Butler service

[HSBC]

Normally what kind of service do you ask butler to do for you?

Thanks!

[Randyk47]

1 hour ago, HSBC said:

Normally what kind of service do you ask butler to do for you?

Thanks!

Actually not much.  We do the pillow menu thing when we first board then our next typical request is a coffee service.  MrsK particularly not a morning person without coffee….and I am being very cautious with that statement.   W I’ll say that the Arts Cafe on the newer bigger ships have made that less of an issue as I can fetch “octane” easier.   Keeping my wife’s preferred Diet Coke in the frig is the next.  We are not demanding.

Edited August 29, 2023 by Randyk47

[HSBC]

Could you request Butler to book dinner reservation at complimentary restaurant?

Could you request Butler to book daily Free shore excursion?

Thanks!

[scseas]

The best service is the have the butler pack and unpack. It makes arriving and departing so much better.

 

We’ve also had the butler draw a bath with scents and serve a special dinner in our room.

[Will Work for Tiramisu]

You absolutely can ask the Butler to book or change dining arrangements.  Generally, I think you can ask them to do just about anything - they can always say no.  I think if you ask them to divert the ship and go to Libya instead of Mallorca they probably couldn't deliver for you, but they have some ability to make other things happen.  We haven't done much more than review dining arrangements and ask for certain wine/booze things to magically appear in our room.  But I know others immediately task them with daily caviar & finger food deliveries.  We like to chat them up, with an eye to our supposed obligation to be good will ambassadors for our country.  I bet they could get a button sewn on, if asked, or having your Chuck Taylor Allstars shined up to a high gloss!  

[alithecat]

They deliver room service breakfast and dinner, caviar and appetizers, and wine on request, take and return your paid laundry, stock/restock your mini refrig. with your preferences. They can make dinner reservations for you, but we have found it more efficient to ask the restaurant managers directly. They will get you any extras you need for your suite like hangers. They can pack/unpack but we have never asked for that. They like to get your shoes shined. We have to ask them not to do that, as my husband's shoes get ruined if polished.

[Tothesunset]

To echo Alithecat - if you have good leather shoes DO NOT let them "polish" them. (But I'm one of those dwindling band of wearers that polish their own shoes properly.) 

[Mr Luxury]

7 hours ago, HSBC said:

Normally what kind of service do you ask butler to do for you?

Thanks!

Please don't come to our suite as we have been doing this far longer than you and are quite capable of making a dinner reservation,unpacking our cases and folding my underpants and putting them in a draw.

[Mahogany]

6 hours ago, Mr Luxury said:

Please don't come to our suite as we have been doing this far longer than you and are quite capable of making a dinner reservation,unpacking our cases and folding my underpants and putting them in a draw.

One less person to tip if Butler never shows up 🙂

[Rothko1]

9 hours ago, alithecat said:

They deliver room service breakfast and dinner, caviar and appetizers, and wine on request, take and return your paid laundry, stock/restock your mini refrig. with your preferences. They can make dinner reservations for you, but we have found it more efficient to ask the restaurant managers directly. They will get you any extras you need for your suite like hangers. They can pack/unpack but we have never asked for that. They like to get your shoes shined. We have to ask them not to do that, as my husband's shoes get ruined if polished.

 

This pretty much covers the "stock" things that the butler can and should do for you.

 

The special requests are where the butler can either shine, or fail.  Sometimes you might need something unusual, or different.  Repairing a rip in a jacket, or getting you something special from the kitchen, or whatever.

[highplanesdrifters]

7 hours ago, Mr Luxury said:

Please don't come to our suite as we have been doing this far longer than you and are quite capable of making a dinner reservation,unpacking our cases and folding my underpants and putting them in a draw.

You fold your own underwear?

[Rothko1]

8 minutes ago, highplanesdrifters said:

You fold your own underwear?

 

You wear underwear??

[Observer]

12 hours ago, scseas said:

The best service is the have the butler pack and unpack. It makes arriving and departing so much better.

 

 

I understand that unpacking and packing are advertised services, and my butlers have routinely offered such service.  I would never ask for unpacking.

 

The butlers are very busy on embarkation afternoon/evening, introducing themselves to guests, providing requested sodas or spirits, trying to sort out issues like missing luggage, etc.  They are servicing a number of suites. To ask them to unpack seems unreasonable.

 

Packing is another matter IMHO.  Most of the settling in work has been resolved, and there is a full day during which the butler can schedule packing.  

[Mr Luxury]

2 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

You fold your own underwear?

Yes,I don't bring staff with me.

They need a break also 😁

[bitob]

Unpacking or packing never!

But a proactive butler can be a godsend.

 

Case in point

My husband has some mobility issues and we usually (not always) go to meals together.

The butler noticed our routines.  I was off the ship and my husband decided to stay on board.  Without asking, the butler brought him lunch!!! He feared my husband would not eat lunch if I were not with him.   Impressive. 

[DCPIV]

We do ask for odds and ends but not much.  To be honest, we both like to get out of the room for just about everything, and that tends to reduce what a butler can do.  That said, they always seem to find a way to anticipate or just read what we might need or want without us even realizing that we need or want it.  That's where these butlers really shine.

 

When it comes to canape or coffee or cocktails, we usually take that day by day.  We do our best to let them know the day before (or morning before) if we would like something.  They typically do know our excursion schedule and often will offer to have something in the room for us if we would be returning at an odd time.  That latter bit has been very nice--coming back to the room at 2:30 or 3 PM to find sandwiches or a nice, heavy snack waiting on you (perhaps along with a bottle of a pleasant wine, as well) is luxury that isn't just for the sake of luxury.

 

If we are trying to make or change a dining reservation or excursion, I like to talk to the one who actually makes the change because I like to have that feedback.  However, if we are just cancelling something, we often ask our butler to do it.  

 

If we know we are going to have a long day off the ship, we may very well ask our butler for dinner in the room (with at least a day's notice).  It's not something we do very often, but it can be very nice sometimes to have a quiet, casual dinner in the room after such a day.  They'll serve in courses, if you like, and they make sure you are quite set for wine.

 

We've never asked for packing and unpacking.  It's not a matter of trust or anything like that.  It's more that we just have our own way of going about it.  Besides, with what we now pack, it only takes a few minutes.  I know some rave about it, so we still may give it a try sometime.

 

On 8/28/2023 at 10:19 PM, Will Work for Tiramisu said:

I bet they could get a button sewn on, if asked, or having your Chuck Taylor Allstars shined up to a high gloss!

 

You bet the can!  We were on our very first formal night on our very first Silversea cruise.  I put on my tux jacket and noticed that the button wasn't there (no idea why).  I wasn't going to worry about it--things happen.  We went out into the hall to head to dinner, and our butler came over to escort us.  She asked how we were, and I joked about that button not being there.  She immediately brought us back into the room and asked for my jacket.  She whisked it away, saying that she would be back in about 10-15 minutes.  Sure enough, she was back in about 10 minutes with a new button on the jacket.

[Mr Luxury]

3 hours ago, bitob said:

Unpacking or packing never!

But a proactive butler can be a godsend.

 

Case in point

My husband has some mobility issues and we usually (not always) go to meals together.

The butler noticed our routines.  I was off the ship and my husband decided to stay on board.  Without asking, the butler brought him lunch!!! He feared my husband would not eat lunch if I were not with him.   Impressive. 

Not so good if you're trying to lose weight.😁

[Rothko1]

1 hour ago, Mr Luxury said:

Not so good if you're trying to lose weight.😁

 

If you are trying to lose weight, a cruise is a very very bad idea

[Randyk47]

10 minutes ago, Rothko1 said:

 

If you are trying to lose weight, a cruise is a very very bad idea

Funny thing is we rarely gain weight on a cruise.  We typically book port intensive itineraries so not only are we off the ship and not “forced” to eat three meals a day plus snacks but more active than when at home.  😀👍

[Mr Luxury]

2 hours ago, Randyk47 said:

Funny thing is we rarely gain weight on a cruise.  We typically book port intensive itineraries so not only are we off the ship and not “forced” to eat three meals a day plus snacks but more active than when at home.  😀👍

It's all lies surely 

[labrasett]

On 8/31/2023 at 7:44 PM, Randyk47 said:

Funny thing is we rarely gain weight on a cruise.  We typically book port intensive itineraries so not only are we off the ship and not “forced” to eat three meals a day plus snacks but more active than when at home.  😀👍

Me neither, I love to pick at various foods and dishes but I never (very rarely) feel the need to eat too much.   I enjoy what I have but as soon as I feel I have had enough I just stop, there's always going to be lots more to eat later in the day or tomorrow so little and often is my motto.   

[Rothko1]

3 hours ago, labrasett said:

Me neither, I love to pick at various foods and dishes but I never (very rarely) feel the need to eat too much.   I enjoy what I have but as soon as I feel I have had enough I just stop, there's always going to be lots more to eat later in the day or tomorrow so little and often is my motto.   

 

Reminds me of the wealthy woman walking down the street.  A beggar asks her for money and says "I haven't eaten in three days."  She says "I wish I had your willpower!"

[Catlover54]

On 8/29/2023 at 7:21 AM, Rothko1 said:

 

You wear underwear??

 

It is almost certainly ironed.

[Randyk47]

2 hours ago, Catlover54 said:

 

It is almost certainly ironed.

And starched.  🙄😱

[5waldos]

Caviar? That would make an awfully nice thing to come back to after a day on shore. Is it complementary or an added charge? 

 

 

I rarely ask for much from the butlers but had a very difficult time of it on one of my last voyages. Laundry went off early the morning before docking, to be returned late afternoon. It didn't return. And when I asked about it, nobody seemed to know anything about it. If finally turned up in my cabin at about 2am.