vinnytman

I am a moderate to heavy user of the butler and concierge.

 

 

 

I tip the butler $15 per person per day.

 

 

 

I tip the concierge $10 per person per day.

 

 

So for 2 people on a 7 day cruise:

 

Concierge = $140

Butler = $210

 

I've heard these numbers before from many people on here.

 

I'm curious how much people actually use both of them per day-- and what you're having them do?

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Link for Freestyle Dining Guide for future reference. Tells what restaurants each ship has, set prices or ala carte:

 

http://www.ncl.com/freestyle-cruise/freestyle-dining

 

 

Thank you! Exactly what I was looking for!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Both are indeed included.

 

 

Thank you😄

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Of course it does......

 

Q. WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE ULTIMATE DINING PACKAGE?

A. With the Ultimate Dining Package, you can dine in any specialty restaurant every night of your cruise.................

 

 

Any isn't really any if Sushi and Ocean Blue aren't included.

 

That's where I get a little miffed at NCL. Don't say any specialty restaurant are included if there are exceptions-- like Sushi and Ocean Blue.

 

I figured Sushi was the al a carte, but wasn't sure if anything else was.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I purchased UDP for my upcoming Jade cruise and was able to make reservations at both restaurants and there was no charge. I'm looking forward to trying both of them!

 

 

Thank you for the info -- and to NLH Arizona😄

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

http://www.ncl.com/udp/faq

 

 

Yes I read that already, but it doesn't specifically say what restaurants are included and which ones aren't.

 

I was sure if the two I mentioned above were included or not.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

We're on the Star in Dec and are considering the UDP, but we're unclear if Moderno or Teppanyaki was or wasn't included with the UDP?

 

I know The Sushi restaurant isn't included but we get 20% off. So just curious what other restaurants aren't included on the Star.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

don't forget they also get room and board. I don't think most butlers are starving or even suffering from lack of income. They are supposed to fall into the 1% category!!! that being said, I do not know there really is a standard tip. It has to be up to individuals and yes, what the butler does for you. There will be 5 of us in the cabin, but I can't imagine any of us being demanding in anyway. We might choose to have breakfast delivered one morning, I don't know. Other than that I doubt we will use him for much.

 

 

Like JS said, not matter what you give them or what you have them do for you, I'm sure they'll be happy they got something :)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Assuming the butler is given $140.00 for seven days for two people in a suite. Assume he is responsible for ten suites. That's $1,400.00 per week.

 

Now assume he works 15 hours per day. That works out to $13.33 per hour. How many of you folks work for that amount?

 

And don't forget, he probably has to share some of that with his relief person.

 

 

You're right-- that isn't very much. Plus, I did a quick Google search to see how much cruise staff gets paid, and I found butlers make a base salary if $1500+ a MONTH. I'm not sure how recent that is, so don't take it as fact, but it's probably somewhere in that neighborhood.

 

That's not very much -- even with tips.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

On another tipping thread I read a really good suggestion from someone about tipping the butler & concierge:

 

Tip them based on services rendered. Period.

 

For instance, if they deliver 2 Cagney dinners to your room tip 15%-20% of the cost of each meal each time ($4.50-$6 per person). Throw in a little extra for daily duties, and add it all up at the end of the cruise to figure out the tip.

 

For breakfast, lunch or non-specialty restaurants, or any other service they provide you, give yourself a rough estimate of how much these things would cost if you were to pay for them... Then tip them 15%-20%.

 

He said the butler tip ends up being about $105 per person at the end of the cruise. Which seems fair.

 

But if you don't use them other then their daily duties, I feel you should give them a little something for being "on call" for you. That's what they're there for.

 

Just my 2 cents (or 1 cent) :)

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

All this talk about the DSC got me thinking...

 

I worked at an ad agency about 7 years ago. Their business model was that they pay ALL of their employees 50% of what other similar companies in town were paying, but every quarter there's bonuses -- that COULD equal the other 50% or more of their salaries based on how well the company did. Everyone killed themselves working 18 hour days.

 

They would state it could be as high as 150% of people's salaries but I never saw it that high.

 

This wasn't sales positions either. It was everyone from designers, developers, project managers, execs, to the CEO.

 

Suffice it to say, not only did people barely get by (they were always waiting for their next bonus), but people's bonuses were at their managers discretion, so a lot of people got messed over.

 

I think the DSC is similar -- except the people working on the ship are getting paid much less, but they don't have day to day expenses either.

 

I'm actually in the crowd that would be more then willing to pay higher costs of cruising then to see the workers get messed over for a descent wage. Because when management gas a say in how much is dispersed between workers, it's not just how hard some worked its politics too.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

No, you misunderstand. There are places outside on deck to smoke in addition to smoking in the casino.

 

Customer service @ NCL told me there were no outside places for smokers to go on The Star -- only the casino. But I'm hoping they just didn't know where outside. I'm sure it will vary from ship to ship.

I think NCL is still figuring this all out. I was told on The Star, the only public place to smoke would be the casino -- they don't have a cigar bar on that ship. Plus the casino isn't opened when in port.

 

I think it would've been wiser for NCL to make a smoking area somewhere outside for smokers and make the casino non-smoking. I don't know where outside, but it seems like having all the smokers only having the casino space is a bad idea -- and the casinos will probably be worse then they already are with smoke, as many have said.

 

I know other ships have other areas outdoors, but I guess some ships don't.

Lol! You could also charge for hot tub, sundeck and steam room access too. Have your butler deliver drinks and collect the cash. Better yet, get a Square for your iPhone and just swipe everyone's card upon entry so they have an open tab to enjoy the "spa services for a nominal charge" as well. You'll really clean up if they all have an open tab. Put some private cabanas up on the sun deck-- charge an exclusive fee for those too. Haha!

Awesome!

I'm not a smoker but I'm glad some people are finally having a sense of humor about all this.




Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Looks like Kevin did make sure the "team" disseminated the info on the GV.

 

Smooth...very smooth.

 

LOL! You got that right. I was hesitant to email him but I'm glad I did now.

There is a basketball court directly behind the garden villa on the star- I've been in the garden villa- and staff and passengers use this area.

 

And your point is what? Staff and passengers aren't in the casino or walk by the casino?

 

I really don't understand why non-smokers have a problem with this? For non-smokers, we have 99% of the ship that's smoke-free now!

 

Rejoice!

 

For people that want to smoke, go to the casino or book a GV! Simple as that.

 

Some people on here act like this smoking policy is a law -- which it's not. NCL can make whatever rules they want. Just enjoy the fact that most of the ships space is smoke-free now.

I need to clarify some facts... He didn't respond to my email in 5 mins. I emailed him and I went to a meeting then checked my email. It was 31 mins actually.

 

I sent Mr Sheehan a reply thanking him for his clarification... And this was his response:

 

"Tim, thanks for pointing out and thanks for you business. Its Kevin, by the way.

--------------------------

Sent from K.Sheehan's BlackBerry Wireless Device"

 

 

All I wanted was clarification about the smoking policy on the sundecks on the GV -- I honestly wasn't expecting him to respond.

 

I haven't been on a vacation in 5 years. This is only my 3rd cruise in my life. My DWs 2nd and the other people were cruising with have never cruised before. So I don't want to have to worry about these things. I want to relax in my own space and do as little or as much as I want and not have our others guests complaining about how they have to go to the casino to smoke. So that's why I needed clarification before our final payment comes up in a few weeks.

He responded to my inquiry is less then 10 minutes and when I had a follow up question he said someone else will reach out to me and he cc'd them on the thread.

Thats awesome that he did that

 

That's great that he's so open to emails. I was just sick of CS not knowing an answer, so who better then the person who most likely approved the policy.

I called NCL yesterday asking for an email address for Kevin Sheehan- and was told they don't have one- I had to mail a letter of complaint to him- which I did!!

 

Really? I just did a search on CC this morning and someone posted his email address. I sent him an email and he responded in 5 mins from his Blackberry.

 

Usually corporate doesn't want to announce the CEOs email address so you won't get it from customer service.

 

I was shocked to even hear from him within 5 mins of emailing. I thought I might hear from his assistant 6 weeks from now.

I don't think Kevin is saying that at all. GVs have large sundecks -- maybe about 4000 sqft of private space at the top of the ship.

 

Not sure how smoking would bother anyone on the star or dawn since they're not balconies.

 

I know GVs on other ships have balconies off the rooms so they will probably say pax can't smoke there but on the sundecks and outdoor villa area they will be allowed.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

It is per offense and people can be removed form the ship as well. I'm going to play by the rules so I don't have to deal with the consequences.

 

I didn't see that in the policy it's per offense. Customer Service said its a one time "cleaning charge" and so does the written policy. You're saying its a fine but it's a cleaning charge according to NCL.

Wow, some people's sense of self importance is unbelievable. It makes me happy I can't afford the most expensive cabins where I would have to be near people like this. :eek:

 

I don't think any of us that booked a GV have a "sense of self importance" -- at least I don't.

 

I, for one, just wanted something clarified that no one in NCL's customer service dept. could not answer about the sundecks -- which aren't balconies.

We didn't ask to "have the right to smoke" I was just saying that was one of the things some in our group wanted to do! Oh My God! I'm sorry I posted anything!

 

Being in the GV doesn't come with privileges...it comes with a very steep price tag, you pay for what you get!

 

I just sent Kevin Sheehan (the CEO of NCL) an email asking if smoking was permitted on the outdoor decks of the Garden Villas because it was unclear with the smoking policy. Here's his response:

 

"It is allowed and I have just asked the team to make sure our team is aware. Thanks and sorry you had to ask me. Kevin"

So just because you booked a high priced suite you should be able "to do whatever you want to do"? Policies such as these have to apply to all cabins. They cannot make exceptions just because someone paid a higher fare. You get lots of privileges in your GV, smoking on your balcony just won't be one of them.

 

I don't think the issue has anything to with "doing whatever you want to do." Because the GVs have large private sundecks and NO BALCONIES, like The Star & Dawn, what is the rule? They're private areas at the top of the ship. NCL hasn't addressed the GVs sundecks & outdoor villa area.

 

Those of us who have booked GVs just want clarification from NCL. And they don't have an answer yet. Like I said in a previous post, from the calls I've made to NCL about the GVs sundecks & outdoor villa area, I think they're still trying to figure everything out and we'll probably find out soon.

We didn't ask to "have the right to smoke" I was just saying that was one of the things some in our group wanted to do! Oh My God! I'm sorry I posted anything!

 

Being in the GV doesn't come with privileges...it comes with a very steep price tag, you pay for what you get!

 

Don't worry about the other posters, Sheila. We may be cancelling our GV as well, because we have more smokers travelling with us then non-smokers. And they're not excited about going down to the casino every time they want a cig.

 

I don't know what ship you're on, but on The Star & Dawn, there technically aren't any balconies in the GVs. There's private outdoor space and you're at the top of the ship. No one to bother with smoke. And that's why the people at NCL can't really give me an answer if it will be allowed in the outdoor space or not. I get the feeling they don't have everything figured out yet. I think we should start a GV thread about this and see how many people smokers travel in the GVs.