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So what do you tip a butler?

cantthinkofanythingfun
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cantthinkofanythingfun

cantthinkofanythingfun

Posted
Posted

I have a Haven Villa on the BA next week and I have no clue what to tip a butler. I don't want to look like a rube or anything. I don't even know what I would need a butler for, except to maybe call him Mr. Belvedere and have him teach my kid life lessons. I usually give the room steward 50 on the first day of the cruise because towel animals are the next best thing to balloon animals. I assume with a butler you wait until the end of the cruise?

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JohnIreland

JohnIreland

Posted
Posted

Start with an amount to cover the regular stuff (coffee machine , daily treats) then add more every time you ask for something extra.

 

For two people we start with $100 then add another $10/$20 for each request (depending on what it is). Then give the envelope on the last morning.

 

Of course your millage may vary.

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sverigecruiser

sverigecruiser

Posted
Posted (edited)
I have a Haven Villa on the BA next week and I have no clue what to tip a butler. I don't want to look like a rube or anything. I don't even know what I would need a butler for, except to maybe call him Mr. Belvedere and have him teach my kid life lessons. I usually give the room steward 50 on the first day of the cruise because towel animals are the next best thing to balloon animals. I assume with a butler you wait until the end of the cruise?

 

If you don't ask for anything extra, you don't have to tip. To be nice to him/her, start with $50 and pay some more if you ask for anything extra.

 

We usually pay a few dollars for breakfast in the cabin and we pay that when they deliver the breakfast but not everyday. (We only eat a small breakfast in the cabin because we don't want to miss breakfast at Cagney's/Moderno/The Haven restaurant!)

Edited by sverigecruiser
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don't-use-real-name

don't-use-real-name

Posted
Posted

Not an exact science - - -

The cabin steward is compensated by the DSC (Daily Service Charge) - so

I generally tip him $5 a day adding more for something exceptional i.e.

cleaning the cabin a second time around after normal hours.

The Butler I tip $10 a day as a starter - as I use more of his services the

tip is adjusted - the Butler I understand is not part of the DSC but is a

salaried employee on a different tier than the cabin stewards - think of it

as a junior grade manager.

The Concierge I tip based on the total package of what services he has

provided me during the voyage - $50 for starters. The Concierge is also

not part of the DSC and is a salaried employee on yet a higher level than

the Butlers.

While tips given at the start of or in the middle of a cruise are not uncommon

and a definite motivator for the receiver to offer exceptional service from

the onset yet I subscribe to tipping at the end after weighing all services

rendered - the good with the bad - a sort of averaging system.

If you are not going to tip at all or want to make an adjustment to the DSC

this should be directed to the attention of the Cruise Hotel Director with the

reason stated so the deficient person knows of his failing. It is not appropriate

to leave a meager mediocre tip that is more of an insult that an effort of

corrective action.

Yea there will be folks not in agreement with this but if you have better ideas

Please express them !

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dam64

dam64

Posted
Posted

Tip what you can afford and what your budget can afford. Don't listen to what others tell you because a lot of people will tell you they tip $$$ and I find that hard to believe....In the end its all about service and how well you were treated and any amount should be appreciated, its a tip ;-)

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Laszlo

Laszlo

Posted
Posted (edited)
Not an exact science - - -

The cabin steward is compensated by the DSC (Daily Service Charge) - so

I generally tip him $5 a day adding more for something exceptional i.e.

cleaning the cabin a second time around after normal hours.

 

Clean you cabin a second time after normal hours? These guys already work 12 hours day:eek:

 

Bring back lobster tails and get ride of the Butlers and Concierge's!!!:D

Edited by Laszlo
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don't-use-real-name

don't-use-real-name

Posted
Posted

To tip or not to tip ?

To each his own and the devil for us all !

Don't worry be happy !

You take the high road and I the low and frankly "M----" I don't give a damn !

 

So be your own judge of what the tip will be after all it will only be between

you and the service provider.

For first time cruisers it is helpful to know what maybe expected and the protocol.

For the seasoned veteran of cruising you do not need any guidance so keep

the Latitudes "Insider" tips to yourself. LOL !

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Beaver1975

Beaver1975

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Posted (edited)
The crew is only allowed to work 10 hours per day. Anything more is overtime which is usually paid as time off. NCL tries very hard not to let crew work more than 10 hours per day.

 

Another untruth. Much like your signature. :(

Edited by Beaver1975
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don't-use-real-name

don't-use-real-name

Posted
Posted
Another untruth. Much like your signature. :(

 

I don't have any factual information to substantiate whether this is true or not.

I do know that I have seen my CS doing his duties in the morning when I left

to go about my visits to and fro on the ship. Coming back later near noon he

was long gone and his work done. Later in the day I would see him again tidying

up the cabins and then in the mid evening doing his turn down duties with

the fabulous animal towel creations.

So he has a split shift (part?time) job !

CS in suites would have slightly more duty area because of the size of the

cabin but also less attention to duties that fall under the umbrella of the

Butler.

I did notice on my last cruise that the Butler was helping the CS with his

assignments making a real great team work relationship ! Bravo & Kudos !

Tips adjusted upward !

 

DSC not withstanding - if you do not tip the whole gang will not get the message

that their services were respected and appreciated.

NCL may train them to look the other way for the customer that does not tip.

But the human side of me says what could I have done more or what did I miss

relative to service to this particular non-tipping cruiser ?

 

At this time of the year - the time of Scrooge - when tipping think about how

this little token can make every ones next cruise all that much better !

 

I think I will take my "Coal in a sock" now and retire - Bah Hum Bug !

Tongue in cheek !

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