What are some things a Butler will do?

[miched]

12 hours ago, taylortime05 said:

We are leaving the Edge tomorrow.  It was our first time in a suite on Celebrity.  We had a fabulous time.  I will write a trip report after the holidays.  
 

I have a question about our butler and appropriate tip.  We met him 1st day and he was very nice and told us not to hesitate to call him.  We requested breakfast room service one time and he delivered it. We didn’t see him or hear from him again until the last evening before leaving the next morning.  I talked to other people and their butler did extra things for them without asking like leaving fruit basket or delivering dessert to their room because they he knew they missed dessert at dinner.

 

i have a handful of people that really made my vacation special and I will write a thank you card and give an extra tip.  I’ll also personally recognize them in my survey when I get at home.

 

How much would you tip your butler in this scenario?

 

Thanks for your feedback.

nothing extra     In your auto prepaid gratuity they get $4/day pp.   that is $8  a day for your cabin.   What did he do for his $8 ?

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

 

 

[taylortime05]

31 minutes ago, miched said:

nothing extra     In your auto prepaid gratuity they get $4/day pp.   that is $8  a day for your cabin.   What did he do for his $8 ?

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

 

 

I left 20 for the butler mainly because he was waiting in the hallway so I could tell he expected something.  I was more generous with our room attendant, waiter,   Receptionist at Luninae, bartender, concierge.  So I’m not cheap but did expect more from the butler.  When I walked by him earlier this morning half way down hallway he didn’t recognize me to call me by name.    But it did not impact our vacation.  We had such a good time on the Edge and service overall was superb.  I can’t wait until we are back onboard.

[Jim_Iain]

7 hours ago, isdoo said:

What sweet/candy options exist, these days on Celebrity? 

 

Do they have anything like M&Ms or Gummy Bears? 

Yes they have m&m, Gummy Bears and sprinkles available at the ice cream area of the OVC.

[capsplace]

We were on a B2B2B2B.  In a suite for the first cruise, Aqua for the balance.  Left an additional tip at the end of the first cruise for our butler.  Nothing huge, but just a little extra.  Not to say this had anything to do with what happened on our remaining two cruises while in Aqua, but he was always available to us and made a point of telling us that.  We even continued to get preferential seating treatment in the Theatre on Evening Chic Nights. 

 

 

[SteveGT3]

A decent rule of thumb:

The butler will take care of anything you want/need.

 

The suite attendant will take care of the room.

[mafig]

It's stated that a butler will make specialty reservations.

Before booking a cruise (on Edge) I looked at the roll call for that cruise to see if there was anyone sailing then that I knew.  People had stated that it appeared that all the specialty restaurants were sold out because they could not make reservations.  Even though the cruise is months away.

 

Would a butler be able to assist here?

 

 

[SauceBoss72]

We had a butler once and found it to be a rather uncomfortable and almost intrusive experience.  He started unpacking our luggage without even asking.  Not that we had anything to hide, but that's something we can certainly do by ourselves.  It seemed that you couldn't turn around without this guy being in your face, it was like "Lurch" from the Addams Family.  Not something I need again, Concierge is more than fine with us.

[mafig]

2 minutes ago, SauceBoss72 said:

We had a butler once and found it to be a rather uncomfortable and almost intrusive experience.  He started unpacking our luggage without even asking.  Not that we had anything to hide, but that's something we can certainly do by ourselves.  It seemed that you couldn't turn around without this guy being in your face, it was like "Lurch" from the Addams Family.  Not something I need again, Concierge is more than fine with us.

 

We had a butler once on Norwegian that was like that.  He kept appearing wherever we were around the ship.  We jokingly said we thought they had micro-chipped us.

Of course, the one special request that I did have, he wasn't able to fulfill.

[miched]

I don’t know why making dinner reservations is that great.   You get constantly hounded for specialty dining.    And why not just pick up the phone and make them yourself without having to go thru a 3rd party? 
 

Security will also escort you off the ship.  😱

 

Room service will also bring stuff to you cabin.  
 

room attendant will also handle your laundry.  
 

The few times we were in as suite we really didn’t feel the need for him to do the menial things that we could do our selves and many times faster.

 

The same as using the host in Micheal’s.   If we were walking by GR it was just as easy and many times faster using them instead  of having to go to Micheal’s and then wait at the hosts desk.

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

[b.cruising]

On 12/21/2019 at 8:02 PM, garyl62 said:

He will seem to almost always be around, greet you by name, ask how your day has been, inquire of your plans so he can then offer to help with any of what you're planning to do, and just generally make you feel like the most important person he has to take care of on the ship!

 

Of course he'll also do everything everyone has said, but if it's your first time in a suite and you don't really know what to ask of him, just know he'll make you feel comfortable, welcome and important.

 

Sounds great!! I'm thinking we're going to be spoiled and may never go back to balcony! We like to tip additionally......what would you suggest?

[b.cruising]

Thank you everyone for your responses.  I knew I could count on the fine people on cruise critic! 

 

One more question please.......what to tip the Butler? Concierge?

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

1 hour ago, miched said:

I don’t know why making dinner reservations is that great.   You get constantly hounded for specialty dining.    And why not just pick up the phone and make them yourself without having to go thru a 3rd party? 
 

Security will also escort you off the ship.  😱

 

Room service will also bring stuff to you cabin.  
 

room attendant will also handle your laundry.  
 

The few times we were in as suite we really didn’t feel the need for him to do the menial things that we could do our selves and many times faster.

 

The same as using the host in Micheal’s.   If we were walking by GR it was just as easy and many times faster using them instead  of having to go to Micheal’s and then wait at the hosts desk.

 

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

 

Just to give a different perspective:

 

Generally it's the suite concierge who escorts you off the ship.  Beats the heck out of standing in endless lines.

 

Yes, room service will bring stuff to your cabin.  Maybe not as much good stuff as your butler might.

 

Will your room attendant bring your laundry back pressed on hangers and hang it in your closet?  Not in my experience.

 

There are always lines at Guest Relations.  I prefer using the concierge or my butler.

[varoo]

On 12/21/2019 at 6:49 PM, 39august said:

I would think ice bucket duty is a function of your cabin steward. We always ask for ice twice a day in any cabin and always have been accommodated. 

 

I was thinking the same thing.

When we have a butler, the butler takes care of our laundry and our ice and water refills.

 

When we don't have a butler, the stateroom attendant takes care of our laundry and and  ice and water refills.

These services are available to all passengers, regardless of stateroom category.

 

The butler will provide the "above and beyond" more personalized services that are not  included at all stateroom levels. 

 

But you need to be in a suite to get a butler, and if you are in a suite you also have the services of the retreat concierge, who will also do things like make dining or excursion reservations or handle Guest Relations type issues for you.

 

Some passengers love the extra pampering they get from a butler, while others are more "do it yourself" types.

 

 

[varoo]

5 hours ago, miched said:

I don’t know why making dinner reservations is that great.   You get constantly hounded for specialty dining.    And why not just pick up the phone and make them yourself without having to go thru a 3rd party?

 

That is fine IF you can get the restaurant you want at the time you want by doing it that way.  But it doesn't work that way for everyone.

 

Our experience has been that if we ask to make the reservation with the restaurant directly ourselves, often they  will tell us that they have no openings at the time we want and that the only open spots available that night are either very early or very late.

 

They don't tell us the truth, which is that they are holding back open spots in case any higher level suite passengers may want them.

 

When we are in a suite, if we ask the butler to make the reservation for us, we may or may not be able to get the time we want.

 

However, if we ask the retreat concierge to make the reservation for us,  immediately with one quick phone call,  presto, the time we want is suddenly magically available!

 

It is especially annoying  (and enlightening) to show up for dinner at the time we wanted that was supposedly all sold out,  only to find  that the restaurant  has many empty tables , and they remain empty for the duration of our dinner.

 

   

 

 

Edited December 23, 2019 by varoo

[Bo1953]

Okay, my question is (having never sailed in a suite on X) what is the minimum level suite many who do, sail in or recommend I (try to purchase) consider?

 

This would be for The Edge.

 

I may have enough 'funding' to sail in one for our Med sailing and also is it worth it for a port intensive sailing like the Med? If not, a great dream to work for...

 

Thanks, I do like being spoiled and served as such, often.

 

bon voyage

Edited December 23, 2019 by Bo1953

[mafig]

 

15 minutes ago, varoo said:

 

However, if we ask the retreat concierge to make the reservation for us, with one quick phone call,  presto, the time we want is suddenly magically available!

 

It is especially annoying  (and enlightening) to show up for dinner at the time we wanted that was supposedly all sold out,  only to find  that the restaurant  has many empty tables , and they remain empty for the duration of our dinner.

 

   

 

 

 

I had asked this question previously, didn't get a direct answer, but, thank you, you have answered it.  I have always thought the concierge was who should make dining room reservations.  I was sort of surprised when it seemed that on Celebrity it was the duty of the butler.

It's also "enlightening" to show up at a restaurant and have them ask if you have reservations, when the room is 1/4 full (at most) and remains so until we finish dinner.

[capsplace]

I guess you just need to think beyond your normal routine...I know we had to.  We are so fixed into "get it yourselves", that adapting to the advantages of having someone wait on you was, as some have noted uncomfortable, was puzzling at first.  But our Butler was so kind when we asked just what we could ask him to do for use.  Ideas:  The Butler can bring you shrimp cocktail or cheese and crackers, or both, and two nice glasses of wine each afternoon, plus coffee and toast each and every morning, without having to call room service or get the wine yourself.  If you are planning a little get together in your cabin with other passengers, the Butler can make arrangements for food and drink for all.  We mentioned it was our anniversary...and voila, a great bottle of real French champagne appeared in the room, with all the accoutrements.  

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

2 hours ago, Bo1953 said:

Okay, my question is (having never sailed in a suite on X) what is the minimum level suite many who do, sail in or recommend I (try to purchase) consider?

 

This would be for The Edge.

 

I may have enough 'funding' to sail in one for our Med sailing and also is it worth it for a port intensive sailing like the Med? If not, a great dream to work for...

 

Thanks, I do like being spoiled and served as such, often.

 

bon voyage

 

Bo, I think I'd save the first suite experience for a less port-intensive cruise.  The Med can wear you out!  Not leaving much time to enjoy the services of your butler and concierge.  Lots of times when we came back to the ship after touring all day, we just grabbed a quick bite in the buffet and then crashed because we had another full day the next day.  That's when we discovered they were serving special items from on shore up there:  fresh mussels, etc.

 

You can enjoy the suite experience in a sky suite.  You'll get everything but two bottles of booze and complimentary specialty dining.

[Bo1953]

1 hour ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

Bo, I think I'd save the first suite experience for a less port-intensive cruise.  The Med can wear you out!  Not leaving much time to enjoy the services of your butler and concierge.  Lots of times when we came back to the ship after touring all day, we just grabbed a quick bite in the buffet and then crashed because we had another full day the next day.  That's when we discovered they were serving special items from on shore up there:  fresh mussels, etc.

 

You can enjoy the suite experience in a sky suite.  You'll get everything but two bottles of booze and complimentary specialty dining.

H - thank you for your sage insight on this....

 

I appreciate it very much and will remain in our IV, which is fine to be sure..

 

Now to find a sailing which is not port intensive and not a TA or TP... will look.

 

Thank you again and bon voyage

[wrk2cruise]

I agree with Linda.  A less port intensive itinerary.  The more sea days the more lunches to enjoy in Luminae.  I like the lunch menu almost better than the dinner menu.  Also more time to enjoy the larger room and the Retreat Lounge (and possibly sun deck).   I agree that Sky Suite will get you properly spoiled.

[Happy Cruiser 6143]

19 hours ago, Bo1953 said:

H - thank you for your sage insight on this....

 

I appreciate it very much and will remain in our IV, which is fine to be sure..

 

Now to find a sailing which is not port intensive and not a TA or TP... will look.

 

Thank you again and bon voyage

 

Actually, a TA or TP would be a good time to try out a suite!

[Jim_Iain]

On 12/23/2019 at 6:37 AM, mafig said:

It's stated that a butler will make specialty reservations.

Before booking a cruise (on Edge) I looked at the roll call for that cruise to see if there was anyone sailing then that I knew.  People had stated that it appeared that all the specialty restaurants were sold out because they could not make reservations.  Even though the cruise is months away.

 

Would a butler be able to assist here?

 

 

 

The butler works closely with the Retreat Concierges to make things as seamless as possible- If you request a restaurant booking he will work to accommodate when possible.    I have had a problem booking the date and time I wanted and asked the butler if he could assist.    He called the Suites Manager (who both the Butlers and Concierges work for) and she contacted the Restaurant Manager who was able to slip us in at our desired time.     I have also had the opposite experience where they were truly fully booked  but was offered a late dining time that worked perfect for us. 

[Bo1953]

3 hours ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

Actually, a TA or TP would be a good time to try out a suite!

h - I know and I wish to do both of these types of sailings, yet my spouse would jump overboard from boredom... LOL

 

bon voyage

[ECCruise]

6 minutes ago, Bo1953 said:

h - I know and I wish to do both of these types of sailings, yet my spouse would jump overboard from boredom... LOL

 

bon voyage

Honestly, you need to try one with a smattering of ports along with the sea days.

 

We thought the same thing about 10 years ago, but now after 28 Atlantic crossings and 3 Pacific crossings (and 5 more booked) we never have found ourselves bored once.  Especially on Celebrity, with daily "Beyond the Podium" lectures and other activities, you will be pretty busy.  And that is before you just relax, read or enjoy the quiet of a crossing.

[Bo1953]

2 minutes ago, ECCruise said:

Honestly, you need to try one with a smattering of ports along with the sea days.

 

We thought the same thing about 10 years ago, but now after 28 Atlantic crossings and 3 Pacific crossings (and 5 more booked) we never have found ourselves bored once.  Especially on Celebrity, with daily "Beyond the Podium" lectures and other activities, you will be pretty busy.  And that is before you just relax, read or enjoy the quiet of a crossing.

e - thank you for the input.

 

I agree, I would be very busy, as usual on any sailing, but my spouse, very different story... one sea day would be fine, more than two then there are issues.... LOL

 

Give me ten or so and I would be very content, to be sure...

 

bon voyage