Butler Duties

[nextariel]

We have a suite booked for our next cruise(fingers crossed) and would like to know what you have your butler do for you. 

[39august]

We  asked ours for a fruit and cheese plate to be left in our suite every evening. And with good crackers, so saltines! He got in the habit after a few days to leave us two glasses of red wine to go with. I also had to ask him to bring a make up mirror as none was in the suite desk as should have been. I had the mirror in about 10 minutes.

[jelayne]

If you want room service the Butler arranges this, brings your meal and sets it up for you, if you have laundry to send out they Pick it up and return it to you, On Evening Chic nights  they will meet you at the entrance to the theater and escort you to the Suite seating area, make reservations for specialty restaurants, problem with something not working properly in your Suite tell the Butler and they will have it taken care of.

 

Just a FYI, the marketing info frequently refers to a personal Butler- each Butler is responsible for around 12 Suites so not dedicated to just 1 Suite.

[nextariel]

Thank you for your replies. I really like cheese before bed and without a buffet anymore things are going to be much different. 

[George C]

Love celebrity suite perks they are the best, wife had issues getting WiFi working butler took care of that. 

[SteveGT3]

Easy way to remember:

Butler - takes care of guest(s)

Attendant - takes care of suite

I have never asked a Butler for anything that he was unable to do or take care of. They are great. Treat the butler and attendant(s) accordingly.

[chemmo]

On 5/23/2020 at 6:49 PM, nextariel said:

Thank you for your replies. I really like cheese before bed and without a buffet anymore things are going to be much different. 

 

We ask our butler to vary snack options, our favourite balcony late at night snack being a shrimp platter...

 

If you are entertaining fellow guests the butler will reorganise your suite, arrange some cold snacks etc. Great if you are meeting old cruise friends and want to enjoy a sail away together. We did this in Sydney. As our friends left the butler reappeared, as if by magic, to tidy up. He would not let us help and suggested we needed a sit down on the balcony with our remaining champagne...

 

As someone else has said butler’s are busy. We try to let them know in advance if we want anything special. For example, if we are planning a full in suite meal rather than a couple of items from room service or we are going to entertain. If you let them know at least 24 hours in advance they can arrange service to others around your request. Listen to the advice of the butler too, he can often make suggestions that work really well.

 

Butlers really can come to strength if things things go wrong...you return to the ship soaking wet, you loose a button, your suitcase is damaged....Just give the butler a ring, if he can’t sort it he will know someone who can.

 

Remember the Concierge in the Retreat lounge is there to help too. If you experience an overcharge, a problem with an excursion, difficulties getting speciality dining just pop in or give them a call. They also organise bridge tours, galley tours etc so speak to them early in the cruise if you fancy any of these.

 

Some butler’s seem to know instinctively what you may like but communication is important. If you don’t let your butler know you want something he will not know to deliver...Some guests do not want butler service at all. Sometimes on CC we will read that someone towards the end of their cruise is disgruntled that their butler has been poor, lazy or invisible. Usually this scenario follows the guest finding out that another suite guest has had Cappuccino coffee delivered by their butler each morning and afternoon. If you want something ask for it! Butler’s are not mind readers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[nextariel]

Thank you all again. Great ideas and good to know. We typically travel Aqua and attendants have all been great, so looking forward to a little extra pampering. 

 

 

[bigbenboys]

I like having my 1st breakfast on the balcony set up by the butler. Then off to Luminae before they close for breakfast.

[begood2me]

The butler is there to see to your needs.  They handle expediting laundry, seeing that you get any type of snacks or food in the cabin that you might want.  They can help with reservations at restaurants. If you need an item of clothing taken care of in a hurry, they are on top of it.  If there is something wrong in your cabin, they will work with the cabin attendant to solve the problem. They coordinate with the concierge in retreat to provide services you might need there.  As a guest, you really need to communicate with your butler to let he or she know what can make your experience better.  Fresh fruit is important to us as a snack and they make sure it's there.  Is there a type of cookie you like, done!  We have coffee in the room, taken care of efficiently.  As others have said, they cove more than your suite, so keep the sin mind.  They also have time off and then another butler covers for them.  Get to know the other butlers as well.  It's just a little more pampering than you might get from your stateroom attendant.  Celebrity has some excellent butlers but as mentioned before, they cannot read your mind.  Communicate and they can help make your vacation extra special.  

[39august]

Another point about the concierge in the Retreat Lounge. He/she can usually do anything you normally would go to guest services for to straighten out any discrepancies with your bill. They can also call Luminae while you are in the lounge for pre-dinner cocktails to determine if a table is available before you leave to go to dinner. 

[George C]

I never had to wait more than a couple of minutes to get a table in Luminae. But I have only sailed on infinity and summit, twice each. 

[mac_tlc]

We really enjoyed having breakfast set up on the balcony, as well as some late afternoon iced tea and snacks delivered to the room. 
 

Ah, just typing it brought back great memories of our first sky suite on Equinox in January. Hope we get to sail in January 2021 on Apex in our first E-class suite. 
 

mac_tlc

[txtechmk]

We bought a nice glass vase at an art gallery (south of France), and wanted it wrapped and packed well for our carry-on bag.  The butler brought a nice box, lots of packing material, and tons of tape!  I have never seen one person use as much tape as he did!  He did all the wrapping with my guidance and did an excellent job.  Made it home perfectly!

[bigbenboys]

2 hours ago, txtechmk said:

We bought a nice glass vase at an art gallery (south of France), and wanted it wrapped and packed well for our carry-on bag.  The butler brought a nice box, lots of packing material, and tons of tape!  I have never seen one person use as much tape as he did!  He did all the wrapping with my guidance and did an excellent job.  Made it home perfectly!

I'll have to remember that. I enjoy doing the glass blowing. 

Cruising in Asia and having a butler is very helpful. Our butler would drop off or pick up our passports for us. Any time we needed to have our temperature checked or customs/ passport check on ship in person. Suite guests were taken in small groups with our butler before they started the line. Also M-class we did self disembarkation in Shanghai. We left from the outside door in Michael's Club. No waiting for a hour in line.

[nyc2pdx]

6 hours ago, bigbenboys said:

I like having my 1st breakfast on the balcony set up by the butler. Then off to Luminae before they close for breakfast.

 

I love 1st and 2nd breakfast!

[nyc2pdx]

On 5/23/2020 at 11:00 AM, SteveGT3 said:

Easy way to remember:

Butler - takes care of guest(s)

Attendant - takes care of suite

I have never asked a Butler for anything that he was unable to do or take care of. They are great. Treat the butler and attendant(s) accordingly.

On NCL (my only suite experience) Haven, the Butler oversaw the room steward.  At one point on my cruise, I was on my balcony reading and I heard the door open and figured it was the Butler.  I was partly hidden just by chance (I wasn't spying or anything, honest) and saw him tidy things up.  Like making sure the Nespresso capsules were straight, and checking the glasses for spots.  He straightened the pillows so they were perfect...then he saw me and apologized profusely-I brushed it off and said please continue-I'm just reading here.  

 

During my cruise did I see him all the time?  Never.  He serviced 10 suites.  But, I always knew he was there, and if I requested anything, he was on it.  I didn't really know what to expect being my first cruise ever and also first time having a butler. 

 

One thing that stood out for me...I went to a specialty restaurant one night before seeing a show.  I had dessert, but it didn't really wow me.  The waitress asked me if I liked it, and I said it was okay.  She asked me if I wanted something else instead?  I said I didn't have time as I was going to see a show.  She said "If you did have time, which dessert would you like?"  I picked one and she said "I'll take care of it!"  When she came back with the check (it was zero of course), she said my Butler has it handled.  I wasn't really sure what to expect...but I went to the show.  When I walked into my suite after the show, the table was set with a white tablecloth, utensils, coffee, and the dessert I had picked!  It was a wow moment for me.  My butler had timed it right with the end of the show, knew when I would be back.  I called him after I was done, thanked him for the wow moment, and within a few minutes he was cleaning up and gone.  I've never actually seen anyone clear a table so fast.  He also handled my reservations-when one restaurant was booked up for the time I wanted, he got me in, and when I walked up to the podium at the restaurant, they greeted me by name and I did not wait for a table. Again, he was not always seen, but he was there.

 

It was those little things that made my vacation not just a 10, but a 12.  I sincerely appreciated everything he did to make my vacation special and pampered.  I think Celebrity ups the Butler level a bit (I'll hopefully find out in September).  I am not one to rely on others, but I can say that when I work hard all year, it just was one more thing that allowed me to wash away all that stress.  I had to think of nothing at all...and thats the way it should be!

[nextariel]

7 hours ago, bigbenboys said:

I like having my 1st breakfast on the balcony set up by the butler. Then off to Luminae before they close for breakfast.

That looks great. We will not care if they let us into the ports. 

[arkie111]

We had Walter on the Reflection and were quite spoiled.  I was in charge of an excursion in Santorini.  We needed to be ferried to the port and then up the lift.  There were other ships that were ferrying and the lifts don’t take that many.  Walter had my group meet at the library and he took us to the first ferry to Santorini.  We were so early to meet our tour we went to a coffee shop.

Walter is the best I have ever seen.  He was there when we needed him and not there when we didn’t, that is an art.

[Georgia_Peaches]

We don't use the butler service beyond a morning delivery of pastry and coffee.  Our last Celebrity cruise was in a Royal Suite.  We asked the butler to let herself in each morning to set up so that we didn't have to worry about getting up to let her in.  It was so nice to have it all laid out for us when we got up in the morning.  That was about it for us.  We made dinner reservations in Michael's Club (Retreat Lounge).  

[ECCruise]

We will have the butler set up breakfast on the balcony two or three times on a 14 day sailing.  Less if it is port intensive. Other than that we have very little interaction except maybe to chat when he or she stops by in the evening.

Would be embarrassed to be escorted to the theater on Chic Night, especially since we don't sit in the suite seats.

[marieps]

On 5/25/2020 at 6:18 PM, nyc2pdx said:

On NCL (my only suite experience) Haven, the Butler oversaw the room steward.  At one point on my cruise, I was on my balcony reading and I heard the door open and figured it was the Butler.  I was partly hidden just by chance (I wasn't spying or anything, honest) and saw him tidy things up.  Like making sure the Nespresso capsules were straight, and checking the glasses for spots.  He straightened the pillows so they were perfect...then he saw me and apologized profusely-I brushed it off and said please continue-I'm just reading here.  

 

During my cruise did I see him all the time?  Never.  He serviced 10 suites.  But, I always knew he was there, and if I requested anything, he was on it.  I didn't really know what to expect being my first cruise ever and also first time having a butler. 

 

One thing that stood out for me...I went to a specialty restaurant one night before seeing a show.  I had dessert, but it didn't really wow me.  The waitress asked me if I liked it, and I said it was okay.  She asked me if I wanted something else instead?  I said I didn't have time as I was going to see a show.  She said "If you did have time, which dessert would you like?"  I picked one and she said "I'll take care of it!"  When she came back with the check (it was zero of course), she said my Butler has it handled.  I wasn't really sure what to expect...but I went to the show.  When I walked into my suite after the show, the table was set with a white tablecloth, utensils, coffee, and the dessert I had picked!  It was a wow moment for me.  My butler had timed it right with the end of the show, knew when I would be back.  I called him after I was done, thanked him for the wow moment, and within a few minutes he was cleaning up and gone.  I've never actually seen anyone clear a table so fast.  He also handled my reservations-when one restaurant was booked up for the time I wanted, he got me in, and when I walked up to the podium at the restaurant, they greeted me by name and I did not wait for a table. Again, he was not always seen, but he was there.

 

It was those little things that made my vacation not just a 10, but a 12.  I sincerely appreciated everything he did to make my vacation special and pampered.  I think Celebrity ups the Butler level a bit (I'll hopefully find out in September).  I am not one to rely on others, but I can say that when I work hard all year, it just was one more thing that allowed me to wash away all that stress.  I had to think of nothing at all...and thats the way it should be!

I once attended a staff training at my company put on by an offshoot of Ritz Carlton.  The Ritz Carlton Institute.  The big takeaway for me was that a service-oriented company should not be interested in customer satisfaction.  "Satisfaction" is much too low a bar.  Customer Delight is the aim...exceed the client's expectations before the client even knows what to expect.  It sounds like your butler (and the server) did just that.   A perfect testimonial for NCL and the Haven.  I haven't tried it, but know from a loyalist it is a super experience.

[LGW59]

On 6/10/2020 at 3:31 PM, marieps said:

I once attended a staff training at my company put on by an offshoot of Ritz Carlton.  The Ritz Carlton Institute.  The big takeaway for me was that a service-oriented company should not be interested in customer satisfaction.  "Satisfaction" is much too low a bar.  Customer Delight is the aim...exceed the client's expectations before the client even knows what to expect.  It sounds like your butler (and the server) did just that.   A perfect testimonial for NCL and the Haven.  I haven't tried it, but know from a loyalist it is a super experience.

Butler is the most amazing part of the cruise for me!  He/she works incredibly hard and I have never had one complaint.  I am usually in a suite with a good size balcony, I take my breakfast there every morning, hang out until lunch then go to one of the small cafes for lunch, dinner and cocktails on balcony every night as well.  The first time I ever experienced a butler suite, I was honest with him and I told him I wasn't really sure what he could do.  He asked me a few of my preferences while on board, what I like to do etc.  Once I told him, he said perhaps you can make me a written schedule of what you like and I will make sure to take care of you!  I did the breakfast and dinner list for him, and I never had to ask again, he would magically appear every morning at the time he said he would, same for dinner.  I was hooked from that point and will never cruise again without.  I also tip at the beginning of the cruise, then I hand him more cash on the last night.  Trust me if you have never cruised this way, it is well worth it, TIP TIP TIP!!!

[zdad59]

Our cruise in April '21 on Edge (fingers crossed) will be our first in a suite.    We don't believe in tipping....we believe in OVER tipping.   What is an appropriate tip for a good butler for a 7 day cruise??    I understand from the thread that their job is very different from the state room attendant, but I have no idea if they should be tipped on par, or more, or less than a cabin attendant.

 

TIA 

[Bo1953]

6 minutes ago, zdad59 said:

Our cruise in April '21 on Edge (fingers crossed) will be our first in a suite.    We don't believe in tipping....we believe in OVER tipping.   What is an appropriate tip for a good butler for a 7 day cruise??    I understand from the thread that their job is very different from the state room attendant, but I have no idea if they should be tipped on par, or more, or less than a cabin attendant.

 

TIA 

He z - how is your recovery going or are you all healed by now?

 

In health and bon voyage