The Butler Did It

At the risk of showing (or confirming) my total lack of sophistication I am reaching out to all Regent world travelers for advice on how to best make use of our butler during our 6 Sep 15 Regent Mariner cruise departing from Istanbul. Being butler-impaired I am questioning The Boss’ plan to dress him up as a gladiator and have him serve grapes on a silver platter just as she makes me do at home. I’ve seen some snippets of info and advice in various threads, but think that I, as well as other butler-deprived travelers, need a central point of reference in order to mitigate our butler faux-pas. I certainly do not want to misuse or overburden the poor guy to death (he’s NOT folding my underwear!!!) but want to make sure we have a great experience enhanced by the butler’s services. Having said that, I will certainly appreciate any recommendations and comments from the peanut gallery. Thanks in advance.

Z and TB

We always frustrated our butler; we just didn't have much for him to do. He brought us little snacks in the afternoon and twice we had him (two different ones) arrange a cocktail party for us and a few friends.

At the risk of showing (or confirming) my total lack of sophistication I am reaching out to all Regent world travelers for advice on how to best make use of our butler during our 6 Sep 15 Regent Mariner cruise departing from Istanbul. Being butler-impaired I am questioning The Boss’ plan to dress him up as a gladiator and have him serve grapes on a silver platter just as she makes me do at home. I’ve seen some snippets of info and advice in various threads, but think that I, as well as other butler-deprived travelers, need a central point of reference in order to mitigate our butler faux-pas. I certainly do not want to misuse or overburden the poor guy to death (he’s NOT folding my underwear!!!) but want to make sure we have a great experience enhanced by the butler’s services. Having said that, I will certainly appreciate any recommendations and comments from the peanut gallery. Thanks in advance.

 

Z and TB

Your butler could arrange a drinks party and you could invite us! We are on the same cruise in the butler deprived staterooms......

We loved having a Butler for one main reason-- breakfast in the suite at 7a. We usually travel in a phb and there is more than enough room for in suite dining. We have always had delivery on time and the food is hot. Not bad looking out your balcony door and having breakfast on a white tablecloth.

We also like the limes and hors d'oeuvres for before dinner relaxation, we don't do the bars.

On our recent Voyage cruise, we had friends aboard and used our butler to serve a course-by-course dinner one evening. We did have an aft suite which had a table for 4 and had plenty of room. Not sure how well it would have worked in the Penthouse suites that we normally get.

Just in case someone is reading this who's not familiar with Regent:

We always book a "regular" suite (middle of ship, as low as possible). Just wanted to note that what newlondon describes can be enjoyed even without a butler. Perhaps once or twice on our cruises, breakfast may have been delivered not exactly on time, and perhaps not steaming hot; most of the time, it was perfect. (Perhaps brkfst service doesn't start quite as early for us non-butler folks? I'm not 100% sure.) White table cloth spread for us as well, and I agree that it's all very pleasant.

Also, like newlondon, we don't do bars either. Drinks and hors d'oeuvres ordered from room service have usually been prompt and very good.

Enjoy your butler, funny Zqueeze1! I aways enjoy your posts. (As I think I may have mentioned once before, I had badly wanted to be on that Sept. 6 cruise; dddh just not well enough, though I'm still hoping that he-- we!-- may be able to travel next year. We've done most of the Sept 6 ports before, and the ones we haven't visited sound wonderful. Bon Voyage!)

It has been our experience that the butlers do room service delivery duty for all of the stateroom categories, not just PH and above -- at least judging from the butler uniforms that all of our room service delivery persons have been wearing. We have had room service breakfast most days on our Regent cruises, and I agree with Poss that the service has been very prompt and the food always well prepared and just as hot as I would expect it to be in the dining rooms.

Your butler can unpack for you when you arrive and re-pack for you when you go.

 

Your butler can arrange to have your pants let out, five days into the cruise, when they are too tight. You can also request that they follow you around the ship and slap the food from your hands when they think you've had enough.

 

Your butler can balance your checkbook within a few dollars, notarize documents for you, and give you wonderful, albeit unorthodox, legal advice.

 

Your butler can let you into your neighbor's cabin when they are not there, and help you to TP (toilet paper) their cabin. I know because I've done that. You can request a specific brand of TP - they will go out of their way to get you that brand, because this is Regent!

 

I heard of a butler that helped to slip a whoopee cushion under the captain's chair during the farewell dinner. And one time, in Monaco, the butler helped me call the Royal Palace and ask if Prince Albert was still in the can. We both had a good snicker from that one!

 

In short, your butler will do just about anything to make sure you enjoy your cruise. I highly recommend that you take full advantage of your butler if you have one.

That is Hilarious!!!! Can the pants being altered be done and returned the same day?

Our butler attends to any laundry sent out. Arranges evening drinks and snacks that George likes. He has shined George's boots which is a big deal because they don't see that type of footwear every day. And he has cleaned my hiking shoes after I tired to get all the mud off unsuccessfully.

I personally don't have them pack or unpack. And I don't have them make dining reservations because I would just as soon do that myself.

Methinks that was more than a "few" years ago!! Thanks for the laugh.

Somehow, I thought that this thread would generate comments from the usual Cruise Critic resident comedians, of which I welcome and look forward to. I will incorporate into our Butler Plan of Action some of the more practical recommendations especially the ones dealing with afternoon drinks (Hendrick's for me and Mad Dog for The Boss) and hors d'ouvres. Breakfast sounds great, too. You lurkers that haven't commented (you know who you are) need to chime in with the golden BB that will make this experience special.

Drib: Awesome recommendations (I think). BTW, I won't need to have my pants let out since I plan on bringing my fat boy pants with spandex. :D I'm hoping for a sock puppet show from the butler.

TC2: Thoughts?

I'm looking forward to more suggestions and/or comments.

Piscean: How about a post-emergency drill get together at the Observation Lounge?

Z and TB

(Lovin' this thread!) We've only had a butler once and didn't know what to do with him either. I'm liking the idea of you hosting a party, especially with Hendrick's. I'd volunteer to find the cuke.

If we HAD a butler, John likes the idea of having him rig his deep sea fishing gear, bait the hooks with shrimp, last nights king crab and left over escargot so that John could fish off the balcony (we've got that much!)

I am probably the only person who does not like having a butler. They seem to get in the way. Every night while I am dressing for dinner, he arrives and I have to jump into the closet. He does bring snacks before dinner but in reality, we do not need the extra calories. It seems to me that if I could book a PH suite without a butler, I would do it. That said, we now book a regular suite and do not have to deal with the butler issue.

Eileen

I am probably the only person who does not like having a butler. They seem to get in the way. Every night while I am dressing for dinner, he arrives and I have to jump into the closet. He does bring snacks before dinner but in reality, we do not need the extra calories. It seems to me that if I could book a PH suite without a butler, I would do it. That said, we now book a regular suite and do not have to deal with the butler issue.

 

Eileen

No closet jumping for me!

I'd just wrap up in my big fluffy robe, slink to the door with my cigarette holder (holding a candy cigarette, of course!), throw open the door and purr "pleeeze come in, darlink..."!!!!!!

I cannot imagine having the Butler unpack. As it is, I have a hard time remembering where I put things!

WE have the butler deliver tea and coffee very early every morning. Usually the butler comes in while we are sleeping, wraps the pots in napkins and it is ready when I arise. When my husband needs food early, such as a muffin, that is delivered also!

I don't know how we use the butler, but we always do!

I have to tell a butler story. We were in one of the "big" suites on Mariner when they first started offering butler service (the one just below Master, is that Mariner Suite?). The bed had those wooden slats holding up the mattress; one evening my husband, who was admittedly obese, sat down on the side of the bed, the slats slid sideways and the mattress caved in. I called for our butler, he brought a couple more butlers and they ran in circles and wrung their hands. Our service attendant wasn't "in uniform" but she sent a friend who was; the service attendant started barking orders and got the bed fixed posthaste. The next day, our attendant rolled her eyes, she said she was sorry she wasn't in uniform but she knew the butlers weren't helping a bit. She was so funny, we loved her.

Hi Z

We had a butler once on the Navigator. Didn't utilize his services all that much, but we did enjoy the late afternoon canapes. One day when the butler, (Raj, I think was his name), was delivering our snacks, my husband jokingly said to him, "What? No popcorn? I'm really hungry for popcorn." Raj left, and about 10 minutes later, he reappeared with a huge bowl of popcorn for us, delivered with a huge smile to match. Ask, and ye shall receive, at least to the best of their ability. Regent staff is terrific.

And, by the way, the popcorn was delicious.:)

Z - sorry I'm late to the party - just finished installing new computer Anyway, I cannot compete with the great suggestions and stories that have been posted so far. I do have one suggestion..... to make your DH feel special, ask your butler to escort her to dinner in CR one night (although she will be on his arm, you are permitted to follow;) ).

Also have an off-topic suggestion for you (not sure where else to post it). When you are on the Mariner, please ask to sit in Zaldy's section at least one night (my "adopted" son) If you don't mind, tell him that Jackie and Dennis (aka Momma Jackie and Daddy Dennis) will be on board when you get off (he knows this but it is a good introduction for you two). He is a wonderful man - very shy but has a heart of gold. Also, one of everyone's favorite servers should be onboard -- Dennis. He also knows us. His sense of humor is amazing. Also, when he gets to know your preferences, he makes suggestions as to what is on the menu that he thinks you will like. IMO, dining in areas where you are known by the server helps make your experience even better than it already will be!

BTW, while you can certainly ask your butler not to bring you munchies at 5:00 p.m., you can also ask for the same thing every day (we did that with crab claws until we got sick of them). Although they can't beat the crab that you get on the east coast, they are fun for a quick snack and don't fill you up

I would say something funny but I can't think of anything (but you have laughed if you watched me trying to understand Windows 10 -- my brain turned into Fruit Loops!) :p

P.S. Have you filled out your Butler Request online yet?

drib & mudhen, I lol literally at your posts:D

They do come in quite handy and our requests of them have varied a lot based on the cruise itinerary . They can arrange for tours of the galley and other parts of the ship that are out of sight . They can get you that extra dinner in P7 or Signatures. We have used them to set up cocktail parties in our suite. Just ask - they will always try.

Even though having a butler is great fun (getting ideas on what to do with him thru this thread!), even for us folks in "steerage", the service is wonderful. Several years ago we were on a TA and a group of us "poor folks" entered the boat building contest. About a dozen of us met in a cabin and Patty called room service. "What does everyone want to drink?"...long story short, there were about 12 different and somewhat complicated orders (compari with lime, not orange, in thin slices, with only 2 ice cubes.....etc.). No less than 10 mins passed and here was our trusty attendant with trays full of all the drinks, AND snacks.....all this and no butler!

You gotta love it.....was so impressed!

I AM LOVING THESE RESPONSES! And this with four Margaritas and a glass of Rosa Regale in me which I winchestered while prepping for TB's birthday dinner. As a card-carrying narcissist and overall ham, I am loving these stories.

TC2: My "DH" is really my DW AKA TB or "The Boss." You must really be knee deep in your Windows 10. :eek:

As I peruse all the responses, I realize that someone should receive recognition for their contribution to my Butler dilemma. So far, the GOLDEN BUTLER Award has two front runners: FAST COMPANY (arranging tours) and Sheltieluv (The Boss is a popcorn addict) A close second is Mudhen with her graphic (hubba hubba) description of how to greet the butler.

Keep them coming!

Z and TB

I haven't found the butler to be of much benefit over several cruises. For a while I liked having afternoon canapés delivered, but I began to lay off of some of the food because I was still stuffed from lunch or tea time. (Though, I found that liquid canapés in the form of wine were quite good and didn't result in feeling stuffed.:)) On the last couple cruises I don't think we asked for canapés.

On rare occasions I have asked the butler for reservations in restaurants, sometimes with success and sometimes not. Coffee delivery in the morning was nice, but since we don't have a set time to get up that became less useful as an option and there are coffee machines in the room.

If there is any soft drink or alcohol I want in the room, the butler readily takes care of that, but I assume that can happened in any of the suites.

For me, the butler doesn't provide much added value though invariably the butlers have been pleasant and might be helpful under some circumstances.

TC2: My "DH" is really my DW AKA TB or "The Boss." You must really be knee deep in your Windows 10. :eek:

 

As I peruse all the responses, I realize that someone should receive recognition for their contribution to my Butler dilemma. So far, the GOLDEN BUTLER Award has two front runners: FAST COMPANY (arranging tours) and Sheltieluv (The Boss is a popcorn addict) A close second is Mudhen with her graphic (hubba hubba) description of how to greet the butler.

 

Keep them coming!

 

Z and TB

So sorry -- you're right -- too deep into Windows 10:( Although my reference to TB was way off, my recommendations for servers was correct Think I'll shut up until I have everything working correctly.