What have you used the concierge or butler service for?

[cricket]

To be honest, I'm having a hard time figuring out just how much they really are useful. I believe in giving my waiters and assistants good tips, as they physically work so hard to please us as passengers, but I just read where the concierge and butler expect gratuity , also. I can't imagine paying already thousands more for getting that service per person and then turning around to tip them more. I am just as able to make phone calls as they are. I guess for a butler they may do some special things you want them to do, like get your clothes cleaned or pressed but I just don't think paying soooooooooo much more for their service and then tip then also is worth it. I hope I am not taken wrong...don't want to start WW3 lol!! Maybe if I am more enlightened to just what they do I might appreciate the extra expense. Be easy on me now as I truely believe in tipping!

[Got Tequila?]

To be honest, I'm having a hard time figuring out just how much they really are useful. I believe in giving my waiters and assistants good tips, as they physically work so hard to please us as passengers, but I just read where the concierge and butler expect gratuity , also. I can't imagine paying already thousands more for getting that service per person and then turning around to tip them more. I am just as able to make phone calls as they are. I guess for a butler they may do some special things you want them to do, like get your clothes cleaned or pressed but I just don't think paying soooooooooo much more for their service and then tip then also is worth it. I hope I am not taken wrong...don't want to start WW3 lol!! Maybe if I am more enlightened to just what they do I might appreciate the extra expense. Be easy on me now as I truely believe in tipping!

 

Concierge service starts usually as you arrive at the pier....he is there to handle restaurant/spa/shoer excursion reservations even before you board the ship. The Concierge usually has you escorted on the ship, before the other guests.

 

Concierge can help with theater seating, early admission to the Chocoholic buffet, and getting off the ship in ports and final embarkation.

 

Concierge is always helpful with port questions, ship questions, ect.

 

Butler can get you things that you may have forgotten to pack, special snacks or full meals setup in your suite.

 

The list of things the Butler can do for you, and the Concierge can arrange for you is endless....I'm sure other's will add things I've forgotten already.

 

To me personally the Concierge is a necessity, the butler is a pleasure..........and they are priceless. :)

***Just wanted to add that as far as tipping goes, do so based upon how much you use (or don't use) them. I'm sure some people use them more than others, and I hope they tip them accordingly.

Edited June 28, 2011 by Got Tequila?

[collectingcoke]

as others have pointed out, it is wonderful to be able to get reservations when they are "booked" both in retaurants and spa. Also they are great at doing thins like getting extra ice, clearing out the fridge for you, serving meals with class in the suites, bringing whatever you need, returning towels, beer containers that you happended to forget that day. It is just plan pampering not that they necessarily do things that you physically couldn't do, just makes the experieince that much more special.

[fiftyguy]

Since your thread is more about tipping, I'll say you are not obligated to tip either of them. It is your choice.

The threads I've read about tipping, when in suites, is that each person has there own idea what to tip. Obviously what you can afford comes into play.

I do feel each does enough to enhance my cruise so I tip them and sometimes one, or the other, will do something extra special that I might give more than what I was planning. In the end your the one who determines their value to an enjoyable cruise and whether to say "thank you" with a tip.

[Fishbait17]

Please remember this for both the concierge and the butler: Even if you never ask them to do anything, there are many things they both do that are done automatically.

 

Did you get priority embarkation? how about Priority tender tickets (even if you never used them)? priority disembarkation? were you given a letter inviting you to the Captain's party for suite guests (even if you didn't go)? Did you get an invitation for early entry to the chocoholic buffet (even if you didn't go)? Were you offered special seating in the theater (even if you didn't use it)? if you have done any of these things, then you have used the concierge..

 

did you get your afternoon snacks delivered automatically (the ones that come with the suite)? Did you make coffee with the coffee maker in your suite? Do you have fruit and flowers in your cabin? Is you mini bar kept stocked, or did you have it emptied? Do you have ice in your suite at least twice a day? Do you have clean stocked glassware in your suite? Did he give you a tour of your suite? Did you attend the suite party with the hand passed cocktails and canapés? Were you escorted to your suite? if you have done any of these things, then you have used the butler..

 

Tipping is personal and subjective, but is expected (and proper) for a job well done - even if you have not made any special requests. Of course, the more you request and the better the service for those requests, the higher your tip should be. other crew members are included in the DSC, the butlers and concierge are not (nor should they be, since not everyone benefits from their services) and yet they work just as hard (or harder) than any other crew member on the ship, and they are always smiling and asking what else they can do for you. the extra expense of tipping them both is an inherent part of booking a suite, if one cannot afford to tip them, then one has no business booking a suite.. That would be like going out to dinner and not tipping because you couldn't afford it after the meal..

 

Off my soapbox now :D.

 

Robin

Edited June 28, 2011 by Fishbait17

[Fishbait17]

It is just plan pampering not that they necessarily do things that you physically couldn't do, just makes the experieince that much more special.

 

This is perfectly said!

 

Robin

[cruising 2013]

I was recently on the EPIC and our butler was exceptional. He placed my carry on bags in our cabin before it was ready, he got us into the shows early, made sure all our reservations were in order,even got our booze out of the naughty room on the last night so that we didn't have to waste time in line.

[DMH15]

Since your thread is more about tipping, I'll say you are not obligated to tip either of them. It is your choice.

The threads I've read about tipping, when in suites, is that each person has there own idea what to tip. Obviously what you can afford comes into play.

I do feel each does enough to enhance my cruise so I tip them and sometimes one, or the other, will do something extra special that I might give more than what I was planning. In the end your the one who determines their value to an enjoyable cruise and whether to say "thank you" with a tip.

Is this like someone going to a sit down restaurant with $20 and paying for a $20 meal and then saying they can't afford a tip when perhaps they should have gone to a restaurant with counter service?

 

A butler and concierge is part of the suite. I guess people stiff them... But to base tipping on what one can afford rather on services rendered makes me wonder if that person maybe can't afford a suite?

 

Sometimes people get upsells and don't even realize that the butler and concierge are not in the tip pools. Some of those folks learn of that fact here on CC, but I assume many who do not subscribe might not realize that, or might learn of that while on their cruise.

[fiftyguy]

DMH15 - I was not recommending stiffing the butler & concierge. As I stated, I do tip both, sometimes generously. All I was saying, after reading varoius threads on tipping, is that there is a subtle pressure to give hundreds on tipping when it might not be feasible for someone to do so, especially if they haven't availed themselves of all the available services a butler & concierge provide.

I love what they provide to my cruising experience and make sure to let them know with my tip.

[LadyShiva]

We used the concierge to get the medical facility to open early, to get a taxi to the ER, and get the shore excursion we booked through NCL cancelled.

 

We found Raquel to be worth her weight in gold, and the Pearl is lucky to get her.

[Bandit 10/10/09]

I upgraded from a blacony to a suite for $635 and with the balcony no OBC and with the suite $300 OBC. for me $325 for suite life is a must. I have not experience the suite life as of yet. 6-1-2012 i do plan to tip them and I do not plan to use then hardly at all.

 

Julie

[cricket]

Interesting answers and very enlightening ,too! Since I have never had a suite, I was not aware of the many jobs the concierge or the butler are able to do for you. Since this is my first penthouse suite I have ever experienced I am glad I found out more about the different jobs the concierge and butler can do for a passenger. I will tip according to how much I may use of their services.

[Duff Man]

It is just plan pampering not that they necessarily do things that you physically couldn't do, just makes the experieince that much more special.

 

Well, probably for most things, but not entirely true. In our experiences we have had concierge get DW a manicure appointment when spa insisted there were no openings, and a restaurant seating when reservations said the restaurant was full. These are a couple of examples of things we actually were unable to do on our own. Sometimes the concierge should be used like a concierge and not a gopher. ;)

[sverigecruiser]

Please remember this for both the concierge and the butler: Even if you never ask them to do anything, there are many things they both do that are done automatically.

 

Did you get priority embarkation? how about Priority tender tickets (even if you never used them)? priority disembarkation? were you given a letter inviting you to the Captain's party for suite guests (even if you didn't go)? Did you get an invitation for early entry to the chocoholic buffet (even if you didn't go)? Were you offered special seating in the theater (even if you didn't use it)? if you have done any of these things, then you have used the concierge..

 

did you get your afternoon snacks delivered automatically (the ones that come with the suite)? Did you make coffee with the coffee maker in your suite? Do you have fruit and flowers in your cabin? Is you mini bar kept stocked, or did you have it emptied? Do you have ice in your suite at least twice a day? Do you have clean stocked glassware in your suite? Did he give you a tour of your suite? Did you attend the suite party with the hand passed cocktails and canapés? Were you escorted to your suite? if you have done any of these things, then you have used the butler..

 

Tipping is personal and subjective, but is expected (and proper) for a job well done - even if you have not made any special requests. Of course, the more you request and the better the service for those requests, the higher your tip should be. other crew members are included in the DSC, the butlers and concierge are not (nor should they be, since not everyone benefits from their services) and yet they work just as hard (or harder) than any other crew member on the ship, and they are always smiling and asking what else they can do for you. the extra expense of tipping them both is an inherent part of booking a suite, if one cannot afford to tip them, then one has no business booking a suite.. That would be like going out to dinner and not tipping because you couldn't afford it after the meal..

 

Off my soapbox now :D.

 

Robin

 

My opinion is that all the things you mentioned is part of their job and already paid for when you paid for the cruise so no need to tip for that.

 

Don't misunderstand me, I do tip both the butler and the concierge, but I don't think that anyone have to tip for things they didn't asked for.

 

Someone who never see the concierge or the butler don't have to tip them. That's only my opinion!

[Army/Police Vet]

My opinion is that all the things you mentioned is part of their job and already paid for when you paid for the cruise so no need to tip for that.

 

Don't misunderstand me, I do tip both the butler and the concierge, but I don't think that anyone have to tip for things they didn't asked for.

 

Someone who never see the concierge or the butler don't have to tip them. That's only my opinion!

 

Completely agree. If you feel you didn't use them or they gave you horrible service you should not feel bad about not giving them a tip. Too many people in the U.S. feel a tip is mandatory, good service, bad service or no service.

[Fishbait17]

My opinion is that all the things you mentioned is part of their job and already paid for when you paid for the cruise so no need to tip for that.

 

Don't misunderstand me, I do tip both the butler and the concierge, but I don't think that anyone have to tip for things they didn't asked for.

 

Someone who never see the concierge or the butler don't have to tip them. That's only my opinion!

 

In my eyes, the "things" that are included (like afternoon snacks, capuccino machine, priority embarkation, larger cabin, etc) are included in the price you pay, but good service tip for them is not. When someone books a suite, they "ask" for these services (as they are automatically included in the service for the suite). NCL makes it clear that gratuities for butler and concierge are NOT included in the DSC - I think making it clear that they are also not included in the price of the suite - the same way tips for room stewards and waitstaff are not included in the price of any cabin, and are supplemented by the DSC.

 

Again, I will use the restaurant analogy: If one pays $20 for dinner at Applebees, and then tips $5 - great. But then one goes to a fine dining establishment and pays $100 for dinner, and because the price was higher, they expect that now the "tip" is included in the higher price, so they don't tip.. The higher cost does not cover the service, it was for the better food and finer atmosphere (like the suite). The waiter still gave them great service, but gets no tip. Yes, waiting the table is "his job", but tips are expected to supplement his meager salary. The butler and concierge are not paid (much) more for their service than the waitstaff in the dining room, but the waitstaff is included in the DSC and the others are not. So therefore, not tipping them for even the basic services is most definitely "stiffing" them in my eyes.

 

In my opinion, the only way to avoid a tip for good service is to make it clear from the beginning of the cruise that you do not want anything delivered to your suite - that you will pick them up yourselves (priority tender tickets, afternoon snacks, walk yourself onto the ship, etc). I do definitely agree that poor service deserves a small (or nonexistent if the service is very poor) tip, but then again, I have only once had a butler that was less than stellar where I lowered my "starting" gratuity - so I emphasize "good service".

 

Nothing personal to you or anyone, really :), it's just that I have worked in the service industry much of my life and have dealt with all types - and usually the ones who fail to tip are more "uninformed" than trying to rip someone off. The waiter in the $100 restaurant has generally perfected his level of service, working his way up from the $20 restaurant - the same way the butlers and concierges have worked their way "Up the ranks". Not saying that there aren't fantastic waiters at the $20 dinner, but the nuances are generally perfected for the $100 dinner. Hope this makes sense!

 

Robin

Edited June 29, 2011 by Fishbait17

[terry55]

A tipping question - guidance please! Will be a first time NCL cruiser in July, and will be in an aft suite. I have no problems with the tips for the butler and concierge; will certainly enjoy having them there when we need them and definitely want to thank them! My question is for using Cagney's for breakfast/lunch. Have you tipped at the end of the cruise or after whatever meal you have there? I was thinking it would be the end of the week, but am not sure. Also, as for dinner at any of the specialty restaurants I would think you would be leaving a tip at the end of your dinner. Have taken 6 cruises with other lines previously, but not in a suite and only once at a specialty restaurant, when we tipped at the end of dinner. Sorry for asking a basic question here.....thanks.

[Fishbait17]

A tipping question - guidance please! Will be a first time NCL cruiser in July, and will be in an aft suite. I have no problems with the tips for the butler and concierge; will certainly enjoy having them there when we need them and definitely want to thank them! My question is for using Cagney's for breakfast/lunch. Have you tipped at the end of the cruise or after whatever meal you have there? I was thinking it would be the end of the week, but am not sure. Also, as for dinner at any of the specialty restaurants I would think you would be leaving a tip at the end of your dinner. Have taken 6 cruises with other lines previously, but not in a suite and only once at a specialty restaurant, when we tipped at the end of dinner. Sorry for asking a basic question here.....thanks.

 

Everyone has different policies or ideas for tipping both at specialties and for breakfast/lunch at Cagney's. Technically, they are included in your daily service charge, so there is no requirement to tip. Many people do leave additional tip at each meal, some only at one or the other, some tip their favorites at the end, etc. I personally eat very few meals in Cagney's and simply leave $5-10 or so for any meal I eat there (depending on how many we are, and if service was really good which it usually is). We also add additional tip at the Specialties if service is excellent, and it usually is - about $5 per person. But it is completely up to you and you will see many variations on tipping for these.

 

Robin

[retired rascal]

I changed my views on tipping when I learned the butlers are NOT part of the tipping pool that comes out of the daily service charge [$12]. That covers a myriad of people you see [like room stewards] and don't see [like all the people who prep all that food we eat or wash all the dishes we use, etc. and the people we see in the dining venues. Our butler was available LONG hours...he brought breakfast before 7 somedays and was making room service deliveries at 11 p.m.....and he was on the run whenever someone needed something or the Lavazza needed servicing etc. That is seven days a week for months on end.....The suite guests are their source of income....and yes, they may make good money, but I sure wouldn't work those hours ever.....

 

We also thought about it...we are lucky lucky folks. Not only do we get to cruise, but we get to cruise in suites because we choose to. No one is telling us to pay the extra $$. We do it because we love the priority embarkation, Cagney's, the extra room service items, the DVD's. We figure that tipping the butler and the concierge are just part of the cost we commit to when we book a suite.

 

We do use them though not extensively. The concierge can get reservations when we can not. On our Panama Canal cruise, when it rained, he showed up with an umbrella. On another occasion he loaned my husband an ace bandage until medical opened. Our butler catered to our Lavazza requests and brought us extra things we requested....with breakfast.

 

It's your choice to book a suite....just know its does cost more.....If you don't want the extra help or priority services, book 2 connecting minisuites and pay a whole lot less for just as much space.

[DMH15]

I changed my views on tipping when I learned the butlers are NOT part of the tipping pool that comes out of the daily service charge [$12]. That covers a myriad of people you see [like room stewards] and don't see [like all the people who prep all that food we eat or wash all the dishes we use, etc. and the people we see in the dining venues. Our butler was available LONG hours...he brought breakfast before 7 somedays and was making room service deliveries at 11 p.m.....and he was on the run whenever someone needed something or the Lavazza needed servicing etc. That is seven days a week for months on end.....The suite guests are their source of income....and yes, they may make good money, but I sure wouldn't work those hours ever.....

 

We also thought about it...we are lucky lucky folks. Not only do we get to cruise, but we get to cruise in suites because we choose to. No one is telling us to pay the extra $$. We do it because we love the priority embarkation, Cagney's, the extra room service items, the DVD's. We figure that tipping the butler and the concierge are just part of the cost we commit to when we book a suite.

 

We do use them though not extensively. The concierge can get reservations when we can not. On our Panama Canal cruise, when it rained, he showed up with an umbrella. On another occasion he loaned my husband an ace bandage until medical opened. Our butler catered to our Lavazza requests and brought us extra things we requested....with breakfast.

 

It's your choice to book a suite....just know its does cost more.....If you don't want the extra help or priority services, book 2 connecting minisuites and pay a whole lot less for just as much space.

Thank you for an excellent post!

[Mr and Mrs C]

I am not sure I will be able to afford these cabins, but I am curious how much you tip them at the end of the week?

Edited June 29, 2011 by Mr and Mrs C

[sverigecruiser]

In my eyes, the "things" that are included (like afternoon snacks, capuccino machine, priority embarkation, larger cabin, etc) are included in the price you pay, but good service tip for them is not. When someone books a suite, they "ask" for these services (as they are automatically included in the service for the suite). NCL makes it clear that gratuities for butler and concierge are NOT included in the DSC - I think making it clear that they are also not included in the price of the suite - the same way tips for room stewards and waitstaff are not included in the price of any cabin, and are supplemented by the DSC.

 

Again, I will use the restaurant analogy: If one pays $20 for dinner at Applebees, and then tips $5 - great. But then one goes to a fine dining establishment and pays $100 for dinner, and because the price was higher, they expect that now the "tip" is included in the higher price, so they don't tip.. The higher cost does not cover the service, it was for the better food and finer atmosphere (like the suite). The waiter still gave them great service, but gets no tip. Yes, waiting the table is "his job", but tips are expected to supplement his meager salary. The butler and concierge are not paid (much) more for their service than the waitstaff in the dining room, but the waitstaff is included in the DSC and the others are not. So therefore, not tipping them for even the basic services is most definitely "stiffing" them in my eyes.

 

In my opinion, the only way to avoid a tip for good service is to make it clear from the beginning of the cruise that you do not want anything delivered to your suite - that you will pick them up yourselves (priority tender tickets, afternoon snacks, walk yourself onto the ship, etc). I do definitely agree that poor service deserves a small (or nonexistent if the service is very poor) tip, but then again, I have only once had a butler that was less than stellar where I lowered my "starting" gratuity - so I emphasize "good service".

 

Nothing personal to you or anyone, really :), it's just that I have worked in the service industry much of my life and have dealt with all types - and usually the ones who fail to tip are more "uninformed" than trying to rip someone off. The waiter in the $100 restaurant has generally perfected his level of service, working his way up from the $20 restaurant - the same way the butlers and concierges have worked their way "Up the ranks". Not saying that there aren't fantastic waiters at the $20 dinner, but the nuances are generally perfected for the $100 dinner. Hope this makes sense!

 

Robin

 

I don't take what you wrote personal and what you wrote make sense even if I don't really agree with you!

 

Lots of people on the ship are not included in the DSC but they still do a lots of things for you without getting a tip. Why is the butler and concierge different if you don't ask for anything extra?

 

I have done the math before and got at lots of enemies so I will not do it again but think about it, how much tip will the conierge get if every suite tip them for example $10 every day? How high income will they get? Remember that they are there for you, it's not you who are there for them!

[VideoTech]

I am not sure I will be able to afford these cabins, but I am curious how much you tip them at the end of the week?

 

You tip them whatever you are comfortable with, from $0 on up. There is no set rate, and different people tip different amounts or none at all.

 

If you'd like to see what different people do, search the postings on this topic. It's been discussed many times, with all sorts of opinions.

[VideoTech]

A tipping question - guidance please! Will be a first time NCL cruiser in July, and will be in an aft suite. I have no problems with the tips for the butler and concierge; will certainly enjoy having them there when we need them and definitely want to thank them! My question is for using Cagney's for breakfast/lunch. Have you tipped at the end of the cruise or after whatever meal you have there? I was thinking it would be the end of the week, but am not sure. Also, as for dinner at any of the specialty restaurants I would think you would be leaving a tip at the end of your dinner. Have taken 6 cruises with other lines previously, but not in a suite and only once at a specialty restaurant, when we tipped at the end of dinner. Sorry for asking a basic question here.....thanks.

 

No question too basic here...and you'll get a wide variety of answers on this one!

 

We do not generally tip in Cagney's, in any of the specialty restaurants, or in the regular restaurants and dining rooms. The staff in those areas are included in the daily tips pool, and since they rotate assignments all the time, it's difficult to get the kind of special relationship with one waiter or waitress that might cause us to want to tip extra.

 

That being said, if we did experience service above and beyond the norm in any of those places, we would tip for it.

 

The butler and concierge are a different story. We do leave a tip for each of those persons, at the end of the cruise on disembarkation. The amount depends on what service we've asked for and received, and the relationship we've developed with those people.

 

One of the most overlooked staff members, IMO, is your cabin steward. While they are included in the tips pool, they often do much more than either the butler or concierge to improve the quality of your experience on board. We will always tip our cabin steward at the end of the cruise, even if we're less impressed with the butler or concierge.

[terry55]

Thank you for the replies/comments/clarification. Makes sense that for breakfast and lunch in Cagney's that tips would be included in the "daily tips pool".

 

We plan on saying "thank you" to the butler and concierge at the end of the cruise with an appropriate tip. We have always given our cabin steward something extra at the end of our previous cruises. This cruise in a suite is a "splurge" for ourselves and cannot wait!!:):)