Has anyone ever asked at Butler to....

[Rileyz]

Just want to point out that the pre-concierge is often wrong. I don't trust them any more than I do a customer service rep on the phone.

 

Couldn't agree more. Not sure why they even bother. Heck my concierge is wrong half the time while I'm cruising.

[Lakesregion]

How is it more or less ridiculous than unpacking? And besides my butler doesn't handle it, my housekeeper does. Oh, and I'm not a Guggenheim, I'm a Hilton.

 

Can you get me a good rate at your hotels?

[esm54687]

This is great!!! I'll be upfront and tell you I'm going to steal it and use it for years to come. Laugh of the day and right on point!!!

Thanks.

 

count me as another!!

[abbyar]

Can you get me a good rate at your hotels?

 

Yes, best rate is here: http://m.hilton.com/mt/www3.hilton.com/en/index.html

[fatherlu]

Just want to point out that the pre-concierge is often wrong. I don't trust them any more than I do a customer service rep on the phone.

 

OK...I'd like to try and put this to rest for the sake of those wondering if the pre-concierge is wrong about NCL not allowing either the butler or concierge to check in/out children to kids club.

 

For those who won't believe anything anyone says, your mind won't be changed and I just have to accept that.

 

For those who are reasonable, the reason why NCL won't allow the butler or concierge to check Haven guests children in/out of kids club is because 1) it is beyond their scope of service and 2) due to potential liability reasons like the kid saying, he touched me on the way, etc. In the same way, "anything" doesn't mean everything--it's just a polite way of speaking that they will do their best to make us happy (but common sense should understand that it has to be within their scope of service and subject to legal issues). So while I would love for my butler to give me a neck massage for a few minutes (takes less time than to set up my in-suite dinner), that would not be within their scope of service.

 

Where did I get the confirmation? First, it was through pre-concierge at (855) 625-4283--who by the way, had to ask her supervisor. Second, I e-mailed the president and COO of NCL (didn't e-mail the CEO because he probably didn't know operational details like the COO Andy Stuart (astuart@ncl.com) did. Mr. Stuart would know the operating procedures as he is the chief operating officer. He was very gracious to my request and responded very quickly (within hours) probably due to one of my professional status as an attorney at law (brought it up because it is relevant to understanding why I got such a fast response from the COO) and put me in touch with Natasha Butler, an NCL supervisor with expertise in this area (NButler@ncl.com, +1 800.327.7030 Ext 25487). She confirmed what the pre-concierge said.

 

You are welcomed to contact the NCL supervisor I spoke with. You are welcome to e-mail the COO--though I'm not sure if he would reply to you personally.

 

Hope that helps some people. As a last resort for those that don't believe that this is NCL's prohibitive rule, let me know and I can quickly ask the NCL Epic concierge when I am there in 19 days. They usually greet you every morning anyway--so it wouldn't be a big deal to ask. But seriously, if you got the answer from the Chief Operating Officer (second only to the CEO, who typically is more of a figurehead), do you really want to be so unreasonable as to ask each and every single concierge?

[dexddd]

OK...I'd like to try and put this to rest for the sake of those wondering if the pre-concierge is wrong about NCL not allowing either the butler or concierge to check in/out children to kids club.

 

For those who won't believe anything anyone says, your mind won't be changed and I just have to accept that.

 

For those who are reasonable, the reason why NCL won't allow the butler or concierge to check Haven guests children in/out of kids club is because 1) it is beyond their scope of service and 2) due to potential liability reasons like the kid saying, he touched me on the way, etc. In the same way, "anything" doesn't mean everything--it's just a polite way of speaking that they will do their best to make us happy (but common sense should understand that it has to be within their scope of service and subject to legal issues). So while I would love for my butler to give me a neck massage for a few minutes (takes less time than to set up my in-suite dinner), that would not be within their scope of service.

 

Where did I get the confirmation? First, it was through pre-concierge at (855) 625-4283--who by the way, had to ask her supervisor. Second, I e-mailed the president and COO of NCL (didn't e-mail the CEO because he probably didn't know operational details like the COO Andy Stuart (astuart@ncl.com) did. Mr. Stuart would know the operating procedures as he is the chief operating officer. He was very gracious to my request and responded very quickly (within hours) probably due to one of my professional status as an attorney at law (brought it up because it is relevant to understanding why I got such a fast response from the COO) and put me in touch with Natasha Butler, an NCL supervisor with expertise in this area (NButler@ncl.com, +1 800.327.7030 Ext 25487). She confirmed what the pre-concierge said.

 

You are welcomed to contact the NCL supervisor I spoke with. You are welcome to e-mail the COO--though I'm not sure if he would reply to you personally.

 

Hope that helps some people. As a last resort for those that don't believe that this is NCL's prohibitive rule, let me know and I can quickly ask the NCL Epic concierge when I am there in 19 days. They usually greet you every morning anyway--so it wouldn't be a big deal to ask. But seriously, if you got the answer from the Chief Operating Officer (second only to the CEO, who typically is more of a figurehead), do you really want to be so unreasonable as to ask each and every single concierge?

 

Thanks for the update. It is ironic the lady's last name is "Butler".

[fatherlu]

Thanks for the update. It is ironic the lady's last name is "Butler".

 

Thought that was a bit funny. It would have been a tad weird if she was in the concierge department but fortunately for her, she was in a totally separate department.

[rbrugler]

If DH doesn't want to do it, why doesn't DW do it? If neither wants to do it, leave the kids at home. You obviously do not want to be responsible for their care.

[cadien]

If DH doesn't want to do it, why doesn't DW do it? If neither wants to do it, leave the kids at home. You obviously do not want to be responsible for their care.

 

I'm not the OP but really, it can be awful. It feels like there's never more than an hour before you have to go stand in another line. For 45 minutes at a time. Only on sea days, at least. But it still isn't much fun.

[blackwing]

If DH doesn't want to do it, why doesn't DW do it? If neither wants to do it, leave the kids at home. You obviously do not want to be responsible for their care.

The whole premise of this thread started because OP didn't want to stand in line and wanted her butler/concierge to do it for her. I get that there are lines, but there are lines everywhere. As with most things on NCL, if you get there in advance of the opening time, then it's not so bad. If I'm going to the kids club with my kids for a drop off, I show up about 10 to 15 minutes beforehand. And I bring a book.

 

OP's premise is that she is a Haven guest and Haven people shouldn't have to wait in line for anything.

[LrgPizza]

I think the OP should book another cabin and bring along a nanny to wait in line for them. That person can even do meals, etc. with their children so they don't have to be bothered with them at all.

[cadien]

OP's premise is that she is a Haven guest and Haven people shouldn't have to wait in line for anything.

 

OP's premise is that she's a Haven guest and NCL heavily markets special treatment -- including line-cutting -- for their Haven guests.

[blackwing]

OP's premise is that she's a Haven guest and NCL heavily markets special treatment -- including line-cutting -- for their Haven guests.

I think there's line cutting for certain things... like being escorted to the shows and priority tendering / disembarkation at ports. But I never saw anyone using the concierge to cut the line at the ropes course or at the kids club. That's what she wanted to do. And in the end, it really comes down to "I don't want to wait in line at the kids club, I want someone else to do it for me".

[FreestyleNovice]

I once had the butler do the ropes course for me! Oh wait...

[LrgPizza]

I think there's line cutting for certain things... like being escorted to the shows and priority tendering / disembarkation at ports. But I never saw anyone using the concierge to cut the line at the ropes course or at the kids club. That's what she wanted to do. And in the end, it really comes down to "I don't want to wait in line at the kids club, I want someone else to do it for me".

 

My son would be mortified if someone tried to move him ahead in line!! He'd never go along with that. He'd be so embarrassed he'd likely leave the line completely and not do the ropes course at all.

[sunnywithachance]

.

Arguing on the internet is like playing chess with a pigeon.

No matter how well you play, the pigeon is going to knock over the pieces, crap on the board, and strut around like it is victorious.

.

 

I am also stealing this. I love it

[fatherlu]

I think what the community can do is to offer helpful suggestions to the OP. First, I think it is poor management for anyone dropping off their children to have to wait 30 minutes or more, Haven or not. Perhaps the parents utilizing the kids club can provide constructive feedback to NCL.

 

Until NCL makes it more efficient, could I suggest that the parents drop off their children during slightly off-peak periods. If something starts at say 8 A.M., perhaps do something until 8:30 or 9 A.M. and hopefully avoid the initial drop off rush. I can't imagine that it takes 30 minutes or more per child all day long since it would then take 4 hours just to check in the 8th parent's child.

 

So give feedback to NCL and check in during slightly off-peak times would be my suggestions.

[abbyar]

I'm surprised so many dispute the 30 minute wait when it has been mentioned here and elsewhere, not just by me, that waits for the club are nearly always 30-45 minutes.

 

If one shows up 30 minutes prior to opening, one is one of the first families in line, so it's obviously a 30 minute wait. If one shows up at opening, it's a 30 minute wait, bc everyone who has been there for 30 minute + has gone through the 5 minute process to check in. If one shows up an hour after opening, it's a 10 - 15 minute wait, and then the kids club closes in 90 minutes (for which one has to wait another 10 minutes to check out), neutralizing much of the benefit. On sea days x3 is a parents day. It's not a nanny, it's a poorly designed annoying process that's painful for all parents waiting in a cramped hallway with anxious kids who have not a thing to do for that waiting period. Frankly I was hoping in this thread that someone would mention that in the 11 months since we last sailed that NCL got its act together since this is such a known pain point. Time spent in line means parents aren't spending money in the casino or bar.

 

I love vacationing with my kids - actually it's one of the reasons I prefer NCL to other lines, in that I can have fun with my kids. But they need their time and dh and I (ahem) need our private time. I would very much appreciate that transition to be much smoother. There are many other lines that have shown it can be achieved, why is NCL so oblivious to this need?

[tlecker]

You are on a family vacation and your husband complains about having to spend 30 minutes standing in line to drop your kids off for someone else to watch as you two continue your family vacation without the kids? They must be nominated for parents of the year. If one of your children would fall and get hurt while your "servant" is escorting them to the kids club, will you and your husband accept responsibility for that or try and sue NCL or the butler? Just an honest question.

 

 

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[abbyar]

And the very ironic thing on this thread is the same people who whine and complain that the ship is overrun with children are the same who suggest we deal with the lines/ bring a nanny, when we are paying for the kids club service already. Now I know why people let their children run amok in the Haven. Might as well make the Haven valet deal with childcare than waste two hours a day in line. I'm very incline to do so, just to annoy everyone until a simpler drop off service is implemented.

[NLH Arizona]

Now I know why people let their children run amok in the Haven. Might as well make the Haven valet deal with childcare than waste two hours a day in line. I'm very incline to do so, just to annoy everyone until a simpler drop off service is implemented.

Seems like you will be teaching your children a great lesson, if you let them run amok in the Haven to annoy everyone, and that is: If you don't like the way things are done, make sure you make everyone else as miserable as you are.

 

A better lesson to teach them is: If you dislike how something is done, offer up a suggestion by writing a letter to the company with your alternative plan to make things better and if things aren't changed, make the best of things and deal with it with class and as a role model should.

[tlecker]

Here's a suggestion. Do not book with NCL. Go on one of the other cruise lines that you have loved to mention that is so much better. I find fun things that we can do as a family and don't need to drop my school aged children off in the kids club. My daughter actually enjoys just walking around the ship with her parents. I don't gamble and I don't drink so I spend the time that most are drunk in the casino with my children on our family vacation. And yes. By the tone of your posting. You would be the first one to sue anyone and everyone if the children you don't like to spend time with gets hurt while in someone else's care on the ship. How about taking a children's book along and actually interacting with your children while waiting in line. Hmmm. What a novel idea. Look at the bright side. Having to wait all that time at the kids club is saving you from losing money in the casino which u keep pointing out is a big money maker for NCL.

 

 

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[tlecker]

Maybe NCL needs to hire Mary Poppins. I bet she could pull off what u are asking.

 

 

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[tlecker]

And just think. If u cruise with some other line than that person that would have been behind your husband at the kids club would get to check their child in 4 minutes earlier. Hey it's a win win all around.

 

 

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[fatherlu]

And the very ironic thing on this thread is the same people who whine and complain that the ship is overrun with children are the same who suggest we deal with the lines/ bring a nanny, when we are paying for the kids club service already. Now I know why people let their children run amok in the Haven. Might as well make the Haven valet deal with childcare than waste two hours a day in line. I'm very incline to do so, just to annoy everyone until a simpler drop off service is implemented.

 

With sympathies, I think your anger and call to action are misplaced. We're just passengers here with no authority to make the changes you desire (should you choose to continue to cruise with NCL). May I suggest you prepare a well crafted letter and e-mail to the appropriate people at NCL that has the authority to make changes?

 

Here are some high ranking NCL corporate contacts (they will direct you to the appropriate personnel if they are unable to respond to you personally):

 

Primary Contact

Vivian Ewart

Vice President, Passenger Services

7665 Corporate Center Dr.

Miami, FL 33126

(305) 436-4011

vewart@ncl.com

Chief Executive

Andy Stuart

President and Chief Operating Officer

7665 Corporate Center Dr.

Miami, FL 33126

(305) 436-4000

astuart@ncl.com