Butler & Concierge Jewel Suite SF

[VEDA29]

First time suite guest!

What kinds of things can/will the Butler and Concierge do for you? What type of requests have some asked for in the past? Is there a charge to have a cocktail party in suite? If you order room service daily is there a charge? Is there a daily guideline for tipping your butler/concierge like regular $12pp per day? I don't want to be cheap but I am not rich either.

[DMH15]

The best thing I did to prepare for my first suite NCL cruise years ago was read lots and lots of member reviews from pax in suites. I printed and highlighted several things for reference. I read them several times before cruising.

[roger001]

We just finished a Jewel SF suite cruise about a month ago. Roland was our butler and Joaquin was the concierge. Both were very nice persons, always ready to assist you if requested. However, we just didn't need their services very much. Roland tried his best to keep us supplied with afternoon snacks even when I assured him that we just couldn't eat any more food (we had the 7 night UDP, plus had platinum 2 nights of specialty dining, plus Modernos for breakfast and lunch if desired). He kept the coffee machine supplied with the coffee things. He would have done much more if we had just asked or let him. Joaquin met all suite guests in the suite boarding lounge and escorted us on board. We frequently saw him up in Modernos for the suite guest breakfast. And he escorted suite guests up to the Haven for a "cocktail" party. Once when tendering, while we were in no hurry, had platinum tender passes, he saw us in line. We assured him that we were in no hurry. However, he still insisted that he escort us over to the suite guest priority head of the line area. He would have loved to do more for us, but we just didn't need it. We were in no hurry debarking so didn't need him for that. We though they were both just great and typical wonderful NCL crew, liked them both very much. Reference tipping, you will see heated discussions, no correct answer, and monetary extremes in both directions. So for us, we felt that $100 for Roland and $75 for Joaquin was very appropriate. We also left a $50 for the room steward. Oh, I also tip the breakfast server $5 each morning. But....all this is neither right or wrong. As I said, we have very little need for their services and leave a very neat cabin for the room steward to take care of. So just tip what you feel their services have been worth to you. You will not be wrong.

[kdzkatz]

We just finished a Jewel SF suite cruise about a month ago. Roland was our butler and Joaquin was the concierge. Both were very nice persons, always ready to assist you if requested. However, we just didn't need their services very much. Roland tried his best to keep us supplied with afternoon snacks even when I assured him that we just couldn't eat any more food (we had the 7 night UDP, plus had platinum 2 nights of specialty dining, plus Modernos for breakfast and lunch if desired). He kept the coffee machine supplied with the coffee things. He would have done much more if we had just asked or let him. Joaquin met all suite guests in the suite boarding lounge and escorted us on board. We frequently saw him up in Modernos for the suite guest breakfast. And he escorted suite guests up to the Haven for a "cocktail" party. Once when tendering, while we were in no hurry, had platinum tender passes, he saw us in line. We assured him that we were in no hurry. However, he still insisted that he escort us over to the suite guest priority head of the line area. He would have loved to do more for us, but we just didn't need it. We were in no hurry debarking so didn't need him for that. We though they were both just great and typical wonderful NCL crew, liked them both very much. Reference tipping, you will see heated discussions, no correct answer, and monetary extremes in both directions. So for us, we felt that $100 for Roland and $75 for Joaquin was very appropriate. We also left a $50 for the room steward. Oh, I also tip the breakfast server $5 each morning. But....all this is neither right or wrong. As I said, we have very little need for their services and leave a very neat cabin for the room steward to take care of. So just tip what you feel their services have been worth to you. You will not be wrong.

 

Roland was our butler a couple years ago and he was great! We will be in a suite again in a week and a half and that would be wonderful to have him as our butler again. :D:D

 

Do you know if by chance how much longer his current contract is? Hopefully he will still be on the ship. For some reason I am someone people tend to remember but if he doesn't I won't be offended. We will have to make sure we have some pics we took with him from our cruise 2 years ago. I'm sure he will remember us as he has only seen thousands of people since we saw him last ;):p:rolleyes:

[roger001]

Roland was our butler a couple years ago and he was great! We will be in a suite again in a week and a half and that would be wonderful to have him as our butler again. :D:D

 

Do you know if by chance how much longer his current contract is? Hopefully he will still be on the ship. For some reason I am someone people tend to remember but if he doesn't I won't be offended. We will have to make sure we have some pics we took with him from our cruise 2 years ago. I'm sure he will remember us as he has only seen thousands of people since we saw him last ;):p:rolleyes:

 

No. I don't know where he was in his contract. You're right about remembering. They do see thousands of persons and if they can specifically remember anyone I'm amazed. But they still have a wonderful ability to make you feel as if they have waited their entire career to greet just you, even if they can't specifically remember.

[RedF]

We just got off of the Jewel last week. Bruno was the concierge and Roland was our butler. Roland has quite a while left on his contract. He was in the haven but was rotating to night butler for two weeks, then deck nine suites for 2 weeks, followed by deck 10 for 2 and then back to the haven. Bruno had just came to the Jewel so I would expect him to be there for a while. If you are in the haven you will find the Haven Valet, Jon, to be a really nice addition for your cruise. He will serve breakfast and lunch in the haven for you using the standard suite menu from Modernos. Bruno, Roland and Jon made our cruise very special.

[Cruisin&Relaxin]

We just finished a Jewel SF suite cruise about a month ago. Roland was our butler and Joaquin was the concierge. Both were very nice persons, always ready to assist you if requested. However, we just didn't need their services very much. Roland tried his best to keep us supplied with afternoon snacks even when I assured him that we just couldn't eat any more food (we had the 7 night UDP, plus had platinum 2 nights of specialty dining, plus Modernos for breakfast and lunch if desired). He kept the coffee machine supplied with the coffee things. He would have done much more if we had just asked or let him. Joaquin met all suite guests in the suite boarding lounge and escorted us on board. We frequently saw him up in Modernos for the suite guest breakfast. And he escorted suite guests up to the Haven for a "cocktail" party. Once when tendering, while we were in no hurry, had platinum tender passes, he saw us in line. We assured him that we were in no hurry. However, he still insisted that he escort us over to the suite guest priority head of the line area. He would have loved to do more for us, but we just didn't need it. We were in no hurry debarking so didn't need him for that. We though they were both just great and typical wonderful NCL crew, liked them both very much. Reference tipping, you will see heated discussions, no correct answer, and monetary extremes in both directions. So for us, we felt that $100 for Roland and $75 for Joaquin was very appropriate. We also left a $50 for the room steward. Oh, I also tip the breakfast server $5 each morning. But....all this is neither right or wrong. As I said, we have very little need for their services and leave a very neat cabin for the room steward to take care of. So just tip what you feel their services have been worth to you. You will not be wrong.

 

 

 

We love Joaquin. We had him as a butler for 15 nights on a 38 day cruise. Towards the end of our cruise he hand prepared some special lunch dishes from his country for us to enjoy. So glad to hear he is assuming some time in the concierge seat. He is a good one in addition to our other butler Charlie on that cruise.

Edited May 11, 2016 by Cruisin&Relaxin

[kdzkatz]

We just got off of the Jewel last week. Bruno was the concierge and Roland was our butler. Roland has quite a while left on his contract. He was in the haven but was rotating to night butler for two weeks, then deck nine suites for 2 weeks, followed by deck 10 for 2 and then back to the haven. Bruno had just came to the Jewel so I would expect him to be there for a while. If you are in the haven you will find the Haven Valet, Jon, to be a really nice addition for your cruise. He will serve breakfast and lunch in the haven for you using the standard suite menu from Modernos. Bruno, Roland and Jon made our cruise very special.

 

We have a chance to have him then. :D We will be in a deck 9 owners suite and my parents will be in the connecting forward penthouse. That is great that you have so much info on his schedule. :D So if my math is correct it will be his first week on deck 9.

 

This would be our first time having a repeat of a butler. So do you know if he will have all the deck 9 suites or just the front or just the back? Thanks for all your help. :D:D

[RedF]

We have a chance to have him then. :D We will be in a deck 9 owners suite and my parents will be in the connecting forward penthouse. That is great that you have so much info on his schedule. :D So if my math is correct it will be his first week on deck 9.

 

This would be our first time having a repeat of a butler. So do you know if he will have all the deck 9 suites or just the front or just the back? Thanks for all your help. :D:D

 

I don't know if he will be the only one or not. There were two in the haven, Roland and Jennifer. So if there are a comparable number of suites on 9 as there are in the haven then I would think there would be two. Enjoy your cruise.

[hawgwildterry]

We have a chance to have him then. :D We will be in a deck 9 owners suite and my parents will be in the connecting forward penthouse. That is great that you have so much info on his schedule. :D So if my math is correct it will be his first week on deck 9.

 

This would be our first time having a repeat of a butler. So do you know if he will have all the deck 9 suites or just the front or just the back? Thanks for all your help. :D:D

 

Howdy Neighbor as we are from Marysville. Wife and I will be in 9002 two weeks after your cruise. Hope you post some photos of your view from your Penthouse although I don't think you have the same room.

 

This is our first time returning to NCL after a 20yr absence and cruising on Holland America and Princess during that time. Look forward to NCL as a precursor to a possible Panama Canal Cruise Fall 2017.

[kdzkatz]

Howdy Neighbor as we are from Marysville. Wife and I will be in 9002 two weeks after your cruise. Hope you post some photos of your view from your Penthouse although I don't think you have the same room.

 

This is our first time returning to NCL after a 20yr absence and cruising on Holland America and Princess during that time. Look forward to NCL as a precursor to a possible Panama Canal Cruise Fall 2017.

 

I have good news for you. Even though we aren't in 9002 we are right next door and my parents will be in that room! I will be sure to get pics of the room and balcony for you. I will try to get a video of it and post it to YouTube for your room and our owners suite.

 

We were in room 10000 last year on the Jewel up to Alaska. That was our first time being on the front of the ship. It is our favorite location! It is very peaceful up there. It is like a little neighborhood of 12 rooms. :D

[kdzkatz]

There is a Youtube video of room 9502 on the Jewel which is the mirror image of your room.

[hawgwildterry]

Awesome....Thank You

[VEDA29]

Wow! This totally got off topic:mad:

[kdzkatz]

Wow! This totally got off topic:mad:

 

I think the second response (from Roger001) to your questions answered them as well I have read anywhere.

 

You may also want to search out the threads on what you use a butler for. They have some great insight.

 

You are definitely being much more proactive than we were for our first suite experience. We didn't ask our butler for a single thing as we did not know how to use him.

 

We always ask for a bowl of gummy bears and a bowl of m&m's. We have a few meals in our suite that he delivers. We have made our own specialty coffee, one cup black coffee from the machine in the suite, one packet hot chocolate and whipped cream. A chocolate chip cookie goes very nicely with it to. We will ask him for hot chocolate and a bowl of whipped cream.

 

Sorry for the earlier departure from your questions but I have been trying to find out who the concierge and our butler may be and was excited to see any current information on it. :o I am very happy to hear we may have Roland again. He was great!

[VEDA29]

Thank you!!

[Ktuluorion]

We recently had our first SF on the Jade (11 night), and here were my takeaways:

 

- Butler - Didn't have much use for him. He will bring you any food you want (similar to room service but a bit quicker). He brings snacks every day. We requested certain snacks every day, he did it for one day then just started giving us the default snacks again. We did have a big breakfast party brought for us and our family (6 people) and it was brought at the appropriate time and correct. Tip - $150

 

- Concierge - She actually helped us with several billing items that were wrong (onboard credit) as well as anything in general that we needed from shorex or guest services. She showed up at dinner and schmoozed with us most nights. She was always at the suite breakfast/lunch. Tip - $200

[j-9]

I don't think anyone has answered the cocktail party question yet. Alcohol would not be free. If you have bottles and mixes already then serving would be possible I think, but it would be appropriate to include an appropriate tip for this service at the end of the cruise. I have not done this myself, maybe someone who has can answer how cocktail parties work for you.

 

 

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[VEDA29]

Thank you!!

[cadien]

Searching the board for cocktail party will get you some detailed answers. You could also do a new thread with that in the subject line. Many people with experience may skip over this one thinking it's just a discussion about the staff on this particular ship.

[ctbrown24]

Just got off the Jewel. We had a H3 Owner's Suite on Deck 9.

 

Interesting the comments about Roland above. We had him as our butler and had several awkward moments with him. He mentioned a good five times about his gratuity we should give him at the end of the week. I'm not sure if it was because we prepaid our service charge, but we already knew to tip for their services in addition to. Our exchanges with him were just sorta...weird :confused:

 

Bruno and Jon were top notch though. Jon was excellent in the Haven!! Bruno was also helpful, although we pre-booked our dining before we got onboard, he helped us change a couple times. He was friendly and seemed to take the time to get to know us.