Do the crew get to use empty passenger cabins if available?

[emeraldcity]

The 3-day repo from Colon to Miami isn't selling well despite bargain basement pricing. It's likely to be the first time I ever sailed on a ship that wasn't at capacity. So I'm wondering if they give the crew a treat and let them use the empty passenger cabins. Considering the cramped quarters they generally travel in, it seems like it would be a welcome respite.

[cb at sea]

No...never! They aren't allowed to use the passenger facilities, or "mingle" with the passengers....

 

They are hired to do a job....and their accomodations are part of that job description.

 

You will NOT find a crew member staying on passenger hallways....if you do, it should be reported. Both the crew and the staff know the rules. If they are broken, it's no good for anyone.

[Aquahound]

No...never! They aren't allowed to use the passenger facilities, or "mingle" with the passengers....

 

Sometimes I can't help but laugh at some of the stuff you come up with. :D

[Aquahound]

The 3-day repo from Colon to Miami isn't selling well despite bargain basement pricing. It's likely to be the first time I ever sailed on a ship that wasn't at capacity. So I'm wondering if they give the crew a treat and let them use the empty passenger cabins. Considering the cramped quarters they generally travel in, it seems like it would be a welcome respite.

 

Years ago on one of my first RCI cruises, our room attendant told us that when there are open cabins, sometimes the Hotel Director awards a couple to crew members. I don't remember if it was a lottery or some sort of reward, and I don't know of they still do it. It also may have been that particular ship and not a company policy.

[Cruising89143]

No...never! They aren't allowed to use the passenger facilities, or "mingle" with the passengers....

 

They are hired to do a job....and their accomodations are part of that job description.

 

You will NOT find a crew member staying on passenger hallways....if you do, it should be reported. Both the crew and the staff know the rules. If they are broken, it's no good for anyone.

 

You do realize that on some ships there are actually crew staterooms on the same deck as passenger staterooms. How do you think they get to those cabins?

[time4u2go]

No...never! They aren't allowed to use the passenger facilities, or "mingle" with the passengers....

 

 

Really? Then who are those imposters that we've seen eating in the Windjammer in uniforms? :D

[LuckiStac13*Majesty*]

Those are Officers, part of the Staff. Staff and Crew are different onboard, technically. But I see your point, cb's being a bit dramatic.

[time4u2go]

Those are Officers, part of the Staff. Staff and Crew are different onboard, technically. But I see your point, cb's being a bit dramatic.

 

Thanks for the clarification. I obviously get those confused!:rolleyes:

[LuckiStac13*Majesty*]

The 3-day repo from Colon to Miami isn't selling well despite bargain basement pricing. It's likely to be the first time I ever sailed on a ship that wasn't at capacity. So I'm wondering if they give the crew a treat and let them use the empty passenger cabins. Considering the cramped quarters they generally travel in, it seems like it would be a welcome respite.

 

Sometimes it happens, though not so much anymore. Those guys are jammed in their normal cabins, 3&4 together. Has to be rough living 6 months that way. Their cabins are tiny.

[Ashland]

Really? Then who are those imposters that we've seen eating in the Windjammer in uniforms? :D

And also the many that just have an RCI name badge on and no uniform, but well dressed..There's usually a few tables full of them in the later hours in the WJ..

[HARP]

No...never! They aren't allowed to use the passenger facilities, or "mingle" with the passengers....

 

They are hired to do a job....and their accomodations are part of that job description.

 

You will NOT find a crew member staying on passenger hallways....if you do, it should be reported. Both the crew and the staff know the rules. If they are broken, it's no good for anyone.

 

 

Your statement is not true at all. We have had crew in cabins next door to us.

When they turn over a show or run out of crew cabins just where do you expect them to stay?

Yes this happens more than you know.

And yes it has been used as a "reward" for crew members.

I see no problem with it.

Are you that much better than a crew member that they dont deserve a bed to sleep in?

[waterbug123]

Those are Officers, part of the Staff. Staff and Crew are different onboard, technically. But I see your point, cb's being a bit dramatic.

 

Thanks for the clarification. I obviously get those confused!:rolleyes:

 

"Crew" includes cabin stewards, wait staff, bartenders, kitchen help, maintenance workers and the like.

 

"Staff" includes those who work in a more "professional" capacity, such as in the spa/salon, Adventure Ocean, retail stores, entertainment, recreation, casino etc.

 

I don't recall all the differences (it was explained to me once by someone onboard) but Crew and Staff are definitely on two different "levels," with staff afforded more perks, better daily work schedules and that sort of thing. Officers of a certain level and above are also allowed to dine in the Windjammer and certain other venues.

[Beachin2]

Have had parts of the non-service crew (chief bosuns mate & 2 wrench bender roomies) as cabin mates next door to us on 1 cruise in a JS. Was a reward to them for something that happened several weeks before our trip.

 

If you EVER have the pleasure of having some of those folks as neighbors - you will be blessed. They are GREAT neighbors and if they like you, you might get to see parts of the ship that very few passengers see.

[lori450]

There are some officers or staff that stay in passenger cabins at certain times. As someone mentioned above, when a staff member (etc) is about to finish their contract, they may have their replacement come on board a "cruise" early to help the new person get up to speed. When this happens, it is not unusual for the person who is about to leave, to live in a passenger cabin for that week. The new person can get settled into the crew cabin right away and doesn't have to unpack twice. It is also common for dancers, singers, etc. when a new cast comes on board. I haven't heard about cabins as rewards, but it sounds like a great idea. A friend of mine was a piano player/lounge singer for years and they sometimes get a passenger cabin. They aren't considered as part of the ship's crew. Hope this helps answer the question. I'm sure there is more to it than I know, but here's a little something.

[megr1125]

sometimes the ship will have auctions for the crew and the prizes can be sailing in a guest cabin, dining in the WJ or MDR for a week, etc..so it IS possible.

 

on one ship, a bunch of gals from the salon/spa pooled money and won a JS for a week...they each took a turn in the cabin....they were most thrilled with the "HUGE" bathroom and TUB!

 

i also wonder if at some point, use of a guest cabin might be part of the WOW card award program (for lack of a better way to explain it..)

 

[and i would venture a guess that when this happens, they're on their best behavior...]

 

as to the OPs question, probably not, but who knows.....the cruise line is all about making money....i would have done that cruise but the one way air was ridiculous....you're doing a b2b i think right? that's a good idea......enjoy!

[Latvish]

I have known on many cruises that crew were staying in passenger cabins.

 

Its when you see the interstate you see how cramped it is down in the crew area. I have been on Deck 1 and its really tight. Oh wait that was the engine room.

 

It happens alot. But generally you dont see the crew running up and down the halls

[sleepless]

When on the Oasis, a crew member was showing me photo's of her using the ship facilities - flow rider, zip line, walking along Boardwalk eating an ice cream cone. She said that some times when in port, crew was allowed to use the facilities on board. I have also seen members of the main theater orchestra lounging on deck chairs - reading. I have talked to comedy entertainers in the Safari Lounge on the jewel, and dancers from the production shows in the auditorium on their off nights enjoying the show. If you keep yours eyes open, crew and staff do get to use the facilities. How they "earn" the use of the ship is not my concern. I am just happy that they do get to explore and play on the "home".

[Vitality08]

This is off topic but still interesting.

 

A casino dealer told me on my last cruise that if they have a significant other or friend/family whatever sailing they can permission to stay in the cabin with their friend/family/significant other.

 

They have to get prior approval.

[emeraldcity]

sometimes the ship will have auctions for the crew and the prizes can be sailing in a guest cabin, dining in the WJ or MDR for a week, etc..so it IS possible.

 

on one ship, a bunch of gals from the salon/spa pooled money and won a JS for a week...they each took a turn in the cabin....they were most thrilled with the "HUGE" bathroom and TUB!

 

i also wonder if at some point, use of a guest cabin might be part of the WOW card award program (for lack of a better way to explain it..)

 

[and i would venture a guess that when this happens, they're on their best behavior...]

 

as to the OPs question, probably not, but who knows.....the cruise line is all about making money....i would have done that cruise but the one way air was ridiculous....you're doing a b2b i think right? that's a good idea......enjoy!

 

I think it's a shame to leave all the cabins empty in this particular case. I'm sure more people would jump on this deal if they were doing a cruise on either side of this one ... but they seem to be both sold out now.

 

We booked the 7-day in November and never realized for some time that the next cruise was a 3-day repo. In our case, we realized it's actually cheaper to change our air arrangements and take the "slow boat to China (Oops ... make that Miami!)".

 

Thanks for all the responses. I'm hoping this is one of those times when they offer rewards to crew and staff for the use of come cabins ... they certainly have several weeks yet to put something in motion.

[lady_mac]

I was on the Navigator last month and a staff member was my neighbor.

[maxxedout2]

LOS, January, a pair of figure skaters were a couple doors down.

 

:cool:

[Cindy]

Sometimes it happens, though not so much anymore. Those guys are jammed in their normal cabins, 3&4 together. Has to be rough living 6 months that way. Their cabins are tiny.

 

We took the All Access tour last Saturday on the Mariner. Our guide told us RCCL was the third cruise line she's worked for, and a big benefit of Royal Caribbean is that the crew cabins are for two people.

She also said they try to assign cabins so that the two occupants have opposite work hours, giving the person in the cabin more privacy when they're not on duty.

[kellygirl719]

I specifically don't know if they allow staff/crew to share the same cabin as passengers.. however I have a very close friend who is the Environmental Officer on a Celebrity ship (he reports directly to the ship's captain). We were fortunate to meet up with him during our Oasis cruise back in January - his ship was in port with ours. We knew ahead of time, it took a couple of weeks to get approval but he was able to get DH and I on his ship and give us a "behind the scenes" tour - it was amazing!

 

Now, I thought before we got on the ship that he would have a "fancy" cabin since he is an Officer and boy was I wrong! Once we entered the Crew quarters it was like another world off the ship - where he does get a "single" his cabin is literally a bed, closet, small bathroom and a small couch area! (I was picturing a Grand Suite type set up - not even close!) he was explaining that the crew have similar space and like pp's stated - it's 3/4 people per room. The behind the scenes tour was pretty sweet (especially after all of the cruises we've been on). It made us realize just how much goes on behind the scenes that we don't know about!