Suite Tipping Guidelines

[bassmaster150]

My wiife and I will be on our first NCL cruise in the Baltics next June. We have a suite reserved which means we get a butler. We have never done this before. We have prepaid gratuities, but I know with a butler we should be tipping him for his/her service. So my question is this...what are the typical guidelines (I know they are unwritten) for how you would tip your butler? Daily? at the end of the cruise? How much per day? etc...if anyone could help with that, it would be appreciated.

[sdmike]

you can find lots of threads on this topic using the search function. Here are a few

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1911224

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1901561

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1867138

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1819691

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1322730

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1845498

 

You can also find threads discussing the concierge and butler services and what to expect when sailing in a suite. Have a good time.

[Us2inFL]

Okay, so the short answer is approx $10 per adult per day. If they only bring you snacks and refill your coffee machine, maybe less. One hundred dollars total for a week cruise is fine for basic butlering.

 

If you have them for in-suite dining, more is reasonable.

 

I hate to say it, but we've had some lousy butlers and they end up with a couple of hundred dollars (14 -18 day cruise) anyway.

[Paphillyguy]

On our cruise, we tipped our butler $100 for the week. He was good but we really did not ask that much of him. We felt this amount was more then fair. We did not tip our concierge as the asst concierge messed up a few reservations and they did nothing other then that.

 

We did tip our room steward another $50 because he worked his butt of keep our room clean.

[SissasMomE]

My wiife and I will be on our first NCL cruise in the Baltics next June. We have a suite reserved which means we get a butler. We have never done this before. We have prepaid gratuities, but I know with a butler we should be tipping him for his/her service. So my question is this...what are the typical guidelines (I know they are unwritten) for how you would tip your butler? Daily? at the end of the cruise? How much per day? etc...if anyone could help with that, it would be appreciated.

 

It really is whatever you are comfortable with. Some people start at a base of $100 for the week and work up or down from there. Others say $10 per person per day. It's much like eating in a restaurant - it's at your discretion, and based on how much you actually use the butler. You are already paying for the services in your cruise fare. The tip should be for service above and beyond. There really is no right or wrong answer. I hope this helps.

[sdmike]

I"m not really qualified to answer this question other than with my opinion, since I've not sailed with a butler or concierge.

 

My tip would start at zero and go up as I requested services from either. I might just tip as I go. I see no need to tip $10 per day (or similar) if I'm not using a service. Similarly, I won't tip the kids club crew if my kid doesn't go there, or the bartender if I don't drink there.

[jack300s]

My wiife and I will be on our first NCL cruise in the Baltics next June. We have a suite reserved which means we get a butler. We have never done this before. We have prepaid gratuities, but I know with a butler we should be tipping him for his/her service. So my question is this...what are the typical guidelines (I know they are unwritten) for how you would tip your butler? Daily? at the end of the cruise? How much per day? etc...if anyone could help with that, it would be appreciated.

 

Tipping for a first time suite cruiser can be confusing. We just cruised in our first suite a couple of weeks ago.

 

Like you we also were unsure about what to tip. I checked tipping guidelines online for cruise ships and most said standard for butlers was $4 to $5 a day per person.

 

This site says average tip is $10 per day per person...

 

Confusing yes..... I'd just go with what seems right to you.

 

We tipped our butler $140 for a 7 day cruise (two people). We had a great butler that always checked to see if we needed anything.

 

Our butler delivered snacks and goodies every evening around 5:00pm.

 

One sea day we ordered hot wings, cheese sticks, artichoke dip, and a order of fish and chips from the Blue Lagoon for a scrabble party and football with 2 of our friends.

 

Two mornings we ordered rooms service breakfast...

 

Hope this helps. I'm sure some would think this is too much and some not enough? This amount seems right for us....

 

BTW, we also gave our room steward $60 for fantastic service.

[DebbieCruises]

One thing I just learned a couple of months ago, was that you can have the amount you wish to tip added to your on-board account. We will soon be leaving for a 2-week cruise and hate carrying a huge amount of cash with me. Now I will specify how much I want to tip for the concierge, butler, and room steward, and know that it will just be charged to my credit card at the end of the cruise. I will, however, take thank you notes to give each of them with the voucher inside. Oh, and yes I am aware, that I cannot use OBC towards any of the tips, but this will still be better than having to carry more and more cash with me.

[Demonyte]

I"m not really qualified to answer this question other than with my opinion, since I've not sailed with a butler or concierge.

 

My tip would start at zero and go up as I requested services from either. I might just tip as I go. I see no need to tip $10 per day (or similar) if I'm not using a service. Similarly, I won't tip the kids club crew if my kid doesn't go there, or the bartender if I don't drink there.

 

Butler is providing daily services (like daily snacks and maintenance of the Lavazzo coffee machine) to the suite even if you do not request anything extra - you'd have to forbid them providing you any service in order to not to use their service, so your comparison to kids club crew and bartender does not compute.

[Demonyte]

Oh, and yes I am aware, that I cannot use OBC towards any of the tips, but this will still be better than having to carry more and more cash with me.

 

AFAIK you can use any OBC against the vouchers, just not against the automatic DSC.

[Us2inFL]

Quick story:

 

NCL threw us a curve-ball on our first Epic b-2-b. We were in the owner's suite, this a mid 2010 and the ship was relatively new.

 

Our Concierge (Florentina) introduced herself, and another woman who was going to be filling in for her the second week. So now, we had to determine what grat we were going to give to Florentina since she was gone in 8 days. (Tip evaluation #1)

 

The fill in did a few things for us the first week, and then was solo the second week. (Tip evaluation #2)

 

Our Butler came in the first day, went through the routine of the coffeemaker, phone, etc and was very friendly and efficient. On the six day, he said he was being reassigned on deck 17 and we were getting a new Butler. I found this rather annoying because you get comfortable with the things the butler has gotten used to. (Tip evaluation #3 for the departing butler.)

 

Our final Butler (Roel) was the tops! Where was he the first week of this cruise? He handled everything and I mean everything.... better than Mr. French ever did. He even took on some of the Concierge functions, which was fine with us, since Ms. "no name" did little.

 

All in all, it was a lot of troop movement, more than I cared to experience.

 

We used a lot of thank you cards that cruise.

[emcelh]

Tipping for a first time suite cruiser can be confusing. We just cruised in our first suite a couple of weeks ago.

 

Like you we also were unsure about what to tip. I checked tipping guidelines online for cruise ships and most said standard for butlers was $4 to $5 a day per person.

 

This site says average tip is $10 per day per person...

 

.

 

I never thought to check online for guidelines for cruise ships before we sailed in our first suite so we went with the $10PP per day since I had seen that posted on CC. Thinking about it now, that was just what a few people had said they use as a starting point. I wouldn't be surprised if the average is much lower. There are lots of people sailing in suites every week who never post on Cruise Critic.

[Fishbait17]

I never thought to check online for guidelines for cruise ships before we sailed in our first suite so we went with the $10PP per day since I had seen that posted on CC. Thinking about it now, that was just what a few people had said they use as a starting point. I wouldn't be surprised if the average is much lower. There are lots of people sailing in suites every week who never post on Cruise Critic.

 

The main problem with online guidelines is that they generalize all cruise lines. Different lines provide varying degrees of butler services. I'm sure things have changed a lot since we last sails Celebrity, but our X butler services did not compare AT ALL to our NCL butler service. I would be curious to find out how they compare now...

 

Robin

[Fishbait17]

Butler is providing daily services (like daily snacks and maintenance of the Lavazzo coffee machine) to the suite even if you do not request anything extra - you'd have to forbid them providing you any service in order to not to use their service, so your comparison to kids club crew and bartender does not compute.

 

Agreed. It would be very difficult to receive "no service" from a butler, as so many of his duties are automatic and behind the scenes (same with the concierge). Kind of akin to ordering drinks away from the bar and not tipping because you are not actually asking the bartender directly.

 

Robin

[hpecorari]

Butler is providing daily services (like daily snacks and maintenance of the Lavazzo coffee machine) .

 

From my understanding, and unless it's been changed/updated.....

not all suites on the Sun have a Lavazzo coffee machine.

 

Harriet

[sdmike]

Butler is providing daily services (like daily snacks and maintenance of the Lavazzo coffee machine) to the suite even if you do not request anything extra - you'd have to forbid them providing you any service in order to not to use their service, so your comparison to kids club crew and bartender does not compute.

 

So, if we don't request snacks or use the coffee machine, what are they doing for us? I'm not trying to be a jerk, I just have a hard time tipping someone that doesn't do anything for me other than ask if I need something.

[Fishbait17]

So, if we don't request snacks or use the coffee machine, what are they doing for us? I'm not trying to be a jerk, I just have a hard time tipping someone that doesn't do anything for me other than ask if I need something.

 

The snacks come automatically, so you would have to request NOT to have them (which is a request in itself lol). I suppose if you never use the coffee machine, and ask that he not show you how to use it that could be excluded. But the butler does a ton of other things automatically without request. He is responsible for refilling your extensive glassware and dishes/flatware (much more there than in a non-suite), refilling your ice (much more often than a regular cabin), delivering and icing your included sparkling wine and water and any other libations you receive, they serve at the Suites Cocktail Party, and more things that make your trip "special" (not thinking too straight at the moment lol). Same with the concierge - priority tender tickets, priority baggage tags and disembarkation, priority embarkation, invitations, cocktail party, etc, etc etc. it's hard to explain if you haven't been in a suite, but things magically appear all day, every day, and it's the butler and concierge who bring them, even if you don't use them.. Hard to explain how they notice what your likes and dislikes are, or how you receive something that you didn't even know you wanted until you get it, but the good butler knows somehow. I don't remember a single day in my suites where at least a few things weren't done to make our trip magnificent, behind the scenes, every single day - it would be very hard to avoid them. I suppose you could just ask both the butler and concierge to stay away, but then why would you pay for a suite?

 

There is some argument that you pay for these services as part of the suite charge, but I am of the belief that its exactly that, you pay for the services, but not the tips for the services. Sort of like getting a "free" dinner in a hotel - yeah the dinner is free, but you should still tip the server at the restaurant.

 

Hope that makes sense :).

 

Robin

[kcwingwalker]

The snacks come automatically, so you would have to request NOT to have them (which is a request in itself lol). I suppose if you never use the coffee machine, and ask that he not show you how to use it that could be excluded. But the butler does a ton of other things automatically without request. He is responsible for refilling your extensive glassware and dishes/flatware (much more there than in a non-suite), refilling your ice (much more often than a regular cabin), delivering and icing your included sparkling wine and water and any other libations you receive, they serve at the Suites Cocktail Party, and more things that make your trip "special" (not thinking too straight at the moment lol). Same with the concierge - priority tender tickets, priority baggage tags and disembarkation, priority embarkation, invitations, cocktail party, etc, etc etc. it's hard to explain if you haven't been in a suite, but things magically appear all day, every day, and it's the butler and concierge who bring them, even if you don't use them.. Hard to explain how they notice what your likes and dislikes are, or how you receive something that you didn't even know you wanted until you get it, but the good butler knows somehow. I don't remember a single day in my suites where at least a few things weren't done to make our trip magnificent, behind the scenes, every single day - it would be very hard to avoid them. I suppose you could just ask both the butler and concierge to stay away, but then why would you pay for a suite?

 

There is some argument that you pay for these services as part of the suite charge, but I am of the belief that its exactly that, you pay for the services, but not the tips for the services. Sort of like getting a "free" dinner in a hotel - yeah the dinner is free, but you should still tip the server at the restaurant.

 

Hope that makes sense :).

 

Robin

 

I think you said it very well. We are in our first suite in the Spring on the Jewel and your post was helpful.................thanks for the great info and insight. Before your post I had not thought too much about the "magic" that goes on behind the scenes.

[hpecorari]

There is some argument that you pay for these services as part of the suite charge, but I am of the belief that its exactly that, you pay for the services, but not the tips for the services. Sort of like getting a "free" dinner in a hotel - yeah the dinner is free, but you should still tip the server at the restaurant.

 

Hope that makes sense :).

 

Robin

 

What a *great* way to explain it!

 

Harriet

[softsands]

I never thought to check online for guidelines for cruise ships before we sailed in our first suite so we went with the $10PP per day since I had seen that posted on CC. Thinking about it now, that was just what a few people had said they use as a starting point. I wouldn't be surprised if the average is much lower. There are lots of people sailing in suites every week who never post on Cruise Critic.

 

A G note for the Butler in a GV, 9 night, for a family of five, including three kids. The Butler was simply fabulous.

[sdmike]

The snacks come automatically, so you would have to request NOT to have them (which is a request in itself lol). I suppose if you never use the coffee machine, and ask that he not show you how to use it that could be excluded. But the butler does a ton of other things automatically without request. He is responsible for refilling your extensive glassware and dishes/flatware (much more there than in a non-suite), refilling your ice (much more often than a regular cabin), delivering and icing your included sparkling wine and water and any other libations you receive, they serve at the Suites Cocktail Party, and more things that make your trip "special" (not thinking too straight at the moment lol). Same with the concierge - priority tender tickets, priority baggage tags and disembarkation, priority embarkation, invitations, cocktail party, etc, etc etc. it's hard to explain if you haven't been in a suite, but things magically appear all day, every day, and it's the butler and concierge who bring them, even if you don't use them.. Hard to explain how they notice what your likes and dislikes are, or how you receive something that you didn't even know you wanted until you get it, but the good butler knows somehow. I don't remember a single day in my suites where at least a few things weren't done to make our trip magnificent, behind the scenes, every single day - it would be very hard to avoid them. I suppose you could just ask both the butler and concierge to stay away, but then why would you pay for a suite?

 

There is some argument that you pay for these services as part of the suite charge, but I am of the belief that its exactly that, you pay for the services, but not the tips for the services. Sort of like getting a "free" dinner in a hotel - yeah the dinner is free, but you should still tip the server at the restaurant.

 

Hope that makes sense :).

 

Robin

 

Thanks Robin. Are you saying he provides some services that a steward provides in other rooms, like replacing the glassware and bringing ice?

 

I guess i'm glad I don't sail in suites. I've operated perfectly fine without snacks or cocktail parties. :)

[triptolemus]

Thanks Robin. Are you saying he provides some services that a steward provides in other rooms, like replacing the glassware and bringing ice?

 

I guess i'm glad I don't sail in suites. I've operated perfectly fine without snacks or cocktail parties. :)

 

Mike, I was so naive that the complementary bottle of sparkling wine or champagne one receives in a suite.... I drank that stuff in a highball glass before I even noticed that proper champagne glasses were right there in the cabinet above the wet bar.

 

The steward performs the same functions as in all other staterooms... makes the bed, changes towels, dusts, replace glassware, obligatory towel animals, etc etc... I never saw our butler perform these tasks. En suite meals and the Lavazza machine training (yes, you need training) are the things I remember most about our butler, Theresa. She was always there every time we turned around, but she wasn't cleaning the crapper..

[Love my butler]

Thanks Robin. Are you saying he provides some services that a steward provides in other rooms, like replacing the glassware and bringing ice?

 

I guess i'm glad I don't sail in suites. I've operated perfectly fine without snacks or cocktail parties. :)

 

Been in lots of suites with a butler. Never had the butler bring us ice, the steward always did that. The butler did seem to always handle the glasses/coffee cups.

 

If you really didn't ask the butler for anything, which would be hard to imagine, I think not tipping him would be reasonable.

[Us2inFL]

I guess i'm glad I don't sail in suites. I've operated perfectly fine without snacks or cocktail parties. :)

 

I would think the Butlers are glad you don't either.

 

(please take that with the humor that was intended.)

[drbeamer]

Mike, I was so naive that the complementary bottle of sparkling wine or champagne one receives in a suite.... I drank that stuff in a highball glass before I even noticed that proper champagne glasses were right there in the cabinet above the wet bar.

 

The steward performs the same functions as in all other staterooms... makes the bed, changes towels, dusts, replace glassware, obligatory towel animals, etc etc... I never saw our butler perform these tasks. En suite meals and the Lavazza machine training (yes, you need training) are the things I remember most about our butler, Theresa. She was always there every time we turned around, but she wasn't cleaning the crapper..

 

Theresa is the best! She set up a great party for my 50th Birthday on the Sun.