Butler in Haven and grats

[barbatkins]

I’m curious....do all cabins in the Haven have a Butler?  What does the Butler actually do?

and how much  are the extra gratuities for the Butler?

 

thanks

[BNBR]

The Butler is a glorified food runner.  They do very little.  They are not actual butlers and really shouldn't be using the term "butler."  It's basically more personalized room service.  If you want to bug your butler to provide you a meal in your stateroom, they will.  But otherwise they basically drop off a try of snacks every afternoon and you may never see them again.

 

It's expected that you will tip them separately from the service charge.  If you don't use them for anything at all, and they just drop off food in the afternoons, I think $20 - $40 is reasonable.

Edited November 1, 2018 by BNBR

[BEACHBARB]

5 minutes ago, BNBR said:

The Butler is a glorified food runner.  They do very little.  They are not actual butlers and really shouldn't be using the term "butler."  It's basically more personalized room service.  If you want to bug your butler to provide you a meal in your stateroom, they will.  But otherwise they basically drop off a try of snacks every afternoon and you may never see them again.

 

It's expected that you will tip them separately from the service charge.  If you don't use them for anything at all, and they just drop off food in the afternoons, I think $20 - $40 is reasonable.

 

 

Our experience with the 2 butlers we've had was awesome.  There isn't anything you ask that they won't do.  You carry the phone around with you and call them from anywhere on the ship and ask them for whatever.  If you left you glasses in your cabin and are in a restaurant at the other end of the ship - they'll get them for you.  There is no real guideline on how much to tip.  Depends on how much you use them.  We had Roland (who was so funny) and Seka (who was also funny and wonderful).  

[pieshops]

2 minutes ago, BNBR said:

The Butler is a glorified food runner.  They do very little.  They are not actual butlers and really shouldn't be using the term "butler."  It's basically more personalized room service.  If you want to bug your butler to provide you a meal in your stateroom, they will.  But otherwise they basically drop off a try of snacks every afternoon and you may never see them again.

 

It's expected that you will tip them separately from the service charge.  If you don't use them for anything at all, and they just drop off food in the afternoons, I think $20 - $40 is reasonable.

not sure what your experience with NCL;s butlers are but you are not even close.   

There are a ton of things they can do to make your trip more enjoyable, if you do not request anything they will bring you snacks every day .  Some things they can do are, unpack for you, have a dinner in your room for you or if you want to have some guests that is fine also ( you can even order apps from one restaurant, entree from another and dessert from another) they will arrange a sail away party with food in your room or like we are doing on our forward facing penthouse on the Panama canal cruise they will bring snacks and apps so you can enjoy the views from your balcony. they can also provide this service on any occasion.  They will also get you random snacks for instance if you or your kids like gummy bears or m and m's let them know and they will make sure they are always in your room

There is also a phone in each room that is portable and you can bring it with you and say you are sitting by the main pool and want a special snack etc - call them and they will bring it for you or if you forgot something in your room, just ask and it will appear.  If you want something specific sticked in your frig again just ask, we get a bottle of vodka on day one and then ask the butler to make sure there are various juices and lemons and limes in the frig and it is done

Also regular room service but not just regular, no charge room service pretty much any breakfast you want just ask

[pieshops]

oh and tip wise, really depends on how much you use them, we start at 10 dollars per person per day, some do more some do less but that us our starting point

 

[Sam Ting]

The Butler was useless to us as well.  We left zero and didn’t think twice about it. 

[tgloersen]

28 minutes ago, BEACHBARB said:

 

 

Our experience with the 2 butlers we've had was awesome.  There isn't anything you ask that they won't do.  You carry the phone around with you and call them from anywhere on the ship and ask them for whatever.  If you left you glasses in your cabin and are in a restaurant at the other end of the ship - they'll get them for you.  There is no real guideline on how much to tip.  Depends on how much you use them.  We had Roland (who was so funny) and Seka (who was also funny and wonderful).  

We had Seka on our BA cruise, she was awesome!

 

[Georgia_Peaches]

29 minutes ago, pieshops said:

not sure what your experience with NCL;s butlers are but you are not even close.   

There are a ton of things they can do to make your trip more enjoyable, if you do not request anything they will bring you snacks every day .  Some things they can do are, unpack for you, have a dinner in your room for you or if you want to have some guests that is fine also ( you can even order apps from one restaurant, entree from another and dessert from another) they will arrange a sail away party with food in your room or like we are doing on our forward facing penthouse on the Panama canal cruise they will bring snacks and apps so you can enjoy the views from your balcony. they can also provide this service on any occasion.  They will also get you random snacks for instance if you or your kids like gummy bears or m and m's let them know and they will make sure they are always in your room

There is also a phone in each room that is portable and you can bring it with you and say you are sitting by the main pool and want a special snack etc - call them and they will bring it for you or if you forgot something in your room, just ask and it will appear.  If you want something specific sticked in your frig again just ask, we get a bottle of vodka on day one and then ask the butler to make sure there are various juices and lemons and limes in the frig and it is done

Also regular room service but not just regular, no charge room service pretty much any breakfast you want just ask

Although what you describe sounds great and I appreciate the elaboration, what you have just detailed is what another poster referred to as a "glorified food runner".  Don't get me wrong, we will use our butler for lots of the food related items you described but I can't say I'd be all that comfortable having my butler unpack for me or bring me something I'd forgotten in my room.  I wouldn't feel good about that and I'm probably not alone in that.  So that leaves food running and perhaps help with reservations.  Either way, I'm glad to have one if I need it (him/her).

As for grats...well that's very subjective to each individual experience and I don't think it can be standardized.  Tip as you see fit.

Edited November 1, 2018 by Georgia_Peaches

[njkate]

8 minutes ago, Sam Ting said:

The Butler was useless to us as well.  We left zero and didn’t think twice about it. 

Unfortunately we had the same issue with this Seeka everyone raves about, the ONLY time we saw her after we boarded was the last night when she came to pick up the snack trays that prior she never did, and again the next morning the day of disembarking she was knocking at the door.

 

We saw the night butler quite a bit ordering room service and we did indeed tip him.

[njkate]

6 minutes ago, tgloersen said:

We had Seka on our BA cruise, she was awesome!

 

Glad you had a good experience, for us she sucked, never saw her

Not sure if that's because she had several large families with kids and they were running her ragged 

Edited November 1, 2018 by njkate

[pieshops]

4 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Although what you describe sounds great and I appreciate the elaboration, what you have just detailed is what another poster referred to as a "glorified food runner".  Don't get me wrong, we will use our butler for lots of the food related items you described but I can't say I'd be all that comfortable having my butler unpack for me or bring me something I'd forgotten in my room.  I wouldn't feel good about that and I'm probably not alone in that.  So that leaves food running and perhaps help with reservations.  Either way, I'm glad to have one if I need it (him/her).

we can agree to disagree with the description - every time we have ever had a butler they have added significantly to our overall cruise experience and a "glorified food runner" would not have that effect.

 

[njkate]

4 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

Although what you describe sounds great and I appreciate the elaboration, what you have just detailed is what another poster referred to as a "glorified food runner".  Don't get me wrong, we will use our butler for lots of the food related items you described but I can't say I'd be all that comfortable having my butler unpack for me or bring me something I'd forgotten in my room.  I wouldn't feel good about that and I'm probably not alone in that.  So that leaves food running and perhaps help with reservations.  Either way, I'm glad to have one if I need it (him/her).

Some never use them, some run them ragged so depending on your use I would tip accordingly

[Georgia_Peaches]

1 minute ago, pieshops said:

we can agree to disagree with the description - very time we have ever had a butler they have added significantly to our overall cruise experience and a "glorified food runner" would not have that effect.

 

I can appreciate that and hope to find out in a few weeks 

[BNBR]

36 minutes ago, pieshops said:

not sure what your experience with NCL;s butlers are but you are not even close.   

There are a ton of things they can do to make your trip more enjoyable, if you do not request anything they will bring you snacks every day .  Some things they can do are, unpack for you, have a dinner in your room for you or if you want to have some guests that is fine also ( you can even order apps from one restaurant, entree from another and dessert from another) they will arrange a sail away party with food in your room or like we are doing on our forward facing penthouse on the Panama canal cruise they will bring snacks and apps so you can enjoy the views from your balcony. they can also provide this service on any occasion.  They will also get you random snacks for instance if you or your kids like gummy bears or m and m's let them know and they will make sure they are always in your room

There is also a phone in each room that is portable and you can bring it with you and say you are sitting by the main pool and want a special snack etc - call them and they will bring it for you or if you forgot something in your room, just ask and it will appear.  If you want something specific sticked in your frig again just ask, we get a bottle of vodka on day one and then ask the butler to make sure there are various juices and lemons and limes in the frig and it is done

Also regular room service but not just regular, no charge room service pretty much any breakfast you want just ask

 

As yet another poster corrected you on, you are describing a glorified food runner.  And in my post I also said "more personalized room service" - that's literally your elaboration of which you claim I'm "not even close."

 

 

[BNBR]

14 minutes ago, Georgia_Peaches said:

So that leaves food running and perhaps help with reservations. 

 

They don't even do that.  Reservations would be with the concierge.  Your butler will, I guess, unpack for you and if you want them to run ragged and bring you your sunglasses from your room, I guess you can do that, too.  But otherwise, as you have seen from the "not even close" elaboration, they will bring food at your request and that's about all they are good for.

 

We didn't see much value in the butler and I could easily do without.  They can't even bring you drinks off your drink package, either.  So I would say if you want to eat/drink in your room they would be great but they can't even do that.  It's pretty easy to walk out in to the Haven and grab snacks and a drink at the bar to enjoy in your room.  If you really, really love room service and eating in your room, then the Butler may have some value.  Otherwise they really aren't worth the extra tip.

[njkate]

7 minutes ago, BNBR said:

 

They don't even do that.  Reservations would be with the concierge.  Your butler will, I guess, unpack for you and if you want them to run ragged and bring you your sunglasses from your room, I guess you can do that, too.  But otherwise, as you have seen from the "not even close" elaboration, they will bring food at your request and that's about all they are good for.

 

We didn't see much value in the butler and I could easily do without.  They can't even bring you drinks off your drink package, either.  So I would say if you want to eat/drink in your room they would be great but they can't even do that.  It's pretty easy to walk out in to the Haven and grab snacks and a drink at the bar to enjoy in your room.  If you really, really love room service and eating in your room, then the Butler may have some value.  Otherwise they really aren't worth the extra tip.

I totally agree. we are not the type to have butler unpack, fetch my glasses etc. The only thing she did is bring the afternoon snacks of which she had a cart going to all rooms so part of her duties. We never requested anything special. We used the night butler more with late night room service.

 

That said if someone is the type that wants pampering with suit case unpacked, having butler fetch things and bring them half way across the ship, serving breakfast or dinner in cabin they need to tip accordingly.

 

The ONLY plus for us in the Haven was we were on the BA on Baltic cruise, totally booked ship, so to have a quiet restaurant and bar, quiet pool area to go to was huge perk, otherwise not worth the exorbitant charge.

Edited November 1, 2018 by njkate

[Two Wheels Only]

Most people mention something related to food because that's what most people use their butler for. There are other uses for the butler but most never want/need those services.

 

A butler can help an elderly guest tie a tie or shoe if the guest has arthritis issues or Parkinson's. Most people wouldn't think of that but I'm sure that those who need help certainly appreciate it.

 

Someone with mobility issues who left their book at a show can pick up the phone and have the butler retrieve the book and deliver it to the stateroom. If anyone leaves something somewhere, the butler can get it. Lazy? Perhaps but one could argue that the concept of a butler in general is based on someone being lazy.

 

Anyway, the more creative someone is with their butler, the more they will use the service and should tip accordingly.

 

 

[BNBR]

2 minutes ago, Two Wheels Only said:

Most people mention something related to food because that's what most people use their butler for. There are other uses for the butler but most never want/need those services.

 

A butler can help an elderly guest tie a tie or shoe if the guest has arthritis issues or Parkinson's. Most people wouldn't think of that but I'm sure that those who need help certainly appreciate it.

 

Someone with mobility issues who left their book at a show can pick up the phone and have the butler retrieve the book and deliver it to the stateroom. If anyone leaves something somewhere, the butler can get it. Lazy? Perhaps but one could argue that the concept of a butler in general is based on someone being lazy.

 

Anyway, the more creative someone is with their butler, the more they will use the service and should tip accordingly.

 

 

 

The issue is that the butler doesn't actually do THAT much on NCL. Not like a Genie on Royal.  The Genie will hold front row seats for you at a show, walk you on and off the ship, handle all of your reservations, bring all the booze you want (no extra charge), etc.  They do so much more.  Things that you would think a "butler" would do.  So when I call them a glorified food runner, it's because they don't really do all that much more than handle room service for you at a higher level than calling an order in.  Yes, you can request them to help with a few minor things like to tie a shoe for you..  But that's not something 99% of guests are going to need.  You do point out a few good ideas though for those who may be more mobility challenged and I'll keep that in mind in the future when others ask about butlers and what they can do 🙂

[BNBR]

7 minutes ago, njkate said:

That said if someone is the type that wants pampering with suit case unpacked, having butler fetch things and bring them half way across the ship, serving breakfast or dinner in cabin they need to tip accordingly.

 

I didn't get that kind of vibe from the butler.  As in, asking them to unpack your suitcase would have felt awkward.  They introduce themselves to you and it's really just about snack preferences and what not.  There wasn't a real "personal butler" type vibe, more like, "I need to get through this to get to my other 14 rooms."

[Two Wheels Only]

Butler service on MSC is more "butlerish" than on NCL. You still "share" your butler with others but your butler is more visable outside of the stateroom. Your butler or someone else's butler will provide service at the pool deck, provide escort at ports, etc.

[BNBR]

1 minute ago, Two Wheels Only said:

Butler service on MSC is more "butlerish" than on NCL. You still "share" your butler with others but your butler is more visable outside of the stateroom. Your butler or someone else's butler will provide service at the pool deck, provide escort at ports, etc.

 

Good info.  We have been strongly considering a Yacht Club booking.

[tgloersen]

1 hour ago, njkate said:

Glad you had a good experience, for us she sucked, never saw her

Not sure if that's because she had several large families with kids and they were running her ragged 

We did not user her very much as we are pretty self sufficient, a dinner one night and a few minor requests. But she always checked in on us to make sure there was anything we needed.  We spoke with her a bit on our last day, we always saw her running around, she was assigned about 20 cabins for our cruise.

[sverigecruiser]

2 hours ago, njkate said:

Glad you had a good experience, for us she sucked, never saw her

Not sure if that's because she had several large families with kids and they were running her ragged 

 

How many times did you called her and she never came? Did you talked to the concierge about it?

Edited November 1, 2018 by sverigecruiser

[coondogg97]

I think it really depends on the butler that you have. I have had some butlers get mad because we were not using them enough and I have had other butlers get aggravated because we asked for food after 10pm. I always give them the benefit of the doubt, but you can usually tell by the second day what kind of service they will provide. 

 

The last big trip I went on as a group we had five rooms in the Haven. Half of us had one butler the other had a different butler. There was a clear difference in each of their skill set.

[YVRBassElectric]

DH is waiting for hip replacement surgery & started using a cane less than a month before our cruise. When we were on Deck 6 and realized he had forgotten his cane, it was really nice to be able to call our butler and ask her to bring it. 

We went directly from port to lunch, so we had our shopping with us when we ran into the Butler, he insisted on taking it to the cabin (Deck 13 AFT).