The Suite Life

[Demonyte]

We ask our butler to empty fridge and we put soda and bottled water we get from bars which is included in packages

 

 

Bottled water is not included in any of the drink packages. High ranking casino players can get bottled water from casino bar only with their casino drink card.

 

Also drink packages only include fountain sodas so if you have been able to get cans, you've been lucky.

[3kidsncats]

You can buy a bottled water package -- but it is ridiculously expensive -- if ordered for my upcoming cruise it's $47.10 for a 12-pack of water bottles :eek:

 

Since we can drive to the port, we will be bringing two cases of water with us to check in with our bags. We will ask the butler to empty the fridge so some water will fit. Also, we will ask for some milk to be stocked for the coffee machine.

[jm485]

Do room service charges apply if you are in a suite that is not in the Haven? We have an aft suite on Pearl that's not in the Haven. I thought we were exempt from the Room Service charge, but the NCL web site only says the Haven is exempt. Does anyone have recent experience with this? Thanks.

 

Is Norwegian Cruise Line now charging for room service?

 

Norwegian Cruise Line has introduced an enhanced room service menu. The new menu offers an expanded selection for breakfast, in addition to a wider variety of options available 24 hours. Individual items on the menu remain available on a complimentary basis and a convenience charge of up to $7.95 will be added to each order placed (Morning coffee, continental breakfast and orders placed by guests sailing in The Haven will not attract a charge)*. Room service is one of up to 29 dining options offered across the fleet, and guests continue to be able to enjoy a wide array of complimentary choices onboard 24 hours a day.

 

*Prices subject to change.

[hpecorari]

Do room service charges apply if you are in a suite that is not in the Haven? We have an aft suite on Pearl that's not in the Haven. I thought we were exempt from the Room Service charge, but the NCL web site only says the Haven is exempt. Does anyone have recent experience with this? Thanks.

 

Those in suites and the Haven are exempt. This was first put on on a ship that ONLY had the Haven, therefore, it says Haven....

 

However, it's for Suites and/or Haven.

 

Harriet

[Linda the Book Lover]

I just got the letter from the concierge's office. Does anyone know if they have hot chocolate? We don't drink coffee, but my DH loves to have hot chocolate at night. Also, can you specify which sodas are in the fridge?

The pillow menu looks fun, does anyone have any suggestions on those?

I'm sorry, lots of questions, but we are just so excited.

 

The Hypo-Allergenic for my DSD and we stuck with the Overfilled Firm which is really nice. Don't forget if you enjoy sitting up and reading in bed or just sitting up in bed to ask for a Reading Wedge. You may have to ask your butler or your room steward for the reading wedge if it is not in your cabin.

 

My favorite in the have to eat something category on the Star goes to the turkey sandwich! I must have ordered one-two a day.

 

Enjoy your cruise and your suite!:D

[BirdTravels]

I just got the letter from the concierge's office. Does anyone know if they have hot chocolate? We don't drink coffee, but my DH loves to have hot chocolate at night. Also, can you specify which sodas are in the fridge? The pillow menu looks fun, does anyone have any suggestions on those? I'm sorry, lots of questions, but we are just so excited.

 

The Lavazza coffee maker does NOT have hot chocolate "pods" (we asked). Hot chocolate packets are normally available at the buffet and you can ask your butler to get you some and use the hot water from the Lavazza machine to make yourself a nice cup of hot chocolate.

 

With regard to pillows, we like the "memory foam" pillows.

 

Suite life is REALLY great. Have fun!

[BirdTravels]

This is our first time having a suite on NCL Star. We are so excited. I have checked out a few threads, but I just want to get some dos and don'ts about suites. I hear that people are asking the butler for things, but for the life of me I can't imagine what to ask for. Let me know what you do and then I can get some ideas of the "wonders" that await us.

 

You start with a private check-in and an escort to your private dining room for lunch. I think that the Star uses the Cagney restaurant to serve breakfast and lunch to the suite and Haven's guests (so much nicer than the Market Café).

 

The Butler and the cabin steward tag-team to take care of your every wish. We recently were on the Jewel to Alaska in a forward-facing suite (the best room for this cruise). Our butler brought us extra deck chairs for glacier viewing, deck blankets to keep us warm. On days we had shore excursions, we had the "white table cloth" breakfast in our suite before adventuring out.

 

Your butler is not constantly in your stateroom. You see him when you need him,,, just a phone call away. So, the fact that he had rooms on multiple decks in multiple locations didn't affect our service.

 

On a cruise 2 weeks ago, the Concierge was much more visible. She checked in with us each morning at breakfast, at lunch (if we were on board), and even kept track of our specialty dining reservations and stopped by our dinner table each night to ensure that we had everything we needed. At night, she was at the theater with a set of reserved seats for suites guests. We asked for a behind-the-scenes tour, and she arrange to have the ship's chief engineer take us into the engineering control room. And the captain to personally show us around the bridge. The Bridge tour was amazing with the captain spending an full hours with 3 suite families. We were actually on the bridge as we left an anchor port (with the other ship's officers in command of the departure).

[niborHS]

Haven't been on an NCL suite in a while, but most lines have a fruit bowl in the suite. If there is something you want specifically replaced in that, like a banana, you can ask. My husband has asked for a drink to be brought up too. Once in a while the ice bucket is empty, so they will refill. I have never asked for things like unpacking.

There are 2 things I have to say, people who say a suite isn't necessary because they don't spend enough time in the room have never stayed in a suite. It's very nice to relax in your room when you actually have room in it, and if you have one of the better balconies, it is a pleasure, especially with a hot tub.

I am going on a 3 night cruise in November with my girlfriends, and and am a tag along so will be in my own room. I decided to go with an inside cabin. The smaller one is 121 sq ft. - I said to my TA, "in other words, about the size of the bathroom in some of the suites we have had."

Enjoy, you will really love it.

[Lmoore31]

I just got the letter from the concierge's office. Does anyone know if they have hot chocolate? We don't drink coffee, but my DH loves to have hot chocolate at night. Also, can you specify which sodas are in the fridge?

The pillow menu looks fun, does anyone have any suggestions on those?

I'm sorry, lots of questions, but we are just so excited.

 

I'm curious, if you don't mind my asking, what your letter said? I'm in haven on the 10/11 sailing of the BA and I didn't have any pillow option etc. just a general letter with an email address. If I wasn't on these boards, I wouldn't know what to request.

[Linda the Book Lover]

I'm curious, if you don't mind my asking, what your letter said? I'm in haven on the 10/11 sailing of the BA and I didn't have any pillow option etc. just a general letter with an email address. If I wasn't on these boards, I wouldn't know what to request.

 

I remember the phone number was given to call for any pre-cruise arrangements but for the lifr of me I can't remember what else. When you get your luggage tags in the mail the telephone number will be listed again.

[cruzsnooze]

 

, will sort any problems , like Specialist dinning, even flight ticket problems.

But remember they are not covered by the DSC .

Have a great trip and enjoy

j

 

They are now that they raised the DSC to $14.95 for suites.

[angelmom1]

I'm curious, if you don't mind my asking, what your letter said? I'm in haven on the 10/11 sailing of the BA and I didn't have any pillow option etc. just a general letter with an email address. If I wasn't on these boards, I wouldn't know what to request.

 

It was an email and it asked us to choose the kind of coffee, tea, and pillow we would like. I think that if you have a Haven or the like, it has more to it. We are in a "SJ" category.

[Demonyte]

It was an email and it asked us to choose the kind of coffee, tea, and pillow we would like. I think that if you have a Haven or the like, it has more to it. We are in a "SJ" category.

 

 

No it does not, regular Haven suites have the exact same perks as non-Haven suites do with the exception of the Haven area itself.

 

In-suite perks differ only for the very highest suites (complimentary bottles of liquor and free sodas/waters for Owner's Suites and above).

[mariefisher]

When do you tip the butler? Do you tip him when he brings you a meal or at the end of the cruise? If you order dinner does he bring all of the courses at once? Is the food hot when it arrives? Thanks for any help with these questions.

[murcor]

 

 

 

We asked for a behind-the-scenes tour, and she arrange to have the ship's chief engineer take us into the engineering control room. And the captain to personally show us around the bridge. The Bridge tour was amazing with the captain spending an full hours with 3 suite families. We were actually on the bridge as we left an anchor port (with the other ship's officers in command of the departure).

 

 

Was this complimentary?

[Cruise a holic]

When do you tip the butler? Do you tip him when he brings you a meal or at the end of the cruise? If you order dinner does he bring all of the courses at once? Is the food hot when it arrives? Thanks for any help with these questions.

We tip at the end of the cruise. Depending upon the level of service, about $20 per day per couple. We sometimes give less if we do not utilize his/her services much.

[hpecorari]

It was an email and it asked us to choose the kind of coffee, tea, and pillow we would like. I think that if you have a Haven or the like, it has more to it. We are in a "SJ" category.

 

My e-mail comes with an attachment. Once you open up the attachment that is the letter that shows pillows, coffee/tee, etc. The actual e-mail seems to be the 'cover letter'. Maybe OP didn't open up the attachment?

 

Harriet

[BirdTravels]

I'm curious, if you don't mind my asking, what your letter said? I'm in haven on the 10/11 sailing of the BA and I didn't have any pillow option etc. just a general letter with an email address. If I wasn't on these boards, I wouldn't know what to request.

 

If you call or email the address in your generic welcome letter, they will respond with a form letter like:

 

 

Dear BirdTravels,

 

​Below are some of the complimentary amenities that will be made available to you, our valued Haven & Suites guests. We have several options and it would be my pleasure to assist you with pre arranging everything for your upcoming sailing onboard the Norwegian Epic. Please select your preferences from the menu below.

 

In addition to the luxurious feather pillows in your suite, you can also select from the following pillow options:

 

Pillow Options

Overfilled Firm - firm but not too hard

Climarelle - body temperature regulating

Ultra Foam - deluxe memory

Reading Wedge

Hypo-Allergenic

 

Coffee

Regular

Decaffeinated

 

Tea

Chamomile

Green

Black

Lemon

 

Extra Towels

Washcloths

Hand

Bath

 

Also, please advise me of any additional interest in our Mandara Spa Services, Art Gallery, or Specialty Dining. It would be my pleasure to make these arrangements for your upcoming sailing. Please advise me of your estimated time of arrival to the port on the day of embarkation so that I may advise the shipboard team. If you have any questions or requests please feel free to contact us at NorwegianConciergeDesk@ncl.com.

 

 

Regards,

 

Arthur Paris

Concierge Desk Supervisor

Norwegian Cruise Line

[BirdTravels]

I would also add that if you do not preselect coffees and teas, all of the coffees and tea pods will be next to your coffee machine and the butler keeps them stocked throughout the cruise.

[cruzsnooze]

Since this thread is old there has been a change. With the raising of the DSC to $14.95 PP Per day the Butler is now included in that tipping pool.

We did not use the butler, low maintenance people. There is enough food on the ship that who needs more delivered to your cabin as snack every day. Maybe if you have children it's a fun thing to have but for us retirees we need no more food.

[hpecorari]

Since this thread is old there has been a change. With the raising of the DSC to $14.95 PP Per day the Butler is now included in that tipping pool.

 

You are 100% INCORRECT !

 

Harriet

[Imasima752]

Since this thread is old there has been a change. With the raising of the DSC to $14.95 PP Per day the Butler is now included in that tipping pool.

We did not use the butler, low maintenance people. There is enough food on the ship that who needs more delivered to your cabin as snack every day. Maybe if you have children it's a fun thing to have but for us retirees we need no more food.

 

Per NCL, DSC for suite passengers is now $15.50:

 

Effective August 1, 2015 rates for all sailings are as follows:

• $13.50 per person per day for guests staying in Studio, Inside, Oceanview, Balcony and Mini-Suite categories

• $15.50 per person per day for guests staying in Suite and The Haven categories

http://www.ncl.com/faq#service-charge

 

As to butlers being included in the DSC, according to NCL they aren't:

 

What about Gratuities?

Unlike most other ships in the cruise industry, there is no required or recommended tipping on our ships for service that is generally rendered to all Guests. While you should not feel obligated to offer a gratuity, all of our staff are encouraged to “go the extra mile,” so they are permitted to accept cash gratuities for exceptional or outstanding service if you care to offer them. Also, certain staff positions (e.g., concierge, butler, youth program staff and beverage service) provide service on an individual basis to only some guests and do not benefit from the overall service charge. We encourage those Guests to acknowledge good service from these staff members with appropriate gratuities. Additionally, there is an 18% gratuity and spa service charge added for all spa and salon services, as well as an 18% gratuity and beverage service charge added for all beverage purchases and an 18% gratuity and specialty service charge added to all specialty restaurant dining and entertainment based dining.

 

 

http://www.ncl.com/faq#tipping

[cruzsnooze]

They haven't updated their cruise information on the web site. The new rate of $15.50 which is ridiculous includes the butler, just ask when you're on board and you'll find out it is.

[wilmingtech]

Just another confirmation from the NCL Answers Site -

 

From here - http://answers.ncl.com/

 

-Sean

[Theroxykitten]

So can't wait for my suite.

 

Every time I see this thread I hear "suite life" to the tune of street life by Randy Crawford

 

 

 

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