Has anyone ever asked at Butler to....

[abbyar]

- Check kids into kids club? Dh's least favorite thing on NCL is the insanely long wait at kids club to check in/out. It may have been partially more irritating bc of the extremely annoying woman who handled it on our Gem sailing.

 

Or at least could NCL create another line for Haven/Suites to check in with priority?

[GeezerCouple]

- Check kids into kids club? Dh's least favorite thing on NCL is the insanely long wait at kids club to check in/out. It may have been partially more irritating bc of the extremely annoying woman who handled it on our Gem sailing.

 

Or at least could NCL create another line for Haven/Suites to check in with priority?

 

An "insanely long wait"?

 

Sure, if you've got your own private Butler, who has agreed that part of the duties include child care, then do this.

 

Otherwise... the Butler is already busy assisting the others in suites, too.

[abbyar]

Yes I consider 30 minutes insanely long, considering DCL does it in 3 minutes or less any time of day.

 

And if people keep saying your butler will do "anything" I'm wondering if anyone has actually done this. Of course they have other people to tend to - but that's not people's response when someone asks about unpacking their things or prepping a 3 course meal in their room (the latter likely takes a lot longer than 30 minutes).

[GeezerCouple]

Yes I consider 30 minutes insanely long, considering DCL does it in 3 minutes or less any time of day.

 

And if people keep saying your butler will do "anything" I'm wondering if anyone has actually done this. Of course they have other people to tend to - but that's not people's response when someone asks about unpacking their things or prepping a 3 course meal in their room (the latter likely takes a lot longer than 30 minutes).

 

"Anything"? You REALLY thing the Butlers will do *anything*"?

 

Really?

[FreestyleNovice]

Our butler spent his day off to build sand castles with the kids, it was amazing.

 

 

edit; we tipped him well, of course

Edited May 14, 2016 by FreestyleNovice

[CasinoCruzGirl]

Yes I consider 30 minutes insanely long, considering DCL does it in 3 minutes or less any time of day.

 

And if people keep saying your butler will do "anything" I'm wondering if anyone has actually done this. Of course they have other people to tend to - but that's not people's response when someone asks about unpacking their things or prepping a 3 course meal in their room (the latter likely takes a lot longer than 30 minutes).

 

I would never ask the Butler to do this. It's not part of his duties to babysit. We had a great butler in our garden villa on the gem. He ran ragged for 7 of us. I talked to him one day he not only had our villa but also an owners suite above us and then 3 penthouses. You think he had time to babysit? You are seriously mistaken

 

Gawd what people think they are entitled to is crazy sometimes

Edited May 14, 2016 by CasinoCruzGirl

[NLH Arizona]

- Check kids into kids club? Dh's least favorite thing on NCL is the insanely long wait at kids club to check in/out. It may have been partially more irritating bc of the extremely annoying woman who handled it on our Gem sailing.

 

Or at least could NCL create another line for Haven/Suites to check in with priority?

I would question whether NCL would allow this, because of the legal implications. Who would gladly offer up their child to a stranger?

[GeezerCouple]

I would question whether NCL would allow this, because of the legal implications. Who would gladly offer up their child to a stranger?

 

And a stranger with no known training (or interest) in child care.

[vicocala]

Why don't people just answer questions instead of getting all judgmental. Asking if something can be done isn't a crime.

[cdnsteelman]

We have not asked this of a butler in the past. Despite the reaction of others I don't see any issue in your asking your butler "IF" he / she could do this but I would be fully prepared graciously accept a "SORRY BUT NO".

 

We have found the secret to avoiding the long lines is to arrive 5-10 minutes before the doors open or 15-20 minutes after they open. On pick go 25-30 minutes early (or pay the six bucks and leave your child there for the extra "paid" hour).

 

Enjoy your cruise.

[hunterjackson]

I will say, we had an awesome butler on all of our cruises.

 

I had one who brought my son some cookies one time. He was usually not in kids club at this time.

 

Seeing my son wasn't there, he went and got more and took them to the kids club and did a cookies and milk party for all the kids in the club (it was a slow time in the kids club, around 9:30 am as my son doesn't like it when its busy.)

 

We never asked him to do it and didn't know he did it until they told us when we picked our son up an hour later.

 

i know they will do anything they are comfortable with and have time, but i think the liability would be too much.

[Love my butler]

Absolutely ask. If they can't or won't, they will tell you. The butler is there to make your life easier. I do not care that they have other rooms to service. I use my butler, within reason, as I see fit to make my vacation more enjoyable.

[SeaShark]

Why don't people just answer questions instead of getting all judgmental. Asking if something can be done isn't a crime.

 

Woah!! :eek: I missed something. Where was it (Post #) that someone said a crime was committed? :confused:

 

 

PS...in your rush to judge others for being judgmental, you forgot to answer the question yourself. :rolleyes:

[abbyar]

I will say, we had an awesome butler on all of our cruises.

 

I had one who brought my son some cookies one time. He was usually not in kids club at this time.

 

Seeing my son wasn't there, he went and got more and took them to the kids club and did a cookies and milk party for all the kids in the club (it was a slow time in the kids club, around 9:30 am as my son doesn't like it when its busy.)

 

Wow this is very gracious! No, I do not think someone tending (although I hardly think standing in line is childcare) is an entitlement. More I am surprised as this is one of the sticky points on NCL cruises that no one has addressed to improve. I've seen some rather over the top requests, hence why I wondered if someone has ever asked the question. Not sure if I'd ask myself. It may be one of those things that *if* the butler in question truly liked children and *if* their schedule was not particularly full at that time of day and *if* they knew the family in question to be generous tippers then it would work out nicely.

[abbyar]

"Anything"? You REALLY thing the Butlers will do *anything*"?

 

Really?

 

No, I do not think so, hence the quotes. This is simply repeating what is time and time again mentioned on this very forum.

[daffodiliaz]

I don't have a horse in this race but wouldn't this be more of a concierge request? And if so, could this be inquired about through a pre-cruise concierge?

[abbyar]

I don't have a horse in this race but wouldn't this be more of a concierge request? And if so, could this be inquired about through a pre-cruise concierge?

 

Actually, this is an excellent point. Maybe it's something we'll ask our concierge if anyone has ever done. One of the things I did miss from DCL was the round up at dinner. Based on the recent Haven threads here I'm sure there are others who would appreciate a club counselor rounding up children from the Haven.

[JimS4210]

Absolutely ask. If they can't or won't, they will tell you. The butler is there to make your life easier. I do not care that they have other rooms to service. I use my butler, within reason, as I see fit to make my vacation more enjoyable.

 

Of course you wouldn't care. No surprise there! But what normal person would expect a butler to stop what they're doing to babysit their kid because they don't want to wait a few minutes in line. Seriously, some people act like the ship is the Titanic and they are Astor's or Guggenheim's. It's ridiculous. If you take care of your child at home, do the same on a cruise. If your butler handles those mundane duties at home, feel free to bring him on the cruise with you.

 

Jim

[abbyar]

Of course you wouldn't care. No surprise there! But what normal person would expect a butler to stop what they're doing to babysit their kid because they don't want to wait a few minutes in line. Seriously, some people act like the ship is the Titanic and they are Astor's or Guggenheim's. It's ridiculous. If you take care of your child at home, do the same on a cruise. If your butler handles those mundane duties at home, feel free to bring him on the cruise with you.

 

Jim

 

How is it more or less ridiculous than unpacking? And besides my butler doesn't handle it, my housekeeper does. Oh, and I'm not a Guggenheim, I'm a Hilton.

[abbyar]

And really, why is it silly to want to skip this line? Is it silly to skip the lines for shows or other entertainment lines? Is it silly to have someone book restaurant reservations and be escorted around? I don't understand how this line is sillier than the others? Think of it as the Concierge escorting the smaller ones in our party to their evening entertainment.

Edited May 14, 2016 by abbyar

[esm54687]

why don't people just answer questions instead of getting all judgmental. Asking if something can be done isn't a crime.

 

👍 👍 👍

[esm54687]

Our butler spent his day off to build sand castles with the kids, it was amazing.

 

 

edit; we tipped him well, of course

 

Absolutely brilliant

[cruisemainiac]

Perhaps if NCL hired this person to watch your kids you'd have fewer complaints.

[Barb Nahoumi]

Taking the kids to Splash is the parent's job. What if something goes wrong?

[Rileyz]

I would never ask my butler to do that but I don't fault the op for asking. I mean heck, if they'd unpack for you who know what else they'll do. Of course last year I couldn't even get my butler to bring a blanket to my cabin as my daughter was freezing, I called at 9:30 pm and after an hour gave up waiting. Never saw him until the last day and most of his tip went to the Haven restaurant staff who were fabulous. I will note however that I've had 6 butlers and only that one was bad.

Edited May 14, 2016 by Rileyz