Proper pay for taking nanny on a cruise?

We are attempting to take our big boys, 15 and 10, on a cruise this year. We figure that if we don't do it this year then our soon to be 16 year old, won't want to hang out with us much longer. We are thinking about taking our nanny (19) with us to help with the girls who will be two. We plan a road trip to Vegas were we will stay for a few days, and then head to LA to catch a cruise. What do you think the expected pay would be? Do we just pay her regular weekly salary, on top of the cruise, food and accomodations? Just wondering if any of you have had a similar experience. Thank you!

 

That's awesome!! That's a great question! Seems like she's still getting the benefit of the cruise and fun - I can't wait to hear!!

HOW FUN!! Good for you!

 

Great question and I am curious to hear the answers others have, as one day we sure hope to do this too!

My first thought would be her regular weekly pay, since you are paying for her cruise/etc. I think I'd also give her a night or two to do what she wants while on the vacation, and maybe take the kids on an excursion one day allowing her to do what she wants that day.

 

I'm sorry but if I were the nanny I would think the cruise and food would be my salary, but that's just me.

 

Considering she is giving up her time, and her own "life", I would think that the regualar weekly pay, plus you paying for the trip, would be right. It would be different if she "asked" to go, but because you want her there to "work", she shouldn't lose anything because of it. By that I mean, she shouldn't have to pay for the trip, and she shouldn't lose pay if expected to be "working". I would pay for the trip and her regular pay. But that is me....it will we interesting to see the other responses. We are going to pay my sister (21)...who is my babysitter, to go with us to Sesame Place in May. Of course we will pay her way, and accommidations as well. She will be there to "watch" the twins when needed. HTH

 

I would think you should still pay her normal weekly salary in addition to covering the expenses for the cruise. While a cruise may be fun, she's going at your request to work, so it's not like she's going on a real vacation or will get to spend her time however she wants.

Sometimes I get to go to Miami or Los Angeles for my work, and while I usually get to work in some free time for beach/shopping/nightlife, I still get paid to be there for work because that's why I'm there, KWIM?

 

I would pay her regular salary in addition to the paid cruise/vacation. (If you are expecting her workload during the cruise/vacation to be dramatically more than it usually is - I might even consider paying her more - but that's just how I would do it.)

We have a slightly similar situation - my high school-aged "mother's helper" is coming on a week's vacation to Maine with us. I am paying her much more than her usual weekly salary (she comes over three afternoons a week) as she will be with the babies all day instead of just a few hours in the afternoon. We are paying her expenses too, of course, and hopefully she will be having fun along with the rest of us - but at the same time she will be "working" and should be compensated fairly, regardless of the surroundings.

Have a great time!

 

quote:
I would think you should still pay her normal weekly salary in addition to covering the expenses for the cruise. While a cruise may be fun, she's going at your request to work, so it's not like she's going on a real vacation or will get to spend her time however she wants.

I agree.

 

Maybe I'm cheap, but I would think that paying for her cruise and transportation should count towards her pay. I guess it all depends on how much you expect her to work and how much free time she'll have. If you plan to have her working 12 hours a day, then yes, some salary on top of expenses would be nice. However, if she's going to have tons of free time, then the cruise is a huge perk.

My sister took her nanny to Club Med with her family last summer, and I think they paid her $100/week on top of expenses (funny thing was Club Med only charged them an extra $60/week to bring the extra person - including meals!)

Things to consider - will she have her own cabin? Will she be "working" during mealtimes (or eating with the family as a guest or eating on her own?), will she be responsible for staying with the twins while they nap or when they go to bed at night?

Maybe make her an offer: costs + some amount of money and ask her if she's interested. If she says no, then you can always increase the offer.

Good luck!

-Rachel

 

I don't have a nanny and have no exeperience with one, but I would think you would pay her weekly salary and pay for the cruise expenses as well if you are expecting her to do her normal duties or possibly more since it will be 24/7. I would think of it like a business trip for her, as a pp mentioned when she travels for work she has her travel exepenses covered and gets her normal salary as well.

 

quote:
I would think you should still pay her normal weekly salary in addition to covering the expenses for the cruise. While a cruise may be fun, she's going at your request to work, so it's not like she's going on a real vacation or will get to spend her time however she wants.


I agree with the above comment. I have been a babysitter/nanny for many families over the years and when I traveled with them I was always compensated above the trip costs and expected to be.

 

Of course, I agree with PPs. Since you expect her to continue working, I would pay her but I'd also be very specific with written expectations of when she should be watching the kids and how to manage her own free time.

 

Thank you all that has been very helpfull! We plan to include her in almost everything, just like she is one of our own kids. Hubby and I, will probably hit the tables at night, so she will be asked to watch the girls, and maybe the boys too. I think she will still have alot of fun, with us too, since she has never cruised before, and couldn't afford to do it on her own!

 

Paying her regular salary doesn't take into consideration that she's away 24/7 for a week, but the "perk" of getting to travel makes up for that, so I would think that paying her regular salary + all the expenses of the trip is sufficient.

Also - on a side note - Carnival cruises have children's programs that take 2-year olds. That's what my girls and I just did and we had a great time.

I don't think there's any better way to travel with toddlers than on a cruise. We've done three of the week-long ones out of L.A. already. Have a great time!

Best,
Mia

 

Maybe I'm cheap, but I wouldn't pay the entire weekly pay. I would think that if she gets the perk of going on a vacation even if she has to watch the kids a couple of nights would be awesome, especially an all expense paid cruise!

I think given the option of no work, no pay or a paid trip to watch kids, I would choose the trip.

Or if you do want to pay her, maybe offer half her weekly salary. Since you will be paying meals for her.

 

quote:
I would pay her regular salary in addition to the paid cruise/vacation. (If you are expecting her workload during the cruise/vacation to be dramatically more than it usually is - I might even consider paying her more.)


Ditto.

It's also important to agree ahead of time exactly how much she's expected to work. Maybe leave it flexible as to which days/nights she has off, but clarify whether it's one night in the week, or every other night, or whatever. And it would also be good to talk about what "work" means in the context of a cruise -- what activities are appropriate for her to do with the kids when she's on duty, etc.

Have a great time!