Ncl Butler Tipping

[MasterCoach]

I wonder how the model has developed for tipping butlers on cruise ships. For Example in some hotels that offer butler service you pay a higher room rate for the room plus an additional 5% of the room rate as a gratuity.   On many of the luxury cruises tipping the butler is not expected since the Butlers are paid a higher salary and there service is part of the perk.  Some of the luxury cruise ships have instituted a no tipping policy. Seems that cruise lines are creating new models for gratuities that are in reality salary subsidies.  

[Birdie And Sue]

There is no suggested, normal, usual, typical, recommended, acceptable, advised, appropriate, approved, condoned, good, preferred, regular, ideal, expected, or standard amount to tip anyone.  Tip what you want to tip at any time.  Give that tip to whichever person you want to tip.  End of story.  What anyone else chooses to tip is of no concern at all.

[MasterCoach]

On 3/26/2018 at 5:14 AM, modern said:

We are going on the NCL Dawn in 2019, a seven day cruise, and are staying in the 3 bedroom garden villa. We will have a butler and I was wonder how much to tip the butler? If anyone has stayed in the room and has an idea that would be great, or if you know how much to tip that would help too.

 

 

I found this article helpful - got it from the cruise critic site - it has suggested Butler gratuities 

 

 https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=132

[bobsfamily]

On 2/28/2019 at 4:34 AM, Realdeal80 said:

when the dealer left he banged his tip box off the table. I was kinda *****? Lady that came on next said the get paid only off our tips. 

 

That was past rude, I would have reported the dealer! You can "tip" and I have but I've never felt the dealer was waiting on a tip.  It's your money, not theirs... and the lady was probably saying that to get exactly what you did.

Now back to tipping of butlers

[pghflyer]

Interesting discussion. I was considering bidding on an upgrade from a balcony to a suite for a 14-night cruise and wondering what other costs may be involved that I wasn't seeing....so our upgrade amount....plus $3 per person/ day service charge increase....plus the potential need to tip a butler/ concierge.  I generally agree with others that say you should tip for services you use satisfactorily delivered.  We are independent travelers and really only want the suite for bigger balcony and slightly nicer room layout - we haven't in the past and can't imagine using any extra services.....so it sounds like probably about $4 per person/ day for butler would be a basic tip for our use. Not clear if we would use a concierge at all so not sure there.

 

I saw this too, just BTW (seems a little aged since it references NCL as $12 per day) 

https://www.frommers.com/tips/cruise/cruise-tipping-how-gratuitous-do-you-feel

 

So all the sudden our $xxx bid for an upgrade is actually $200 more because of the extra gratuities in a suite.

[Momma Rene]

1 hour ago, pghflyer said:

Interesting discussion. I was considering bidding on an upgrade from a balcony to a suite for a 14-night cruise and wondering what other costs may be involved that I wasn't seeing....so our upgrade amount....plus $3 per person/ day service charge increase....plus the potential need to tip a butler/ concierge.  I generally agree with others that say you should tip for services you use satisfactorily delivered.  We are independent travelers and really only want the suite for bigger balcony and slightly nicer room layout - we haven't in the past and can't imagine using any extra services.....so it sounds like probably about $4 per person/ day for butler would be a basic tip for our use. Not clear if we would use a concierge at all so not sure there.

 

I saw this too, just BTW (seems a little aged since it references NCL as $12 per day) 

https://www.frommers.com/tips/cruise/cruise-tipping-how-gratuitous-do-you-feel

 

So all the sudden our $xxx bid for an upgrade is actually $200 more because of the extra gratuities in a suite.

Yes.  And don't forget the concierage.  She was key to us resolving many issues with the Butler.  So you pay higher gratituties to be in the haven plus you have to tip additionally to the butler, concierage, etc.

[lanceholt]

We take  14 day cruises, nearly always in a suite.  We tip according to service.  We once had a butler who was horrible, so he got no tip.  Likewise we once had a concierge who appeared only on last day of cruise....thinking of her tip obviously, she always got nothing.  We tip a very good concierge $150 or above and tip a very good butler $100 or a little more.   We also tip our steward around $50 and more if he is very good.  YMMV.  There are no "rules".  

[themnms]

4 hours ago, lanceholt said:

We take  14 day cruises, nearly always in a suite.  We tip according to service.  We once had a butler who was horrible, so he got no tip.  Likewise we once had a concierge who appeared only on last day of cruise....thinking of her tip obviously, she always got nothing.  We tip a very good concierge $150 or above and tip a very good butler $100 or a little more.   We also tip our steward around $50 and more if he is very good.  YMMV.  There are no "rules".  

Is this based on cabin or PP? Just wondering. We did a suite once and left approx the same but the butler had the 150 and concierge 100. This was because we felt the butler was more on point!

[lanceholt]

3 hours ago, themnms said:

Is this based on cabin or PP? Just wondering. We did a suite once and left approx the same but the butler had the 150 and concierge 100. This was because we felt the butler was more on point!

This is per cabin.  We find that we use the concierge a lot and that makes a huge difference in the quality of our cruise.  A good concierge can ease so many things for you on your cruise, and we reward that.  We use the butler for room service and of course he/she provides the usual service delivered in suites.....last really great butler we had has been promoted to concierge.

[FLAHAM]

One reason I tip well in the Haven is a very strong suspicion that quite a few cabins tip minimally or not at all. 

[themnms]

2 hours ago, lanceholt said:

This is per cabin.  We find that we use the concierge a lot and that makes a huge difference in the quality of our cruise.  A good concierge can ease so many things for you on your cruise, and we reward that.  We use the butler for room service and of course he/she provides the usual service delivered in suites.....last really great butler we had has been promoted to concierge.

thanks for all your help!!

[shythom]

On 3/26/2018 at 8:18 AM, BirdTravels said:

When people ask,,,,

 

Butler: $10-$15 per person in room per day of cruise.

 

 

Concierge: $5-$10 per person in room per day of cruise.

 

 

Steward (who is covered by the DSC): $5-$10 per person in room per day of cruise extra to service your large room

Thank you! Just to clarify this is on top of the automatic gratuities added to the bill daily, correct?

[don't-use-real-name]

45 minutes ago, shythom said:

Thank you! Just to clarify this is on top of the automatic gratuities added to the bill daily, correct?

The Concierge Butler and the Room Steward tips would be for services related to your cabin or

services personal to you - the automatic gratuities (DSC for one) beverages and dining are a

separate issue apart from the tips.

Don't overpay the automatic gratuities

The C B & RS adjust as necessary nothing automatic here !

[Sadiesmom50]

We are cruising in Jan 2022 and have a suite however the couple we are cruising with have a balcony.  Can they join us for breakfast or lunch??

Edited December 19, 2021 by Sadiesmom50
To cancel post it is in the wrong place

[BirdTravels]

3 hours ago, Sadiesmom50 said:

We are cruising in Jan 2022 and have a suite however the couple we are cruising with have a balcony.  Can they join us for breakfast or lunch??

Based on availability, the restaurant manager may allow you to pay to bring guests. 

[Kirk2121]

On 12/19/2021 at 4:26 PM, BirdTravels said:

Based on availability, the restaurant manager may allow you to pay to bring guests. 

Gf n i are currently on a back to back on encore.  Awesome fun. 

 

We're cruising end of feb & got offer to bid on haven.  Gf is turning 50 week before our cruise. 

 

We've never been in the haven. 

 

We're considering bidding on owners suite.  Which is quite alot of money to us but seems like once in lifetime.  & then we probably won't leave the ship if we get into haven.  & we are looking at potentially starting a bed & breakfast.  So probably hopefully teach us how some people like to be served. 

 

I've never talked to a butler in my life nor has my gf.  We've never used a concierge.  We're from Midwest & middle class. 

 

How could we run them ragged?  My gf only likes the red m&m's pls pick out only the red ones for her.  Lol jk 🙂

 

On current cruise i really would be happy if our steward just gave us 6 towels every 3 days & quit disturbing us.

 

On this cruise Big Shows are pretty much canceled & can walk into all shows.  I pretty much self service on shore excursions.  Use app click buy. 

 

My gf bday. 

She likes beef stroganoff.  Order Private meal of that & her favorite desert creme Brule? 

Have them teach us some table manners? 

 

& i plan to tip.  I'm just trying to see what we could use them for? Any great stories of concierges/butlers providing extraordinary service? 

 

Thanks in advance.  I'm pretty ignorant when it comes to butlers & concierges. 

 

Edit: just tried the laundry service.  Haven't ever used a laundry service except when in military.  So cool how it came back all folded & in a basket.

Edited January 14, 2022 by Kirk2121

[MoCruiseFan]

On 3/26/2018 at 8:14 AM, modern said:

We are going on the NCL Dawn in 2019, a seven day cruise, and are staying in the 3 bedroom garden villa. We will have a butler and I was wonder how much to tip the butler? If anyone has stayed in the room and has an idea that would be great, or if you know how much to tip that would help too.

 

 

 

The right answer (as always) is tip whomever you want, however much you want, any time you want.  There is no recommended, typical, usual, stipulated, or suggested amount to tip.  What others give and to whom they give it is 100% irrelevant.

[Landl cruiser]

9 hours ago, MoCruiseFan said:

 

The right answer (as always) is tip whomever you want, however much you want, any time you want.  There is no recommended, typical, usual, stipulated, or suggested amount to tip.  What others give and to whom they give it is 100% irrelevant.

 

I agree 100%

[Hutcha]

9 hours ago, MoCruiseFan said:

 

The right answer (as always) is tip whomever you want, however much you want, any time you want.  There is no recommended, typical, usual, stipulated, or suggested amount to tip.  What others give and to whom they give it is 100% irrelevant.

I respectfully disagree. People ask this question, all of the time, because there is a usual. It's the average of what people tip. If this is a person's first time in the Haven, they want to know a range where their tip should fall. No one wants to under tip someone, so having a rough range ($10-20 pp per day) gives them a starting point. From there, you can decide what you're comfortable with.

[vacation44]

2 minutes ago, Hutcha said:

I respectfully disagree. People ask this question, all of the time, because there is a usual. It's the average of what people tip. If this is a person's first time in the Haven, they want to know a range where their tip should fall. No one wants to under tip someone, so having a rough range ($10-20 pp per day) gives them a starting point. From there, you can decide what you're comfortable with.

And I agree with you.

[SpainAlien]

2 hours ago, Hutcha said:

I respectfully disagree. People ask this question, all of the time, because there is a usual. It's the average of what people tip. If this is a person's first time in the Haven, they want to know a range where their tip should fall. No one wants to under tip someone, so having a rough range ($10-20 pp per day) gives them a starting point. From there, you can decide what you're comfortable with.

I am sorry but I disagree that $10-$20 pppd is a starting point. For example we did not use the butler or concierge service at all, we saw the afternoon snacks being dropped off and it was NOT by our butler, we didn't even use the tea/coffee. We did tip but not $10pppd which would have been $140 for no interaction with us at all!  The butlers are paid to be there anyway (more than the room stewards) so I say tip them based on on how much you use them.

[ECCruise]

15 minutes ago, SpainAlien said:

I am sorry but I disagree that $10-$20 pppd is a starting point. For example we did not use the butler or concierge service at all, we saw the afternoon snacks being dropped off and it was NOT by our butler, we didn't even use the tea/coffee. We did tip but not $10pppd which would have been $140 for no interaction with us at all!  The butlers are paid to be there anyway (more than the room stewards) so I say tip them based on on how much you use them.

Totally agree.  We barely use the Butler at all (maybe 2 or 3 delivered breakfasts in a 14-21 day sailing and tell him or her to only bring certain afternoon canapes a handful of times).  Never use "escort service" (yuck) or any of the other amenities that a Butler can provide.  Others are comfortable with those amenities and that's fine but it's just not for us.  And to tip close to $500 for that level of service is not even on our radar. 

[Two Wheels Only]

3 hours ago, Hutcha said:

I respectfully disagree. People ask this question, all of the time, because there is a usual.

 

I think people ask because they want to "fit in" and tip what others tip. Instead, people should tip whatever amount that THEY feel is appropriate no matter what others tip.

 

3 hours ago, Hutcha said:

If this is a person's first time in the Haven, they want to know a range where their tip should fall.

 

Why? Are they afraid to tip too much or too little?

 

3 hours ago, Hutcha said:

No one wants to under tip someone, so having a rough range ($10-20 pp per day) gives them a starting point.

 

It is impossible to under tip someone. Each person decides for themself what is correct. Others can have an opinion that someone under tipped but others don't get a vote since it is neither their money nor their experience.

 

3 hours ago, Hutcha said:

From there, you can decide what you're comfortable with.

 

You (and only you) can decide that without input from anyone on the forum. If every forum member answered "...$100 per person per day..." would the person who asked tip differently? No, the person who asked would tip whatever amount that they thought was appropriate before they asked.

 

13 hours ago, MoCruiseFan said:

What others give and to whom they give it is 100% irrelevant.

 

^^^ 100% the correct response to the question.

[Trimone]

They should be grateful you are stupid enough to cruise in winter with Covid rife… No tip you be thankful you have a job…

 

[ECCruise]

15 minutes ago, Trimone said:

They should be grateful you are stupid enough to cruise in winter with Covid rife… No tip you be thankful you have a job…

 

Not at what their pay is without tips, they shouldn't be "grateful" they have a job.

Rude.

And terribly uninformed I am afraid.