Bad experience with butler!?

[luvtheships]

She is supposed to report her actual tips, to her employer and to the IRS, and the employer is supposed to make sure that the total reported tips for all employees correspond to at least 8% of gross receipts. That is very low compared to the actual tipping rate in most parts of the country, but even still: There is no assumption that each individual employee receives at least an 8% tip on every check, and there is obviously no legal requirement for the customer to leave any tip whatsoever.

 

Exactly what I said only I used general terms for the general public to get the idea across

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Edited December 5, 2014 by luvtheships

[luvtheships]

And here's me being a silly firefighter with a 35k a year salary. Tack a little more on for being and EMT . Knocks me up to around 40k. That being said , I still throw the cabin steward an extra $50 when I first board along with the OBC. And I often wonder if it's enough

 

 

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I never ever give more than $20 to the steward and at the end if the trip never the beginning

 

My income doesn't matter I just won't do it because my dsc plus $20 is sufficient

 

 

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[Beaver1975]

You try it for a while @ 10 -12 hrs/day, then get back to us if 80K is "just plain silly." :rolleyes:

 

...and 7 days a week for 8-10 months straight away from your family. Then go home on a couple month vacation when your income drops to zero. Said $80,000 in reality is about $67,000. So, once agin we have some convenient math errors to try and promote an agenda. Just plain silly. :(

Edited December 5, 2014 by Beaver1975

[david_sobe]

Wow when I read the title of this thread I thought it was another butler thread of complaining the things I never asked my butler to do for me were never done. I always get a kick out of those complaining about things you never asked them to do as if the butler is a mind reader of some sorts.

But I was WRONG. The OP wrote about some crazy stuff that was way out of line. Even if it was the last cruise for the butler he would still be out of line begging for tips the first day but he could have been tactful about it like "I am honored to serve you on my last official NCL cruise. Let me know if you need anything" Subtle hint. But to keep asking about casino wins and connecting it to his tip is definately a bad butler. I thought NCL states they are trained at some top shelf butler academy. I guess this butler was asleep in class when it comes to tactful communications.

I feel very fortunate to have never experienced anything like this. I know they work alot and maybe overworked. My last cruise we did not use the butler that much but the 2 times I called him for some sort of coffee delivery he was too busy to make the delivery and other staff came for the delivery. No problem with that but it just made me realize how busy they are.

NCL reads these boards so its good for them to read some of this crazy stuff. I would imagine people want to be butlers or asked if they want the job? If you dont want to be a butler then don't be one. I hope NCL does not select who does what. Because it makes no sense for someone who does not take autogratuity tips and only gets personal tips to frown or make faces at customers if they ask for something. That makes no sense. These butler threads are getting crazier and crazier :eek:

[Laszlo]

We had two butlers on two different ships. The first one we saw once on day one, the second we saw a few times and the understanding was we were pretty self reliant. She was so busy with the people next door it wasn't even funny. Personally I would not care if they were all removed, give me a great room steward any day. Funny thing is every room steward we have had did a great job and was extremely friendly.....they were tipped more than any butler we had

[pieshops]

You try it for a while @ 10 -12 hrs/day, then get back to us if 80K is "just plain silly." :rolleyes:

10-12 try more like 16

[conandrob240]

...and 7 days a week for 8-10 months straight away from your family. Then go home on a couple month vacation when your income drops to zero. Said $80,000 in reality is about $67,000. So, once agin we have some convenient math errors to try and promote an agenda. Just plain silly. :(

 

What on earth are you talking about? What agenda? I am contributing to a thread sharing my butler experiences. And going against some posters who are suggesting tipping $10 pp per day or more. I think that amount is out of line with the work done and not deserved. I don't think the butler position is worth even $67k a year or even $50k a year especially if the butler isn't even very good. If you think they are deserved of a $150-200 week tip, go for it.

[conandrob240]

We had two butlers on two different ships. The first one we saw once on day one, the second we saw a few times and the understanding was we were pretty self reliant. She was so busy with the people next door it wasn't even funny. Personally I would not care if they were all removed, give me a great room steward any day. Funny thing is every room steward we have had did a great job and was extremely friendly.....they were tipped more than any butler we had

 

Agree on this. Our room steward did way more for us than our butler and was tipped accordingly. I think the butler position is sort of useless.

[LaCal]

I've had 1 bad Butler who at first meeting him , his first words after Hi my name is so n so was. I'm really really busy most days n sometimes can't get to everyone's requests 🙀🙀🙈

 

Knew from that instant things weren't going to be perfect

 

Luckily we don't use the butler on a day to day basis n our room steward brought us ice each day n only thing the butler did was bring some treats n we had 2 meals in the room

 

He seemed very put off my setting the table up the first me so me being easy going said just set the food on the table during the 2nd one. He had a surprised look n asked ru sure.

 

Anyway we still tipped him but the room steward actually got more for his great service

 

Leaving this Sunday and in a suite.....We do wanna have Bfast a few times in the room and dinner once. Hope this butler doesn't have any issues 😜

[Barb Nahoumi]

My usual rule of thumb is that if you ask me for a tip I usually don't give you one

Or, If you ask me for a tip you get less than what I was planning on giving you

A tip should not be thought of as a given and a "requirement"

To ask for a tip is tacky to say the least

Glad you told the hotel manager

 

Tell him "Yeah, I've got a tip for you-----Don't ask for tips."

[Hermiones parents]

We've travelled in the Haven 4 times. We had 2 butlers that were outstanding. Armando and Chris were awesome. As far as the other 2. We had on the Breakaway. When we met us he told us that people had complained that he was slow and he wanted to let us know that. What a 1st impression. He lived up to his slow rep. The night butler and steward really helped us out in his short comings. The other one on the Gem pointed down the hall instead of escorting us to our suite and the next day told us he could not serve us dinner in the room, because the owner's suite people were keeping him busy. One call to the Concierge and he apologized, served us a 3 course dinner, and was constantly checking on us throughout the remainder of the cruise.

 

 

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[C Cruise Dude]

"The next day we had a meeting with the hotel manager, who's jaw hit the floor when we told him about the comments our butler had made. He was profusely apologetic and promptly assigned a new butler to our stateroom... who was outstanding.

 

So, has anyone else ever had bad experiences with an NCL butler? Or was this a complete anomaly? __________________

Greg & Didi"

 

I commend you for talking to the hotel manager, what a very unpleasant experience.

 

 

 

 

My usual rule of thumb is that if you ask me for a tip I usually don't give you one

Or, If you ask me for a tip you get less than what I was planning on giving you

A tip should not be thought of as a given and a "requirement"

To ask for a tip is tacky to say the least

Glad you told the hotel manager

 

Mine as well!

 

Obviously his contract had not been renewed and he knew that at the start of your cruise

 

He didn't care anymore

 

However it is food for thought for all the pax that actually think the crew wants to befriend them

 

It is always and forever going to be about the tips....everything else is just fluff and good acting/ training on their part....even down to the exchanging of emails

 

 

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Agreed!

[cruzsnooze]

The butler does what the room steward and room service should be doing. I tell the butler up front that I won't be needing his services and he could spend his time with other guests who have needs.

[watchdiva]

We were on the Pearl last week too and had a great butler. Was it Walter by any chance?

 

YUP!! Wasn't he the best? This week he's working in the Haven......:)

[Beaver1975]

What on earth are you talking about? What agenda? I am contributing to a thread sharing my butler experiences. And going against some posters who are suggesting tipping $10 pp per day or more. I think that amount is out of line with the work done and not deserved. I don't think the butler position is worth even $67k a year or even $50k a year especially if the butler isn't even very good. If you think they are deserved of a $150-200 week tip, go for it.

 

Why should you care what the butlers annual salary is. Isn't that a "what will the market bear" type issue? Besides you have already stated that you will not tip for services provided by your butler. So, you are doing your job to reduce their income potential. Good on ya!

[watchdiva]

For the past 12 years, we have cruised only when we can book a suite (AFT Penthouse, 2 BDR suite or HAVEN suite). I can honestly say we haven't experienced poor/disappointing butler or concierge service. After our first suite my DH clearly stated that he wanted butler service on future cruises and we've never looked back. We're not high maintenance but do eat breakfast/lunch and the occasional dinner in our cabin. We spend the majority of our onboard time on our balcony (or in the Haven when we can get a suite there) so certain amenities are important to us - with butler service being right there at the top.

 

It's definitely a "to each his own thing" - we prefer butler service and appreciate the hard work they do while others may not. We tip our butlers based upon service not any pre-determined pp calculation - some others may not tip at all.

 

We're happy with our choice to sail in suites where butler service is available to us:).

[conandrob240]

I never said I wouldn't tip for services provided by a butler. Never. I said I didn't tip my butler a few weeks ago because he was rude a number of times and was essentially useless. If I had an adequate butler who did his assigned duties without attitude, I think i would have tipped around $50 for the week. If he was exceptional, I may have gone to $75. I don't see how I would have ever tipped as high as $150 for the week as some are suggesting based on the scope of his role, the amount of time spent with us, etc.

[monkeybone]

Mine tops all. Butler got off at one of the ports and kept going.

 

 

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Haha..That's so funny:)

[JayinAZ]

All this butler talk makes me really anxious to see how my first Haven suite butler experience will be on the Epic in 94 days. One of the most interesting duties of a butler I read was to unpack the guests luggage. I will guarantee my family will not be asking our butler for this service.

I sure am curious to see what it's really like. As non high maintenance people, I think the main benefit we will get is the room service from specialty restaurant once or twice.

I think if I could get the haven and suite without the butler, I'd do that and save a few bucks.

[conandrob240]

I don't think any of the Haven butlers would unpack for you. Which is sort of my point- they don't perform a full range of services like that.

[Cruisin&Relaxin]

I don't think any of the Haven butlers would unpack for you. Which is sort of my point- they don't perform a full range of services like that.

 

I have had a number of Haven butlers ask if they could unpack my luggage.

 

I have always refused, but it was nice to be asked.

[SissasMomE]

I don't think any of the Haven butlers would unpack for you. Which is sort of my point- they don't perform a full range of services like that.

 

That is part of their job ...

[cruzsnooze]

And here's me being a silly firefighter with a 35k a year salary. Tack a little more on for being and EMT . Knocks me up to around 40k. That being said , I still throw the cabin steward an extra $50 when I first board along with the OBC. And I often wonder if it's enough

 

 

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That's not a tip it's a bribe IMHO.

[cruzsnooze]

All this butler talk makes me really anxious to see how my first Haven suite butler experience will be on the Epic in 94 days. One of the most interesting duties of a butler I read was to unpack the guests luggage. I will guarantee my family will not be asking our butler for this service.

I sure am curious to see what it's really like. As non high maintenance people, I think the main benefit we will get is the room service from specialty restaurant once or twice.

I think if I could get the haven and suite without the butler, I'd do that and save a few bucks.

I tell the butler up front I do not want any service from them and then you're not obligated to tip. If you order room service and it's the butler that delivers it then tip the same dollar or two you might tip room service. I don't like food or eating in my cabin so the butler really has no roll in my plans.

Edited December 5, 2014 by cruzsnooze

[emcelh]

YUP!! Wasn't he the best? This week he's working in the Haven......:)

 

Best we've had so far. I was given a bottle of wine in the casino because it was my birthday. My husband took it to our cabin and ran into Walter on the way. Walter said we should call him next time. He would come and pick it up.