cantthinkofanythingfun Posted December 9, 2014 #1 Share Posted December 9, 2014 I have a Haven Villa on the BA next week and I have no clue what to tip a butler. I don't want to look like a rube or anything. I don't even know what I would need a butler for, except to maybe call him Mr. Belvedere and have him teach my kid life lessons. I usually give the room steward 50 on the first day of the cruise because towel animals are the next best thing to balloon animals. I assume with a butler you wait until the end of the cruise? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SissasMomE Posted December 9, 2014 #2 Share Posted December 9, 2014 Who wants popcorn? :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bear3412 Posted December 9, 2014 #3 Share Posted December 9, 2014 http://boards.cruisecritic.com/search.php?searchid=59884329 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pieshops Posted December 9, 2014 #4 Share Posted December 9, 2014 Ah the weekly tipping thread Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnIreland Posted December 9, 2014 #5 Share Posted December 9, 2014 Start with an amount to cover the regular stuff (coffee machine , daily treats) then add more every time you ask for something extra. For two people we start with $100 then add another $10/$20 for each request (depending on what it is). Then give the envelope on the last morning. Of course your millage may vary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sverigecruiser Posted December 9, 2014 #6 Share Posted December 9, 2014 (edited) I have a Haven Villa on the BA next week and I have no clue what to tip a butler. I don't want to look like a rube or anything. I don't even know what I would need a butler for, except to maybe call him Mr. Belvedere and have him teach my kid life lessons. I usually give the room steward 50 on the first day of the cruise because towel animals are the next best thing to balloon animals. I assume with a butler you wait until the end of the cruise? If you don't ask for anything extra, you don't have to tip. To be nice to him/her, start with $50 and pay some more if you ask for anything extra. We usually pay a few dollars for breakfast in the cabin and we pay that when they deliver the breakfast but not everyday. (We only eat a small breakfast in the cabin because we don't want to miss breakfast at Cagney's/Moderno/The Haven restaurant!) Edited December 9, 2014 by sverigecruiser Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don't-use-real-name Posted December 9, 2014 #7 Share Posted December 9, 2014 Not an exact science - - - The cabin steward is compensated by the DSC (Daily Service Charge) - so I generally tip him $5 a day adding more for something exceptional i.e. cleaning the cabin a second time around after normal hours. The Butler I tip $10 a day as a starter - as I use more of his services the tip is adjusted - the Butler I understand is not part of the DSC but is a salaried employee on a different tier than the cabin stewards - think of it as a junior grade manager. The Concierge I tip based on the total package of what services he has provided me during the voyage - $50 for starters. The Concierge is also not part of the DSC and is a salaried employee on yet a higher level than the Butlers. While tips given at the start of or in the middle of a cruise are not uncommon and a definite motivator for the receiver to offer exceptional service from the onset yet I subscribe to tipping at the end after weighing all services rendered - the good with the bad - a sort of averaging system. If you are not going to tip at all or want to make an adjustment to the DSC this should be directed to the attention of the Cruise Hotel Director with the reason stated so the deficient person knows of his failing. It is not appropriate to leave a meager mediocre tip that is more of an insult that an effort of corrective action. Yea there will be folks not in agreement with this but if you have better ideas Please express them ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pieshops Posted December 9, 2014 #8 Share Posted December 9, 2014 I tip phone cards, flowers and gratitude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dam64 Posted December 9, 2014 #9 Share Posted December 9, 2014 Tip what you can afford and what your budget can afford. Don't listen to what others tell you because a lot of people will tell you they tip $$$ and I find that hard to believe....In the end its all about service and how well you were treated and any amount should be appreciated, its a tip ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Laszlo Posted December 9, 2014 #10 Share Posted December 9, 2014 (edited) Much less than the room steward. I think butlers over very overrated but thats just me. Take away the butler and give me a good room steward any day. Edited December 9, 2014 by Laszlo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SissasMomE Posted December 9, 2014 #11 Share Posted December 9, 2014 Much less than the room steward. I think butlers over very overrated but thats just me. Take away the butler and give me a good room steward any day. Agreed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Laszlo Posted December 9, 2014 #12 Share Posted December 9, 2014 (edited) Not an exact science - - - The cabin steward is compensated by the DSC (Daily Service Charge) - so I generally tip him $5 a day adding more for something exceptional i.e. cleaning the cabin a second time around after normal hours. Clean you cabin a second time after normal hours? These guys already work 12 hours day:eek: Bring back lobster tails and get ride of the Butlers and Concierge's!!!:D Edited December 9, 2014 by Laszlo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzsnooze Posted December 9, 2014 #13 Share Posted December 9, 2014 I don't use the butler and don't feel obligated to tip for services not rendered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkprayer Posted December 9, 2014 #14 Share Posted December 9, 2014 Who wants popcorn? :D Extra butter please! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don't-use-real-name Posted December 9, 2014 #15 Share Posted December 9, 2014 To tip or not to tip ? To each his own and the devil for us all ! Don't worry be happy ! You take the high road and I the low and frankly "M----" I don't give a damn ! So be your own judge of what the tip will be after all it will only be between you and the service provider. For first time cruisers it is helpful to know what maybe expected and the protocol. For the seasoned veteran of cruising you do not need any guidance so keep the Latitudes "Insider" tips to yourself. LOL ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted December 9, 2014 #16 Share Posted December 9, 2014 If you USE the butler, tip what you feel his services are worth. If you find you have no need of his help, then no tip is needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love my butler Posted December 9, 2014 #17 Share Posted December 9, 2014 Clean you cabin a second time after normal hours? These guys already work 12 hours day:eek: The crew is only allowed to work 10 hours per day. Anything more is overtime which is usually paid as time off. NCL tries very hard not to let crew work more than 10 hours per day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beaver1975 Posted December 9, 2014 #18 Share Posted December 9, 2014 (edited) The crew is only allowed to work 10 hours per day. Anything more is overtime which is usually paid as time off. NCL tries very hard not to let crew work more than 10 hours per day. Another untruth. Much like your signature. :( Edited December 9, 2014 by Beaver1975 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabincop Posted December 9, 2014 #19 Share Posted December 9, 2014 Ummm if you can afford a suite you can afford to tip. Even if you got an upgrade. It's part of your suite package. Who uses phone cards anymore. When you see crew leaving ship they're on their phones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cabincop Posted December 9, 2014 #20 Share Posted December 9, 2014 Ok flamers I know tipping isn't in suite package but if you want the amenities of a suite you should be smart enough to know to tip Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
don't-use-real-name Posted December 10, 2014 #21 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Another untruth. Much like your signature. :( I don't have any factual information to substantiate whether this is true or not. I do know that I have seen my CS doing his duties in the morning when I left to go about my visits to and fro on the ship. Coming back later near noon he was long gone and his work done. Later in the day I would see him again tidying up the cabins and then in the mid evening doing his turn down duties with the fabulous animal towel creations. So he has a split shift (part?time) job ! CS in suites would have slightly more duty area because of the size of the cabin but also less attention to duties that fall under the umbrella of the Butler. I did notice on my last cruise that the Butler was helping the CS with his assignments making a real great team work relationship ! Bravo & Kudos ! Tips adjusted upward ! DSC not withstanding - if you do not tip the whole gang will not get the message that their services were respected and appreciated. NCL may train them to look the other way for the customer that does not tip. But the human side of me says what could I have done more or what did I miss relative to service to this particular non-tipping cruiser ? At this time of the year - the time of Scrooge - when tipping think about how this little token can make every ones next cruise all that much better ! I think I will take my "Coal in a sock" now and retire - Bah Hum Bug ! Tongue in cheek ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swedish weave Posted December 10, 2014 #22 Share Posted December 10, 2014 (edited) For once, I have to agree with LMB regarding work hours. I have seen the same information myself. They do have work rules, you know !!! The work week is based on 70 hours. Edited December 10, 2014 by swedish weave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love my butler Posted December 10, 2014 #23 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Another untruth. Much like your signature. :( Next time you are on a cruise, ask the HD or any manager about the crew being limited to 10 hours per day. As for the information about the Discretionary Service Charge, that too is 100% accurate. Not liking facts doesn't change them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philip_eunice1 Posted December 10, 2014 #24 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Is there drinks available with the popcorn Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnIreland Posted December 10, 2014 #25 Share Posted December 10, 2014 Is there drinks available with the popcorn Yes, but with a 15% gratuity added for your convenience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now