Breakaway: The Haven: Butler

[dman72]

Hi everyone. Going on our 3rd cruise this summer, looking to book on the Breakaway.

 

I wouldn't mind spending money on a Haven family suite..the thing that concerns me is this butler tipping policy. I doubt we will use the butler much if at all, not our style. Suggestions I've seen here and elsewhere say $10 per person per day plus the concierge? Yikes. I don't mind spending a few thousand dollars extra for a great room with added amenities, but the other side of me finds tipping an extra $400 for services I won't use to be unacceptable. I wouldn't want to book these rooms and then feel animosity from the Butler and Concierge for basically ignoring them. The problem is, the biggest rooms outside the haven are pretty much all booked up currently and really nothing special. Family of 4 here with 2 small children.

[acharris1]

We tipped the butler, because we used him, but did not tip the concierge. We didn't use him at all.

[dman72]

We tipped the butler, because we used him, but did not tip the concierge. We didn't use him at all.

 

..and did you feel any "heat" because of it, or did they basically keep busy with other guests?

[brookie848]

We have sailed in Haven suites twice and the only use we had for the butler was when he delivered our afternoon snacks. We definitely did tip him, but it wasn't at the suggested $10/person/day rate. However, if we had used him more (room service, other requests), we would have tipped more.

[brookie848]

..and did you feel any "heat" because of it, or did they basically keep busy with other guests?

 

You tip at the end of the trip, so they have no idea how much you are giving them until then. Some people will tip up front (especially if they plan on having a lot of special requests), but most tip the last day.

[acharris1]

Like brookie848 said, the vast majority tip at the end, so the concierge wouldn't know anyway. One year, my husband tipped the butler part of his tip halfway and I swear the service went downhill. I think he may have thought that was his total tip. We didn't have much luck with Ferdinand on the Getaway. He stopped in to ask if we needed anything. My husband said we wanted some M&Ms. Ferdinand replies, can I bring that later? Well, why ask if you're not going to bring it. That one definitely left me shaking my head.

[jackson bernard]

Hi everyone. Going on our 3rd cruise this summer, looking to book on the Breakaway.

 

I wouldn't mind spending money on a Haven family suite..the thing that concerns me is this butler tipping policy. I doubt we will use the butler much if at all, not our style. Suggestions I've seen here and elsewhere say $10 per person per day plus the concierge? Yikes. I don't mind spending a few thousand dollars extra for a great room with added amenities, but the other side of me finds tipping an extra $400 for services I won't use to be unacceptable. I wouldn't want to book these rooms and then feel animosity from the Butler and Concierge for basically ignoring them. The problem is, the biggest rooms outside the haven are pretty much all booked up currently and really nothing special. Family of 4 here with 2 small children.

 

 

Don't worry about it. If you don't ask for anything special, why would you tip them anything?

 

We didn't ask for anything and did not tip either. Maybe if you ask them to set up a party then you should tip them, but not just for being there.

 

That's what I think anyway. Do whatever you want.

[Jenjer]

Can I ask where did the $10 a day per person come from? NCL or CC?

 

Do we tip the room Stuart extra?

 

I plan on using the Butler for snacks and such since I have kids but can not think of why I would ever use the Concierge unless I have a issue with something. I am pretty sure all the ports are docking ports so would we use him to escort us off the ship in port?

[timmo44]

$10 per person per day! The butler would be buying his own cruise ship if everyone followed that.

 

The most we tipped anyone for a week was $100 and that was the concierge who got us in shows and restaurants and the room steward who was looking after us every day and leaving the menagerie of towel creatures which we like.

 

We don't usually tip the butler because we just don't use him ever.

[Gregor4500]

I feel even if you don't use the butler for anything "extra" you should still tip a little something. I equate it to a server in a land based restaurant. They get a small wage, but figure in tips to make it a "living wage". Even if they don't do anything extra.

[timmo44]

I feel even if you don't use the butler for anything "extra" you should still tip a little something. I equate it to a server in a land based restaurant. They get a small wage, but figure in tips to make it a "living wage". Even if they don't do anything extra.

 

Not anything extra, we don't use for anything at all. We don't order anything to the room. No room service or drinks. Last cruise to Bermuda I don't believe I actually saw him at all. Last few and next cruise we have been in a Haven suite but not in the Haven area so maybe that's why.

[davesgirl51]

I don't know where the 10 pp/pd came from.

 

Butlers and Concierges are not part of the Daily Gratuity which the majority of us gladly pay. Your cabin steward is. (That isn't to say I don't tip them extra even though they don't have to make us towel creatures, we often don't need turndown service and our cabin and bath are decidedly clean to start with)

 

That being said,

 

Re Butlers: If you :

Got snacks

Drank coffee from your machine

Ate in your stateroom

Had laundry done

Arranged a party

 

Then, he/she should receive a tip.

 

Re Concierge : If you :

 

Asked him/her to get reservations for dinner or shows

Got off the ship at your desired time at ports

Disembarked from a pre-arranged location with VIP silver luggage tags

Needed any assistance with your airfare

Problems, issues, concerns, requests with your cruise that were handled or anything else where you were engaged in other than daily pleasantries.

 

Then, he/she should receive a tip.

 

You will know they should receive a little something if you hear them say this to you : "Not a problem, I will see that it gets taken care of."

 

 

If any of your problems were handled by their assistant between the hours of 12-4, then that person should be acknowledged. IMHO

 

Ready, Aim, Fire ��

Edited July 3, 2015 by davesgirl51

[Merriem]

$10 per person per day! The butler would be buying his own cruise ship if everyone followed that.

 

The most we tipped anyone for a week was $100 and that was the concierge who got us in shows and restaurants and the room steward who was looking after us every day and leaving the menagerie of towel creatures which we like.

 

We don't usually tip the butler because we just don't use him ever.

 

I have seen that number posted here, and that seems a bit generous. We will be in the Haven in September, and will see what they do. Have had butlers on other cruise lines, and they did as little as possible.

 

As far as the concierge, I have booked everything on line, and really see no need for their services. Will wait and see.

[davesgirl51]

Not anything extra, we don't use for anything at all. We don't order anything to the room. No room service or drinks. Last cruise to Bermuda I don't believe I actually saw him at all. Last few and next cruise we have been in a Haven suite but not in the Haven area so maybe that's why.

 

I love it when I don't see my Butler after the first day. That means that all my needs have been met without disturbance (unless, of course, I have ordered en suite dining). :)

[acharris1]

The concierge took us in a group off the ship at port one time. I didn't feel that was enough to justify a tip at the end of the cruise. The Haven is expensive enough. Now, if I would've used his services other than punching an elevator button, I would've tipped him. We did tip the room steward even though he's part of the regular gratuity because he was super awesome.

[Merriem]

The concierge took us in a group off the ship at port one time. I didn't feel that was enough to justify a tip at the end of the cruise. The Haven is expensive enough. Now, if I would've used his services other than punching an elevator button, I would've tipped him. We did tip the room steward even though he's part of the regular gratuity because he was super awesome.

 

Well said. Tipping gets a little overboard

[BayouDoc]

The Concierge and butlers are not part of the tip pool. To me, having a concierge means even if something goes wrong, i don't have to stand in line to deal with it. I don't have to worry about planning ahead for dinner reservations, i can play it by ear and still get into a restaurant without planning ahead. Having this insurance as it were, is worth something even if you don't end up using it. This goes for the butlers too, if for some reason like you sprain an ankle or for some other reason really can't easily get around, they are available to bring anything from any restaurant to your room. Even if you don't happen to use them, they are available. We have always found pleasure in tipping these hard working, pleasant people well above $10/person/day. I wonder if they keep track of these things for return voyages? We have always received top of the line treatment. And we have always tipped on the last day. Each to his own conscience.

[davesgirl51]

The Concierge and butlers are not part of the tip pool. To me, having a concierge means even if something goes wrong, i don't have to stand in line to deal with it. I don't have to worry about planning ahead for dinner reservations, i can play it by ear and still get into a restaurant without planning ahead. Having this insurance as it were, is worth something even if you don't end up using it. This goes for the butlers too, if for some reason like you sprain an ankle or for some other reason really can't easily get around, they are available to bring anything from any restaurant to your room. Even if you don't happen to use them, they are available. We have always found pleasure in tipping these hard working, pleasant people well above $10/person/day. I wonder if they keep track of these things for return voyages? We have always received top of the line treatment. And we have always tipped on the last day. Each to his own conscience.

 

Well said.

[maxwellito]

Tipping is optional although you should tip if you get the service

I did not tip my butler arturo when i sailed on the BA because he didn't do his job properly. I only asked him for one thing and he didnt even do that.

I saw him maybe once or twice during the cruise and he only came to introduce himself to me because my friends butler told him i was looking for him. I was not

Surprisingly enough my friends had a different room steward and butler who i saw many times a day and gave me a big hello. My room steward I saw rarely but I did tip because the room was done every day

Edited July 4, 2015 by maxwellito

[johnlatte]

We were just on the Dawn. Our steward, butler and concierge were all outstanding. We asked for a couple of things from the butler and our concierge straightened out the Dining Desk person who got snippy with the wife over changing a reservation at the last minute. She also booked an excursion for wife and daughter while I was out golfing with other daughter. I didn't follow a $10 per person per day guideline, I did tip the butler decently and the concierge as well. If you don't use them don't feel the need to tip, but if they do something for you or if you ask them for anything, toss some bills their way. I have found NCL's concierges to be hit or miss; mostly miss. This time I was truly impressed and tipped accordingly.