Butler services

[Izzybeff]

I'm looking at a cruise on the Star out of New Orleans in January 2013.

 

Some of the suites say "Butler and concierge available" and others say "Includes butler and concierge service".

 

Can you tell me what the difference is? Thanks!

[bjinouno]

suites do no include butler or concierge service , just Penthouse and up

[valleyvillage]

The suites tab can be misleading on the website. If it says butler and concierge, then their services are included. It is odd that they make that distinction. I have never experienced a difference between the service I received in any suites, from the DOS on down to the Family Suite.

[Fishbait17]

suites do no include butler or concierge service , just Penthouse and up

 

This is incorrect. All true suites include butler and concierge services. Mini suites do not include butler and concierge services. Basically, yes, if it mentions concierge and butler, they are included in your rates, except for gratuities.

 

Robin

[1951Mom]

And what is the recommended gratuity for the butler and concierge for a 7 day cruise? Thank you.

[Cuizer2]

And what is the recommended gratuity for the butler and concierge for a 7 day cruise? Thank you.

 

There is no recommended gratuity. You should tip based on the amount of service they offer. The butler handles services provided inside your cabin, the concierge handles services provide outside your cabin.

 

My butler was surprised that I tipped him, since he says he didn't do anything for me. Perhaps I didn't use him as much as others, but I did use his services.

 

For example, the butler brought me a surprise snack every afternoon. One afternoon he comes in, sees I have guests, and comes back with even more snacks. He also brought me the DVD movies that I watched. Finally he managed to get me express laundry service at the non-express rate.

 

I used the concierge for all the dinner reservations. I also called her when I ended up locked inside my cabin. It was possible to get in, but not out. The carpenter had to be called to change the lock.

[david_sobe]

I think I can clear up the confusion.

Some suites do not have access to the courtyard. They are majorly reduced in price and basicly the only perks you get are a much larger cabin and butler and concierge. When I sail the Pearl, I am picking one of these suites. I know it is confusing calling a cabin suite but dont get the courtyard access or breakfast at Cagneys, etc. But if room size is important, the price is just right.

[njhorseman]

I think I can clear up the confusion.

Some suites do not have access to the courtyard. They are majorly reduced in price and basicly the only perks you get are a much larger cabin and butler and concierge. When I sail the Pearl, I am picking one of these suites. I know it is confusing calling a cabin suite but dont get the courtyard access or breakfast at Cagneys, etc. But if room size is important, the price is just right.

 

That's incorrect. There are numerous full suites that do not have access to the courtyard, but do include breakfast and lunch at Cagney's ( except on the Epic, where all suites have courtyard access).

[Fishbait17]

WOW, lots of confusion here! NCL has made it easier to understand what benefits are included by their new cabin and suite designations.

 

All suites, beginning with the designator "S" (as in S4, SE, S1, SC) include butler, concierge, breakfast and lunch at a special "suite venue" (Cagney's, Il Adagio, Epic Club, etc), plus priority embarkation and disembarkation, priority tender tickets, late afternoon snacks, one bottle of sparkling wine or champagne, replenished fruit bowl, etc.

 

Suites designated with a number after the "S" - ie: S1, S2, S3, etc (as opposed to SB, SC, SD, etc) have Courtyard/"Haven" access included in their services, and generally also include reserved theater seating (although some smaller ships will include this for lower level suites). This is why some identical suites have different designators - like the forward Owner's Suites on deck 9 and 10 - on the Dawn they are designated SB (because the Dawn has NO Courtyard or "Haven", therefore no access) but the same ones on the Gem are designated S3 (because the Gem has a Courtyard/Haven and the Owner's Suites have access to it).

 

The one thing that is not designated by the suite categories is whether free bottle of liquor and free sodas/mixers are included - these are available for any suite designated "Owner's Suite" (like the Owner's Suite or Deluxe Owner's Suite - include 3 bottles of liquor and sodas) and for the Garden Villa (not to be confused with the "Courtyard" or "Haven" Villa - the GVs include 6 bottles of liquor and sodas).

 

Hope this helps clear up the confusion..

 

Robin

[Fishbait17]

And what is the recommended gratuity for the butler and concierge for a 7 day cruise? Thank you.

 

There are numerous threads on this forum debating proper tip for the butler and concierge - if you search you will see many opinions. It is a personal decision, with numbers all over the board, sometimes depending on how much their services were used, sometimes based on how much the cruiser can "afford" (I believe that if you are planning to sail in a suite you need to calculate proper tip into your budget, otherwise you should not be sailing in a suite, but that's just my humble opinion :o). My own personal numbers are: Butler - start at $10 per person per day, Concierge - start at $10 per cabin per day, and upwards from there depending on usage. My usual tip is about $150-200 for butler and $100-150 to concierge, but I have tipped as high as $750 and low as $100 for butler, and $50-250 for the concierge, depending on number of people in my suite (two to five) and whether I have any meals in my suite, having the concierge go the extra mile, etc. Hope this helps!

 

Robin

[jdvmd]

I think I can clear up the confusion.

Some suites do not have access to the courtyard. They are majorly reduced in price and basicly the only perks you get are a much larger cabin and butler and concierge. When I sail the Pearl, I am picking one of these suites. I know it is confusing calling a cabin suite but dont get the courtyard access or breakfast at Cagneys, etc. But if room size is important, the price is just right.

 

Wrong! We were in a two-bedroom family suite without Courtyard priviledges and the only thing we didn't have was access to the Courtyard. The rooms were the exact same because Karan the concierge took us up to the Courtyard one morning to tour and see the other cabin and the area.

We had breakfast and lunch in Cagneys as well as a wonderful butler and concierge.

[Izzybeff]

Thanks everyone.. I don't think anyone answered my original question though. I just wanted to know the difference between "available" and "includes".

[2inTul]

Thanks everyone.. I don't think anyone answered my original question though. I just wanted to know the difference between "available" and "includes".

 

No difference as several people have posted.

[darrengs]

Thanks everyone.. I don't think anyone answered my original question though. I just wanted to know the difference between "available" and "includes".

 

 

LOL, that happens.

 

There is no difference, it is just the way it was written.

[beachchick]

I think I can clear up the confusion.

Some suites do not have access to the courtyard. They are majorly reduced in price and basicly the only perks you get are a much larger cabin and butler and concierge. When I sail the Pearl, I am picking one of these suites. I know it is confusing calling a cabin suite but dont get the courtyard access or breakfast at Cagneys, etc. But if room size is important, the price is just right.

 

I don't think it's confusing, except that it's inconsistent on one ship. Only on Epic do all full suites have access to the Courtyard (now Haven?) facilities. On the Jewel-class ships (the only others with Courtyards/Havens), only Haven Villas, Deluxe Owner's/Owner's Suites, and Garden Villas have Haven access.

 

The rest of the suites are suites and calling them suites seems logical to me. All full suites have the basic suite perks, such as Cagney's (or other) special breakfast and lunch venue. Honestly, the only major difference is that they don't have access to the Courtyard/Haven. They are still given VIP treatment and all other primary suite perks. I assume you're booking a full suite in the "S" category designations?

 

Now, if you want to discuss mini-suites ("M" category designations), then that's a different story There's nothing "suite" about the mini. It's a deluxe balcony cabin with no perks, including no butler or concierge, no Cagney's, no VIP anything. OTOH, it's a very nice cabin indeed with more space, a bathtub, and slightly larger balcony. It's much less expensive then even the lowest S category because it isn't intended to have the amenities or perks of a full suite.

 

beachchick

[rinakop]

You're right - we're on the gem and apparently our room includes a "boat" load of other extras it seems! We always booked a balcony for my DH and I and inside cabins for whoever else was traveling with us before, we decided to splurge this time, since my DH wants to treat my MIL (82) and spend some time with her - we just lost our FIL a year ago and SIL 9/19, she is totally crazy, in a good way most of the time, she still thinks she is 60! LOL! and the extra help will make the cruise more enjoyable and relaxing for us. We took my MIL and SIL on the same cruise 2 years ago, since it's so easy to go to NYC from our home in Bucks County, PA, we thought we'd just do it one more time with her! So excited! I may never leave the ship, to the horror of two 16 yr. old girls (our daughter and her BFF) who I am sure will have shore excursions mapped out as I am writing this now!

 

Embarkation: go directly to VIP desk and be escorted onto ship, Personal escort to stateroom, Metallic color key card

1 Full bottle of Sparkling Wine (House), 1 Floral Arrangement

Fruit Bowl*

1 Bottle of Spring Water

*Replenished upon consumption

Bath Amenities

Cotton ball & Q-Tip Caddie

Bath salts, presented in container, shell scoop

Loofah , cello wrapped, no logo

Elemis brand products presented on tray:

Pure Shine Shampoo

Pro-Vitamin Conditioner

Sharp Shower Gel

Vitamin Rich Body Lotion

Pure Zest boxed Soap 80g

Pure Zest boxed Soap 50g

Shower Cap, paper envelope

Personal Butler and Concierge Service

Access to Star Bar Day Lounge

Daily Breakfast and Lunch in Cagney's

Courtyard Villas have access to Courtyard

Deluxe chocolate for bed turndown (prepared onboard) Date TBA

Pillow menu selection (tent card on night stand)

DVD and CD Player

DVD & CD Library , with DVD movie library binder

Deluxe Coffee/Espresso/Cappuccino Machine serving Lavazza coffee in each cabin

China cups/saucers, espresso cups, teaspoons

Coffee/Tea pod dispenser accompanying Lavazza Coffee Machines

Bathroom Scale

Clock

Bath Robes (Plush Terry Robe-Waffle Design)

Slippers- Standard

Feather Pillows, Queen/Euro

Feather Duvet Insert

Upgraded linen - 300TC with Embroidery

Upgraded Towels including oversized bath towel

Long stem barware, 2 each or 1 per person, space available.

Full Breakfast Menu

24 Hour Room Service Menu (Suite Menu)

Food turn down amenity delivered each night

Priority restaurant reservations

Priority disembarkation

In Suite Dining

Butler and Concierge services include:

The purpose of the Concierge is to provide personalized service to guests in Villa & Suite Categories in every way possible, coordinating requests for services such as:

Cocktail parties

Dinners in staterooms

Shore excursions

Car rentals

Golf or tennis appointments

Beauty Salon/massage appointments

Private Art/Jewelry showings with onboard concessions

Restaurant reservations onboard or in Ports of Call

Priority embarkation & disembarkation

Priority tenders ashore

The Concierge also assists with any problems that might occur for the Villa/Suite guests who are given a direct phone or pager number to contact the Concierge

Butler Service

The Butler liaises closely with the Concierge to provide 24-hour personalized service for the Villa/Suite guests who are given a direct phone or pager number to contact the Butler.

Each Butler is assigned to take care of an average of 9 Villas/Suites each (not available to guests in Mini-Suites). Services include:

Unpack luggage

Expedite dry cleaning processes

Shoe-shine service

Serve at Cocktail parties in Villas/Suites

Serve Dinners in Villas/Suites

Delivery of fresh fruit

Delivery of sodas/water/liquor/wine/newspapers if ordered (These are NOT complimentary in all Suite categories)

Delivery of movies from a DVD library

Ensure balconies/gardens are stocked with free beverages, fruit as needed.