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

[guyver]

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

 

Tom

 

I agree with Seahound. I had a phone on the Jewel but did not get one on the Dawn in January.

[DadofLostBoys]

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.

No they don't, but I would expect that the additional cost of the suites should cover most of the basic suite amenities (as listed on NCL's website). Isn't that why the suites cost more?

 

There will be 5 of us in a Gem penthouse on a 14 nighter this summer and I can't imagine tipping $700 and $400 for the butler and concierge respectively for services included in the fare.

 

I do plan on tipping for services such as meal (i.e. breakfast, dinner) and beverage deliveries or other special requests.

[FLAHAM]

No they don't, but I would expect that the additional cost of the suites should cover most of the basic suite amenities (as listed on NCL's website). Isn't that why the suites cost more?

 

There will be 5 of us in a Gem penthouse on a 14 nighter this summer and I can't imagine tipping $700 and $400 for the butler and concierge respectively for services included in the fare.

 

I do plan on tipping for services such as meal (i.e. breakfast, dinner) and beverage deliveries or other special requests.

 

What could you "imagine" tipping the butler and concierge for two passengeers for one week?

[skywalkervadar]

Certainly $10 each per suite per day would be fair wouldn't it? By my math that would be 2 x 10 x 7 = $140.

 

Though we would likely just give each a hundred and call it even (which I guess is about $14 each per suite per day).

 

Unless you're running them ragged or are rolling in mullah, $400 to $700 seems pretty excessive.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

With Celebrity, I like the fact that suites have an additional daily charge taken out for the Butler. That way you know that he is taken care of, and anything which he does above and beyond can be taken care of separately during, or at the end of, the cruise.

 

Tom

[erdoran]

How much is the Celebrity charge? Might help those of us get a better idea of what's guidelined

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

How much is the Celebrity charge? Might help those of us get a better idea of what's guidelined

 

Adults

Waiter: $3.50 p/day

Assistant Waiter: $2.00 p/day

Butler (suites only): $3.50 p/day

Assistant Maitre'd: $0.75 p/day

Stateroom Service: $3.50 p/day

Stateroom Service (ConciergeClass): $4.00

Assistant Chief Housekeeper: .75 p/day

 

Tom

[njhorseman]

No they don't, but I would expect that the additional cost of the suites should cover most of the basic suite amenities (as listed on NCL's website). Isn't that why the suites cost more?

 

There will be 5 of us in a Gem penthouse on a 14 nighter this summer and I can't imagine tipping $700 and $400 for the butler and concierge respectively for services included in the fare.

 

I do plan on tipping for services such as meal (i.e. breakfast, dinner) and beverage deliveries or other special requests.

 

I wasn't agreeing the types of tipping we sometimes read about here, I was merely answering two questions with facts...(1) The butler and concierge are not participants in the DSC pool, and (2) NCL does not provide any tipping guidelines for these positions.

 

My eyes pop out of my head every time I read the about how much some people say they tip the butler and concierge...even if they make little or no use of their services.

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

...

My eyes pop out of my head every time I read the about how much some people say they tip the butler and concierge...even if they make little or no use of their services.

 

If they are not in the standard tipping pool, and I do not use their services, they will received nothing from me. That stands to reason.

 

If they do help me with things, then they will be compensated accordingly.

 

Seems reasonable enough. :)

 

Tom

[erdoran]

Yeah, I'm with NJhorseman on feeling uncomfortable being expected to tip $100+ to the concierge even if we don't use him, or only make minimal use of his services! Someone had also said they tip what amounts to $17-$20 per meal the butler brings, again I think that is beyond generous, considering that is about 50% of the cost of the meal, or more, in the specialty restaurant. I was thinking that I'd have the butler bring in most dinners and unpack for us, and perhaps tip $100--am I being cheap? This is just for two of us on a 7 night cruise....and it amounts to about $15/dinner, so actually that is actually more than generous by my standards.

[GirlWriter]

Yeah, I'm with NJhorseman on feeling uncomfortable being expected to tip $100+ to the concierge even if we don't use him, or only make minimal use of his services! Someone had also said they tip what amounts to $17-$20 per meal the butler brings, again I think that is beyond generous, considering that is about 50% of the cost of the meal, or more, in the specialty restaurant. I was thinking that I'd have the butler bring in most dinners and unpack for us, and perhaps tip $100--am I being cheap? This is just for two of us on a 7 night cruise....and it amounts to about $15/dinner, so actually that is actually more than generous by my standards.

 

I agree with you. I've been getting more and more uncomfortable reading about the expected tipping amounts for everybody -- we are traveling as a family of 4, and if we're doing "per person per day" tips, it is going to break our budget very quickly. We will tip, but in what we consider a more reasonable amount and based on actual usage of the butler and concierge's services. If we don't ask them to do much of anything for us, I can't really see tipping them hundreds of dollars at the end of the week.

[mattia1996]

Yeah, I'm with NJhorseman on feeling uncomfortable being expected to tip $100+ to the concierge even if we don't use him, or only make minimal use of his services! Someone had also said they tip what amounts to $17-$20 per meal the butler brings, again I think that is beyond generous, considering that is about 50% of the cost of the meal, or more, in the specialty restaurant. I was thinking that I'd have the butler bring in most dinners and unpack for us, and perhaps tip $100--am I being cheap? This is just for two of us on a 7 night cruise....and it amounts to about $15/dinner, so actually that is actually more than generous by my standards.

 

 

I think that the ultimate laziness is expecting someone else to do your unpacking.Are you in so much of a rush that you cannot manage that basic chore? I have never used the butler on any of my cruises to carry out this task and nor would I ever do so in the future.Some clothing items are sacred

[erdoran]

I agree with you. I've been getting more and more uncomfortable reading about the expected tipping amounts for everybody -- we are traveling as a family of 4, and if we're doing "per person per day" tips, it is going to break our budget very quickly. We will tip, but in what we consider a more reasonable amount and based on actual usage of the butler and concierge's services. If we don't ask them to do much of anything for us, I can't really see tipping them hundreds of dollars at the end of the week.

Thank you for agreeing! There is a faction on these boards that jump all over anyone who dare to object to the tipping system. Honestly, I think that even if we asked the butler to bring us two or three meals a day and unpack for us, $100 for the week is still (in my eyes) a reasonable amount for what might be at the most less than 1 hr/day of work on our behalf. For what we are paying for the cruise and suite, it irks me to be EXPECTED to fork over hundreds more in tips. To many, the fare is the least of the cost of the cruise, and there is an expectation that you are going to tip above and beyond the DSC to those who are covered with it, and as you have seen here, even more to those that aren't.

[erdoran]

I think that the ultimate laziness is expecting someone else to do your unpacking.Are you in so much of a rush that you cannot manage that basic chore? I have never used the butler on any of my cruises to carry out this task and nor would I ever do so in the future.Some clothing items are sacred

It is ADVERTISED that it is one of the thing the butler does on request--I had never ever considered it before nor would I have if it hadn't been advertised in multiple places when talking about suites. As for sacred clothing items, those would be in my carry-on that I would unpack.

 

Please don't call me lazy, I think that is inappropriate and unnecessary and offensive.

[mafig]

I think that using the butler for two or three meals a day and having unpack is a lot and worthy of more than $100.

 

We like going out to the restaurants. I think if we had him bring us breakfast, maybe once or twice on a 7 dayer, that would be it. Certainly would not ever even think of having him unpack ... I have trouble remembering where I put things when I do it.

[erdoran]

I think that using the butler for two or three meals a day and having unpack is a lot and worthy of more than $100.

 

We like going out to the restaurants. I think if we had him bring us breakfast, maybe once or twice on a 7 dayer, that would be it. Certainly would not ever even think of having him unpack ... I have trouble remembering where I put things when I do it.

I'm open to recommended tips...$150? $200?

 

To me one of the most appealing things about the suite life is that DH likes hamburgers, spaghetti, meatloaf, fried shrimp, pizza, etc...and I like gourmet exotic stuff--rack of lamb with dijon glaze, Thai anything, veal oscar, etc.... I'd be doing MDR, Le Bistro, or any of the fancy or exotic places while he'd prefer La Cucina or the Blue Lagoon. Having dinner in our room together with each of us having the kind of cuisine we like would be wonderful. On our last cruise we'd eat in the MDR and DH would order an appetizer and baked potato, then after dinner we'd go to the pizza place or buffet and he'd have his dinner! And although i like going to the restaurants too, DH gets grumpy if he has to wait too long, or if someone messes up his order so it's almost not worth it!

[DadofLostBoys]

What could you "imagine" tipping the butler and concierge for two passengeers for one week?

On previous cruises I would typically tip the waiter/waitress $5 for room service delivery.

 

So let's say I have breakfast, lunch, and dinner delivered each day (7 day cruise), I would tip the butler $105 at the end of the cruise.

 

I'm not sure what I would tip the concierge, but it would depend on what services I request of them above and beyond what NCL lists (i.e.,escort to room, em/debarkation assistance, arranging priority tender requests).

 

The price difference between a BA (Balcony) and AD (Romance Suite) for two on a 7 night Gem Greece cruise is $1400. Yes, the Romance Suite is bigger and nicer, but the majority of the cost difference is to pay for the privilege of having the services of a butler and concierge.

[guyver]

This topic is a tough call. Although I would never "stiff" a butler or concierge, I firmly believe that it depends on your usage. We are going to be in a suite for a 14 day B2B this upcoming January and here is what I am thinking.

 

Butler

We do not eat in our room more than once per week and only because no matter how good the butler is, we simply prefer our food hot. We do sit on our balcony a lot and are usually drinking a rum & pepsi from our bar setup. This requires the butler to make 2 ice trips per day.

 

My plan is to tip the butler $200 for the 14 days if this is how we use him. If we change our ways and require more, the tip will be adjusted upward to reflect it.

 

Concierge

In the past the only thing the concierge has done for us is to walk us on and off of the ship, and make us 2 or 3 reservations at the specialty restaurants for the entire cruise. We truly are low maintenance people and prefer to do things for ourselves.

 

My plan is to tip the concierge $100 for the 14 days. Although I feel that this is overpayment for services rendered, I also realize that this is how they get paid. As above, if we use more the tip will go up.

 

I know most people pay higher tips but I also know that most require much more service. I have had neughbors that eat every single breakfast and many dinners on their balconies. They should pay more.

 

I am not trying to get flamed here but am I way off the mark for my thoughts on this?

[1rocky]

I am traveling on Pride of America in Jan 2011 and have a Penthouse Suite. Being an Aussie i have noticed on our confirmation that Gratuities Tipping is included in the total price we are paying. So are we expected to tip more when we are on the ship. thanks the concept of tipping can be confusing.

[Queen_Of_Natick]

OP, I think you should tip what you think they're worth and by how much you use them. I type based on service and if I get the service I want I tip within my means.

 

 

I look forward to hearing about your trip. :)

 

 

-A

[erdoran]

 

The price difference between a BA (Balcony) and AD (Romance Suite) for two on a 7 night Gem Greece cruise is $1400. Yes, the Romance Suite is bigger and nicer, but the majority of the cost difference is to pay for the privilege of having the services of a butler and concierge.

 

Seems like NCL makes out bigtime on the suites--they charge $$$ more for the privilege of having a butler and concierge--and then we have to pay the butler & concierge their salaries directly on top of the extra $$$$ for the suite. Do I have that right? But in a way it is no different than paying extra (or less) for the location of your room on the ship--the midship rooms, higher deck rooms, going for $$ more than the identical room lower and towards one end or the other!

[Rileyz]

I'd rather have the butler pack for me at the end then unpack for me. LOL The beginning is the fun part, the end is depressing and I swear I can never fit the same things in the same luggage a week later! :p

[2inTul]

Seems like NCL makes out bigtime on the suites--they charge $$$ more for the privilege of having a butler and concierge--and then we have to pay the butler & concierge their salaries directly on top of the extra $$$$ for the suite. Do I have that right? But in a way it is no different than paying extra (or less) for the location of your room on the ship--the midship rooms, higher deck rooms, going for $$ more than the identical room lower and towards one end or the other!

 

I may be wrong but I understood that the Concierge & Butler were paid a salary unlike the room stewards and waiters and so forth. I don't think they depend completely on tips for their pay, however it is customary to tip for services that you request in addition to their normal duties.

[njhorseman]

On previous cruises I would typically tip the waiter/waitress $5 for room service delivery.

 

So let's say I have breakfast, lunch, and dinner delivered each day (7 day cruise), I would tip the butler $105 at the end of the cruise.

 

I'm not sure what I would tip the concierge, but it would depend on what services I request of them above and beyond what NCL lists (i.e.,escort to room, em/debarkation assistance, arranging priority tender requests).

 

The price difference between a BA (Balcony) and AD (Romance Suite) for two on a 7 night Gem Greece cruise is $1400. Yes, the Romance Suite is bigger and nicer, but the majority of the cost difference is to pay for the privilege of having the services of a butler and concierge.

 

Don't forget the value of breakfast and lunch in Cagney's. I'd put a ballpark estimate tag of $25 per person per day for that...a total of $350 for a 7 night cruise for two.

[njhorseman]

I am traveling on Pride of America in Jan 2011 and have a Penthouse Suite. Being an Aussie i have noticed on our confirmation that Gratuities Tipping is included in the total price we are paying. So are we expected to tip more when we are on the ship. thanks the concept of tipping can be confusing.

 

The "gratuities" that are included in your price should the daily service charge of $12 per person per day, which goes to dining room wait staff, cabin stewards and some others. The suite butlers and concierge are not part of that pool.