marelind

We, too, wondered how the staff felt about fielding these requests before passengers board, so we asked Juremar, our butler. He agreed that it makes embarkation day easier and knowing passengers' preferences was a plus.

My DW and I will be on the Sun for the second time. Our first sailing on her was right after 9/11. We are excited to see if we remember her. Las Ramblas, Il Adagio, LeBistro etc. Does anyone have any experience with Leah the concierge?

Jay

We were on the Sun in September. Leah was competent and very friendly. She made reservations as requested. She didn't wow us, but she did fine. What kinds of things would you need from her?

To be slightly more specific: Ask the Guest Services for a voucher to give the butler a gratuity. If they say they don't know what you are talking about, ask for them to ask someone else for assistance. The money will be included in your butler's/concierge's regular pay, but they do not pay taxes on it as their pay is not subject to the usual US payroll taxes. You can include one portion of the voucher in a thank you note (always handy to bring with you) you hand to them so they know it is coming.

I am the one who had posted about my elderly mother who used the service. My husband and I had sailed in suites on Norwegian several times and never used the butler for packing/unpacking. But we knew that the butler will accommodate when possible, and Norwegian has that as a specific perk listed in all their literature. (It really fries me that people get snarky and sarcastic about an honest question.)

Two years ago we had had a terrible embarkation, then the muster and by the time the bags came my 87 year old mother was exhausted, and the rest of the family were ready to go to dinner. She asked me if the butler would help her unpack. I said, "You can ask him." She did and he sounded like he already had too many requests with the usual mad dash on embarkation day when everyone wants something from the butler. He said he would try to get to her in about 20 minutes if she could wait.

He arrived about 20 minutes later. She sat on the bed and took her things out of the suitcase and directed him where to put them. He then put her suitcase under the bed and escorted her down to the MDR where the rest of the family was at dinner.

If this is the thing that makes you feel like a million bucks, then ask the butler if s/he has time to do it. I personally wouldn't expect it as embarkation day is exceptionally busy for the butler, but if they have time and you really want it, then ask. It really helped my mom a lot.

On Norwegian it doesn't seem to matter the itinerary, the same clothes will work on any ship.

Men - Nice jeans or slacks and collared shirt are acceptable; tie or jacket completely optional.

Ladies - Nice slacks or skirt with blouse; no flip-flops.

There are a few things to be aware of on a CTN:

1) There is no luggage handling getting off the ship. Not a problem if you do a one night and are able bodied. Our CTN was the middle of a B2B2B and DH is disabled = BIG PROBLEM!!

2) The ship is a madhouse compared with a 7 day cruise. Everyone wants to get their money's worth and the halls and venues are very busy!

3) It is very short unless you plan on staying up all night. By the time you get your cabin, do the muster drill and sail away, it's 5 pm.

Knowing all that, go, have fun and enjoy a night away from it all!

All it takes is one person. This is a story about how NCL let us down, but one person turned it into a story about great service.

Our first cruise was a B2B2B and the middle "B" was a 1-night cruise from Seattle to Vancouver. Since the overall trip was 17 nights, we were inexperienced travelers and no flights were involved, we had a lot of luggage. Plus, DH is disabled with COPD. No one told us that the 1-night cruise had no luggage handling getting off the ship. :eek: That was a major problem since we could not handle the luggage ourselves. We let the front desk know when we boarded that we must have help getting off. We were told to call down for help. The next morning we called, then called 20 minutes later and called again. Finally someone came to help, saw the luggage and said he would get a cart. He never came back. We called again. Again no response. By now it was long past last call.

Finally the deck captain came by and saw that we couldn't/wouldn't get the luggage and that we needed help. He got the cart. He loaded the luggage. He shepherded us off the ship. All the luggage had to be taken off the cart and put through the Xray machine and put back on the cart. He did all that . He got us out the door and to the taxi. His concern and help turned a really frustrating, bad experience into one that brought tears to my eyes. I still remember that his first name was Hobden.

I took the "Behind the Scenes" tour on the Sun last month. They showed us a specific area of the galley on the ship that handles the special dietary meals. They are handled completely separately from all the other meals to prevent cross contamination. I think the exec. sous chef said it is the same person who handles the meals. He said they have around 150-250 passengers with special dietary needs each week. I was very impressed.

Hi all

Norwegian Sprirt 13th Nov 2013

 

Can anyone tell me if there is a concierge Lounge (bar) every night of the cruise, where they provide (free) drinks and nibbles and resevered sun chairs like RCC?

 

Thanks

I have not been on the Spirit, however if it is like the other ships there may be a concierge lounge, but it is only for the concierge to be accessible to passengers. It does not provide drinks or snacks and there are no reserved sun chairs for suite guests.

We booked through a TA. About 3-4 weeks before we embarked we asked the TA to contact the pre-concierge with the following requests. I have writeen what was on the ship when we arrived in red:

1. Please schedule me for a Swedish massage at 10:30 am on Thursday, Sept 19 (the day we are in Astoria). Done

2. Our choices for the Owner Suite bar set up are gin and 2 red wines (merlot or zinfandel preferably) from the usual list. We can sign for it as soon as we are in the room. The gin was in the room and butler knew which wine we would receive once the wine cellar opened.

3. We would like tonic, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi and ginger ale in the refrigerator. Done

4. May we have lime slices available in the refrigerator. Done

5. Please substitute the usual afternoon canapés with crackers, Brie and bleu cheese. Done

6. If the complimentary champagne/sparkling wine can be exchanged for red wine (merlot, zinfandel) that would be appreciated. Sparkling wine just gives us headaches. If not, we will share with friends. We knew this is subject to the discretion of the concierge or F&B or HD on board. They gave us a low quality red, but it was drinkable and very much appreciated as the champagne or sparkling wine would have been wasted.

Of course, we had the best butler ever (Juremar) whom we have had before. He is THE BEST!!!!

Currently on the Sun:

Brian Walters, Hotel Director

Tariq Fazal, F&B Director

Ricardo Pinheiro, Exec. Chef

Oscar Fernandes, Restaurant Manager

Cesar Benedit, Exec. Housekeeper

Richard Matic, CD

Rodel Gemeniano, Guest Services Manager

Joe Borges, Beverage Manager

Leah Rodriguez, Concierge

Ligaya Dagasdas, Group Service Coordinator/Access Officer

Our butler was Juremar Crisostomo

Actually the correct date is Sunday Sept 15, 2013 not the 14th as you posted.

 

It's a Sunday night game and will be seen on NBC - which is KING TV in Seattle - it will also be shown on a Canadian cable channel - likely TSN so check the TV guide in your hotel - there are lots of Seahawks fans here in Vancouver and several busloads venture down I-5 for each home game so there won't be a lack of viewing opportunities.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

Oops, on the date! :o That is what I meant. And thank you for the specifics. We hope to hit Joe's Grill for a very late breakfast, buy a bottle of wine and sundries, and watch the game in the evening.

The reason I asked is because, if for example, one butler has 10 suites.....

if 2 people are in that suite for 1 week at $10.00 a day that would be $140.00 a week for that one stateroom with only 2 people in it. Times that by 10 sweets would be a tip of $1,400.00 he/she would make that week for 10 suites with only 2 people per suite.....and we know lots of times there are more than just 2 people so if there are 4 that would be $2,800.00 per week......plus whatever he actually makes from NCL. Times that by 4 weeks (some months have 5 weeks) and that would be what the Butler makes just in tips. Again, depending on how many people per suite and if everyone tipped $10.00 per person per day. We all know some tip less....but some also tip more. Just saying......

 

Harriet

My thoughts on this is that not everyone tips at this rate ($10pp/day) and some may not ever realize they need to tip butler and concierge. I am embarrassed to say that in my pre-CC days we were upsold to a suite on our first cruise, and I wasn't prepared for what a butler does or knowledgeable regarding appropriate tipping other than in a land based restaurant. We left nothing for the butler or concierge. :o So, you can't assume everyone is going to do the right thing.

We now use suites regularly and start at about $150/week for the butler and $70 for the concierge for the two of us and adjust down or up for our usage/extra requests and their responsiveness/initiative. We gave our sweet butler $300 for a 15 day cruise and she was speechless and then very, very appreciative, so I gathered it was at the high end of her tips.

Urban Trekker, thanks so much! We are looking for a good game!

Yes you will get all the regular network stations on cable in Vancouver - they will be the Seattle affiliates BUT you won't get ESPN or FSN directly - however many of there programs are picked up by our sport channels like TSN, TSN2, Sportsnet Pacific and the Score so you should get most of what you want - some of the major bars also have satellite feeds that do pick up the cable sports channels from the US.

 

Shaw cable is the major supplier of cable services here in Vancouver - here's a link to their Vancouver channel line-up to give you an idea of what to expect:

 

http://www.shaw.ca/en-ca/ProductsServices/Television/ChannelsInMyArea/

 

Hope this helps

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

 

Yes, they carry all the major US networks. This is the typical cable channel lineup in metro Vancouver

 

2 TV Listings

3 CBC Vancouver (CBUT)

4 Shaw TV

5 The Knowledge Network

6 E! Victoria (CHEK)

7 CBC French Vancouver (CBUFT)

8 OMNI - BC (CHNM)

9 CTV BC (CIVT)

10 Joytv 10 - CHNU Vancouver

11 Global Vancouver (CHAN)

12 A-Channel Victoria/Vancouver

13 CITY TV Vancouver - CKVU

14 KSTW - UPN Tacoma

15 CBS Seattle (KIRO)

16 NBC Seattle (KING)

17 TSC - The Shopping Channel

18 The Weather Network

19 W Network West

20 CMT - Country Music Television

21 ABC Seattle (KOMO)

22 Sportsnet - Pacific

23 KVOS - Independent Bellingham

24 MuchMusic

25 YTV

26 CBC Newsworld / Voiceprint

27 PBS Seattle (KCTS)

28 FOX Seattle (KCPQ)

Checking to see if this 2009 post is still correct. Will be in Vancouver Sunday, Sept. 14 and would like to see the Seahawks/49ers game. Is that likely? I wouldn't say who we are cheering for..... ;)

I just came off the Sun last Monday. Here is the information you might have been looking for:

 

Captain: Ronny Borg

Hotel Director: Brian Walters

Food & Beverage Director: Tariq Fazal

Executive Chef: Orwill Saidanha

Restaurant Manager: John Tragett

Executive Housekeeper: Cesar Benedit

Cruise Director: Richard Matic

Guest Services Manager: Rodel Gemeniano

Beverage Manager: Joe Borges

Concierge: Leah Rodriguez

Group Services Coordinator: Lucille Seno

 

Hope that helps answer your questions.

Thank you so very much!!

Hmm, I leave Monday... I wonder if it will be the same. I have not received a letter...we are in the Owner's Suite...cannot wait :)

We will be in the OS 1003 Sept. 16. I would appreciate hearing about the staff and your experiences. This will be our first time on the Sun, and I'm getting so excited!!! :D

I just received my pre-concierge letter and Leah will be on the Sun for our cruise September 16-23.

Does anyone have information for the Sun in September?

September will be our first time on the Sun. We have been on Jewel and Dawn class ships. We liked the option of having a late lunch at Blue Lagoon. I understand the Sports Bar is the Sun version of the Blue Lagoon, but it doesn't open until 5:30. Is there an alternative that would work for us (sit down service with burgers or sandwich) between 2 and 4 pm other than the Garden Cafe?

Does anyone have any information on the Sun in September?

"I contacted our local Alzheimer's Society for any info and tips that they could pass along about travelling with dementia and one thing that they mentioned is that the reduced oxygen in planes. It is my understanding that you could ask the flight attendant for some oxygen to help calm them down."

DH is on oxygen and I doubt the flight attendants can access the oxygen unless it is an emergency like a heart attack. DH travels with an FCC approved Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC). He has to have a prescription for O2.

I first read this thread before taking off on our cruise, and my response may not help in the least, but I have been thinking about it each day as I shower. We are in an Owner's Suite on the Norwegian Jewel. Many of the suite showers have a shower head with a hand held and two nozzles that spray at an appropriate height for personal cleaning. It wouldn't necessarily work if someone was unable to stand, but I must say, if nothing else, this thread has given me more compassion for those who have to face this type of disability.

I wouldn't for a couple if reasons: I want to know where my things are, and embarkation day s extremely busy for the staff, especially the butlers who have several cabins to assist. Spending thirty minutes unpacking you takes a lot of time on a busy day.

With that said, my 80+ mother was absolutely wiped from a rough embarkation and asked the butlers assistance. He was reluctant because he had a lot to do, but he came through, putting things where she told him to, then wrangling her suitcase under the bed. We were so appreciative!