Suite perks on Star

[champagne lover]

We have just recently upgraded to an aft balcony penthouse and know we get priority embarkation - what other perks do we get? I know on some ships you can have breakfast and lunch in a separate place but not sure if this applies on the Star. TIA

[Mom2B&Z]

The star has breakfast and lunch for suites in a speciality restaurant, we were in Moderno, but it might have changed by now as it was a couple of years ago.

Otherwise you still have butler and concierge, priority embarkation and disembarkation. Priority seating for shows is only for the highest class of suites, we were in a two bedroom family suite and didn't qualify.

 

 

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[dexddd]

If you have any tender ports you will have priority tendering off the ship. You can also get escort off ship at ports but we've never found the need to do that as the lines usually move quickly.

[Elainemh]

Afternoon snacks. Our butler was great. He brought mini sandwiches, cheese and crackers, chocolate .

covered strawberrys, canapes. Fruit plates. Even shrimp one day.

The afternoon snacks we had gotten on the Breakaway where just junk, cookies, chips and M&M.

I guess a lot will depend on your butler.

[BirdTravels]

But,,, remember that your new butler and concierge are not part of the Daily service charge. You need to tip them separately. $10-$15 per day per person for the butler ($15 * 2 * 7). $5-$10 pp per day for the concierge. And something extra for your room steward since you have a large room.

[Linda the Book Lover]

When we sailed on the Star we went to the suite seating and the concierge sat us. There was never an issue. The large suites had an area a few rows ahead of where we sat. When it was time to open the area he told us to move up if we wanted to, which we did.

[buggins0402]

But,,, remember that your new butler and concierge are not part of the Daily service charge. You need to tip them separately. $10-$15 per day per person for the butler ($15 * 2 * 7). $5-$10 pp per day for the concierge. And something extra for your room steward since you have a large room.

 

That seems high on the butler. We've had them twice before on Oceania and never used them for much...one in room breakfast on one cruise. So you are saying for our 14 day cruise we should tip over $400 to the butler alone?

[karenj4546]

That seems high on the butler. We've had them twice before on Oceania and never used them for much...one in room breakfast on one cruise. So you are saying for our 14 day cruise we should tip over $400 to the butler alone?

 

I'm pretty sure it's dependent on how much you use him/her. We were on the Sky and our butler came in (grudgingly) to show me how to use the coffee machine. Upon leaving, he stated, "I've got a LOT of cabins upfront so you won't see much of me". And we didn't. He didn't get a great tip. The concierge, on the other hand, was ALWAYS around to help us out.....and did. We gave him way more than we gave the butler!

[triptolemus]

I'm pretty sure it's dependent on how much you use him/her. We were on the Sky and our butler came in (grudgingly) to show me how to use the coffee machine. Upon leaving, he stated, "I've got a LOT of cabins upfront so you won't see much of me". And we didn't. He didn't get a great tip. The concierge, on the other hand, was ALWAYS around to help us out.....and did. We gave him way more than we gave the butler!

 

If a butler said that to me, they would receive exactly $0.

 

That is totally uncalled for.

[buggins0402]

I'm pretty sure it's dependent on how much you use him/her. We were on the Sky and our butler came in (grudgingly) to show me how to use the coffee machine. Upon leaving, he stated, "I've got a LOT of cabins upfront so you won't see much of me". And we didn't. He didn't get a great tip. The concierge, on the other hand, was ALWAYS around to help us out.....and did. We gave him way more than we gave the butler!

 

Oceania and NCL must share Butlers...our first on O gave us a very similar line...."most of my cabins are three decks up so you might not see me much". Second one was very nice and tried to be of service, but we are low maintenance.

 

Thanks, your answer helps. On, O the butlers do some of the concierge duties...so I will have just feel my way, knowing that the Butlers on NCL are not included in the gratuities (I believe on O they are to some extent) and that the concierge does much more on NCL.

 

On O, they get some Regent cruisers moving downmarket. On Regent, tipping is discouraged...so on O it becomes a mixed bag for the butlers. On O, our tips to steward and assistant (combined) have always exceeded the butler. Nothing to Concierge...which just isn't a visible face on O.

[Laszlo]

I'm pretty sure it's dependent on how much you use him/her. We were on the Sky and our butler came in (grudgingly) to show me how to use the coffee machine. Upon leaving, he stated, "I've got a LOT of cabins upfront so you won't see much of me". And we didn't. He didn't get a great tip. The concierge, on the other hand, was ALWAYS around to help us out.....and did. We gave him way more than we gave the butler!

 

I would have pulled out a 50 dollar bill and said........well I guess you won't be seeing any of these either:')

[casofilia]

I'm pretty sure it's dependent on how much you use him/her. We were on the Sky and our butler came in (grudgingly) to show me how to use the coffee machine. Upon leaving, he stated, "I've got a LOT of cabins upfront so you won't see much of me". And we didn't. He didn't get a great tip. The concierge, on the other hand, was ALWAYS around to help us out.....and did. We gave him way more than we gave the butler!

 

If a butler said that to me, they would receive exactly $0.

That is totally uncalled for.

 

We had one who, on the penultimate day, came in THREE times with the comment "Have you been happy with the service I have given you?" I reported him to the Hotel Manager for begging!!

 

Our Concierge, Hanno, was excellent.

[casofilia]

We have just recently upgraded to an aft balcony penthouse and know we get priority embarkation - what other perks do we get? I know on some ships you can have breakfast and lunch in a separate place but not sure if this applies on the Star. TIA

 

The star has breakfast and lunch for suites in a speciality restaurant' date=' we were in Moderno, but it might have changed by now as it was a couple of years ago.

[/quote']

 

At the end of last year it was still in Moderno for both breakfast and lunch. One piece of advice make sure you ask what the specials are at all meals as you may well not get told!! The reason is that there was very little change in the actual menus over the 42 days.

[BirdTravels]

That seems high on the butler. We've had them twice before on Oceania and never used them for much...one in room breakfast on one cruise. So you are saying for our 14 day cruise we should tip over $400 to the butler alone?

 

On a cruise where you are paying $10k-$20k for a room. Sure.

[buggins0402]

On a cruise where you are paying $10k-$20k for a room. Sure.

 

How many suites do you think each butler takes care of? Start doing some math using your high end suggestion of $15pp per day. If it is 10 cabins ...he'll make over $2K per week in tax free cash with your suggestion (unless he has a couple families and it would be more).

 

BTW, my cabin is not costing $10k for the two weeks and not certainly not $20K.

[gymbomb]

But,,, remember that your new butler and concierge are not part of the Daily service charge. You need to tip them separately. $10-$15 per day per person for the butler ($15 * 2 * 7). $5-$10 pp per day for the concierge. And something extra for your room steward since you have a large room.

 

 

 

We certainly tip our butler, concierge, and a bit extra to our room steward, but I think these suggested amounts are high. The lower end of these ranges is more in line with the common suggestions seen here, and even those may be high depending on the services given/requested during the cruise.

 

 

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[imacruiser99]

We certainly tip our butler, concierge, and a bit extra to our room steward, but I think these suggested amounts are high. The lower end of these ranges is more in line with the common suggestions seen here, and even those may be high depending on the services given/requested during the cruise.

 

 

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Folks, per NCL's basic policy

Unlike most other ships in the cruise industry, there is no required or recommended tipping on our ships for service that is generally rendered to all Guests. While you should not feel obligated to offer a gratuity, all of our staff are encouraged to “go the extra mile,” so they are permitted to accept cash gratuities for exceptional or outstanding service if you care to offer them. Also, certain staff positions (e.g., concierge, butler, youth program staff and beverage service) provide service on an individual basis to only some guests and do not benefit from the overall service charge. We encourage those Guests to acknowledge good service from these staff members with appropriate gratuities. Additionally, there is an 18% gratuity and spa service charge added for all spa and salon services, as well as an 18% gratuity and beverage service charge added for all beverage purchases and an 18% gratuity and specialty service charge added to all specialty restaurant dining and entertainment based dining. Read more about the service charge.

So the daily service charge includes the Room Steward, any and all wait staff (except in Specialty Restaurants and bars since there is already 18% added). There is nothing that says you cannot provide more at time of actual service. I find a bartender who does a heavy pour, they will get a tip, if I find a waitstaff in MDR which goes beyond expectations since I am having them run back and forth, they get more. If I am out by the pool and a drink server ensures my drink if always full, they get more.

With that being said, the same applies to those specialty positions, as mentioned in the NCL excerpt, the tip should be based upon the level of service which was provided to you personally and the value you place on it. Remember that that the butler is responsible for bringing the daily snacks, special requests, providing room service, etc, so you will use them, unless you ask them specifically to not bring daily treats and you tell them to leave you alone. But then, why pay the extra price for a suite. Some folks value the "pampering" more than others, so they tip more than others. Some folks can be very demanding and will tip less because their perception of services rendered was lowered, where as the cabin next door may have thought it was great (for the same level of service and tipped accordingly).

The concierge could be a totally different story. I have pre-booked all my specialty restaurants, booked most of the excursions and do not expect (at this time) to use or even have contact with the concierge during the cruise. With no contact or no services rendered personally to me, they would not get a tip. It would be the same concept with the youth program staff, I do not cruise with children, so I would not be tipping them. If I did have special requests of the concierge, I would then tip upon the service rendered that moment and not base it upon a per day amount. Think about using a concierge in hotel who books a restaurant which is difficult to get a reservation. This would be a high value added service and I would pay at that time, based upon that service, but would average it out over the course of the stay at the hotel.

What I am trying to say is that the tip should should always be based upon the level of service which you perceived you received and not on what other people think.

[DMH15]

Do you never intend to use the concierge for prority tendering? Early access to show? Etc.?

 

Also, we planned our shows/dining, too. But when we got on board they had juggled shows so we were helped in reassigning times. It happens.

 

You just never know.

 

 

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[imacruiser99]

Do you never intend to use the concierge for prority tendering? Early access to show? Etc.?

 

Also, we planned our shows/dining, too. But when we got on board they had juggled shows so we were helped in reassigning times. It happens.

 

You just never know.

 

 

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1) if priority tendering is needed, yes, I would use them

2) If I needed to rearrange existing reservations to meet the shows times, yes, I probably would use them

 

But you missed the entire point. If you do not use the service, there is no need to tip, nor should you tip based upon the number days the cruise is, just upon the level of usage. If you use the service for the entire length of the cruise, by all means tip for the entire cruise, but I would still tip on the service provided and value to me, and not just a blanket amount (as some folks have suggested) based upon the length of the cruise.

 

For me, if a concierge can get me into a 100% booked restaurant at the time I want to dine, that would be a higher value to me then getting priority tender tickets, which is a perk of the suite.

[samsam22]

I have tipped the concierge and butler as high as $500 each and as low as $100. Depended on how good they were. Some butlers go out of their way to bring you special stuff based on what you tell them you like. And some concierge show up in your cabin daily to ask if they can escort you dinner. Some are hiding and you can't find them! Definitely a matter of service level

[DMH15]

I have tipped the concierge and butler as high as $500 each and as low as $100. Depended on how good they were. Some butlers go out of their way to bring you special stuff based on what you tell them you like. And some concierge show up in your cabin daily to ask if they can escort you dinner. Some are hiding and you can't find them! Definitely a matter of service level

 

 

I agree 100%. I have liked all of my concierges, but they definately have their own style. For me, Hanno is definately # 1.

 

Butlers? On my first Sun cruise, a 14 night one, our butler was not good at all. It was not just our opinion, but other suite pax too. Half way through the cruise we were talking to a couple who told us they walked down to the casino every night for cookies. I asked "why don't you ask the butler for cookies as your afternoon snacks?" They replied, "what snacks?" LOL. Oh, that butler got off in one of our ports and kept going.... we just cruised Epic and loved Maxi. Also, fond of Teresa and Jennifer.

 

I am happy to tip well. Means I had s great trip!!!

 

 

 

 

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