Ncl Butler Tipping

[pcakes122]

1 hour ago, Kirk2121 said:

7 day cruise would be $98 or $112?  Charging embarkation & disembarkation? 

I posted an "estimate" of what Oceania suggests for a butler tip. You are getting hung up on the wrong thing.  I didn't say that's what people should tip. Personally, because I don't pay cruise fare (my cruises are comped by the casino) I have money in my budget to tip 10x that and am happy to do so and more for great service. But just because that is MY situation doesn't mean that I would or should shame someone who can't do the same.  If you know what you want to tip, then you don't need a guideline so you should just ignore my suggestion (which was intended for the people who are asking for help.)

[pcakes122]

2 hours ago, Kirk2121 said:

How many suites would an Oceana Butler service?  Someone mentioned 14 irr for ncl.  14 cabins * 2 dbl occupancy * $7pp/d * 7 days = $1,372 - 20% night butler = $1,097/week worked + ncl base pay = not a ton of money for being the best of the best in service industry imo.  & 14 cabins seems high.  & 8 month contracts. Working 7 days a week. How many hrs per day maybe 12? Hopefully get some time off to spend with family.  Although no idea what ncl base pay might be. Lots of unknowns in my calculation.

So, in your assumption the Oceania butlers don't get any salary? 😂 They do not work strictly on tips. (Neither do NCL butlers, btw.)  According to Glassdoor, the average salary for an Oceania butler is $49,262.

[MoCruiseFan]

13 hours ago, SpainAlien said:

I am sorry but I disagree that $10-$20 pppd is a starting point. For example we did not use the butler or concierge service at all, we saw the afternoon snacks being dropped off and it was NOT by our butler, we didn't even use the tea/coffee. We did tip but not $10pppd which would have been $140 for no interaction with us at all!  The butlers are paid to be there anyway (more than the room stewards) so I say tip them based on on how much you use them.

That is your opinion.  That and a couple of bucks will get you a beer at almost any bar.  There is no suggested amount to tip in any situation.  As others have said, tip who you want when you want any amount you want.  No one is going to turn down free money.  As far as the per person per day thing goes, that is absurd.  Having any given number of people in a cabin (as opposed to have any number less) does not at all increase the workload of the crew members in question.

[Kirk2121]

7 hours ago, pcakes122 said:

I posted an "estimate" of what Oceania suggests for a butler tip. You are getting hung up on the wrong thing.  I didn't say that's what people should tip. Personally, because I don't pay cruise fare (my cruises are comped by the casino) I have money in my budget to tip 10x that and am happy to do so and more for great service. But just because that is MY situation doesn't mean that I would or should shame someone who can't do the same.  If you know what you want to tip, then you don't need a guideline so you should just ignore my suggestion (which was intended for the people who are asking for help.)

I'm Casinos at sea on ncl.

 

I was just curious if ncl charged $7 * 7 or 8.

 

I'm Too lazy to look at my current bill 🙂  but maybe on Sunday I'll count the $15.50 before getting off & going back to the snow. 😞

[Kirk2121]

7 hours ago, pcakes122 said:

So, in your assumption the Oceania butlers don't get any salary? 😂 They do not work strictly on tips. (Neither do NCL butlers, btw.)  According to Glassdoor, the average salary for an Oceania butler is $49,262.

In vegas Some craps dealers actually had to pay the casino to work high limit craps games.

[Minoushka]

I met a couple who upgraded to Haven on star and asked me how much to tip as I have cruise numerous times .They also asked their butler who requested 300$ ..which I felt was way over the top.I asked them if he did anything special for them …no was the answer …..i think that amount was outrageous 

[Trimone]

5 hours ago, Minoushka said:

I met a couple who upgraded to Haven on star and asked me how much to tip as I have cruise numerous times .They also asked their butler who requested 300$ ..which I felt was way over the top.I asked them if he did anything special for them …no was the answer …..i think that amount was outrageous 

Didn’t know there was a Haven on the Star?

[Rick&Jeannie]

Sorry...could not resist.  When I read the title of this thread a very "rural" custom came to mind...that of "cow tipping".  I assume that's NOT what the OP was referring to!

[Kirk2121]

8 hours ago, Minoushka said:

I met a couple who upgraded to Haven on star and asked me how much to tip as I have cruise numerous times .They also asked their butler who requested 300$ ..which I felt was way over the top.I asked them if he did anything special for them …no was the answer …..i think that amount was outrageous 

How did the butler request $300?  Remember the snacks I had someone drop off every afternoon?  I'm gonna need $300 for those 7 snacks i arranged to have delivered. Ha.

 

After he told me $300.  I would have asked what have you done for me?  But if i was asking what he thought a fair tip was, I'd have received some service.  Or else i wouldn't be asking.  So guessing the couple got some services. 

[complawyer]

1st off, there are no "haven suites" on the star, although there are comparable cabins referred to as suites,with the same amenities as haven cabins.

 

$300 is outrageous, and and way out of line. there have been many comments about tipping. personally, i give the butler $100 at the end of the cruise.. never less than that and the concierge $50,

as i really dont use concierge services that much.

 

$20 bucks to cabin steward at beginning of cruise, another 20 in the middle and a final 20 at the end.

 

as long as he brings me extra bath towels, and the ice bucket full i'm happy.

 

again, remember tipping is totally discretionary. if the butler doesnt do much for you,dont tip.

i ask him to bring a pot of coffee,  a pot of hot water, tea bags, pastries every morning, meats, crackers and cheeses in the afternoon, and cookies at night.

 

if we're back from an excursion, and it was hot that day, i ask him to bring a cold beer.  once or twice on the cruise, i ask for a pizza, or late night sandwich.

 

after 8 cruises with the butler service, i have never once been disappointed. now if i book a cruise, and i doent get a butler with the cabin, my wife wont go. so its either a have when available, or a "suite" if there are no haven cabins on that particular ship.

[don't-use-real-name]

About those Haven suites on the STAR - only two staterooms would qualify for that

designation - the two Garden Villa suites on deck 14.

Otherwise there is no designated Haven courtyard restaurant bar pool on the STAR

or its sister ship the DAWN.

The JEWEL class ships - JEWEL JADE GEM and PEARL have a Haven complex on

deck 14 but no restaurant or bar.

Only the mega-ships have a Haven worth commenting further about.

[LGW59]

On 1/15/2022 at 8:50 AM, Minoushka said:

I met a couple who upgraded to Haven on star and asked me how much to tip as I have cruise numerous times .They also asked their butler who requested 300$ ..which I felt was way over the top.I asked them if he did anything special for them …no was the answer …..i think that amount was outrageous 

I find it very hard to believe that the butler would tell them $300, not hard to believe this is what they told you, however seems highly unlikely to me

[Hutcha]

16 hours ago, complawyer said:

 

 

if we're back from an excursion, and it was hot that day, i ask him to bring a cold beer.  once or twice on the cruise, i ask for a pizza, or late night sandwich.

 

Did the butler charge you for the beer? I've seen it said that they won't bring you alcohol without charging.

[LGW59]

5 minutes ago, Hutcha said:

Did the butler charge you for the beer? I've seen it said that they won't bring you alcohol without charging.

Our butlers on both Celebrity and NCL have never charged us for any drinks that we order in the room

[ColeThornton]

16 minutes ago, Hutcha said:

Did the butler charge you for the beer? I've seen it said that they won't bring you alcohol without charging.

 

 

Vast majority of time you will be charged if your butler brings you booze.  If you get some freebies, that's a nice bonus...and a butler working his tips.   😉

[Wyldenigma]

I just got off the Epic and had a Haven penthouse. We recieved a letter stating that the daily gratuity was 18 and change per person,per day. That gratuity does not include Butler or Concierge services. I was not sure what to tip,so I gave our butler 20 dollars a day for a 7 day cruise. It may have been too low as it was recieved with a short thanks. We did not really use the service,but he seemed a kind man. I was also told by other members of staff that none of the crew was permitted to go ashore anywhere until the covid crisis is over. We had a great week,made every port.

[complawyer]

no, i have never been charged for the beer when it was brought by our butler, although, i only request this once or twice during our cruise.

 

also, in response to dont use real name, even tho they are  called garden suites, if you check all the suites available on the star they are almost exactly like the ones called haven suites. we have the 2 bedroom booked next nov lisbon to rio and the description of the cabin is just like any 2 bedroom in a haven complex. 

 

also, to save some $$$, some ships (like the jade) have the pool area, but not a dedicated specific restaurant or bar.

 

"suites" on the same ship are cheaper, you get the butler and rather than a haven restaurant, you get to eat in cagneys or moerno (same same ) as a haven, the only difference is the pool area. although i love the haven complex, if i only get the pool, i opt for the similar cabin called simply "suite" why pay a few 1000 extra just for the pool and jacuzzi.

[vacation44]

18 hours ago, complawyer said:

 

 

i ask him to bring a pot of coffee,  a pot of hot water, tea bags, pastries every morning, meats, crackers and cheeses in the afternoon, and cookies at night.

 

if we're back from an excursion, and it was hot that day, i ask him to bring a cold beer.  once or twice on the cruise, i ask for a pizza, or late night sandwich.

 

 

Sounds perfect!!!

[complawyer]

vacation 44: trust me, it's better than perfect, especially if you're in the haven complex.

 

1st time we had a haven cabin, i thought i had died and gone to heaven. now if i don't book a haven, my wife wont even consider going

[MoCruiseFan]

3 minutes ago, complawyer said:

vacation 44: trust me, it's better than perfect, especially if you're in the haven complex.

 

1st time we had a haven cabin, i thought i had died and gone to heaven. now if i don't book a haven, my wife wont even consider going

 

Sounds like a great reason to book no higher than a balcony cabin! 🙂

[Kirk2121]

11 hours ago, complawyer said:

vacation 44: trust me, it's better than perfect, especially if you're in the haven complex.

 

1st time we had a haven cabin, i thought i had died and gone to heaven. now if i don't book a haven, my wife wont even consider going

Gf n i just got home from our back to back. Back to snow :(.  Best vacation we've taken.  We had two balcony.  We still think we could go back to interior but maybe kidding ourselves. 

 

We got an offer to bid on haven owners suite on our next cruise coming up in a few weeks.  Is everything complimentary in the owners suite? We don't even drink but my gf loves her coke. 

 

Edit: bidding for owners suite is like 2.5 times expensive as the other haven rooms.  We've pretty much decided to bid.  But there is only 2 of us & it sleeps 6.  Will it be worth it? We'll have access to butler if we get into any haven room. 

 

 

 

Edited January 17, 2022 by Kirk2121

[Tralfie]

On 1/14/2022 at 5:18 PM, BirdTravels said:

You are answering a question asked 4 years ago. 

 

To be fair, you're responding to a comment on a question asked four years ago. 🙂

[Tralfie]

5 hours ago, Kirk2121 said:

 

 

Edit: bidding for owners suite is like 2.5 times expensive as the other haven rooms.  We've pretty much decided to bid.  But there is only 2 of us & it sleeps 6.  Will it be worth it? We'll have access to butler if we get into any haven room. 

 

 

 

I say go for it. YOLO, as they say. I booked myself into the 2-bedroom Haven suite on Getaway this March. I have a friend who might join, otherwise it's just me. I can't wait! (And yes, if you're in any Haven suite, you'll have a butler) 

Good luck on your bid! 

[Kirk2121]

3 hours ago, Tralfie said:

I say go for it. YOLO, as they say. I booked myself into the 2-bedroom Haven suite on Getaway this March. I have a friend who might join, otherwise it's just me. I can't wait! (And yes, if you're in any Haven suite, you'll have a butler) 

Good luck on your bid! 

If we get the owners suite, Could we add two more people? Wondering what that would cost.   We got our bid accepted a week before this last cruise. 

[BirdTravels]

9 hours ago, Tralfie said:

I say go for it. YOLO, as they say. I booked myself into the 2-bedroom Haven suite on Getaway this March. I have a friend who might join, otherwise it's just me. I can't wait! (And yes, if you're in any Haven suite, you'll have a butler) 

Yes. And make sure you take care of your butler and concierge very well.

 

We have a 2BR Haven on the Breakaway coming up after a sailing in a Grand Suite on Royal's Quantum (which does not have a butler 🙁).