Caroldoll -- can you please share your 'Butler' list?

Caroldoll,

In another thread, about tipping, you mentioned that at the start of your cruise, you give your butler a list of things you want him to do for you on your cruise, and give a small tip at that time, because you said, I believe, that the list was a little over the top.

Since I have no idea what to ask my butler to do, I was wondering if you would share your list.

Thanks in advance.

Since no one is giving an answer--You really don't need a list, everybody has their own needs and wants. The Butler is on duty to make your vacation something special. We request a few things like breakfast setup, the bar request and anything special to us. One thing we never tip the Butler at the beginning of the cruise, but if things go the way we think they should - a nice tip the day before we depart the cruise. Rick

I've learned from some of the posts I've seen over the last 5yrs. One thing I haven't done but may ask for this time is something I saw posted. Some member -forget who it was- said that they hated to put a time for breakfast because they didn't know exactly when they would get up. They asked the butler to put in a standing order for coffee and a croissant( or something simple). They would then call in the morning when they got up and it would be delivered within 15-20 min.

Be careful what you wish for as well. I once told my butler that I loved those cinnamon sticky buns and 4 of them arrived every morning. By day 4 I didn't want them anymore and my poor butler told me he had special ordered them for the whole cruise:eek:

We had a friend that was having a birthday during the cruise so we asked them to come to our cabin before dinner and I asked if the butler might find some balloons to stick on the ceiling - no problem.

These are just some ideas. Think of things you like and ask your butler. If he can get them he will

Yes, forgot about breakfast. We'd tell are Butler to bring breakfast around 8:00AM every morning and never knock, if the bedroom was door was closed--just sit breakfast up and we'll be in soon. That was great to coming into the living room and there it is, ready to have breakfast. Only wished it worked that way a home.

I am sorry, we have been in Italy and on a cruise. I just got over re-entry.

Most of the things we have on the list are:

1. No breakfasts in the room.

2. No hors d'ouvres at night.

3. No inivitations for an officer's table.

4. Early clean up in the morning and the evening

I don't have a list handy, but most of them are what we do not want.

We are accustomed to many of the butlers and they know, but from time to time we do have new ones who do not know. Funny enough, we just had a lady Butler on Regent. She was most delightful.

Interesting list... I never thought of telling a butler what I did not want. It is rather a good idea. As soon as I meet my butler (two weeks today! whoopee!) I will tell him to take out all the soft drinks from the fridge aside from the sparkling water and diet tonic. (if there is that there...) Also to tell the stewardess not to leave any chocolates at night. Also IF by some chance an officer wanted to invite us to dinner to tell him "no Toscana" !!

What I DO want and will tell him (hopefully he will be Churchill) - laundry to be collected daily without my having to call; only guacamole and tacos for hors d'oeuvres; terrace furniture to be set up daily unless it is raining.

useless asking to have fresh fruit daily because that comes anyway!! Any other ideas, Carolldoll??

All,

Thanks for your input. We've had good relationships with our butler's in the past. We told our butler to stop bringing the fruit, to only bring canapes when we asked for them, to remove all the sodas from the fridge and replace them with ginger beer and tonic (we had gin in our bar setup), and to bring us slices of lime every other day or so (when he saw the supply was down to 2 pieces).

We also had him bring breakfast and lunch (owner's suite on Regatta) as we passed through the Panama Canal (the BEST way to see it, IMHO).

So, I do have some ideas of what to ask of my butler, but I wondered if there were nifty things I hadn't even gotten near to thinking of.

Oh, and let me tell you about something really nice (above and beyond) that our butler, Mishra, did on Regatta:

We were seated in Polo for dinner and the sea was up and we were rolling pretty good. DW's tummy decided that dinner was not a good idea at that time, so she decided to go back to the room and have a lay-down and a Dramamine. As she was approaching our cabin, our room stewardess Yesmina saw her and asked if she was all right. My wife said the rolling was getting to her and she didn't feel great. About 5 minutes later Mishra was at the door and burst in, first asking if she had taken anything and then telling her the pills were not a good idea and that she should instead take "This, it is candied ginger and will make you feel better without chemicals." and proceeded to leave her a supply of candied ginger which did make her feel better in short order. Apparently the word was passed along the grapevine when my wife reported not feeling well. That he rushed in to save DW was a really sweet thing.

I stayed in Polo for dinner, and one of the funniest things happened shortly after my wife left: the maitre 'd came rushing up, and in a thick Romanian accent asked "Where is wife?' My wife and I have laughed about that delivery ever since -- he sounded like a Bond-villain asking where the secrets were hidden.

Anyway, thanks for your input. I'm feeling pretty good about our upcoming butler interactions in December and January.

I carry ginger candy with me just incase then leave the bag with the crew

Sliced green apples also work for mild seasickness

I have heard the butler will pack up for you & run a bath if you want

Not that I will ever have a butler LOL

Yes ginger candy does work and Mr. Churchill is the very best.

Yes ginger candy does work and Mr. Churchill is the very best.

Our favorite butler

Our butler brings me potato chips daily. He has gotten us milkshakes when waves was closed. Perhaps most important is when I first got out of the hospital and was very unsteady when the ship was moving he escorted me to the spa for my reflexology appt. and came to get me when it was done (my wife was playing Bridge)

For us the Butler makes our trip flawless

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I've learned from some of the posts I've seen over the last 5yrs. One thing I haven't done but may ask for this time is something I saw posted. Some member -forget who it was- said that they hated to put a time for breakfast because they didn't know exactly when they would get up. They asked the butler to put in a standing order for coffee and a croissant( or something simple). They would then call in the morning when they got up and it would be delivered within 15-20 min.

 

 

That might have been me :) We leave a standing order for two coffees - one regular, one decaf - with milk. We call the Butler upon awakening and it shows up very quickly with no other contact or conversation necessary.

 

 

The exception is on days when we have very early excursions and then we fill out the breakfast card with a specific time - never been a problem and so much easier than having to get to a dining area quickly.

 

 

And to echo everyone else - once you've experienced Churchill - it's hard to go back!

Interesting list... I never thought of telling a butler what I did not want. It is rather a good idea. As soon as I meet my butler (two weeks today! whoopee!) I will tell him to take out all the soft drinks from the fridge aside from the sparkling water and diet tonic. (if there is that there...) Also to tell the stewardess not to leave any chocolates at night. Also IF by some chance an officer wanted to invite us to dinner to tell him "no Toscana" !!

 

What I DO want and will tell him (hopefully he will be Churchill) - laundry to be collected daily without my having to call; only guacamole and tacos for hors d'oeuvres; terrace furniture to be set up daily unless it is raining.

 

useless asking to have fresh fruit daily because that comes anyway!! Any other ideas, Carolldoll??

I forgot, I don't like any wine, but I do want Blue Gatorade instead.

I heard Churchill is wonderful. I am quite accustomed to Pritam. Have known him about 11 or so years.

Pritham (sp?) was our butler on Regent's Mariner when we went around Latin America in 2008. he was wonderful. I remember him saying one day "what can I do to make your cruise more memorable?" I thought for a second and then asked for an Indian dinner. Big smile - and "OK". Next night in the CR we had a superb, made to order Indian meal. Those butlers eat well!! If I can't have Churchill I will happily "settle" for Pritam - or Sandeep for that matter! But Churchill is different. A real "character" and also a great butler. Fingers are crossed...

Well this has all got me excited now.Interesting about telling the butler what not to do...

Do you think he will make my Pisco sours with the Pisco in my bar set up?

A lady butler.! Only yesterday we were discussing this with friends,wondering when one would be employed.

We don't eat the bedtime chocolates,but our grandchildren love them when we return.

We had pickled ginger (the type used in sushi) delivered to our cabin on Princess when we felt seasick.Worked a treat.

I trying out some of these suggestions on my husband before we go.Thanks for the tips.😂

Well this has all got me excited now.Interesting about telling the butler what not to do...

Do you think he will make my Pisco sours with the Pisco in my bar set up?

A lady butler.! Only yesterday we were discussing this with friends,wondering when one would be employed.

We don't eat the bedtime chocolates,but our grandchildren love them when we return.

We had pickled ginger (the type used in sushi) delivered to our cabin on Princess when we felt seasick.Worked a treat.

I trying out some of these suggestions on my husband before we go.Thanks for the tips.😂

They will also make ginger tea from fresh ginger for you. It really worked for me during a small seasickness thing.

Hi Gerry,

Please remind me which ship/cruise you and Ken are on. Misty and I so wish you were on the TA with us. At least our favorite artist, Graham Dennison and his wife Shuna will stay on from Rome to Malaga for company. Hope you are both well. We are depending on your Swiss military to defend Europe since America has decided to stay home and play mumbly-peg in Ft. Knox.

Bob

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Hi Bob -

We are "ships that pass in the night" sort of! Ken and I are on the cruise prior to yours, Venice to Civitavecchia. We get off there and take the train home. We will do our best to behave and not wreck the ship for you!!

I am afraid our military isn't quite up to the task ... they are very good at drinking wine though. Read "Place de la Concorde Suisse" by John McPhee -- very good description of our "national sport" (and not for nothing is the Minister in charge of the Army also responsible for....sports!

Pritham (sp?) was our butler on Regent's Mariner when we went around Latin America in 2008. he was wonderful. I remember him saying one day "what can I do to make your cruise more memorable?" I thought for a second and then asked for an Indian dinner. Big smile - and "OK". Next night in the CR we had a superb, made to order Indian meal. Those butlers eat well!! If I can't have Churchill I will happily "settle" for Pritam - or Sandeep for that matter! But Churchill is different. A real "character" and also a great butler. Fingers are crossed...

Sandeep is no longer with us on earth. He was good as well.

I am very sorry to hear the news about Sandeep...he was a lovely man.

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Sandeep is no longer with us on earth. He was good as well.

Oh wow that's shocking news. He is the butler posted in the brochures. We had him once