Canapes...

[clairol]

Somewhat odd question...just wondering if anyone had examples of the canape menus for PH and above? Just looking for a general idea of offerings. We will be trying a PH for the first time on our Riviera cruise in October - all our other trips have been in a concierge. Thank you in advance! 🙂 

[BrocktonCruiser]

They are launching updates to the program.  This was in a recent update from Oceania.

 

 

New Evening Canapé Choices and Elevated Service Levels
Canapés served in the lounges and bars after a day of exploring are a much-loved tradition on board Oceania Cruises. The experience now features a wider variety of selections, echoing the gourmet inspiration of the new dishes offered in The Grand Dining Room. The selections will also be presented individually to each table as part of the line's enhanced health and safety measures. Guests in Penthouse, Oceania, Vista, and Owner's Suites may choose from a canapé selection now including the addition of plant-based California rolls, a Mezze Platter and a Taco Trilogy.

 

[mauibabes]

Claire, we are with you in PH in October. There are usually 8-10 items to select from on a menu that your Butler will collect. The additional items Brockton posted sound like great additions even beyond items in your PH.  Veggies and dip, chip and salsa, fruit spears, chocolate covered strawberries, and many others. Sometimes I just ask for some mixed nuts, not on menu, and then I can put them in a baggie to take on a long, next day tour. My version of an energy snack or maybe a way to survive without ship food minutes away on an excursion. The Canapés seem to arrive about 5-5:30.

😁🙏🍷👍

[Roccaforte]

The canapés served in PH cabins are great.   We tried a different one every night.  We liked to save the chocolate covered strawberries for a late night snack.  Be careful if you have early dining reservations.  After a couple of glasses of champagne and the canapés you might not have much of an appetite for your dinner😄.  Same applies to the cooking classes.  You eat what you prepare so make a later reservation on those days.

[mauibabes]

Major DITTO on Canape overload and dining reservations. Yes, the chocolate dipped strawberries are a great, later evening bite. They allow the pillow chocolates to be saved for another time, or even home to be a wonderful remembrance of our latest Oceania adventure. 
🤪👍

[Cliff-FLL]

Really don't know where you'd go to get a menu of the canapés available for delivery each evening.  I know we've had the samosas (a favourite), skewered fruit pieces, guac & blue-corn tortilla strips, and PB&J finger sandwiches.  I know there are so many other choices on the menu but I just can't recall them.  Sorry!

[mexicobob]

5 hours ago, Roccaforte said:

The canapés served in PH cabins are great.   We tried a different one every night.  We liked to save the chocolate covered strawberries for a late night snack.  Be careful if you have early dining reservations.  After a couple of glasses of champagne and the canapés you might not have much of an appetite for your dinner😄.  Same applies to the cooking classes.  You eat what you prepare so make a later reservation on those days.

Thank you for the good suggestions from someone that has not cruised on Oceania yet. 

[cruisingxpert]

17 hours ago, Cliff-FLL said:

the samosas (a favourite), skewered fruit pieces, guac & blue-corn tortilla strips, and PB&J finger sandwiches. 

Plus chicken drumstick lollipops- my other favourite.

[Ski Mom 2]

May I ask, if you are in a PH and have canapes delivered, can you invite another couple over to enjoy them with you? How many different kinds can you order in one evening? Thank you!

[GrammieK]

As I recall, two choices per cabin. Not really enough to share unless you just want a taste. 

[mauibabes]

Just chat with your Butler, I am sure he can arrange some extra’s and adult beverages and glasses, etc.

We have some friends who book PH’s and upon their introduction chat with their Butler, always gave him an “initial” tip for the “expected” services. Low and behold, there was nothing he could not ask for that was not  provided. 
The Butlers are outstanding and will bend over backward to get an 11 on that 10 point scale, if you know what I mean.  
Ciao,

Gerry

[mexicobob]

Any suggestions as to what would be an acceptable "initial tip"?

[GrammieK]

Be careful....this is becoming a tipping thread!  Tipping is an extremely personal issue and a hot topic on CC.

Passengers in PH and above pay a daily per person extra tip that goes directly to the butler.  Many passengers feel that no additional tip is needed and have even said some butlers would be insulted to be offered a cash tip or bribe.    
 

I have always tipped extra, yes sometimes at the first meeting. So do what you want and give what you think is appropriate or not!

 

I guess it depends on how much you actually make use of the butler. 
 

k

[mauibabes]

Amen Grammie. Not meant as a “tipping” conversation but if you have some special services “expected”, the little something extra tells the Butler to be even more attentive. Bonnie has loved it when she and the rest of the ladies in our group can be escorted to dinner in a specialty restaurant.  If you are going to be aboard for multiple cruise segments, you will really be getting to know your Butler and he, you. Yes the gratuities are considerably more in a PH but considering all the crew has been away from their “Oceania guest family” for over 18 months, they could use anything we may feel comfortable sharing with them. 
Ciao,

B and G

[PhD-iva]

2 hours ago, GrammieK said:

Be careful....this is becoming a tipping thread!  Tipping is an extremely personal issue and a hot topic on CC.

Passengers in PH and above pay a daily per person extra tip that goes directly to the butler.  Many passengers feel that no additional tip is needed and have even said some butlers would be insulted to be offered a cash tip or bribe.    
 

I have always tipped extra, yes sometimes at the first meeting. So do what you want and give what you think is appropriate or not!

 

I guess it depends on how much you actually make use of the butler. 
 

k

I don’t mind tipping extra, but my question is how many butlers will be assigned to my penthouse state room? I assume that more than one butler is assigned to my state room (as well as to many others). I guess if I have a budget for what I feel I can provide in extra tips, will I be distributing that among several butlers over the course of my 16 day TA?

Thx!

[Silver Sweethearts]

2 hours ago, mauibabes said:

Bonnie has loved it when she and the rest of the ladies in our group can be escorted to dinner in a specialty restaurant.  

 

We have always been curious about why the butler escorts you to your restaurant of the evening and has a brief chat with the maitre d' before you are seated (we are talking all-inclusive ships in this case)?  It is very nice, of course, but we have never requested this.

[BrocktonCruiser]

15 minutes ago, PhD-iva said:

I don’t mind tipping extra, but my question is how many butlers will be assigned to my penthouse state room? I assume that more than one butler is assigned to my state room (as well as to many others). I guess if I have a budget for what I feel I can provide in extra tips, will I be distributing that among several butlers over the course of my 16 day TA?

Thx!

Our experience has always been that we were assigned a single butler for the duration of the trip.  On a very rare occasion we were served by another butler, if we requested something and our butler was busy. 

[mauibabes]

We have always had one Butler and one room steward team assigned to our PH to serve us. If he if off or unavailable, there are others on call to assist you in his place.  I do not know how the $23 per person per day gratuity is shared among the staff but the room stewards also share in the gratuity. Being at a level where we receive Free Gratuities on every cruise from Oceania, we have no problem sharing extra 💵 for great service with our Butler led team.  

Many times our Butler has requested to escort my wife to dinner, just a little extra special service. When we have dined in Prive they have always met us at the door of Toscana to escort the ladies in the group. Quite a few smiles from the ladies on the arm of a gentleman in tails. You know, happy wife, happy life 😁💜

Gerry

[GrammieK]

Just our experience....

 

we have always had one butler and the usual two person team to do the daily maintenance of our suite.  The  butler performs the other special services provided to PH and above. 
 

it’s been so long but.... I think an extra $10 a day p/p is added to suites service charge that is solely for the butler.  Many passengers believe that no additional tip is necessary, that service is not impacted by extra $$$. Some passengers call it a bribe. I don’t view it as a bribe or a request to put my needs before others, but appreciation for the service I never dreamed I would be exposed to!
 

there is always a covering butler to take care of anything needed when your assigned butler is on a break (I don’t think they ever sleep). Covering butlers have often brought us room service, but most other services were provided by our assigned butler. 
 

we often travel with friends and sometimes request the same butler. It makes our plans seamless with no need to coordinate times, places, etc. 

 

it also helps to avoid what we like to call. ..”Dueling Butlers” which is when we arrive to the restaurant with 2 butlers each with a recommendation for the best table!  Sounds over the top and stuffy, but boy is it fun!!

Gerry, I get it!  I’m the happy wife!

really looking forward to our next cruise!

 

k

 

[LHT28]

A little off the track  but here is the Gratuity  policy

Beverage/spa gratuities are now 20% up from the previously 18%

https://oceaniacruises.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360005476793-What-is-your-gratuity-policy-

[ORV]

14 hours ago, mauibabes said:

 I do not know how the $23 per person per day gratuity is shared among the staff but the room stewards also share in the gratuity.

I think the extra for PH & up is for the Butlers only as the base gratuity already includes a room steward. 

[Queen of DaNile]

We definitely had 2 butlers on our last TA. We actually saw the 2nd one more frequently than the one who introduced himself when we boarded. One butler cannot be expected to be on call 24/7 for several weeks.

[GrammieK]

You are right!  That’s why the covering butlers do the room service orders and/or overnite issues. 
 

it amazes me the amount of hours they put in. 

[RJB]

18 hours ago, BrocktonCruiser said:

Our experience has always been that we were assigned a single butler for the duration of the trip.  On a very rare occasion we were served by another butler, if we requested something and our butler was busy. 

That is the way it always works.  When our butler is off which is not often a second butler will answer his phone and take care of whatever we need. Good system.

[Cliff-FLL]

The past couple of cruises, we met with our butler and - later that day - he would stop by and introduce us to his assistant butler.  Our butler was always available to us but, for more routine requests or activities, the assistant would actually complete them.  While he always did a good job, it was clear that the assistant was in training and the butler would handle anything that had any complexity to it.  Getting back to the topic, the assistant would frequently deliver the wide variety of canapés offered by Oceania.