What do you request from your butler for in the Haven? And other stupid questions.

[kitty-sail]

On 3/31/2019 at 11:14 PM, gmbhardy said:

 

The Yacht Club is not half the price of the Haven. Maybe it was at one time but not now, in fact I’ve seen Haven Spa suites cheaper than YC suites. 

I too looked into YC. The only suite that was cheaper than Haven was what MSC calls an 'interior'. Thanks but no thanks. Why spend $$ for a room with no windows.

[janice2348]

1 hour ago, pbenjamin said:

If you have OBC will that be used for this?

I don’t believe so.  I just put it on my account. 

[graphicguy]

4 hours ago, tomservo said:

Did you get charged? My impression was that drinks delivered by butler were not covered by the drink package. 

Was a few years ago.  IIRC, it came out of OBC!  May have changed since then, though!

Edited April 3, 2019 by graphicguy

[janice2348]

15 hours ago, tomservo said:

Let’s say my wife wants to get lunch from Margaritaville, but I don’t want to eat there or pay the cover (or sit and watch her eat). Can the butler bring her lunch from Mville (and just pay her cover) and me lunch from the Haven restaurant?

You probably could if you pay the upcharge.  It depends on the butler.  

[janice2348]

On 3/31/2019 at 11:01 PM, graphicguy said:

You can check with the concierge about walking you off the ship.  I’ve seen groups being walked off, but never done it myself.  Personally, I do the “walk off” option and leave whenever I want.

 

Only had one issue....and that happened only out of NYC on the GEM, and that was because customs didn’t have enough agents to check all the people off the ship.

We had the concierge walk us off.  You should have seen the looks we were getting 😵

[luckyinpa]

On 4/3/2019 at 12:07 PM, janice2348 said:

We had the concierge walk us off.  You should have seen the looks we were getting 😵

 

if you decide to eat breakfast the last day, and you dont make it with the normal haven disembark gang, will they walk our cabin down when we are done breakfast even though we arent in the group. i'm sure we would be done by 830 or 9 at latest and only have carryons. or do they leave at intervals of say, half hour etc.

[Sand and Seas]

Great ideas here!    I am starting a list now.

 I can't see us having dinners in our cabin so I don't envision much use for a butler.....but who knows😉

[GettotheSun]

On 3/30/2019 at 9:14 AM, BirdTravels said:

There are no recommendations. When people ask,,,

 

Butler: $10-$15 per person in room per days of cruise. Example: $10 x 2 people x $7 days = $140

 

Concierge: $5-$10 pp per day

 

Extra room steward tip:  $5-$10 pp per day (for taking care of your large suite). 

 

 

I was unsure myself about tipping.  

 

On the butler example,  if we have 4 in our suite (2 adults 2 kids), this butler is going to have to be a regular Mr. Belvedere to get USD$280 for a week of tips.  The concierge tip example seems more than reasonable.  I'm confused about the room steward tip - I thought that was included in the tips we pay for for the staff on the cruise?  I guess the point is that some rooms / suites are much larger so this is to acknowledge that extra effort?

 

 

Edited December 7, 2019 by GettotheSun

[GettotheSun]

On 4/1/2019 at 7:13 PM, gizfish said:

The cash tip attached to the note is the unreasonable part ; )  The butler traditionally gets tipped at the end of the cruise.  Tipping the butler before they do something is more like a bribe and will probably be insulting to any good butler.  

So I'm new to cruising and cruise butlers,  but I did find this to be a surprising statement.  I've been to many all inclusive resorts - some with butlers (before kids), and I can say those butlers very much appreciated any and all tips, up front / during / at the end.  I also have read quite a few comments about "absentee" butlers - any "good butler" wouldn't be that absent, so I'd hazard a guess that a tip up front or otherwise would likely result in attentiveness.  A butler on a cruise ship "insulted" by a tip?  

[Greenpea2]

30 minutes ago, GettotheSun said:

 

 

I was unsure myself about tipping.  

 

On the butler example,  if we have 4 in our suite (2 adults 2 kids), this butler is going to have to be a regular Mr. Belvedere to get USD$280 for a week of tips.  The concierge tip example seems more than reasonable.  I'm confused about the room steward tip - I thought that was included in the tips we pay for for the staff on the cruise?  I guess the point is that some rooms / suites are much larger so this is to acknowledge that extra effort?

 

 

The per day tipping thing is not done by very many people. The vast majority who have weighed in tend to tip at the end, based on whether they got extra good service, good service or poor/meh service. The room steward's tip is included in the DSC. But a lot of people (myself included) give them a bit extra at the end. Again, depends as to how much. If I never saw my room steward, I doubt I would leave anything extra. But I have been lucky enough to always "connect" with the stewards and felt extremely well taken cared of. Tipping is an individual thing. Go with your gut.

[gizfish]

6 hours ago, GettotheSun said:

So I'm new to cruising and cruise butlers,  but I did find this to be a surprising statement.  I've been to many all inclusive resorts - some with butlers (before kids), and I can say those butlers very much appreciated any and all tips, up front / during / at the end.  I also have read quite a few comments about "absentee" butlers - any "good butler" wouldn't be that absent, so I'd hazard a guess that a tip up front or otherwise would likely result in attentiveness.  A butler on a cruise ship "insulted" by a tip?  

No one is ever going to not like when you give them money, and it's doubtful that the butler would risk offending you by telling you a tip before is insulting. But by its very nature, a tip is something one gives after a service is preformed.  A bribe is something one gives because they fear their expectations won't be met.  A good butler would naturally feel as if you are insulting them by doubting they are going to do their job, which by definition is to meet (or exceeded) your expectations.  And, a "bad" butler is probably still going to be bad if they are "tipped" up front since they already got your money and may now feel like they don't have to try.  Butlers who have provided good service after an up front tip would most likely have done so anyway.  They are just too good at their job to let you know you insulted them.  For all we know their level of service may have been even better had they not started the cruise off on a sour note.

[Hotspring]

On 12/6/2019 at 10:00 AM, luckyinpa said:

 

if you decide to eat breakfast the last day, and you dont make it with the normal haven disembark gang, will they walk our cabin down when we are done breakfast even though we arent in the group. i'm sure we would be done by 830 or 9 at latest and only have carryons. or do they leave at intervals of say, half hour etc.

It has always been experience that when we are ready to go the concierge will send us down the elevators to the front of the line at any time.   We did not have to go with another group or Haven hoard.   Of course, we cleared out of our stateroom by 8:15 or so with or carry on and made it to the Haven restaurant closed (stopped serving) at about 8:30AM.    We already linger on the ships as long as possible the last day, but if remaining in Haven saves standing on lines, we will get by 9:15.

[BirdTravels]

On 12/6/2019 at 1:00 PM, luckyinpa said:

 

if you decide to eat breakfast the last day, and you dont make it with the normal haven disembark gang, will they walk our cabin down when we are done breakfast even though we arent in the group. i'm sure we would be done by 830 or 9 at latest and only have carryons. or do they leave at intervals of say, half hour etc.

There will always be someone to take a group down with the concierge waiting in the private security checkpoint. BUT, Haven or not, you are still expected to vacate your suite by 8:00-8:30 so that your poor room steward can all of their rooms for the next passengers. So you, and carryons need to be out and in a restaurant. Depending on the port, sometimes your escort ends at ship's security. Sometimes, there are Haven escorts to get you around the lines in the terminal and to the baggage hall.  

Edited December 8, 2019 by BirdTravels

[GettotheSun]

On 12/8/2019 at 12:42 AM, gizfish said:

No one is ever going to not like when you give them money, and it's doubtful that the butler would risk offending you by telling you a tip before is insulting. But by its very nature, a tip is something one gives after a service is preformed.  A bribe is something one gives because they fear their expectations won't be met.  A good butler would naturally feel as if you are insulting them by doubting they are going to do their job, which by definition is to meet (or exceeded) your expectations. 

And by very human nature, those who are working crazy hard think a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.  You can call it a bribe, but I think you vastly overstate the appetite of a service worker, working crazy hard, to wait until the end to see what (if any) tips they get.  You wouldn't even tip them at the time of delivering your room service?  That is very odd to me.

 

On 12/8/2019 at 12:42 AM, gizfish said:

And, a "bad" butler is probably still going to be bad if they are "tipped" up front since they already got your money and may now feel like they don't have to try.  Butlers who have provided good service after an up front tip would most likely have done so anyway.  

 

Again you don't understand human nature if you think that a 'bad' butler who is tipped quid pro quo isn't going to do a better job than if I left it to the end to tip.  And by your same argument, the 'good' butler would do his job regardless, because of his / her highest integrity.

 

 

[Greenpea2]

I tried with two different butlers to tip them for room service and both refused and said that it is part of their job, and please no. So no, I don't tip them for room service. I tip them at the end. Have only ever had one somewhat useless, obviously unmotivated Butler and he was like that from the moment I first met him. Not about to pre-tip him with that attitude, lol. 

[GettotheSun]

2 minutes ago, Greenpea2 said:

I tried with two different butlers to tip them for room service and both refused and said that it is part of their job, and please no. So no, I don't tip them for room service. I tip them at the end. Have only ever had one somewhat useless, obviously unmotivated Butler and he was like that from the moment I first met him. Not about to pre-tip him with that attitude, lol. 

 

I get that, if they insist on no tips - then they have educated me on how they want to be rewarded for their job.  But do you think it is inappropriate to offer?  (I'm guessing your answer is 'no' considering you have tried it twice already)

[Greenpea2]

1 hour ago, GettotheSun said:

 

I get that, if they insist on no tips - then they have educated me on how they want to be rewarded for their job.  But do you think it is inappropriate to offer?  (I'm guessing your answer is 'no' considering you have tried it twice already)

I think it's fine to offer with room service. I personally would be very uncomfortable offering a tip upfront for his/her general services. I get the feeling from some other posts that some butlers uncomfortable with that (although I would not assume I know why). And I also feel (again, personally) that tipping in advance is weird and does not make sense. But I also think people should do whatever they are comfortable with. Tipping--both when you do and how much--is a very individual, personal thing.  

[Sailing12Away]

On 12/6/2019 at 7:21 PM, Sand and Seas said:

Great ideas here!    I am starting a list now.

 I can't see us having dinners in our cabin so I don't envision much use for a butler.....but who knows😉

We didn't think we would use our butler either, but breakfast in the room on early morning port excursion days was nice without having to fight for a seat in the buffet when trying to be quick. On our one day at sea we got a big breakfast then left the do not disturb sign up and lunged around munching all day.

 

Outside of breakfast, our butler was 100% useless, so we ended up tipping the cabin steward more than the butler...

[gizfish]

Bringing your room service is part of their regular job. It's not the same as when you are not in the haven and a random person brings room service.  So tipping them separately for bringing room service would be like if the woman who cuts your hair also shampooed it instead of a "shampoo girl" doing it, and you tipped her after the shampoo and again after the cut and color.  The exception to this is at night when your butler is off duty and the night butler brings you  room service.  You may want to tip for that.  Although I believe they rotate whose turn it is to be night butler and probably have some sort of agreement between themselves about how they handle that.  

[Greenpea2]

5 hours ago, gizfish said:

Bringing your room service is part of their regular job. It's not the same as when you are not in the haven and a random person brings room service.  So tipping them separately for bringing room service would be like if the woman who cuts your hair also shampooed it instead of a "shampoo girl" doing it, and you tipped her after the shampoo and again after the cut and color.  The exception to this is at night when your butler is off duty and the night butler brings you  room service.  You may want to tip for that.  Although I believe they rotate whose turn it is to be night butler and probably have some sort of agreement between themselves about how they handle that.  

I totally agree. gizfish. I have always tipped the night butler. That's a good point. 🙂

[GettotheSun]

19 hours ago, gizfish said:

Bringing your room service is part of their regular job. It's not the same as when you are not in the haven and a random person brings room service.  So tipping them separately for bringing room service would be like if the woman who cuts your hair also shampooed it instead of a "shampoo girl" doing it, and you tipped her after the shampoo and again after the cut and color.  The exception to this is at night when your butler is off duty and the night butler brings you  room service.  You may want to tip for that.  Although I believe they rotate whose turn it is to be night butler and probably have some sort of agreement between themselves about how they handle that.  

I'm not familiar with the shampoo girl analogy, but I get your point.  It's odd how there is no real agreed upon protocol on tipping - sorry just my observation. 

 

I didn't even know there was an off-duty butler.  I guess if it is "24 hours", that makes sense.  I feel bad for the butler working that shift, yikes.

 

[RolandofGilead]

I was just on the breakaway over thanksgiving with 4 kids in the two room suite by myself.  The room service was great for when i did not feel like messing with a restaurant or buffet for breakfast or lunch. It was super valuable on disembarkation day to fill out what we wanted for breakfast and eat in the room before leaving.

 

The one thing I would recommend is telling your butler and steward what your schedule will typically be like so can know when you want service/ snacks.  we get up early and are usually back to the room for a short bit before lunch to change/ clean up so the steward would usually get to our room first so that he is not stuck in our room when we return.  My kids usually eat early (5:30-6:00) and go to bed early (8:00-9:00) so the steward would pull down the loft bed and make up the couch bed first when he started his evening rounds about 6:30 so that they were ready when it was time for them to go to bed.  The butler knew our schedule and would bring items around that and knew when to check in.

 

I did tell my kids that they were not aloud in the pool area or lounge so as to not disturb the adult guests (they did however sneak in to grab a couple cookies).

 

One nice thing to take advantage of is that i asked the concierge if my family elsewhere on the ship could disembark with us as they had early flights.  We were given extra priority luggage tags for them and they were able to meet us in our room and be escorted off with us.

[erdoran]

Ummm....about extra tips for steward because he/she has to work harder because you are in a bigger room?  Hotel manager at a Q&A session said stewards are all assigned cleaning by “space”.  I read that as the Haven/suite stewards have fewer rooms to clean than a balcony/inside/studio steward.  

 

Not to say you shouldn’t tip extra, I absolutely do because our stewards in Haven have always delivered outstanding service and have been properly rewarded - but it’s for the service quality, NOT because of any sense of obligation because our room is bigger.  That’s what the DSC is for.

[solle1]

On 3/29/2019 at 5:13 PM, slugg said:

I recently upgraded to a Haven suite. Woohoo! But the first thing that comes to mind is "what do I even do with a butler?" I'm just not that fancy. I've never had a butler and I have no concept of them. I've seen Batman, and Alfred is a badass, but I doubt that training to become a superhero is the best way to utilize a butler on NCL. So.... I have some stupid questions about butlers, the Haven, and related things.

**************************************************************************************************

My butler was implicated and I didn't know if he did it or not .

 

On 3/29/2019 at 5:13 PM, slugg said:

 

🙂

 

[Kalum]

9 hours ago, RolandofGilead said:

 

 

I did tell my kids that they were not aloud in the pool area or lounge so as to not disturb the adult guests (they did however sneak in to grab a couple cookies).

I would never do that, because all paid for it. And kids do make some noise,  they are kids!

If adults want it quiet, go rent a private yacht or use the outside haven deck.

I tell my kids we are not alone there and not to scream. But if they are running and it gets a bit louder some time,  hey they are kids.

Do drunk adults or loud speakers, how often do I have to listen to the conversations when I am in the restaurant and dont want to, look out for you? no.