First NCL Suite - Butler Service

[Nilbog]

We board the Pearl in 11 days, and it's our first time in a suite on NCL.  What are some of the things you have the butler do?  All the NCL website talks about is unpacking your luggage.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Two Wheels Only]

There are many threads that ask a similar question....

 

 

Some more general information here....

 

https://cruisewestcoast.com/cruise-tips-advice/cruise-butlers

 

 

[BirdTravels]

We print a couple of sheets of 1/4 page note paper to leave messages to our butler and room steward. Here's what we gave to our butler on embarkation day back in August. 

 

 

And don't forget that your butler and concierge are not part of the Daily Service Charge and should be tipped independently - preferably in cash. 

Edited November 8, 2022 by BirdTravels

[dexddd]

Don't worry, the classy letter from the concierge, at lest on our last trip, he pointed out he and butlers were not part of the tip pool.

[Sailing12Away]

Butler is for anything inside the room.

• Special pillow requests
• Extra blanket requests
• Extra pool towel requests
• Preferred time for turndown service
• Free pitchers of drinks in the fridge
• Free snacks to the room - let them know what you like (salty, sweet, savory, healthy, pure junk food, surprise mix of the above)
• Free room service to the room - for breakfast, you can use the card that hangs on the door but feel free to write anything you want on that card

 

Skim through the various Haven threads.... tons of info in there.

[janice2348]

On 11/7/2022 at 9:40 PM, BirdTravels said:

We print a couple of sheets of 1/4 page note paper to leave messages to our butler and room steward. Here's what we gave to our butler on embarkation day back in August. 

 

 

And don't forget that your butler and concierge are not part of the Daily Service Charge and should be tipped independently - preferably in cash. 

We stayed in a suite on two cruises. This was the best advice I’ve ever seen on cruise critic.  It made my life so much easier having dietary issues ( and it will even if you don’t).  The butler brought everything I asked for.  

[fstuff1]

On 11/8/2022 at 6:17 AM, dexddd said:

Don't worry, the classy letter from the concierge, at lest on our last trip, he pointed out he and butlers were not part of the tip pool.

Why tip the concierge if you don't use him?

 

On celebrity, I had a (free) concierge room which came with a concierge.

I never used him.

I could do everything myself.

 

No idea if he's part of the ship tips but I never left him a tip.

I never even met him.

 

Edited November 9, 2022 by fstuff1

[Lakesregion]

On 11/7/2022 at 2:48 PM, Nilbog said:

We board the Pearl in 11 days, and it's our first time in a suite on NCL.  What are some of the things you have the butler do?  All the NCL website talks about is unpacking your luggage.

 

Thanks in advance.

The butler should do the very same things your butler does at your home. If you do not have one at home, then tread lightly as the butlers "know" who belongs and who does not.

[Nilbog]

38 minutes ago, Lakesregion said:

The butler should do the very same things your butler does at your home. If you do not have one at home, then tread lightly as the butlers "know" who belongs and who does not.

Then we’ve got it maid. No diapers to change, no walking our dogs, no cooking or cleaning, and I’ll have someone to loofah my back in the shower. Thanks for the heads up!  🤪

[EvanBedar]

1 hour ago, Lakesregion said:

The butler should do the very same things your butler does at your home. If you do not have one at home, then tread lightly as the butlers "know" who belongs and who does not.

Anyone who can afford the price of a fare, or wins it in a contest, or is given it as a gift  …. “belongs.”

 

And don’t let anyone tell anyone otherwise.  

[Sailing12Away]

14 hours ago, fstuff1 said:

Why tip the concierge if you don't use him?

 

On celebrity, I had a (free) concierge room which came with a concierge.

I never used him.

I could do everything myself.

 

No idea if he's part of the ship tips but I never left him a tip.

I never even met him.

 

That's why the tips for butler and concierge are NOT included in the DSC. Same with the cost for the kids clubs. Or go-karts. Or laser tag.....

 

Each family's use will vary, and not many people want to pay for extra things they won't utilize. All the Celebrity cheerleaders who love to say that they don't nickel & dime compared to NCL, but they just charge you up front for 100 things even if you only will use 70 of them. They're no better or worse, just different.

 

If you use the concierge in any way (shifting reservation times around, booking last minute excursions, anything you would typically go to guest services for, escorts on/off the ship to bypass the normal lines, etc etc) then it's only fair to compensate them. If you don't utilize any of that at all, then you are correct, no tip needed.

[fstuff1]

24 minutes ago, Sailing12Away said:

That's why the tips for butler and concierge are NOT included in the DSC. Same with the cost for the kids clubs. Or go-karts. Or laser tag.....

 

Each family's use will vary, and not many people want to pay for extra things they won't utilize. All the Celebrity cheerleaders who love to say that they don't nickel & dime compared to NCL, but they just charge you up front for 100 things even if you only will use 70 of them. They're no better or worse, just different.

 

If you use the concierge in any way (shifting reservation times around, booking last minute excursions, anything you would typically go to guest services for, escorts on/off the ship to bypass the normal lines, etc etc) then it's only fair to compensate them. If you don't utilize any of that at all, then you are correct, no tip needed.

well, the recreational staff that run gokarts/lazer tag (as well as cruise director staff) are considered officers (they can eat at the garden cafe) and i assume much more compensated than room stewards and restaurant staff.

 

for celebrity, i assume you mean the 'all-sail' promo or whatever they call it?

bundled tips/internet/drinks package.

you dont have to accept it.

buy internet or drinks separately

Edited November 10, 2022 by fstuff1

[mjkacmom]

40 minutes ago, Sailing12Away said:

That's why the tips for butler and concierge are NOT included in the DSC. Same with the cost for the kids clubs. Or go-karts. Or laser tag.....

 

Each family's use will vary, and not many people want to pay for extra things they won't utilize. All the Celebrity cheerleaders who love to say that they don't nickel & dime compared to NCL, but they just charge you up front for 100 things even if you only will use 70 of them. They're no better or worse, just different.

 

If you use the concierge in any way (shifting reservation times around, booking last minute excursions, anything you would typically go to guest services for, escorts on/off the ship to bypass the normal lines, etc etc) then it's only fair to compensate them. If you don't utilize any of that at all, then you are correct, no tip needed.

Kids clubs are free (we did tip the staff).

[LisaDee]

On 11/8/2022 at 6:17 AM, dexddd said:

Don't worry, the classy letter from the concierge, at lest on our last trip, he pointed out he and butlers were not part of the tip pool.

Yea, we got that letter this week.  Not only was it tacky on the part of the concierge, but the butler handed us the letter and made a point of taking it out of the envelope and pointing out that sentence to us.  Wasn’t a good look.

[graphicguy]

8 minutes ago, LisaDee said:

Yea, we got that letter this week.  Not only was it tacky on the part of the concierge, but the butler handed us the letter and made a point of taking it out of the envelope and pointing out that sentence to us.  Wasn’t a good look.

I agree…not a good look!

 

Mentioning it?  Once?  I’m OK with that, as a reminder.  But, putting it in a letter?  Specifically pointing it out by either a Butler or Concierge?  Not good.

 

Last time I sailed the Haven (Getaway last summer), the Butler did nothing for me, and I asked for nothing, other than for him to remove the chocolate strawberries as they’re too sweet for me, and to remove the Prosecco, which I don’t drink.  He did neither.  I also did not want the afternoon “snacks” which I asked him not to bring.  He brought them, anyway.

 

Didn’t see him much during the week, which was fine with me given I didn’t need him.

 

But, he hung around my cabin, and rang my doorbell the day before disembarkation, asking if I needed anything.  Nope.  Can’t remember who it was, but someone here in CC said I should have tipped him anyway.  My reply…why?

 

If either the Concierge and/or the Butler did nothing for you, moreover they didn’t even take care of the few things requested (as in my case), I don’t care what a letter says, I don’t tip for doing nothing.

 

Concierge(s) helped me a lot.  They both received a good tip.  As did the Haven Bartenders.  So, I’m not against giving tips.  I just don’t tip for nothing!

 

Give me a letter?  Live up to us giving tips, and you’ll get them.

[bedfordmom]

15 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

I agree…not a good look!

 

Mentioning it?  Once?  I’m OK with that, as a reminder.  But, putting it in a letter?  Specifically pointing it out by either a Butler or Concierge?  Not good.

 

Last time I sailed the Haven (Getaway last summer), the Butler did nothing for me, and I asked for nothing, other than for him to remove the chocolate strawberries as they’re too sweet for me, and to remove the Prosecco, which I don’t drink.  He did neither.  I also did not want the afternoon “snacks” which I asked him not to bring.  He brought them, anyway.

 

Didn’t see him much during the week, which was fine with me given I didn’t need him.

 

But, he hung around my cabin, and rang my doorbell the day before disembarkation, asking if I needed anything.  Nope.  Can’t remember who it was, but someone here in CC said I should have tipped him anyway.  My reply…why?

 

If either the Concierge and/or the Butler did nothing for you, moreover they didn’t even take care of the few things requested (as in my case), I don’t care what a letter says, I don’t tip for doing nothing.

 

Concierge(s) helped me a lot.  They both received a good tip.  As did the Haven Bartenders.  So, I’m not against giving tips.  I just don’t tip for nothing!

 

Give me a letter?  Live up to us giving tips, and you’ll get them.

Totally agree. The concierge on the Dawn spent her entire time working the suite guests for tips did nothing except erroneously delivering transfer tickets and got nasty when we did not immediately return them.  Now the butler was outstanding and we tipped him well. 

[JGmf]

18 hours ago, graphicguy said:

Last time I sailed the Haven (Getaway last summer), the Butler did nothing for me, and I asked for nothing, other than for him to remove the chocolate strawberries as they’re too sweet for me, and to remove the Prosecco, which I don’t drink.  He did neither.  I also did not want the afternoon “snacks” which I asked him not to bring.  He brought them, anyway.

 

Sounds like my experiences. 

 

Actually, I'd like an "opt out of the butler" option when in the Haven, check a box before you even get on the ship.  There's nothing (based on my own needs and experiences -- yours may be different) that they provide that the room steward couldn't do.  Having that option would avoid the awkwardness of the forced encounters, turning back stuff you don't want, and then the tip...which, yes, I always provide, but would rather not feel obligated to do.

 

[cruiseny4life]

1 hour ago, JGmf said:

 

Sounds like my experiences. 

 

Actually, I'd like an "opt out of the butler" option when in the Haven, check a box before you even get on the ship.  There's nothing (based on my own needs and experiences -- yours may be different) that they provide that the room steward couldn't do.  Having that option would avoid the awkwardness of the forced encounters, turning back stuff you don't want, and then the tip...which, yes, I always provide, but would rather not feel obligated to do.

 

The coffee pods! You need the coffee pods from the butler! 

[janice2348]

This is why writing a letter to your butler can be really important.  You can set expectations ahead of time as to how much or how little attention you require. We left our letter in the suite for him once we boarded.  
 

For example:

To our Butler

We are ______ and _______
 

We would like to have the following snacks _______
We do not want the following________
We do not need you to provide these services ____________
 

We would like you to do the following for us ____________
 

And so on.  Will the butler comply?  It depends on the butler.  But it is extremely helpful for him or her to know what’s expected ahead of time.  I agree that if you don’t use his services you don’t need to tip. Also, if the butler ignores what you tell him and is really in your face about tipping, I wouldn’t tip either. You should tip accordingly.  JMHO and from experience.  We had one okay butler and one outstanding butler.  We tipped accordingly.  

[fstuff1]

On 11/11/2022 at 7:17 AM, JGmf said:

Actually, I'd like an "opt out of the butler" option when in the Haven, check a box before you even get on the ship.  There's nothing (based on my own needs and experiences -- yours may be different) that they provide that the room steward couldn't do.  Having that option would avoid the awkwardness of the forced encounters, turning back stuff you don't want, and then the tip...which, yes, I always provide, but would rather not feel obligated to do.

 

 

opt out sounds like a great idea.

put it as a suggestion in the hotel director's suggestion box

[graphicguy]

On 11/11/2022 at 7:17 AM, JGmf said:

 

Sounds like my experiences. 

 

Actually, I'd like an "opt out of the butler" option when in the Haven, check a box before you even get on the ship.  There's nothing (based on my own needs and experiences -- yours may be different) that they provide that the room steward couldn't do.  Having that option would avoid the awkwardness of the forced encounters, turning back stuff you don't want, and then the tip...which, yes, I always provide, but would rather not feel obligated to do.

 

That’s a great idea!

[Elvis1209]

On 11/9/2022 at 8:23 PM, Lakesregion said:

The butler should do the very same things your butler does at your home. If you do not have one at home, then tread lightly as the butlers "know" who belongs and who does not.

So, then it's okay to tell the butler I'm Batman?

 

Elvis

[Nilbog]

Only if his name is Alfred

[cruiseat50]

1 hour ago, Elvis1209 said:

So, then it's okay to tell the butler I'm Batman?

 

Elvis

Or Lurch. 😉

[Lakesregion]

3 hours ago, Elvis1209 said:

So, then it's okay to tell the butler I'm Batman?

 

Elvis

Sure but the butler will know that you are a poser