SUITES & BUTLERS... possibilities...?

[drumexpert510]

Alright, So I have cruised A LOT with NCL but NEVER in a suite. Next week we are leaving on the Star out of Tampa in the 2-bedroom. We will have a butler and personal concierge. Without doing anything too outlandish... What are some of the things that they will do for you that maybe we don't know about? Basically what I am asking is if you have had this privilege, what are some cool experiences that you have had. Thanks everyone!!!:D

[MaryLS]

We cruised in aft suites on the Jewel in 2012.Since we are pretty low maintenance, there wasn't much we wanted from our butler. However, one day we were playing cards in the cabin when she appeared to see if we needed anything. Asked her for a snack of some cheese and crackers and she did bring a nice plate.

[GORDONCHICK]

The concierge takes care of things outside your suite. The butler takes care of things inside. The concierge can make restaurant reservations, book excursions, reserve seats for shows, etc. They will also escort you onto the ship for embarkation and off the ship for disembarkation (including at ports) if desired. If they are not available, they should have a designated person do that in their place. The butler will bring afternoon snacks, keep you stocked in coffee pods for the machine, unpack for you (if you ask), etc. They will also be the ones to serve a meal en suite if requested. If you choose to have guests in your suite and want refreshments, the butler would take care of that for you.

 

Also, neither are in the DSC, so they need to be tipped separately.

Edited November 11, 2015 by GORDONCHICK

[perkydebrajean]

I mentioned to our butler that my husband has a big sweet tooth. So besides the normal afternoon snacks that the butler brought, he also left a large plate of cookies for my husband every day. And kept a pitcher of iced tea in our fridge for me.

[BirdTravels]

Every experience is different. There is one "personal" concierge for the ship. So, on a smaller ship, you get more personalized service. We were on the Sky in September (which does not have a behind the scenes tour), our concierge arranged for a private tour of the engine control room by the chief engineer and an hour-long tour and discussion with the captain on the bridge as the ship got underway from GSC for suite guests. On the Epic, our concierge brought us through the back stage entrance for the Cirque show and got us seated first before the main doors opened and moved us past the line at the theater to reserved suite seating. We let the concierge worry about booking shows, excursions and booking/changing dinner reservations.

 

We always take advantage of the white tablecloth breakfast room service on port days. While there are specific options on the breakfast card, we write-in whatever we want (including my morning diet pepsi) and our butler brings it to us right on time. Tell him what you like/don't like. He'll bring sandwiches and snacks in the afternoon, and we ask for PB&J sandwiches in lieu of turkey and tuna. On our Alaska cruise, the butler would bring us extra deck chairs and deck blankets for glacier watching. Since you're a platinum member, the butler will also take care of getting your free laundry processed and back to you.

 

Both your concierge and butler are not in the DSC tip pool, so they work hard for your tips. They are willing and able to do just about anything you ask.

Edited November 11, 2015 by BirdTravels

[Wavesprite]

Will they bring candies? (M&m's)?

[drumexpert510]

Now, when they are doing all of this... cookies, snacks or room service... is there a charge to this or just something they do out of the kindness of their heart so to speak?

[perkydebrajean]

Now, when they are doing all of this... cookies, snacks or room service... is there a charge to this or just something they do out of the kindness of their heart so to speak?

 

The butler will bring a plate of snacks each afternoon. It's part of the suite perks. I've heard some people say that they request certain things for their snacks like sandwiches or cheese and crackers. No charge for the cookies and iced tea we had.

 

Also we had breakfast delivered on port days that we had an early excursion. Our butler told us that if what we wanted for breakfast wasn't on the suites room service card then write it in. So a couple of days we requested omelets and had no problems getting them.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[BirdTravels]

Now, when they are doing all of this... cookies, snacks or room service... is there a charge to this or just something they do out of the kindness of their heart so to speak?

 

As suites guests, it is all complimentary. Your butler will bring you snacks every afternoon. You get the default snack of the day unless you request something. If you want to dine in your room, your butler will bring food from anywhere on the ship. If it is from a specialty restaurant, you pay the cover charge or a la carte price. If you are in an owners suite or large villa, your butler stocks your complimentary waters and sodas. And he keeps your espresso machine stocked.

 

When we were in the Epic a few weeks ago, our butler would drop off late night snacks around 9:30 pm and they would be there waiting when we returned in the evening. Fruit plates, cheese plates, chocokate plates, cookies and snacks.

 

If I didn't mention it, write whatever you want on your breakfast card. My DW orders egg white omelette with tomatoes and spinach. I order the filet steak and eggs with a Diet Pepsi. Your butler shows up exactly on time with a white table cloth and sets your dining table.

[dexddd]

Will they bring candies? (M&m's)?

 

It can vary a bit from ship to ship, but yes and usually gummy bears too.

[toyotaford]

Will they bring candies? (M&m's)?

 

They always keep my husband a full bowl of peanut M&Ms.

[cliffd64]

We just came off the Star out of Tampa, and our butler, Cipriano, was wonderful. In addition to the daily snacks that he would normally bring, we had one person in our two bedroom suite that was diabetic and required sugar free desserts. He would bring the sugar free dessert each day for her.

 

When we had our cruise critic cabin crawl, he supplied us with snacks for the guests who came to see our cabin... in fact that was his idea... we hadn't thought of it ...

 

You can also have breakfast, or lunch, or dinner in your cabin if you desire, all served by your butler.

[goldmom]

Just keep your expectations realistic. We've had some outstanding butlers and also some very lackluster butlers. We didn't even realize how bad the bad ones were until we had great ones.

 

We ordered lunch in our cabin from the room service menu. We wanted to have lunch on our balcony. We were in an H-6, so who wouldn't want to enjoy that balcony! It took an hour for the food to arrive and then the butler just dropped the plates on the table and left. No tablecloth no taking the covers off, nothing.

 

In comparison, on the Gem the butler happened to stop in when my DH was getting ready to watch a movie. He asked he we needed anything, I jokingly said popcorn. Well, a few minutes later he arrived with hot popcorn which he apparently got from his own supply of microwave popcorn. In addition we were traveling with another couple and we all had dinner together in our suite. We each ordered from a different restaurant and he brought everything hot and timely, served in courses and had come in before bringing the meal to set the table. This was the amazing I Putu, whom I know others here have mentioned.

 

So, all I'm saying is, enjoy whatever perks the Butler and Concierge bring to you but if you happen to get lackluster ones don't let it ruin your trip. As you can imagine, we also tipped very differently between the two butlers. And yes, a great butler can really make a difference so I hope you get a terrific one. But whatever happens just enjoy the trip. Have fun!

[happy cruzin]

Now, when they are doing all of this... cookies, snacks or room service... is there a charge to this or just something they do out of the kindness of their heart so to speak?

 

Charge....no. "Goodness of the heart"....no because they are working for a tip, because they are not included in the DSC.

 

Basically the more we ask for that is "special" the more we tip. We are usually aft PH suites and a pretty low maintenance. But even at that we usually request sweet (not savory) snacks for the afternoon and we have requested breakfast on the balcony - which is an experience everyone should try!

 

We have never had a request denied - but we haven't asked for anything too crazy either!

Edited November 11, 2015 by happy cruzin

[NLH Arizona]

Don't be afraid to ask for something you want, if it is out of the Butlers responsibilities or he can't acquire it for you, he will let you know.

[drumexpert510]

Thanks everyone for all the help advice... If anyone else has some suggestions please share.

[bnorris10]

They always keep my husband a full bowl of peanut M&Ms.

 

omg i will be in heaven for that i love cold peanut m'ms

[bnorris10]

Do you have to pay extra for the m'm or candy?

[RiotAct]

omg i will be in heaven for that i love cold peanut m'ms

 

... as opposed to warm peanut M&M's?

[dexddd]

Do you have to pay extra for the m'm or candy?

 

No.

[SuiteTraveler]

As everyone has mentioned, the concierge takes care of dining reservations and special seating at shows.

 

The butler can:

bring you special pillows

handle room service orders (especially good if you have a early tour so that you must leave before Cagney's opens for breakfast - place your order the night before.)

bring you cocktails from the bar

bring you wine or beer

draw a specialty bath (there is a charge for this but they do fancy ones with special ingredients and flowers, etc.)

put together food and drink for a party in your suite

you can place a standing order with your butler and/or place a different order every time. The Butler will try hard to never say no.

Bring a birthday or anniversary cake

 

Remember your butler is probably serving at least 8 other suites - often at both ends of the ship if you are not in The Haven. The further in advance you can tell the butler what you want, the easier it is on him or her.

[bnorris10]

... as opposed to warm peanut M&M's?

 

Actually if you must know I really don't care for warm peanut m'm and will pass on them when they are not cold not sure why just the way i like them when ever i buy them they come home and go straight to freezer

[Samstress]

We've never had a 'bad' butler but as was previously mentioned we didn't realize what a 'great' butler was until our Dawn cruise where Roland Dalena was our Butler.

He was so funny, personable & accommodating. From serving our breakfast every morning; making sure our ice bucket (beer bucket actually) was full, having fresh sliced lemons in the fridge (my sisters request). I could go on & on..

Suffice it to say that he added to our cruise experience in such a positive way that we are keeping our fingers crossed that he is on our next booked sailing:)

Cheers,

Sandra.

[WildcatRock]

I will "second!" Samstress's great butler shout out of Roland. He is a friendly attentive butler. We have 6 cruises under our belt since 2009 and all have been suites, from the Aft to the Haven 2 Br to twice in a Garden Villa. As others have posted there is a wide variance to the service and personalized attention you can get from a butler. You are on the right path of asking questions and reading other's experiences before you cruise. This will help you in your expectations.

 

As for our BEST SERVICE from a butler? It was last year on the Jewel out of Houston the week of Thanksgiving. We were in the Garden Villa and had brought our two sons and my Mother and her husband. The day we were in Cozumel, I had arranged with our butler, ROLAND DALENA to have decorations, snacks and a cake set up in the room for our return. In addition on the day of embarkation, I had pulled Roland aside and asked if there was any way possible that someone from the kitchen could prepare a special pie that we make each year for my husband's birthday. He had arranged for it to be prepared and served in the Villa and this was the highlight of the big surprise for Kent's 50th Birthday. As a thank you, I hand wrote a card and tucked some cash inside with instructions for it to be delivered to the person who took the time to prepare this for us.

 

Asking for some special snacks, real cream for your coffee, or write-ins for breakfast are not out of the question. If you ask for these types of items and your butler says "NO" then you should speak to the concierge. In my opinion, please also tip for these services a bit more than if you didn't request anything than what they would normally do for you.

 

I just realized that I posted under my husband's name, but it is I, realcindylouwho that posted this! Oooooooops!

Edited November 11, 2015 by WildcatRock

[mimmo1974]

Having never sailed in a suite before I'm unsure what is appropriate protocol for tipping. Should we wait until the end of the trip to tip the Butler? Or tip throughout the cruise?

 

We leave Friday and decided just last week to upgrade to an aft penthouse suite on the gem.