What exactly does a butler do?

[Lou2204]

sailing on the Star, very happy overall. But I’m totally mystified as to what the butler is supposed to do? Ours changed after a day, as he went home, and we didn’t see our new one until Wednesday. (sailing started on Sunday).

 

But it seems for every request we have, we have had 2, he refers us back to the concierge, e.g. for dinner reservations. So today I asked if he could help printing out boarding passes, again “please ring the concierge “. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind ringing the concierge myself, but I’m just puzzled: what does a butler do?

 

On top, we tipped him quite heavily, as the concierge pointed out that butlers don’t participate in payment of the service charge. Ok so we gave him a good tip, but really I have no idea what he does? Maybe they do lots of stuff behind the scenes we’re not aware off?

 

If not for this sailing, I’d like to know for next time around!

Many thanks,

Lou

[Froggitt]

Butler, stuff in room. Concierge, stuff outside of room.

[FLcruisergrl]

The butler brings snacks-whatever you want, whenever you want. They can also arrange and serve your meals in your room.

[shof515]

Butler is like a second room steward

[Two Wheels Only]

Butler, stuff in room.

Concierge, stuff outside of room.

 

True, but the butler can also combine the two.

If you left your sunglasses in your stateroom and you are at the pool, you can call the butler to fetch the sunglasses and bring them to you. (y)

[PelicanBill]

I would not be able to resist asking "Please bring me my wine" and hoping to get the response "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969"

 

So sunglasses aside, I would be in the same spot as the OP. I am normally very self-sufficient. What else do you ask of the Butler? Can I send them to collect some treats from the late buffet? A pitcher of ice water (something I always wish my steward would do but they don't) or at least keep my ice full (another problem with stewards... always chasing them for more ice.)

[Lou2204]

Ok this has already been very helpful. In the room, outside of the room, excellent information,which I had known that before. This means we have exactly asked for absolutely nothing as I am indeed very self sufficient. Now I wish I had tipped the room steward more 🤨

 

But room service here is not included and they charge extra for that ? Or is that not the case when you ask the butler?

[Two Wheels Only]

So sunglasses aside, I would be in the same spot as the OP. I am normally very self-sufficient. What else do you ask of the Butler? Can I send them to collect some treats from the late buffet? A pitcher of ice water (something I always wish my steward would do but they don't) or at least keep my ice full (another problem with stewards... always chasing them for more ice.)

 

Yes to all of the above.

I'm also the type to do things on my own but there are those (mobility issues, for ex.) that might appreciate the butler doing the legwork (lack of a better term) for them.

[Lou2204]

I would not be able to resist asking "Please bring me my wine" and hoping to get the response "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969"

 

So sunglasses aside, I would be in the same spot as the OP. I am normally very self-sufficient. What else do you ask of the Butler? Can I send them to collect some treats from the late buffet? A pitcher of ice water (something I always wish my steward would do but they don't) or at least keep my ice full (another problem with stewards... always chasing them for more ice.)

Hahahaha that is so funny!!!

 

If I’m at the pool without sunglasses I’d have to go to the room to call the butler , and then can pick up the glasses myself?? Plus I’d never know how to describe the

Location of the sunglasses.

 

:cool:

 

I guess I’m not cut out for royalty, really

[Two Wheels Only]

^^

You should have your portable stateroom phone. ;)

[FLcruisergrl]

Ok this has already been very helpful. In the room, outside of the room, excellent information,which I had known that before. This means we have exactly asked for absolutely nothing as I am indeed very self sufficient. Now I wish I had tipped the room steward more 🤨

 

But room service here is not included and they charge extra for that ? Or is that not the case when you ask the butler?

 

You are not charged for room service unless you order from a specialty restaurant. Want pizza at midnight? Free. Want full breakfast from the Haven restaurant? Free. At the pool and craving nachos from O’Sheehans? Free (use your portable butler phone for this request). Want dessert from Le Bistro? A charge.

[mjkacmom]

The concierge isn’t in the tip pool either.

[njkate]

Ok this has already been very helpful. In the room, outside of the room, excellent information,which I had known that before. This means we have exactly asked for absolutely nothing as I am indeed very self sufficient. Now I wish I had tipped the room steward more 🤨

 

But room service here is not included and they charge extra for that ? Or is that not the case when you ask the butler?

 

 

That is what I did as we never saw the daytime butler until night before cruise was over, she came to collect dishes which she had never done, left them for the cabin steward, she was blatantly looking for a tip, for what I've no clue. We only saw the night butler for room service which we tipped. I had no qualms not giving the daytime butler no tip as we never saw her nor did we request anything from her

[phoenix1181]

Ok this has already been very helpful. In the room, outside of the room, excellent information,which I had known that before. This means we have exactly asked for absolutely nothing as I am indeed very self sufficient. Now I wish I had tipped the room steward more 🤨

 

But room service here is not included and they charge extra for that ? Or is that not the case when you ask the butler?

 

I don't believe the room service fee is charged unless you are ordering from a specialty restaurant. We had a full breakfast every morning which was delivered & served by our butler. I wrote what we wanted on the card & hung it out & we always received what was requested. (ie: Eggs Benedict, omelets, french toast) not just the regular continental breakfast. Our butler also made sure we had a full pitcher of ice water & orange juice (the real stuff) all week.

 

Other than food, there wasn't anything else we needed him to do for us. I understand we could ask him to do things like retrieve sunglasses but we wouldn't be comfortable asking for something we're capable of doing ourselves. However, DH is having some issues so if we were to be in a suite again, we may utilize our butler for things like that.

[Shellbelle28]

I would not be able to resist asking "Please bring me my wine" and hoping to get the response "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969"

 

So sunglasses aside, I would be in the same spot as the OP. I am normally very self-sufficient. What else do you ask of the Butler? Can I send them to collect some treats from the late buffet? A pitcher of ice water (something I always wish my steward would do but they don't) or at least keep my ice full (another problem with stewards... always chasing them for more ice.)

 

"And still those voices are calling from far away [at the pool]

[Trimone]

They are not real Butlers, its just a term NCL use to promote the Haven, they are basically a second room steward, that fetches food and refills the coffee machine

[Seminole1975]

You can get them to unpack for you and draw a bath (the specialty bath list I saw had spa prices) if you are so inclined. We were in a spa suite-has a hot tub in the room.

 

We only used the butler to bring full breakfasts and snacks as others have mentioned. The concierge and dining room superviosr did more for us.

[Whimsy]

We recently was on the Dawn and our experience with the Butler we had was a disappointment. She did have snacks in our room every afternoon but when we wanted to dine in our room one evening she told us to order from the room service menu. I had to ask if we were able to order from the dining room menu which was met with a sigh. When we called in the morning for breakfast we were "scolded" that we should of filled out the hanger for the door. This was on sea days, we didn't know what time we would wake up!

 

While at dinner the last night in Cagney's we saw her taking dessert back for two ladies dining next to us to their room for later. Great idea but since she never told us she would do this we didn't have that option. She also never once told us that the phone in the room was to contact her.

 

Very disappointed with our "butler" experience!

[GA Dave]

Being that I am a detailed planner, I can see where we will be using the Butler a lot more than the Concierge. I already have all of our specialty dinners, shows, excursions, etc. reserved. The only thing we will use the Concierge for is escort off the ship at ports.

My wife has many tasks already planned for the Butler. :')

[Shellbelle28]

Our first suite cruise, we primarily used butler service for breakfast in our stateroom each morning. On our most recent cruise on the Pearl, they had the Haven/suites breakfast and lunch in Moderno that we went to instead. We liked it because it was quiet and calm compared to the MDRs or buffet, and the choices were ample for our tastes. So, on that trip, the butler brought nice snacks in the afternoon and set up a Happy Anniversary cake and room decorations on the night we celebrated. He and the Cagney’s staff presented the cake and sang at dinner, then he carried it down to our room for us to eat later.

He typically popped in several times a day to check in with us (how do they do that?? knowing when you're in the room) so if we had needed more he was certainly accessible.

[ColinIllinois]

(snip)

He typically popped in several times a day to check in with us (how do they do that?? knowing when you're in the room) so if we had needed more he was certainly accessible.

 

 

See, that's why a butler wouldn't be for ME. I would find that intrusive and annoying.

[April42749]

Hahahaha that is so funny!!!

 

If I’m at the pool without sunglasses I’d have to go to the room to call the butler , and then can pick up the glasses myself?? Plus I’d never know how to describe the

Location of the sunglasses.

 

:cool:

 

I guess I’m not cut out for royalty, really

 

I get it. I'm like you. Being the first of the month, we just went over the finances and it seems we have a large surplus. DH said "maybe we should get the butler for our Oct cruise". At $4000+ more....no way. We avoid snacks and enjoy the buffet. DH doesn't wear sunglasses and I wear transition lenses...lol.

 

That extra $4K can go for some nice jewelry!

[Kitten112]

Being that I am a detailed planner, I can see where we will be using the Butler a lot more than the Concierge. I already have all of our specialty dinners, shows, excursions, etc. reserved. The only thing we will use the Concierge for is escort off the ship at ports.

 

My wife has many tasks already planned for the Butler. :')

 

 

 

What kind of tasks?!!!!

 

 

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[DMH15]

That is what I did as we never saw the daytime butler until night before cruise was over, she came to collect dishes which she had never done, left them for the cabin steward, she was blatantly looking for a tip, for what I've no clue. We only saw the night butler for room service which we tipped. I had no qualms not giving the daytime butler no tip as we never saw her nor did we request anything from her

 

 

 

Did she leave daily snacks in the room for you?

 

 

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[DMH15]

They are not real Butlers, its just a term NCL use to promote the Haven, they are basically a second room steward, that fetches food and refills the coffee machine

 

 

 

Obviously you have never met Maxi. In the DOS he anticipated our every need and then some. We have had some good stewards over the year but not compare anywhere close to Maxi!

 

 

 

 

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