How much extra do you tip if you are in a Penthouse Suite?

[erdoran]

Not sure on that one - The part that bothers me personally is their wages are so low with out tips what if a large number of customers "didn't use their services much" - We had one breakfast delivered and some strawberries and a blender delivered. In addition the butler brought the daily snacks and kept the coffee machine stocked etc.

 

Our Concierge booked two reservations for us and had a Ulu picked up for us on the last day from ships security.

 

Was that a lot or a little? I don't know. All I know is they get paid next to nothing and make most of their money from tips. Which puts passengers in a tough spot of making decisions that impact livelihoods.

I've always had exactly that issue regarding how cruise ship staff are compensated! For my trip when I'm in a suite I fully intend to make use of the butler, and tip accordingly. As for the concierge, I don't know that I am going to need much, if anything, from him....and if I never use the concierge, I don't believe I should have to tip.

 

But overall I don't like being in a position to directly affect someone's livelihood...I absolutely believe in paying for what I buy--but when cruising, you don't have the option NOT to buy, which I don't like! If I think the drinks are overpriced, or I just don't feel like having a drink, or I'd rather spend my $$ on excursions & specialty restaurants than booze (or for that matter, NOT spend any more) I do have that choice. When it comes to services that I believe should be included in the fare, I don't have the choice! I've often felt like I have a dollar sign on my back, and when someone does their job I'm expected to pay them for it, either through a direct tip or the DSC (which I do because there is no option not to)--but I really hate that way of doing business. In my job, I get paid a salary and when I do my job I don't look to my "customers" with my hand out, expecting compensation from them--I expect to see my paycheck every month instead. This way there is a lot of pressure on the passengers, especially in the case of undefined tipping situations like in suites!

[Jumbiecruiser]

For me it all depends on what each person does during the week. It's not just an automatic amount.

[pmd98052]

For me it all depends on what each person does during the week. It's not just an automatic amount.

 

I agree it shouldn't be but I felt compelled to leave a "fair" amount even though we didn't have much done just because I knew it impacts their salary in a dramatic way if everyone cut back due to "not using them much"....

 

Certainly isn't the way it should be but, in reality, it is that way. Prior to the cruise we'd basically decided to leave the butler ($150 - Just over $10 per person per day for the 7 days) no matter how little we used their services.

 

Part of the reason I turned down an expensive upsell this week was due to budgeting in the extra's for butler + concierge across two cabins + kids club staff tips etc etc...

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

So - there are automatic tips for some, and not for others? (Never sailed NCL before)

 

Thanks,

 

Tom

[erdoran]

Yes, you will get charged a DSC (daily service charge) to your onboard acct, $12/day per person which is pretty much mandatory. That tips everyone except butler, concierge, and anyone providing extra-cost services like cocktail waitresses, spa staff, etc. You can always choose to tip your steward, waitstaff, etc. extra if you think they deserve it, but be aware that you are already tipping them through the DSC.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Yes, you will get charged a DSC (daily service charge) to your onboard acct, $12/day per person which is pretty much mandatory. That tips everyone except butler, concierge, and anyone providing extra-cost services like cocktail waitresses, spa staff, etc. You can always choose to tip your steward, waitstaff, etc. extra if you think they deserve it, but be aware that you are already tipping them through the DSC.

 

Thanks.

 

Having had a butler on Celebrity a few times, I can certainly see what they do for you (assuming it's the same on NCL). What role does the Concierge play? We plan on specialty dining each evening. I suppose I have to go though the Concierge to make reservations, then pay him/her? Assuming that's the case, how/when is all that (reservations) typically done? Reservations can't be made prior to the cruise?

 

Tom

[erdoran]

Thanks.

 

Having had a butler on Celebrity a few times, I can certainly see what they do for you (assuming it's the same on NCL). What role does the Concierge play? We plan on specialty dining each evening. I suppose I have to go though the Concierge to make reservations, then pay him/her? Assuming that's the case, how/when is all that (reservations) typically done? Reservations can't be made prior to the cruise?

 

Tom

You don't HAVE TO go thru concierge to make specialty reservations but you certainly can choose to do so. You can make your own reservations if you prefer.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

You don't HAVE TO go thru concierge to make specialty reservations but you certainly can choose to do so. You can make your own reservations if you prefer.

 

Understood. So, how then might the Concierge prove beneficial to me (to the point of wanting to add someone to the payroll)?

 

Tom

[erdoran]

Understood. So, how then might the Concierge prove beneficial to me (to the point of wanting to add someone to the payroll)?

 

Tom

I have precisely the same question. And...even if I have the concierge make half a dozen reservations for me, is that worth the $100 or so that seems to be the generally agreed-upon minimum tip--which works out to $10 to $20 per reservation. That's awfully good pay for a 1 minute phone call....or am I missing something here? Are there other things the concierge does that are tip-worthy?

[FLAHAM]

Understood. So, how then might the Concierge prove beneficial to me (to the point of wanting to add someone to the payroll)?

 

Tom

 

Well, on the Jewel a few months ago the concierge made five specialty restaurant reservations for us, each time advising the maitre to assure we were finished in time to catch the second show. He made spa appointments for us. He led us onto the first tender at tender ports. He reserved a booth for us near the dance floor in a bar one evening. Several times he escorted us to the reserved seats in the theater. He escorted us early off the ship on disembarkation. At least twice daily, he asked if there was anything more he could do. He was always available by phone.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

Well, on the Jewel a few months ago the concierge made five specialty restaurant reservations for us, each time advising the maitre to assure we were finished in time to catch the second show. He made spa appointments for us. He led us onto the first tender at tender ports. He reserved a booth for us near the dance floor in a bar one evening. Several times he escorted us to the reserved seats in the theater. He escorted us early off the ship on disembarkation. At least twice daily, he asked if there was anything more he could do. He was always available by phone.

 

It sounds like he was your Man Friday. I would not need the services of a Concierge to that extent, though I can see where it would come in handy for some. I wonder if he is utilized for reservations would your table and service be superior, thus if he is not there acting on your behalf, would some parts of the experience possibly be diminished? I hope not.

 

Tom

[DMH15]

Understood. So, how then might the Concierge prove beneficial to me (to the point of wanting to add someone to the payroll)?

 

Tom

 

I travel with my mother and on our last cruise on the NCL Sun we had the pleasure of Karin G. as our concierge. This so enlightened me to the fact that I had been my mother's butler and concierge on previous cruises.

 

We would see Karin each morning at breakfast in Il Adagio and she would ask if we needed anything. Sometimes we did, sometimes we didn't. She would drop by the suite too sometimes, and be leaving notes and invitations. She seemed like the energizer bunny!

 

I did not have to wait in lines. She delivered our passports, excursion tickets and my parka for Antarctica.

 

We are Catholic and were surprised there was no Priest on board. She researched churches in Port and gave us a map and schedules.

 

I truly think Karin made our vacation special and I certainly enjoyed being able to relax.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I travel with my mother and on our last cruise on the NCL Sun we had the pleasure of Karin G. as our concierge. This so enlightened me to the fact that I had been my mother's butler and concierge on previous cruises.

 

We would see Karin each morning at breakfast in Il Adagio and she would ask if we needed anything. Sometimes we did, sometimes we didn't. She would drop by the suite too sometimes, and be leaving notes and invitations. She seemed like the energizer bunny!

 

I did not have to wait in lines. She delivered our passports, excursion tickets and my parka for Antarctica.

 

We are Catholic and were surprised there was no Priest on board. She researched churches in Port and gave us a map and schedules.

 

I truly think Karin made our vacation special and I certainly enjoyed being able to relax.

 

Interesting -- thanks!

 

Tom

[justcake]

We tipped based on service. For our 9 day cruise the conceirge made 2 reservations for us and that is it. We did see her every day and she was very pleasant but didn't really do much. We still tipped her $75. As for the butler, he fixed our coffee maker, stocked it well, brought 2 meals and was very pleasant as well. I think we tipped him around $100.

 

As for them relying on tips I agree with the poster that stated that the customers shouldn't feel obligated to up the persons salary. The company should probably take some heat for the low salaries. But, if every suite passenger tipped $10pp per day, and the butler served 9 cabins (I think that's about how many they do) that would be at minimum $1260 for the week tax free. Maybe I'm completely wrong here but I think that is a fairly good salary when you add it to wages. I know that those amounts aren't guarenteed as some probably tip more and some less.

[DMH15]

Justcake-

 

And some probably don't tip at all. After all, some have never even heard of CC.

[SuiteTraveler]

I'm impressed with the services some describe their concierge as providing! Ours did the bare minimum.

 

This next cruise we have the Owner's Suite. It will be interesting to see how the concierge intereacts with us this time. Will there be a difference between being a Courtyard Villa Guest and an Owner's Suite Guest?

[pmd98052]

We sailed in the owners suite last May on the Pearl and didn't get any extra special treatment. Karan booked a couple of dinners for us - arranged for a Ulu to be picked up from security (so we didn't have to line up) and dropped by one lunch in Cagney's to check all was ok....

[brunolvr]

I'm impressed with the services some describe their concierge as providing! Ours did the bare minimum.

 

This next cruise we have the Owner's Suite. It will be interesting to see how the concierge intereacts with us this time. Will there be a difference between being a Courtyard Villa Guest and an Owner's Suite Guest?

 

I think it all depends on who the Concierge is. When we were in an Owner's Suite a couple of years ago, we barely had any contact with the Concierge.

[BikerAl]

We have found that every reasonable request we have made of our concierge has been met. One concierge made it a point to proactively check with us each day, but I do not expect that nor necessarily desire it. I use the phone or check in with them in the Star Bar when I have a request. Requests have included specialty dining reservations, making tour reservations, both NCL and independent. We have gotten NCL tour tickets exchanged for an earlier or later group, and swapped within 24 hours of the tour. The concierge is easily contacted, is there for you to use, so not taking advantage of that service is not their fault. We have tipped on the high side of what is recommended here.

 

Al

[tartegnin]

out of curiosity - are there any tipping guidelines provided by NCL before or on board? I was assuming that the DSC was in lieu of tips - happy to add on more, but I wouldn't have necessarily thought of it (other than for exceptional service or ad hoc special requests) had I not seen this thread ...

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

My own personal opinion (and that's all it is) would be to tip a few $ to someone who makes a reservation for us. If 3 reservations or arrangements were made, I suppose I would tip ~$20 - all else being equal. To "earn" $100, then as described previously (multiple reservations, walking to seats, reserved booths, walking to tender, escort off the ship, etc..) then certainly a Benjamin sounds appropriate to me.

 

 

Tom

[njhorseman]

out of curiosity - are there any tipping guidelines provided by NCL before or on board? I was assuming that the DSC was in lieu of tips - happy to add on more, but I wouldn't have necessarily thought of it (other than for exceptional service or ad hoc special requests) had I not seen this thread ...

 

This discussion is about the concierge and butlers who service the suites. They do not receive compensation from the DSC pool. NCL does not provide tipping guidelines for these positions.

[Duff Man]

I don't understand when you say the butler or concierge are only performing the "bare minimum". Do you request anything? Are you saying they aren't responding to your requests? That's the point. They will take care of whatever you want. If you don't want anything, not sure what you expect.

 

Also, we have never had a problem "finding" the butler or concierge at the end of the cruise. If you phone them, they will come!!! Here is my #1 penthouse suite tip - USE the portable phone that comes with the suite. The first thing I do when getting in the suite is to make sure I put both extensions numbers into the portable phone for easy dialing throughout the trip, anywhere on the ship. I cannot remember a time when either did not answer my call.

 

Finally, as to OP's question, I agree with others that it depends on how much you use them. We tend to use both butler and concierge, and we tip each of them $10 per person per day (or $20 per day).

 

:)

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

I don't understand when you say the butler or concierge are only performing the "bare minimum". Do you request anything? Are you saying they aren't responding to your requests? That's the point. They will take care of whatever you want. If you don't want anything, not sure what you expect.

 

Also, we have never had a problem "finding" the butler or concierge at the end of the cruise. If you phone them, they will come!!! Here is my #1 penthouse suite tip - USE the portable phone that comes with the suite. The first thing I do when getting in the suite is to make sure I put both extensions numbers into the portable phone for easy dialing throughout the trip, anywhere on the ship. I cannot remember a time when either did not answer my call.

 

Finally, as to OP's question, I agree with others that it depends on how much you use them. We tend to use both butler and concierge, and we tip each of them $10 per person per day (or $20 per day).

 

:)

 

There are phones in the suites which you can take around with you on the ship?

 

Tom

[Sea Hound]

There are phones in the suites which you can take around with you on the ship?

 

Tom

It depends on the ship, Tom. Based on my experience: Spirit - No. Dawn - Yes.

 

Sea Hound:D