Butler a no show in Haven

[vent1020]

This post is probably long over due since it was last year this happened, but still kind of mad about it.

 

We stayed in the Haven for the first time.  We've stayed in suites before, but first time in the Haven, on the Breakaway.  7 day cruise in the Caribbean and never saw our butler.  We've always met our butler the first day and then see them regularly during the cruise.  Seriously I don't even know what our butler looked like.  The concierge was GREAT.  The bartenders in the Haven, GREAT.  The staff at the restaurant, GREAT.   Butler a total NO SHOW.   Anyone else ever experience anything like this?  For the amount of money we paid for the Haven, you would think the butler service would be better than a suite.  Nope not for us.  We did always get afternoon treats, so I know he or she was showing up but still.

[FLcruisergrl]

Wow! Never had this happen. Did you say anything to the concierge? Did you call the butler and ask them to come see you? Even though you shouldn’t have to do that, but was their card in the room?

[seemoreroyals]

We are going to be staying in Haven  for the first time in December also on the Breakaway.  Previously we have always booked balcony rooms so we have had no previous experience with butlers on cruise ships.  In my research  it seems that the primary function of your assigned butler is to bring afternoon snacks and deliver food to your room if you order in room meals.  And I think I read a couple of places that they give you a cordless phone so you can contact your butler if you have other requests.  I also tried to find out the appropriate amount to tip and discovered quickly there was no easy answer for that.

 

Since your daily snacks were delivered I am still trying to figure out why you are upset with your butler?  Did you try to contact him or her? We are staying in an H9 Spa Suite which is out of the Haven proper.  The table in our room is so small I don't think we will be ordering much to eat in our room except maybe an occasional late night pizza.  We do plan on notifying ahead of time what we would like for our afternoon snacks but other than that we are not expecting much from our butler.  If you can, please give more details on what other services you were expecting the butler to perform.

[NLH Arizona]

27 minutes ago, seemoreroyals said:

Since your daily snacks were delivered I am still trying to figure out why you are upset with your butler?  Did you try to contact him or her? 

I'm wondering the same thing.  Did you ask the Butler for something and he/she didn't deliver.

 

I have always met my Butler the first day and usually everything is set up per my requests then don't see them again until I call and ask for something, cookies, the last day, so I can give the Butler their tip.

[Bocadude85]

We had something similar happen to us one time when we were in the owners suite, we never met our butler and he was not bringing any of the daily snacks, about three days into the cruise I mentioned something to the concierge and within a hour we had a new butler assigned to us and more food in our room then we knew what to do with. 

[pcakes122]

You are going to get many different reactions - because everyone has a different level of how much they utilize butler services or how close they get to their butler.  I know you were Haven first-timers, but as a regular Haven guest I would find it HIGHLY unusual if I didn't meet my butler on the VERY FIRST DAY.  On my cruises, I am in touch with the butler multiple times a day - either I am asking for something, or they are stopping by to check with me to see if there is anything I want or need.  In my experience, it's always been a very close relationship - not so much because I need services, but because the butler is checking in often to see how I enjoyed breakfast, or what are my plans for the afternoon - or do we want any special late-night snacks set up for after the casino (the butlers work until 9 - 9:30 pm.)  We always get to know them well and talk about not just our trip, but learn more about them and their families, etc.  The last thing I think about the butler is that they are simply a "room service delivery person."  My close relationship with my butler is something that adds alot of value and pleasure to my trip - and it's one of several reasons I book the Haven.

 

So, yes, I would be shocked and disappointed if I were you - but again, with my experience I would have spoken to the Concierge the morning of Day 2.  I hope you give the Haven another try!

[Sand and Seas]

So far we have only been in a Haven cabin once and it was a Haven Spa outside of the Haven area.  This was on the Getaway a couple of years ago.  We did not meet our Butler until the 4th day of the cruise.  We had left a typed list of what type of snacks we enjoy, but we just got random snacks like we are accustomed to when we are in a regular cabin.  (The casino sends us many treats😉)  We didn't see him again except for a  random time he passed by us in the Haven proper where I don't think he recognized us, or perhaps he was embarrassed to see us.     

 

Really didn't bother us too much as we didn't want room service, etc.   However, we loved the Concierge staff, Haven Restaurant Staff and Haven Bar staff.    We tipped very well to those who had went out of their way to remember our names and what we enjoyed.     

 

We  are going to try the Haven again in a few months so it will be interesting to see if meet our Butler early in the cruise and he actually interacts with us.  No matter, I'll still leave a note saying what we would enjoy as treats, but probably won't order room service.    We are looking forward to enjoying the Haven restaurant again.

[don't-use-real-name]

If you don't meet or have an introduction to your Butler before you even get on the ship - - -

'HOIST THE JOLLY ROGER FLAG" and declare mutiny or something like that !!!!!

Well maybe not quite like that overkill - - -

"BUT" - you are paying for such service - demand it !

Don't play NCL's game - Where is my Butler ? - Who is my Butler ?

 

OK maybe a bit rash - maybe your Butler is already on the ship escorting guests and will

be back shortly - and then maybe another Butler will do the escort - "BUT" sometime within

a short time your paths should cross - if not time to ring the chimes of the Concierge and

get this straighten away if he is busy then the Ships General Manager (formerly Hotel Director).

 

On another note in pre-boarding did you give your dining reservations and shows times if

applicable to the C - was there an introduction made there too. Granted on one of those

huge floating hotel amusement park ships there are lots of suites and the HAVEN can

be awesome with several Butlers but there are assistants to the C - the job one does not fall

all on the shoulders of one person - if you are missing or need something SPEAK UP !

 

[DarkJedi]

Had terrible butler service on the Jewel trans-pacific in 2018. The only time the "treats" got replaced is if they were all gone and got pretty much terrible all around service from him. We were in an aft suite, so it may have been too much trouble for him to bother to go to the back of the ship. Had excellent service from the concierge and room steward.

Thankfully we didn't really need anything from the butler, and the poor room steward had to work super hard because for some reason the ash from the stacks comes down on the aft balconies so he was out there cleaning them every chance he got.

[BirdTravels]

4 hours ago, vent1020 said:

This post is probably long over due since it was last year this happened, but still kind of mad about it.

 

We stayed in the Haven for the first time.  We've stayed in suites before, but first time in the Haven, on the Breakaway.  7 day cruise in the Caribbean and never saw our butler.  We've always met our butler the first day and then see them regularly during the cruise.  Seriously I don't even know what our butler looked like.  The concierge was GREAT.  The bartenders in the Haven, GREAT.  The staff at the restaurant, GREAT.   Butler a total NO SHOW.   Anyone else ever experience anything like this?  For the amount of money we paid for the Haven, you would think the butler service would be better than a suite.  Nope not for us.  We did always get afternoon treats, so I know he or she was showing up but still.

So,,, this is an issue to address with the Concierge on Day 2 of the cruise. All of the Butlers work for the Concierge. After the cruise, folks on cruise critic can’t help you. 

[AlyssaJames]

Haven Breakaway last year, one of those giant aft suites. Never saw a butler. Maybe they didn’t want to hoof it all the way back to us. 
 

The ship had also recently failed a CDC inspection and was generally grubby.
 

Between all that and realizing that a lot of the food in the hallowed Haven restaurant was stuff you could get elsewhere on the ship, just plated or constructed differently, I pretty much realized the emperor had no clothes. 

[complawyer]

i have never had a problem with the butler on any ncl cruise we've ever taken, starting in 2010 and going thru 2018. they were always present as soon as we checked into our cabin.  at 7:00 every morning he brought a pot of coffee and a pot of hot water for tea, assorted pastries, in the afternoon, he brought goodies,cookies, any drinks we requested, as was always available by phone. Im truly sorry your experience was so much different then ours.  The butler service is one of the primary reasons we book a suite or haven if available. If we cant have a a butler, my wife doesnt want to go.

[sverigecruiser]

A good butler is invisible  until you need him/her.

 

I agree that the butler should have talked to you the first day but except for that if you don't ask for anything there is no reason to see your butler, I think.

[Cruzn Bills Fan]

On our last cruise on Escape we didn't meet our Butler until day 2. Now we were out and about partying etc. so not his fault. He did make sure to stop by on day 2 and introduce himself. We don't use the Butler for much so not a big deal, but we do like to know who we're dealing with.

[ColeThornton]

LOL...you're still mad that you didn't meet your cruise ship butler last year?

[njkate]

14 hours ago, vent1020 said:

This post is probably long over due since it was last year this happened, but still kind of mad about it.

 

We stayed in the Haven for the first time.  We've stayed in suites before, but first time in the Haven, on the Breakaway.  7 day cruise in the Caribbean and never saw our butler.  We've always met our butler the first day and then see them regularly during the cruise.  Seriously I don't even know what our butler looked like.  The concierge was GREAT.  The bartenders in the Haven, GREAT.  The staff at the restaurant, GREAT.   Butler a total NO SHOW.   Anyone else ever experience anything like this?  For the amount of money we paid for the Haven, you would think the butler service would be better than a suite.  Nope not for us.  We did always get afternoon treats, so I know he or she was showing up but still.

I had same issue on Breakaway, I didn't see her until the last night and she was clearly fishing for a tip. My cabin steward did everything. Yes, she brought those snacks every day but that's her job, she goes down the corridor with cart delivering to each cabin.Another thing I don't get is the DSC is higher in Haven so why butler doesn't get part of it is beyond me.

 

Curious who was your butler?

[Georgia_Peaches]

Well at least you didn’t have to worry about how much you were going to tip. 

 

I think its a little odd to post about it a year after the fact. Are you considering another Haven cruise and just wondering if your experience is the norm?  If that’s the reason I can say that I think your situation is more of an outlier to the norm. Only one way to find out though!  😉

Edited February 29, 2020 by Georgia_Peaches

[vent1020]

I want to clarify a few things.   I guess I'm not "mad" especially since it's been a little less than a year since it happened but more curious as to why we never met him/her.  I'm one of those ones that get on cruise critic message boards A TON when I have a cruise planned and then disappear if I don't have one up and coming.  I had a memory come up in my Facebook feed which reminded me of the no show butler, so figured I would come on and post this.  With having stayed in suites 4-5 times before and ALWAYS having met our butler the first day and then see him throughout the cruise, it was just weird that we never did.  Honestly and this may make some mad, we didn't even tip him/her.  NOW, our concierge was AWESOME and we ended up tipping her $150.  She did a TON for us.

 

We didn't need the butler, never ordered room service, so like some said, "What's the big deal?"  Again, to me, it was just weird to have never met him/her and wondered if anyone else had those experiences.  Thanks for the reply's.

[vent1020]

2 hours ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Well at least you didn’t have to worry about how much you were going to tip. 

 

I think its a little odd to post about it a year after the fact. Are you considering another Haven cruise and just wondering if your experience is the norm?  If that’s the reason I can say that I think your situation is more of an outlier to the norm. Only one way to find out though!  😉

We are by no means rich and this cruise was to celebrate my Mom's 70th birthday so we splurged.  Probably wouldn't do the Haven again but definitely suites.  Once you do the suite life, hard to go back. 😉

 

[seemoreroyals]

I still don't see why you are upset.  Butler delivered your snacks every day. You left no tip.  Sounds like a win - win situation for you.

[Yinster]

If you are not happy then speak to the concierge as they will deal with it. 

 

We had one butler who we never met till the third day of our cruise. We are pretty low maintenance and did get our snacks. To be honest we find our cabin stewards tend to be more attentive. Interesting enough our butler that cruise was loitering the last day. Probably did his tip. It went to the cabin steward. 

[JMHAM1]

We had a unique situation as we booked two forward penthouses and I guess one of them was assigned to one butler and the other was assigned to another. We saw first hand where a good butler can make a difference. The one the girls brought all sorts of different snacks for them to sample as well as made sure they had plenty of towels and cold drinks when we got back from being out in port. She always made sure the couch was put back into a couch during the day and then put down into a bed at night. The boys butler said he didn't want to "deal with" putting it down and back because he would have to make it back into a bed in a few hours anyway. Their cabin never had enough towels and their snacks were all the same every day. The girls' butler even suggested things she could do like set up an in room "spa" one afternoon. She brought lots of sample products from the spa and filled up the bathtub with bath salts and bubbles then brought in sparkling apple juice in champaigne flutes while they had masks on lounging on the balcony in robes. I would never have thought of that. 

[vent1020]

39 minutes ago, Yinster said:

If you are not happy then speak to the concierge as they will deal with it. 

 

We had one butler who we never met till the third day of our cruise. We are pretty low maintenance and did get our snacks. To be honest we find our cabin stewards tend to be more attentive. Interesting enough our butler that cruise was loitering the last day. Probably did his tip. It went to the cabin steward. 

We also tipped our cabin steward pretty good because we did see him a lot and he always addressed us by name.

[GettotheSun]

Reading this thread caused me a fair bit of anxiety. LOL.

 

I hope we don't have an absentee butler.  I really do not like to complain / escalate issues unless absolutely necessary.  I guess if the butler was a complete 'no show', as some have explained the proper route is to complain to the Concierge.  As Bird Travels said, I think this would be an issue to speak to the Concierge with on day 2.   Hopefully the butler doesn't spit in your room service after that...sorry for that imagery, but I worked in restaurants through high school and university, and I've seen some (up to that point) normal waiters do some crazy stuff if a customer complained about them to the Maitre D.  

 

[mdsgu]

Have never sailed in the Haven or in a suite, but we have done Sandals and Beaches with butler service.  (I have to say, those butlers are excellent!)  But if my butler was a no-show, my tip would also be a no-show.