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

[wilmingtech]

I'm not going to say it's right or wrong but I will weigh in here and say there is a stigma in high end hotels/resorts about getting tipped "per service." 

 

If you have ever stayed at a Mandarin Oriental hotel, the service is impeccable but you will be asked not to hand out tips even to your porter, bellman, ect.  This is the culture at many over the top locations where a nights stay might be the cost of a day or two of middle class wages.

 

The reason behind this is that the establishment sees putting your hand out for a tip at every step of the guests interaction with the hotel can not only be annoying but gives the stigma of lower class "begging".  Not only that but by guests tipping it creates the culture of employees "expecting" a tip each time as well as creating different service levels to guests (eg: Even if an employ tried to treat each guest the same, it's hard not to favor someone who handed you a 100$ for carrying bags to the room)   So tipping at the end of the stay in a single envelope for all services is the norm.  (and individual tips in an envelope by name)

 

This may be different in the dining room and bar but still its expected to tip at the end of service rather than each time you get a drink as you would tip at the end of a meal.

 

A well trained butler  would never expect a tip nor wait with their hand out at time of service.  It focuses more on the tip rather than the service being provided.  

 

Just my 2c.

 

Let the bickering resume...

 

 

[Greenpea2]

6 hours ago, wilmingtech said:

I'm not going to say it's right or wrong but I will weigh in here and say there is a stigma in high end hotels/resorts about getting tipped "per service." 

 

If you have ever stayed at a Mandarin Oriental hotel, the service is impeccable but you will be asked not to hand out tips even to your porter, bellman, ect.  This is the culture at many over the top locations where a nights stay might be the cost of a day or two of middle class wages.

 

The reason behind this is that the establishment sees putting your hand out for a tip at every step of the guests interaction with the hotel can not only be annoying but gives the stigma of lower class "begging".  Not only that but by guests tipping it creates the culture of employees "expecting" a tip each time as well as creating different service levels to guests (eg: Even if an employ tried to treat each guest the same, it's hard not to favor someone who handed you a 100$ for carrying bags to the room)   So tipping at the end of the stay in a single envelope for all services is the norm.  (and individual tips in an envelope by name)

 

This may be different in the dining room and bar but still its expected to tip at the end of service rather than each time you get a drink as you would tip at the end of a meal.

 

A well trained butler  would never expect a tip nor wait with their hand out at time of service.  It focuses more on the tip rather than the service being provided.  

 

Just my 2c.

 

Let the bickering resume...

 

 

No bickering from me. I agree with you.

Edited December 19, 2019 by Greenpea2

[CathieZC]

Can the Concierge help with shows like the Beatles, dueling pianos and the comedy acts ?

[forgotmyCCname]

6 hours ago, CathieZC said:

Can the Concierge help with shows like the Beatles, dueling pianos and the comedy acts ?

We have always been able to get seats in the comedy clubs; there are no reserved seats for dueling pianos that we have seen but it has never been necessary- the crowd comes and goes.

On ships with a comedy club the concierge has always been able to get us in even if it showed as "sold out'

On non Haven ships we have seen comedy acts in lounges and the theater and not required any reserved seats as they were not crowded

 

 

We have had mixed results with butlers. We have traveled mostly with our 3 kids- now all in college and adults- since they were in grade school in Haven suites ( Courtyard prior to that and prior to butlers) . Some butlers  are simply non-present..like EVER. On two journeys we met the butler ONCE-  even had to call for our daily canapes/cookies.On other cruises the butlers were above and beyond attentive which we appreciated when the kids were a bit younger. They would bring DVDs prior to the free movie days, cookies and gummies and fruit would appear magically and be repenised without us asking. One gent on Getaway would somehow dig up cans of non caffeinated root beer for one of kids who cannot have caffeine. We didnt ask- my son was 10 and the butler asked if he wanted a can of cola, son replied that he cant drink caffeine and from then on the non -caffeinated root beers magically appeared. Despite canned soda not being covered with the beverage plans we never got charged for them when the kids were younger.

When my husband and I stayed in an aft on the Getaway in 2017 we did not even meet the butler. 

 

Last 2 summers on the Epic the butlers were amazing. In one port our then 16 year old son  had a headache and opted to stay on board while we went of to Pompei. The butler brought him breakfast in the room- he asked the waiter in the restaurant what my son usually ordered and brought it to him!  He  then checked on him every hour or so- bringing him soup for lunch and cans of gingerale. ( yes, we kept in contact with him by phone- we are not animals!!)  We had two butlers during the day and a different crew at night on Epic. 

 

We ordered breakfast to the room just once as it is pretty cramped in the 2 br suite with a teeny dining table, but it was served with table cloth and on time .

 

If you wan to be really butled- try the Genie on RCL- that's a story for another day on another board!! Unbelievable!!!

 

Have an amazing trip! 

[BirdTravels]

16 hours ago, CathieZC said:

Can the Concierge help with shows like the Beatles, dueling pianos and the comedy acts ?

No. THose are first come first serve seating. No reserved seats for suites. 

[themnms]

We found our room steward much more friendly and helpful last time than the butler. The tip at the end reflected this!

 

[forgotmyCCname]

RE: Escort when disembarking

 

On each cruise we have been contacted by the Concierge the day before disembarking and set up a time and meeting place.-like "at the exit sign in the Haven lounge near the restroom"

Walking past the lines right to a waiting porter for bags is one of the reasons we pay extra for suite level service.

I would say that 50% of the time there are other families with us, 50% its just us depending on the time we have chosen. You go down the non-guest elevator and the process is a breeze.

 

While this is nice at our present age; when we had 3 toddlers and a ton of checked stuff to pick up at baggage ( triple stroller, car seats from the pre-cruise Disney stay, etc) ; being escorted off was a dream come true; especially since we used to leave the cruise and look forward to a 4 hour flight back to the west coast.

 

[gizfish]

5 hours ago, forgotmyCCname said:

RE: Escort when disembarking

 

On each cruise we have been contacted by the Concierge the day before disembarking and set up a time and meeting place.-like "at the exit sign in the Haven lounge near the restroom"

Walking past the lines right to a waiting porter for bags is one of the reasons we pay extra for suite level service.

I would say that 50% of the time there are other families with us, 50% its just us depending on the time we have chosen. You go down the non-guest elevator and the process is a breeze.

 

While this is nice at our present age; when we had 3 toddlers and a ton of checked stuff to pick up at baggage ( triple stroller, car seats from the pre-cruise Disney stay, etc) ; being escorted off was a dream come true; especially since we used to leave the cruise and look forward to a 4 hour flight back to the west coast.

 

Depending on the Concierge, you may not get escorted past the lines.  On two out of three Haven stays, we were only escorted to the ships exit.  There was a Haven line much closer to the entrance to the NY customs hall, but the first time, we didn't see it until we had waited on the long line to get there.  The second time we were escorted to the customs hall entrance, and the third time, we knew to skip the line and walk to the Haven line.

[forgotmyCCname]

On 3/31/2019 at 11:32 AM, xcell said:

 

 

14 hours ago, gizfish said:

Depending on the Concierge, you may not get escorted past the lines.  On two out of three Haven stays, we were only escorted to the ships exit.  There was a Haven line much closer to the entrance to the NY customs hall, but the first time, we didn't see it until we had waited on the long line to get there.  The second time we were escorted to the customs hall entrance, and the third time, we knew to skip the line and walk to the Haven line.

 I guess we have been lucky. We have not sailed from NY, so that may make a difference.

[Luvmypups]

We have stayed in in suites/Haven several times but I still have a couple of questions:

 

1. Do you tip your waiter in the Haven restaurant each meal?  If you don’t tip them with each meal, you may have a different waiter/waitress each time. I feel compelled to tip them with each meal we eat in the Haven restaurant...
 

2. Do you tip the hostess who seats you in the Haven Restaurant?  She usually recognizes us and calls us by name by the 2nd or 3rd day  At the end of the cruise?

 

3. Do they serve food in the Haven Courtyard?  It appears they do but I’ve never seen how you go about sitting down and ordering it. 

[AtlantaAlly]

2 minutes ago, Luvmypups said:

2. Do you tip the hostess who seats you in the Haven Restaurant?  She usually recognizes us and calls us by name by the 2nd or 3rd day  At the end of the cruise?

our room was right off the restaurant and we walked through on our way into our suite on the first day around 1. At dinner that night, she welcomed us by name before requesting our card and each subsequent meal. She was very friendly, knowledgeable about the ports, and we decided to tip her on the last day. She was great at her job.

[gizfish]

4 hours ago, Luvmypups said:

We have stayed in in suites/Haven several times but I still have a couple of questions:

 

1. Do you tip your waiter in the Haven restaurant each meal?  If you don’t tip them with each meal, you may have a different waiter/waitress each time. I feel compelled to tip them with each meal we eat in the Haven restaurant...
 

2. Do you tip the hostess who seats you in the Haven Restaurant?  She usually recognizes us and calls us by name by the 2nd or 3rd day  At the end of the cruise?

 

3. Do they serve food in the Haven Courtyard?  It appears they do but I’ve never seen how you go about sitting down and ordering it. 

The restaurant staff is included in the tip pool with the "daily service fee" you pay, so you are already tipping them.  You are paying a premium to stay in the haven and I believe that includes the higher level of service you receive in the restaurant.  If a staff person were to go above and beyond, additional tipping would be something you may want to do.  I don't feel that the waiters etc doing their regular jobs warrant that.  I also don't feel that the hostess recognizing me and being friendly is above and beyond.  They do serve food in the courtyard.  You can ask the server working there for a menu.  Also, you can order from the haven menu in the courtyard as well.

[luckyinpa]

courtyard menu 12 to 4pm

 

i ordered the swordfish and loved it. but my cabinmates wanted to go to the buffet so when my meal came the server walked it down to the buffet and we found my crew. superior service. Sulistio rocks! 

[GettotheSun]

10 minutes ago, luckyinpa said:

courtyard menu 12 to 4pm

 

i ordered the swordfish and loved it. but my cabinmates wanted to go to the buffet so when my meal came the server walked it down to the buffet and we found my crew. superior service. Sulistio rocks! 

thanks for posting that.  I didn’t even know there was a menu for the courtyard!

[gmbhardy]

1 hour ago, luckyinpa said:

courtyard menu 12 to 4pm

 

i ordered the swordfish and loved it. but my cabinmates wanted to go to the buffet so when my meal came the server walked it down to the buffet and we found my crew. superior service. Sulistio rocks! 

 

We were in the Escape Haven a few weeks ago and unfortunately the swordfish burger was not on the menu, just a generic “fish” burger.

[BirdTravels]

3 hours ago, GettotheSun said:

thanks for posting that.  I didn’t even know there was a menu for the courtyard!

Depends on the ship. The BA and GA use the courtyard as a dining room instead of pool seating. Their restaurants are too small and people overflow into the courtyard. The Plus ships have an outdoors restaurant. 

[buckeye rob]

On 3/30/2019 at 10:03 PM, Greenpea2 said:

Wow--you could get shrimp cocktail as a snack? That's awesome. I somehow don't think they would do that anymore, though ... especially with it being an uncharge at Cagney's now.

3-4 afternoons a cruise I mention a crabmeat cocktail and upon returning to our room it is there.  Always had wonderful butlers.  Gerry.

[Luvmypups]

Good information, if it wasn’t for these boards we wouldn't know much of anything without reading it here.

 

It’s unfortunate that the cruise lines don’t do a better job explaining their products/services better and more consistently. 

 

I appreciate all the information. 

[gmbhardy]

26 minutes ago, Luvmypups said:

Good information, if it wasn’t for these boards we wouldn't know much of anything without reading it here.

 

It’s unfortunate that the cruise lines don’t do a better job explaining their products/services better and more consistently. 

 

I appreciate all the information. 

 

Totally agree. NCL should assemble a “Guide to the Haven” and send it to patrons after final payment. At the very least, the concierge should give a brief overview of how things work in the welcome address. I’ve stayed in the Haven several times and I’m still finding out things I didn’t know on these boards. It shouldn’t work this way considering what you pay for the privilege.

[Greenpea2]

I have had butlers come in to introduce themself and explain to me what they can do for me/answer questions. But not all of them do that--I think if they all did it consistently, that would take care of the problem.

 

[benzygirl]

I have invited 40-50 people to watch sailaway from my balcony.  What are the odds the butler would provide me with some platters of snacks by 4PM.  Has anyone been successful with this request before?  I have written the concierge, but just wondering if anyone has personal experience with this. Thank you.

 

[Greenpea2]

48 minutes ago, benzygirl said:

I have invited 40-50 people to watch sailaway from my balcony.  What are the odds the butler would provide me with some platters of snacks by 4PM.  Has anyone been successful with this request before?  I have written the concierge, but just wondering if anyone has personal experience with this. Thank you.

 

I have done it, but it was just for 4 people. The Butler brought all sorts of treats, both from the regular room service menu  and from the buffet, etc. 40-50 people is more like a party, you might need to talk to the events person onboard. But start by talking to your butler, is my advice.

[kitty-sail]

1 hour ago, Greenpea2 said:

I have done it, but it was just for 4 people. The Butler brought all sorts of treats, both from the regular room service menu  and from the buffet, etc. 40-50 people is more like a party, you might need to talk to the events person onboard. But start by talking to your butler, is my advice.

I'm guessing snacks for 40-50 people would involve a service charge. You can "order" party trays and drinks for a fee which is probably the way to go for something of that magnitude.

[kitty-sail]

On 3/30/2019 at 9:10 AM, BirdTravels said:

 

On smaller ships,  reserved seating in theater is for all suites. On mega ships, reserved theater seating is for all Haven suites.

 

 

Edited January 22, 2020 by kitty-sail

[Greenpea2]

3 minutes ago, kitty-sail said:

On smaller ships,  reserved seating in theater is for all suites. On mega ships, reserved theater seating is for all Haven suites.

 

 

I don't think there are suites other than the Haven on the mega ships, are there? Who knows, what with the recent tweaking of room categories I have heard of, I certainly could be wrong on that!