Brian - getting back to your post about not tipping the maid. Unfortunatley your room steward doesn't make even close to what a hotel maid in the US would make. The room stewards could not live or survive on their base salary, also most of the staff sends most of their money home to their family. Also your room steward is so much more than just a maid, he/she is basically your butler for the entire cruise, if you need something,just ask and it will be done, also how many mainland hotels that you know of clean your room twice a day? The cruise ships do.