You'll meet lots of crew members on your cruise ship vacation, but there are a handful that are the most important to seek out.
The crew are so important because they can really enhance your cruise experience. Most guests have a great cruise regardless of which crew members they interact with, but if I've learned something over all my cruises, it's there are a few crew members that can greatly enhance it.
Read more: 25 times Royal Caribbean crew members wowed cruise ship passengers with excellent service
That isn't to say if you don't meet these crew members you'll be at any kind of a disadvantage. Rather, think of it like ice cream toppings: they make what is otherwise really good even better.
The next time you're on a cruise, see if you can find these crew members to at least say hello to and put a face to the name. Some may make a big difference, while others may simply be a good resource to be aware of, should the need arise.
Stateroom attendant
It may seem obvious and obligatory that your stateroom attendant is on this list, but some cruisers don't really interact with their attendants and that's to their detriment.
Your stateroom attendant takes care of your cruise ship cabin every day of your cruise. She or he will visit it once per day to fresh up the room, and they're probably the crew member you'll see the most.
I recommend meeting your cabin attendant on the first day of the cruise so they can be aware of any special requests you may have, such as:
- Extra towels
- Splitting or combining the bed
- Providing ice in the cabin
- Laundry services
They're also the person to get a hold of if there's a maintenance issue with your cabin.
Over my years of cruising, I think the cabin attendant has had the most direct impact on my experience. From making towel animals that impress us, to transforming our kids' mess into organized order, cabin attendants have stood out for how helpful they can be on nearly every cruise.
Hotel Director
It took me years to fully appreciate what the hotel director does, and how they can impact your cruise.
The hotel director is in charge of the hotel operations of the cruise ship. If you think of your ship has a floating resort, there's the hotel operations, marine operations, and food and beverage. A cruise ship hotel director is in charge of all aspects of the hotel-type operations, including everything related to your cabin and housekeeping.
While you want to start off with your stateroom attendant for nearly every issue, if a problem lingers or the resolution is not up to your liking, be sure to reach out to the hotel director.
You can always call down to Guest Services to get the extension of the hotel director and quickly get in touch with him or her.
Suite Concierge
If you booked a suite (Grand Suite or above), one of the best Royal Caribbean suite perks are the services provided by the suite concierge.
It is the job of the suite concierge to make sure everything is going well, and they are the problem solver for suite guests.
Part guest relations, part dining guide, and part event coordinator, the concierge is empowered to do a lot, especially when problems arise.
In a lot of cases, the concierge may have inside information on changes occurring onboard and know exactly who to reach out to about most situations.
The suite concierge will have regular hours they are available in the Suite Lounge, so be sure to stop in and say hello on the first day to not only meet them, but get a copy of their schedule.
Lead bartender in your favorite bar
Imagine this: You find yourself gravitating towards a certain bar for one reason or another. Maybe it's the live music, maybe it's the menu, or perhaps the atmosphere. Whatever the rationale, you find yourself spending more time in one bar over another.
Look for a bartender who has a uniform that looks different from everyone else, and that's probably the lead bartender. And if you can't spot them, ask one of your other bartenders for whom it is.
The lead bartender has enough experience to catapult them up above the other bartenders, and these are great mixologists as well as crew members to get to know.
In my experience, the longer a crew member has worked for Royal Caribbean, the more "tricks of the trade" they seem to posses, and that's an asset to you. They can mix drinks better, might know cocktails not listed on the menu that you might want to try, and have enough stories to pass the time when the bar is slow.
Cruise Director
Every cruise director has their own style, but you'd be surprised how helpful a cruise director can be to your sailing.
They're not only the emcee for all the activities onboard, they can also help with other things to do.
One of my favorite TikTok cruise ship hacks I learned about a cruise is to ask the cruise director for an activity you might not see on the schedule.
You can ask the cruise director to add events to the calendar if there's something you think is missing.
An example was when a guest wanted more outdoor deck parties on a recent sailing instead of the one they had on the schedule. They ended up adding one every day of the cruise as a result of the request.
Casino host
Not everyone gambles, but if you do, be sure to meet the casino host.
The casino host is more than a friendly smile. They are there to answer any and all casino questions you might have.
Royal Caribbean's Casino Royale program is complicated, but there are some seriously good benefits if you can get status with them.
Don't hesitate to stop by the casino host's desk and ask for more information on how the casino loyalty program works, how to play a new game, or what your progress looks like so far.
Read more: I gambled enough in Royal Caribbean's casino to get free drinks and a cruise
Loyalty Ambassador
I get asked many questions about Royal Caribbean's Crown and Anchor Society perks, and the best person to solve these quandaries is the loyalty ambassador.
This crew member's job is to look after every single member of Royal Caribbean's loyalty program, and you'd be surprised how much they can fix for you.
Explaining benefits, changing your preferences, answering frequently asked questions, the loyalty ambassador is the person to meet for these types of issues.
The biggest problem is locating the loyalty ambassador. On some ships, it seems their office is hidden around the ship. But once you find them, they are a terrific crew member to know.
