How to use the Butler...Please share tips/advice/knowledge/experience

[EagerTravelerBC]

Amazing how these threads can wander from the topic at hand... have been fortunate to be on 2 SS cruises. The Butlers on both were extremely helpful.

 

For arrival and departure...

- By all means allow your butler to pack and unpack. When packing - your personal toiletries are left for you to pack unless you advise otherwise.

- As you can only make 3 reservations with the restaurant manager make any other requests for specific restaurants and dates with the butler

- Last minute spa reservations

- Provide a list of beverages required for your bar for the duration

 

My recommendation would for the guest to be on some kind of regular schedule. eg:

For Sea Days:

- Coffee & Croissant delivered at 9:00 AM

- this is the time to make other daily requests from your B

- 5:00 PM Drawn bath, chilled Champers and a small fruit and veggie platter for dressing for dinner

 

For Tour Days:

- Coffee & Breakfast delivered at 6:30AM

- advise B when you will be back

- Tour return time: Drawn bath, champers, light snack and dressing for dinner

 

Special anniversary/birthday dinner planning

 

Utilize their services for in-suite party planning. They can easily whip up a small cocktail party - just give them as much notice as you can.

 

The B's preferred to be paged than left little notes which can easily be missed.

 

Others have mentioned dealing with shore purchases... Jamon in Spain (awesome idea), if you buy wine they can arrange with the restaurant service staff for serving during meals, Flowers - providing vases etc (we bought flowers at the last minute on shore for a cocktail party and the butler produced a vase out of thin air).

 

Above all.... be clear and courteous with your requests and your cruise will easily turn into a dream.

 

It must be said that the rest of the management team on the ship will help you with most anything. In the past we have set up dinner parties with special menus etc. with great success! Roast Goose dinner with accompanying wines for 12... Done!

[wripro]

TC2,

 

I completely agree about the Crew Fund.