Butler & Concierge Service..what do you use them for?

[darrengs]

We were on the Gem's TA in November in CV 14506. I have a link to some pics of the suite in my signature below. If Roy is your butler you will have one of the best.:D He had been chosen for concierge training, so I'm not sure if he's still a butler. He has a great sense of humor and always made sure I had fresh pretzel rolls. :o He happened to hear me mention that I was going to the buffet to get some and wouldn't hear of me going to get my own. ;) I belive Josephine was the butler on the starboard side. We had friends that had her. Their opinion was that we got the better butler. She was OK, but didn't seem to go that extra that Roy did.

 

I was looking at your photos. Wow 35+ foot waves:eek:

[SuiteTraveler]

From what I could tell, there are 2 butlers on the 14th floor, then for floors that have Owner's Suites and Penthouses, there were 2 butlers on each of those floors. Each butler covers about 7 suites. Our butler told me he had cabins at both the front and back of the ship! LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG walk for him! I don't know why NCL doesn't station one butler at the back of the ship and one at the front, except that the OS's are at the front, so I guess it is the ONLY way to divide it up equally on a floor. There 8 Penthouses and OS on deck 9 - I suspect that he and the other butler covered ALL of these suites plus the 4 Penthouses on deck 7. There there are 8 Penthouses on deck 9 plus 2 OS. There are 10 family suites on deck 11 and I suspect all of these are covered by one additional pair of butlers. So, my guess is there are either 6 or 8 butlers total on the Jade and similar ships.

 

Our butler setup 2 parties for us in our OS - did a fantastic job, even posed for photos with our guests. Some of our guests took photos with him pretending that they had the OS. LOL! This netted our butler an extra $100 for each party as well as his regular daily tip plus extra for each requested service he performed for us. We just add up all the services the butler provides and try to tip him like he was on land. We give far more than the suggested tip.

 

I think a lot of people forget to tip the concierge. I found her in her office on the last day, thanked her and gave her $35 pp for the week although all we had asked her to do was make 2 dinner reservations for us. She was so thrilled, that when we disembarked, she personally hauled my bag all the way from the ship to the taxi! Very kind of her! My DH passed her an extra $20 for her trouble.

[Memargi]

I Noticed that you had Irish Cream on your Bar area. Did you bring this on board or are you able to order a whole bottle of Irish Cream for the room. I hate mini's:D

 

We were on the Gem's TA in November in CV 14506. I have a link to some pics of the suite in my signature below. If Roy is your butler you will have one of the best.:D He had been chosen for concierge training, so I'm not sure if he's still a butler. He has a great sense of humor and always made sure I had fresh pretzel rolls. :o He happened to hear me mention that I was going to the buffet to get some and wouldn't hear of me going to get my own. ;) I belive Josephine was the butler on the starboard side. We had friends that had her. Their opinion was that we got the better butler. She was OK, but didn't seem to go that extra that Roy did.

[ImADaneFan]

I Noticed that you had Irish Cream on your Bar area. Did you bring this on board or are you able to order a whole bottle of Irish Cream for the room. I hate mini's:D

The Bailey's was part of the bar setup that we ordered. I believe we got a bottle each of Original and Caramel Bailey's, Rum, and Crown. The caramel Bailey's is Wonderful in your coffee.;)

[wolfcel]

The Bailey's was part of the bar setup that we ordered. I believe we got a bottle each of Original and Caramel Bailey's, Rum, and Crown. The caramel Bailey's is Wonderful in your coffee.;)

 

 

How and when do you do request a bar setup?? We love Bailey's...all of them :D!

 

OH, BTW...amazing video's of the 35ft waves...that must have been some trip!

[ImADaneFan]

How and when do you do request a bar setup?? We love Bailey's...all of them :D!

 

OH, BTW...amazing video's of the 35ft waves...that must have been some trip!

You can request the bar setup up to a week before your sailing date. They do process them in order of sailing, so if your date is out aways it might take them a few days to get back to you. I have to always think about this, If I'm wrong I know someone will correct me. You email groupeventgem@ncl.com , substitute the "gem" with the ship you'll be on. Just let them know what you would like and they will send you the prices. Last November the prices ranged from $63 - $83 - $103, depending on the type of liquor you selected. The bottles are full liters not 5ths.

 

I thought the waves were a lot of fun, but I know there were a lot of people that were very green. ;)

[wolfcel]

You can request the bar setup up to a week before your sailing date. They do process them in order of sailing, so if your date is out aways it might take them a few days to get back to you. I have to always think about this, If I'm wrong I know someone will correct me. You email groupeventgem@ncl.com , substitute the "gem" with the ship you'll be on. Just let them know what you would like and they will send you the prices. Last November the prices ranged from $63 - $83 - $103, depending on the type of liquor you selected. The bottles are full liters not 5ths.

 

I thought the waves were a lot of fun, but I know there were a lot of people that were very green. ;)

 

 

Do you know if you can request to have wine in the cabin via our butler or conceirge? .... I've read that you can send yourself a Bon Voyage Wine Gift, but since we have a Butler, can we ask him to keep us supplied with wine?

[mnmfischel]

They kept our fridge stocked with soda. There is not a charge. They also found out my husband liked chocolate milk and kept that in there, also. We don't have them unpack our luggage. I find it easier to put things where I know where to find them. You will absolutley love having this service. We have not gone back to any of the other cruise lines since our first NCL cruise 3 years ago.

 

Q...if there is no charge for sodas in the suites, does that count for the rest of the boat as well? i.e. do I still need my soda card?

[Fishbait17]

Q...if there is no charge for sodas in the suites, does that count for the rest of the boat as well? i.e. do I still need my soda card?

 

The only suites that have soda stocked in the suite for free are the Owner's Suite, Deluxe Owner's Suites, and Garden Villa (the big 3 bedroom one, not to be confused with the Courtyard Villas). If you are in one of these, the butler will stock your fridge with whatever flavor you like, and you can pour yourself a glass and take it with you anywhere on the ship. Anything you order outside your suite will be charged as usual, whether from a bar, bar server, or restaurant, or even room service if you order a glass of soda from them.

 

Robin

[Fishbait17]

Do you know if you can request to have wine in the cabin via our butler or conceirge? .... I've read that you can send yourself a Bon Voyage Wine Gift, but since we have a Butler, can we ask him to keep us supplied with wine?

 

Yes, your butler basically serves as your "room service" for getting a bottle of wine, etc. He will bring you a bottle or glass (and the receipt to sign) whenever you want one, and if you wish you could even request a standing order (like a bottle every day at 5pm, etc).

 

Robin

[kath56]

what is the tipping for butler and concierge?.

 

Not sailing till dec 2012 on the Epic, we will be in a Spa suite, so all this info has been really helpful, thanks

[SuiteTraveler]

Tips for the butler should be at least $3.50 per person per day, then if he does something above and beyond normal room service - such as sets up a party for you, increase the tip accordingly. I tipped our butler $100 for setting up 2 parties in our OS in addition to his regular tips. I called him about 1/2 hour BEFORE both parties and he pulled them together for us, then came and served our guests wine and posed for photos with them, so he deserved good tips for this excellent service. I gave the concierge $2.50 per person per day and she made lots of reservations for us in the specialty restaurants. She was so thrilled with the $35 tip and the time I took to go by her office and personally thank her the day before disembarkation, that she actually grabbed my wheeled large suitcase and hauled it off the ship for me when we disembarked via the back way! Most kind of her!

[Fishbait17]

Lots of thread on here discussing butler and concierge tips - do a search to see other people's ranges. Tipping amount is completely up to you; others can give you their experiences or guidelines, but it is up to you to decide what you think is deserved. For us: $10 per person per day for the butler to start ($20 daily for the two of us or $40 per day with my daughters). $10 per cabin per day for the concierge to start. Both are adjusted upwards for things in addition to their regular daily duties (Regular duties: embarkation, priority tender tickets, VIP luggage tags, invitations to events, daily treats, coffee maker cleaning and filling, etc etc etc,; Extra duties: parties in your suite, special requests, meals in your suite, restaurant reservations, port guidance and assistance, etc, etc etc). Generally, our tips for 7 days for two average to be about $175-200 for the butler for general service plus 3-4 in suite breakfasts, $100-150 for the concierge for general service plus some dinner reservations, theater seating, stopping by to check on us, etc. Have paid as high as $375 and as low as $100 per week for the butler; high of $250 down to $50 for the concierge.

 

Robin

[GrandmaHofmann]

We had an owner's suite on a Mediterranean cruise in 2010. Never used the butler or the concierge other than to request DVD's. He brought our treats in the late afternoon. I can't imagine why anyone needs a concierge anyway. Some people had her making shore excursion reservations, but I had ours many months before we sailed. Pretty soon the concierge started looking at us askance when we went into Cagney's. And the butler asked us if we were "religious," because we never requested liquor, turned down the two free bottles that came with the suite, and never had anyone in. We just wanted the larger room. Didn't care about anything else. We did not tip the concierge at all; tipped our wonderful steward more than was required; tipped the butler a small amount.

[chrisuscga01]

On epic in dec. Heard delivery pizza is same as buffet. If we ask butler to get us pizza will we beccharged $5 delivery fee?

[LadyShiva]

On epic in dec. Heard delivery pizza is same as buffet. If we ask butler to get us pizza will we beccharged $5 delivery fee?

 

Yes.

[sverigecruiser]

On the Epic our butler asked if he should escort us to the restaurant for dinner when we had booked any of the specialty restaurants.

 

It may seem like a useless perk and we should never have asked for it ourself but it was very nice to be escorted! We got priority in the elevator, we didn't have to stand in a line outside the restaurant and we always got a very nice table. It also made us feel extra special.

[bermuda8553]

Hi everyone. I've been reading this as I just upgraded to my first suite. I know we are suppose to tip the butler and concierge, but what about the wait staff in Cagney's for breakfast and lunch. I know we can choose to eat breakfast and lunch in Cagney's if you are in a suit. Do you usually tip them also or just assume they share in the $12 a day and let it go at that. Thank-you for any input.

[NengEuis]

I am so glad this thread exists. We will be in our first suite in January, and I really appreciate Fishbait sharing how much they spend, and giving me a low and high range. It gives me something to work with!

 

We plan on bringing aboard a 12-pack of Coke for the week (NCL is Pepsi, I know). But here is the question: Do I need to bring tonic or not? And what about limes? Do I need to board with a sack of limes, or can those be stocked? Sorry I am worried about these things, but I am. :D

[yoyocruiser]

Hi Bermuda--it is my understanding that the staff in Cagney's are included in the tip pool. However--we got exceptional service--I sometimes left a couple of dollars at the table for the two of us--but sometimes forgot because generally I was not carrying money. At the end of the cruise i left $20 at breakfast. I felt we got really good service and that is why I left it. If I had gotten mediocre service, I would have felt that they were adequately covered in the tip pool. But they were superb.

 

Neng--I took a lime aboard and the butler saw it. He then brought me a cup of limes every day all cut up and left them in the fridge!! So there are plenty of limes on board and this is exactly the kind of thing that a butler is pleased to do for you--just tell him that is what you would like. I also asked for milk to make the steamed milk for the coffee machine. These things were stocked regularly as well as water--actually I didn't know they would replenish the bottled water but our butler did. Yes--you do need to bring tonic--I brought the little six pack tonics made by canada dry. You can probably buy some aboard from the bar--but I drink diet tonic--and I knew they wouldn't have that. I do remember that they had regular tonic in the mini bar for 2.25 in case you don't want to bother.

Edited October 7, 2011 by yoyocruiser

[stephenandrew]

When staying in a suite on the Epic, is it necessary to pre-book dinner/show reservations on-line prior to boarding to get your chosen dining/show choices, or can you depend upon the concierge to secure them for you once on board?

Edited October 7, 2011 by stephenandrew

[bermuda8553]

Thank-you yo-yo for all this good info.I think I'll go to the bank before I leave and just get a bunch of 5's and have them with me. With all my ?'s you would think this is my first cruise, but I've been on the Dawn 3 times before this, and several other NCL ships. Just my first suite, and for some reason I'm freaking out. LOL!

[NengEuis]

Thanks yoyo! I will plan on bringing my tonic, but I'll leave my limes at home. :D

[terry55]

The concierge only makes dinner reservations for the specialty restaurants, correct? I thought I had read somewhere in another thread (which I cannot find) that someone had requested reservations in the main dining room as well. On the Dawn in July we had asked for reservations in LeBistro, as that was my understanding. Just curious.

[Journey11]

The concierge only makes dinner reservations for the specialty restaurants, correct? I thought I had read somewhere in another thread (which I cannot find) that someone had requested reservations in the main dining room as well. On the Dawn in July we had asked for reservations in LeBistro, as that was my understanding. Just curious.

 

When we were on the Gem in May, our concierge made dinner reservations for us in the MDR. It was great because when we arrived, there were lots of people waiting, but we were led right to our "reserved" table.