Butler/Concierge Tipping

[Ktuluorion]

I'm seeing that the common advise is $10/pp/day for butler and $5/pp/day for concierge. What i'm trying to understand is what these people are doing that justifies this much. I'm heading on an 11 night cruise, so that equates to over $300. From what i'm reading it sounds like the butler just brings some fruit and maybe once or twice brings food to the room by request. Is there something i'm missing?

 

Concierge seems even worse -- they book you excursions and reservations? Can't you just do that yourself just as easily through the regular means?

 

Thanks for any clarification -- i'm assuming i'm missing something, because I can't imagine everyone is paying that much in tips to butlers if they aren't doing more.

[triptolemus]

Those numbers are generally considered a starting point.

 

If you don't use the services of the butler or concierge, then adjust it down as you see fit. Tip as YOU like, not what anyone says here.

 

In the spirit of sharing, I will tell you that DW and I do tip the butler $10 pp/pd + a little more, and we use them. Meals in suite would probably be the biggest thing... maybe 2 or 3 times on a 7 day trip. Otherwise, they are responsible for keeping things in order and happy. They are usually good at this. Some people host get-togethers in their suites. The butlers will bring food/drink for that. Some people will have an impromptu gathering in their suite and the butler, in the course of their rounds, just shows up and happys-up the whole affair by returning in 4 minutes with drinks and snacks. It's a wonderful thing.

 

We tip the steward apart from the butler and DSC. We can be messy.

 

As for the concierge, we have stiffed them once in the past for simply being inept and not present. I typically do not use their services at all, really, beyond check-in and disembark. We don't care when we get on the ship, and we are just fine with strolling off last. I have had him take care of a reservation or two once, and we did suite disembark, and I think we tipped that one just $40 or $50. If I bugged the concierge with every little reservation, escort, reserved seats at shows, priority tender, monopolized his time during breakfast at Cagney's... personally, I'd surely tip them more. But as it is now... meh.

Edited February 14, 2016 by triptolemus

[Ktuluorion]

Those numbers are generally considered a starting point.

 

If you don't use the services of the butler or concierge, then adjust it down as you see fit. Tip as YOU like, not what anyone says here.

 

In the spirit of sharing, I will tell you that DW and I do tip the butler $10 pp/pd + a little more, and we use them. Meals in suite would probably be the biggest thing... maybe 2 or 3 times on a 7 day trip. Otherwise, they are responsible for keeping things in order and happy. They are usually good at this. Some people host get-togethers in their suites. The butlers will bring food/drink for that. Some people will have an impromptu gathering in their suite and the butler, in the course of their rounds, just shows up and happys-up the whole affair by returning in 4 minutes with drinks and snacks. It's a wonderful thing.

 

We tip the steward apart from the butler and DSC. We can be messy.

 

As for the concierge, we have stiffed them once in the past for simply being inept and not present. I typically do not use their services at all, really, beyond check-in and disembark. We don't care when we get on the ship, and we are just fine with strolling off last. I have had him take care of a reservation or two once, and we did suite disembark, and I think we tipped that one just $40 or $50. If I bugged the concierge with every little reservation, escort, reserved seats at shows, priority tender, monopolized his time during breakfast at Cagney's... personally, I'd surely tip them more. But as it is now... meh.

 

Thanks for the info. I imagine that we will dine in our suite once or twice as well.

 

Can you give me a little more clarity as to what the "small things" that they do to keep things nice and happy? I'm assuming the steward is keeping the room clean, so is there something they are doing that is notable to be getting that much money? I feel like it might be worth 10 or $20 each time they serve us dinner, but i'm missing where the rest of the value is coming from that makes it worth $330 for our cruise.

 

Thanks again!

[triptolemus]

Thanks for the info. I imagine that we will dine in our suite once or twice as well.

 

Can you give me a little more clarity as to what the "small things" that they do to keep things nice and happy? I'm assuming the steward is keeping the room clean, so is there something they are doing that is notable to be getting that much money? I feel like it might be worth 10 or $20 each time they serve us dinner, but i'm missing where the rest of the value is coming from that makes it worth $330 for our cruise.

 

Thanks again!

 

Okay, I'll try.

 

Snacks. Consider snacks. And a nice pitcher of ice water. And cold towels. Now, consider you're napping on your balcony... say, late-mid afternoon...after lunch around, 2. Say, you wake up, look over out onto the sea and you are happy about where you are... but thirsty. So you get up, and you discover, that while you were napping, the butler has quietly come and gone leaving all of these wonderful things above? For me, this is delightful.

 

Consider going ashore. Waking up around 8:30 maybe. The butler rings the bell, comes in with a smile asking "are you going ashore today Sir Michael?" and continues to describe just how wonderful a day it is, making sure you need for nothing, chats up the wife about this or that, and really just gives you a happy start to the day. For me, this is delightful.

 

Consider and evening of in suite dining. Consider how a good butler can make that special. How she can tell you -- and make you believe -- that it really is no trouble that she's doing all of this and that the two of you really, really deserve it. Because it's your time. She pours the wine and leaves. Returns an hour later with dessert. For me, this is delightful.

 

For others? They might despise all of the things I've just described. They might have other ways in which the butler can enrich their vacation and help make it special. Others simply may be indifferent.

 

That's why there is no standard answer. Your experience will depend upon the personalities and dynamics of your group. But if you get a good one, and you let them, the butlers can find ways to make you feel nice and happy.

[cb at sea]

Your cabin steward is part of the tips the cruise lines charges you....no additional is needed. Only the Concierge and Butler are not included in those tips. So..tip what YOU feel their service is worth WHEN AND IF you use their services. Tipping is done on the last evening, traditionally, on cruises. Not "as you go". Base your tip on what you feel their service is worth.

[watchdiva]

For us, the butler is hugely important. I love waking up to a pot of hot coffee that the butler has dropped off while we are still sleeping. A few hours later breakfast is delivered (we eat every breakfast and most lunches in our suite). Late afternoon snacks are delivered and we ask the butler to surprise us with a special dessert later in the evening. We enjoy a bottle on NA wine with our dinner but do not finish it...knowing that our butler can/will (if asked) drop it off in our suite. We tip according to our own sense of what the value is TO US of their service and how much they enhance our cruise experience. The concierge not only makes reservations if asked but can sort out for you any problems that arise so that you are not spending time waiting online at Guest Services but are actively enjoying your cruise. I book all of our dinner reservations before boarding and if we need to change the concierge can handle that for us. A great butler and concierge takes your cruise to a whole different level. And though our cabin steward is part of the DSC we have always tipped extra to him or her for taking such good care of us.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

Edited February 14, 2016 by watchdiva

[Kinofdc]

I'm seeing that the common advise is $10/pp/day for butler and $5/pp/day for concierge.

 

 

Actually I would say $10/pp/day applies to the concierge as well. Even if we don't use the service from the butler or the concierge (just theoretical, of course as we have always use services from both), we would still tip the minimum amount of $10pp/day for the butler and an additional $10pp/day for the concierge. Anything less would simply violate the rules of the polite, refined society and its notions of what constitutes good form and good manners.

Edited February 14, 2016 by Kinofdc

[mistertoaster]

We book suites on all our cruises, and therefore have butler and concierge access. I plan all my excursions. I typically use non NCL affiliated tour agents. I also book shows and dinners before the cruise begins. This is to assure access to specialty dining and the Broadway style productions that book very quickly on NCL. Consequently, I do not use or tip the concierge.

 

As regards the butler, we rarely use him either. We like leaving our room for dining, and rarely have special requests. I do tip the butler as he brings afternoon snacks. Frankly, with the amount of food on the ship, we could do without the snacks. However, since he made the effort, some compensation is appropriate. If he is doing small things in our room, they are not noticeable. The room steward appears for more involved on that front.

 

I frequently tip the room steward more than the butler if he/she does a good job. Prompt and thorough cleaning of our room impacts our trip more than butler services. So I would tip based on services rendered. I should add that if you are in he Haven but stay on a non Haven floor you will rarely see your butler. This also impacts my overall impression of butler services.

[sc2011]

I should add that if you are in he Haven but stay on a non Haven floor you will rarely see your butler. This also impacts my overall impression of butler services.

 

I disagree with this. While it likely is experienced for some, our best cruise was on the Jewel. We were in the Haven owners suite adjoining to my in laws in a penthouse. We made great friends in the next penthouse over as well. All 3 suites were on floor 10 forward, far from the Haven. We all experienced amazing butler service from Theodore (Teddy). He made that cruise amazing for us. We saw him often. His service was far better than what we've experienced from butlers when staying in the actual haven area. I think it depends on the butler what level of service you get, not the location of the room.

[titangas]

Actually I would say $10/pp/day applies to the concierge as well. Even if we don't use the service from the butler or the concierge (just theoretical, of course as we have always use services from both), we would still tip the minimum amount of $10pp/day for the butler and an additional $10pp/day for the concierge. Anything less would simply violate the rules of the polite, refined society and its notions of what constitutes good form and good manners.

 

 

Can't tell if this is a troll post or serious?

 

Anyway the thought of not tipping the concierge $10 pp/pd being less than good manners is absurd.

 

I can tell you with absolute certainty that I will not be tipping the concierge $350 for my family of five on our next 7 day cruise. We have already arranged our own shore excursions, probably will handle all of our dining reservations unless something unusual happens. If we need the concierge's service we will use and tip at the end accordingly -- $10 pp/pd No Way.

[Turtles06]

I'm seeing that the common advise is $10/pp/day for butler and $5/pp/day for concierge. What i'm trying to understand is what these people are doing that justifies this much.

 

I haven't seen those figures, but in any event, your butler and concierge may not do anything for you that would warrant tipping on that scale. As you can see from the prior comments, it's totally up to you whether you make use of them at all or to what extent.

 

We recently returned from the Gem, sailing in an aft penthouse suite. We aren't folks who eat in our cabin or throw parties, and we really don't use butler services. The butler showed us how to use the Nespresso machine when we embarked, and brought food on the first couple of afternoons until we asked him to stop, as we had plenty of food! After that, we literally never saw him again (for a full week of a ten-day cruise). We did give him a tip, but not the amount you've quoted above.

 

Similarly, we had little need for the concierge. We had made our specialty dining reservations before the cruise; the one time we asked the concierge to change one of them, he was unable to, as the place was booked. This was not his fault and we certainly did not hold it against him. We were in the Caribbean, and thus no need for priority disembarkation at ports. We handled some problems in our cabin by talking directly to housekeeping, no need for a middleman. As with the butler, we tipped the concierge, but again, not in the amount you've quoted above.

 

The person to whom we gave our biggest tip was our cabin steward. Yes, he's part of the DSC, but so what. He cleans our bathroom twice a day, makes the bed, turns it down, changes the towels (twice a day), brings ice (twice a day), vacuums, etc. It's a hard, physicial job with long hours. To us, a great steward goes a long way to our enjoyment of a cruise and our stateroom.

Edited February 14, 2016 by Turtles06

[ColinIllinois]

Actually I would say $10/pp/day applies to the concierge as well. Even if we don't use the service from the butler or the concierge (just theoretical, of course as we have always use services from both), we would still tip the minimum amount of $10pp/day for the butler and an additional $10pp/day for the concierge. Anything less would simply violate the rules of the polite, refined society and its notions of what constitutes good form and good manners.

 

 

Not tipping someone who hasn't done anything for you is not bad manners. That's just plain silly.

[detroitlions]

Always a etiquette beat down from miss manners on tipping. People want to pretend they are rich for a week so they have a butler to me its no big deal just another person with there hand out on a NCL ship. I rarely use stuff like this because I dont cruise to hang out in my room for all my meals I actually do things and interact with others. I have my meals in house at home that is why I like to go out on vacation. People act all needy when they get in the suits those butlers must think were a bunch of pretentious weak people that need constant attention. Plus I dont want them sneaking in my room to drop off snacks I eat 3 times a day and rarely snack.

[roger001]

Two of us. Don't want snacks (how much can a person eat after Cagneys morning and noon and specialty restaurant for dinner). May..may...have one meal in our room. Also, don't want butler in and out of our room unless needed. Concierge, escort us on the ship. We make our own restaurant reservations. For an SF suite for us, I say butler $100, concierge $75, room steward $50, 7 day cruise. I think that's is very fair and appropriate, and other than the room steward, probably more than they were worth for us.

[dlynn0366]

Always a etiquette beat down from miss manners on tipping. People want to pretend they are rich for a week so they have a butler to me its no big deal just another person with there hand out on a NCL ship. I rarely use stuff like this because I dont cruise to hang out in my room for all my meals I actually do things and interact with others. I have my meals in house at home that is why I like to go out on vacation. People act all needy when they get in the suits those butlers must think were a bunch of pretentious weak people that need constant attention. Plus I dont want them sneaking in my room to drop off snacks I eat 3 times a day and rarely snack.[/quote

 

I'm not sure what you mean by people want to "pretend" to be rich? I have always stayed in the Haven & I've never dined in nor have I ever made any demands on the butler other than the first day I ask for the use of an iron & board & it's not like I ask him to iron for me !! So if asking for an iron/board makes me a pretentious weak needy person ...I'm guilty. Also to clarify even though I don't run the butler off his feet I still tip him $150.00 for the week as its not his fault I'm not a needy person & I have the money as I'm not "pretending to be rich"

[triptolemus]

Always a etiquette beat down from miss manners on tipping. People want to pretend they are rich for a week so they have a butler to me its no big deal just another person with there hand out on a NCL ship. I rarely use stuff like this because I dont cruise to hang out in my room for all my meals I actually do things and interact with others. I have my meals in house at home that is why I like to go out on vacation. People act all needy when they get in the suits those butlers must think were a bunch of pretentious weak people that need constant attention. Plus I dont want them sneaking in my room to drop off snacks I eat 3 times a day and rarely snack.

 

^^ "I don't stay in suites but I know everything there is to know about staying in suites!"

 

:rolleyes:

[Starflyr3]

I'm going on the assumption that people who are sayin $10 pp/day and $5 pp/day are sailing with 2 in the suite.

[triptolemus]

I'm going on the assumption that people who are sayin $10 pp/day and $5 pp/day are sailing with 2 in the suite.

 

True in my case, yes.

[Samstress]

We were four gals in our suite & we actually gave our butler $350. He was wonderful & went a long way to making our vacation special. He brought us a full breakfast every morning (with the exception of debarkation day), snacks every afternoon, kept our ice bucket full, sliced limes in the fridge, ironing board & iron on call, birthday decorations for one of the girls...I could go on and on about him!

Our Concierge not so much. We tipped $60. Basically because we did not use her services very often. I think one dinner reservation & one excursion reservation (the ship's tour). And for priority disembarking.

We tipped our room steward $150 because he was worth it. I don't care if he was in the tip pool or not.

So, yes when I cruise I think I'm rich. But only when I'm cruising with my gal pals; and I don't have my hubby around to remind my that I'm not:)

Happy sailing everyone!

[NLH Arizona]

I'm going on the assumption that people who are sayin $10 pp/day and $5 pp/day are sailing with 2 in the suite.

I tip $10 per day to the Butler and $5 per day to the Concierge and I sail solo.

[cruzsnooze]

I'm seeing that the common advise is $10/pp/day for butler and $5/pp/day for concierge. What i'm trying to understand is what these people are doing that justifies this much. I'm heading on an 11 night cruise, so that equates to over $300. From what i'm reading it sounds like the butler just brings some fruit and maybe once or twice brings food to the room by request. Is there something i'm missing?

 

Concierge seems even worse -- they book you excursions and reservations? Can't you just do that yourself just as easily through the regular means?

 

Thanks for any clarification -- i'm assuming i'm missing something, because I can't imagine everyone is paying that much in tips to butlers if they aren't doing more.

 

You'd be overly generous to pay $10PP Pd. I didn't use the butler nor the concierge so tipped nothing. If you used them then think what's reasonable for the services they provided. I told the butler we do not eat in our cabin so do not bring any food. That's the last I saw of him. The concierge once in a while was at Moderno where we had breakfast and said good morning. Tipping to anyone who just said good morning would be ridiculous to me.

[Starflyr3]

I tip $10 per day to the Butler and $5 per day to the Concierge and I sail solo.

 

and I get that. But what if you're sailing with 5 or 6 in a suite?

 

is $420 appropriate for a BASELINE tip for 1 week for a butler?

 

Or $210? for the concierge?

 

yikes.

[NLH Arizona]

and I get that. But what if you're sailing with 5 or 6 in a suite?

 

is $420 appropriate for a BASELINE tip for 1 week for a butler?

 

Or $210? for the concierge?

 

yikes.

Everyone should tip what they feel comfortable tipping, it might be higher or lower than what I tip. Decide based on how much you will utilize the Butler and Concierge (are you having a lot of meals in your cabin, do you ask for special snacks to be brought, do you ask Concierge to make dinner or shore excursion reservations, etc.) and also take into consideration your budget. Whatever you tip them, will be appreciated. Edited February 14, 2016 by NLH Arizona

[phissy]

Started out in balconies but, now....We have been sailing in Suites , most recently POA last week.

We have never had a great Butler and Concierge on the same cruise.

It always seems to be one or the other.

Tip reflects this service.

Most recently, our Butler, Peter was great . We tipped 160 for 7 days for 2.

We did not ask much of him. We had a letter from Concierge that we could not have beakfast or lunch delivered by our Butler. We went and had Cagney's .

Wine was sent to our cabin by captain and he delivered it to us.

Concierge did absolutely NOTHING. No reserved seating for theatre, no priority disembarkation etc. we gave him 20 for saying good morning a couple of times at breakfast.

It is a personal thing, dependant on personal interactions. Blanket amounts

Should be adjusted by actual experience.

IMHO.

[AllBoys2002]

Okay, I'll try.

 

Snacks. Consider snacks. And a nice pitcher of ice water. And cold towels. Now, consider you're napping on your balcony... say, late-mid afternoon...after lunch around, 2. Say, you wake up, look over out onto the sea and you are happy about where you are... but thirsty. So you get up, and you discover, that while you were napping, the butler has quietly come and gone leaving all of these wonderful things above? For me, this is delightful.

 

Consider going ashore. Waking up around 8:30 maybe. The butler rings the bell, comes in with a smile asking "are you going ashore today Sir Michael?" and continues to describe just how wonderful a day it is, making sure you need for nothing, chats up the wife about this or that, and really just gives you a happy start to the day. For me, this is delightful.

 

Consider and evening of in suite dining. Consider how a good butler can make that special. How she can tell you -- and make you believe -- that it really is no trouble that she's doing all of this and that the two of you really, really deserve it. Because it's your time. She pours the wine and leaves. Returns an hour later with dessert. For me, this is delightful.

 

For others? They might despise all of the things I've just described. They might have other ways in which the butler can enrich their vacation and help make it special. Others simply may be indifferent.

 

That's why there is no standard answer. Your experience will depend upon the personalities and dynamics of your group. But if you get a good one, and you let them, the butlers can find ways to make you feel nice and happy.

 

 

Who is this mystical butler you speak of? I saw our butler the day we embarked the day we disembarked and the morning he rang the doorbell and called our phone to let us know he was at the door with coffee at 6:30am.

 

I asked him on day 1 to please make sure there was a plate of cookies on our table each night and had to call him back 3 days later and ask if he forgot. The only other time I spoke to him was to ask him for a pitcher or mango water in the fridge and that was the last time I bothered since his attitude seemed like I asked him to do something that was of great inconvenience.

 

Out concierge on the other hand was absolutely amazing to us.