Butler and Concierge Tipping Question

[Slyfox16]

Was interested in knowing what people,who are in a suite do in terms of tipping the stewart, butler and concierge. Also so you give them some money before the cruise starts?

[coilover88]

We left cash in individual envelopes in our suite on the last evening as we went to dinner. As often as our steward and butler checked on our room we knew they would get them. Their acknowledgements let us know for sure. Unfortunately, we couldn't reach the concierge the entire cruise so he didn't rate an envelope.

[OneParticularHarbour 71]

Is there a recommended amount for the concierge & butler or does it depend on how much you actually use them?

[conandrob240]

I think it totally depends on how much you used them. We chose to tip our butler very litle ($20) because he did absolutely nothing for us. The only thing he did was deliver breakfast a few mornings. He was never around, never once came to us to see if we needed anything and typically acted confused or annoyed anytime we had a question (we stopped asking after the first day or two). We chose to tip our concierge much more ($100) because she was the one who answered all of our questions and reservations with professionalism and helpfulness. Our room steward was also very nice and helpful (not remarkably great but good) so we also gave him $60. I wasn't planning on tipping him at all since he is included in the tip pool but since our butler was so bad, he got extra because he was good in comparion. Our plan going in was to tip $100-200 with 70-80% to the butler and 20-30% to the concierge for good service. Obviously, we did something completely different. if service from thebutler had been good, I would have done $120 butler, $40 concierge and $20-40 for room steward.

[dothow]

Hi,

 

We tiped our Butler and Concierge $100 each on our

recent cruise on The Dawn. We felt both did a great job.

 

Happy Cruising

dothow

[cynbar]

We tipped our butler $150 on our Gem cruise last summer. He was friendly and professional and eager to please. We didn't use him as much as we thought we would because it was such a port intensive cruise, but he did bring us breakfast a few mornings and snacks before dinner. It seemed a little high for the amount of use, but he was so eager without being overbearing that we didn't want to penalize him. Our concierge got $50 --- he made a couple of dinner reservations and always remembered our names, so that seemed about right. Our stewards got nothing extra beyond the auto tips, they did the basics but that was about it.

[jpcdds6]

when we sailed on the sun, last feb. our concierge met us before we boarded, escorted us to our suite, and introduced us to our butler. she gave me her ship's phone number and was only a phone call away all week. our butler,also, was easy to reach. they both were eager to help and deserved every dollar we gave them . we tipped our butler $100, and our concierge $200. the butler and concierge service is available only to people who reserve suites, penthouses, or villas, and since the rates for these categories are expensive to begin with, you should EXPECT good service from these crewmembers. and if they don't go that extra mile for you, they are not doing their job.

[hunyok]

As soon as we meet the but. and con. the first day I give them each $100.00. More at end of cruise if the service warrants. I feel if I give it to them up front they want be worried about getting stiffed. I'll either get good service or exceptional service.

[coilover88]

As soon as we meet the but. and con. the first day I give them each $100.00. More at end of cruise if the service warrants. I feel if I give it to them up front they want be worried about getting stiffed. I'll either get good service or exceptional service.

 

 

Does it work? :D

 

As stated by an earlier post, butlers and concierge are suite perks. They also are not covered by the onboard service charge. As a service provided for VIP's, it should rate as VIP service. That rates a VIP tip. Although some have had bad or mixed service, most of us receive the appropriate level of attention. On our last cruise the only time we saw our concierge was embarkation. Could not reach him if our life depended on it. Our butler not only was a great butler but became a damn fine concierge in the process! Both gentlemen were rewarded accordingly I promise you.

 

Whoo hoo 100 posts!! It's like baby teeth coming in!

[acrna]

My last cruise in September was in an AE suite. Butler was worthless, did not even do all he was supposed to do, and we asked nothing of him. Only saw him twice.

Never used the concierge.

So tips for both were zero.

Some people really tip a lot. I find it interesting that of the cruise lines that give tip suggestions for butlers, the maximum suggested is $4 per person per day.

[coilover88]

Some people really tip a lot. I find it interesting that of the cruise lines that give tip suggestions for butlers, the maximum suggested is $4 per person per day.

 

We tip our pizza delivery boy that much and he does nothing compared to a good butler to make us feel pampered!! :p

[CC Help Michell]

Was interested in knowing what people,who are in a suite do in terms of tipping the stewart, butler and concierge. Also so you give them some money before the cruise starts?

 

We will be in our first suite with these perks next April, but I have to say that if I must tip these people upon boarding to insure great service they can go wait on someone else, and I will let NCL hear about my view of matters.

 

Thankfully, from all I've read here and in reviews, I do not think these professionals who have worked hard to be promoted to these positions will "require" up front tipping to furnish great service. Obviously here and there problems have arisen and been reported here, but I can deal with that when and if it impacts my cruise.

 

I'm not sure an analogy to any other cruiseline is valid. Several offer "concierge" type services, a lounge, etc.... but as far as I know nobody else gives you a butler whose job it is to fulfill your requests from restaurant (including surcharge restaurant) room service, DVD library, etc. $4 per day is about what we'd tip an ordinary room service waiter who brought us 2 (cold) meals in an inside cabin, or our server at a buffet here at home. It's what I tip a valet who handles 2 of our bags for 5 minutes.

 

A butler who serves us hot specialty restaurant food in our cabin is clearly worth more than that, especially since they don't participate in the tip pool. How much more? I don't know yet -- I'm still not sure how much we'll use his/her services. But I've budgeted a maximum of $10 per person per day for butler, and $5 per person per day for concierge. That is in addition to leaving the basic service charge in place for our steward, buffet staff, laundry, general housekeeping, etc.

 

It could be that like others here we'll wind up tipping nothing to the butler and concierge if we don't think they deserve it. But I honestly can't see that happening, and if after 1-2 days it is looking that way, I'll be seeking a meeting with the hotel director, because we aren't getting what we paid for.

[RCDR]

Was interested in knowing what people,who are in a suite do in terms of tipping the stewart, butler and concierge. Also so you give them some money before the cruise starts?

 

We were on the Jewel, on top of the auto tip which accounts for everyone including the room stewards, we tip extra for the concierge, but not the butler since her was HORRIBLE. We tip the concierge at the end of the cruise with the front desk.

Hope this helps,

[Kathylovescruises]

We will be in our first suite with these perks next April, but I have to say that if I must tip these people upon boarding to insure great service they can go wait on someone else, and I will let NCL hear about my view of matters.

 

Thankfully, from all I've read here and in reviews, I do not think these professionals who have worked hard to be promoted to these positions will "require" up front tipping to furnish great service. Obviously here and there problems have arisen and been reported here, but I can deal with that when and if it impacts my cruise.

 

I

On our very first NCl cruise, the board's favorite concierge took a tip BEFORE WE BOARDED- in front of my husband and I, in the VIP lounge, from a suite passenger who was booking his whole party of 18 into all the specialty restaurants. They only had one couple staying in a suite. Because he booked these people in front of us, we lost the time that we wanted to go to CAgney's. i think that any professional that takes a tip before hand and then deprives other suite cruisers of what they are entiltled to in order to placate a 'cool, high roller" should be reprimanded. This man had the extra 16 people even waiting in the lounge! My kids had to sit on the floor. it was appalling, as was the rest of the service by this concierge. WE wiill not cruise on the ship he usually works on again- have switched to the Pearl. No reason for this kookie behavior. And if your GONNA take a " bribe"... be discreet!

 

thank you and have a nice day.