Add a “Wow” factor to your onboard experience with a cruise Butler!
Do one of these look more luxurious than the other?
They both look pretty sweet to me!
And while the bubbly on the left is traditionally what you might think of when I say “Butler Service”, you may be surprised to learn the bowl of M&M’s is a more popular request for most of my cruise clients.
This past week, I was working on Butler service requests for a family who will be celebrating their father’s 70th birthday this summer in a Norwegian Haven Suite. This multi-gen group ranges in age from 8 years old to the birthday boy at 70 years old, with moms, dads, teens, and tweens in between.
That’s one reason I love cruising vacations for families – there’s something for EVERYONE!
Interested in the list of requests I recommended for Cruise Line or All-Inclusive Butlers?
Some services of onboard cruise ship butlers may include:
- Welcoming passengers upon embarkation and outlining the services they can provide;
- Orienting guests to their stateroom amenities and making sure any pre-cruise requests they’ve made (e.g. liquor stocked in the mini-bar) have been addressed;
- Unpacking and packing suitcases;
- Checking in with guests at least once a day (and often twice) to make sure the stateroom is shipshape and the passenger experience hassle-free;
- Serving as a single point of contact to troubleshoot any complaints or problems cropping up and resolving them expeditiously with the appropriate departments on the ship;
- Making sure guests get priority treatment in securing reservations for dining, entertainment and shore excursions;
- Coordinating in-cabin dining requests with the ship’s galley and serving meals course by course;
- Replenishing alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and ice in the cabin;
- Serving guests canapés before dinner;
- Taking care of laundry; and
- Helping guests plan and execute onboard parties and special social events.
Butler services are not exclusive to luxury cruise lines like Silversea and Regent. Premium stateroom suites on Celebrity, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean (called Genies) also enjoy the perks of Cruise Butler services.
Here are some requests you may want to consider to enhance your cruise home for the week – ask your Butler for:
Food & Beverage Requests for your Cruise Butler
- deliver a fresh pot of coffee at a specific time each morning
- deliver hot chocolate for the kids each morning or evening
- keep a coffee preference stocked in your stateroom (reg or decaf)
- fresh cream for your coffee in the fridge
- empty the mini-bar (to make room for water, etc)
- keep the ice bucket filled
- pitcher of water for the room (or iced tea, lemonade, or other beverage available in the restaurant)
- bowls of gummy bears, M&Ms, Skittles
- bowl of fruit
- plate of cookies and milk for before bed
- plate of PB&J sandwiches
- (basically, any food item available at one of the restaurants on board can be requested)
Room Comfort Requests for your Cruise Butler
- extra pillows / specific pillow type
- extra blankets
- mattress topper for extra padding
- lap blankets for the verandah chairs
- extra stool for the verandah
- extra hangers
- extra bath towels
- keep the AC set at a certain temperature
Personal Requests for your Cruise Butler
- take photos of your family
- plan a in-room family movie night with movie-themed snacks
- have a hot bath ready for you upon your return from an excursion
- send your laundry to the cleaners and return pressed & folded
- expedited laundry ’emergencies’
- shoeshine
- let them know if you are celebrating any special occasions
On one cruise, we took the in room cordless phone with us and after a long day exploring the islands or taking private tours we would call the butler (while we are in line to board the ship) and request that he start to fill our bathtub in the suite (cause it actually takes a good 20 mins to fill). When we arrive at the suite is easier to just disrobe and dissolve into a perfectly prepared hot bath, with 2 champagne flutes filled with prosecco with a ripe red raspberry resting in the bottom of the glass.
Final thoughts for your Cruise Butler
- After you decide which requests suit your travel style, write or print out a list of requests and give your Butler the first day of the cruise. Often butlers appreciate having a written list of your requests already written out, plus since they are likely to be super busy the first day, they can refer back to your requests at their leisure.
- If you’ve prepaid your gratuities, the butler’s tip may already be included. If they’ve gone above and beyond though, you may want to give them a little extra either in the middle of the cruise or at the end.
- Butlers usually handle requests related to your stateroom suite. While the Concierge department usually handles reservations and around-the-ship activities. Make your requests ahead of time and then bring the list to confirm your dining reservations and preferences with your butler and the concierge desk.
I want to know which of these suits your travel style…let’s set up a time to chat about your upcoming family vacation!
