How much should we tip the Butler?

[pould]

We're going on a 12 day cruise in June (myself and beautiful wife, 12mo son, fil and mil), staying in an AB. How much should we tip the Butler and Concierge? Advice and experience gratefully received!

[noreddye]

It really depends on how much you use them. At a minimum, we tip them $12.00 each, the same as the daily service charge. We tip the butler more because we use his services more than the concierge. I hope you enjoy your upcoming cruise.

[lolakat]

We were on a 7 day in a courtyard villa last week. It was 3 adults and my 18 month old we used the butler a lot for dining in the room/courtyard but didn't really use the concierge at all. We tipped the butler $300, gave $100 to the "assistant" in the courtyard who served a lot of the meals (he was terrible but still he did serve us a lot since he was the only one there and he clearly worked very hard) We gave our room steward an extra $50 and gave the concierge a nominal $25 since we didn't use him for anything and he never really contacted us throughout the cruise. Not sure how this "stacks up" to the standard amounts. I'll be interested to see what others do.

[mum and son]

I've been wondering about this one too...I haven't booked a suite (only an AF) but I guess that it's something people need to consider if the elusive upsell fairy ever comes to visit...not only do you need to budget in the cost of the upgrade but also the increase in tips.

[terrymtex01]

I believe tipping is such a personal choice as far as how much that I can just share with you what we do. We start out by budgeting $20.00 for the Butler and $20.00 for the Concierge each per day of our cruise. We do not use either of them very much. We tend to use the Concierge more than the Butler. In fact, last Oct on the Pearl we had to literally force our Butler to take our tip because he said we never let him do anything for us. If we have some special service (ie. on one cruise the Concierge got us a behind the scene tour of the galley) then we tip extra. And yes, as geeky as it sounds, the behind the scene tour of the galley was thrilling for me as I love to cook and bake... 8-)

 

We also have always tipped our room stewards extra because they do such a great job for us usually. We give them between $20.00 and $40.00 each at the end of the cruise for a 7 day cruise.

 

We are going on a 14 day cruise this Nov and the tips are going to bankrupt us.. LOL

[HollyT]

On our last cruise on the POA, we tipped our butler several times in small amounts throughout the week for room service and $100 at the end. (I've said a few times here that although we didn't have the tremendous pampered experience that some have described with butlers, overall he wasn't a bad guy and did a couple of things that surprised us - in a good way.)

 

On the same cruise, we tipped the concierge $50 at the end and didn't use him at all. Then why did you tip him you may ask? ;-) He would visit us every morning at Lazy J's (POA's answer to Cagney's) and chat and give tips about each port and generally made us feel we were honored guests in his home.

[WhenIsOurNextCruise]

We were on a 7 day in the Star GV - 6 adults. Our butler was okay, but we didn't have an extraordinary number of requests. I think we had one meal in our suite. He did keep the bar stocked with setups and brought snacks every afternoon. We tipped him $400 which is $133 per couple or $19 per day per couple.

 

The concierge, on the other hand, was amazing. Anca made us feel like royalty. Besides the 6 of us, we had another 14 family members on the cruise and she worked hard to get us group reservations for dinner in various restaurants (during a crowded Thanksgiving week). She made spa reservations, escorted us to special seats at the shows, got one person added to a "sold out" excursion. She personally escorted us off the ship at disembarkation. She led us through the kitchen to get to our Thanksgiving reservation in the main dining room so that we didn't have to stand in line. We tipped her $600 - but I think some of our family members threw in some money too. She was worth more!

 

We tipped our room steward an additional $200.

[Arwenmark]

It really depends on how much you use them. At a minimum, we tip them $12.00 each, the same as the daily service charge. We tip the butler more because we use his services more than the concierge. I hope you enjoy your upcoming cruise.

 

I have seen this advice before. Can you explain the logic of it to me? The $12 per person per day is split between the cabin steward and asst, and the wait staff. So why should the "base" tip for butler and concierge be $12 each per day minimum?

 

Now certainly how much you tip should be based on how much you use, or do not use their services. I am not saying that you might not tip much more than the above figure I just wonder why anyone would pick the $12. just because that is the shared service charge for the other services in the tip pool.

[noreddye]

I have seen this advice before. Can you explain the logic of it to me? The $12 per person per day is split between the cabin steward and asst, and the wait staff. So why should the "base" tip for butler and concierge be $12 each per day minimum?

 

Now certainly how much you tip should be based on how much you use, or do not use their services. I am not saying that you might not tip much more than the above figure I just wonder why anyone would pick the $12. just because that is the shared service charge for the other services in the tip pool.

 

We look at it this way, the daily service charge is split between numerous people (so they receive about a few dollars each) however we give the butler and concierge a minimum of $12.00 each per day. So, for a 7 day cruise we are tipping the both of them $84.00 each. If we use their services more or they go out of their way, then we tip more but not less.

 

I must ask, what do you believe the minimum per day should be?

[Arwenmark]

Good question, I just stated on another thread about this subject that it totally depends on if you use their services and how much. for instance I have been on ships where I never once used the concierge except that she escorted the entire VIP group to the tenders and off the ship on debarkation day. I have also had a butler that I basically never saw or used. Told him the first day we did not want afternoon snacks, we had no meals delivered nothing, So in those cases why would I be tipping these people very much at all, the room steward at least does a fair amount for you each day in cleaning, changing towels making beds turning down beds etc. and only gets about $3 pp for that daily. I would think that given the situation I stated above I might tip each $50 for the week. Now if on the other hand I did have room service or meals delivered and served througout the week and if I used the concierge to make reservations or other special personal services, not group escort, then I would raise those amounts according to the services provided. I also routinely tip additional to the room steward and asst if they are decent, and since I often book the same waiters for a week I would tip them addtional as well. So as I say it totally depends on what I am doing and what I am expecting from them on any given cruise.

I have never held a party nor do I ever expect too, nor have I required unpacking assistance.

[WhenIsOurNextCruise]

We look at it this way, the daily service charge is split between numerous people (so they receive about a few dollars each) however we give the butler and concierge a minimum of $12.00 each per day. So, for a 7 day cruise we are tipping the both of them $84.00 each. If we use their services more or they go out of their way, then we tip more but not less.

 

I must ask, what do you believe the minimum per day should be?

 

Sorry to be dense, but can you please clarify - are you tipping the butler a total of $84 from BOTH of you or $84 from EACH person in your party, i.e., $168 from two people?

[noreddye]

Sorry to be dense, but can you please clarify - are you tipping the butler a total of $84 from BOTH of you or $84 from EACH person in your party, i.e., $168 from two people?

 

$84.00 pp

[bfree32]

In regard to LOLAKAT above, we gave almost the exact same extra gratuities. Only difference-we only gave $25 to the courtyard butler assistant. This is an individual's discretion, but if you enjoy the extra services of the butler in the courtyard for breakfast, snacks, etc.....YOU WILL WANT TO TIP THEM. They make the cruise.

[WhenIsOurNextCruise]

$84.00 pp

 

I think if I am tipping everyone else in the tipping pool a total of $12 per day I'm going to have to have one really special butler to tip him alone $12 per day. On the 15 day cruise we are sailing on this Saturday for my DH and me that would be $360 for the butler plus $360 for the concierge plus $360 for the tipping pool for a total of $1,080.

 

I might possibly be that impressed - but with 15 days on the ship I have a feeling there are going to be many, many days I don't even see him or the concierge.

[gb58]

I think if I am tipping everyone else in the tipping pool a total of $12 per day I'm going to have to have one really special butler to tip him alone $12 per day. On the 15 day cruise we are sailing on this Saturday for my DH and me that would be $360 for the butler plus $360 for the concierge plus $360 for the tipping pool for a total of $1,080.

 

I might possibly be that impressed - but with 15 days on the ship I have a feeling there are going to be many, many days I don't even see him or the concierge.

 

I absolutely agree here.If a butler averages 10 suites to look after, and passengers tip on average $10 pppd, that works out as approx. $1400 (??!!) a week in tips. That's on top of their salary. Or am I way off in my calculating here?? Would be grateful for any enlightenment.

[dtracker]

I absolutely agree here.If a butler averages 10 suites to look after, and passengers tip on average $10 pppd, that works out as approx. $1400 (??!!) a week in tips. That's on top of their salary. Or am I way off in my calculating here?? Would be grateful for any enlightenment.

 

Can one butler handle 10 Suites? I wouldn't think they could...maybe half that. Some suites can have 6 or more people, so they could possible make $2800 of more if they could handle 10 suites for one week.

 

No wonder those guys and gals bend over backwards to please their pax. :D

 

DT

[WhenIsOurNextCruise]

Can one butler handle 10 Suites? I wouldn't think they could...maybe half that. Some suites can have 6 or more people, so they could possible make $2800 of more if they could handle 10 suites for one week.

 

No wonder those guys and gals bend over backwards to please their pax. :D

 

DT

 

With three couples in the Garden Villa at $12/day per person x 7 days, it would be $504 for just ONE of the GV's. Then $504 for the other GV(same butler) plus whatever other courtyard or other suites he has. That explains why they work so hard to get to the top! We do appreciate good service, so it's something to think about.

[lgfromdg]

I have never been in a suite and probably never will, but have a question - My understanding is that the butler is not part of the tipping pool. So if you book a suite, don't use the butler's services so therefore don't tip him, aren't you hurting him financially (through no fault of his own)?

[DMH15]

On our Sun cruise there were two butlers with ten suites each... Everyone I talked to were two pax in each suite. No GV on the Sun .

[WhenIsOurNextCruise]

I have never been in a suite and probably never will, but have a question - My understanding is that the butler is not part of the tipping pool. So if you book a suite, don't use the butler's services so therefore don't tip him, aren't you hurting him financially (through no fault of his own)?

 

If you are in a suite and don't use the butler, he should have more time to devote to his other passengers who may be more financially appreciative. I think most suite passengers would tip him something because it is the decent thing to do. And think about it - you're not hurting him nearly as badly as someone who uses him constantly and then tips poorly at the end of the cruise.

[retiredonthesea]

I have never been in a suite and probably never will, but have a question - My understanding is that the butler is not part of the tipping pool. So if you book a suite, don't use the butler's services so therefore don't tip him, aren't you hurting him financially (through no fault of his own)?

 

I have known cruisers in suites that don't tip at all and then there are those who tip very generously. I feel even if you don't use him/her (never in our case we run the poor butler ragged) you should leave a little something as they always seem to be checking on you anyway. IMO it seems like things balance out pretty evenly. Some tip BIG others small---all in all I think the Butlers do just fine!

[dtracker]

I have never been in a suite and probably never will, but have a question - My understanding is that the butler is not part of the tipping pool. So if you book a suite, don't use the butler's services so therefore don't tip him, aren't you hurting him financially (through no fault of his own)?

 

When you book a suite, the butler service and concierge are "available" not mandatory...Hence, you needn't feel obligated to tip them if you don't use their services, but it's always a nice gesture if you do. :)

 

DT

[ValleyCruiser]

Can one butler handle 10 Suites? I wouldn't think they could...maybe half that. Some suites can have 6 or more people, so they could possible make $2800 of more if they could handle 10 suites for one week.

 

No wonder those guys and gals bend over backwards to please their pax. :D

 

DT

 

Our butler from our recently completed Star cruise told us that he was the butler for all 10 AB Suites! If everyone tipped him like we did for that week then he made a pretty penny. He was a good butler, so he deserves it.

[cruisewmn]

When staying in a courtyard villa for a 7 night cruise, we usually tip the following:

• $150 Butler
  
• $100 Stateroom Attendant (in addition to the pre-charged amount)
  
• $50 - $100 Concierge (depending on how much we use him/her)
  

[mickeysgal]

When staying in a courtyard villa for a 7 night cruise, we usually tip the following:

• $150 Butler
  
• $100 Stateroom Attendant (in addition to the pre-charged amount)
  
• $50 - $100 Concierge (depending on how much we use him/her)
  

 

Just to be clear, is that per person or total?