on Jetblue) cause one of my kids was sick. Once I mentioned that Jetblue gave me back everything in a credit even though I should have lost the whole $400 fare, they did have to ask a supervisor first. All they asked for was the name of the doctor and his phone number but they never called. Southwest is much more lenient then Jetblue so it doesnt hurt to call and ask!

Feel better soon! :)

Yes they do have some type of singles event at least once per cruise, and its usually listed in the daily bulletins but they are not heavily attended.

I'm determined to do a full wavy weave sew in with no leave out next cruise. Every other cruise I bring lace wigs, I dont feel they are secure when going in the water. This cruise I am going to let loose and do the waterslides, jump in the water at the beach and actually not care! Wish me luck! :cool:

I am just happy to go on a cruise!

Amen!

I hear you but we the passengers are the ones who are being asked to agree to less service. They do have the right to find other employment if they do not think this is worth it for them.

If they have printed up millions of forms asking guests to choose, it appears we have already been "told" and the decision is made. The staff, unfortunately, are the ones who have to be the bearer of bad news. This so-called "pilot" is just a slow "phase-in." Regardless what John Heald says, no company would spend thousands (millions?) printing things for something that would not become the norm.

Also if I quit a job for a company doing things I didnt like I'd be looking for a new job every 2 days. As someone who lives in the US with lots of opportunity, I am not that idiotic, much less to expect someone from a 3rd world country with less opportunity then I, to do so. You can't be serious.

Let's take Dream; just over 1800 cabins. Can hold 3600-4400 guests.

 

So let's say there is 4K guests.

 

4K x 3.90 = $15,600 per day for room stewards.

 

$109,200 per 7 day cruise.

 

35 cabins per steward = 52 stewards.

 

Does anyone think for a second that 52 stewards are sharing in $109,200 per week?

 

Let's be generous and say there are 50 assistants.

 

Does anyone think 102 room attendant staff are sharing in $109,200 per week?

 

come on people, do the math....

If you honestly believe the stewards get this much, I have a bridge I can sell you real cheap! :rolleyes:

Room stewards (and waiters) are among the lowest paid on the ship. Making about a quarter of minimum wage. They depend on tips to get by. Much like the waiters in restaurants in the US make $2/hr and depend on tips to survive. The crew onboard these ships actually are paid LESS. I was told like $50-100 per month.

We are booked with us in one room and minor kids across the hall. The kids cabin has a lot of obc due to price drops and I'm wondering if some can be transferred to our cabin. They have charging privileges extended from our account so it's all the same. I'm assuming we couldn't charge alcohol to their account that's why I want to switch.

 

I know last time we had leftover obc we just got a check on the last night anyway but would be convenient to have it switched. Is this something we can do on board?

Minors cant be in a room by themselves so you must have put at least one adult in there during booking to allow you to have 2 rooms. You should already be linked if both rooms were booked by you and paid for together as well. When you do your docs/check-in online it will ask you about how you want the billing setup and any OBC can be on one account. At least thats how we have done it previously.

GREAT POST! I'm an NCL convert myself and I will never go back!

Carnival is the best. Ignore the people with tunnel vision. You get issues with everything EVERYWHERE at least at some point, its the effort and recovery that matter and thats why Carnival is my cruiseline for life as well. ;-)

My cruise in from Mia and my post cruise flight is from FLL. I have booked a 12:45 flight. I have used SAS for this before, but usually have later flights. So i am counting a 45 minute drive to FLL. And will probably have to arrive by 11:30 or so? its on a Thursday... is that enough time at FLL?

What would you suggest would be the best return transfer... We will be getting off the ship in the first group.... SAS, Carnival, ?? Never used Uber...:rolleyes::rolleyes:

In this situation I would do SAS or carnival transfer. Only because both of them are already sitting there waiting to go to the airport. I have done Uber for 2 cruises at POM and both times it was a bit of a wait for the driver to drive to the port and then find us when we returned.

You dont have time to wait with a 12:45 flight.

Older ships have a "homey" feel to me. They may not have all the new bells and whistles, but they feel homey to me and the crew seems less stretched with lessor number of passengers so I feel i get better service. I also like its smaller and easier to navigate a smaller ship.

I agree that they work very hard but the point no one is making here is if they have gone from 24 to 35 cabins they are getting tips from 9 more cabins than they got before. So, yes, working harder but making more money and wanting to do half the work. And, yes, we always tip our stewards extra. Obviously, the losers here are the passengers!

Pat

They are not doing half the work if they have more cabins and area to cover in the SAME amount of time. How hard is that to figure out? Plus every single crewmember on board has MULTIPLE jobs. So the stewards do have other things they are assigned to do elsewhere on board.

I feel sorry for the cabin stewards for having to be the messenger in this bulls#!t specifically for people with this type of mentality. I wonder who, if any, in this entire thread has ever cleaned 24 of ANYTHING much less rooms in one day. Probably none, myself included. I've been walking down the halls and seen some REALLY jacked up rooms, so every is not clean. We already know they all work 12-16 hours per day and have little rest/time off. It was not their decision to cut staff/service to once a day, it was Carnival's! People really need to stop shooting the messenger for cripes sake! :mad:

Thanks so much. I think I'll go with super shuttle with the smaller vans.

The COMPANY via their brand spokesperson has said service is twice a day unless you select otherwise. So no the steward isn't reiterating what the company has said. They are pushing their own wants if they are saying you can only have once a day service.

If you take John Heald as gospel, good luck to you. It's already been proven that he only asks questions and are sometimes less informed then those here on CC. We already know it's being piloted on some ships once a day service. If the card doesn't say BOTH, then you are asked to choose. I got this card on our cruise in November just a few months ago. We chose one service and kept it moving. When it becomes mandatory on All ships for once a day you can either accept it or take your service elsewhere. Taking it out on the crew and blaming it on "bad choices in life" is not only insensitive, but asinine. People can't help where they were born. Good grief.

We pay these stewards salary. If I want service twice I should not have to listen to the stewards complaints

The COMPANY made it known in writing they are changing things. You aren't listening to the stewards complaints, they are just reiterating what the COMPANY already stated in writing. You are obviously one of those that looks at people in the service industry as beneath you.

Just off the Dream last Sunday- 3 days ago. Steward introduced himself (Jono, Cove balcony 2248) and asked me if I wanted 'morning or evening'. I said I'd like both. He replied "Miss, you may not know, I used to have 26 cabins to take care of and now I have 35. I cannot do everyone." As I commiserated with him about the amount of work, he said this would probably be his last contract with Carnival...

 

Continued to press him a bit for 'both' and he said OK- grudgingly. Did get service 2X a day but didn't get ice a couple of days. Sigh.

 

So you CAN get service but expect to be 'shamed' into it.

 

I don't think John Heald knows about that part...

 

It was obvious which cabins had 'morning only' service at about 6pm- those cabins got the next day's Funtimes put in their mailboxes. Looked like 35-40% had chosen 'morning only'.

If they are asking for a choice, why press for both? Good grief they have basically double the workload and instead of being sympathetic, you still press to get your own way despite it being a known policy change. ***. These poor stewards are doing the best they can. I don't see it as him "shaming" you into anything, it was the poor man pleading for a little compassion.

Ugh.

I dont want to have to trek to a hotel and then take anything. Thats double time and money.

How is carnival transport is the question? I've done Super Shuttle in many states hundreds of times. I just want to know the difference between the 2.

Are the carnival shuttles like super shuttle buses? Do the drivers actually help with bags? Was your wait long? Does anyone with experience with a carnival transfer to/from MSY in New Orleans have any comparison?

In Belize...not really. Typical cruise port franchises, some local items. Across from the tender pier area is a small crafts/flea market with local goods cheaper than inside the cruise port. No real tourist shopping in Belize City.

 

In Roatan...it's the cruise port areas. A few shops in Coxen Hole which isn't close by Mahogany Bay where Carnival docks. A small selection of shops in a "mall" in West End, but relatively pricey as they cater more to expats and long stay vacationers.

 

In Cozumel...shop till you drop at Puerta Maya or downtown San Miguel...better prices are obtainable in shops away from the waterfront and the downtown plaza. Avenida 30 is a good place to start.

Good information, been to Cozumel 3 times and been so busy on excursions I didnt know any of those shopping areas! Thanks!