Help needed! Tipping in the Haven

[hpecorari]

 

For example, if you go to a restaurant in the U.S. you know the baseline for an acceptable tip is 15%. Common knowledge, right? .

 

Actually, it"s 18%.

 

Harriet

[ColinIllinois]

Actually, it"s 18%.

 

Harriet

 

 

Not for me. :D

[trinitytrees]

I feel the op had a valid question with a valid reason for not being able to search forums,

 

As for tipping, it appears is the "norm" in the states and maybe other countries however it is not the norm in my experience in the UK.

 

It is a matter of personal choice or personal purse.

 

To tip or not to tip that is the question!

 

If your job was to sweep the streets would you expect every pedestrian that passed to tip you for doing your job?

[mjkacmom]

I feel the op had a valid question with a valid reason for not being able to search forums,

 

As for tipping, it appears is the "norm" in the states and maybe other countries however it is not the norm in my experience in the UK.

 

It is a matter of personal choice or personal purse.

 

To tip or not to tip that is the question!

 

If your job was to sweep the streets would you expect every pedestrian that passed to tip you for doing your job?

 

Of course not, it's not a tipped position. But concierge, for example, is a tipped position, even on land.

[ryanpatricksmom]

This may not be the most popular answer, but it's my two cents. We tipped the butler quite a bit even though we never dined in our room, or requested any "special deliveries". She did provide us with snacks and restock our iced water and iced tea each day, so that was enough to warrant a significant tip. We also tipped our cabin steward quite a bit above the daily amount because we had a 2br suite, and in my opinion that meant that he had to clean extra area, which equated to extra $$$ earned. The concierge was nice enough, but the only time that I asked for anything (if we were going to be able to see the NCAA championships), he never got back to me. I didn't book reservations, use special seating, or use any other services that he could provide. If I'm at a hotel and don't use the concierge I don't tip, so I didn't tip the ship concierge either.

[jewliana]

I am so thankful for all your replies. We are not rich this IS the FIRSt time we have done the Haven and i was NEVER looking to get out of tipping. I wish to leave the correct amount or more not less.

Again, thank you to everyone that helped me out. I feel more comfortable with the whole process now.

You are the best!

[Tammy10000]

These threads are repetitive and annoying. If someone can afford the Haven, they can afford to tip without asking for opinions which will always differ and divide this community.

 

Move on everyone, but then again the usual trolls will always hover and pounce.

 

That was very troll of you. Why hover and pounce on a OP. Just keep a scrolling.....

[UKLloyd]

Disagree. They are NOT included in the "daily tipping".

 

And although they are salaried their positions are ones that are heavily weighed by tips. Because they delivered daily snacks, maintained coffee machine, etc. I would tip something. I am sure they would be grateful.

 

Anyone who intends to tip zero should be upfront on day one and refuse ALL services.

 

No they shouldn't refuse all services. People pay a premium for the Haven. Included in the Haven is a butler. They advertise the butler as an included service when purchasing the Haven.

[tel2]

No they shouldn't refuse all services. People pay a premium for the Haven. Included in the Haven is a butler. They advertise the butler as an included service when purchasing the Haven.

 

A waiter is an "included service" in a restaurant -- you certainly aren't expected (or permitted) to go into the kitchen and pick up your own meal. A Bartender is an "included service" at a bar, right? You cannot go behind the bar and make your own drinks. Housekeeping is an included service in a hotel, right? But you tip a waiter and a bartender and the maid staff, right? (or at least I hope you do). How is that different?

 

Terry

[pieshops]

Based on that, you should be tipping all the people at your usual restaurants and bars because they are there ready to give you service (aka on call) as it is not their fault if you don't go there to utilize their services. O_o

 

Concierge and butlers are salaried employees and already compensated for being there.

 

The difference is you have a choice whether to set foot into a restaurant or not, if you don't go in you don't have to tip, if you decide to pay extra and go into the haven or a cabin with a Butler and concierge you are making an informed decision to go there and should tip a base amount, what that is, is your decision, but it should be something

[mjkacmom]

A waiter is an "included service" in a restaurant -- you certainly aren't expected (or permitted) to go into the kitchen and pick up your own meal. A Bartender is an "included service" at a bar, right? You cannot go behind the bar and make your own drinks. Housekeeping is an included service in a hotel, right? But you tip a waiter and a bartender and the maid staff, right? (or at least I hope you do). How is that different?

 

Terry

 

I used to waitress in a restaurant in NJ, 4 miles out of NYC, in a complex with a lot of hotels. Everyone was very friendly with the hostest, because if folks from overseas came in, no one wanted that table - too much of a risk of being stiffed.

[movie buff]

I have sailed on many different cruise ships and lines that offered butler service in the suites I have booked. Most of the time I have had great service, full meals served in the room, special request for food and drinks when I had invited guests to my cabin and many other things. My baseline tip has always been $10 per day to the butler. That is usually the least I have tipped when I have not asked for lots of extras. I have tipped as high as double that if the service has been superior and the butler even offers to pack my bags at the end of the cruise. That is the part of the trip I hate the most and to have someone offer to do it for you sure deserves something a little extra in my opinion.

Edited April 15, 2016 by movie buff

[Two Wheels Only]

Not for me. :D

 

 

:cool:

[UKLloyd]

A waiter is an "included service" in a restaurant -- you certainly aren't expected (or permitted) to go into the kitchen and pick up your own meal. A Bartender is an "included service" at a bar, right? You cannot go behind the bar and make your own drinks. Housekeeping is an included service in a hotel, right? But you tip a waiter and a bartender and the maid staff, right? (or at least I hope you do). How is that different?

 

Terry

 

 

No you are 100% right. Cant disagree with you. I will rephrase what i meant.

 

Use the example of a plate of cookies in the room in the afternoon brought to us by the butler.

 

In my opinion, that is an "included service" of the Haven, purchased in my fare, Not something that should cost an additonal x amount per day in service charge/ tips/ gratuities. ( not too sure of the difference :) )

 

However, If we have breakfast in the cabin everyday brought to us by the butler, or any other requests fulfilled by the butler. Absolutely, pay what they deserve. cant argue with you.

 

i D

[UKLloyd]

I used to waitress in a restaurant in NJ, 4 miles out of NYC, in a complex with a lot of hotels. Everyone was very friendly with the hostest, because if folks from overseas came in, no one wanted that table - too much of a risk of being stiffed.

 

Us terrible overseas folk. Massive risk of you getting stiffed. Maybe its the terrible assumpion you make that all non americans dont tip that meant you got stiffed.

[tinkr2]

I hear what you are saying Bob but put it this way: If it is a new cruiser who is sailing in the Haven for the first time, they don't have a baseline amount of what is considered a traditionally acceptable gratuity.

 

For example, if you go to a restaurant in the U.S. you know the baseline for an acceptable tip is 15%. Common knowledge, right? Not so much common knowledge for tipping Haven staff.

This is exactly true. I have never stayed in the haven. I did not know that the Butler was not part of the pool. I had no idea what the range was. I am a tipped employee myself and would never short anyone. And the earlier analogy of sitting in a table all night and only having tea and depriving that server the opportunity to make money is perfect. Whether I use the butler or not, I will be tipping because I am tying up his real estate.

[abseh1]

most interesting thread I have ever read...thanks to all

Butler $100...Haven attendant (Pool Area) $100...Cabin Steward $50

 

concierge never used

[Sam Ting]

Both the concierge and butler were useless in our sailing so their tip reflected that. That right the big old goose egg to both!

[Trimone]

What’s the definition of a butler? NCL butlers are glorified cabin staff, dressed better, all they do is restock the coffee machine and bring biscuits or sandwiches between 3pm and 6pm, that’s all they did for me.

Some people use them as slaves, fetching food, running baths, escorting them to the shore. They need to tip, not me,

[RDH377]

Hmmm, it seems to me that the butler doing things like fetching food, running baths, escorting them to the shore (which I thought is actually done by the concierge) does not make them slaves. What it makes them is employees doing the job for which they are employed. In any event, my family of 7 will be cruising in a GV in a couple of months. This is both our first ever cruise and obviously our first time in the haven. I expect that we will use the butler and concierge a fair amount for restaurant/show booking and escort duty as well as in-suite food delivery. The "suggested minimum" I have read on other threads of 10 to 15 per day per person to the butler is absurd with this number of people. Doing the math,

 

15*7 = 105 per day * a 7 day cruise = 735

 

While this may work for 2 people in a suite using the butler extensively, it certainly does not scale well. I am guessing, as a baseline, that I will plan for a tip of around 250 to 300 for the butler, half that for the concierge, and a quarter of that for the common area attendants. This does assume the following,

 

1) That we will use the common area attendants minimally or not at all.

2) That services we request will be performed well, in a timely manner and with a positive attitude.

 

Finally, these numbers will be adjusted up or down depending on what we actually experience. There is a reason why we are cruising in the haven and I suspect that the services received will significantly affect our enjoyment of the cruise.

 

Let the positive and negative comments now flow...Have a nice day.

[Trimone]

Hmmm, it seems to me that the butler doing things like fetching food, running baths, escorting them to the shore (which I thought is actually done by the concierge) does not make them slaves. What it makes them is employees doing the job for which they are employed. In any event, my family of 7 will be cruising in a GV in a couple of months. This is both our first ever cruise and obviously our first time in the haven. I expect that we will use the butler and concierge a fair amount for restaurant/show booking and escort duty as well as in-suite food delivery. The "suggested minimum" I have read on other threads of 10 to 15 per day per person to the butler is absurd with this number of people. Doing the math,

 

15*7 = 105 per day * a 7 day cruise = 735

 

While this may work for 2 people in a suite using the butler extensively, it certainly does not scale well. I am guessing, as a baseline, that I will plan for a tip of around 250 to 300 for the butler, half that for the concierge, and a quarter of that for the common area attendants. This does assume the following,

 

1) That we will use the common area attendants minimally or not at all.

2) That services we request will be performed well, in a timely manner and with a positive attitude.

 

Finally, these numbers will be adjusted up or down depending on what we actually experience. There is a reason why we are cruising in the haven and I suspect that the services received will significantly affect our enjoyment of the cruise.

 

Let the positive and negative comments now flow...Have a nice day.

Remember your Butler is not exclusive to you, he may have 4-8 rooms to service, and may have other high demand guests.

[NLH Arizona]

The "suggested minimum" I have read on other threads of 10 to 15 per day per person to the butler is absurd with this number of people.

There is no "suggested minimum" (I believe only one posters says it is suggested, which is incorrect), what people are posting is what they tip, which could be a lot more or a lot less than what someone else chooses to tip.

 

You should base your tip on the services you require, how those services are rendered and, of course, your budget. Whatever you choose to tip, I'm sure your Butler and Concierge will be appreciative.

[RDH377]

Consider reading what I wrote a bit more carefully and let me add a bit more detail. First, I am well aware that butlers serve more than one suite. Second, and I should have made this clearer, by food delivery to the suite, I mean food delivery and not course by course service. My family is fairly informal and as long as it is delivered hot (or cold as is needed), we do not care if it is delivered all at once. In fact, most of my family would prefer that. The only separation we would require is between the savory and the sweet. I will be making that very clear to the staff and hopefully it will ease the burden a bit. I would not consider our requirements to make us high demand guests, but if we are, so be it.

 

As to the "suggested minimum" statement, please note that I said, "...read on other threads..." I specifically was not referring to posters on this thread. 10 to 15 a day per person seems to be a common theme on OTHER threads, and my point is, that while his may be reasonable for 2 people in a suite who are reasonably high demand, it is, in my opinion, completely unreasonable to apply to 7 people in a suite. As I stated originally, this idea does not scale well. I hope that clarifies things a bit. Have a nice day.

[NLH Arizona]

As to the "suggested minimum" statement, please note that I said, "...read on other threads..." I specifically was not referring to posters on this thread. 10 to 15 a day per person seems to be a common theme on OTHER threads, and my point is, that while his may be reasonable for 2 people in a suite who are reasonably high demand, it is, in my opinion, completely unreasonable to apply to 7 people in a suite. As I stated originally, this idea does not scale well. I hope that clarifies things a bit. Have a nice day.

I am aware that one poster voices a "suggested minimum" on a lot of threads and was just posting the fact that there is no "suggested minimum", as it is up to the individual what they tip. I don't think anyone questioned what you are going to tip for your party of 7 or what is reasonable or unreasonable, as that is clearly your business and no one elses. BTW, some will tip $10 or $15 a day for everyone in their party and some will tip more and some will tip less per person, no matter what the amount is, it is a personal decision.

[njkate]

Consider reading what I wrote a bit more carefully and let me add a bit more detail. First, I am well aware that butlers serve more than one suite. Second, and I should have made this clearer, by food delivery to the suite, I mean food delivery and not course by course service. My family is fairly informal and as long as it is delivered hot (or cold as is needed), we do not care if it is delivered all at once. In fact, most of my family would prefer that. The only separation we would require is between the savory and the sweet. I will be making that very clear to the staff and hopefully it will ease the burden a bit. I would not consider our requirements to make us high demand guests, but if we are, so be it.

 

As to the "suggested minimum" statement, please note that I said, "...read on other threads..." I specifically was not referring to posters on this thread. 10 to 15 a day per person seems to be a common theme on OTHER threads, and my point is, that while his may be reasonable for 2 people in a suite who are reasonably high demand, it is, in my opinion, completely unreasonable to apply to 7 people in a suite. As I stated originally, this idea does not scale well. I hope that clarifies things a bit. Have a nice day.

There is only one poster I can think of that constantly beats that drum but they have not chimed in here. I do think most think that is excessive, unless one is the type that will run a butler ragged.

I'm following the advise Arizona gave me on another thread and that is to do what is comfortable to me based on how I use the butler and my budget,