What do you tip the butler?

I am sure people are sick of this topic but I wanted to ask. We generally tip our room steward for non-suite rooms anywhere between $30-50. (I feel cheap saying that) But we will be in a suite category S5 on the Epic and I am thinking $50 seems cheap. What is customary? I am not sure at this point if we will even use the consierge but if we do how much do you tip them? Thanks, Kim

I am sure people are sick of this topic but I wanted to ask. We generally tip our room steward for non-suite rooms anywhere between $30-50. (I feel cheap saying that) But we will be in a suite category S5 on the Epic and I am thinking $50 seems cheap. What is customary? I am not sure at this point if we will even use the consierge but if we do how much do you tip them? Thanks, Kim

Here's 2 cents worth..... There are many threads dealing with this question and you can find various answers with lots of detail. But, bottom line, we tip based on services provided. No services or no need - no money. Great service and lots of interaction - lots of money! Comparable to room service or a concierge at a nice hotel.

It all depends on what you use the bulter for. If you dont have room service or request speical things $50 is not that cheap. The butler does deliever daily goodies to your room and shows you how to use the coffee machine in your room, etc. I would say $10 minimum daily if you rarely use them. If you use the butler alot, then it would be more.

I was concerned about this because we recently went to Sandals and had butler services. Someone posted that they tipped like they would of it they had room service. For example, say you tip $5.00 each time room services brings you something. Keep a tally of how many times the butler does something for you and give him $5.00 per service. Maybe you would only give $2.00 each time room service came, so each time the butler does something for you, figure $2.00. This way, the tips is consistent with the services provided (more cash for more services) and within your budget.

How do you tip the butler and concierge? Do you bring envelopes and hand it to them directly or can you add it to your ship bill and specify where it goes?

I bring several thank you notes and include the tips in those - my understanding is you can't put it on your room charges.

I bring several thank you notes and include the tips in those - my understanding is you can't put it on your room charges.

I also bring Thank You cards. You can go to the Guest Services Desk and put it on your OnBoard account and they will give you a slip to actually give the Butler/Concierge so they know what you gave them.

We tipped our butler $140 ($10/pp per day) on the Epic, and tipped the room steward $60. I just went down to the ATM in the casino on the last night and pulled out $200. There were envelopes at the concierge desk. I handed the envelopes to them personally on the last day.

I also bring Thank You cards. You can go to the Guest Services Desk and put it on your OnBoard account and they will give you a slip to actually give the Butler/Concierge so they know what you gave them.

Does this also mean it can come out of your on-board credit? That would be great!!!

If people are really tip the butler $10 per person per day and he has 10 suites, these butlers are making over $1000 per week?

Yeah, but they are on call most of the time, rarely get a break if they are in charge of demanding suites and they probably split their tips with some of the kitchen people who prepare the goodies. (I don't know this, but it makes sense).

If people are really tip the butler $10 per person per day and he has 10 suites, these butlers are making over $1000 per week?

I question whether the average tip is anywhere near $10pp pd. We tip based on service provided and since we never make any demands of the butler (no meals served in our suite, no parties, no special errands or requests) our tip for the week is far, far smaller. Just a nominal amount for delivering the afternoon snacks.

Ya seems like a lot if these people are making $50 000 a year tax free. That's a $75 000 a year job for being a butler on a ship????

I question whether the average tip is anywhere near $10pp pd. We tip based on service provided and since we never make any demands of the butler (no meals served in our suite, no parties, no special errands or requests) our tip for the week is far, far smaller. Just a nominal amount for delivering the afternoon snacks.

Agree. We tipped more because she brought us breakfast 3 times (and it was delivered to the MINUTE....seriously), brought me buckets and buckets of ice whenever I requested it, and she escorted us to 2 shows.

You (general you) tip based on your usage of the butler, and how well they treated you during the week. I can guarantee you these butlers are not pulling 1K in tips a week.

Also, they do not work every week of the year.

Does this also mean it can come out of your on-board credit? That would be great!!!

As long as the shipboard credit is from your TA (and not NCL) --- yes it can come out of those credit funds.

I am sure people are sick of this topic but I wanted to ask. We generally tip our room steward for non-suite rooms anywhere between $30-50. (I feel cheap saying that) But we will be in a suite category S5 on the Epic and I am thinking $50 seems cheap. What is customary? I am not sure at this point if we will even use the consierge but if we do how much do you tip them? Thanks, Kim

You mean you give the room steward 30-50 extra and you feel cheap? They already get a tip from your bill, so you are not being cheap at all

You mean you give the room steward 30-50 extra and you feel cheap? They already get a tip from your bill, so you are not being cheap at all

I am in agreement with you on this. We have always given our steward something extra but never as much as $50 and I have never felt cheap (and I don't think I am) because they do receive a share from the pooled money.

One thing that gets forgotten is that the butler does not get the auto gratuity as all other crew members do. They work for tips. If everyone tips, yes they can make good money. But as we see on these boards there are people always complaining about their butler and brag they they give the butler NOTHING. So when you add this in the equation, they dont make as much as you think

I would say based on my experience onboard and being friends with many butlers, even roommates with one, that 50% of suites leave a tip. The average tip is anywhere from $50 to $150 based on use. Even if you don't use them much, they still bring daily treats and if you're in a higher category cabin they keep your drinks and water stocked.

As a Concierge I would say about 25-40% of suites tip and that is anywhere from $30 to $100 dollars but I would assume the average is $50. When I covered Concierge I had some guests come up to me on the first day saying they don't need my service and slipped me a $50 because they know how it generally works!

Hope this helps.

James

James

Confused a little...why did they tip you when they said the didn't need your services? Some day I hope to afford the suite life but for now I have found that slipping the room steward a ten or twenty on first meeting while giving him/her my requests(xtra ice, pillow,bar soap) has generally meant we get GREAT service the whole cruise. When I first read your post that is what I thought you were saying until I retread and caught the "didn't need".:confused:

I would say based on my experience onboard and being friends with many butlers, even roommates with one, that 50% of suites leave a tip. The average tip is anywhere from $50 to $150 based on use. Even if you don't use them much, they still bring daily treats and if you're in a higher category cabin they keep your drinks and water stocked.

 

As a Concierge I would say about 25-40% of suites tip and that is anywhere from $30 to $100 dollars but I would assume the average is $50. When I covered Concierge I had some guests come up to me on the first day saying they don't need my service and slipped me a $50 because they know how it generally works!

 

Hope this helps.

 

James

Hi Ohio, I know your post is old but I have a question since you're in the know re: tipping. It seems a regular non- butler room steward does all the same things a butler does. Or..does the suite have a butler AND a room steward? We'll be first timers in a suite so I want to do what's right. Thanks for your help.

Hi Ohio, I know your post is old but I have a question since you're in the know re: tipping. It seems a regular non- butler room steward does all the same things a butler does. Or..does the suite have a butler AND a room steward? We'll be first timers in a suite so I want to do what's right. Thanks for your help.

I have never been a suite before but the room Steward and butler are totally different. Bathe butler gets you snacks, meals, drinks, etc. the room steward cleans your room and that type of thing. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I do have a question actually. Will be in a penthouse suite (SF) for the first time. Short 3 day cruise on the Pearl. Am thinking $50 for 2 of us for butler (will probably just be breakfast for 2 days) candy imagine I will need the consigned ($20?) and $50 for room steward. Does this sound about right?

I have been in only one suite, but let me give my worthless two cents. If you can afford a suite make it worth your while. I budgeted $20.00 per day X 12 for a 11 night cruise.for the butler. I put 20 5's in the envelope along with the other money and planned on taking out 5 or 10 when something didn't go right. We didn't ask for a lot and I gave him all of it. While an extra $240 is a ton of money, it's a lot more in his world than mine.

I don't get it, we expect to be treated like Kings and Queens. And with that comes some extra cost. If we don't want that get a simple room. Just to add I have been on 20 plus cruises and have been in only one suite. I do value the $$$$$, but if I go first class I will pay.

One thing that gets forgotten is that the butler does not get the auto gratuity as all other crew members do. They work for tips. If everyone tips, yes they can make good money. But as we see on these boards there are people always complaining about their butler and brag they they give the butler NOTHING. So when you add this in the equation, they dont make as much as you think

and also, the concierge does not get anything from auto gratuity either. it's a funny thing, but I find myself using the concierge more than the butler.

A $20 bill the first time they serve you breakfast on your balcony or cocktails before dinner, and $50 - $100 at the end of the cruise depending on how good they were.

And don't forget the Concierge.

The suite life isn't for nickel and dimers.