In the case of Disney, Concierge passengers also get access to some exclusive areas of the ship. The butlers on Regent Seven Seas cruises also book your spa appointments and basically take care of all of your needs during your voyage. In my previous article, I told you what its like before you cruise, when you check in, and what you can expect in your stateroom. I convinced them to upgrade from their typical accessible Balcony to an accessible Penthouse Suite on a Jewel class ship. (NCL's The Haven Sundeck area aboard the brand new Norwegian Prima). The butlers serve breakfast, handle dry cleaning and book private sessions with the ship's personal trainer. Any discussion of tipping on a cruise will bring out a wide variety of opinions. For the ultimate luxurious experience aboard Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) vessels prospective passengers should consider booking accommodations in Norwegian exclusive, The Haven. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. As youre sailing out of port, sipping on a glass of bubbly and snacking on todays treat you start thinking about what lies ahead for the evening. In addition to more spacious cabins and suites, Concierge passengers get upgraded amenities like down duvets, a pillow menu, robes and slippers and free Wi-Fi. There is another thread about tipping the Butler good luck with that one. Disney Cruise Line offers four cabin categories with the creme-de-la-creme being Concierge. 6,694 sq. Your Royal Genie will arrange for a special celebration just for you. Having a staff to take care of your every whim at home might cost hundreds of thousands of dollars but for a one week vacation it might be worth it to live like a VIP and never have to lift your finger. NCL's Club Balcony Suite's new (bonus) amenities include pre-booking onboard dining and entertainment 125 days prior departure, room service (food-beverage delivery twice per cruise), free laundry service (1x bag) and pressing service (once per cruise), Welcome Aboard gift (1x bottle of sparkling wine). Case in point: Norwegian Cruise Line offers butler service in The Haven suites. ft.*, the Deluxe Owners Suite pampers up to six guests. However, a concierge won't be there in the morning to make sure you don't have any last min requests or to provide an umbrella for your excursion since there was an unexpected rainstorm overnight. I may also ask for chocolate delivered to my cabin each evening. We aren't in a room that has the Butler/Concierge, but just wanted to know for future reference what exactly it entailed. We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. Available on: Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Bliss, and Norwegian Epic. LauraS Enrollment required. Guests staying in this exclusive and premium space aboard Norwegian Cruise Line ships also enjoy the following: From embarkation to debarkation, boarding of tenders to shore, onboard entertainment to dining times you will have priority. This means that Haven guests will be the first to reserve times for things such as dining and entertainment onboard NCL vessels. They are usually specially trained, both by the cruise line and off-site when they attend "butler school." This Spa Suite includes all of the features and amenities as the Deluxe Spa Suite with Balcony, however, this suite does not include a separate living room area, making its square footage slightly smaller. The Deluxe Owners Suite with Large Balcony contains a large bedroom (sometimes two) with floor-to-ceiling windows, and a separate living and dining room area, and large balcony with lounge chairs. Thanks so much for the "informative" feedback. This includes classicly-styled professional english butlers on Silverseas to a more fun and modern Royal Genie on a Royal Caribbean cruise. Two minutes later they called again and got the same answer, and the third time they called a further minute later they seemed angry with him. Guests booked into any Owners Suite or Deluxe Owners Suite receive three bottles of liquor from a special menu, along with unlimited mixers, sodas and bottled still and sparkling water. These stories will help: A beginners guide to cruise line loyalty programs. With Europe-trained butlers, there is no request that is to challenging for them to handle. We offer cruise news, tips, and deals to help make your choice to cruise the west coast an easy one! They will give you a personal one time briefing about the ship and where to find the facilities and how things operate. book this exclusive Knokke villa now:https://knokke.bnbbutler.be/?roomTypes=57292Beautiful, spacious, luxurious villa, with beautifully landscaped garden wit. Here are some lines that have cruise butler services available: You really do enjoy the "star" treatment when you book an upgraded suite on Royal Caribbean. Skip lines as well as be personally escorted on and off the cruise ship at both the pier and at ports-of-call and destinations. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. Name of lounge: The Haven Lounge. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions. Retired Asst. I only did it that time because he came to see me as he had heard from our steward and wanted to see if we needed anything. You did not book a suite. You can make all kinds of special requests and he'll do what he can to fulfill your shipboard dreams. We have a young child so we wouldn't be asking for much, we simply asked for AJ for the kid it took 2 days for the juice but our neighbors got 3 meals a day in there room. DECK 17. one night my closest door kept opening as the ship rocked so i called the night butler and he fixed it. On the Jewel, Jade, Pearl or Gem the private Haven Courtyard features a private pool, hot tub, dining tables, padded loungers surrounding the pool, and a retractable roof. Additionally, access to The Haven Sundeck is restricted to guests 16 years and older, offering a private space for adult guests onboard. As is the Butler services anywhere from 4 or more staterooms and would be at odds to, escort that volume. However, they are also increasingly found on ships that have "ship-in-a-ship" concepts like Norwegian Cruise Line's The Haven and MSC's Yacht Club. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Fancy enjoying breakfast while taking in a sunrise over the ocean? The thought was that the Butler and Concierge services could assist with making it more enjoyable for them. On the other hand, without a butler, once onboard you can call the concierge or visit the suite lounge and introduce yourself. Luxury bath products in stateroom bathrooms. They also supervise the room steward and makes sure things are done properly. NEWS: Since May 2015, the NCL charges US$7,95 for room service dining. A, This is a question than I hear many first time cruisers ask but luckily we've never had. It works every time, and I get my soda fix. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Available on: Norwegian Prima,Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Bliss, and Norwegian Peal. I do remember being told to gather around in the waiting area so they can update people on things, but then never really telling us anything. Overall a very nice experience. Concierge. Evening turndown service in staterooms. All Rights Reserved. (Enrollment required for select benefits.). Watch the horizon glide by from expansive private balconies. I've always loved looking at those cabin rooms that face the back of the shipyou are watching the water tread behind you as you are sailing on your balcony!! Plus Ups are excluded. It is a cruise ship not Downton Abbey. Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card. Hello all, my parents (90 and 77) still enjoy cruising. The phone that is a perk of the suite is the same type of phone carried by the crew members butler concierge. I love Schweppes bitter lemon, but it's not distributed where I live. Each butler serving that special VIP area of the ship received formal training at the International Institutes of Modern Butlers. ft.*, your Owners Suite sleeps up to five* guests, and offers separate living and dining rooms (combined on some ships). Minisuite is a balcony room with a slightly bigger bathroom. 07070 USA Telephone: (201) 902-2000, Windstar Knows the Way to the Middle East: How to Sell the Red Sea & Persian Gulf. As previously mentioned, Jewel-class ships do not have a dedicated private restaurant. It was kind of neat. Available on Pride of America, Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star. Are drinks packages worth the price? She's trailed an orca pod from a skiff in Alaskas Inside Passage, had an allergic reaction to a cheetah she met at a South African rehabilitation center and hiked the Borneo rainforest to glimpse orangutans in the wild and she's written about it all. While some cruise lines offer a personal, in-cabin butler, Disney's concierge is more of a service that concierge-level guests can access when needed. The magic starts before you even board the cruise. Butlers will deliver fancy canapes, like foie gras terrine and crab legs, and upgraded turn-down amenities, such as a chocolate box. I had no idea about the pizza. Available on: Norwegian Prima, Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Bliss, and Norwegian Jade. They are generally salaried employees and depending on the line may have a salary of between $2,500-$4,000 per month with tips adding to that number considerably. Whenever you need the high-touch to make your cruise extra special, the Royal Genie is there to cater to you. Now we are really looking forward to a new experience on our April trans Atlantic cruise. Along with the assistant butler or cabin steward, your cruise butler offers services ranging from prepareing your room, delivering room service, ensuring that your mini-bar is stocked correctly as well as coordinating other details such as dinner reservations, laundry service or even helping to book shore excursions. Some of The Haven staterooms are not actually located inside The Haven complex, some are located in other areas of the ship, however all guests staying in a stateroom designated as part of The Haven will have access to all of the exclusive Haven venues and amenities. Or relish a quiet moment after the kids retreat to their room. So don't have to much expectations. While you can tip at virtually any point during your cruise experience, the common tradition is to tip at the end of your voyage the same way you would with any other crew member. the escort onto the ship has failed both times we sailed in suites. Each butler serving that special VIP area of the ship received formal training at the International Institutes of Modern Butlers. 574 sq. That person will then execute your requests so you don't have to run around booking dining times, spa treatments or shore excursions. While cabin stewards can often find basic items such as toiletries that you might have left at home or making sure that your ice bucket is always filled, their job is to clean your room and make your bed etc. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Luxury line Silversea offers butler service in every single suite on its ships -- regardless of category. Butler service is an integral part of your experience when staying in one of the MSC Cruises Yacht Club suites on ships like MSC Seashore. While it is true the your cruise butler does not "need" to be tipped, it is common curtesy to reward exhemplary service in this way. In simple terms, a concierge is in charge of assisting you with things outside of your cabin while a butler's domain is very focused on your cabin and its amenities. Norwegian Cruise Line Who Gets It: Passengers staying in The Haven receive 24/7 butler service. From unpacking your suitcase to pouring your champagne our butlers are at your service, Champagne, custom selection of liquor**, fruit, bottled water and sodas, Sparkling wine, bottled water and fruit on Embarkation Day, Nespresso Coffeemaker and Tea Forte tea bags, Invitations to an exclusive breakfast and lunch, Specialty dining delivered to your suite from any restaurant (cover charges apply), Treats delivered right to your door each night, Bliss Collection by Norwegian pillow-top mattress, Fine linens, feather duvet and pillow menu, Plush bathrobes, slippers and oversized bath towels. Hey, you only live once! The Haven is available on the Norwegian Gem, Pearl, Jade, Jewel and Epic. Concierge guests get priority reservations for cruise excursions, dining and onboard activities. While some folks expect a level of service that is like what they have at home with a butler, personal chef, driver and other staff, for others this is an opportunity to splurge. With up to 875 sq. He'll offer you a choice of high-end soaps, shampoos and conditioners when you arrive in your cabin for the first time. These staterooms range in size and in-room amenities and vary from ship to ship and class to class. On our last cruise the butler arranged dinner in our room for us. Disney offers a sort of butler service for its concierge-level guests. We sailed NCL for the first time in June in the Haven and our butler and room steward really "made the cruise" for us in terms of the shipboard experience. Available on Pride of America, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Sky, and Norwegian Star. Norwegian Cruise Line ncl concierge service ncl concierge service By rwallner, August 16, 2019 in Norwegian Cruise Line Followers rwallner 3 July 3, 2019 Michigan #1 Posted August 16, 2019. Guests will need to use their keycards in order to enter The Haven complex. We also had no interactions with him on day 1 we asked for juice day 2 when he finally got us and he was never seen again only heard when he was presenting dinner to the neighbors. Norwegian Cruise Line. Started August 27, 2021, By You will really feel like a celebrity with the butler service on this mid-luxury cruise line. If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. With up to 598 sq. The first time I let the butler spoil me since I was a suite rookie. We planned on bringing his food up to him as it arrived. By continuing to browse the site you agree to our use of cookies. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. It would be an awkward situation for the Concierge to escort every suite passenger on board. Ours is a mini spa suite by the way, Night night [emoji42], No butler or concierge for you. We have always call round to introduce themselves and get to know a little about us and our miniscule needs at the very least.The only reason we were being served our meal that particular night is that due to my stepping on a stingray and getting my ankle shredded (still hurts and aches 17 months later) I was unable to walk to the restaurant. Your butler can also help with in-room parties. Our butler had just the right balance of being attentive but not overbearing, and it was the same with the room steward. We never did dinner in our room - well, except for teen boy who I think had room service dinner and then "real" dinner with us at least twice, but I won't count that! Some lines, like Silversea, have a butler for every suite. A line-by-line guide. This website uses cookies. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, The best places to see cherry blossoms around the US this spring, Looking back: How my points and miles strategy has changed over the years, The best increased card offers to sign up for this March. The onboard concierge will help book your dining reservations, make entertainment recommendations and greet you as you board and disembark in ports of call. 1,382 sq. The service operates as a dedicated phone line, available . You can book a Concierge-level cabin to unlock . Stay close to them with our convenient connecting staterooms. While a concierge might be able to do some of these helpful tasks, they are not dedicated to you and are shared with other suite guests. That was also fabulous to be able to graze while all 4 of us got ready for the day. Check here before booking an award fare. The concierge desk enables guests and travel agents to book shore excursions and make reservations for dining, entertainment and the spa. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. Silversea offers a pillow menu, and your in-suite butler will help you to select the right one for your sleeping comfort. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu. If the ID card is bad it gets worse. Some people think that cabin stewards are butlers and that butlers take care of cleaning your cabin. Disney cruise ships do not offer butler service. Most concierges on cruise ships are absolutely fantastic and very talented at both making you feel welcome but also making reservations and arranging services. You. Ours is a mini spa suite by the way, Night night. These Guild of Professional English Butlers are among the best anywhere at sea. Butlers (and concierges) are generally not part of the pre-paid gratuities pool. The concierge, on the other hand, is available precruise to help you make reservations for dining, spa treatments and more. The butler is your personal host during the cruise vacation. Related: Are drinks packages worth the price? The first thing right after checking-in (Registration) is a butler personal escort on board to your stateroom if. While this is an absolutely fantastic service, a cruise butler is an active helper vs a passive one waiting for you to ask a question. In one case I waited in the Lounge for my Butler escort. No balcony on Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star. Is your point person for information on ship happenings day-to-day. To find out more, please, Traveling with a group of people? In many ways, this is the case with cruise lines establishing a protocol for "prepaid gratuities" where only the stingiest guest would consider ways to remove the tips even though it is really the crew members wages that are for some reason labled as gratuities. Butler service also means waking up with coffee and more While cruise buffets do beckon in the morning, it's not really that easy to get up and moving when you've had such a fun night.