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GayleR

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    Butler

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Thanks for all the responses!  You all have been extremely helpful to this new Norwegian passenger.  I will be sure to talk to the butler on the first day and we will go from there.  Again, thank you all.  Happy cruising!

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1

    Butler

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    22 hours ago, Sthrngary said:

    Hello, before every cruise I do what I call a Journey Document.  It takes a long time and usually is in excess of 30 pages.  One heading is "Butlers".  The information is below and should give you a good idea of what to expect.

     

    The Haven Butler:

    Overview:

    On day one, I provide the butler a letter that has some of our basic needs.  I also tip them upfront which has always worked for me.  The Haven Butler is not under the normal gratuities program so what they get from us is their income.

    What your Haven Butler WILL do for you:

    1.       Set up your suite: Butlers will do everything from packing and unpacking your luggage to offering pillow menus, and stocking and re-stocking your suite bar with your drink preferences. They will also bring CDs, books, board games and DVDs to your room. They can even draw you a bubble bath if you ask -- or if they sense you could use one.

    2.       Handle logistics: Butlers will save you from spending your vacation waiting in line or dealing with the minutiae of your trip. They will handle all your reservations for specialty restaurants and book appointments for the spa, salon, and private fitness training. They can book ship or private shore excursions and arrange shoreside dining and entertainment. They will even work with the chef to expedite special dietary requests, such as paleo or gluten-free meals.

    3.       Make deliveries: Butlers will be your complimentary room service provider. They will deliver fancy canapes daily, like foie gras terrine and crab legs (examples only, always check additional costs), and upgraded turn-down amenities, such as a chocolate box. They can present in-room tea service. They will also bring you room service or morning cappuccinos and espresso, even serving you dinner course-by-course, in your suite or on your balcony. Please always ask for all food deliveries to be ONLY from the Haven Restaurant.

    4.      Take care of your laundry: Butlers will handle laundry, dry-cleaning and pressing requests, and return your clothes expertly folded and wrapped in tissue paper. There is always a cost to your suite.

    5.       Have a party: If you are social types, butlers can help you organize cocktail or dinner parties in your suite and even bartend or help while your guests are present. For special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries, they might decorate your suite or present bubbly and celebratory cakes.

    6.       Take care of the little details: Butlers will shine shoes, place bookmarks in books and wrap eyeglasses in cleaning cloths. They will even solve problems for you, such as finding an appropriate crew member to fix broken eyeglasses or stuck luggage locks.

    7.       Give advice: Butlers know their ships inside out and are often familiar with ports. They might advise on everything from the finest shopping street to the best hours to hit the onboard fitness center.

     

    What your Haven Butler WILL NOT do for you:

    1.       They won't work exclusively for you: Most butlers juggle several suites; for the best service, plan. Make requests, such as for dining reservations, private shore excursions and beauty appointments, well in advance so butlers can manage their time to make your wishes reality. If they do not instantaneously answer a page, they might be busy with another passenger.

    2.       They won't babysit: Don't expect the butler to watch your kids, although they might assist in hiring a sitter and often play with children, time permitting.

    3.       They won't act as aides: If physically challenged, travel with a companion. A butler will always assist in an emergency but should not be expected to help you with daily physical needs.

    4.       They won't be your personal companion: While some butlers can be chatty -- particularly with solo passengers seeking company -- they are not your friend or travel companion. They can escort you to a restaurant or show, but they will not sit with you.

    5.       They cannot always fulfill challenging requests: If you ask for a miracle, such as dinner reservations in the ship's hottest restaurant 15 minutes before you wish to eat, a butler cannot always meet your request. That said, butlers try to make magic. They can serve you dinner from that restaurant in your suite or secure a table at a later hour, instead.

     

    Cruise well and enjoy every moment. 

    So here's the deal, it's not a Haven suite.  Do the butlers that are not in the Haven follow the same "rules?"  We have booked an SJ catagory suite, it's the one with a bedroom.  Sorry, I am new to Norwegian.  I appreciate the responses so far!

    • Like 1

    Butler

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    We are sailing on the Prima soon and this is our first Norwegian cruise.   We have a suite and I see it comes with a butler.  When we sailed other lines, there wasn't a butler so I have a few questions and I hope you all can help me. The mid-day snacks....is there a charge for those? I see they will bring you breakfast (lunch and dinner too) to your cabin.  Can you order from any of the restaurants?  I've read that they can assist you will debarkation.  Is this true?  How much do you usually tip the butler?  Do you do so at the beginning or the end of the cruise?

    • Like 1

    Cabin near elevator

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    On ‎8‎/‎7‎/‎2019 at 7:00 PM, mamoune said:

    Hi everyone!  I am about to book a cruise on the  Legend and I have the choice between a premium balcony cabin or an extended balcony cabin.  The premium balcony cabin is somewhat larger than a regular balcony, both the cabin and the balcony. My only concern is that it is located directly in front of an elevator.  Will I be bothered by the elevator noise, should I choose another location and smaller cabin?  Your input is very much appreciated!

     

    We had a cabin right by the elevators on the Lido deck closest to the pools on the Victory once.  It was extremely noisy.  Lots of loud, happy people.  It may be ok on other decks and even not so close to the pools on the Lido, but those right by the pools was not a good choice for us.

    Clamshell rental Half moon Cay

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    On ‎8‎/‎6‎/‎2019 at 2:38 PM, GradUT said:

    Those  clamshells can be stifling inside as there's no air flow.  And, as you can see from the photo above, you are cheek-to-jowl with hundreds of other people.

     

    We find it much better to walk down the beach, grab some of the loungers stacked toward the end of the populated area and put them under one of the many shade trees.  We've done that on two visits to HMC and it's great!  You get shade, a breeze, a view of the ocean and quiet but you're still within walking distance of the dining area and bars. 

    So there are shade trees?  Do others do what you suggest or was it just you?

    Elegant-Night Gown; Foolish?

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    The last few cruises we have done, there were very few ladies in gowns like you posted. I saw maybe 2 or 3; definitely less than 5. If you want to wear one, I say wear it. I guarantee you will be noticed. A few years back, my DH and twin sons wore tuxes on the formal/elegant nights. Our teenaged sons loved the attention.

    Love and Marriage game

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    We don't go to see it on every cruise, so the few times we do go, it's funny. I understand what the OP is saying, but I've only seen 1 show on a Carnival cruise. Don't care for them too much. Whether the Love & Marriage show is "fixed" or not doesn't really matter to me. It's entertaining every few years. :D

    Rude neighbors, what can you do?

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    If the jerks stay up most of the night chances are they'll be fast asleep at 9 or 10 in the morning. THEN using public telephones keep calling their phone and hang up when they answer. Believe me they'll get the message.

     

    Yep, we have done this a time or two. It worked for us. :D

     

    Look call me old school but I say light a bag of dog poop on fire in front of their door knock and run. *LOL*

     

     

    You just can't go wrong with a timeless classic *LOL*

     

    That is too funny!

    Do 17 year olds do the teen club?

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    From what I have seen, they may go the first day to meet other people their age and see if it is right for them. Very few go back at that age.

     

    I always asked my kids to at least attend Club O2 the first night, to meet others. Sometimes they would spend a lot of time there, sometimes not.

     

    The feel of the club depends on what teens happen to be on the ship that week.

     

    This has been our experience when our kids were that age. Most of the time our kids would go the first night, meet people and then they would hang out together but usually not in the clubs.

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