Tipping Haven Butler

[ALKID]

We gave the butler 50 and I think 10 to the concierge as all we used her for was early disembarkation.  The butler was always bringing the kids extra snacks and was super nice to them.

[scooter6139]

17 hours ago, acl12345 said:

We are avid Haven fans and have always had rooms in the Haven proper.  This years cruise we will be trying the Haven aft balcony because of the huge balcony.  I expect we will have less service from the butler due to the distance from Haven.  Does anyone have any experience with this? TIA

 

Guessing the same for the Joy Haven Suites on Deck 14 and 15.  Looked at upgrading to Haven proper and the costs skyrocketed.   Our PCC said this was something NCL was doing for most Haven rooms for the rest of the 2022 season.

[graphicguy]

1 hour ago, scooter6139 said:

 

Guessing the same for the Joy Haven Suites on Deck 14 and 15.  Looked at upgrading to Haven proper and the costs skyrocketed.   Our PCC said this was something NCL was doing for most Haven rooms for the rest of the 2022 season.

I scored a solo Haven Spa Suite 7 day on the Getaway that sailed 2 weeks ago for around $3,600-$3,700 all in.  Probably one of the cheapest Haven sailings I've ever had.

 

Found another one on Celebrity's Retreat 7 day Caribbean for about the same price, but with more OBC, and internet and tips included.

 

I check prices just about every week.  They're out there.  You just have to be diligent.

[cruiseny4life]

1 hour ago, scooter6139 said:

 

Guessing the same for the Joy Haven Suites on Deck 14 and 15.  Looked at upgrading to Haven proper and the costs skyrocketed.   Our PCC said this was something NCL was doing for most Haven rooms for the rest of the 2022 season.

For a moment last week there was a $1,600/per person Haven Spa balcony room to Bermuda in September. It has since increased to $3k+, but deals are definitely possible as @graphicguystated above.

[graphicguy]

2 minutes ago, cruiseny4life said:

For a moment last week there was a $1,600/per person Haven Spa balcony room to Bermuda in September. It has since increased to $3k+, but deals are definitely possible as @graphicguystated above.

How the hell did I miss that one?  Dang... nice catch!

[scooter6139]

1 hour ago, cruiseny4life said:

For a moment last week there was a $1,600/per person Haven Spa balcony room to Bermuda in September. It has since increased to $3k+, but deals are definitely possible as @graphicguystated above.

I upgraded us at the perfect time, early May, when it was almost $500 pp cheaper than it is now (5 night).  To get into the cheapest Haven proper would cost about $500-$600 pp more.  The category I want would be about $900 pp more.  I think I'll stick with what we got for now.  😉

[RocketMan275]

 

we were in the  Deluxe Owners Suite with large balcony on Breakaway last March.  Very close to the restaurant and bar.  Very nice large balcony.  Wonderful except the balcony was unusable any time the ship was underway due to wind.  In fact, on two separate days, the crew had to tie down all the furniture on the balcony.  Never again will we book a forward facing suite.

We've booked an aft facing penthouse suite with large balcony for our next cruise also on Breakaway.  

[UKstages]

22 hours ago, acl12345 said:

This years cruise we will be trying the Haven aft balcony because of the huge balcony.  I expect we will have less service from the butler due to the distance from Haven.  Does anyone have any experience with this? TIA

 

i understand the geographic logic of your question , but i don't agree with it. your butler is paid to service your room and likely has a nearby home base, much like your steward.  i don't think you should anticipate any reduction in service at all. it's certainly true that if you order meals to be delivered from the haven restaurant, then there is a greater distance to travel. but most of the treats and other amenities you'll be receiving don't come from the haven proper, so there should be no noticeable difference in service provided. and, again, if the butler has several aft cabins to service, there is a very good chance that he will always be nearby. i don't think it's necessarily correct to assume that your butler will be located in the haven when not actively providing service to you and other aft cabins.

[NayRN]

6 hours ago, JGmf said:

 

Having stayed in the Haven aft many times before, yes, you will have less service, but you will still get service.  The location more than compensates for that.  Plus, it's nice to get away from the same people 24/7 in the Haven proper.

 

I’m thankful for vastly different experiences sailing Haven aft. I’ve only been ghosted by the butler once - and that was in a 2BR Haven suite in the Haven proper. I’ve sailed Haven aft a couple times - and had the best service ever! I’m sorry your experience wasn’t as good as mine were……🥺

[pcakes122]

12 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Probably phone number for texts.

 

While we want to believe we are the special standout guests for the crew in either the Haven or Retreat, once we’re gone, there’s a new slew of guests that are their “favorites” that they are paid to make feel special.

I've never shared my phone number with an NCL employee (messages posted above are from FB.)

 

One thing you may not have considered is that there are people who do actually keep in touch with folks they have met onboard between cruises - including NCL employees.  It really depends upon how much you've interacted or bonded with someone during your cruise if they ask you for your social media info.  I have no trouble sharing my FB info with an NCL employee who has asked (I've never had anyone ask me for my personal phone number, nor would I provide it.)

 

Most of the people I keep in touch with on FB from cruises are folks that I have met in the casino. We check in with each other periodically to compare or coordinate cruise schedules. But I've definitely had NCL concierges and butlers ask me for my FB info and it's fun when you reconnect on future cruises.

 

So I agree that most employees probably don't remember random cruisers, but those who've asked to keep in touch with you definitely remember you! 

[LGW59]

11 minutes ago, pcakes122 said:

I've never shared my phone number with an NCL employee (messages posted above are from FB.)

 

One thing you may not have considered is that there are people who do actually keep in touch with folks they have met onboard between cruises - including NCL employees.  It really depends upon how much you've interacted or bonded with someone during your cruise if they ask you for your social media info.  I have no trouble sharing my FB info with an NCL employee who has asked (I've never had anyone ask me for my personal phone number, nor would I provide it.)

 

Most of the people I keep in touch with on FB from cruises are folks that I have met in the casino. We check in with each other periodically to compare or coordinate cruise schedules. But I've definitely had NCL concierges and butlers ask me for my FB info and it's fun when you reconnect on future cruises.

 

So I agree that most employees probably don't remember random cruisers, but those who've asked to keep in touch with you definitely remember you! 

Ye$, it i$ definitely very important to the crew to keep in touch with u$ crui$ers, whom they have bonded with.

[pcakes122]

1 minute ago, LGW59 said:

Ye$, it i$ definitely very important to the crew to keep in touch with u$ crui$ers, whom they have bonded with.

But I love $haring the wealth - I probably get more out of it then they do (and they certainly need it more than me!) I've been blessed, but I can't take it with me when I go so might as well $pread it around! 🤷‍♀️😊

[LGW59]

5 minutes ago, pcakes122 said:

But I love $haring the wealth - I probably get more out of it then they do (and they certainly need it more than me!) I've been blessed, but I can't take it with me when I go so might as well $pread it around! 🤷‍♀️😊

I think you mean ble$$ed - $o - a$.  I hate when $spell check doe$ not work.  

[pcakes122]

2 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

I think you mean ble$$ed - $o - a$.  I hate when $spell check doe$ not work.  

However you spell it, I have plenty to keep slot machines and butlers happy for a long, long time & have fun doing it! 😂  

[rbxlady]

18 hours ago, ALKID said:

 The butler was always bringing the kids extra snacks and was super nice to them.

 

I really appreciate this comment, as people keep saying they tip a certain amount per day multiplied by the number of passengers in their cabin. We're cruising with two kids, so doubling our tip to account for our two kids sounded silly because they're probably getting very little to no extra service, especially if Splash Academy is in full swing. But if the butler is actually doing stuff for the kids, then tipping extra for the kids makes sense.

[GeezerCouple]

I haven't seen any mention here of the Butlers for suites that are not in the Haven.

 

There are a few ships without a Haven, but they have suites... with Butlers.  And the Butlers provide the same types of services.  They may be even more important, because there is *not* any Haven area or restaurant or other similar perks.

 

And on a few ships with Havens, there are also (or there used to be!?) non-Haven suites with Butlers.  Are (were?) all Jewel class ships like this?

 

Anyway, we have been in non-Haven and Haven suites (but not on the larger ships with a Haven restaurant), and we got similar service from the Butler, and we tipped accordingly in both types of suites.

GC

[graphicguy]

20 minutes ago, GeezerCouple said:

I haven't seen any mention here of the Butlers for suites that are not in the Haven.

 

There are a few ships without a Haven, but they have suites... with Butlers.  And the Butlers provide the same types of services.  They may be even more important, because there is *not* any Haven area or restaurant or other similar perks.

 

And on a few ships with Havens, there are also (or there used to be!?) non-Haven suites with Butlers.  Are (were?) all Jewel class ships like this?

 

Anyway, we have been in non-Haven and Haven suites (but not on the larger ships with a Haven restaurant), and we got similar service from the Butler, and we tipped accordingly in both types of suites.

GC

Sailed the GEM a few years ago in an aft suite.  Not a HAven Suite.  Had a concierge but no Butler.  Didn’t miss the Butler as my cabin attendant and concierge were so good at what they did.

 

ON the Jewel Class ships, you can get an actual suite, with most of the Haven benefits, without being in the Haven (which was teeny-tiny on the GEM).

[GeezerCouple]

4 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Sailed the GEM a few years ago in an aft suite.  Not a HAven Suite.  Had a concierge but no Butler.  Didn’t miss the Butler as my cabin attendant and concierge were so good at what they did.

 

ON the Jewel Class ships, you can get an actual suite, with most of the Haven benefits, without being in the Haven (which was teeny-tiny on the GEM).

 

 

Now that you mention "no Butler service", I remember reading here on CC rather recently that some of those "suite perks" were being cut back.  However, I was never sure just which ones, and whether it was NCL-wide or differed by ship.  For example, on ships with a Haven, one has the choice to pay for Haven to get some of those perks such as Butler.  But on ships without, such as Dawn or Sun, there's no way.  We've had Butlers on both of those ships, but it was a few years ago.

 

RM

[graphicguy]

12 hours ago, pcakes122 said:

I've never shared my phone number with an NCL employee (messages posted above are from FB.)

 

One thing you may not have considered is that there are people who do actually keep in touch with folks they have met onboard between cruises - including NCL employees.  It really depends upon how much you've interacted or bonded with someone during your cruise if they ask you for your social media info.  I have no trouble sharing my FB info with an NCL employee who has asked (I've never had anyone ask me for my personal phone number, nor would I provide it.)

 

Most of the people I keep in touch with on FB from cruises are folks that I have met in the casino. We check in with each other periodically to compare or coordinate cruise schedules. But I've definitely had NCL concierges and butlers ask me for my FB info and it's fun when you reconnect on future cruises.

 

So I agree that most employees probably don't remember random cruisers, but those who've asked to keep in touch with you definitely remember you! 

I have indeed met and kept in touch with people I’ve cruised with over the years.  Great people.  Many post here.

 

Crew?  They’re always nice to me and my GF when we’ve cruised.  Most, if not all, don’t recall us past the time we were on the ship.  

 

GF was amazed that one of her favorite bartenders on our Allure of the Seas cruise a few years ago didn’t remember her after she tipped so well and shared family stories with him (and vice versa).  She became FB friends with him.  Come to find out, he had a FB page for nothing but cruise people he had met, and his real page was private to his friends and family.

 

Point being, the crew make more money by being accommodating and friendly to guests.  If someone misunderstands and thinks they’ve found a new friend on board, understand that it’s what crew are paid to do.  Not saying crew don’t like guests.  It’s just that they’re more likely they literally interface with thousands of guests EVERY WEEK, and need to do the same with new guests.

 

Believe what you want, but in my experience, crew and guests have nothing in common other than the week or so you were on board and crew relied on your tips for their income.  However, they maximize their income in large part directly related to how they make you feel like a friend.

 

Personally, I understand that and have no issue with it.  What I also understand is that crew on my cruise will never be a good friend, regardless of their treatment of me while on board (which is always friendly and excellent).  Won’t change.  Well, maybe it will change if I drop 20 or 30 Benjamins in an envelope as a tip.  Maybe they’ll remember that. 😉

[LGW59]

7 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

I have indeed met and kept in touch with people I’ve cruised with over the years.  Great people.  Many post here.

 

Crew?  They’re always nice to me and my GF when we’ve cruised.  Most, if not all, don’t recall us past the time we were on the ship.  

 

GF was amazed that one of her favorite bartenders on our Allure of the Seas cruise a few years ago didn’t remember her after she tipped so well and shared family stories with him (and vice versa).  She became FB friends with him.  Come to find out, he had a FB page for nothing but cruise people he had met, and his real page was private to his friends and family.

 

Point being, the crew make more money by being accommodating and friendly to guests.  If someone misunderstands and thinks they’ve found a new friend on board, understand that it’s what crew are paid to do.  Not saying crew don’t like guests.  It’s just that they’re more likely they literally interface with thousands of guests EVERY WEEK, and need to do the same with new guests.

 

Believe what you want, but in my experience, crew and guests have nothing in common other than the week or so you were on board and crew relied on your tips for their income.  However, they maximize their income in large part directly related to how they make you feel like a friend.

 

Personally, I understand that and have no issue with it.  What I also understand is that crew on my cruise will never be a good friend, regardless of their treatment of me while on board (which is always friendly and excellent).  Won’t change.  Well, maybe it will change if I drop 20 or 30 Benjamins in an envelope as a tip.  Maybe they’ll remember that. 😉

So are you trying to tell me that Geraldo and Kethya did not really have any interest in seeing my grandchildren's photos and the trophy room dedicated to their peewee sports trophies?? Then why did I buy them a bag of red M&M's that can only be found in my hometown?  Say it ain't so!  

 

[graphicguy]

8 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

So are you trying to tell me that Geraldo and Kethya did not really have any interest in seeing my grandchildren's photos and the trophy room dedicated to their peewee sports trophies?? Then why did I buy them a bag of red M&M's that can only be found in my hometown?  Say it ain't so!  

 

Heck...I'll be your friend for red M&Ms.

[cruiseny4life]

10 minutes ago, LGW59 said:

Then why did I buy them a bag of red M&M's that can only be found in my hometown? 

Ahh what I learn on Google from comments CC'ers make. Today it's Veuve and red M&M's were taken away because of the Russians! 

 

Anyway - so, my lovely Janet (phenom host of the Getaway's Haven Restaurant) won't remember me when I go back on in a month? Gosh, the tears are going to be streaming down my face!

[LGW59]

1 minute ago, cruiseny4life said:

Ahh what I learn on Google from comments CC'ers make. Today it's Veuve and red M&M's were taken away because of the Russians! 

 

Anyway - so, my lovely Janet (phenom host of the Getaway's Haven Restaurant) won't remember me when I go back on in a month? Gosh, the tears are going to be streaming down my face!

Ahh what I learn on Google from comments CC'ers make. Today it's Veuve and red M&M's were taken away because of the Russians!  Stick with me kid, I am a wealth of useless information!

[pcakes122]

7 hours ago, graphicguy said:

GF was amazed that one of her favorite bartenders on our Allure of the Seas cruise a few years ago didn’t remember her after she tipped so well and shared family stories with him (and vice versa).  She became FB friends with him.  Come to find out, he had a FB page for nothing but cruise people he had met, and his real page was private to his friends and family.

This is exactly how I have my FB accounts set up!  I have an account that is strictly for my "cruise" people.  While I am not really a big FB user anymore,  the types of things I would share on my "real" account are not the kind of things I would share with people I've met on cruises. 

 

I think it's a stretch to say that keeping in touch with someone you've met on a cruise equates to believing you have found a "good friend."  People connect because of common interests.  My "cruise" people (even NCL employees I've stayed in touch with) and I have a common interest in either cruising or gambling -- and we've clearly had a great time doing one or both together! That said, we keep in touch and coordinate schedules to hopefully one day cross paths again one day.  It doesn't require us to know much more about each other then that and I don't know that it makes us "good friends" or that either party would even want or expect that.  Try and think of it like Cruise Critic. We're all here because we like cruising (or talking about cruising lol.)  We're not "good friends" and, while some people may have a few other common interests, the chances of discovering that on this board are slim. But it's still fun to connect and chat about our one common interest.

 

Same with folks I stay in touch with on my "cruise" FB profile. Main topic of chats with NCL employees are new ship updates (they ask ME because we know more than them most of the time lol), upcoming schedules (particularly entertainers I like), etc. No one has asked me for any money (yet lol.)

 

Anyway, I guess I'm just confused as to why this is so hard to understand. If you are concerned that I am sharing daily details of my personal life with NCL butlers under the misguided impression that they are my new best friends (who really only pretend to like me because I have money), you can relax. It's just not that deep. 😉

[ChiefMateJRK]

7 hours ago, cruiseny4life said:

Anyway - so, my lovely Janet (phenom host of the Getaway's Haven Restaurant) won't remember me when I go back on in a month? Gosh, the tears are going to be streaming down my face!

Some of us would prefer that the staff NOT remember us from prior cruises.  Fresh starts are often great things! 🤣