What does a Butler in Yacht Club actually do?

[angelofjoy23]

What does a Yacht Club butler actually do?  Like what do they do on their own vs what can you ask them to do?  A friend considering Yacht club just asked me and I figured you all would know best! 

Edited October 4, 2023 by angelofjoy23
Missing word

[rollie]

I think one of the best places to get information about Yacht Club is You Tube.  Just enter ship and Yacht Club.

 

Rollie

[cruisebeachgirl703]

Butlers tend to differ. Have had 5 on NCL, 5 on Celebrity and 2 on MSC. Most recent MSC was great. Our experience was, greeted us in top sail lounge and escorted us to the cabin. Explained things about the room. Helps room steward turn over room. Restocks mini bar. Deliveries to room (invitations, newspaper, chocolates, etc). We asked and was brought a small cheese plate in the afternoon. Was the butler at Ocean Cay that escorted group off. Escorted us at disembarkation. I too would love to hear more firsthand experiences varying from what we had. Butler was great though, very happy.

[dexddd]

A lot more than one on NCL.

 

Per above.  Plus escorts to shows if desired, escort off and on ship, bring drinks to room.  Ships like Divinia escort first night to restaurant.

[MsTabbyKats]

The butler does "too much".....escorts you everywhere so you "skip the lines", brings you pizza on the pool deck, delivers your drinks wherever you are, makes sure you're happy (if request is within reason).

 

I never sailed on NCL Haven...but I've heard people complain about "not seeing the butler" or "the butler wasn't good".  I don't think that happens in the YC....because if your butler isn't available...another one steps in.  They operate as a team.

[Preziosa]

Just try the Yacht club on MSC. You Will love it.

[wolft927]

1 hour ago, MsTabbyKats said:

The butler does "too much".....escorts you everywhere so you "skip the lines", brings you pizza on the pool deck, delivers your drinks wherever you are, makes sure you're happy (if request is within reason).

 

I never sailed on NCL Haven...but I've heard people complain about "not seeing the butler" or "the butler wasn't good".  I don't think that happens in the YC....because if your butler isn't available...another one steps in.  They operate as a team.

I have sailed the HAven many times, and have had great Butlers and ones that were ok. We dont need escorts other then on and off the ship in port days to skip the gangway lines, honestly we enjoy the Haven staff much more. Next Haven cruise is January and 1st YC is next september. 

[PTC DAWG]

2 minutes ago, wolft927 said:

I have sailed the HAven many times, and have had great Butlers and ones that were ok. We dont need escorts other then on and off the ship in port days to skip the gangway lines, honestly we enjoy the Haven staff much more. Next Haven cruise is January and 1st YC is next september. 

I’ve done both, I think YC is better, the rest of the ship on NCL I enjoy more. I think it’s beyond dumb that the free at sea basic package in Haven doesn’t include sparkling or still water. 

[peder]

7 hours ago, angelofjoy23 said:

What does a Yacht Club butler actually do?

 

Who knows? We never saw ours! 😅 

 

1 hour ago, MsTabbyKats said:

but I've heard people complain about "not seeing the butler" or "the butler wasn't good".  I don't think that happens in the YC....because if your butler isn't available...another one steps in.  They operate as a team.

 

Note that I'm not complaining about above, we had mostly great service. My impression is that everyone in YC was willing to help with anything.

Edited October 4, 2023 by peder

[Two Wheels Only]

53 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

I think it’s beyond dumb that the free at sea basic package in Haven doesn’t include sparkling or still water. 

 

You can have both without extra charge as long as it isn't from a bottle, can, or carton. The bartender in any bar will provide either type of water without charge even if you don't have any beverage package.

[morpheusofthesea]

8 hours ago, angelofjoy23 said:

What does a Yacht Club butler actually do?

There are two ways one has to go on tour. One can congregate in the Top Sail Lounge and wait for a 'group' to be taken down the elevator to the gangway by an available butler. The problem with this method is there is ALWAYS some inconsiderate fellow guest holding up the group. But if one has a GOOD personal butler who takes the time to 'inquire' what ones plans are the night before and finds out one has a tour the next morning versus one that 'enquires' in a general way. The one that 'enquires' will direct one to the TSL. The one that 'inquires' will offer to meet one at the appointed time at ones cabin for a personal escort down to the bus or private car.

[morpheusofthesea]

1 minute ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

You can have both without extra charge as long as it isn't from a bottle, can, or carton. The bartender in any bar will provide either type of water without charge even if you don't have any beverage package.

Be careful in the Haven Bar. I asked for two bottles of still water and had to give him my cruise card and got charged for a mudslide. Maybe he was expecting a tip?

[morpheusofthesea]

If one is lucky enough to book a suite in the Yacht Club and get a good butler one is in for a real treat.To follow anyone around is a physical impossibility. Our butler on one cruise had 13 cabins to 'attend' to and on another had 19. They ask if there is anything in particular one wants on ones initial introduction. Those that have notepads are the best. Like what one prefers their mini fridge stocked with, type of afternoon snacks and at what time, time of tour to get off ship escort saving one getting caught in a 2 1/2 hour line waiting for a tender in ports like Grand Cayman. They make sure your dining table is ready for your dinner and escort you at that prescribed time. They make sure your pizza is delivered to your cabin hot with dishware, silverware and napkins. They take care of any laundry or pressing and suggest pricing variables and timing. They can get you any seating in any venue. Should one rent a cabana they make sure that it will be set up before one reaches it. If one is missing any luggage and later it is found and is 'flagged' for security check in the bowels of the ship's security along with 50 other crew and guests in a security line, they escort one to the front of the security line and stay with one the entire time and carry the bag back to ones cabin ( minus any contraband). If anything a butler makes one most comfortable and makes for a more enjoyable cruise.

[morpheusofthesea]

Another butler story, when they had butlers on Celebrity. 

We felt the same way the first time we had a suite with a butler, until..... I wanted the furniture changed on the balcony to accommodate a lounger instead of chair and foot stool.  The wifi service in the cabin was terrible, posters replied they had same problem in same cabin, had to go across hall to library to get on-line. Told butler of problem, he boosted the signal to the cabin. Booked a cruise 48 hrs before departure at full tariff only to get on board with no perks (no wifi, no beverage package, no gratuities, no OBC), went to concierge and all they could do was add everything just mentioned to our shipboard account at full prices. (DW thought I booked cruise only, called me a cheapskate in front of pretty concierge). Asked butler what deck, Guest Services ? Asked me why ? Said there will be a very long line at Guest Services, it was embarkation day,  please allow me to escort you around the long line to a purser directly. It is just the little details that your butler becomes a 'genie' granting your every desire.

  P.S. Yes, Guest Services was able to contact shore and confirm I had the full perk package. (DW did not apologize for her prior remark....c'est la vie )

[DaKahuna]

44 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

 

  P.S. Yes, Guest Services was able to contact shore and confirm I had the full perk package. (DW did not apologize for her prior remark....c'est la vie )

 

rule one: The wife is never wrong. 

rule two: When the wife is wrong, rule one applies. 

 

[PTC DAWG]

59 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

 

You can have both without extra charge as long as it isn't from a bottle, can, or carton. The bartender in any bar will provide either type of water without charge even if you don't have any beverage package.

I’m fully aware of that..I want my Pelligrino.. 🙂

Edited October 4, 2023 by PTC DAWG

[MsTabbyKats]

1 hour ago, PTC DAWG said:

I’m fully aware of that..I want my Pelligrino.. 🙂

I don't care what the brand it.....another perk of YC is that you can walk all around the ship and get a fresh bottle of water at any bar.  A bottle...not a glass.......

[MisterBill99]

8 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

rule one: The wife is never wrong. 

rule two: When the wife is wrong, rule one applies. 

 

This reminds me of my feelings about MSC the first (and until now only) time we sailed with them, not in a YC cabin.  I've seen your rules in other forms, substituting customer to wife at the Stew Leonard's grocery stores in CT/NY/NJ. On our MSC sailing, the customer was always wrong. Looking forward to being in YC next year where my understanding is that the customer is indeed always right.

[Brighton Line]

MSC Butler service was IMHO better than NCL though I did miss the doorbell NCL has since my butler knocked so softly I missed her half the time.

My butler heard us talking about a show and even made the reservation for us, we didn't have to contact the concierge. 

She would see us leaving, ask where we were going, and escort us no matter where on the ship. Even to a meet and greet for another group (can't mention here) to the closed Brass & Anchor and stayed a few minutes to say hi to non-YC guests there. 

[morpheusofthesea]

7 hours ago, MisterBill99 said:

Looking forward to being in YC next year where my understanding is that the customer is indeed always right.

Yes, the dichotomy between being inside the Yacht Club and outside the YC makes all the difference in the world. We get all the yes(es), they get all the no(s).

P.S. Inside the YC we get a genial YC director, outside the YC they have a host of "Sluggos".

Edited October 5, 2023 by morpheusofthesea
ps

[PTC DAWG]

15 hours ago, MsTabbyKats said:

I don't care what the brand it.....another perk of YC is that you can walk all around the ship and get a fresh bottle of water at any bar.  A bottle...not a glass.......

Exactly..I was joking about the brand. 

[MisterBill99]

Do you get the same level of service if you're in an inside YC cabin vs. a duplex suite?

[wolft927]

26 minutes ago, MisterBill99 said:

Do you get the same level of service if you're in an inside YC cabin vs. a duplex suite?

I sure hope so first MSc cruise and we have inside YC suite 

[Captain-John]

Just on the escort front, I have opined many times on these boards that I don't need or want an escort to the restaurant etc.

 

One previous butler was incredibly persistent despite being told politely and firmly several times an escort was not required - 'let me do my job' was the reply. Well part of doing the job is working with the guest to provide a level of service they need/are comfortable with. We don't like being beholden to a dinner time for example and just leave the cabin when we are ready/feel like it. However another butler on Meraviglia was fantastic and anticipated our needs (or lack thereof, we are fairly 'hands off') and worked accordingly.

We are back in YC on World Europa in a few weeks and I will report back on the butler services that are provided for us and compare to previous experiences. We were also in Haven this April/May so have a fairly recent compartor.  The thing I am most looking forward to is the four cheese pizza delivered to the stateroom - call me simple. 🤷‍♀️

[MsTabbyKats]

5 hours ago, MisterBill99 said:

Do you get the same level of service if you're in an inside YC cabin vs. a duplex suite?

Absolutey!