What do you ask your butler for?

[Beamafar]

18 minutes ago, hamrag said:

 

Now, now Bea....the regular posters, based on some of your posts, strongly suspect it was you who made that particular request!! 🤣

 

I wouldn't be requesting a glass, I'd be looking for the bottle, G!   😂

[CruisingFox27]

Is it permissible to ask for butter 😂😂😂

[rkacruiser]

Alas, I have had to recently swallow my pride and request wheelchair assistance for transfers from ship to shore and shore to airport gates and on-going transportation.

 

Embarking/disembarking  MSC Meraviglia in Miami as a YC guest, what service might I expect?  I expect to be driving to the Port and will be able to reach the Pier and drop off my luggage and, then, park my car.  Walking back to the Terminal, I expect to be able to do.

 

I am assuming, based upon what I have learned on CC, that a YC Butler will take charge of my luggage when I arrive at the Terminal and will get it to the proper area upon disembarkation.  After parking my car and returning to the Terminal, another YC Butler will assist with my checking in and my embarkation to the ship.  Will they (or another staff member) have a wheelchair?   (If the walk from check-in to the gangway, I will be able to handle that.  But, the long journey I needed to travel to embark my July Westerdam sailing at Canada Place is not something that I want repeated.)

 

If anyone sees pitfalls in my plans, or other things that I have not considered, I'd appreciate a heads-up now rather than later.  Thank you!

 

 

 

 

Edited August 20, 2019 by rkacruiser

[Bluewake]

5 hours ago, Beamafar said:

Bluelake ... you're worrying unnecessarily!  Believe me, your butler won't come checking on you regularly to make sure you're OK, but will be on hand if you need anything.  We're very low-maintenance, which, I think, a lot of butlers relish.

 

You will not be seated with others in the restaurant unless you wish to be - such as if you befriend people and choose to dine with them.  You will have your own table.  It may differ from evening to evening;  some (asst) m'Ds don't like people to dine at the same table each evening (we experienced that on one particular cruise).  If you go at the same time and have indicated at embarkation that you would, you may have the same table - and waiters - for the whole of your cruise.

 

Dress is smart casual so no need for a suit.  Long pants are all that are required, with either a polo or regular shirt - even on formal nights now, if you don't want to wear a jacket & tie/suit, etc.  Anything goes for women as long as it's not a bathing suit lol.

 

On Seaside you need reservations for the theatre if you wish to go along and choose your own seating.  I believe that they have an area for YC guests which you wouldn't need reservations for if you're content to sit there.

 

 

 

Thanks for the advice!  I didn't want to insult a butler.  When we meet ours, we will let him/her know that our needs will be minimal.  As you suggest, he/she might actually appreciate that so they can concentrate on other guests.

[CarolnLarry]

Anything that is not illegal or immoral that enhances and makes my cruise better.

Hey Russ we were on the cruise with you on the seaside, did you feel like you missed something?

[Bossa Nova]

2 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

Alas, I have had to recently swallow my pride and request wheelchair assistance for transfers from ship to shore and shore to airport gates and on-going transportation.

 

Embarking/disembarking  MSC Meraviglia in Miami as a YC guest, what service might I expect?  I expect to be driving to the Port and will be able to reach the Pier and drop off my luggage and, then, park my car.  Walking back to the Terminal, I expect to be able to do.

 

I am assuming, based upon what I have learned on CC, that a YC Butler will take charge of my luggage when I arrive at the Terminal and will get it to the proper area upon disembarkation.  After parking my car and returning to the Terminal, another YC Butler will assist with my checking in and my embarkation to the ship.  Will they (or another staff member) have a wheelchair?   (If the walk from check-in to the gangway, I will be able to handle that.  But, the long journey I needed to travel to embark my July Westerdam sailing at Canada Place is not something that I want repeated.)

 

If anyone sees pitfalls in my plans, or other things that I have not considered, I'd appreciate a heads-up now rather than later.  Thank you!

 

 

 

 

I can't speak for other terminals, but for Miami departures, we were well taken care of starting curbside at the YC tent. I've taken three YC cruises with a friend who is somewhat mobile but prefers the "chariot". The butlers are available with a smile whenever she requests, starting at check-in.

[cyndyga]

Hoping it will be ok to ask for a cappuccino with baileys and frangelico be delivered every a.m between 7-8 at their leisure?

[Beamafar]

4 hours ago, cyndyga said:

Hoping it will be ok to ask for a cappuccino with baileys and frangelico be delivered every a.m between 7-8 at their leisure?

 

That shouldn't be a problem!  😉

[JAGR]

12 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

Embarking/disembarking  MSC Meraviglia in Miami as a YC guest, what service might I expect?  I expect to be driving to the Port and will be able to reach the Pier and drop off my luggage and, then, park my car.  Walking back to the Terminal, I expect to be able to do.

 

I am assuming, based upon what I have learned on CC, that a YC Butler will take charge of my luggage when I arrive at the Terminal and will get it to the proper area upon disembarkation. 

If anyone sees pitfalls in my plans, or other things that I have not considered, I'd appreciate a heads-up now rather than later.  Thank you!

 

 

 

 

To clarify, I think you are spot on for embarkation.  Disembarkation is not correct, if I am reading your comments correctly.  There are landside 'butlers' (not official YC butlers, but more like contract employees) to assist in getting you and your luggage checked in, but for disembarkation, the YC butlers can only go as far as the final security checkpoint, since they cannot leave the ship.  I would contact the concierge and arrange for a wheelchair for disembarkation.  I assume you will be leaving luggage out the night before to be picked up when you leave the ship.  You can then be escorted to the security checkpoint where a porter can take you to your YC luggage area and get you sorted out.

Edited August 21, 2019 by JAGR

[frank808]

20 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

Alas, I have had to recently swallow my pride and request wheelchair assistance for transfers from ship to shore and shore to airport gates and on-going transportation.

 

Embarking/disembarking  MSC Meraviglia in Miami as a YC guest, what service might I expect?  I expect to be driving to the Port and will be able to reach the Pier and drop off my luggage and, then, park my car.  Walking back to the Terminal, I expect to be able to do.

 

I am assuming, based upon what I have learned on CC, that a YC Butler will take charge of my luggage when I arrive at the Terminal and will get it to the proper area upon disembarkation.  After parking my car and returning to the Terminal, another YC Butler will assist with my checking in and my embarkation to the ship.  Will they (or another staff member) have a wheelchair?   (If the walk from check-in to the gangway, I will be able to handle that.  But, the long journey I needed to travel to embark my July Westerdam sailing at Canada Place is not something that I want repeated.)

 

If anyone sees pitfalls in my plans, or other things that I have not considered, I'd appreciate a heads-up now rather than later.  Thank you!

 

 

 

 

The walk from curbside to the lounge is about 1/6 the walk from luggage drop off to boarding at Canada Place.  Canada Place was the longest walk to embark a ship that I have ever done.  Go through garage and up elevator, then walk around the building and then into the building to check in, then back out and around the building down the escalator through another part of that level to process immigration and you are still not done.

[rkacruiser]

21 hours ago, Bossa Nova said:

I can't speak for other terminals, but for Miami departures, we were well taken care of starting curbside at the YC tent. I've taken three YC cruises with a friend who is somewhat mobile but prefers the "chariot". The butlers are available with a smile whenever she requests, starting at check-in.

 

Bossa Nova,

 

Thanks for your response and photo!  

[rkacruiser]

3 hours ago, frank808 said:

The walk from curbside to the lounge is about 1/6 the walk from luggage drop off to boarding at Canada Place.  Canada Place was the longest walk to embark a ship that I have ever done.  Go through garage and up elevator, then walk around the building and then into the building to check in, then back out and around the building down the escalator through another part of that level to process immigration and you are still not done.

 

I was a guest at Pan Pacific prior to embarking Westerdam.  I have embarked other HAL ships from that location since 2001.  This year's check-in and embarkation was as guest unfriendly as it could have been.  There was no reason for some of the process to not have been consolidated into one venue that I saw.  The "rigid" rope lines could not be moved even when there was NO ONE ahead of me and the number of guests checking in were few.  (I tried to do so to make my exit to the next area a shorter walk and I was RUDELY told not to do so or Security would be called.)

 

When I complained about this difficult process, I was told it was because this area was "under construction" and required this involved embarkation routine.  I saw no "under construction" during my wondering in Canada Place as an embarking cruise guest or as a guest of the Pan Pacific for two days prior to my cruise. 

[suzon]

On 8/20/2019 at 4:51 AM, emmas gran said:

Bea & hamrag Nor sure why the OP has asked the question as they have sailed YC previously

Liz

I'm the OP's wife and yes we cruised in the YC last December.  Our butler was underwhelming and we are definitely low maintenance folks but we are sailing in YC in 6 weeks and are very interested in what experiences others have had with their butlers.  We were very fortunate to get the Royal Suite on our sailing and are very excited!  Reading some of the newest reviews highlights the extra service that seems to be offered now too.  We appreciate all of the replies!

[Russ_MT]

On 8/20/2019 at 6:03 PM, CarolnLarry said:

Anything that is not illegal or immoral that enhances and makes my cruise better.

Hey Russ we were on the cruise with you on the seaside, did you feel like you missed something?

 

Larry, we had an awesome cruise and enjoyed meeting you both.   However we booked the Royal Suite this time and generally are low maintenance.   But we're thinking, what else should our butler do for us?   Marco and Ing. had a sail away party in their RS and butlers provided snacks and drinks. 

 

Last time our butler brought, opened and poured a bottle of wine.  That's all nice.  But what is expected of butlers?   Especially in the RS?  I hear they will bring dinner to balcony.  That might be nice.   But besides minibar, extra towels, bottles of water, what should we expect from the butlers?   We don't want to be demanding, but maybe there are things we should ask for. 

 

On NCL, our butler in Haven brought us daily snacks, sandwiches, gummy bears, M&Ms and such.   We didn't ask but was nice to have provided.   I'm sure other YC guests want to know what butler services adds to their experience. 

 

And we really don't want escorts to anything or my shoes shined.  But maybe other perks would be nice for the up charge of YC.  MSC seams to push butler service in YC and I was wondering what they provide.  

 

--Russ

[marcoigna]

13 hours ago, Russ_MT said:

 

Larry, we had an awesome cruise and enjoyed meeting you both.   However we booked the Royal Suite this time and generally are low maintenance.   But we're thinking, what else should our butler do for us?   Marco and Ing. had a sail away party in their RS and butlers provided snacks and drinks. 

 

Last time our butler brought, opened and poured a bottle of wine.  That's all nice.  But what is expected of butlers?   Especially in the RS?  I hear they will bring dinner to balcony.  That might be nice.   But besides minibar, extra towels, bottles of water, what should we expect from the butlers?   We don't want to be demanding, but maybe there are things we should ask for. 

 

On NCL, our butler in Haven brought us daily snacks, sandwiches, gummy bears, M&Ms and such.   We didn't ask but was nice to have provided.   I'm sure other YC guests want to know what butler services adds to their experience. 

 

And we really don't want escorts to anything or my shoes shined.  But maybe other perks would be nice for the up charge of YC.  MSC seams to push butler service in YC and I was wondering what they provide.  

 

--Russ

 

good day guys - hope all is well with you both - we are going on the Meraviglia for 13nights at the end of October in the Royal Suite once again...Although the service is identical no matter what category you are booked in the YC - here are things we did:

-  we did have dinner on our balcony for 8 of us 1 night - truly amazing ...

-  of course you  get  the cabana for the duration of thee cruise, but the amenities just once for the week....again, i was the one that pushed this and started back on our sailing in February of 2018....

-  sometime we went to some private beaches, so we had our butler prepare us a cooler full of drinks - so that was nice as where we go to there are no bars / restaurants etc...so that worked out perfect.

-  aside from that, the service is the same...and the YC includes so much, it hard to ask for more..

- we also bought a 40 piece laundry service, but our butler never counted the items, he just said "let me take care of this for you"- i told him we were over, and he said "no issue"

 

so i hope this helps a little bit.... 

 

hope to see you both one day again...

 

we just booked the Seaview for next year to travel from Rome to Dubai.....

  

[DCGuy64]

Thanks for the tip about the cooler! I think my wife and I will take them up on that. 

[Fogfog]

1 hour ago, marcoigna said:

 

good day guys - hope all is well with you both - we are going on the Meraviglia for 13nights at the end of October in the Royal Suite once again...Although the service is identical no matter what category you are booked in the YC - here are things we did:

-  we did have dinner on our balcony for 8 of us 1 night - truly amazing ...

-  of course you  get  the cabana for the duration of thee cruise, but the amenities just once for the week....again, i was the one that pushed this and started back on our sailing in February of 2018....

-  sometime we went to some private beaches, so we had our butler prepare us a cooler full of drinks - so that was nice as where we go to there are no bars / restaurants etc...so that worked out perfect.

-  aside from that, the service is the same...and the YC includes so much, it hard to ask for more..

- we also bought a 40 piece laundry service, but our butler never counted the items, he just said "let me take care of this for you"- i told him we were over, and he said "no issue"

 

so i hope this helps a little bit.... 

 

hope to see you both one day again...

 

we just booked the Seaview for next year to travel from Rome to Dubai.....

  

Is the Cabana for the RS only?

[marcoigna]

Just now, Fogfog said:

Is the Cabana for the RS only?

the complimentary cabana onboard the ship is only for RS guests - there are others available, but for rent if you are not in the RS 

[Fogfog]

21 hours ago, marcoigna said:

-  sometime we went to some private beaches, so we had our butler prepare us a cooler full of drinks - so that was nice as where we go to there are no bars / restaurants etc...so that worked out perfect. 

This sounds like a great idea and one I would have not thought of....

Was just thinking about this... I thought that there was a policy to not take food off the ships?

Is that dependent on the island? The cruiseline? 

Know that US Customs prohibits food off the ships.

 

[Nashna]

This sounds like a wonderful idea.  Who provides the cooler?  

[capriccio]

18 minutes ago, Fogfog said:

This sounds like a great idea and one I would have not thought of....

Was just thinking about this... I thought that there was a policy to not take food off the ships?

Is that dependent on the island? The cruiseline? 

Know that US Customs prohibits food off the ships.

 

It's not US Customs prohibiting food off ships, it is the the laws and regulations of each country so it is not universal.  This will be our first cruise on MSC but on other lines if a port has that prohibition there will be a note in the daily newsletter and sometimes at the gangplank when disembarking.

[Fogfog]

6 hours ago, capriccio said:

It's not US Customs prohibiting food off ships, it is the the laws and regulations of each country so it is not universal.  This will be our first cruise on MSC but on other lines if a port has that prohibition there will be a note in the daily newsletter and sometimes at the gangplank when disembarking.

Yes I realize it is country dependant.

US Customs/Agriculture prohibits food coming off of ships into the US...saw a Fb thread where a pax was complaining baout being fined for taking fruit for her travel home.  (AG fines for other things as well as-- for example-- soil/sand being imported in--Passengers bring back beach sand risk fines)

I guess on our B2B in early 2020 I will ask about this picnic/cooler options if we do beach visits.

 

@marcoigna 

who provides the cooler? 

[modes]

We have sailed on the Seaside YC twice and have not asked the butler for anything.

[Toofarfromthesea]

All I ever really wanted from the butler, other than getting on and off priority, is good service in the Topsail lounge.  Got in on Divina last year in the Med.  On Meraviglia in the Baltic last April, not so much.

[Bossa Nova]

On this year's cruise, two in our group did not receive our luggage by dinner time on departure day. Our butler tracked us down in the YC and asked us to follow him to the purser's office. Turns out we had items flagged as suspect during inspections. I had an over-engineered set of nail clippers designed by orthopedic surgeons that was flagged as a forbidden tool, and my friend packed 50 feet of extension cords for her CPAP device based on the travel agent's recommendation. Our awesome butler took care of everything quickly and we never had to wait in line or interact with the purser's staff. (That's our butler behind me in the photo.)