957 sq. It is a cruise ship not Downton Abbey. 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. If people keep their expectations down a little things would be better for all. the concierge will ensure you get priority check-in and departure as well as priority tendering to port. In what way will a spa mini-suite on Bliss (M9) differ from a spa mini-suite on Escape (M9)? 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. The Courtyard pool area for example is accessible to all guests, while The Haven Sundeck is reserved for guests 16 years and older. Help you plan and execute a cocktail party you host in your suite. Handy when away from your cabin to call cabin mates or order services. As you're sitting at breakfast you remember that you wanted to ask for extra ice in your bucket, and you don't want to forget again touch the button labeled Cabin Steward and voila! Your concierge is a bit like an agent to you on board ship. I admittedly didn't read through them all but it's a good starting point at least! He said "Let me bring dinner to you" and I was glad of the offer. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). was busy handling technical details with the registration process. Known for high-end luxury voyages to the most exotic and far-flung ports on the globe, Oceania cruises overlook no detail when it comes to high-class service. Learn more. Think of The Haven as a "ship within a ship" -- A space that brings about a whole new sense of luxury for guests wishing to sail with NCL in style. Think of it this way. The Maite'd was appalled and informed us.the butler will do that. Concierge services to help guests book dining, entertainment, shore excursions, and more. It was a great pick-me-up and once our butler figured out we weren't one for canapes or gummy bears (which took about one day), we lived well! The Haven Courtyard and Sundeck features a pool, hot tub, and lounge chairs. Hotel. Here is a thread from somebody that is doing the Haven for the first time - not sure if you are in the Haven, but there are comments about the butler there. Therefore, most passengers generally tip with cash. It was kind of neat. Butler and Concierge are not included in the Daily Service Charge. 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. Planning a cruise for the coming year? Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway. The help and assistance of The Haven Courtyard attendant, to take care of all guests needs, such as delivering drinks, fresh fruit, cold towels, etc. Your butler will also remember your preferences and attend to your every need. There are some people who are incredibly demanding and entitled and it would not enter their heads that others might get a lesser service. ft.*, your Family Suite sleeps up to six* guests. Available to suite guests, the butler will also handle shoe shining, dry cleaning and bring coffee. - you should always consider paying more if they did something special for you that made your cruise more enjoyable. Started August 27, 2021, By 6,694 sq. Available on Pride of America, Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star. Assists with priority access to tenders to shore. The standard phone in your suite has these same numbers pre-programmed as well. 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. Your butler can also help with in-room parties. What they do: Butler services include packing and unpacking, complimentary dry cleaning, shoeshine and related services, dinner reservations in the ships' specialty restaurants, spa and shore excursion reservations, salon and spa appointments, arranging cocktail parties, providing gourmet snacks (including caviar) at tea time. 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!! Related: 21 tips and tricks to make your cruise go more smoothly. I didn't ask for any other meals in our room on that, or any other cruises. Our butler brought a full breakfast to us every morning. Courtyard attendant in The Haven Courtyard and Sundeck areas to take care of all guest needs. This is an extra service charge implemented fleetwide (including on the Norwegian Pride of America ship). Serve afternoon canapes and/or afternoon tea in your cabin/suite. Let's take a look at cruise ship butlers and look at how the offerings on various cruise lines differs from one to another. **3-Bedroom Garden Villa, Deluxe Owner's Suite with Large Balcony and Owner's Suite with Large Balcony only. Available on: Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Star, Norwegian Jewel. Guide and tips to Norwegian Cruise Lines The Haven. They will give you a personal one time briefing about the ship and where to find the facilities and how things operate. -- with access to a private retreat where you can enjoy complimentary food and nonalcoholic beverages throughout the day. Concierge guests get priority reservations for cruise excursions, dining and onboard activities. Home Company Locations Phoenix Concierge Services. 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. An aft-facing mini-suite would not include a butler/concierge. All Rights Reserved. I would have found that to be unacceptable too. Each butler serving that special VIP area of the ship received formal training at the International Institutes of Modern Butlers. The service operates as a dedicated phone line, available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern time, and can be reached by calling (855) NCL-HAVEN. Even if the ship is new, it is part of the adventure to find your way around, even when dragging our luggage. Not only will you have access to all the ship has to offer, you'll enjoy the personal service of a concierge and 24-hour butler throughout your entire stay. Norwegians two ships in development, the Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway, will also feature the Haven when they launch in April 2013 and April 2014. Additionally, access to The Haven Sundeck is restricted to guests 16 years and older, offering a private space for adult guests onboard. Basically they make sure you are happy in your suite and will do everything within their power to get what you need/want from anywhere on the ship brought into your suite. Silversea was the one of the first cruise lines to introduce butlers, and the service is available to guests on all of the line's nine ships. They are usually specially trained, both by the cruise line and off-site when they attend "butler school." For immediate help, please contact Heather directly: 630-779-9301 or : Why You Should Consider A Holiday Cruise This Year. Available on: Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Bliss, and Norwegian Epic. Cunard Line has long since held the reputation for being the premier in British luxury, so it is no wonder that their butlers are so highly regarded by guests and critics alike. Butler & Concierge Service Before you set sail, every cruiser is required to attend a muster drill led by the Norwegian Cruise Line ship crew. to observe the boarding process and see how smoothly it worked. The butlers on Regent Seven Seas cruises also book your spa appointments and basically take care of all of your needs during your voyage. Priority when making specialty dining reservations and entertainment onboard. Now we are really looking forward to a new experience on our April trans Atlantic cruise. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Fine linens, feather duvet on stateroom beds, and a pillow menu. This butler serves all of The Haven guests, and is more like a suite-wide concierge than a personal in-suite butler. Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. If you're new to cruising -- or even if you're just new to booking a higher cabin category -- you may not necessarily know the difference between the terms concierge and butler. The Garden Villa guests will also enjoy private car service at the conclusion of the cruise, to the airport or home if within a 25-mile radius of the port, and will enjoy a private escort off the ship, through Customs and directly to the awaiting private transport. Silversea, a luxury boutique cruise line, trains its butlers in England before deploying them to ships that sail to every continent on the globe. Enrollment required. So as you can see each cruise with a butler is different, There have been trips that we never used the butler. Windstars 2023/24 Middle East program kicks off in November. No. Plus, youll be pampered with a deluxe array of complimentary amenities and personal service from a butler and concierge that help create a vacation experience youll never forget. Wherever you are on the ship your Butler and Concierge are just the touch of a button away. 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. Once they take a few folks aboard, that escort is no longer available for 10-20 minutes depending on the demands or issues that come up. Guests of The Haven will have the opportunity to experience the following exclusive amenities and services: The Haven aboard Norwegian Cruise Line ships features up to 9 different types of Haven staterooms. realize that you can be selective about all those services but find out what level you like to be pampered at. By the time you have freshened up, he might have already made reservations for you and just need your confirmation for any details. Listed on 2023-03-02. Serve room service meals in your cabin or on your balcony. Luxury bath products in stateroom bathrooms. Perhaps you're poolside and decide you'd like to have lunch delivered to the suite, a quick call to your Butler makes that happen. Similarly, they can't make the ships stay in port longer or travel faster to the next destination. $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. The concierge desk enables guests and travel agents to book shore excursions and make reservations for dining, entertainment and the spa. However, when it comes to cruise butlers, and to a less extent concierges we're talking about a premium level of service that is actively designed to make your cruise experience special. There is some crossover, of course, but that's the general delineation. It is not uncommon to tip $300, $500, or even more if you are actively using butler services and they are providing extrodinary service. The magic starts before you even board the cruise. 07070 USA Telephone: (201) 902-2000, Windstar Knows the Way to the Middle East: How to Sell the Red Sea & Persian Gulf. If you forget let say your jacket and your in the theater you call your butler. That's exactly the case with the Amex Platinum card. Many other mass market cruises offer butler service for parts of the experience, for instance, we had a butler for our private beach villa at Half Moon Cay while sailing on Holland America Line. Meaning if you never use them or call them they aren't being productive. Your butler will set up your suite to your specifications, serve meals personally in your room or on the balcony and sometimes accompany you to the theater to show your reserved seating on Evening Chic nights. Norwegian Cruise Line launched a concierge desk exclusively for guests with reservations in the lines top accommodations, the Haven by Norwegian. Part Time Real Estate, Leasing Consultant. 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. Whenever I check into a cabin with butler service, the first thing I ask is: Does this ship have bitter lemon and can you fill my minifridge with it? This website uses cookies. Copyright Cruise Blog Media LLC 2023. By continuing to browse the site you agree to our use of cookies. 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. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ Hello all, my parents (90 and 77) still enjoy cruising. Perhaps youll find yourself at one of the lounges enjoying some live music, or maybe you just feel like slipping into your pajamas and enjoying a quiet dinner en suite, delivered by your Butler? They keep a log of how often the day and night butlers are used. Your butler is there to make it happen. By Enjoy the amazing views together on your large, private balcony. It is usable anywhere on the ship and as I have found out on my recent New England Canada cruise can be, used on shore with a limited range. Once onboard, your Royal Genie will book your dining reservations, arrange for your high-end shopping experiences and arrange for you to have the best seats in the house at entertainment venues. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. Watch the horizon glide by from expansive private balconies. The Haven offers a 24-hour suite butler who will unpack your suitcase, pour your champagne and make your dining reservations. They will arrange speciality dining at your request, get you priority tendering when required. Will you find yourself enjoying a Concierge escort to the reserved Suites Only seating in the theater, or will you be trying your luck in the casino? There is another thread about tipping the Butler good luck with that one. cleaned and ready - that failing then escorted to the Haven restaurant or other specialty restaurant for lunch. Draw a bath with bubble bath or flower petals. As first time suite passengers enjoy the services offered - on the next cruise. The concierge can also help you plan special occasions and celebrations. 5 big changes you should know about coming to Norwegian Cruise Line in 2023, Comparing Norwegian Cruise Line sailings to Alaska in 2023, 17 kinds of cruises you didnt know Norwegian Cruise Lines offered, Norwegian gives inside look at Prima cruise ship christening, I lived on a cruise ship for 100 days, here's why cruise travel is still the best way to study abroad, Cruise travel insurance and why you need it. Improve earnings, maximize rewards and track progress toward dream trips. Once you're on the ship, your concierge is available to tweak reservations, make new ones and arrange for priority tendering in ports of call. Available precruise to assist with onboard reservations for restaurants, spa treatments, shore excursions and more. Powered by Invision Community. Started June 21, 2021, By Priority when reserving restaurants and entertainment onboard NCL vessels. We asked about 4 times for special treats as we were having visitors. Does NCL track this activity? If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. They also supervise the room steward and makes sure things are done properly. I thought our room steward did the cleaning and turning down/making up. The Haven has plenty of space for guests to lounge and relax. Overall a very nice experience. Each suite guest is assigned a personal butler who will take care of their every need, from drawing their bath for a relaxing soak after a long day, to pressing their tuxedos for dinner or helping them into their formal gowns. No balcony on Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star. For cruise news and updates, follow Donna Tunney on Twitter @dttravelweekly. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. I have had two on NCL (Spirit), they can be fantastic. You'll feel like a VIP -- and you are one! Ship and Suite Orientation. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. In all three cases that I have been in a suite the Butler did the escorting - the Concierge. On the other hand, without a butler, once onboard you can call the concierge or visit the suite lounge and introduce yourself. Champagne, custom selection of liquor (in the Norwegian Star and Norwegian Dawn), fruit, bottled water and sodas. By the time the muster drill is over, your Butler has paid a visit and youll return to the suite to find your first delivery of daily treats. These staterooms range in size and in-room amenities and vary from ship to ship and class to class. Available on Pride of America, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Sun, Norwegian Sky, and Norwegian Star. I will call him. (NCL's The Haven Sundeck area aboard the brand new Norwegian Prima). This high-end boutique luxury line is known for its upgraded amenities, and suite guests enjoy English butler service unparalleled on other cruise lines. Most concierges on cruise ships are absolutely fantastic and very talented at both making you feel welcome but also making reservations and arranging services. Guests will need to use their keycards in order to enter The Haven complex. What is the cheapest month to book a cruise? On the penultimate day we had 3 visits with "I hope you have enjoyed the service I have provided!!". Mountains and beaches look so much better from a penthouse view. Next morning I could hobble so was able to go to the restaurant albeit slowly. Guests of The Haven have special access to dining spaces apart from that of the complimentary and specialty dining onboard NCL ships. Our butler had just the right balance of being attentive but not overbearing, and it was the same with the room steward. This may be something that is a difference between European standards and American. Let's take a deeper look with these two examples. I hope those neighbours tipped him well as he was so devoted. I know the trolls will hang me but I opened up his envelope and gave it to my room attended because he did more Butler services then the 1 with the title. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Related: Are drinks packages worth the price? We expected beggars on the streets of the big cities but not on the ship. Trained by the Guild of English Butlers, the butlers on Regent Seven Seas cruises are second to none. I'm glad you wrote this as nicely as you did, I'm currently on the dawn and ti be honest the suite life was not the dream I thought mostly for what you just said. Concierge service to help guests book their dining, entertainment and more with NCL. For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPGs new cruise newsletter. Operating as a payor-agnostic, wholly owned subsidiary of Humana, our . 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. Also I was told my last cruise they give you those cordless satellite phones for a reason. Makes onboard reservations for everything from meals to child care to shore excursions. Ours is a mini spa suite by the way, Night night [emoji42], No butler or concierge for you. Sometimes it's worth a large investment to reap the benefits of a great credit card. 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Contrary to rather bizarre misconceptions, the butler does not stand there in a uniform and white gloves waiting on your beck and call they come when you call them, and stop by once or twice a day to check in. The state's lawmakers emphasized the need for transparency rather than criticizing the resort fees. 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. Available on Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Star. The butler takes care of your needs INSIDE of the room - things like snacks delivered daily, full meals delivered to your suite (by request), taking care of the espresso/coffee machine. While west coast cruises have fewer options than what you might find in the Caribbean for instance, the good news is that in recent years we've gotten some of the newest and most luxurious ships at sea visiting our waters. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising partners. 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. All Rights Reserved. Sparkling wine, bottled water, and fruit on embarkation day (available to 2-Bedroom Villa, Courtyard Penthouse, Spa Suite, and Penthouse stateroom guests). Perhaps today it's some sandwiches, or a plate of cheese and crackers and fruits. Job specializations: Real Estate/Property. With up to 6,694 sq. However, suite guests even in the very premium Pinacle Suites on that line do not offer butler service the same way as the brands listed above do. There is also a private sauna reserved for guests of The Haven. Case in point: Norwegian Cruise Line offers butler service in The Haven suites. With up to 574 sq. What You Get: Passengers sailing in The Haven and full suites have a 24-hour butler at sea, but the VIP treatment begins before priority embarkation: The shoreside concierge desk ensures your dining and entertainment, shore excursions, and spa and salon appointments are arranged in advance. As such, there is no specific guideline on how much you should tip your butler. Before you set sail, every cruiser is required to attend a muster drill led by the Norwegian Cruise Line ship crew. Similarly, a butler may go into your room and set up a vase of flowers or a display of cookies, he (or she) isn't there to clean. You will also have the services of the ships. 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. But the extra services are the real reason cruisers love Disney's Concierge level. I think it is worth pointing out that you will be sharing the Butler with numerous other suites. Serve a welcome glass of Champagne upon arrival to your cabin. What is the cost? DECK 17. Guests of The Haven additionally have the option to have meals served to them in their stateroom by a Haven butler. Some folks may imagine their butler to be like those they've seen on TV while watching Downton Abbey but there is quite a range of how they will interact with guests. Discover the worldin comforton Viking ocean cruises to Scandinavia, Mediterranean, Asia, Australia, the Americas or around https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/NCL-introduces-concierge-service-for-top-guests. You want to create something your, As we enter fall and the weather starts turning cooler, you may be thinking about finding, What is a repositioning cruise? Minisuite is a balcony room with a slightly bigger bathroom. DECK 20. We had decided last minute we wanted to do one of the specialty restaurants, the only times open were late. Celebrating a birthday, anniversary or honeymoon? You can book a Concierge-level cabin to unlock . Oceania Cruises sends its butlers to the Guild of Professional English Butlers. The help and assistance 24-hours a day, of a trained and certified butler. There are even more places your Platinum Card can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks. The Havens spaces are luxurious, but they are also meant to have a homey feel, so that guests can relax in a quiet and serene space onboard. Passengers exempted from the new (uncommon for the industry) room service fee are only the occupants of "The Haven" suites. You're assigned a concierge preboarding, and you can tell him or her your preferences for onboard reservations 125 days in advance. and I hope that NCL doesn't do any tinkering with it. Some people get great service, some just ok., some not very good. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. 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. Maybe you're in the casino on a hot slot machine and realize you forgot to make reservations for dinner or a show - one call to the Concierge and the matter is handled. You can make all kinds of special requests and he'll do what he can to fulfill your shipboard dreams. Double balcony is offered on Norwegian Dawn. The first time I let the butler spoil me since I was a suite rookie. Over the next few days I noticed that he was going in or out of that room almost everytime we stepped out of ours. This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. This will greatly affect the level of tips that you are expected to reward their service with. Guests booked in a Garden Villa receive six bottles of liquor along with unlimited mixers, garnishes, sodas and bottled still and sparkling waters. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. This is always the case at Great Stirrup Cay, which features a Red Carpet area to the left of the main gathering area at the tender docks. 1,382 sq. The quality of a butler can vary but cruise lines put great emphasis on training so passengers are usually wowed by the service they receive.