Tipping "The Haven"s Butler and Concierge

[IamaTexasCruiser]

going on Prima out of Galveston in a week

 

prepaid gratuities don't include the Haven's Butler and Concierge, we must tip them separately, while on ship

 

whats appropriate?  every interaction, how much?  every day, regardless of whether we use them, how much?

 

guidance much needed

thx!

[slavetoabunny]

The last time I sailed (7 day cruise), I tipped the butler $200 and the concierge and room steward $100 each.  I don't tip until the end of the cruise.  I plan to do the same on the 7 day cruise I am sailing on this month.

 

[Two Wheels Only]

38 minutes ago, IamaTexasCruiser said:

guidance much needed

 

While on your cruise, base your tipping amount (if any) on the quality and level of service that you receive. No one on this forum can tell you what is appropriate for you to tip. Forum members can tell you what THEY tip but you should tip based on your experience, not theirs. 

 

You cannot get it wrong if you do what you feel is right. 

[davencl]

You'll find thousands of replies with a forum search.

[ellewoods]

Opinions will wildly vary. I think it’s pretty standard to either tip at the end or tip some up front and some at the end. Every interaction would likely get awkward. We generally do all tips at the end. 

[BirdTravels]

3 hours ago, IamaTexasCruiser said:

going on Prima out of Galveston in a week

 

prepaid gratuities don't include the Haven's Butler and Concierge, we must tip them separately, while on ship

 

whats appropriate?  every interaction, how much?  every day, regardless of whether we use them, how much?

 

guidance much needed

thx!

Tip at the end of your cruise.
 

For the Butler, $10-$15 per person in the room, per day.

 

For the concierge, $5-$10 per person per day.

 

For your room steward, cleaning your big room, $5-$10 per day per person in room  in addition to the daily grats. 
 

Drink waiters, $1-$2 per drink.

Bartenders $1-$5 per drink. 
 

We just got off a 4-night cruise with 2 in a room and tipped our room steward $100 for going above and beyond. 

Edited December 9, 2023 by BirdTravels

[graphicguy]

I go by how much time they spent doing things for me.  5 minutes/day for the Butler to drop off snacks and replenish coffee.  35 minutes…rounded up to an hour/week….$50/hour.

 

Concierge is the same, as is the Suite Steward, who probably spends the most time taking care of me/my suite.

 

Butler-$50

Concierge-$100

Suite steward-$200

Haven lead bartender-$50

Haven Restaurant waiter (only dine there 3-4 times week)-$25

Bartenders/bar waitstaff-$1/drink (at least)

 

 

Edited December 9, 2023 by graphicguy

[zqvol]

1 hour ago, BirdTravels said:

Tip at the end of your cruise.
 

For the Butler, $10-$15 per person in the room, per day.

 

For the concierge, $5-$10 per person per day.

 

For your room steward, cleaning your big room, $5-$10 per day per person in room  in addition to the daily grats. 
 

Drink waiters, $1-$2 per drink.

Bartenders $1-$5 per drink. 
 

We just got off a 4-night cruise with 2 in a room and tipped our room steward $100 for going above and beyond. 

What world did you come up with these figures. Cut them by 50% and you might be close. 

[gizfish]

Tipping is personal.  Just because someone here states with authority how much they supposedly tip means absolutely nothing.  The one thing about tipping is that etiquette wise it is done at the end of the cruise.  Tipping before a service is not a tip.  It's a bribe, and may actually come across as insulting to a good butler.  It may be looked at as you feel they will not perform their job to the best of their abilities if they are not bribed to do so.

[RocketMan275]

9 hours ago, zqvol said:

What world did you come up with these figures. Cut them by 50% and you might be close. 

Actually, those are pretty close.

[RocketMan275]

8 hours ago, gizfish said:

Tipping is personal.  Just because someone here states with authority how much they supposedly tip means absolutely nothing.  The one thing about tipping is that etiquette wise it is done at the end of the cruise.  Tipping before a service is not a tip.  It's a bribe, and may actually come across as insulting to a good butler.  It may be looked at as you feel they will not perform their job to the best of their abilities if they are not bribed to do so.

There is nothing wrong with tipping as you go.  It's not a bribe and I've never encountered anyone who was insulted at receiving a tip regardless of when it's offered. 

 

From what I've seen, some are concerned that those who tip early will get better service.  Well, that's exactly why my tipping mottto is:  'Tip early. Tip often. Tip well.'

[bluefish17]

We tip at the end of the cruise based on the service we have received including the bartenders. There is no way that on my vacation in the Haven I'm going to carry around a wad of small bills to whip out and tip for each drink all day long.

[RocketMan275]

21 minutes ago, bluefish17 said:

We tip at the end of the cruise based on the service we have received including the bartenders. There is no way that on my vacation in the Haven I'm going to carry around a wad of small bills to whip out and tip for each drink all day long.

I've not found it an inconvenience to carry 'a wad' sufficient to cover our normal drinks.  Nor, have I found it inconvenient to carry another 'wad' to cover waiters, matre'd, guides, etc. 

 

But, then, I make it habit to only tip waiters/bartenders in restaurants ashore with cash so I'm used to carrying a 'wad' of cash to pay for incidental expenses.  

 

I have a spreadsheet for each cruise we take.  One of the entries is for gratuities, butler, conceirge, stewards, waiters, hostess, etc.  I've already stuffed an envelope with a sufficient 'wad' of cash to cover those gratuities on our next cruise. 

 

Guest services is more than happy to exchange large bills which minimizes the size of the required envelope.  Nor is it necessary to carry all of the cash all the time since most can remain in the safe until needed.

Edited December 9, 2023 by RocketMan275

[BirdTravels]

14 hours ago, zqvol said:

What world did you come up with these figures. Cut them by 50% and you might be close. 

Some try to make this a monetary transaction. While we are not rich, we pay it forward for those who work tirelessly, 7 days a week, 10-12 hours a day, every day, for 9 months straight to make our cruise wonderful. 

[G-DawgMN]

17 hours ago, zqvol said:

What world did you come up with these figures. Cut them by 50% and you might be close. 

 Tipping is pretty personal. But also this isn’t excessive amounts at all for someone that is spending thousands on the Haven or a Suite. 
 

  It’s also dependent on how often you use their services. 
 

 

[bluefish17]

One of the things I like about cruising is only having my cruise card in my pocket. No wallet, no money, no keys. Of course, when I go ashore, I have to take my wallet. But on the ship, as little as possible. And I don't want to wait in line at guest services to change money. And I always find the bartenders and servers who gave me good service to tip at the end of the cruise. It just easiest for me that way but others do things their own way. Hopefully this discussion has helped the OP who I think just wants to gather information so as not over tip or under tip.

[PartyPlannerLady]

On 12/8/2023 at 7:01 PM, IamaTexasCruiser said:

going on Prima out of Galveston in a week

 

prepaid gratuities don't include the Haven's Butler and Concierge, we must tip them separately, while on ship

 

whats appropriate?  every interaction, how much?  every day, regardless of whether we use them, how much?

 

guidance much needed

thx!

 

The ONLY correct anseer to a ripping questionis to tip anyone you want, any amount you wanr, any time you want.  There is no usual, recommended, appropriate, suggested, or common tip amount.  Wjat others tip is not relevant and none of anyone else's business.  No one is going to turn down cash that you give them. Also, the DSC is totally irrelevant to the discussion. Enjoy your cruise.

 

[BirdTravels]

3 hours ago, PartyPlannerLady said:

 

The ONLY correct answer to a tipping questions to tip anyone you want, any amount you want, any time you want.  There is no usual, recommended, appropriate, suggested, or common tip amount.  What others tip is not relevant and none of anyone else's business.  No one is going to turn down cash that you give them. Also, the DSC is totally irrelevant to the discussion. Enjoy your cruise.

 

While there is no "required" or "suggested" amount, it is always important to understand what is customary. For example, it is *not* customary to leave a $5 tip at a restaurant,,, it is customary to leave 15%-25%. Party Planners have mandatory gratuities when catering an event. The OP asked the question and no one should be telling them "none of your business". It is a legitimate question. And got legitimate responses. 

[bluefish17]

It is also interesting to note that many of these ships spend part of the year in Europe and then cross the pond for Caribbean cruises. In Europe, it is not customary to tip much at all and Europeans generally don't. Sorry if I'm offending anyone. My butler on last Med cruise which was right before their TA said they couldn't wait to get to the Caribbean for the American passengers and their tips.

[bluefish17]

On a more humorous note, on the way to our last cruise, in an airport terminal, we went into a store to buy a bottle of water to take on the plane. They had a self checkout station and after we scanned the water bottle, it rang up $3.99 and then asked how much tip to add! And 0 was not an option, we had to select custom amount, then put in zero.

[PartyPlannerLady]

3 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

While there is no "required" or "suggested" amount, it is always important to understand what is customary. For example, it is *not* customary to leave a $5 tip at a restaurant,,, it is customary to leave 15%-25%. Party Planners have mandatory gratuities when catering an event. The OP asked the question and no one should be telling them "none of your business". It is a legitimate question. And got legitimate responses. 

 

Actually it is customary to leave an amount that you think is good for the level of service you received.  Nothing more - norgibf less.  It is no one else;s business what I or anyoen else leaves as a tip just as it is no one else's business how much I make for teh work I do.  I have never mentioned how much I tip but this oen time I will give an example.  It is not a guideline, suggestion, ir soemting anyoen else is required to do.  My family and I had drinks and a light dinner at a club last week.  The bill came to $80.  Whjen he brought me the check, I asked our server how many people in total were working the club that night.  Je told me seven.  On the tip line I wrote Merry Xmas $20 x 7 = $140.  What does that mean and how relevant is it to the disucussion, nothing.  It is just what I choose tio tip at Christmas time.

[cruiseny4life]

On our last cruise (Nov, 2023) on Pr1ma, this is what we tipped (call us cheap - I'm a big boy):

 

Butler - $55 or $65 - I don't remember what

Concierge - $60

One server in the Haven Restaurant - $40

Both bartenders - $40, each

One bar back - $10

Room Steward - nothing over the daily service charge

 

Take the data you glean here and do what you will. For us, we always tip at the end. Never at the beginning or middle. You do you, though. 

[cruisin4familyfun]

I usually prepare an envelope for each and then adjust based upon actual service. I also carry singles for individual drink tipping for when I want. Same as everyone else has said ... take this information as data ... you do what works best for you. 
 

 

	Low	Mid	High
Butler	100	200	300
Concierge	50	100	200
Room Steward	50	100	150
Porter ($5 per bag)	20	20	20
Hostess/Wait Staff (Haven)* (optional)	15	35	55
Bartenders (Haven)	15	35	55

[RocketMan275]

1 hour ago, cruisin4familyfun said:

I usually prepare an envelope for each and then adjust based upon actual service. I also carry singles for individual drink tipping for when I want. Same as everyone else has said ... take this information as data ... you do what works best for you. 
 

 

	Low	Mid	High
Butler	100	200	300
Concierge	50	100	200
Room Steward	50	100	150
Porter ($5 per bag)	20	20	20
Hostess/Wait Staff (Haven)* (optional)	15	35	55
Bartenders (Haven)	15	35	55

Pretty close to my experience except for the concierge who we rarely use.  On our last two cruises, the only time we even spoke with the concierge was when he escorted us off the ship on the last day.  I gave him a $20.  

I've already set aside our 'tip' money for our Feb cruise.  I keep most of it in large bills.  I'll only keep a couple of days on hand in small bills since I can get the larger bills changed at guest services as necessary.  

Once I'm back home, I'll put in leftovers in another envelope as seed money for the next cruise.

[K_S]

Thanks for the read everyone.  1st NCL cruise here in a few months and only second ever (Disney being first and very different).

 

We have prepaid gratuities.  Per the post above, can someone explain the Haven staff breakdown a little?

 

Butler ==> Person bringing specialized XYZ items whenever we call them?

Concierge ==> People helping book things?

Room Steward ==> Cleans room/turns down beds?

Porter ==> Self Explanatory

Wait Staff / Bartenders ==> Paid by prepaid gratuities, but always good to tip your waitstaff if they are good!!!

 

If we don't call for much or require too many specialize accommodations, have booked our own shore excursions and restaurants ahead of time, would we adjust this scale above to maybe reward the steward most? 

 

Obviously, porters/wait staff/bartenders are always on a per basis anywhere you go.

 

Thanks in advance.