NCL Tipping Butler/Concierge?

[grtwithntr]

We're in an NCL suite next month on a 7 day cruise and seeing as how we've never done the Cruise Ship Suite thing I was wondering about appropriate tips for for the Butler and Concierge? I'll list out my questions...

 

1: Are "suggested" tips for these two included in your final bill?

 

2: If not, I'd guess they are part of a pool or otherwise highly compensated from the cruise line?

 

3: If tips are expected, how much are they per day or week for each?

 

4: Do you also have a room steward that needs to be taken care of like you would in standard balcony or other room?

 

5: What are we looking at as far as a total $ amount in tipping the people that are making sure we have the time of our lives?

 

I'm just a simple man with simple means who happened to come across a pretty good deal on a Suite so I'm not looking to go overboard with tips but I have no problem taking care of all the staff, I'd just like to know what I'm looking at as far as budgeting for the final bill. Thanks for any replies..

[Bobbye]

1: Are "suggested" tips for these two included in your final bill?

No, they aren't part of the daily service charge

 

2: If not, I'd guess they are part of a pool or otherwise highly compensated from the cruise line?

You tip them individually, they are not part of the pool.

 

3: If tips are expected, how much are they per day or week for each?

Totally up to you. We generally tip $10 per day per person for each but it can vary depending on how much we use them.

 

4: Do you also have a room steward that needs to be taken care of like you would in standard balcony or other room?

Yes

 

5: What are we looking at as far as a total $ amount in tipping the people that are making sure we have the time of our lives?

Service charge that is put on your daily account which I believe is $12 per day per person plus the tips for the concierge and butler and any additional tips you choose to give such as Cagneys staff.

[gma_pat]

You will get many different responses to the tipping question as it is very subjective and will depend on how much you use the services of the butler and concierge. It seems like 10 pp/day is the average quoted by members here.

 

This was the only CC guidance I have read in the ship reviews... this comes from the Cruise Critic Gem ship review...

 

"Passengers are charged $12 per person, per day (including kids ages 3 and up). A 15 percent gratuity is automatically added to orders for drinks (from sodas and juices to bottles of wine and cocktails). The Yin & Yang Spa automatically adds an 18 percent tip on all spa and salon services and, oddly enough, on fitness programs at its Body Waves facility. There's no gratuity expected to counselors of the kids programs, but tips are gratefully accepted. (Aim for about $3 per day, per child.) Passengers in suites that come with butlers tip at their own discretion. (Plan to pay $3 to $5 per day, per person -- more if you made a lot of extra requests.)"

This amt is much lower then usually mentioned by members and does not include the concierge services and it also suprised me that they suggest that a tip is not expected from the kids club staff - I think they would earn it more than from the other services...

 

With that said, when we sail in a suite we start at 100 a couple/ 7 day sailing for the butler and concierge each and adjust up or down depending on the amt of services requested.

[rvsullivan]

Many different views on this board about how much. We are about average in our use of the butler and concierge and tip about $150 to the butler for two of us on a 7 day cruise and $100 to the concierge. They are not part of the pool.

If your in a suite they take care of you and make the trip what it is. Very special.

[Cruisin&Relaxin]

We're in an NCL suite next month on a 7 day cruise and seeing as how we've never done the Cruise Ship Suite thing I was wondering about appropriate tips for for the Butler and Concierge? I'll list out my questions...

 

1: Are "suggested" tips for these two included in your final bill?

 

2: If not, I'd guess they are part of a pool or otherwise highly compensated from the cruise line?

 

3: If tips are expected, how much are they per day or week for each?

 

4: Do you also have a room steward that needs to be taken care of like you would in standard balcony or other room?

 

5: What are we looking at as far as a total $ amount in tipping the people that are making sure we have the time of our lives?

 

I'm just a simple man with simple means who happened to come across a pretty good deal on a Suite so I'm not looking to go overboard with tips but I have no problem taking care of all the staff, I'd just like to know what I'm looking at as far as budgeting for the final bill. Thanks for any replies..

 

I urge the OP to use the search tool to learn more about this topic. Tipping of the butler and concierge is a FAQ on this forum. If you do a search, you will find many past threads that rehash this topic over and over and over again. I am sure you can find answers to your queries. Here is a search using tipping butler concierge for the search terms: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/search.php?searchid=37935079

 

The search tool is your friend.

Edited March 13, 2013 by Cruisin&Relaxin

[david_sobe]

It all depends on how much you use their services. Some cruises we used the butler more than the concierge and vice versa. The concierge does share his/her tips with the assistant concierges. I had to ask that because we received some good service from the assistants when the concierge was not around. They told me that the concierge did share tips with them (good).

 

But they do not get paid from the autogratuities.

Edited March 13, 2013 by david_sobe

[sunshine nana]

Wait until you see how the butler and concierge treat you. Our experience has been that the concierges concentrated on the higher end suites at the front of the ship, not the aft where we have been. We make our own reservations for dinner, excursions etc and prefer to eat in Cagneys or dining rooms, not our cabin. Our second concierge was rude the one time we did ask her a question. She also told us it was not allowed to do self-debarkation (wrong information).Neither time did we get escorted to our cabin by the concierge or butler. They took the high end suites first and we waited. The second time, we didn't get on the ship until all the cabins were called.

Our first butler did nothing. We did not know then that we could get breakfast other than the short form he put on the door. We also did not know we should ask him for dinner menus so we could decide when to eat at a specialty. Neither time we were invited to the chocolate buffet early.

We love the suites because of Cagneys for breakfast and lunch, larger room, and priority tendering. We have paid extra for these perks. We had great stewards and tipped them extra. We did not have great or even good concierges either time and one butler was terrible. We did tip the second butler extra because he did provide extra service. Do not feel pressured to tip people who do not do a good job.

[Love my butler]

The butler, concierge and kids club staff are not in the DSC tipping pool. They should be tipped accordingly. Your room steward is in the pool and there is no requirement to tip them twice. We tend to use our butler a lot and tip him generously. The concierge can do some things for you, but we don't ask much of our concierge. However, we still tip even with minimal usage.

 

As a general guideline, think about tipping your butler $100/week and the concierge $50/week. That is for average usage. Adjust up or down with the demands you place on them.

[njhorseman]

1: Are "suggested" tips for these two included in your final bill?

No, they aren't part of the daily service charge

 

2: If not, I'd guess they are part of a pool or otherwise highly compensated from the cruise line?

You tip them individually, they are not part of the pool.

 

3: If tips are expected, how much are they per day or week for each?

Totally up to you. We generally tip $10 per day per person for each but it can vary depending on how much we use them.

 

4: Do you also have a room steward that needs to be taken care of like you would in standard balcony or other room?

Yes

 

5: What are we looking at as far as a total $ amount in tipping the people that are making sure we have the time of our lives?

Service charge that is put on your daily account which I believe is $12 per day per person plus the tips for the concierge and butler and any additional tips you choose to give such as Cagneys staff.

 

With regard to number 4, yes, you have a room steward, but the steward participates in the daily service charge pool, so it's not necessary to tip the steward separately unless you wish to reward outstanding service.

[brooklynparkslope]

For reference, we were a couple in a two bedroom Haven on the Gem for 9 days. Tipped the butler $150, steward $100, concierge $50 and the server in the Haven $100. We had breakfast and lunch almost daily in the Haven so definitely wanted to tip him too. Hope that helps!

[tammi0916]

For reference, we were a couple in a two bedroom Haven on the Gem for 9 days. Tipped the butler $150, steward $100, concierge $50 and the server in the Haven $100. We had breakfast and lunch almost daily in the Haven so definitely wanted to tip him too. Hope that helps!

 

Thanks for this post - I am glad I checked back because something I did not think about was the wait staff in Cagney's for breakfast and lunch! Will you have the same stff every day? I will definitely add this to my list of envelopes!

 

Thanks

 

Tammi

[Cruisin&Relaxin]

Thanks for this post - I am glad I checked back because something I did not think about was the wait staff in Cagney's for breakfast and lunch! Will you have the same stff every day? I will definitely add this to my list of envelopes!

 

Thanks

 

Tammi

 

I believe the staff in Cagney's are covered by the DSC so you shouldn't feel obligated to tip them extra unless you feel the service was above and beyond.

[njhorseman]

I believe the staff in Cagney's are covered by the DSC so you shouldn't feel obligated to tip them extra unless you feel the service was above and beyond.

 

That is correct.

[grtwithntr]

Thank you all for your replies, much appreciated.

[rjm11]

I agree with starting with $100 for the butler and $50 for the concierge. We have two kids with us too, so for us, the butler ends up a usually about twice that, as we tend to have some meals delivered to our room and can generally be a pain in the neck! I have not typically used the concierge a ton- with the exception of Alaska, and there we increased it. But I think those are good starting numbers. Of course if your service isn't good, you can go down from there.

 

Last year I also left $40 extra for the room steward, and gave $20 extra to the Cagneys group. And $40 to the kids club staff. DH and I ate at some specialty restaurants, and I generally did not tip extra there (maybe $5 or so if it was exceptional). Tipping on NCL can be confusing!

[mom2tcdx2]

I didn't tip the butler all that much, I think I only did $25 for the week. Though to be hones I don't see where he did anything special. When I had asked about meals to our cabin, he gave me the room service menu. When I asked about Cagney's for lunch in our cabin he acted as if he had no idea what I was referring to. So I felt I must have misunderstood what I had read here on cruise critic. He brought us room service three times during the week and I never really saw him much.

[Grado]

Many different views on this board about how much. We are about average in our use of the butler and concierge and tip about $150 to the butler for two of us on a 7 day cruise and $100 to the concierge. They are not part of the pool.

If your in a suite they take care of you and make the trip what it is. Very special.

When you say they take care of you and make your trip very special, what exactly is it that they do above what the steward does? Even in inside cabins, the stewards will bring food to your cabin. If we don't have a catered party and make our own reservations, how would they deserve a tip? I'm not being cheap, just want to understand the 'why'.

[Grado]

We're in an NCL suite next month on a 7 day cruise and seeing as how we've never done the Cruise Ship Suite thing I was wondering about appropriate tips for for the Butler and Concierge? I'll list out my questions...

 

1: Are "suggested" tips for these two included in your final bill?

 

2: If not, I'd guess they are part of a pool or otherwise highly compensated from the cruise line?

 

3: If tips are expected, how much are they per day or week for each?

 

4: Do you also have a room steward that needs to be taken care of like you would in standard balcony or other room?

 

5: What are we looking at as far as a total $ amount in tipping the people that are making sure we have the time of our lives?

 

I'm just a simple man with simple means who happened to come across a pretty good deal on a Suite so I'm not looking to go overboard with tips but I have no problem taking care of all the staff, I'd just like to know what I'm looking at as far as budgeting for the final bill. Thanks for any replies..

How did you end up tipping? What do you feel the butler or concierge did for you that was above what a room steward normally does?

[DMH15]

When you say they take care of you and make your trip very special, what exactly is it that they do above what the steward does? Even in inside cabins, the stewards will bring food to your cabin. If we don't have a catered party and make our own reservations, how would they deserve a tip? I'm not being cheap, just want to understand the 'why'.

 

 

The stewards do not bring you food. Room service does. And if you are not in a full suite your ensuite dining choices are very limited.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rvsullivan]

How did you end up tipping? What do you feel the butler or concierge did for you that was above what a room steward normally does?

 

I know you've posted quite a bit on several threads about this for a long time now. Your going on a 10 day European cruise so the prices some have quoted on here will be quite low because they are mostly for 7 or less day cruises. What type of suite are you in? If you don't plan to allow the butlers and concierge help you at all and refuse their services, you don't need to tip. But I would tell them in advance that you don't want their services. It will allow them to service the other suites and free up some of their time. You will still have a room steward to clean your room.

[cb at sea]

If you don't use their services, there's no need to tip them....so base your tips upon your usage.

[Grado]

If you don't use their services, there's no need to tip them....so base your tips upon your usage.

Thank you cb and rv. I'm finally getting clarity here. I appreciate your patient input!

See you all soon.

[Ed]

All the tips we would have used for the butler and concierge went to the wait staff in the Epic Club. The hostess, wait staff, and assistant maitre d all went above and beyond for us. My wife has food allergies and she got excellent service. To the point that fresh Danish was delivered to our table each morning that had no nuts. The staff knew my wife's allergies and were very careful breakfast, lunch and dinners. Our room steward also did more for us than the butler. No need for concierge we made all reservations through the TV. Tipped room steward well for maintaining our 2 bedroom villa for 14 nights. Told butler about my wife's food allergies, nuts and shellfish on the first day we met him and after the second and third days of the daily snack plates he delivered having chocolate covered nuts and shrimp on the little sandwiches we finally gave up on him. How many times do you have to tell them no nuts or shellfish? No soup for you. No tips left. Didn't get the hint when picking up the snack trays nothing was eaten nor did he ask why nothing was touched.

Pay accordingly to you needs.

Edited December 1, 2014 by Ed

[conandrob240]

I think the amounts quoted here for butler or concierge are way out of whack ( on the high end). Even if you had a good butler, what do they do for you? Deliver room service and bring you snacks? That's really the extent of their duties. Our butler a few weeks ago on BA was terrible. He brought snacks daily and room service breakfast 3 times. Every time we ordered the breakfast, he was rude and annoyed. One day, we asked for a different snack and were met with a visible sigh of irritation. Another day, we had no functioning toilet in the room so we called him to direct us. He expressed no empathy at all, telling us to call housekeeping. No tip for him.

 

Our concierge was a very nice man, but, again, what do they do? He helped us switch a dining time and show. Escorted us off the ship. The dining & show booking I could have done myself on the tv-I only asked him because he was there. To me, that does not warrant a $100+ tip. He got $50 from us.

[Fishbait17]

I think the amounts quoted here for butler or concierge are way out of whack ( on the high end). Even if you had a good butler, what do they do for you? Deliver room service and bring you snacks? That's really the extent of their duties. Our butler a few weeks ago on BA was terrible. He brought snacks daily and room service breakfast 3 times. Every time we ordered the breakfast, he was rude and annoyed. One day, we asked for a different snack and were met with a visible sigh of irritation. Another day, we had no functioning toilet in the room so we called him to direct us. He expressed no empathy at all, telling us to call housekeeping. No tip for him.

 

Our concierge was a very nice man, but, again, what do they do? He helped us switch a dining time and show. Escorted us off the ship. The dining & show booking I could have done myself on the tv-I only asked him because he was there. To me, that does not warrant a $100+ tip. He got $50 from us.

 

I'm sorry you felt you had a bad butler, it happens sometimes, but he did, after all, serve you a full room service breakfast three times with no tip at all?

 

A good butler can make your cruise spectacular, and you might hardly ever see him! It's the combination of all the little things that generally add up to amazing smooth service. Things like this: He notices you make martinis with your bar setup, so he makes sure you always have a supply of olives and extra martini glasses. He knows that you are taking a long port excursion (Berlin for ten hours?), so when you return there is a plate of sandwiches waiting for you. He sees that you use a LOT of ice (one of our "things"), so he offers a wine bucket and fills it with extra ice every day. He maintains the coffee supply, noticing that we use a LOT of decaf, so we always have an extra plate of decaf pods, and fresh cream (not milk, not half-n-half) since he knows we like it. He notices that your kids eat all the bananas out of the fruit bowl every day, so starting maybe day three you have double the banana supply. After he serves you breakfast, he keeps an eye on your suite to see when you leave so that he can arrange for cleaning up after your room service without intruding. On the night of the suites cocktail party, while he is serving drinks and canapés at the party, he arranges for someone else to cover any of your personal requests or needs. Every night, when you pour a glass of wine and take the glass from your suite, leaving it elsewhere on the ship, he refills your glassware for a supply gathered from all around the ship. Etc, etc, etc, etc, for each thing I mention there are dozens more I can't think of at the moment.. He anticipates, asks questions that might seem just small talk to you but are actually cues for him (like "Where are you going today?"), he notices the details, he is unobtrusive. It's truly a talent to supply great service without it seeming like any service at all, if that makes sense. And yes, attitude counts - on occasion a butler can seem snippy or annoyed, and that's not right - but I always assume they have more demanding guests in other suites putting them in that place, and I usually have empathy for them, and by being nice, their attitude generally changes.

 

Robin