Lou2204

Great suggestions all, thanks so much! The river cruise is interesting too. Will go and check out your tips now. And we're from Europe, so they're in fact coming our way ;-) But Europe in the summer is sooooo busy in the usual ports of call. 

We're looking to book our next holiday, preferably with cruise, for July 2020. I have been looking (also on this site) for cruises in that month, but find there are so few options. We would  have loved to cruise the Panama Canal, but they don't sail in July. We'd love to do Central America, but only find MSC Seaside to Caribbean. (We have done this itinerary already..)

I'm now thinking: is this just a bad month to cruise around the americas? (South America search only produced one cruise in the Galapagos Islands) Or maybe I'm searching in the wrong places, that's also very possible.

Would love to hear your input and advice on where to cruise in July. 

Best regards,

Marlou 

Thank you everyone for your replies. In the process of changing our tickets.

Sounds like a good plan! 😉 we were just on this cruise, loved it!! We were allowed to take our luggage off ourselves at 7:30 am, we docked at 7:00. We opted for assisted disembarkation and were off the ship by 8:05. Very efficient, but we did have priority.

I’m also curious where the reviews are? Want to post one myself!

Hi Lou - it took me a second to realize it was you and that you had a trip booked on the Star.

 

NCL is a bit different than MSC in terms of concierges and butlers. On NCL, as said, butlers take care of things in your room like coffee machine, meals and concierge does things outside like escorts on/off ship, reservations, etc.

 

Hope your trip is going well.

 

On NCL things can also vary a bit based on what type of suite you have and what is all included for free. I think you said you were on 12 which is a pretty quiet area of the ship and close to pool and buffet.

 

You'll see a wide variety of feedback on what butlers will do. Some seem to want to do nothing and there are a few who, I've heard, are proactive. The ones we've had on NCL are pretty much mediocre at best.

 

Say hello to your family.

Hi Dex!!

How are you, good to ‘see’ you!! How was your Bermuda trip? Apart from the butler confusion 😉 we absolutely loved NCL. The size of the Star appealed to me more than the size of the Divina (although Divina is prettier) , but we preferred the more English/American crowd on NCL. Suite on deck 12 was fabulous, we loved it, stayed there with the girls, plenty of room, modern bath etc.

The girls still regret they didn’t hang out more with your kids on Divina, they were too shy at the time. This time they did, with a family we met and they had a great time.

My only problem I haven’t got a next cruise planned!! How about you?

If they don't do anything for you, there is no need to tip....just sayin'!

Quite right, and something I learned this time around......... I guess I kinda panicked when the concierge mentioned they didn’t share in the service charge.

No, if you are on the free drink package your husband likely would have a fit to find out you had to pay full price plus gratuity plus the daily butler tip to have wine or other drinks delivered to the Haven room. Our butler made it clear that outside of food stocking the fridge with milk that any drinks she bought to the room would be outside free drink package.

 

I generally made two trips a night for myself and my wife gathering our 'two drinks at a time' drink order to fully leverage the value of the free drink package.

AH, so they DO charge for the drinks brought to your room? Now I’m even more confused. BTW we had the premium all inclusive, so that is the drink package, but hard to calculate exactly what the difference is.

I get it. I'm like you. Being the first of the month, we just went over the finances and it seems we have a large surplus. DH said "maybe we should get the butler for our Oct cruise". At $4000+ more....no way. We avoid snacks and enjoy the buffet. DH doesn't wear sunglasses and I wear transition lenses...lol.

 

That extra $4K can go for some nice jewelry!

Too right!! Will last longer too ;-)

That’s a lot extra though. For us it was quite cost effective as we shared the suite with our daughters. So for the 4 of us it wasn’t bad.

We had a butler in a suite on the non-Haven Spirit. Teo was great at refilling the coffee with exactly the type we wanted, making sure that the afternoon treats were ones we liked (we asked for M&Ms instead of cheese/crackers or anything savory more than once), asking us what time we'd be back in the afternoon so the treats were timed perfectly, etc. He even brought us a special after-dinner treat for my husband's birthday, with no request from me.

 

On the Jade (has a mini-Haven), in addition to restocking the coffee to our likes, our butler, Rizaldi, also made sure that we had the "right" 3 bottles of liquor in our DOS and when he would stop by to refill the coffee mid-morning every day, he'd check if we needed anything special that day. For my husband's birthday on that cruise, he decorated the entire room with balloons and streamers and left us tons of goodies and a full new bottle of champagne.

 

One thing we've yet to have -- or ask for -- is unpacking or packing. In fact, we've never had a butler ask if we wanted either yet. On our last cruise, I was ready to say "yes" if asked, just to see what it was like to have everything unpacked and put away for me. I wondered if I would find everything, would it be done the same way I would have done it, etc. Alas, he did not ask and I did not ask either. I think I am afraid that I'll like it too much. :)

I can relate to that!! I’m already dreading having to make our own dinners again ;)

Your tips and experience are very helpful, thanks for sharing.

And I notice you also sailed YC with MSC. How do you think it compares to NCL Haven? We sailed YC last year and obviously loved it. Never used the butler then either ;p

Made my husband watch the entire movie Clue just for that line! :D

:')

Hahahaha!

It is the cordless phone handset on the desk.

 

It is a VOIP phone running on the ship’s Wi-Fi (like the phone carried by th crew). You can take it anywhere on the ship.

Our phone seemed to have a cord. But then, I missed more things I’m

Learning about now, so it was probably cordless after all.

Although I've never used that service, what I believe happens is that a guest remains in the stateroom while the butler unpacks. This helps to place items where/how the guest wants them.

Oh dear, as great as it sounds on paper, imagine the response of my 2 teenage daughters. They would be BEYOND mortified if anybody touched their clothes. Mind you, the shape their suitcase was in, so would I!!

:')

Thanks all for your insights. I really wish I had known some of these things upfront, if you’re new to cruising, wouldn’t be so strange if the butler explains to you what they are for and what you can use them for ...?

To think I sent my poor husband all

Over the ship at 11 pm to fetch me a glass of wine.

I better not tell him 😝😝

Well, first world problems, we’re able bodied and self sufficient and we had a wonderful time regardless. The best part of the suite service in my opinion is the

Priority embarking and disembarking.

^^

You should have your portable stateroom phone. ;)

We didn’t have a portable phone? Maybe only in Haven? We were on Star in a suite!

You are not charged for room service unless you order from a specialty restaurant. Want pizza at midnight? Free. Want full breakfast from the Haven restaurant? Free. At the pool and craving nachos from O’Sheehans? Free (use your portable butler phone for this request). Want dessert from Le Bistro? A charge.

OMG I wished I had posted this question before. We were told by the butler there would be a charge, also for the items in the

Mini bar?

Also we didn’t have a portable butler phone...? I’m wondering whether this was different as we weren’t really in Haven, but in a suite on a ship that has no Haven? (Star)

I would not be able to resist asking "Please bring me my wine" and hoping to get the response "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969"

 

So sunglasses aside, I would be in the same spot as the OP. I am normally very self-sufficient. What else do you ask of the Butler? Can I send them to collect some treats from the late buffet? A pitcher of ice water (something I always wish my steward would do but they don't) or at least keep my ice full (another problem with stewards... always chasing them for more ice.)

Hahahaha that is so funny!!!

If I’m at the pool without sunglasses I’d have to go to the room to call the butler , and then can pick up the glasses myself?? Plus I’d never know how to describe the

Location of the sunglasses.

:cool:

I guess I’m not cut out for royalty, really

Ok this has already been very helpful. In the room, outside of the room, excellent information,which I had known that before. This means we have exactly asked for absolutely nothing as I am indeed very self sufficient. Now I wish I had tipped the room steward more 🤨

But room service here is not included and they charge extra for that ? Or is that not the case when you ask the butler?

sailing on the Star, very happy overall. But I’m totally mystified as to what the butler is supposed to do? Ours changed after a day, as he went home, and we didn’t see our new one until Wednesday. (sailing started on Sunday).

But it seems for every request we have, we have had 2, he refers us back to the concierge, e.g. for dinner reservations. So today I asked if he could help printing out boarding passes, again “please ring the concierge “. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind ringing the concierge myself, but I’m just puzzled: what does a butler do?

On top, we tipped him quite heavily, as the concierge pointed out that butlers don’t participate in payment of the service charge. Ok so we gave him a good tip, but really I have no idea what he does? Maybe they do lots of stuff behind the scenes we’re not aware off?

If not for this sailing, I’d like to know for next time around!

Many thanks,

Lou

We're stopping in Athens, but are looking to do 1 sight, but do it well, rather than cramming a lot of sights into a few hours.

What should we go see, and do you have recommendations for a good tour company?

Many thanks,

Lou

What a great review you posted, with so many valuable tips! We're not sailing until august next year (!!)) but I'm taking your tip to heart to start early booking hotel rooms for our pre-cruise stay in Venice.

Thanks again, your story is not only very useful and valuable, but also very funny!!

:D

Just a question for you NCL folks, we are sailimg with them first time Next year, and it is all inclusive, including tips. But do we tip regardless? We did in YC at the end of our trip. We're European, we have different customs here when it comes to tipping, don't want to put my foot wrong! We are not in Haven, I don't think it was offered on this ship (Star).

Wait, now I do! It needs clicking on the plus!

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Hi Bea, I'm also using the app on the phone but I don't see the little mountain symbol?

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Hi Kevin, can't wait to see how like the Star!! You're taking the same trip from Venice as we do, I notice! October should be lovely there, so much more quiet than August, when we go. But we are fixed to the kids school holidays, so we don't have the option. Great itinerary, I think, can't wait to see split , Kotor and Dubrovnik.

Best regards,

Lou

Really well said and I concur completely. I actually met my TA on a cruise a number of years ago and have used her ever since. She is available 24/7 and answers my questions, always, within 24 hrs. The extra OBC from her is nice and when booking she already knows the type of cabin I prefer and location on the ship. She always looks for best discounts and can often pull me into her booking group for additional savings.

I have also helped her, in return, by giving complete reviews. Just sent her my review of Windstar Spirit cruise out of Tahiti. She was over thrilled with my review and cabin pictures because she had two clients waiting to hear about the trip and they both booked after she sent them my review.

Yes, I've taken enough cruises to book my own (always book my own private tours) but, having a good TA makes cruising even easier. :)

If I would find a TA like that, I would never book directly myself ever again.

I really don't think we have TA's like that in my country. :confused:

Iancal, is that allowed? I tried once to book an MSC on the US site and it wasn't allowed, had to be American citizen.

Well I spoke at length with a TA yesterday, motivated by all your remarks, even though I have already booked my cruise. Explained the situation, also said we are planning to take many more cruises in the future (we hope!!) and so he offered us ..... nothing.

Yes he would appreciate taking over the booking but we'd have to organize that ourselves, contact NCL and transfer the booking to them. No perks, no discounts, zero. So for now I'm sticking with my direct booking, since we're cruising in Europe and if something happens, we know our way around.

Amazing, huh? I think agencies in the US must be more keen for business or more client focused. Maybe I should try a few others.

Anyway many thanks for all your insights.

So how does this work if you find a better price after you have booked? Will a company be prepared to give you the lower rate, or is it 'tough'. I see so many comments of people changing bookings after booking.