Stateroom Attendant, Concierge, Butler; Who does what?

[ChrissieCee]

We’re sailing for the first time in a few weeks, and will be in a suite.  I read about the various staff that will be assisting to make our cruise fabulous, and am trying to work out who does what. I especially want to know who I may want to tip on top of pre-paid gratuities.  Can someone please give me an idea of what each of these people do?  Thanks in advance.  

[dkjretired]

2 minutes ago, ChrissieCee said:

We’re sailing for the first time in a few weeks, and will be in a suite.  I read about the various staff that will be assisting to make our cruise fabulous, and am trying to work out who does what. I especially want to know who I may want to tip on top of pre-paid gratuities.  Can someone please give me an idea of what each of these people do?  Thanks in advance.  

 

Steward takes care of the room, Butler takes care of you.  Don't know which Concierge you are talking about, from everything I've read concierge takes care of special requests but is usually available to everyone on the ship. 

[Alakegirl]

The Concierge does pretty much what a hotel concierge does.  If you are separated from your luggage, the concierge works with the airlines to locate it and get it to the ship.  If you want reservations at a restaurant on shore, the concierge is in charge of that.  If you want to hire a private car/driver to get you to the airport post-cruise, see the concierge.

 

 

[jelayne]

 

If you are referring to the Michaels Club Concierge then think of them as your Guest Relations person; have a problem with a charge  to your account they will handle it you don’t have to go to Guest Relations.  

If you have a tender port and need to be among the first off the ship the MC Concierge will escort you to the tender,  bypassing the line.  

Want to book a future cruise the MCC can arrange an appointment for you to meet with a future cruise staff member in MIchaels Club. 

These are example of what we have had  the MCConcierge  handle.

Edited March 3, 2019 by jelayne

[vtcruising]

The Michael's Club Concierge (or Retreat Concierge on the Edge) is also a good person to introduce yourself to ASAP and mention that you would be interested in a Bridge Tour, Sailaway, etc., if interested. If you have a special event (anniversary, birthday, etc.), it is not a bad idea to let them know - we have had some nice surprises, compliments of the Michael's Club and Retreat Concierge. When they found out I was running a Cruise Critic Cabin Crawl and having the hosts back to our suite, they had champagne, shrimp, cheese platter, chocolate covered strawberries and lots of glasses ready for us. 🙂

 

As Jelayne mentioned, one of the best things is not going to GS with issues - in fact, they have been "upset" with me when I tried to solve issues myself. Enjoy the suite life!!

[ChrissieCee]

Thank you so much, all of you.  I appreciate the replies, and will definitely ensure I talk to the MC Concierge if we have need.  I have a “zero year” birthday we are celebrating, but not sure I’ll be telling anyone about that one!

[vtcruising]

8 minutes ago, ChrissieCee said:

Thank you so much, all of you.  I appreciate the replies, and will definitely ensure I talk to the MC Concierge if we have need.  I have a “zero year” birthday we are celebrating, but not sure I’ll be telling anyone about that one!

Oh, come on! Just shave off 10 years... 😉

[ChrissieCee]

1 minute ago, vtcruising said:

Oh, come on! Just shave off 10 years... 😉

 

VT, I love your thinking.  Of course, my DH would then have an almost-inappropriately younger wife, but that’s probably something he’d be proud of!  I’ve been telling people it’s my forty-tenth birthday, and that somehow sounds a little less middle aged than fifty!

[Tourist1292]

Just take the 0 off. You are just five. 

[ChrissieCee]

32 minutes ago, Tourist1292 said:

Just take the 0 off. You are just five. 

 

Love it!  Just concerned my drinks package will suddenly be changed to a sofa package, and that’s definitely not worth losing the years for! 😂😂😂

[dkjretired]

You guys have it all wrong, wife tells people she's ten years older than she is and then they tell her how good she looks.  Works every time. 

Edited March 3, 2019 by dkjretired

[Straughn]

Just tell people you are celebrating your 10th anniversary (of your 40th birthday).

[ChrissieCee]

1 hour ago, Straughn said:

Just tell people you are celebrating your 10th anniversary (of your 40th birthday).

 

Exactly.  My forty-tenth.

 

2 hours ago, dkjretired said:

You guys have it all wrong, wife tells people she's ten years older than she is and then they tell her how good she looks.  Works every time. 

 

Haha I love this one.  Well, I would love it....until someone says....”oh, that’s about what I’d guessed”!

[dkjretired]

3 hours ago, Straughn said:

Just tell people you are celebrating your 10th anniversary (of your 40th birthday).

 

My son is 6’6” and people always ask him how tall he is, he tells them he’s 5’18”

[Diamond lover]

Just my thoughts on this, you living, breathing beautiful 50 year old!  It is hard for me to understood people worrying about their age, or worse yet....shaving years off.  I know I am in the minority, but....  I just turned 60.  I look damn fine for 60, but I look like crap for 50 lol.  Let people ooooh and aaaah and “I don’t believe you!” As opposed to thinking “oh dear!”  Sometimes I am tempted to ADD years, so they think “WOW!!” (But I cannot lie)

 

Truthfully, I have found that, once you have buried a few friends your age or younger, you will come to realize every day this side of the grass should be embraced.  Not resented or hidden.  Aging is a gift denied SO many.  

 

Celebrate gorgeous!

[dodger1964]

On 3/3/2019 at 10:10 AM, ChrissieCee said:

We’re sailing for the first time in a few weeks, and will be in a suite.  I read about the various staff that will be assisting to make our cruise fabulous, and am trying to work out who does what. I especially want to know who I may want to tip on top of pre-paid gratuities.  Can someone please give me an idea of what each of these people do?  Thanks in advance.  

Mixed theories on this board, but I think the consensus is that it really doesn't matter who you tip...they are pooled and divided by some secret algorithmic formula. (I still think that some wouldn't pool a cash tip...but I have no idea if actually done)

[dkjretired]

1 hour ago, dodger1964 said:

Mixed theories on this board, but I think the consensus is that it really doesn't matter who you tip...they are pooled and divided by some secret algorithmic formula. (I still think that some wouldn't pool a cash tip...but I have no idea if actually done)

 

Once you get past the regular tipping, tips are generally not pooled, even in some cases the regular tips are not pooled.    If lets say you decide the Michael's club concierge was especially helpful you might want to tip him/her, they keep the tip, not pooled.  Just one example. 

Edited March 5, 2019 by dkjretired

[ChrissieCee]

9 hours ago, Diamond lover said:

Just my thoughts on this, you living, breathing beautiful 50 year old!  It is hard for me to understood people worrying about their age, or worse yet....shaving years off.  I know I am in the minority, but....  I just turned 60.  I look damn fine for 60, but I look like crap for 50 lol.  Let people ooooh and aaaah and “I don’t believe you!” As opposed to thinking “oh dear!”  Sometimes I am tempted to ADD years, so they think “WOW!!” (But I cannot lie)

 

Truthfully, I have found that, once you have buried a few friends your age or younger, you will come to realize every day this side of the grass should be embraced.  Not resented or hidden.  Aging is a gift denied SO many.  

 

Celebrate gorgeous!

 

Love it 💕