Haven Butler questions on Breakaway

[LuvTheSea14]

My husband and I are going on the Breakaway in the fall. We have a Haven room. We will have a butler. What exactly can a butler do for us? We really don't know what we can ask a butler for Thanks in advance Very excited.

[perkydebrajean]

I mentioned to iur butler that my husband has a sweet tooth fir cookies. He kept a plate of cookies in our cabin at all times. He also made sure we had a pitcher of iced tea in our fridge for us. We gad breakfast brought in a few times on port days. And on our last night we weren't able to get into Cagneys for dinner, so we let the Butler know what we wanted from there and what time we'd like to eat and he brought it for us. We had the dining plan so we used it to pay for the dinner.

[perkydebrajean]

I really need to spell check before posting on my phone!

[Two Wheels Only]

Just tell the butler what you would like in your stateroom. He/she will bring snacks at least once a day. Tell the butler if you would like more or less of something. A good butler will also surprise you with items that you otherwise wouldn't have thought of. The butler can also deliver meals including breakfast. Don't limit yourself to the room service menu. The butler can bring just about anything being served on the ship if given notice.

 

They can set up your meal in the stateroom or on the balcony (or in bed, I suppose) if you ask. There are other obscure things like unpacking your clothes, drawing a bath, tying your shoes (it has happened) or tying a tie.

 

It's actually a great service but too many guests are afraid to ask for things then feel like the butler "didn't do anything".

 

You're on vacation and have a butler......take full advantage.

[Kaptivate]

I did not take full advantage of the Butler service last year and now I know better. But we did have him bring in hot water so I could make tea and hot chocolate. He did bring us snacks every day and that was a nice treat. My suggestion, if there is something on your mind, ask the Butler and if it is a possibility I am sure they will make it happen. Butler service coming my way again next year and I will utilize them for sure.

 

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[Vacationlover2]

We never even met our butler on our breakaway cruise a couple weeks ago. Hopefully yours will be better

 

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[Responder]

We never even met our butler on our breakaway cruise a couple weeks ago. Hopefully yours will be better

 

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And ours on the Getaway showed up the last day during tip time.

 

We thought maybe he would help retrieve our luggage before 4:30pm on embarkation day and maybe even take it in the room and lift it on the bed...nope. And we boarded at 11:30am

 

However, food in the Haven and the service there to include the concierge and also our room steward was absolutely outstanding, . They are the ones that got all our tips above and beyond.

[VideoTech]

We never even met our butler on our breakaway cruise a couple weeks ago. Hopefully yours will be better

 

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That's really odd. We've never been on a cruise where the butler didn't make it a point to find us and meet us, no matter what we were doing. If we weren't in the cabin when he/she first came around, they'd keep trying.

[csmart1152]

That's really odd. We've never been on a cruise where the butler didn't make it a point to find us and meet us, no matter what we were doing. If we weren't in the cabin when he/she first came around, they'd keep trying.

 

Have to agree with this. We've been on 3 Haven cruises (and are about to embark on a 4th in 3 weeks!) and each time our butler has been outstanding. At first we were reluctant to take full advantage of their services but we quickly learned they are there to take care of you, so use them. We've never had one unpack our luggage or tie our shoes, but we've ordered food from O'Sheenans and had it brought up to the Haven Pool late one night. The food was brought with a smile. And yes we tipped more than appropriately! Our youngest son mentioned the first day how he loves gummy bears and we couldn't leave the room without returning to a full bowl. Most mornings we have breakfast delivered and setup in the room. Probably the biggest perk of the Butler.

 

Enjoy the Haven and your Butler. Despite the negative chatter about NCL here lately, you'll have a great trip.

Edited August 4, 2016 by csmart1152

[Sprasa03]

i love all these tips - at the end of the month will be my first experience with a butler - and never having one in any type of situation it feels to ask someone for favors - but I guess if you're tipping then it's ok to do..

 

I'm sure my hubby would love the o'sheehans wings by the haven pool one night - what a treat!

 

I have heard about the treats in the room though and we all are chocolate fiends so I'm sure he'll learn that about us quick!!

[LuvTheSea14]

Thank you everyone. I feel funny asking someone to do things for me but a meal in the courtyard sounds nice. Who doesn't like snacks in the room. Lol. Looking forward to my fall cruise

[graphicguy]

BOth times I was in the Haven, my Butler tracked me down as soon as I got to my cabin, introduced himself and made certain to ask me if there was anything I wanted.

 

I didn't ask for much, but did ask for tomato juice to be put in the fridge every day, which he did. He noticed I particularly liked the salmon appetizers he brought in. H made sure I had some EVERY day.

 

I was getting ready for dinner one night and was about to go to the bar to get a bourbon. My butler saw me coming out of the cabin with a t-shirt, flip-flops and wet hair, asked me if he could help, and ended up bringing two bourbons to my room in a flash.

 

Whenever I put clothes back into my luggage (dirty ones) and left the luggage on the bed, I'd come back a little later and the luggage was stored under the bed for me.

 

He brought breakfast a couple of days and set it up on the balcony.

 

I'm sure there are other things I can't remember, but there wasn't anything we found he wouldn't do for us. That said, we didn't ask for anything over the top, though.

Edited August 5, 2016 by graphicguy

[ThePhoenix]

Wait a second! I can ask my butler to get me a mixed drink from the bar and bring it to my room? This changes everything!

 

Getting ready for the Aug 28 Breakaway sailing. I'm going to make a list of what I want a butler to do for me.

 

 

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Edited August 5, 2016 by ThePhoenix

[Two Wheels Only]

Your butler can bring a drink (alcoholic) but it will NOT be covered by the UBP. You will be charged for it if it is delivered to you.

 

Non-alcoholic drinks (iced tea, for ex.) are delivered free of charge.

Edited August 5, 2016 by Two Wheels Only

[NLH Arizona]

My husband and I are going on the Breakaway in the fall. We have a Haven room. We will have a butler. What exactly can a butler do for us? We really don't know what we can ask a butler for Thanks in advance Very excited.

Ask for anything you would like. If the Butler can do it for you he/she will and if they can't, they will let you know that they can't.

[Zigggypup]

Just curious, is their a daily recommended tip for the butler? I am sailing on the Breakaway in a month and will have butler service. I'm not looking to cheap out, or stiff anyone. So can anyone who has been in the Haven share a little insight of the proper tip for the butler? Is it per person or just a nice lump sum at the end of the cruise? Thanks in advance.

Edited August 5, 2016 by Zigggypup

[tel2]

There is a very wide range of what people think is appropriate. My husband and I in recent years rarely use the concierge for anything -- we tend to make our own excursion, dinner and spa reservations - just find it easier, and we rarely go to shows, etc If we use the concierge at all these days it is usually for priority debarkation at a port.

 

We do tend to use the butler more - asking for special snacks, having breakfast delivered, asking that a pitcher of cranberry juice be kept full in fridge, occasionally ordering dinner in the suite. ....

 

Our starting point is 10.00 per day per person for the butler, and 5.00 pp per day for the concierge, and we adjust upwards for more or extra good service (i.e., meals in room, party, etc), and downward for extremely poor service. We have only once in more that 15 suite cruises adjusted downward -- and that was the concierge on the pearl to Alaska, who introduced himself on day 1, failed to return a number of calls during cruise, screwed up the one excursion we asked him to book, screwed up both dinner reservations we asked him to book, told us to "call the hotel manager" when we called to complain about a leak in our room, and then basically stood with his hand out when we were disembarking. He got zippo, and I have never in my life before or since then failed to tip a service provider....

 

So, by way of example, when we had a small cocktail party (8 people) in our suite, we added 50.00 to the butler's tip. If we have white cloth dinners in our cabin, we adjust upward. if we ask our butler to bring a late night snack to the pool, or even once to us in the casino, we definitely adjust upward.

 

When on our last Epic cruise, the unlimited internet I purchased kept requiring a "password reset" which had to be done by the internet manager, and the internet desk was never open when it happened, I used the concierge extensively to get the resets done every time it happened, which was like 10 times. She got a big extra tip for that because, instead of having to wait for the desk to open and then go down and stand in line, I simply left her a message that "it happened again" and it would magically get fixed pronto. She got a nice extra tip for that.

 

Everyone has a different opinion of what is appropriate. Just remember, they are not part of the tip pool so no part of the DSC goes to them.

 

Although the room steward is part of the DSC, we also tend to tip him extra, depending on how good he/she is, when we are in a suite.

 

Terry

[NLH Arizona]

Just curious, is their a daily recommended tip for the butler? I am sailing on the Breakaway in a month and will have butler service. I'm not looking to cheap out, or stiff anyone. So can anyone who has been in the Haven share a little insight of the proper tip for the butler? Is it per person or just a nice lump sum at the end of the cruise? Thanks in advance.

First of all, tipping is a very personal subject and a lot of things should be considered when coming up with a figure. NCL does not recommend any certain amount it is up to you and you should take into consideration what services you received, where the services to your satisfaction, your budget, etc. and then come up with a figure that you feel comfortable with and no matter what the amount is, the Butler and Concierge will be grateful.

 

When I asked the same question years ago, I got from $35 to $500 a week and after all the information, I ended up with $10 per person per day for the Butler and $5 per person per day for the Concierge to start and I can add or subject from that figure based on services (I've never had to subject). I always give it at the end of the cruise.

[Kosi]

I honestly think that where your Haven cabin is makes your butler more available. For an example.. once in Haven room on the Courtyard floor.. saw butler constantly..Once in owner's suite which was different floor than Haven area.. was virtually ignored all week. Did not feel apart of all things Haven.. would never not stay on the floor of courtyard again.

Edited August 5, 2016 by Kosi

[Two Wheels Only]

I honestly think that where your Haven cabin is makes your butler more available. For an example.. once in Haven room on the Courtyard floor.. saw butler constantly..Once in owner's suite which was different floor than Haven area.. was virtually ignored all week. Did not feel apart of all things Haven.. would never not stay on the floor of courtyard again.

 

I disagree.

 

Your butler's attentiveness will dictate the service that you receive. You may have a great butler that is assigned to the area away from the courtyard while someone in the courtyard may have a terrible butler.

 

On BA/GA/Escape, the butler assigned to the H6 may be great or terrible. The location isn't a factor. The same is true for whichever butler is assigned to the other "outside the Haven" Haven staterooms (H7/H8/H9).

[Kosi]

I disagree.

 

Your butler's attentiveness will dictate the service that you receive. You may have a great butler that is assigned to the area away from the courtyard while someone in the courtyard may have a terrible butler.

 

On BA/GA/Escape, the butler assigned to the H6 may be great or terrible. The location isn't a factor. The same is true for whichever butler is assigned to the other "outside the Haven" Haven staterooms (H7/H8/H9).

 

Ok.. but I also meant I felt not included in all things Haven.. staying on a different floor. I like to be on the floor with courtyard.

[NLH Arizona]

I disagree.

 

Your butler's attentiveness will dictate the service that you receive. You may have a great butler that is assigned to the area away from the courtyard while someone in the courtyard may have a terrible butler.

 

On BA/GA/Escape, the butler assigned to the H6 may be great or terrible. The location isn't a factor. The same is true for whichever butler is assigned to the other "outside the Haven" Haven staterooms (H7/H8/H9).

I agree, I usually cruise in an aft penthouse, which isn't a Haven suite, but still has a Butler and I've always gotten great service from the Butlers. The Concierge, on one particular cruise, was a different story. She only stayed in the Haven and to add insult to injury, upon disembarkation, there were some Haven folks sitting in the room and then on the other side there were some of us in the aft and forward penthouse and she never even came over to us and didn't even say anything to us when it was time to leave, we just saw the others leaving and following. Unfortunately, since I had OBC from the casino, I paid her tips ahead of time....something I will never do again. I do have to say that all my other Concierges have been wonderful, just this one that was horrible.

[takeadip]

My husband and I are going on the Breakaway in the fall. We have a Haven room. We will have a butler. What exactly can a butler do for us? We really don't know what we can ask a butler for Thanks in advance Very excited.

 

you can have the butler unpack and pack your suitcases..i know since FDR took over NCL frowns on having your butler "dress" you or do your hair in a swift "updo" for the nights where you want to leave the Haven. My wife would ask for the Butler to run a bath every day at 3pm..because it takes forever for the tub to fill in our 2 bedroom villa we had...

 

I would request to have multiple towel animals in a staged "fight" on our bed and test the butler's imagination.

 

other then that just enjoy your time being pampered..

[Kosi]

you can have the butler unpack and pack your suitcases..i know since FDR took over NCL frowns on having your butler "dress" you or do your hair in a swift "updo" for the nights where you want to leave the Haven. My wife would ask for the Butler to run a bath every day at 3pm..because it takes forever for the tub to fill in our 2 bedroom villa we had...

 

I would request to have multiple towel animals in a staged "fight" on our bed and test the butler's imagination.

 

other then that just enjoy your time being pampered..

 

 

"butler "dress" you or do your hair in a swift "updo" for the nights where you want to leave the Haven. My wife would ask for the Butler to run a bath every day at 3pm..because it takes forever for the tub to fill in our 2 bedroom villa we had...

 

I would request to have multiple towel animals in a staged "fight" on our bed and test the butler's imagination."

 

You have got to be kidding????

[takeadip]

"butler "dress" you or do your hair in a swift "updo" for the nights where you want to leave the Haven. My wife would ask for the Butler to run a bath every day at 3pm..because it takes forever for the tub to fill in our 2 bedroom villa we had...

 

I would request to have multiple towel animals in a staged "fight" on our bed and test the butler's imagination."

 

You have got to be kidding????

 

Yes...im joking about the staged fights with the towel animals...but the butler did display them in our sons room as he made them..

 

it was a nice touch...

 

also...the pre filling of the bath was my wife...i didnt fit in the tub as i am 6 foot 240 lbs...the only tub i fit in is in the DOS but that wasnt this last trip...

 

when you request the butler to do your hair for you make sure you refer to it as an "updo" they do a real nice job!!

 

it took us 2 days to find all of our stuff once the butler unpacked for us.. (downside)