Help me make the most of our upcoming cruise in an A3

[crabby apple]

Thanks so much for the pictures link! We are booking an A3 on the Jade in Oct for 21 days. So excited. Does the Jade differ much from the Jewel? I've heard nothing about a concierge lounge nor game room on the Jade. Does anyone know how the Jade & Jewel's Courtyard differs?

 

 

We are on Jade in an A3 2 Bedroom Villa--I understand now that it is different than a 2 bedroom suite --I guess that is what they call Courtyard?

 

Do the rooms have an iron and/or ironing board?

 

Do they have wifi in the rooms? (I know, I know, but I really do need to check in 2-3x a week)

 

This is all new for us, we will probably forget to take advantage of some amenities.

 

Does your Butler take the place of the cabin steward?

 

What is the tipping protocol and prepay on these levels?

 

Everyone speaks of Cagneys, is it only for these levels? I know it is a 'pay' restaurant, but I hear much about it when searching for Villa info so figure it must have special privileges granted to Villas?

 

What else should we utilize that is included, I read about full breakfast in the room, is it from a special menu or the regular menu?

 

I cannot find very many specifics.

 

What if we want what they are eating in the dining room that night, can it be delivered to the room? Or can we request a table for 3/4 and eat down there?

 

I do have to admit :p that I am excited about the though of being able to wind down in the room in leisure wear /comfy clothing after a long day on shore but still be able to eat nicely BUT in the room--is that basically available? Sometimes trekking out to the buffet, a restaurant, the dining room, is so tedious if we are tired, icky, achy, etc.

 

What else should we consider?

 

We have a 10 year old son with us, which is a dilemma, since now we have 'met' via internet another family with a little boy. Too bad we cannot just add him as a pax to our room so he can come up and play in our room. I bet he can play IN our room, just not in the pool, right?

 

Do you know?

 

Also, does anyone have links where I can see the actual menus they offer in those rooms that are different? I know, I know, but I lovvvvee food, especially some of the vegetarian dishes that they come up with on board.

 

Is there forum on here that specifically shows photos of the Jade and it's courtyard villa amenities etc? I see lots of photos but they are so random I would have to search them all. I am probably searching incorrectly?

 

Do you tip the butler or concierge EVERY time he does something for you? Or do it all at once? I do understand that part of the higher rate is for their services, but how does that work?

[fridaythe13th]

We are on Jade in an A3 2 Bedroom Villa--I understand now that it is different than a 2 bedroom suite --I guess that is what they call Courtyard?

 

Do the rooms have an iron and/or ironing board?

 

Do they have wifi in the rooms? (I know, I know, but I really do need to check in 2-3x a week)

 

This is all new for us, we will probably forget to take advantage of some amenities.

 

Does your Butler take the place of the cabin steward? No, you will have a steward.

 

What is the tipping protocol and prepay on these levels?It depends on how much you use the Butler/Concierge.

 

Everyone speaks of Cagneys, is it only for these levels? I know it is a 'pay' restaurant, but I hear much about it when searching for Villa info so figure it must have special privileges granted to Villas? It is FREE at breakfast and lunch for A3 guests.

 

What else should we utilize that is included, I read about full breakfast in the room, is it from a special menu or the regular menu?

 

I cannot find very many specifics.

 

What if we want what they are eating in the dining room that night, can it be delivered to the room? Or can we request a table for 3/4 and eat down there?

 

I do have to admit :p that I am excited about the though of being able to wind down in the room in leisure wear /comfy clothing after a long day on shore but still be able to eat nicely BUT in the room--is that basically available? Sometimes trekking out to the buffet, a restaurant, the dining room, is so tedious if we are tired, icky, achy, etc. Yes it is, plan on being "spoiled".

 

What else should we consider?

 

We have a 10 year old son with us, which is a dilemma, since now we have 'met' via internet another family with a little boy. Too bad we cannot just add him as a pax to our room so he can come up and play in our room. I bet he can play IN our room, just not in the pool, right?

 

Do you know?

 

Also, does anyone have links where I can see the actual menus they offer in those rooms that are different? I know, I know, but I lovvvvee food, especially some of the vegetarian dishes that they come up with on board.

 

Is there forum on here that specifically shows photos of the Jade and it's courtyard villa amenities etc? I see lots of photos but they are so random I would have to search them all. I am probably searching incorrectly?

 

Do you tip the butler or concierge EVERY time he does something for you? Or do it all at once? I do understand that part of the higher rate is for their services, but how does that work? We tipped at the end but you can do it daily if you so desire

I actually became kind of lazy with the Courtyard access. It was "heaven". I even put on a cozy NCL robe and sat in the Courtyard. I enjoyed the "snacks" (cookies, M&M's, gummy bears, coffee, snack mix) that are provided in the Courtyard in the afternoon. Coffee, pastries, fruit, juice, coffee, tea in the morning. I have Gem pix in my webshots link below if interested. Enjoy!!!

[crabby apple]

aaah ok, that makes sense!

 

Thank you so much

[Alliea]

"We have a 10 year old son with us, which is a dilemma, since now we have 'met' via internet another family with a little boy. Too bad we cannot just add him as a pax to our room so he can come up and play in our room. I bet he can play IN our room, just not in the pool, right"

 

Of course he can play in your room. I do not believe he can be in the courtyard area at all. I had to put our 3rd person in our room cause of this. I wanted her to be with us in the courtyard areas, and knew from reading this , she would not be able to be. At least that is what I have read.. and I have read everything I can on this issue!

[Fishbait17]

We are on Jade in an A3 2 Bedroom Villa--I understand now that it is different than a 2 bedroom suite --I guess that is what they call Courtyard?

 

Do the rooms have an iron and/or ironing board? Not in the cabin, but you can request one from your room steward to use when you need it. They also have an "Ironing Special" on the first day that is very handy and reasonable - I think $2.00 per item.

 

Do they have wifi in the rooms? (I know, I know, but I really do need to check in 2-3x a week) Yes, there is wi-fi, and also an ethernet jack. Bring your own ethernet cable, we find it faster for connections.

 

This is all new for us, we will probably forget to take advantage of some amenities.

 

Does your Butler take the place of the cabin steward? No, you will have both. Room steward takes care of cleaning, etc, butler everything else.

 

What is the tipping protocol and prepay on these levels? Common question on these boards, and there are a lot of threads about it. It is completely up to you what you tip but I will give you our personal guidelines: Steward - included in DSC pool, but we generally give about $30-40 extra for the week, maybe a bit more if we have more than 2 pax - not necessary, but I feel that the extra service (and extra work for them) deserves more. Concierge (not included in DSC pool) - we generally budget $10 per day for the included "extras" like escorts, dinner reservations, priority tender and disembarkation, etc. We go up from there for anything above and beyond - generally amounts to about $100-150 for 7 days. Butler (not included in DSC pool) - $10 per person per day (including children) for the general included services plus maybe two or three breakfasts ensuite during the week. Extra for any other meals ensuite, or any service above and beyond the norm. Generally comes to approx $150-200 per week for two, but have tipped up to $750 for four people for two weeks when we had two parties, etc (and as low as $75 for a butler we saw only once during a sailing and had trouble reaching when we needed coffee maker serviced, etc). Again, tipping is TOTALLY up to you, just giving your our guidelines.

 

Everyone speaks of Cagneys, is it only for these levels? I know it is a 'pay' restaurant, but I hear much about it when searching for Villa info so figure it must have special privileges granted to Villas? Cagney's is open for breakfast and lunch for all suite guests, not just the villas, but not for regular cabin passengers. All guests have to pay for dinner, suite or not.

 

What else should we utilize that is included, I read about full breakfast in the room, is it from a special menu or the regular menu? Basically, anything being served on the ship is available for room service in suites (generally with the exception of sushi, for safety reasons). You can get copies of all restaurant menus, etc for your suite. Order from your butler and he will deliver it.

 

I cannot find very many specifics.

 

What if we want what they are eating in the dining room that night, can it be delivered to the room? Or can we request a table for 3/4 and eat down there? Yes to both.

 

I do have to admit :p that I am excited about the though of being able to wind down in the room in leisure wear /comfy clothing after a long day on shore but still be able to eat nicely BUT in the room--is that basically available? Sometimes trekking out to the buffet, a restaurant, the dining room, is so tedious if we are tired, icky, achy, etc. Yes, and the location of the villas also makes it VERY easy to go down two floors to the buffet, get some food and bring it back to your room.

 

What else should we consider?

 

We have a 10 year old son with us, which is a dilemma, since now we have 'met' via internet another family with a little boy. Too bad we cannot just add him as a pax to our room so he can come up and play in our room. I bet he can play IN our room, just not in the pool, right? Yes, fine to play IN your cabin, but he will not be permitted in the courtyard area.

 

Do you know?

 

Also, does anyone have links where I can see the actual menus they offer in those rooms that are different? I know, I know, but I lovvvvee food, especially some of the vegetarian dishes that they come up with on board. Same menus as the rest of the ship, except available for room service.

 

Is there forum on here that specifically shows photos of the Jade and it's courtyard villa amenities etc? I see lots of photos but they are so random I would have to search them all. I am probably searching incorrectly? The search is the best way to find pics, although tedious. Try searching outside CC as well, and if you cruise at least semi-often, I recommend a subscription to cruisestateroom.com - lots of pics.

 

Do you tip the butler or concierge EVERY time he does something for you? Or do it all at once? I do understand that part of the higher rate is for their services, but how does that work? We tip everything the last night of the cruise.

 

Hope this helps! We will be on the Jade again in May (if I can ever get it booked!) Happy cruising!

 

Robin

[crabby apple]

Thank you seems like too little to say, but THANK you!:)

 

Now I am off to go sew some adaptive boxer shorts tonight for my military volunteer group and think of CRUISING THE SEAS and some wonderful ports in comfort myself!

[crabby apple]

If you eat every or most meals in the suite or the courtyard via the butler, how does that work for tipping?

 

The per day amount is partially for the wait staff(waiter/tress and attendants) so if you don't use them, do you still pay the whole $12pd/pp (we have a child also) if the butler is who brings all your meals?

 

I am reading and hearing different info so want to try to see what the 'norm' is. Is the butler supposed to get that part of the tip, an additional tip and then pay the regular amount that includes wait staff you don't use, or how does that work?

 

I don't want anyone to be slighted, but we also pay extra for the higher categories so not sure what is expected to be a 'perk' or a 'paid for extra' via tip.

 

I hope this doesn't sound corny, but, I am just trying to sort out if basically our room steward will be getting the whole $12/pp/pd for 12 days if we eat the bulk of our meals in the room or courtyard via the butler. Then, if so, what is normal tipping protocol for the butler?

 

If you put the tips on your room, do they 'pool' them then are forced to split them on NCL? I know that on Costa we were told they were, so we opted to cash tip each........since we really thought some were lacking and some were OUTSTANDING

[Alliea]

If you eat every or most meals in the suite or the courtyard via the butler, how does that work for tipping?

 

The per day amount is partially for the wait staff(waiter/tress and attendants) so if you don't use them, do you still pay the whole $12pd/pp (we have a child also) if the butler is who brings all your meals?

 

I am reading and hearing different info so want to try to see what the 'norm' is. Is the butler supposed to get that part of the tip, an additional tip and then pay the regular amount that includes wait staff you don't use, or how does that work?

 

I don't want anyone to be slighted, but we also pay extra for the higher categories so not sure what is expected to be a 'perk' or a 'paid for extra' via tip.

 

I hope this doesn't sound corny, but, I am just trying to sort out if basically our room steward will be getting the whole $12/pp/pd for 12 days if we eat the bulk of our meals in the room or courtyard via the butler. Then, if so, what is normal tipping protocol for the butler?

 

If you put the tips on your room, do they 'pool' them then are forced to split them on NCL? I know that on Costa we were told they were, so we opted to cash tip each........since we really thought some were lacking and some were OUTSTANDING

 

If you are using the Bulter alot , I would tip him 100.00 for a 7 nt cruise. At the very least 70.00. It is your choice as to when you tip him, before , during , or end. The same amount goes for the Concierge as well.

[crabby apple]

If you are using the Bulter alot , I would tip him 100.00 for a 7 nt cruise. At the very least 70.00. It is your choice as to when you tip him, before , during , or end. The same amount goes for the Concierge as well.

 

 

Ours is 12 nights. Did you still just leave the standard tip added to the bill for the rest then?

 

I don't want to offend any of them. Shall we prepay the butler for it? Or daily?

 

If you prepay him, do you do it in cash or add it to the room?

[Fishbait17]

If you eat every or most meals in the suite or the courtyard via the butler, how does that work for tipping?

 

The per day amount is partially for the wait staff(waiter/tress and attendants) so if you don't use them, do you still pay the whole $12pd/pp (we have a child also) if the butler is who brings all your meals?

 

I am reading and hearing different info so want to try to see what the 'norm' is. Is the butler supposed to get that part of the tip, an additional tip and then pay the regular amount that includes wait staff you don't use, or how does that work?

 

I don't want anyone to be slighted, but we also pay extra for the higher categories so not sure what is expected to be a 'perk' or a 'paid for extra' via tip.

 

I hope this doesn't sound corny, but, I am just trying to sort out if basically our room steward will be getting the whole $12/pp/pd for 12 days if we eat the bulk of our meals in the room or courtyard via the butler. Then, if so, what is normal tipping protocol for the butler?

 

If you put the tips on your room, do they 'pool' them then are forced to split them on NCL? I know that on Costa we were told they were, so we opted to cash tip each........since we really thought some were lacking and some were OUTSTANDING

 

Your DSC ($12 pp per day) goes into a "pool" for the whole ship (including MANY behind the scenes personnel that you will never see but who make your cruise memorable, like the Head Housekeeper, buffet workers, etc), not just the waitstaff and stewards- it is not paid out individually to your personal steward, the waiters you used, etc. If you remove the charge, and then tip your steward directly, you would be taking the tips away from everyone else who works on the ship and is included in the pool, whether they worked for you or not. Some prior employees have even confirmed that IF you remove the DSC and tip the steward directly, he will have to turn his tips in to the "pool", and probably be reprimanded for the poor service that caused you to remove the charges in the first place. If you tip him IN ADDITION to the DSC, he can keep the extra cash. To remove the service charge, you have to give reason for doing such, and "not eating in the dining rooms" is not a valid reason, in my opinion - they are generally removed for poor service, and only after NCL has had the opportunity to correct the problem. See this thread for more clarification: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1351657

 

I think of it this way - the "perk" is being able to get such a service, the "tip" is for the service being performed. The perks include more than the dining options, you get the bigger room (more expensive the room, bigger the space), reserved theater seats, special parties and tours, etc and the courtyard for an even higher price. The butler is NOT included in any of the DSC pool, nor should he be - the DSC is paid by everyone, not just people with butler service. Same with the Concierge, Kid's Club, Spa service, etc.

 

As for eating all or most of your meals ensuite or in the courtyard, keep in mind that there is a SEPARATE butler for the courtyard, so dining out there would involve a separate tip also. I personally only take a few breakfasts in my cabin for the tips I mentioned above, I would probably tip another $15 for 3 people per meal served above and beyond that ($5 pp for delivery and setup sounds reasonable to me) to whoever served me. Of course, this is just me... I have never had my meal served in the courtyard, nor spent much time in there, so I haven't had much experience in tipping the other butler.

 

Bottom line is: Tipping is discretionary completely up to you. But the DSC is not really discretionary, unless you have poor service.

 

There are a lot of threads on here about tipping. Here is another recent one: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1347911&highlight=suite+tipping

 

I hope this helps!

 

Robin

[crabby apple]

That helps a LOT!

 

When you did tip the butler, was it on each 'service' occurrence or at the end?

[Fishbait17]

That helps a LOT!

 

When you did tip the butler, was it on each 'service' occurrence or at the end?

 

We pay him or her on the last night of our cruise, also the concierge and steward, when tipping extra to him/her.

 

Robin

[crabby apple]

Ok, I always feel bad like I should say 'don't worry, we are going to tip you well in the end' but that also is rude..........

[Alliea]

Ours is 12 nights. Did you still just leave the standard tip added to the bill for the rest then?

 

I don't want to offend any of them. Shall we prepay the butler for it? Or daily?

 

If you prepay him, do you do it in cash or add it to the room?

Yes you would leave the standard tip for the rest of them.. or even pay them more if you wanted to!

[Fishbait17]

Ok, I always feel bad like I should say 'don't worry, we are going to tip you well in the end' but that also is rude..........

 

I wouldn't worry about that - I think the majority tip at the end and that is what they expect. I have had many conversations with different butlers, prying information out of them that I rightfully shouldn't know ;) , and they get all ranges of passengers from cheap to extravagant, pushy to laid back, demanding to low maintenance - such fun - and most people just tip at the end with nothing else said except "Thank You"... BTW, I usually bring a few thank you cards to put the tips in and write a little note. And there are also "style cards" to fill out for anyone who gives you great service!

 

Robin

[crabby apple]

Gotcha, I am excited, and I want the butler to know we won't be a pain, and if we are, it will be worth his while.

 

I have been a waitress before --back when they were allowed to pay you $1.65/hr. I know all about how it feels to wonder if you will get a big tip, but to wait 12 days for it, UGH!

 

So, for 12 days if he does a great job, like $200?

[Fishbait17]

Gotcha, I am excited, and I want the butler to know we won't be a pain, and if we are, it will be worth his while.

 

I have been a waitress before --back when they were allowed to pay you $1.65/hr. I know all about how it feels to wonder if you will get a big tip, but to wait 12 days for it, UGH!

 

So, for 12 days if he does a great job, like $200?

 

I hear ya, I was there myself, even working several shifts for no salary, just tips, and I remember some of those disappointing experiences lol. Hubby and I still talk about one guy, he has become an example named "El Cheapo" and hubby will say things like "Is this enough or is it El Cheapo style?" lmao. As for your amount, not sure if that was a question... If it was, in my case for 3 people, I would start at $360 for basic good service ($10 x 3 people x 12 days) and go up from there (or down if the service was poor). But that is just

me. The above threads have some posts showing what others have paid, and

if you search "butler tips" you will find many more.

 

Good luck!

 

Robin

[crabby apple]

So basically if 2 adults one child for 12 days then $360 for prepaids + 360 or more for butler, plus other miscellaneous........so really about $1000 in tips.

 

Is that what I should estimate?

 

Did the A3 have regular shampoo and conditioner or that bottle on the wall thing? Did it come with any special bath amenities/goodies?

 

I always end up over packing but if they have the non crummy shampoo I can avoid more 'stuff' this way too :)

[CruisinGerman]

Dear friends:

 

I see no problem in bringing your guests to the Courtyard with you under certain circumstances. The obvious circumstance is to make sure that the Courtyard isn't crowded and by bringing your guests you are not inconveniencing anybody else.

 

I don't agree with other people loudly complaining about people being in the Courtyard when for the most part it is none of their business why those people are there.

 

We have sailed several times in the Garden Villa -- just two people. When just two people sail, you basically pay nearly the entire fare normally charged for a total of six people, since additional people pay a symbolic fare. We have brought guests to the Courtyard and to our Garden Villa on several occasions.

 

Under this circumstance, if I choose to bring four guests with me to the Courtyard I believe that is an issue between me and NCL (who by the way has no problem in this respect). If I arrived there and found a loud mouthed passenger complaining about something that was none of his business I would definitely put him in his place.

 

Let's even get back to the original poster. The original poster is putting a whole group of people in a cabin that I, personally, believe is comfortable for two adults and one child. Obviously, all of those passengers are perfectly entitled to use the Courtyard Villa.

 

But let's say I book an A2 Deluxe Owner's Suite, and we want to invite upstairs our friends who are staying in an AD regular suite. When we do this sort of thing, we always tell NCL first. So if NCL doesn't mind, why is it other people's business.

 

In any case, to the original poster, in our opinion no other mainstream cruise line gives you the service that NCL gives in their suites. I hope you have a really nice time.

 

Kind regards,

 

Gunther and Uta

[Fishbait17]

So basically if 2 adults one child for 12 days then $360 for prepaids + 360 or more for butler, plus other miscellaneous........so really about $1000 in tips.

 

Is that what I should estimate?

 

Did the A3 have regular shampoo and conditioner or that bottle on the wall thing? Did it come with any special bath amenities/goodies?

 

I always end up over packing but if they have the non crummy shampoo I can avoid more 'stuff' this way too :)

 

Like I have said, amounts are completely at your discretion. I have been known to be a generous tipper, so you might want to look thru some older tipping threads to see what others give or simply make the judgement yourself :).

 

Very nice amenities in the A3, including Elemis bath products. Bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion (watery but nice), bar soap, small loofah sponge, and bath salts for the tub, plus cotton balls, swabs, etc, and that WONDERFUL pump hand soap that smells like lavendar, yummy (I so wish they sold it!)! The space itself is absolutely perfect for 3 persons - we usually do it for 2, have put 4 in it once, and are finally going to use it for 3 - I think the perfect amount. Some of my favorite things about the suite (and some extra tips): Showering while arriving into port (or leaving port) so I can see out the window and not miss a thing. Taking a nice hot bath after a long port day - BTW if you want to use the shower attachment to rinse off in the tub, it is kind of hard to find - search the back of the spout for an indent and find a way to manipulate it (took me days to find this thing). Also be aware there is a anti-scald device in the shower; if it doesn't get hot enough for you, there is a red button on the temp handle - push it in while you turn it to make it hotter. Ask the butler or steward to empty your minibar so you can use the space for your own items - have a pitcher of your child's favorite juice (or yours!) delivered with breakfast for drinks later. You can ask for another chair for the balcony from your room steward. There are thermostats in EVERY area, so you can adjust them all individually (I like the bedroom COLD and the bathroom and living room WARM lol). There is a door between the hallway where the 2nd bedroom is and the living room (aside from the door to the bedroom itself), you can close this to give extra quiet to the 2nd bedroom, but remember the person in the 2nd bedroom will need a key to get into the living room, so remember to open it! - I mistakenly locked hubby out when we were showering in both bathrooms lol.. There will be at least one portable phone in the suite with it's own extension - I take it with me when I go to the casino, hubby can call me there on the extension and let me know where he is going to be or vice versa. If there is ANYTHING you want for your cabin, ask the butler. If there is ANYTHING you want for anywhere else in the ship, ask the concierge. If your child is old enough, don't miss the VIP early entry for the chocolate buffet - you aren't supposed to eat yet, just for pictures, but it's sooo much fun to watch your child ooo and ahhh over all the sculptures and goodies, and then pick up a few things as soon as it opens and get out before the mobs hit. The buffet is VERY convenient for this suite, we often find ourselves going down two floors, picking up a plate of yummy fries and bringing it back upstairs for a snack. This is just the beginning, but all I can think of right now - looking forward to my next sailing now! :D

 

Robin

[Vyhanek]

You are going to love the courtyard.

 

You also get special seating in the theatre for the shows. Don't forget that perk! Other passangers have to get to the theatre 20 or 30 minutes in advance to get a seat. You can walk in 1 minute before the show right to the reserved section. It's a great perk!!

 

Also, I don't know if you need to purchase the spa pass for the week. The last time I was in the courtyard I found that I loved relaxing in the courtyard and on the private sun deck above that I didn't have the same desire to sit in the spa so much. You might be happy with purchasing just a day pass on day. The conceirge will be able to help you with that for sure.

 

I think your best chance for having your kids like kids club is to force them to go that first night. This is the night they work extra hard to help the kids make friends. For us, the key to their enjoyment in the kids club is all about whether or not they make friends. Usually I have one kid who's made a connection and one who hasn't and then doesn't want to go all week. Different kids each cruise!! ugg! But I think the basic activities they do in the kids club is very similar to other cruise lines activities. If they've like kids club in the past on Disney, it will feel similar to them on NCL. It does suck that NCL won't take the kids for dinner (like the other cruise lines) so you and your Mom can enjoy a quiet dinner but you can work around that. You can feed your kids from the buffet, even have them bring their plates back up to the room to eat. Then take them to kids club and then go to dinner with your Mom after you've got your kids squared away. One evening the Kids Club will take the kids for dinner as a group but they will only take so many kids (maybe 20 or 25 ish) and they will have a sign up sheet for this that first night. Be sure to get there early and get your name on that list. Those spots go very, very quickly.

[Fishbait17]

So basically if 2 adults one child for 12 days then $360 for prepaids + 360 or more for butler, plus other miscellaneous........so really about $1000 in tips.

 

Is that what I should estimate?

 

Did the A3 have regular shampoo and conditioner or that bottle on the wall thing? Did it come with any special bath amenities/goodies?

 

I always end up over packing but if they have the non crummy shampoo I can avoid more 'stuff' this way too :)

 

Crabbyapple,

 

Here is another thread about butler service that popped back up:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1329563

 

PLEASE don't let it scare you - in all of our suites, we have only had one "bad" butler, so it's pretty rare.. But the thread does have a lot of ideas on what the butler can do for you!

 

Robin

[crabby apple]

That DID scare me a bit, I hate to be all excited about getting some fun perks and then them being icky about it. We are very sweet and polite people. It almost sounds like you have to be pretty firm with demands and I won't likely do that.

 

I guess I could make up a list, that seems so impersonal though.

[erdoran]

That DID scare me a bit, I hate to be all excited about getting some fun perks and then them being icky about it. We are very sweet and polite people. It almost sounds like you have to be pretty firm with demands and I won't likely do that.

 

I guess I could make up a list, that seems so impersonal though.

 

Hey crabby apple, that was me on that thread! FWIW the butler in question has been highly praised by name by one or two other people who have had her.

 

I've done a lot of thinking about that experience and realized that to SOME extent (but not 100%) I have some of the blame because I didn't speak up and ask for anything else. I was so turned off by B's refusal to switch the wine that after that I asked for zero - but another way to have handled the situation was to have called the concierge the first time B refused and ask her about the situation "I understand butlers are supposed to do things like switch wine, B tells me to take it to a restaurant, what do you think?". I guess I was thinking that if I did that B would "take it out" on us some way.

 

I guess I probably could have done just that--called the concierge--the first time, and also have made the requests I had planned to, rather than being put off. If there had been a second problem, I could have once again called the concierge and even requested a different butler. My sense is that NCL takes butler service for suite pax very seriously, and something would have been done. it's just not in my nature to do that, I am too nice for my own good, as DH says.

 

I think butlers like B may be the exception, and she may have just been overloaded, figured us for low tippers (and she was the only one who got a low tip) and decided to do the minimum for us.

 

There was a suggestion here, it might have been fishbait's (she is so great!) to have a list of what you want to hand to the butler, or just to let the butler know up front what your expectations are and communicate them respectfully and firmly.

 

I think what I will do differently next time is if I do get blown off, be a lot firmer and tell the butler that I'm aware it is her responsibility to do this, and is there a problem? and if I get any grief, go to the concierge immediately.

 

Fishbait & others, who is the butlers' supervisor? The concierge or someone else?

[crabby apple]

What would make her 'figure you for low tippers' ?

 

I have been in the service industry before, and also owned/ran two businesses that dealt directly with people who were in the position of spending money that HAD a lot of money.

 

I can tell you that the ones with the least amount of disposable income tipped the best.........odd, right?

 

That is kind of why in a few places I asked if it is better to tip by the day or at the end, but......idk--

 

I wonder if I made up a little list, then said, 'we will be sure to take care of you--I have been in the service industry and ........' that kind of thing