What the Butler did

[garyb(uk)]

We decided on the Penthouse suite as this booking includes Business Class Flight. The Penthouse suite includes a Butler which really doesn't sound us to be honest. I was just wondering what your Butler actually does?

[ellbon]

We decided on the Penthouse suite as this booking includes Business Class Flight. The Penthouse suite includes a Butler which really doesn't sound us to be honest. I was just wondering what your Butler actually does?

 

 

On any cruise I have used i have my butler bring daily breakfast-everyday. He takes my laundry bag away and brings clean clothes back. he brings afternoon snacks. he will also book dinners and cancel them. my butlers have changed spa apps for me. i had them bring a drink to the spa. Some people get help with packing too. This is helpful if you have to change cabins during cruising. I am sure the list is longer.

[RachelG]

We are very self-sufficient, but if we have a butler, here is what he does:

 

Make dinner reservations for us

Bring meal, snacks, drinks to room and serve them in the room

Shine shoes

Clean my glasses

They will pack and unpack if you request--I have not done this

Pick up and deliver laundry

Make sure my husband has his newspaper

Generally make things run smoothly. Our last butler was a very eager energizer bunny. He was thrilled to be asked to do any task and actively sought out things to do. Some are not as proactive.

[Portolan]

We have been butled (if this isn't a word, it should be!) on a few cruises. Not a draw, just happened because of suite category. Just so any non-butled cruisers understand, pretty much everything listed by earlier posters is available in any suite:

 

Dinner reservations: on Explorer, there is a dedicated restaurant reservation desk near reception which allows immediate gratification and the flexibility to accept alternate arrangements if your first choice isn't available. It'd be great if this were added on the other ships.

 

Meals, snacks, drinks in room: available through room service...just not as personalized. A butler (if you wish) will bring afternoon snacks everyday automatically.

 

Shoe shining: available in all suites...just leave outside your suite the night before

 

Glasses cleaning: unique to a butled suite, I guess, as it has never come up for us

 

Packing and unpacking: unique to a butled suite though most (like us) don't seem to use it. We have a routine about exactly where things go which would take longer to explain than just do it ourselves.

 

Pick up and deliver laundry: your suite attendant does this, as well

 

Newspaper: this is a Gold and above perk in any suite (or you can pay for it if < Gold)

 

Changing suites between segments: we had to do this on our most recent cruise in a non-butled suite. We rounded up some loose bits and pieces (like toiletries and electronic chargers) and everything was transferred to the exact same position (same suite type) in our new suite while we were on a shore excursion.

 

Bottom line (for us, at least) is that having a butler is a very marginal improvement over the service we get regardless of suite on Regent. Choose the suite, not the butler.

[RachelG]

Totally agree, Scott. I would not pick a suite just because it included a butler.

[WesW]

Scott, on our recent (Jan-Mar) Voyager cruises (Auckland to Singapore, Singapore to Hongkong (Rachel & George were on too) they also had a dedicated reservation pro in close proximity to reception. And as you describe well with a move in a non "butled" suite to another non "butled" suite; our transition was very similar to yours.

[flossie009]

Agree with all the previous posts.

 

We have had a Butler unpack for us - very well done, but took a few days to find everything ;)

 

A couple of times we tried getting the Butler to pack. First time it was perfectly done :D; another time, he had no idea :(

 

 

I have often wondered when getting to airport check-in/security and they ask "Did you pack this case yourself?", what would happen if you said "No, my Butler packed for me"................probably best not to test this out :eek:

[Travelcat2]

Agree with Portolan, Rachel and elbon - our butlers have provided many services. With the exception of one time when we arrived in port very late, we have not asked our butlers to unpack for us. Although they will certainly provide this service for you, I take into consideration how busy they are on embarkation day and I am perfectly capable of unpacking myself (as long as I have a bottle of champagne to sip while I'm unpacking:evilsmile:). They do provide great assistance when you are moving from one suite to another.

 

Once a butler saw us walking down the hall with excursion tickets in our hand. Since it was evening, he inquired if we wanted to cancel an excursion. We were going to do just that and he took care of it for us. In Grand and Master suites, butlers serve at the party (if you decide to have one). This is when I feel like a person who has a butler at home (I wish). He does everything for you while you entertain your guests.

 

All butlers are not equal. We like proactive. butlers. We are so self-sufficient that we may not ask the butler to do anything. A proactive butler will find things that he can do to make your cruise more enjoyable.

 

What we enjoy most about our butlers is the interaction. I could/would not treat a butler as a servant. We enjoy learning about their lives - where they are from - their families - what they are hoping to do in the future. This are very intelligent, interesting young men. We learn much more from them than do from us (IMHO).

[ronrick1943]

First of all you don't pick a suite for a Butler---You pick a suite because of it's size and perks. Once you have that, the Butler just adds to your vacation. Dinner is important to us, the Butler can make everything happen - eating out or in the suite. We enjoy breakfast in the suite-he/she will bring it in at the time you want and set it up. they will do a lot more to make your trip the best. We have 3 cruise's booked on Regent, all suites with a Butler and looking forward to all three cruises. In general they look after you-----------

[Travelcat2]

First of all you don't pick a suite for a Butler---You pick a suite because of it's size and perks. Once you have that, the Butler just adds to your vacation. Dinner is important to us, the Butler can make everything happen - eating out or in the suite. We enjoy breakfast in the suite-he/she will bring it in at the time you want and set it up. they will do a lot more to make your trip the best. We have 3 cruise's booked on Regent, all suites with a Butler and looking forward to all three cruises. In general they look after you-----------

 

The best butler we ever had was on the Riviera. He anticipated our every need. He must have used ESP to figure out where we were having our before dinner drinks because he magically showed up to escort us to dinner. One time we were in our suite (Vista Suite - all the way forward) and I could not walk my heels to the restaurant (which was aft) so I was holding my shoes. He kept wanting to hold them for me but I felt that would be embarrassing so I offered him my Kindle to hold. He was so convincing that he ended up holding my shoes. Although I forget his name, I will never forget his over the top service. IMO, Regent could learn a lot from him in terms of pro-active service.

[purpleally]

We've had a butler three times. Twice the same one luck of the draw. They were both awesome! The second one learned early on he could have fun with us and we did! Any little comment, such as I saw Ruffles being loaded in Alaska) done! He brought ice cream with toppings at 10pm! And, yes afternoon snacks. We just had fun. Oh, he did have a special order Indian dinner made for us and served in our suite! We tried, but, unfortunately, it was the ONE day we got a touch of sea sickness!

[Travelcat2]

We've had a butler three times. Twice the same one luck of the draw. They were both awesome! The second one learned early on he could have fun with us and we did! Any little comment, such as I saw Ruffles being loaded in Alaska) done! He brought ice cream with toppings at 10pm! And, yes afternoon snacks. We just had fun. Oh, he did have a special order Indian dinner made for us and served in our suite! We tried, but, unfortunately, it was the ONE day we got a touch of sea sickness!

 

Really sounds like a great butler!

[ronrick1943]

The best butler we ever had was on the Riviera. He anticipated our every need. He must have used ESP to figure out where we were having our before dinner drinks because he magically showed up to escort us to dinner. One time we were in our suite (Vista Suite - all the way forward) and I could not walk my heels to the restaurant (which was aft) so I was holding my shoes. He kept wanting to hold them for me but I felt that would be embarrassing so I offered him my Kindle to hold. He was so convincing that he ended up holding my shoes. Although I forget his name, I will never forget his over the top service. IMO, Regent could learn a lot from him in terms of pro-active service.

 

My any change was he Mr. Churchill-really great Butler on "O" - We were lucky to have him has our Butler 3 times on "O" out of 8 and he was the best.

Rick

[garyb(uk)]

thanks for all the replies folks

[Caroldoll]

We love our butler and have a very close personal relationship with Pritam who is currently on Oceania but originally Regent. He anticipates our every need and is pure perfection.

[flossie009]

Dinner reservations: on Explorer, there is a dedicated restaurant reservation desk near reception which allows immediate gratification and the flexibility to accept alternate arrangements if your first choice isn't available. It'd be great if this were added on the other ships.

 

I believe that this is being introduced on Regent's other ships. Certainly a restaurant reservation desk was available on Voyager at Christmas

 

 

Changing suites between segments: we had to do this on our most recent cruise in a non-butled suite. We rounded up some loose bits and pieces (like toiletries and electronic chargers) and everything was transferred to the exact same position (same suite type) in our new suite while we were on a shore excursion.

 

They do provide great assistance when you are moving from one suite to another.

 

Agree with Portolan that Regent make moving from one suite to another very easy, whether or not you have the services of a Butler

[Zqueeze1]

We decided on the Penthouse suite as this booking includes Business Class Flight. The Penthouse suite includes a Butler which really doesn't sound us to be honest. I was just wondering what your Butler actually does?

 

Gary:

 

Check out a thread I started in Aug 2015 regarding how to best make use of our butler during an eastern Med cruise. The thread is located at: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2243267&highlight=he+Butler+did+it

Z and TB

[garyb(uk)]

Gary:

 

Check out a thread I started in Aug 2015 regarding how to best make use of our butler during an eastern Med cruise. The thread is located at: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2243267&highlight=he+Butler+did+it

Z and TB

 

Hey,

 

Checked it out and was very entertained LOL. Those afternoon canapes are a bit scary though. Isn't there enough to eat at mealtime without those on top? With my SeeFood diet it could be a bit tricky ;p

 

Anyway your title suggests that great minds...

[Zqueeze1]

Afternoon canapes and wine was definitely a little too much. We made up for it by eating later in the evening, but it definitely did not slow us down. At least The Boss exercised regularly while I limited myself to watching her work out. Thank God for stretchy pants.

 

Z and TB

[Pam]

When we were on a British Isles cruise on Voyager, we checked off the ship for an overnight private excursion. We neglected to tell our butler that we were going to do it, and we got quite a scolding when we got back on board; he was very, very worried about us!

[garyb(uk)]

When we were on a British Isles cruise on Voyager, we checked off the ship for an overnight private excursion. We neglected to tell our butler that we were going to do it, and we got quite a scolding when we got back on board; he was very, very worried about us!

 

not surprised - you need to be careful around those Brits :p