bellybutton530

I would like to see:

1. Cabins and suites for SINGLES.

2. Two-bedroom cabins/suites

3. BETTER mini-fridges in ALL cabins

4. IMPROVED internet. What you currently have SUCKS to high heaven.

5. A less windy location at the AFT of the ship for smokers to enjoy their cigarettes and/or cigars. Making the ship SMOKE-FREE would not be an option. A nearby bar, plenty of seating with tables, is a MUST. What is currently on Constellation is totally absurd....

TO BELLYBUTTON530,

 

These are great TIPS... thanks for sharing!!

 

Will keep them in mind for my upcoming cruise.

 

Cheers!

Thank you.

I have many ideas that might help cruise virgins. You should give me a shout-out sometimes.

A nice Thank You note is appreciated, as is a completed 'Attention to Detail" form.

I usually grab a handful of them early on in the cruise, and turn them in AS I experience excellent service.

Some of my past recipients have been a certain person in the buffet line who regularly cooks my eggs to order; or the beauty shop person who did a wonderful job on my hair; or the security person who helped me up the gangway.

I never leave home without some nice Thank You notes and cute money holders stashed in my suitcase.

Having a VERY good friend who is a butler for X, I have been reading these threads with interest even tho I have never had a butler & never will (I like to sail on the cheap in an interior!).

 

One thing I'd like to remind everyone is that the butlers alternate being "on call" in the afternoons. So, while they each have their own cabins to attend to in the AM, PM & tea times, they have MANY cabins to attend to if need be while they're on call. For example, if a butler has 13 suites & there are 3 butlers with suites on a deck, then they have 34-36 suites to see to when they are on call.

Precisely why I give my butler a list to work from.

None of that hollering down the passageway for or at him, as I have seen other passengers do.

And I don't have him fetching things that I can fetch for myself. A list is merely a way of indicating what is important to me. Once and done; I like that....

But, do feel free to handle your butler as you see fit.

Setting up meals for you is part of the butlers duties. If you do it regularly you may wish to give him a little extra at the end of the cruise but that is entirely up to you

 

I do worry about all these lists being handed to butlers. On a previous cruise our butler who was very good was just weighed down by requests from three othe suites for things we expected to do ourselves (for example go and get them cookies from the cafe twice a day). I think we should also be careful of the demands we make of the butlers for extras on embarkation day as this does impact on the service they can give others - after all the butler has over 12 suites to look after if each expect an hour of his time, no wonder some people post they never saw their butler on embarkation

So, by handing a butler a list is taking up an hour of his time? I don't think so. I find a list useful, as it merely gives him a snapshot of my preferences. On my most recent cruise there were days when I hardly saw the butler. Yet almost everything on my list was completed seamlessly.

I had the same concerns when I read of the lists being emailed around. I immediately thought that I hoped that I was not on the same cruise as anyone using such a list.

 

It is important to remember that your butler is there to make YOUR cruise great by doing what is important to YOU. You do this by requesting the services YOU feel are important and NOT what anyone else may have dreamt up. It you do not think of it yourself, does it actually matter to you? If you put unfair demands on your butler, not only may he have to neglect other suite guests but he will be totally unable to surprise you by doing the little things which you had never dreamt of and that can really make your cruise.

 

Sue

I agree wit what you say as well. However, there are many people who do not even know what a butler is there for. Having said that, it is important for folks to remember that what is important to ONE is not important to ALL. When I sailed in a suite my first time, I was absolutely clueless as to what the butler was for. No more.

And I do use a list, as I don't always remember everything on embarkation day. We chat for about 5 minutes; I hand him the list; and I am on my merry way.

Even though I was in the PH on my past cruise, I don't think I HOGGED the butler. I had no need to constantly be 'in-his-face....'

But then, that is me.

Hey Cheryl,

 

What did you add? We've been sharing our list. I don't think I added any thing since I sent it to you last. My e-mail is shaffar1@sbcglobal.net

 

Bob

I'll email you the latest and greatest. Not much has been added.

Bumping this thread because I noticed someone else asking about Butler service on the first page and in the hopes of Bellybutton being willing to help out another newbie to butlers by email.

BB present and accounted for. I just replied to a couple of emails about butler service, and made a few additions to the list....

And what a great (Sparkly) party it was! :D

Thank you Alison. That party will be difficult to replicate. The Connie Sparklers were indeed a great bunch of folks.

Tell Jim I said hi....

Another poster asked twice regarding: does the Butler keep the food 'hot' when serving it in courses OR does he - is the food just served 'lukewarm' instead?

I wld also really like to know this please.

 

Really hope someone knows the answer.

 

Thanks in advance..:)

There is a microwave oven in the PH suites on "M"-class ships. My butler used it to ensure the food was hot when it was served.

I can't speak to the other suites; sorry.

I surely hope Mrs. 2010 isn't a member of CC....:eek:

Dr Pam, I had plenty of time this past November to get my sailaway party stocked with booze and snacks; to get bowls for the snacks folks were bringing to the party; to have adequate ice and glasses set up; and even to get our banner hung for the sailaway group wave. Oh yes, asked for a little help putting the luggage in the closets, out of the way of the 100 or so folks that were expected (and showed up!!)

I boarded at about 1:30, and immediately met with my butler. Then, and only then, did I grab a little lunch and prep for the lifeboat drill.

When I returned from the drill, with about 25 folks in tow, the cabin was ready, and the party began....

I leave mine out in the open, to prevent being thrown around. I always use either strapping tape or duct tape around the box to reinforce the boxes. Same with the flat(s) of water.

I only consume these items in the cabin or ashore.

It is really tough when we sail on a Saturday afternoon. No masses early enough.

So I simply let my priest know when mass is not available, and get absolved.

Lucky for me I mostly cruised when there were priests onboard the ships

I don't have any pictures, but I was in the PH in November, and the folks in 6145 let me have a peek. Very very nice.

1. Bathroom is bigger than the other SS1s; dual sinks, separate tub and shower. Beautiful dark woods.

2. These cabins are wider than the other SS1s.

3. Bigger balcony.

Make friends with the folks in the PH, and perhaps you will be invited to some of the parties, if there are parties.

Just did. Thank you!

...and I'm working on my response....

bb530...

I agree with a little change upfront. Some may believe that this is not the time nor place. However, my experience has been the same as yours.....it is mutually beneficial to all parties involved.

 

I do have a tentative list of requests, the first being that I wish to organize a sailaway party. Have you ever requested this....and how much is too much? (I realize that the staff has just had a tremendously busy morning getting ready for their new group of passengers.)

 

Also, are there any special things, events, hidden gems that we should request or be made aware of while staying in a Royal Suite.......

 

 

I

Hey Doc, jot me off an email, and I'll respond to your questions.

NO husband.

No children.

2 cats who don't have a say.

Plenty of relatives who don't keep in touch.

I guess I'll have to spend it on myself....

Cruise #58 already planned.

I know I'm cruising when I see water all around me.

One year, while walking to town in Barbados, I came across a telephone company work crew near the entrance to the port. I just happened to mention that I was a telco engineer. They stopped what they were doing and called their supervisor, who arrived a couple of minutes later. I was whisked off to the company headquarters, where I met many employees. They took me out to eat, and the supervisor took me on a tour of the island.

Totally unexpected.... Totally enjoyable....

PS: I never got to shop that trip.

My userid and password spreadsheet

Champagne and cognac

My jewelry

A good book

Strapping tape; way better than duct tape

I bring bubble wands and bubble juice, and blow bubbles as we sail out of all of the ports.

I always have a bottle of champagne as we sail away.

Oh yes. I remember the Nordic Prince. Sailed on her in 1980. She had some of the smallest cabins I can remember sailing in....

I sailed on Carla C 4 times in the 1980s. Had a great time each time. She was a FUN ship.

My first cruise was in 1979 on the Amerikanis, operated by Chandris Fantasy Cruises, the precursor of Celebrity Cruises.

My first ship was scrapped in India in 2001.

Other ships I sailed on that are no longer in service:

Vistafjord

Sagafjord

Marco Polo

Norway

Old Rotterdam

Carla C

Old Westerdam

Nordic Prince

Costa Danae

Old Star Princess