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2nd Officer
 
Group: Members
Last Login: 04 September 2009 20:53
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Hmmmm. We had a bad experience at the end of our recent cruise on Oceana. We felt our Cabin Steward had done the absolute minimum and not made us feel welcome, so we only left a relatively small tip. Imagine how we felt when he followed us down the corridor waving his envelope and asking if that was all he was getting!
Does anyone know if the staff rely on these tips to make up their wages?
BTW, I have written to P & O HQ today about this and about the reasons why we were unhappy with the service. They were all small and not worth mentioning at the time, but added up (especially when he wouldn't let me back in the cabin to change after swimming because he was in the middle of making the beds! I thought customers came first!)
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Commodore
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Last Login: Yesterday @ 17:26
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Tabitha if steward told me I couldn't go back in my cabin for what ever reason I would make a complaint, and there would be no tip.
You pay for the use of the cabin for the duration of your trip, the cleaning should be done around you no to suit the staff.
Ian
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Commodore
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Tabitha - it is not so much as they rely on the tips they depend on them. My understanding is that the staff are on a very low basic wage (could even be called a pittance) so the tips are important. There are arguments both ways as to whether this is right or wrong but, at the moment, that is how it works.
As for cabin stewards not allowing you into your cabin that has never been our experience. Usually you find that the steward is "doing" your cabin and says that he/she will be five minutes (which is quite often nearer ten) but if you say that you need to use the cabin then they will come back. I think that the problem, from their point of view, is that they do have a very tight schedule in a morning to get through their work and any interruption can throw the day out. My estimate is that they have, at the most, 15 minutes to clean your cabin (based on a steward having 20 cabins and starting at 07:00 and finishing at 12:00) so they are never in your cabin that long anyway.
David
Remember: You only know what you know and-
You do not know what you do not know!
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Commodore
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Last Login: 2 days ago @ 14:24
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| Tabitha, What a shame you did not bring the matter to the attention of someone onboard suring the cruise - as you said each matter was only small until all put together when they obviously became a real concern for you. And then to be told you cold not enter your cabin as they were still making the beds, I have never heard that happening before and how unpleasant for you to have to stand in the corridor in your wet swimwear and towel waiting. Again it would have been a good idea to mention it to the Deck supervisor or to the pursers desk so the matter could be addressed and not leave you with a poor memory of the stewards ability to do their job. One thing that may have caused the problems is that it appears cabin stewards now have to service a larger number of cabins than in the past meaning they may have reduced the quality of the service they give. P&O need to know this so they can address it. Finally, I cannot think how embarrassing it must have been to have the steward chasing you down the corridor asking about the tip - if it had been me I would havebeen candid and would then ask if they are not happy with the amount if they would have preferred nothing!! At the end of my cruise I very carefully made it clear that the tip I gave my stewardess (Lolita) was from me alone and that I did not know what arrangements the parents of the children sharing my cabin had planned for tipping on their behalf!! She was thankful for what I had given her and accepted that I could not be expected to be responsibile for other people's children, nor should I have to pay for them. Let's hope your next experience is more positive. Feebee_71
http://picasaweb.google.com/Feebee71
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Commodore
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Last Login: Today @ 09:12
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| On the few times I have gone down to the cabin during the day, if the lad or lass is in the middle of bottoming the cabin I ask "if I come back in 30 mins will you be finshed?" Not a valid reason in my view to withhold a tip.
Derek “The Monocled Mutineer” Kane
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\__/|>o<| Last cruise: Aurora R906 06/2009 Next cruise: Oriana X003 03/2010 For cruise history view "Member's interests" "The past is a foreign country - they do things differently there." - LP Hartley - The Go-Between.
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Commodore
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I have never had the experience of a cabin steward refusing me access to the cabin either, infact I have been back many times to the cabin when they are in mid clean and they have always asked us would you like us to leave normally we have just been collecting something so they have continued whilst we popped in. Sounds very odd and I agree with other posts would have been something better reported on board so a reoccurrence could be prevented.
Mee Mee
R317 Aurora Sep 03, R521 Aurora Nov 05, R721 Aurora Nov 07, N817 Ventura Oct 08, E915 Oceana June 09, N923 Ventura Sep 09, A002 Azura April 10, R013 Aurora Nov 10.
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Commodore
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| Very unusual indeed for a cabin steward to ask you to wait until they have finished. They usually offer to come back later if you turn up whilst work is in progress. Alternatively, if we do not wish to leave the cabin, we ask them to come in and then sit out of their way, on the settee whilst they are cleaning the bathroom or on the balcony whilst they are making up the beds and dusting. Many, we have found, do like to chat a little and we have had many excellent recommendations for what to see, do and how to get around at ports of call, from them.
wolfhound
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2nd Officer
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Last Login: 04 September 2009 20:53
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Derek
Fair enough but not a valid option when you are cold and wet - short of going back in the pool I suppose! In other circumstances that's exactly what I would have done.
Fran (aka Tabitha)
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Commodore
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Last Login: 17 November 2009 00:13
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| I can't believe the cabin steward came after you to ask if you were leaving him a bigger tip. That's very unproffesional and definitely something to complain about. Neither can i remember ever being refused access to my cabin. As with others on here the cabin steward or stewardess has offered to come back later. To be honest it just sounds like a very unfortunate one off, and i'm sure you will have better service in the future .
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Commodore
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Last Login: 25 October 2009 08:04
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| Hi When you book a cruise you should be aware that tips are part of the cost and allow for this. The staff do rely on tips as a large part of their income and unless you have good reason to withhold their tips I would suggest it is bad manners not to tip at least the accepted amount which when compared to the overall cost of your cruise is minimal. We are just off on a 23 night cruise and the total cost of tips for the two of us will be £172.50 unless of course we decide to add a little for excellent service which has in our experience always been the case. Enjoy rewarding good service as you do not often, in my experience, get the same level of service in most establishments here in the UK. Terr & Linda
Terry & LindaAll at sea since 1997 on :- Arcadia x 2- Ventura - Enchantment of the Seas x 4 - Rhapsody of the Seas x 3-Vision of the Seas x 2 Grandeur of the Seas x 2 - Legend of the Seas x 2 - Norwegian Dawn - Island Breeze Arcadia 11/2010
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