Things That You Can Do to Make Your Cruise Crew Simply Love You!

One of the things that most stand out from a cruise vacation starts the moment you step onto the ship and encounter a large amount of people from all over the world eager to help you with your every request and issue. Yes, sometimes the issue can cause enough aggravation that their devotion to serve pales in comparison with your willingness to recognize it, and yes, from time to time you’ll be unlucky enough to encounter that 0.001% crewmember who couldn’t care less. But, if you’re willing to look past this, you can ensure crew members love you, appreciate you, and show affection for the person that you are, which can go a long way in your level of enjoyment (or not, don’t let this be the only reason to be a great human being). Here’s a few things you can do to ensure your presence is memorable… for all the right reasons.

• Write a personal card – It doesn’t have to be a Hallmark branded card, anything you use to pour your heart out a little to thank a crew member, even if it’s the cruise line’s letterhead, will for certain make the crew member’s day shine brighter than the sun, and so will you.
• Greet back – I know, it sounds basic, and it really is sad that something so simple had to be in a list like this, but yes, greeting back is a thing. I encounter guests from both sides of the greeting-back behavior on a daily basis, and when my mind is not too busy on other things, I wonder why some people choose to actively ignore a greeting. As an habitual customer myself, I could think it’s to avoid being engaged or committed to any purchase or hiring of a service, which I could even relate to, but in the huge majority of cases, it’ll be fine to respond, or at least acknowledge such a gesture with a friendly nod. Don’t be afraid, you won’t own any timeshares following such an event.
• Bring a small gift – After realizing that on every contract I would unavoidably get to meet, if only for a short time, wonderful people, I decided a few years ago (me, the crew member) to buy small gifts at home, mostly related to my country, and bring it with me on board. This way, I could show my appreciation to someone for entering my life and enhancing my day. This is not something that most crew members do, and I’m not fooling anyone telling them I brought it specifically for them, but it certainly has a great meaning. It allows a person to show another person just how happy they were with their paths crossing… Or something less romantic. In any case, bringing something along, regardless of how small, to hand out to someone as a physical thank you, will without a doubt make you unforgettable. I should know, I remember exactly who gave me every one of these gifts. 

• Hold it together – As we have discussed in previous articles, things aren’t always going to go our way. Occasionally, we might have to turn into a Karen (guests crack up at this term now!) and bring something unpleasant to the crew member’s attention. No one is saying you shouldn’t be upset, or even look upset. But there’s a huge difference between physically and verbally expressing “I am upset, I need your help to make things right, please assist me”, and expressing “I am upset, this is your fault, or it isn’t, I don’t care, you work here, deal with me”. Aside from how you will be remembered, I can assure you approaching such situations with a soft, and yes, firm, demeanor will definitely prompt the crew member to assist to the best of their abilities, as opposed to doing the minimum they are required to do as per company policy. So, be upset, but also be aware of how you’re making the crew member feel. Do honey and vinegar ring a bell?

Most likely you are going to have an amazing cruise no matter what but if you do a few tiny things to make your crew love you – I promise you the experience will be one you will never ever forget. – ThatGuy (onboard)