Regarding butlers, I had our Apex Retreat butler request I be quiet and listen to his 5 minute spiel that wasn't ended after 20 minutes. 🙄 Bad first impression, and he just kept dropping in my esteem throughout the week. My cruising partner loved the pampering that arrived later and later each day, while I could have walked to the coffee shop myself and gotten her latte and my <whatever> in the time until he showed up with whatever he interpreted our standing order into that day. Meanwhile, our room controls still thought it was snowing (seriously) and 32 degrees F in our room when we checked out in Miami. Our butler still hadn't gotten the sensor fixed... but he had demanded we reinstall our Celebrity apps on our Android phones, rebooted our phones, etc... for a WALL SENSOR.
I realize the running issue with the butlers on both lines is me, though. I'd rather they heard me when I said I really DON'T need assistance with working the room controls, but I would like presents to my room to be <non-peanut or shellfish>, please provide the wedge pillow from the pillow menu for my husband, etc. Needy butlers (versus professional) irritate me--and yes, personal problem, I get it. I am almost to the point of giving up and providing the 1 page summary of what we would appreciate from our butler for the week. I thought it was incredibly rude when I saw another Cruise Critic member provide her 1 page summary, but I truly get the inspiration now.
I gotta tell you, if I'm ever told to be quiet and listen by another butler, though--that's a call to a Hotel Director. One and done. 😡 We still joke about how I will book Aqua versus Sky suites because I might run into the same underperforming butler. *sigh*