Appropriate tip for butler in Haven

[purpletequila]

$100 minimum.

[floridian1]

I think we did $150..he set up a few in suite dinners..thats about it.

[roddy good boy]

Our Concierge last fall on the Escape was Adrian Bica. Upon embarkation I asked him about rescheduling a few of our dinner reservations. He directed me to the touchscreen kiosk in the lobby. Our service from him went down hill from there. His tip was commiserate with his service.

 

Our butler, Kelly, was amazing! Not only did he keep us supplied with wonderful snacks during the week, he volunteered use of his private cell phone to help us reschedule our flights home. We were on the cruise impacted by Irma. He also personally excorted us off the ship and insisted on helping to carry our luggage off the ship. We were able to disembark in Cozumel (on day 8), travel on to Cancun and fly home! We tipped Kelly $300. Our steward was great, as well. I think we gave him $75.

Edited March 29, 2018 by roddy good boy

[dexddd]

NOT Free. DOS and above Free sodas and waters plus specified liquor perk. We remove items from fridge and put away. Haven Suites, no free mini bar.

 

What is a bit confusing is some of the Haven/Suite materials list "mini-bar" but don't mention any fee or what is included.

[BirdTravels]

What is a bit confusing is some of the Haven/Suite materials list "mini-bar" but don't mention any fee or what is included.

If you are in an Owner's Suite or above, you get free water, sodas, mixers and three 750ml bottles of liquor (of your choice).

All other items (mini bottles of liquor, wine, etc.) are charged at all times.

 

If you are in any other Suite or Haven room, you are charged for 00% of the items in the mini-bar.

 

We normally ask our room steward to empty the mini-bar/fridge and have the butler leave pitchers of water and tea in there.

[Cuizer2]

If you are in an Owner's Suite or above, you get free water, sodas, mixers and three 750ml bottles of liquor (of your choice).

All other items (mini bottles of liquor, wine, etc.) are charged at all times.

 

If you are in any other Suite or Haven room, you are charged for 00% of the items in the mini-bar.

 

We normally ask our room steward to empty the mini-bar/fridge and have the butler leave pitchers of water and tea in there.

 

Zero percent??? That means everything is free.

[Traveling Fools]

Got off the Getaway on Sunday March 25th. Had a real PH with large balcony. Normally book the DOS, but this booking was a last minute decision. Sadly, our Butler's and Room Steward's performance was barely satisfactory. While they were friendly and engaging, they missed the mark on service. The complementary wine was in in the ice bucket when we boarded, but the bucket was iceless. Our steward was there and we requested ice. In the meantime DW and 2-grand kids (8 &5) changed into our swim suits and went topside. Returned to our suite to dress for dinner, still no ice. Saw the steward and asked a second time for ice. Had not yet seen the butler. Got dressed and went to dinner. Returned to the suite a couple of hours late and still no ice. Called the butler and some time later he showed up with a bucket of ice. Showed him the empty wine ice bucket and he finally filled it. During the course of the cruise the only contact we had with the butler was when he delivered breakfast and the steward only when we passed one another in the passageway (hall). Only got towel animals twice. Seward did the basic, but failed to check trash cans in the primary and secondary bathrooms. Finally had to leave the doors open for him to see they needed emptying.

 

DW asked the assistant concierge what a reasonable tip for our butler would be. He told her $100 total. Normally we are heavy tippers and have been very generous to our butler and steward. This trip we decided $100 for the butler and no extra for the steward.

 

Disembarkation day he was no where to be seen. We went to Haven for breakfast and expedited disembarkation. Went to give the tip envelope to the assistant concierge, instead of taking it and escorting us down he called our butler. Five minutes late he showed up. e exchanged greeting and I gave him the tip envelope. all of us head to the express elevator inside the Haven and dear butler bounded down the stairs to God knows where. Like us the assistant concierge was as befuddled as us. He telephoned our butler and had a few words with him. We told the assistant we didn't want to wait for the butler and was then escorted to the disembarkation deck.

 

Bottom line we tipped the butler $100, which we now consider more than generous. The steward got nothing extra. The concierge was helpful, when seldomly needed so we tipped her $50. We gave an individual tip to one of the Haven waiters who occasionally served us.

[BirdTravels]

Zero percent??? That means everything is free.

100%. You sip. You pay.

[Ironworker808]

Tipping amount is up to you. On our last cruise, there were four of us in the DOS on the Epic. We worked the butler like a rented mule, and he was AWESOME! Quick to respond, quick to serve. Two SDP dinners in the room, and three or four (can’t remember) breakfasts. Not to mention that our ice bucket was always full, and we used him to deliver room service COUNTLESS times! We tipped him $700 for the week. Also tipped the steward $300 after I walked into the room one day, and saw him on his hands and knees with a towel, drying the shower floor. Imagine that...DRYING THE SHOWER FLOOR!!! These guys/girls work their ass off.

 

If the butler/steward/concierge make your vacation more enjoyable...show your appreciation. The end.

[Cuizer2]

Got off the Getaway on Sunday March 25th. Had a real PH with large balcony. Normally book the DOS,

 

Okay, I know PH is the penthouse. As I recall, DOS came before Windows, so what is DOS on a ship???

[ColinIllinois]

Okay, I know PH is the penthouse. As I recall, DOS came before Windows, so what is DOS on a ship???

 

 

Deluxe Owners Suite.

[dexddd]

If you are in an Owner's Suite or above, you get free water, sodas, mixers and three 750ml bottles of liquor (of your choice).

All other items (mini bottles of liquor, wine, etc.) are charged at all times.

 

If you are in any other Suite or Haven room, you are charged for 00% of the items in the mini-bar.

 

We normally ask our room steward to empty the mini-bar/fridge and have the butler leave pitchers of water and tea in there.

 

We've sailed in OS and DOS for the most part and the bottles are usually 1L which is even better.

[Cuizer2]

Tipping amount is up to you. On our last cruise, there were four of us in the DOS on the Epic. We worked the butler like a rented mule, and he was AWESOME! Quick to respond, quick to serve. Two SDP dinners in the room, and three or four (can’t remember) breakfasts. Not to mention that our ice bucket was always full, and we used him to deliver room service COUNTLESS times! We tipped him $700 for the week. Also tipped the steward $300 after I walked into the room one day, and saw him on his hands and knees with a towel, drying the shower floor. Imagine that...DRYING THE SHOWER FLOOR!!! These guys/girls work their ass off.

 

If the butler/steward/concierge make your vacation more enjoyable...show your appreciation. The end.

 

If they work their A$$ off, are they still able to sit down when they are not working? :confused:

 

My favorite tip is that I tell them to buy low and sell high. Don't worry, I also give them something so that they can start investing.

[Cuizer2]

We've sailed in OS and DOS for the most part and the bottles are usually 1L which is even better.

 

So, some owners are just regular owners and some owners are deluxe owners? :confused:

 

But aren't all the owners the same people? If so, how could some be regular owners and some be deluxe owners? :confused:

[ColinIllinois]

So, some owners are just regular owners and some owners are deluxe owners? :confused:

 

But aren't all the owners the same people? If so, how could some be regular owners and some be deluxe owners? :confused:

 

 

Go drink some Ovaltine, Jerry.

[erdoran]

I'm gonna jump up and down about steward tipping. In this discussion it seems to be the "norm" to tip the steward OVER AND ABOVE the increased DSC - which is supposed to include tipping the steward. Yes, the cabin is bigger but I'm sure the steward has fewer cabins to maintain.

 

I would think that the expectation for an "extra tip" for the steward, and the circumstances under which you'd give it, should be the same as a non-suite, rather than what I'm reading as almost an entitlement to that extra. I get that the butler & concierge DO have that entitlement and that's fine - there's a baseline as soon as you walk in the door, and you add or subtract according to how much you ask of them and how good they are.

 

For me, my baseline for the steward is "I've paid my DSC, and I've paid a HIGHER DSC to be in a suite". I might add extra for wonderful service, but I don't feel as obligated as I do for the concierge and butler.

 

What do the rest of you experienced Haven folks think? I'm fine being told I'm wrong. I guess it may come across as a little cheap, but I keep coming back to "isn't that what the DSC is all about? And isn't the DSC higher in the Haven to cover the steward's "extra work" and the Haven staff, IN ADDITION to all the non-Haven staff I'm not even using but am still paying DSC for? MDR, main pool, etc. "

[Mom2B&Z]

I'm gonna jump up and down about steward tipping. In this discussion it seems to be the "norm" to tip the steward OVER AND ABOVE the increased DSC - which is supposed to include tipping the steward. Yes, the cabin is bigger but I'm sure the steward has fewer cabins to maintain.

 

I would think that the expectation for an "extra tip" for the steward, and the circumstances under which you'd give it, should be the same as a non-suite, rather than what I'm reading as almost an entitlement to that extra. I get that the butler & concierge DO have that entitlement and that's fine - there's a baseline as soon as you walk in the door, and you add or subtract according to how much you ask of them and how good they are.

 

For me, my baseline for the steward is "I've paid my DSC, and I've paid a HIGHER DSC to be in a suite". I might add extra for wonderful service, but I don't feel as obligated as I do for the concierge and butler.

 

What do the rest of you experienced Haven folks think? I'm fine being told I'm wrong. I guess it may come across as a little cheap, but I keep coming back to "isn't that what the DSC is all about? And isn't the DSC higher in the Haven to cover the steward's "extra work" and the Haven staff, IN ADDITION to all the non-Haven staff I'm not even using but am still paying DSC for? MDR, main pool, etc. "

 

 

 

That is our understanding too, though we’ve had some great room stewards over the years whom have received what we consider to be sizeable tips. I go into a trip with an amount in my mind for the concierge and butler, but anything above the DSC for the room steward involves exceptional service.

I too will be interested to hear other opinions.

 

 

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[NLH Arizona]

 

For me, my baseline for the steward is "I've paid my DSC, and I've paid a HIGHER DSC to be in a suite". I might add extra for wonderful service, but I don't feel as obligated as I do for the concierge and butler.

 

Then don't give any more, as your are not obligaded to do it and it is not required. If someone wants to give more, that is up to them and should have no bearing on what you do.

[MizDemeanor]

I'm gonna jump up and down about steward tipping. In this discussion it seems to be the "norm" to tip the steward OVER AND ABOVE the increased DSC - which is supposed to include tipping the steward. Yes, the cabin is bigger but I'm sure the steward has fewer cabins to maintain.

 

I would think that the expectation for an "extra tip" for the steward, and the circumstances under which you'd give it, should be the same as a non-suite, rather than what I'm reading as almost an entitlement to that extra. I get that the butler & concierge DO have that entitlement and that's fine - there's a baseline as soon as you walk in the door, and you add or subtract according to how much you ask of them and how good they are.

 

For me, my baseline for the steward is "I've paid my DSC, and I've paid a HIGHER DSC to be in a suite". I might add extra for wonderful service, but I don't feel as obligated as I do for the concierge and butler.

 

What do the rest of you experienced Haven folks think? I'm fine being told I'm wrong. I guess it may come across as a little cheap, but I keep coming back to "isn't that what the DSC is all about? And isn't the DSC higher in the Haven to cover the steward's "extra work" and the Haven staff, IN ADDITION to all the non-Haven staff I'm not even using but am still paying DSC for? MDR, main pool, etc. "

 

I follow your logic and in synch with it. This thread has been an eye opener for me with the amount of $$$ that is being offered to the Butler in some instances. I am trying to get my head wrapped around these ideas. I'm still not sure where I am coming out on any of this at the end of the day. Yet.

[ColinIllinois]

I follow your logic and in synch with it. This thread has been an eye opener for me with the amount of $$$ that is being offered to the Butler in some instances. I am trying to get my head wrapped around these ideas. I'm still not sure where I am coming out on any of this at the end of the day. Yet.

 

 

Just remember that what a lot of people SAY they tip the Butler and Concierge may not match up with reality. It is the internet, after all.

[welove2cruise2014]

I'm gonna jump up and down about steward tipping. In this discussion it seems to be the "norm" to tip the steward OVER AND ABOVE the increased DSC - which is supposed to include tipping the steward. Yes, the cabin is bigger but I'm sure the steward has fewer cabins to maintain.

 

I would think that the expectation for an "extra tip" for the steward, and the circumstances under which you'd give it, should be the same as a non-suite, rather than what I'm reading as almost an entitlement to that extra. I get that the butler & concierge DO have that entitlement and that's fine - there's a baseline as soon as you walk in the door, and you add or subtract according to how much you ask of them and how good they are.

 

For me, my baseline for the steward is "I've paid my DSC, and I've paid a HIGHER DSC to be in a suite". I might add extra for wonderful service, but I don't feel as obligated as I do for the concierge and butler.

 

What do the rest of you experienced Haven folks think? I'm fine being told I'm wrong. I guess it may come across as a little cheap, but I keep coming back to "isn't that what the DSC is all about? And isn't the DSC higher in the Haven to cover the steward's "extra work" and the Haven staff, IN ADDITION to all the non-Haven staff I'm not even using but am still paying DSC for? MDR, main pool, etc. "

Non Haven but suite passengers here. We've always tipped the steward extra, primarily because the 3 different ones we've had the 3 times we've cruised in a suite on NCL, we just really liked and felt they worked hard. Not hardER compared to another, or compared to a non-suite steward (as we haven't yet cruised in a regular cabin). Just had a nice rapport with them.

 

While I do enjoy the services provided by the butlers and concierges, there's something a little... I don't know...TOO "polished" about some of them. Almost a sense of "they are of a different class" than the stewards. It kind of rubs me the wrong way. I get that is TOTALLY just me though.

 

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[dexddd]

So, some owners are just regular owners and some owners are deluxe owners? :confused:

 

But aren't all the owners the same people? If so, how could some be regular owners and some be deluxe owners? :confused:

 

I like your quip because it is probably exactly what the marketing folks said = how do we create an option to charge more for a room. If you look at the history of the DOS on the various NCL ships you'll find it quite interesting.

[BirdTravels]

So, some owners are just regular owners and some owners are deluxe owners? :confused:

 

But aren't all the owners the same people? If so, how could some be regular owners and some be deluxe owners? :confused:

Some owners are bigger than other owners. More trips to the buffet

[Cuizer2]

I'm gonna jump up and down about steward tipping. In this discussion it seems to be the "norm" to tip the steward OVER AND ABOVE the increased DSC - which is supposed to include tipping the steward. Yes, the cabin is bigger but I'm sure the steward has fewer cabins to maintain.

 

I would think that the expectation for an "extra tip" for the steward, and the circumstances under which you'd give it, should be the same as a non-suite, rather than what I'm reading as almost an entitlement to that extra. I get that the butler & concierge DO have that entitlement and that's fine - there's a baseline as soon as you walk in the door, and you add or subtract according to how much you ask of them and how good they are.

 

For me, my baseline for the steward is "I've paid my DSC, and I've paid a HIGHER DSC to be in a suite". I might add extra for wonderful service, but I don't feel as obligated as I do for the concierge and butler.

 

What do the rest of you experienced Haven folks think? I'm fine being told I'm wrong. I guess it may come across as a little cheap, but I keep coming back to "isn't that what the DSC is all about? And isn't the DSC higher in the Haven to cover the steward's "extra work" and the Haven staff, IN ADDITION to all the non-Haven staff I'm not even using but am still paying DSC for? MDR, main pool, etc. "

 

You should tip an amount you feel comfortable with, whether that be zero or $10,000 (or any amount in between).

[Cuizer2]

I follow your logic and in synch with it. This thread has been an eye opener for me with the amount of $$$ that is being offered to the Butler in some instances. I am trying to get my head wrapped around these ideas. I'm still not sure where I am coming out on any of this at the end of the day. Yet.

 

It is actually very simple. You tip amount that you feel comfortable with.