Has anyone ever asked at Butler to....

[ECCruise]

I'm currently waiting to sail on Escape in a 2br Haven. If the arrangement is as you say then this definitely doesn't work. Butlers are to be your main go-to person for ALL requests. The concierge being a supporting cast member. If NCL truly sets it up that the butler reports to the concierge then that arrangement definitely wouldn't work for us -- and is inconsistent with how butlers are SUPPOSED to operate.

 

Seems I need to do some more research on NCL's use of butlers. :)

 

#FirstWorldProblems

 

The Butler's boss is definitely the Concierge. Ask any Butler.

[CubsFanRS23]

The Butler's boss is definitely the Concierge. Ask any Butler.

 

Wow. So NCL is bass ackwards from how it should be. Thanks for the tip. Will research more. :)

[CubsFanRS23]

The Butler's boss is definitely the Concierge. Ask any Butler.

 

I may have posted too quickly after I had 10sec to think about it. Is this because the butlers are defraying responsibility if a request can't be fulfilled? The concierge would clearly handle a restaurant reservation but you'd make the request with the butler, not the concierge. So you want a reservation for 2 for Cagney's @ 8pm with the butler. Butler checks with the concierge, no chance, "Sorry, concierge said no. He's the boss." ... ?

[fatherlu]

I may have posted too quickly after I had 10sec to think about it. Is this because the butlers are defraying responsibility if a request can't be fulfilled? The concierge would clearly handle a restaurant reservation but you'd make the request with the butler, not the concierge. So you want a reservation for 2 for Cagney's @ 8pm with the butler. Butler checks with the concierge, no chance, "Sorry, concierge said no. He's the boss." ... ?

 

I never needed to know the ranking structure of the concierge or butler. As you are booked in an upcoming Haven cruise, I'm sure you can call the pre-concierge desk to give you more accurate information: (855) 625-4283

 

They answer very quickly and are helpful.

 

All I know in my previous cruises is that the ranking chart that I quickly glanced shows the concierge in the chain of command tree (though towards the bottom--probably equivalent to a senior enlisted NCO) but no butler or cabin steward. There are intersecting responsibilities from my experiences and it seems that the concierge has more authority to make things happen. But I don't know who the butler reports to. I do know that on NCL, the concierge is often a position that excellent butlers are promoted to.

[cadien]

I may have posted too quickly after I had 10sec to think about it. Is this because the butlers are defraying responsibility if a request can't be fulfilled? The concierge would clearly handle a restaurant reservation but you'd make the request with the butler, not the concierge. So you want a reservation for 2 for Cagney's @ 8pm with the butler. Butler checks with the concierge, no chance, "Sorry, concierge said no. He's the boss." ... ?

 

I believe you make all reservation requests with the concierge, not the butler.

 

The butlers do sometimes delegate to the room steward though. Ours both explained that they worked as a team.

[CasinoCruzGirl]

I believe you make all reservation requests with the concierge, not the butler.

 

The butlers do sometimes delegate to the room steward though. Ours both explained that they worked as a team.

 

You are exactly right. You do not make dinner reservations or show reservations for that matter with the butler. It's always through concierge.

[cdnsteelman]

Those items you mentioned don't require the Butler to be unavailable for 2 hours or 20% of their work day (considering a 10 hours work day) babysitting someone's children.

 

There is a really salient point being missed in this thread. If a concierge or butler agree to the request there is not a snowball's chance in Hades that her or she would queue up with everyone else and stand in line for 30 minutes - it would be right to the front of the line and on with other duties.

 

What's really at the heart of this thread is should suite / Haven pax expect expedited service at the kids club like they pay for in many other aspects of ship life? Clearly there are differing views but NCL has not taken a formal stance on this that I can find, ergo the OP is fully entitled to ask and find out.

 

As for the assertions made that there should be a $20 or even $50 per use fee for this service - completely laughable - this is a service that would take far less time than the vast majority of other duties completed by the concierge / butler teams.

[nadeki]

We would not allow anyone else to check out our kids for us.....so many reasons.....

 

The liability for NCL allowing this makes it impossible. We have loved all of our butlers but truly they are strangers to us before the cruise. If they have your authorization to sign out your child they could do it at anytime and take them anywhere on the ship etc......I know that the odds are against this but in this world remember "stranger danger."

[fatherlu]

As for the assertions made that there should be a $20 or even $50 per use fee for this service - completely laughable - this is a service that would take far less time than the vast majority of other duties completed by the concierge / butler teams.

 

No assertions to any standard per use fee by anyone thus far. Only suggestions to extra tipping upfront for a service that is probably not within the scope of the butler or concierge's normal duties in order to encourage them to provide the extra service.

 

No one is also suggesting that a concierge or butler would stand in line and wait like everyone else. The issues are whether the extra child care responsibility would be within their scope of duty and if not, what would it take for them to accept such duties (e.g., extra financial incentives)?

 

But here's the bottom line: I have confirmed from the pre-concierge that childcare, even to take the child to and from NCL's kids club, is not within their scope of service and that due to liability reasons, that would not be permitted at all.

 

However, if anyone can persuade a butler or concierge in a real situation to take on that responsibility for free and expose themselves to losing their jobs, let us know who that butler and/or concierge is so that others can use the same service should the need arise.

[NLH Arizona]

 

But here's the bottom line: I have confirmed from the pre-concierge that childcare, even to take the child to and from NCL's kids club, is not within their scope of service and that due to liability reasons, that would not be permitted at all.

Not surprised on either count. Edited May 16, 2016 by NLH Arizona

[laurabegorrah]

I may have posted too quickly after I had 10sec to think about it. Is this because the butlers are defraying responsibility if a request can't be fulfilled? The concierge would clearly handle a restaurant reservation but you'd make the request with the butler, not the concierge. So you want a reservation for 2 for Cagney's @ 8pm with the butler. Butler checks with the concierge, no chance, "Sorry, concierge said no. He's the boss." ... ?

 

The concierge staff makes all of the dinner and show reservations. You could prob ask your butler, but he/she would just be the middle man running messages back and forth between you and the concierge - much simpler to just go directly to the desk. Added bonus is the desk. You always know where the concierge staff is, no need to track down your butler either in person or by playing phone tag.

 

We did have a butler in the past that would notice if we didn't have dinner reservations and ask us what our plans were - if we wanted him to help with a reservation or if we were planning on room service. But that was on the Dawn, so I'm not sure if the fact that it was a smaller ship made any difference.....

[cadien]

We would not allow anyone else to check out our kids for us.....so many reasons.....

 

The liability for NCL allowing this makes it impossible. We have loved all of our butlers but truly they are strangers to us before the cruise. If they have your authorization to sign out your child they could do it at anytime and take them anywhere on the ship etc......I know that the odds are against this but in this world remember "stranger danger."

 

The OP did only ask about checking in. The wait to check out is significantly shorter.

[cdnsteelman]

No assertions to any standard per use fee by anyone thus far. Only suggestions to extra tipping upfront for a service that is probably not within the scope of the butler or concierge's normal duties in order to encourage them to provide the extra service.

 

No one is also suggesting that a concierge or butler would stand in line and wait like everyone else. The issues are whether the extra child care responsibility would be within their scope of duty and if not, what would it take for them to accept such duties (e.g., extra financial incentives)?

 

But here's the bottom line: I have confirmed from the pre-concierge that childcare, even to take the child to and from NCL's kids club, is not within their scope of service and that due to liability reasons, that would not be permitted at all.

 

However, if anyone can persuade a butler or concierge in a real situation to take on that responsibility for free and expose themselves to losing their jobs, let us know who that butler and/or concierge is so that others can use the same service should the need arise.

 

Sorry but there is a $50 thrown out in one post and $20 in another (whether it is a tip or not those are some "suggestions" and they are laughable) and, yes, absolutely at least one poster has indicated 2 hours a day of lost work time.

 

Your outreach to pre-concierge is the first non-speculative data point.

[nadeki]

The OP did only ask about checking in. The wait to check out is significantly shorter.

 

A lot could happen on the way......what if the butler got a call from someone else and had to take a detour to kids club through the kitchen or another cabin or ?????

 

Again, we are probably some of the most lenient parents you will find these days but still not sending my child off on the ship with someone I did not know yesterday.

[blackwing]

I don't necessarily think this is a ridiculous request, as OP said that people here have always said that butlers will often go out of their way to help you.

 

However, I then think there is some bristle at the suggestion that just because you are in the Haven means that all of the little people have to defer to you and let you cut to the front of the line. I agree that people who pay 3 to 5 times the cost of a "regular" guest should expect a higher quality of service. And thus I don't see anything wrong with them getting assistance to get dinner and show reservations when they are listed as full, or to get priority tendering or embarkation.

 

But I would find it in poor taste if there are actually "little people" standing patiently in line for the ropes course or the kids club, and someone blows in with a "I'm in the Haven, MOVE IT" hat on her head and cuts to the front. That's like someone going to the grocery store, finding the checkout lines too long, and telling people that they are more important than them so they should let them cut to the front.

[fatherlu]

Sorry but there is a $50 thrown out in one post and $20 in another (whether it is a tip or not those are some "suggestions" and they are laughable) and, yes, absolutely at least one poster has indicated 2 hours a day of lost work time.

 

Your outreach to pre-concierge is the first non-speculative data point.

 

While 2 hours a day of lost work time is probably an exaggerated hyperbole. The $50 or $20 were clearly speculative economic amounts in the attempt to persuade for extra services. In the light of the ramifications of a butler or concierge being at risk for losing their jobs in taking on child care duties that is not within NCL's scope of service for them, those speculative suggestions appear to be quite small for the overall risk, if one of them were to take that risk. I guess you're only one laughing.

 

I think most of us wanted to help answer the question but viewed the question and circumstances to be a bit sad.

[cdnsteelman]

While 2 hours a day of lost work time is probably an exaggerated hyperbole. The $50 or $20 were clearly speculative economic amounts in the attempt to persuade for extra services. In the light of the ramifications of a butler or concierge being at risk for losing their jobs in taking on child care duties that is not within NCL's scope of service for them, those speculative suggestions appear to be quite small for the overall risk, if one of them were to take that risk. I guess you're only one laughing.

 

I think most of us wanted to help answer the question but viewed the question and circumstances to be a bit sad.

 

Do you invent things for a living? That post contains more fabricated knowledge than any other I've ever read. All I've tried to communicate is that the OP should ask and should also expect a no, that those who think a $20 or $50 per use tip or fee is reasonable are having a laugh, and that there is no way a concierge would stand in line for 2 hours to accomplish the task at hand.

 

Prior to your reaching out to pre-concierge EVERYTHING was speculation so nobody was talking about people losing their jobs or doing things against NCL policy.

 

If you go back and read the thread objectively there are very few people actually answering the OP's question but there are many questioning her for asking it.

 

Notwithstanding all of the tangential fringes the OP has generated, I appreciate it has been raised because, at its root, it is something NCL could vastly improve upon without any real cost - that being making drop off and pick up of children at the kids clubs significantly more efficient.

[fatherlu]

Do you invent things for a living? That post contains more fabricated knowledge than any other I've ever read. All I've tried to communicate is that the OP should ask and should also expect a no, that those who think a $20 or $50 per use tip or fee is reasonable are having a laugh, and that there is no way a concierge would stand in line for 2 hours to accomplish the task at hand.

 

Prior to your reaching out to pre-concierge EVERYTHING was speculation so nobody was talking about people losing their jobs or doing things against NCL policy.

 

If you go back and read the thread objectively there are very few people actually answering the OP's question but there are many questioning her for asking it.

 

Notwithstanding all of the tangential fringes the OP has generated, I appreciate it has been raised because, at its root, it is something NCL could vastly improve upon without any real cost - that being making drop off and pick up of children at the kids clubs significantly more efficient.

 

No need for ad hominem attacks on what people may or may not do for a living. You can win if it will make you happy.

[GeezerCouple]

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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.

.

[cdnsteelman]

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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.

.

 

Now THAT is funny! Thanks for the laugh of the day.

[abbyar]

But I would find it in poor taste if there are actually "little people" standing patiently in line for the ropes course or the kids club, and someone blows in with a "I'm in the Haven, MOVE IT" hat on her head and cuts to the front.

 

This is a comical description, but isn't it close to what happens currently? The Concierge escorts the guest to the front of the line for shows/ disembarkation/ etc. Although now that I think of it, this would be the same. Example: Haven guest is attending 9 pm show. Concierge appears at 8:15 to escort guest to show. Kids are with guests, and they ask Concierge to escort the family to Kids club on way to show. Thus no childcare provided. Concierge walks family to front of the line at club, then down to show.

 

This sounds like more of a PITA than I would go through, but I'd be surprised if no one else has done it yet.

[NLH Arizona]

This is a comical description, but isn't it close to what happens currently? The Concierge escorts the guest to the front of the line for shows/ disembarkation/ etc. Although now that I think of it, this would be the same. Example: Haven guest is attending 9 pm show. Concierge appears at 8:15 to escort guest to show. Kids are with guests, and they ask Concierge to escort the family to Kids club on way to show. Thus no childcare provided. Concierge walks family to front of the line at club, then down to show.

 

This sounds like more of a PITA than I would go through, but I'd be surprised if no one else has done it yet.

Do you really think that the Concierge is going to make all the other suite guests follow him/her to the kids club on the way to a show or make them wait longer because someone can't get their act together and drop their own kids off prior to meeting for the show? I think not! The Concierge would probably tell the inconsiderate parents to meet them down a the show's venue after dropping off their children. I'm pretty laid back, but even I would be screaming if we had to either wait for someone to drop off their kids or walk to the kids club to drop off children, because as a suite passenger we shouldn't have to wait for someone who can't get their act together. Edited May 16, 2016 by NLH Arizona

[Slark]

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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.

.

 

Plus 1. Completely on point and hysterical to boot!:D

[rvsullivan]

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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.

.

 

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.

[Love my butler]

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.