Cruising at Christmas

[JoeyandDavid]

If you have or have thought about cruising during Christmas ... would you or did you get your immediate crew members (room steward..dining room staff ) a little gift to be given ON CHRISTMAS DAY!? if so what would be appropriate?

Just wanting to plan ahead for our next December cruise... all response appreciated..

[RNSANE]

If you have or have thought about cruising during Christmas ... would you or did you get your immediate crew members (room steward..dining room staff ) a little gift to be given ON CHRISTMAS DAY!? if so what would be appropriate?

Just wanting to plan ahead for our next December cruise... all response appreciated..

[RNSANE]

Well, I usually take gifts everytime I cruise....but, for the holidays, I certainly would. Sometimes I take little containers of body butter or shower gels for the girls, from the Body Shop or a store of that kind. Phone cards are always appreciated, as are gift certificates for use at regular ports. For example, for Monarch crew, I've given a gift certificate for a San Diego restaurant not far from the ship.

[terumim]

yes i would have to agree phone cards...

Tonia

[TheSkipper]

We too have used Phone Cards. They are something that they can always use on a port day. But, be sure and research that you are buying a type of card that can be used in the ships regular ports of call.

[JoeyandDavid]

you think phone cards would be appreciatted more than lets say ...... a wind breaker... or some other unisex item....

[Shari2]

On our last cruise to Hawaii it was close to Christmas. We left the ship on the 19th of December, I think. Half way between the cruise my DH won some money in the casino and gave me some spending money, and I asked our room steward if he celebrated Christmas, and he said he did; I just handed him $50.00. I said he could get his kids a present and that the gift was extra besides his regular tip. He was so excited that I can't say what he said. I think extra cash is always nice, too!

[JoeyandDavid]

I think extra cash is always nice, too!

That is a good point to .... maybe in a holiday card.... good idea Shari .....

[sailingrose]

Usually we give $$$$ and a nice card. One year I put money inside a large Hershey's bar and the crew loved it. Seems many of them are particle to Hershey's and Butterfingers in our experience. Since we cruised many Christmas's I started buying the little candy bars to give to whoever I wanted. It started as a Christmas Eve tradition on the Radiance and now I seem to bring candy just about everytime I sail. The crew on the Sovereign and the Mariner love me!