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Courtesy of Silversea

Butler service on the deck of Silver Shadow.

Butler service: A blissful perk on high-end cruises

Here's what to expect from butler service on 10 cruise lines.

Patti Pietschmann

Los Angeles

CruiseClout score: 95.0

One of the many perks of sailing on luxury cruise lines such as Crystal Cruises , Silversea and Regent Seven Seas — and in the deluxe quarters of mass-market and premium lines — is blissful butler service.

At first blush it may sound like butler service is a bit of a stuffy anachronism in a modern-day, egalitarian America far removed from the era of “Downton Abbey.” It's anything but. Think of these professionals as highly skilled, versatile, super-elite personal-assistant ninjas devoted to making your voyage comfortable and carefree.

Getting over initial wariness

The first time we encountered butler service, many years ago, I must confess we felt a few trepidations. Did we really want him to unpack our bags? Would our privacy be intruded upon?

Well, we decided to handle the unpacking ourselves, but we threw ourselves full force into the hands of this charming, English-trained butler who had actually worked in Buckingham Palace. Like butlers after him, he handled everything superbly, from serving breakfast on our private veranda to making restaurant reservations at night. He also brought coffee, drinks, even in-suite dinners on request.

Since then, I've come to look forward to new encounters with butlers on my luxury sailings. Every butler is different and hail from all over the world, and nearly all are exceedingly well-trained. I’ve never met a butler I didn’t like, though one or two tended to be a bit too chatty. Ah, first world problems.

Have you had butler service on a cruise? I'm wondering if you've ever asked them to do anything offbeat, like save you a pool or beach chair. 

Butler service across the cruise lines

Here's a rundown of what to expect from butler service on 10 major cruise lines:

Who gets a butler: Silversea provides butler service to all guests on all nine of its ships: Silver Spirit , Silver Whisper , Silver Shadow , Silver Cloud, Silver Wind , the upcoming Silver Muse , and the expedition ships Silver Discoverer , Silver Explorer and Silver Galapagos .

What they do: Among other things, your butler will unpack and pack your luggage (at your option), make reservations for dinner, spa treatments or private fitness sessions, discuss your taste preferences with the chef or maître d ', demonstrate different bathing accessories, offer a choice of pillows (goose down, hypoallergenic or therapeutic), make up your room spotlessly, serve breakfast, handle dry-cleaning requests and more. 

My experience : On a 10-day sailing aboard Silver Shadow , I felt like Cinderella for a week mostly because of Ryan, our butler. A native of the Philippines, Ryan catered to our every need and whim with panache and an always upbeat air, whether it was serving full-course dinners on the balcony, cappuccinos on request (often), breakfast on the veranda, collecting our laundry or making dinner reservations. 

Ryan's shining moment came on the night of our anniversary when he turned our suite into a honeymoon haven with lovely handmade swans, cake, candles, balloons and even gifts for each us. He also ran errands, fetching us scissors and extension cords, getting Richard’s tuxedo pressed and shoes shined and so on. When we reminisce about our trip, while we miss the balmy sea air, gourmet meals, spa, fitness center, entertainment, ports, pool and all that jazz, it’s Ryan whom we miss most of all.

• Crystal Cruises

Who gets a butler:  On Crystal Cruises ' two midsize ships, butlers are available only in staterooms and suites on the Penthouse decks (categories PH, PS and CP).

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. They'll even serve dinner in your stateroom course by course. 

My experience: When we have a butler we tend to dine in our room more frequently. Once on a Mexican Rivieria cruise on Crystal, we had a penthouse suite and ate out exactly twice in two weeks and  never unpacked evening clothes. It kept our butler busy delivering multiple courses.

• Regent Seven Seas

Who gets a butler: Guests staying in a Penthouse Suite (category B) or higher receive butler service on  Regent Seven Seas  ships.

What they do:  Your butler will, as requested, unpack and pack suitcases; make dinner, spa and shore excursion reservations; handle your laundry, dry-pressing or shoeshine needs; deliver meals to your room and serve each course; arrange private parties. Look for the Butler button on your phone.

Of note:  Regent recruits most of its butlers from Indonesia and the Philippines, where the tradition of having butlers in private homes and fine hotels is still deeply rooted.

Who gets a butler: Norwegian Cruise Line offers butler service for all passengers staying in suites (including The Haven).

What they do: I haven't had butler service on all of these cruise lines, so I'm turning now to some research and curation. Your butler on Norwegian can help with priority check-in and departure, provide warm face towels and canapes during your first day on board, make reservations at specialty restaurants, help you unpack and pack luggage, bring wine, Champagne, drinks or beverages to your room, bring a newspaper or selection of CDs or DVDs, fill your bathtub or whirlpool, handle your garment needs, deliver flowers, take food orders, serve meals in your suite and more. 

• Celebrity Cruises

Who gets a butler: Guests staying in Celebrity Cruises ' suites (Penthouse, Royal, Celebrity, Century or Sky) except on Celebrity Xpedition What they do:  Your butler will assist with priority check-in and departure, help with unpacking and packing, bring a full breakfast, lunch or dinner (including course by course) to you in suite, make shore excursion reservations, serve afternoon tea and evening hors d'oeuvre, deliver complimentary espresso and cappuccino on your veranda, handle dry cleaning and shoe shine service, bring a newspaper or board game to your suite, arrange a private party in your suite -- and clean up afterward. 

MSC Cruises

Who gets a butler: All MSC Yacht Club guests staying in MSC's Fantasia-class ships: MSC Divina , MSC Fantasia , MSC Preziosa and MSC Splendida

What they do : Butlers assist with priority check-in, see to it that your luggage arrives in your stateroom, attend to unpacking and packing, make reservations for restaurants, spa treatments and shore excursions, serve afternoon tea in the Top Sail Lounge, arrange for private parties in your suite, bring you wine, Champagne, drinks and cigars, and more. Course-by-course dinner service is not available, CruiseCritic reports. 

Who gets a butler:  Guests booked in suites on Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest What they do: Your butler will handle your priority check-in and departure, unpack and pack suitcases, make dining and spa reservations, handle your laundry and dry cleaning needs (garment pressing of two items is complimentary for suite guests), serve afternoon tea on a cart, deliver meals and serve them course by course, arrange a private cocktail party in your suite, and more. Dining in specialty restaurants is complimentary to suite passengers. Your butler is also your room steward.

Oceania Cruises 

Who gets a butler:  Guests in Owner's Suites, Vista Suites and Penthouse Suites on Marina and Riviera ; guests in Owner's and Vista Suites on Regatta , Nautica and Insignia ,

What they do : Butlers act as a personal concierge. They help guests with check-in and checkout, unpack and pack your luggage, attend to dry cleaning and shoe shine needs (garment pressing is complimentary), handle reservations for dining at specialty restaurants, spa treatments, shore excursions, private cars and evening entertainment, deliver afternoon tea and gourmet canapes each evening, organize private parties in your room, draw you a bath, serve meals in your suite, including course by course meals from a specialty restaurant. 

• Cunard Line

Who gets a butler:  On Queen Elizabeth , Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria , all passengers in Queens Grill (Q4 - Q1) suites receive butler service. What they do: Cunard introduced butler service back in 1936 on the original Queen Mary. Your butler will help you unpack and pack, deliver meals to your room, help you choose from the nine choices on the pillow menu, stock your mini-bar, deliver pre-dinner canapes in the evening, and much more.

• Costa Cruises

Who gets a butler: Guests on Europe-based  Costa Cruises who book a full suite (including Samsara Spa Suites) 

What they do : Butlers, also referred to as valets, offer a pillow menu and provide you with your choice. They will unpack and arrange clothing if you'd like, pack for your departure, make reservations for specialty restaurants, spa treatments and shore excursions, handle laundry and shine shoes, organize a private party in your suite, provide a daily menu of restaurant offerings, deliver meals to your suite and provide course-by-course service from the restaurant and more.  

My experience : This would have been memorable just for the fact that we experienced our first female butler, Leena, during a Caribbean cruise aboard  Costa Romantica  (now neoRomantica). What made it extra special was that I was with my mom. We had a massive suite with huge windows looking out to sea and we were just steps from the pool via a foyer, and Leena assisted me and my mother throughout, making it a voyage of pure bliss. 

Seabourn, Uniworld and Scenic

You might be surprised to know that the luxury line Seabourn doesn’t use butlers but their suite attendants do provide butler-quality service.

Several high-end river cruise lines, including Uniworld and Scenic , also offer butler service. 

Want to book a cruise?

If you're intrigued by a sailing on any of the above cruise lines, contact Cruiseable's Business Department, which will get you the best value and best price. Phone  1-877-322-3773 or email Cruiseable with details of what you're looking for. 

Updated and republished from an earlier version of this article.

In our series Luxury Cruises

• A taste of what you'll find on a luxury cruise

Guide to all-inclusive pricing on cruise ships

Guide to vip enclaves on cruise ships.

• 20 most luxurious staterooms on a cruise ship
• Experiencing Alaska on a luxury ship
• Top amenities on a Crystal cruise

Top luxury spas at high-end cruise lines

• 10 world class hotels

Is a world cruise right for you?

Patti Pietschmann I'm the LA Travel Diva and spend time cruising with first mate Richard, traveling the world, reviewing fine restaurants, going to plays, movies and events. It's the good life.

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What You Need To Know About Cruise Butler Service On Different Cruise Lines

Let's take a look at cruise ship butlers and look at how the offerings on various cruise lines differs from one to another. Just like every other aspect of cruising, the butler service from one line to the next can be completely different. 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. Let's take a look at cruise butlers and if selecting a suite with butler service for your next cruise might be the perfect choice.

What Do Cruise Butlers Do?

Cruise butler services vary from one cruise line to the next but generally speaking, your cruise butler is your single point of contact to make whatever you want happen. 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. This includes classicly-styled professional english butlers on Silverseas to a more fun and modern Royal Genie on a Royal Caribbean cruise.

Depending on the ship, cruise port, and cruise line, this can range from making arrangements for a special celebration, meeting you at the pier and escorting your and your bags onto the ship so you can avoid getting sweaty while bording the ship, setting up your in-room dining experience, and providing concierge type services so that you will never have to worry about getting that reservation for dinner or a show.

Another important role that many people like having a butler for is handling all the details for a private party in their suite.

While some butler services are more formal and reserved - as you might expect from a traditional English manor house, others try to be more fun and family friendly such as Royal Caribbean's Royal Genie.

Cruise Butlers Vs Concierges

At higher loyalty levels as well as various suite categories on most lines, guests will have access to a concierge who they can call to make reservations. 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. 

Think of it this way. On the first day of your cruise, a butler might meet you in the shore-side VIP lounge, recognize you and already know your name. He will then carry your bags onto the cruise ship, bypass other people in line, and have access to a private elevator so you don't have any waiting. During this time he will be listening for cues as to what type of muffins you like in the morning, if you prefer drip coffee or capiccino, and what shows you are hoping to attend while onboard. By the time you have freshened up, he might have already made reservations for you and just need your confirmation for any details.

On the other hand, without a butler, once onboard you can call the concierge or visit the suite lounge and introduce yourself. Most concierges on cruise ships are absolutely fantastic and very talented at both making you feel welcome but also making reservations and arranging services.

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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.

Both may be able to offer similar types of help such as assisting with booking dinner reservations or reserving seats for a show, the level of service is not the same. 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. Plus, a butler does way more than simply being your personal concierge since they are truely part of your overal vacation experience.

Butlers Are Not Cabin Stewards

Some people think that cabin stewards are butlers and that butlers take care of cleaning your cabin. 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. 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.

What Cruise Lines Have Cruise Butlers

Butler service is most commonly found on small ship luxury cruise ships such as Regent and Silversea. 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. One key difference between butlers on big ship lines like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Disney, Celebrity, and MSC and those found on smaller ships 

Here are some lines that have cruise butler services available:

Royal Caribbean

You really do enjoy the "star" treatment when you book an upgraded suite on Royal Caribbean. The " Royal Genie " is part butler, part concierge, and is only available to guests booked in a Star Suite on one of the line's 24 ships. The star treatment starts before embarkation, where your genie will whisk your luggage away to be waiting in your suite when you arrive. 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. Celebrating a birthday, anniversary or honeymoon? Your Royal Genie will arrange for a special celebration just for you. Whenever you need the high-touch to make your cruise extra special, the Royal Genie is there to cater to you.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line's "ship within a ship", The Haven, offers a high-end luxury experience exclusive to guests booked in its suites. The Haven offers a 24-hour suite butler who will unpack your suitcase, pour your champagne and make your dining reservations. This butler serves all of The Haven guests, and is more like a suite-wide concierge than a personal in-suite butler. The Haven offers courtyard attendants who bring cold towels, fresh fruit and poolside refreshments in the suite's private pool area. In addition, Norwegian Cruise Line Haven's butlers offer in-suite dining service and evening turndown service for your enjoyment.

MSC Cruises Yacht Club

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. 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. Additionally, they will escort you to different destinations on the ship as well as assist you with debarkation by carrying your bags to the gangway.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney offers a sort of butler service for its concierge-level guests . While this is not a true pro-active butler service, it is a major step above a loyalty lounge concierge. The magic starts before you even board the cruise. Concierge guests get priority reservations for cruise excursions, dining and onboard activities. They also receive priority boarding on embarkation day and express debarkation. The onboard concierge will help book your dining reservations, make entertainment recommendations and greet you as you board and disembark in ports of call. 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.

Azamara Club Cruises

This high-end boutique luxury line is known for its upgraded amenities, and suite guests enjoy English butler service unparalleled on other cruise lines. Your personal stateroom butler will unpack your luggage, pick up your laundry, pour glasses of champagne upon your arrival and serve you in-suite afternoon tea. Your butler will also remember your preferences and attend to your every need. Did you mention that you love grapes? You may arrive to find a fresh bowl of grapes in your cabin after a long day ashore.

Celebrity Cruise Line

You will really feel like a celebrity with the butler service on this mid-luxury cruise line. In addition to packing and unpacking for you, your butler on Celebrity cruises will serve your meals, course by course, to you in your suite. Fancy enjoying breakfast while taking in a sunrise over the ocean? Your butler is there to make it happen. Available to suite guests, the butler will also handle shoe shining, dry cleaning and bring coffee.

Crystal Cruises

If you book a Penthouse deck suite on a Crystal cruise, you can enjoy the services of a personal, in-suite butler . Your specially trained butler will book your spa appointments, arrange cocktail parties for your group and offer a complete tea service in your stateroom. The butler will deliver your multiple course dinner to your cabin, and book your shore excursions, specialty dining and entertainment seating.

Cunard Line

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. Guests in the Grill-level suites enjoy high-end service, and are assigned personal butlers who do everything from serving champagne on your verandah to helping you put on your cuff links for a formal dinner.

Regent Seven Seas

Trained by the Guild of English Butlers, the butlers on Regent Seven Seas cruises are second to none. If you make friends on the cruise and want to invite them back to your cabin, your butler will arrange for a private cocktail party in your suite, complete with champagne and chef-prepared delicacies. After the party, they will clean your suite while you enjoy 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.

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. Silversea, a luxury boutique cruise line, trains its butlers in England before deploying them to ships that sail to every continent on the globe. These Guild of Professional English Butlers are among the best anywhere at sea. Silversea offers a pillow menu, and your in-suite butler will help you to select the right one for your sleeping comfort. The butlers serve breakfast, handle dry cleaning and book private sessions with the ship's personal trainer. Your butler will also serve your meals on your private verandah, offer you a choice of luxury bath accessories and discuss your dining preferences with the ship's chef. One of the most highly sought after experiences, Silversea has perfected the art of luxury at sea with its butler service.

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. 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. They arrange shoreside dining, arrange for your port tenders or host an in-suite cocktail party for you and your selected guests. With Europe-trained butlers, there is no request that is to challenging for them to handle.

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. 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.

Tiping Protocol For Cruise Ship Butlers

Any discussion of tipping on a cruise will bring out a wide variety of opinions. In part, this is because many services that you recieve on a cruise ship should honestly be simply built into the price of the experience. 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. Even for these people - cabin stewards, bartenders, waiters, cruise excursion leaders, entertainment staff etc. - you should always consider paying more if they did something special for you that made your cruise more enjoyable.

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. Additionally, the typical cruise passenger that enjoys butler service is in a completely different financial category than the family of five packed into an inside cabin looking for every opportunity to save a buck.

As such, there is no specific guideline on how much you should tip your butler. However, the generally accepted minimum is $10-15 per day. From here, the sky is quite litterally the limit. It is not uncommon to tip $300, $500, or even more if you are actively using butler services and they are providing extrodinary service.

Some factors to consider with tipping your cruise butler:

Butlers (and concierges) are generally not part of the pre-paid gratuities pool. 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.

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.

In some instances, your cruise ship butler may be shared by an entire group of suites and in other instances your butler is assigned just to you. This will greatly affect the level of tips that you are expected to reward their service with. It will likely also be in accordance with the level of personalized service that you recieve.

One note that confuses some people is that you may see notes such as that provided by MSC Cruises stating that crew do not need to be tipped. This may be something that is a difference between European standards and American. 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.

Having A Cruise Butler Can Transform Your Cruise Experience

Cruise butlers aren't magicians and they sadly can't cause seas to be less rough or clouds to go away. Similarly, they can't make the ships stay in port longer or travel faster to the next destination. What they can do though is virtually everything in between. 

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. 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.

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Ways Our Retreat Butler and Retreat Host Enhance Your Cruise Vacation

Last updated: August 14th, 2023

• Find a Cruise

Did you know Celebrity Cruises has a dedicated team of attendants, concierges, and butlers on board its ships? When you book The Retreat experience, you’ll have the services of a Retreat Butler and team who will act as your concierge for the length of your cruise.

Contrary to the movie version of a stiff-backed gent of old times, you’ll find our Retreat Butler and team are welcoming and friendly, male and female, from all across the globe.

Read on to find out how this unique service can further your enjoyment of an already luxurious cruise vacation.

1: Leave the Unpacking to Us

As soon as you arrive onboard, you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the luxurious cruising experience The Retreat offers without worrying about heading to your suite to unpack. The Retreat Team will have everything in your suitcase put away while you enjoy a drink at the exclusive lounge or get acquainted with the ship.

You won’t even have to give a thought to your suitcases, neatly tucked away, until you debark from the ship. We will also pack for you at the end of your cruise.

2: Our Retreat Butler and Team Will Arrange Your Suite to Feel Like Home

We will make sure you feel right at home in your suite from the moment you arrive. First, by ensuring it’s 100% to your satisfaction from the first minute to last. Then, by personalizing your home at sea, arranging things just the way you like them, and making sure they’re always perfect.

3: We Will Make Reservations for You

Whether you want to reserve a table at Luminae, the private restaurant exclusively for Retreat guests, or wish to dine in your suite, your Retreat Butler and team will act as your personal reservationist throughout your cruise.

When dining in your suite, we’ll set the table, serve the meal course by course, then clean up afterward, while you enjoy a freshly made coffee or a glass of wine while gazing at the stars from your veranda.

We  will also book dining times at the other onboard specialty restaurants, as well as make appointments for spa treatments, fitness classes, and onboard special events such as cooking classes or lectures. We can also work with the onboard shore excursions team to arrange for Private Journeys excursions or Discovery Tours, or any other in-port sightseeing you might desire.

4: Our Retreat Butler and Team Will Pamper You 24/7

Need a soothing warm bath after a long day of sightseeing or a strenuous fitness workout? Just ask us, and we’ll be happy to draw a bath, lay out premium robe and slippers, and turn down your bed for a short, refreshing nap.

Our dedicated team of attendants, concierges, and butlers execute with excellence, so getting shoes shined, shirts pressed, hems stitched up, or buttons replaced is no problem. They are well-connected members of our exceptionally dedicated staff of attendants and know who to call for exactly what needs to be done.

This service includes delivering coffee, afternoon savories, and evening espresso, as you wish, every day of your cruise.

5: Our Dedicated Team of Attendants, Concierges, and Butlers Help You Entertain or Be Entertained

Inviting guests to join you for cocktails? Want to host a get-together to celebrate a birthday or make your anniversary cruise extra special? The services of a trained Retreat Butler and team for these special occasions are invaluable. We can provide advice on what to serve and arrange every detail, from canapes and cocktails to flowers and music, even rearrange the suite to host your guests.

Need in-suite entertainment if you’re cruising with kids? You can have board games, books, or movies delivered to the suite for their entertainment and yours.

Read: Best Places to Go for Your Birthday

Book The Retreat Experience

Can’t wait to book The Retreat experience for your upcoming cruise vacation? Browse Celebrity Cruises’ collection of suites and book your cruise online, or call one of our vacation specialists.

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Personalised Cruise Service

Let our butlers surprise you with just how much they can do.

Silversea offers dedicated butler service in all suites. Regardless of time or destination, our superb team of butlers ensure that your every need is well served – with thought, surprise and charm. Breeze through embarkation and step into the warm welcome of our white-gloved staff. Enjoy a glass of bubbly after being escorted to your suite. Allow us to indulge you with our undivided attention. Sounds good? That’s because it is. Better than good in fact. And yes, it’s all-included.

At home on the high seas

We promise our quality of service will impart a wonderful sense of well-being as soon as you set sail on a Silversea luxury cruise. This is relaxation at its most distilled - as soon as you arrive onboard, we will welcome you into the supreme luxury that has made Silversea a household name. Our team of butlers, trained to our excellent standards, will guide you through every aspect of your cruise, from ship to shore and back again. Enjoy a place where all your needs are taken care of — before you even ask.

You’ll wonder how you ever managed before!

As soon as you step onboard, you’ll understand why our butler service is the best at sea. Our team of polite, professional and friendly butlers makes the difference between a great cruise and an amazing one! From unpacking your case at the beginning of your voyage to shining your shoes to making restaurant reservations, our team of butlers are here to serve you. They will make sure your room is always in pristine condition, ensure white tablecloth in-suite service, deal with any special request you might have and guarantee your customised, in-suite bar is always full!

And why not add a little extra sparkle?

Every guest onboard a Silversea ultra-luxury cruise gets ultra-luxury service. But, as larger suites can accommodate larger parties, why not ask your butler to organise a little in-suite cocktail party? After all, incredible travel experiences are much better when shared with like-minded friends. From drawing a scented bath to ensuring everything you want is looked after, our butler service is the best. But, perhaps the greatest gift of our butler service is knowing that they are there when you need them and mysteriously disappear when you don’t.

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What’s the difference between a cruise ship concierge and butler?

When you thumb through cruise line brochures, you read a lot of jargon that might not be defined. 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. TPG is here to define the roles of these crew members and how they both can make your voyage a whole lot more enjoyable.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's new cruise newsletter .

What's the difference between a cruise ship concierge and butler?

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. There is some crossover, of course, but that's the general delineation.

For example, a concierge may greet you upon arrival to the pier check-in area on embarkation day, make dining reservations on your behalf or arrange for tender tickets when it's time to go ashore. The concierge usually has a desk in the ship's reception area or, if specifically for passengers in a certain cabin category, the concierge may have a desk in the library or a special VIP area of the ship.

Related: Are drinks packages worth the price? A line-by-line guide

A butler, on the other hand, is much more focused on your in-cabin experience. He'll offer you a choice of high-end soaps, shampoos and conditioners when you arrive in your cabin for the first time. He may pour a welcome glass of Champagne, determine your pillow preferences and ask what beverages you want to be stocked in your minibar. You will interact with your butler inside your cabin or pass him in the hallway as you walk to and from your suite. Luxury line Silversea offers butler service in every single suite on its ships -- regardless of category.

It's fun to cruise with a butler at least once. You can make all kinds of special requests and he'll do what he can to fulfill your shipboard dreams. I love Schweppes bitter lemon, but it's not distributed where I live. 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? It works every time, and I get my soda fix. I may also ask for chocolate delivered to my cabin each evening. Hey, you only live once!

Butlers aren't run-of-the-mill cabin stewards. They are usually specially trained, both by the cruise line and off-site when they attend "butler school." Case in point: Norwegian Cruise Line offers butler service in The Haven suites. Each butler serving that special VIP area of the ship received formal training at the International Institutes of Modern Butlers. Oceania Cruises sends its butlers to the Guild of Professional English Butlers. 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.

Related: The 5 best cabin locations on any cruise ship

Who gets a concierge and/or butler on a cruise?

Many cruise ships don't have any concierges or butlers at all. Some have just concierges but no butlers. Some lines, like Silversea, have a butler for every suite. Others have both, but they are only available to passengers in certain cabin categories (usually concierge- or suite-level accommodations for which you pay an upgraded cruise fare).

Butler service is something usually offered to passengers who've booked a top-level suite.

Let's take a deeper look with these two examples.

Concierge service aboard Disney Cruise Line ships

Disney Cruise Line offers four cabin categories with the creme-de-la-creme being Concierge. 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. But the extra services are the real reason cruisers love Disney's Concierge level.

You're assigned a concierge preboarding, and you can tell him or her your preferences for onboard reservations 125 days in advance. That person will then execute your requests so you don't have to run around booking dining times, spa treatments or shore excursions. The concierge can also help you plan special occasions and celebrations. 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.

In the case of Disney, Concierge passengers also get access to some exclusive areas of the ship. You'll feel like a VIP -- and you are one! -- with access to a private retreat where you can enjoy complimentary food and nonalcoholic beverages throughout the day. Disney cruise ships do not offer butler service.

Related: Is Disney Cruise Line concierge level worth it?

Sail Celebrity Cruises and get access to a concierge and/or butler

Celebrity Cruises is one of those lines that offer both concierge and butler service. You can book a Concierge-level cabin to unlock access to the ship's concierge team or you can book a suite and get treated to concierge service and an in-cabin butler.

Booking a suite is a pricey endeavor but it can be worth it with all the perks you'll receive: an included premium beverage package, prepaid gratuities, $300 per suite onboard credit to spend on the ship any way you like, free Wi-Fi and a personal butler.

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.

The concierge, on the other hand, is available precruise to help you make reservations for dining, spa treatments and more. Onboard, you'll find a concierge at The Retreat, the special VIP areas of the ship -- indoor lounge and sun deck -- where only Concierge-level and suite passengers are allowed. the concierge will ensure you get priority check-in and departure as well as priority tendering to port. If you're in the Iconic Suite, you can even ask the concierge to have a Peloton bike delivered to your cabin!

Related: 11 extra charges on cruise ships that will drive you nuts – and what to do about them

Things a cruise ship concierge may do for you

While cruise lines may deputize their concierges to do slightly different tasks, here are the sort of things you can expect a concierge to handle on your behalf.

• Available precruise to assist with onboard reservations for restaurants, spa treatments, shore excursions and more.
• Greets you at the cruise terminal on embarkation day for priority check-in and to assist as you board the ship.
• Is your point person for information on ship happenings day-to-day.
• Makes onboard reservations for everything from meals to child care to shore excursions.
• Assists with priority access to tenders to shore.
• Makes reservations for evening shows and other entertainment options.
• Assists with priority disembarkation.

Related: 21 tips and tricks to make your cruise go more smoothly

Things a cruise ship butler may do for you

Cruise ship butlers execute all sorts of tasks each and every day. Yours may or may not perform the following functions but this quick list will give you an idea of what to expect the first time Jeeves is at your service.

• Serve a welcome glass of Champagne upon arrival to your cabin.
• Explain your cabin amenities and make sure you know how to use all of its features.
• Present different brands of soap, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion for your selection and then set them up in your cabin's bathroom(s).
• Explain the pillow menu and deliver your selections to the room.
• Unpacks your luggage upon arrival and packs it before disembarkation.
• Oversee the staff that cleans your room.
• Send your laundry/dry cleaning out and monitor its safe return.
• Serve afternoon canapes and/or afternoon tea in your cabin/suite.
• Serve room service meals in your cabin or on your balcony.
• Draw a bath with bubble bath or flower petals.
• Helps make restaurant, spa and shore excursion reservations.
• Help you plan and execute a cocktail party you host in your suite.
• Give your shoes a shine.
• Clean your luggage before departure.

Related: Inside Regent's new $11,000-a-night super suite

Bottom line

Do you need a concierge or a butler to have a fantastic cruise? No. But, either or both of these individuals do hold the keys to amping up your experience and making you feel like a VIP. If you have the opportunity, try out a cabin category that offers the assistance of either or both types of crew members and then you can decide for yourself if access to them is worth the extra money.

Planning a cruise for the coming year? These stories will help:

• The 9 best cruise ship steakhouses and steak-serving restaurants
• Cruise ship restaurant nirvana: The 7 best meals at sea
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• The best Caribbean cruises for every type of traveler
• What to pack for your first cruise

A beginner's guide to cruise line loyalty programs

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What Cruise Ship Butlers Will Do for You

Cruise Critic

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On your next cruise, you’re going to splurge. For the next one, it’ll be a suite … with a butler.

What is it, exactly, that makes that single word so magical? “Butler.” The word alone, more than almost any other in the cruise lexicon, conjures notions of pampering, swanky accommodations, and service fit for royalty.

Butler service is offered on certain ships in the most deluxe accommodations (or, in the case of Azamara, in every cabin from smallest inside to largest suite). And its popularity has been steadily growing—not just on cruise lines that are classified as luxury, but also on mass-market and premium lines. Mainstream lines Costa, MSC Cruises, NCL, and P&O Cruises now feature butler service in their top suites. On the other hand, some lines you’d expect to employ butlers—like luxury line Seabourn and premium line Holland America—don’t have any at all.

What is it about butler service that makes it special? For that matter, what is the difference between a butler and an attentive cabin steward? We’ll answer that one right here: A well-trained and conscientious butler generally picks up where the cabin steward leaves off, providing special services and touches that stewards don’t have the opportunity—or the time—to provide. A butler can, among other things:

• Assist with packing and unpacking
• Make reservations in the alternative restaurants
• Deliver hors d’oeuvres and course-by-course meals
• Expedite laundry, dry-cleaning, and pressing services
• Mix a martini
• Draw a bubble bath
• Arrange in-suite cocktail or dinner parties

And there are other intangible reasons that butler service has gained popularity of late. If you’re paying top dollar for a top suite with a butler, your expectations of a seamless experience become higher. Cruise Critic member Uktog put it this way: “A good butler just makes things tick without you realizing it is happening.”

But member Waldospepper has higher expectations, relating that, “From the moment we arrived at the pier (for Norwegian Dawn), we were spoiled rotten by our butler, Putu. He met us in the Terminal building and personally escorted us through every step of the check-in process, all the while handling every piece of carry-on luggage. He then escorted us through a private entrance onto the ship and directly to our stateroom, and provided a tour with directions on the various functions of the TVs, telephones, etc. Later in the day he performed a personal inspection of the suite, made requests of the room stewards and the ship’s maintenance department, and then followed up to be certain that all issues were resolved to his satisfaction.”

“…To his satisfaction.” That comment is actually quite telling. Butlers are the creme de la creme of a ship’s hotel staff. While most are culled from the ranks of room stewards and dining room staff because of their front-line training in service and high rates of passenger satisfaction, some cruise lines actively solicit trained butlers for their ships. (I found ads online for experienced butlers for Oceania and Celebrity.) While most are trained by the cruise line, some are schooled at specific butler academies; those on Silversea and Regent Seven Seas, for example, come from the Guild of Professional English Butlers, which provides service to members of royal families around the world.

And while some are quite formal, not all come from the stiff-upper-lip Jeeves tradition of butlering. Some are female! And some are quite jovial and fun, getting on the floor to play with the kids or whimsically decorating a room for a special occasion.

Ultimately, the increase in popularity of butler service stems from the growing “comfort culture;” guests who travel in deluxe accommodations are paying for extra space, extra services, extra attention ,and pampering, and they don’t want to worry about little time-consuming details like dinner reservations, dry cleaning, and private shore excursion arrangements. I also discovered that there is little difference in service between big ships and smaller ships: Butler service on large ships adds an element of luxury for those guests who don’t want to travel on smaller ships, and guests on smaller ships get that extra layer of personalized service when they choose a suite with a butler.

Not all butler services are equal, so check out our line-by-line guide.

Azamara Cruises

Who Gets It: Every passenger on Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest.

What They Do: Your butler will set up in-room cocktail parties, deliver and serve meals course-by-course, make your spa and specialty dining reservations for you, and arrange to get your laundry cleaned and pressed. Afternoon tea is served on a cart that goes door to door.

Get This: Your butler is also your room steward. I wonder: When do they find the time to make up your room and perform all of these special tasks? Frankly, the reviews have been mixed, with many Cruise Critic members saying the butlers are little more than room stewards in different attire.

Celebrity Cruises

Who Gets It: Passengers entitled to butler service are those booked in Celebrity Cruises’ various suites (depending on ship, they include Penthouse, Royal, Celebrity, Century, and Sky).

What They Do: Celebrity offers its exclusive “European Butler Service,” which includes assistance with unpacking/packing, daily news delivery, full breakfast, in-suite lunch and dinner service (including a restaurant meal served on your balcony, course-by-course), in-suite afternoon tea service, daily evening hors d’oeuvres, complimentary espresso and cappuccino, shoe-shine service, and delivery of requested board games. Butlers will even arrange a private party in your suite, then clean up afterward. Butlers come to Celebrity in a variety of ways; some have risen up the ranks of the hotel staff and some are recruited by outside agencies, but all go through Celebrity’s training program.

Get This: Cruise Critic member Alaska Boo took her office staff on a cruise as a “firm retreat.” They booked a Royal Suite on Celebrity Summit and enjoyed the private verandah hot tub … au naturel. They got their butler Peter to bring them drinks and even take a photo of them (three women) enjoying this most exquisite perk; they were, according to Alaska Boo, properly covered with bubbles.

Costa Cruises

Who Gets It: Anyone who books a suite—except for mini-suites on Europe sailings—is entitled to butler services. This includes the new Samsara Spa Suites on Costa Concordia, Costa Serena, Costa Pacifica, and Costa Luminosa.

What They Do: On Costa Cruises, butlers offer a pillow menu and provide the selected pillows; they’ll unpack and arrange clothing if the passenger desires; repack at the end of the cruise; make all reservations including shore excursion, spa and specialty restaurants; shine shoes; and organize all details, including service, should you want an in-suite cocktail party. In addition, your butler will leave a daily menu of the restaurant offerings, and you can choose to dine in-suite with course-by-course service from the restaurant.

Get This: Costa’s butlers are handpicked from exceptional personnel already on staff and go through formal training with the company.

Who Gets It: Passengers who book cabins in categories PH (Penthouse), PS (Penthouse Suite), and CP (Crystal Penthouse) on both Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony.

What They Do: Butlers on Crystal Cruises’ ships typically serve as your manservant, and if you’ve ever had one, you’ll revel in the fact that they’ll handle your dry cleaning, proffer gourmet snacks at tea time (there’s a menu every day, but you can always get caviar), and make dinner, spa, and shore excursion reservations. Once you’ve ordered room service from the dining room (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) and had it served by your butler course-by-course at your leisure, you’ll be spoiled forever.

Get This: I have sailed with butlers on Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity and was pleasantly surprised to learn that in both cases, each had risen from more junior posts on the ships—and had worked onboard for at least five years apiece.

Best of All: My butler on Crystal Serenity surprised me with the news that I could order room service off the menus of the ship’s oft-overbooked Prego and Jade alternative restaurants (and was able to get us tables on otherwise full nights besides)! He also was a great source of information about ports of call and delivered a few delish tidbits about life onboard (I promised not to tell).

Cunard Line

Who Gets It: On Queen Mary 2 (QM2) and Queen Victoria, all passengers in Queens Grill (Q4 – Q1) suites get butler service.

What They Do: Butlers have been in service for Cunard since the original Queen, the Queen Mary (1936). Today’s butlers are unobtrusive and available to the passengers for every service imaginable, including in-room dining, packing, and unpacking. They are trained in Cunard’s signature White Star Service and are selected from the steward staff based on exemplary service.

Get This: Cruise Critic member Cruiseluvva was onboard QM2 with her husband while he celebrated a birthday. She was delighted with the extra steps her butler took to help him celebrate: “While we were out in Cadiz, the Butler decorated our suite with about 30 balloons and streamers hanging from the ceiling, plus balloons and streamers all around the walls—it looked quite magical when we returned. He had made a beautiful card from supplies his daughter sent over from India, and this was displayed on the drinks cabinet along with happy birthday confetti.”

As well, Cruise Critic Editor-in-Chief Carolyn Spencer Brown—after a trip on Queen Mary 2—reported that despite her own reluctance to let anyone else into her suitcase, she asked her butler to unpack for her. He did an amazing job. “Just unloading that task meant we could enjoy a long lunch and leisurely explore the ship on the normally frenzied day of embarkation.”

Hapag-Lloyd

Who Gets It: Butler service is available to passengers staying on the Penthouse Deck, Europa only.

What They Do: Among other services, the butler will unpack and pack your luggage, serve beverages and food in your suite, see that your clothes are pressed, arrange for in-suite cocktail parties, make spa reservations, and generally enhance your experience with unobtrusive service.

Get This: Most of Europa’s exquisitely trained staff speak English, but unless you are on one of the ship’s “bilingual” cruises, expect all announcements and daily newsletters to be in German. With luck, your butler can also provide translation.

MSC Cruises

Who Gets It: Passengers staying in MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida’s Yacht Club Suites have butler service.

What They Do: Butler duties include assisting passengers at check-in, overseeing the transport of luggage, unpacking, and serving traditional English tea from 5 p.m. In addition, the butler can arrange for cigars, wine, liquors, and Champagne, and pre-book tables in the restaurants, spa treatments in the Aurea Spa, ad hoc excursions chosen by the guest, and even private parties in the suite.

Get This: Somewhat disappointingly, course-by-course dinner is not available—a given on more upscale ships. Suite guests are limited to dining off of the room service menu.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)

Who Gets It: Passengers in Penthouse Suites (AE) and above are entitled to butler service; the Garden Villas (available on Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Gem, and Norwegian Jewel) have dedicated butlers.

What They Do: Butlers are on call 24 hours a day to “expedite top suite guest requests.” Their duties include assisting passengers with unpacking and repacking garments; expediting laundry, dry cleaning, and pressing services; delivering liquor, wine, and beverages; delivering DVDs and CDs; filling/emptying hot tubs; and providing shoe shine service. NCL’s butlers also help with delivery of flowers, personalized letters, and stationery on embarkation day and during the cruise. They serve Champagne; provide warm face towels and canapes on embarkation day to Garden Villa and Owner Suite passengers; ensure that fresh flowers, fruit baskets, sodas, water, newspapers, and other amenities are set up properly and changed/replaced as needed; set up private cocktail parties en-suite; and take food orders and serve in-room breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner from any menu onboard including the alternative dining venues.

Get This: Butlers on NCL ships are culled from the rank and file of the hotel department based on their excellent customer service and positive consumer feedback. As a result, NCL’s butlers retain a level of warmth and a service ethic that’s hard to find on any other cruise line. Butler service on a Freestyle ship can make the big-ship cruising experience intimate, cozy, and special.

Oceania Cruises

Who Gets It: Butlers are available in Owner’s Suites, Vista Suites and Penthouse Suites on all three Oceania ships (Regatta, Insignia and Nautica).

What They Do: Butlers act as a “personal concierge” or assistant to the guests, performing such duties as unpacking, arranging dry-cleaning, organizing private in-suite parties, and handling reservations for spa services, alternate dining reservations, shore tours, and private cars. They deliver canapes and afternoon tea, and can serve meals from any of the restaurants in-suite, course-by-course. Butlers will even draw you a lavender bath. They handle every detail from embarkation to in-suite checkout at the end of the voyage.

Get This: Oceania selects its butlers from a variety of sources including fine hotels ashore and the ranks of its hotel staff. All are trained in the in-house “Signature Service” program, developed specifically for Oceania by a leading hospitality consultancy.

P&O Cruises

Who Gets It: The two penthouses on Aurora; as well as “A” grade cabins on Aurora, Oceana, and Oriana, have a shared butler in addition to the cabin steward/-ess. On Ventura, butlers are provided in the Ventura Suites and family suites.

What They Do: Butlers provides a wide range of services including unpacking your luggage and serving meals in your suite/cabin, if required. They will draw a bath, deliver flowers when ordered, make spa reservations, and take care of special services that you might request.

Get This: P&O Cruises, which used to be a division of Princess Cruises and is still closely aligned with the U.S.-based line, is very British and much more formal than Princess, which does not offer butler service to its guests in even the most elaborate of suites.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Who Gets It: Anyone booked into a Penthouse Suite (category B) or above gets butler service.

What They Do: Regent Seven Seas butlers arrange private parties; make reservations for Signatures (the alternative restaurant); arrange for shore excursions; assist with laundry, dry-cleaning, and pressing; and serve meals course-by-course from the restaurant menus.

Get This: Regent Seven Seas Cruises is the first cruise line to enjoy membership in the Guild of Professional English Butlers, which trains butlers for service to Britain’s royal family and other royals around the world.

Best of All: Our butler on Seven Seas Navigator made sure my mother’s Bombay Sapphire gin was always cold, that there were always olives in the fridge, and made her very first “dirty martini.” He brought us coffee, croissants, and juice at a set time every morning, served our in-suite meal course-by-course, and only brought the ice cream and coffee after everything else was cleared up. When a flower in our vase drooped, he replaced it. He pampered my mother to perfection, which was exactly what I wanted.

Silversea Cruises

Who Gets It: As of June 2009, passengers staying in the Grand, Royal, Rosselini, Owner’s, Silver, and Medallion Suites on five Silversea ships (Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper, Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, and the expedition-going Prince Albert II) are entitled to private butler service. Over the course of 2009, the line will be adding butler service to every stateroom.

What They Do: Silversea butlers are available to facilitate every aspect of the passenger’s cruise experience, including unpacking and packing clothing, making reservations at the alternative restaurant, arranging a private car at the next port, drawing a bubble bath, and orchestrating an elegant in-suite cocktail party.

Get This: Silversea’s butlers come from the Guild of Professional English Butlers, trained in refined and unobtrusive service. But, the return of butlers after several years’ absence (ostensibly because many Silversea guests have their own in-home staff) has not met with the most positive of responses. Cruise Critic member Chelonia expressed that, “The butler did what had been done previously in an excellent way by the staff, and in my honest opinion, was not necessary. I felt that my privacy was being invaded.” Member LaPaloma responded with, “We had a female butler on the Whisper Grand Suite last December, but she really didn’t do much except to check to see that the maids did a good job. She did, however, deliver the snacks each evening, and took care of the laundry. I would agree no need for the expense of a butler.”

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.

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On Silversea, What Do Butlers…Do?

• luxury cruising

I have been in thrall of butlers since my first encounter with this indispensable member of the household. Impeccably groomed, his was the iron fist in the velvet glove.  Alas, my encounters with this man servant were confined to Sunday nights, “ Masterpiece Theatre ,” and the Public Broadcasting System (PBS).

It wasn’t until my first cruise on Silversea, whose service includes butlers assigned to all of its suites, I experienced this world in real life. On Silversea, your butler is, in essence, a personal assistant . He — or she — is in charge of all food and beverages in your suite, filling your mini-bar, ensuring your fruit bowl is fresh and delivering in-suite meals. Butlers oversee your wardrobe. They assist with laundry, pressing and, if you wish, unpacking and packing your luggage.

Curious how butlers work on Silversea?

Aboard Silver Dawn on its inaugural sailing last spring, I sat down with Jonas Vanden Abeele, Silversea’s Fleet Butler Service Manager, to learn more. Belgian-born Vanden Abeele, 30, already has an extensive background in hospitality. Beginning at the age of 12, he was washing pots in the kitchen of his family’s banquet hall. At 18, he graduated from hotel school in Belgium and began working in a four-star hotel. He quickly rose to head concierge in charge of valet service and porters.

At 25, determined to make a life “in service,” he chose Belgium’s School for Butlers and Hospitality . Today, Vanden Abeele trains every butler aboard the 10 ships in Silversea’s fleet.

Here, he shares his insights into the butler profession, life on Silversea and how such service will enhance your voyage.

If you think butlers are a dying breed, think again

As the super wealthy proliferate, so do butlers.  You may think that butlers are a British institution, but the world’s foremost schools for butlers are in Belgium, South Africa and the Netherlands. All offer an eight-week education to aspiring butlers. By contrast, Britain’s best-known butler school offers just four weeks training.

Where does Silversea find its butlers?

There is a surprising number of candidates with butler experience, Vanden Abeele says. Many start in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, working at minimum wages and learning the trade. “The other day, I received a resumé from a gentleman who was a private butler to the King of Saudi Arabia, he says. “We have really good people,” he notes, hailing from 19 countries, including Ecuador, South Africa and St. Lucia. “And of late, fully 10 percent of our butlers are women,” he says.

As was Rosie, my butler on my Silver Dawn voyage. Her attention to detail was outstanding. Not surprising given the training butlers receive on Silversea.

Silversea butlers go through a 108-point training program

Vanden Abeele calls his fledgling butlers “butterflies.” Teamed with a veteran, these novices “fly everywhere,” he says. “We have day butlers and night butlers,” he adds. “And we have an in-suite captain who supervises room service.” The trainees work with all of them.

Moreover, room service aboard Silversea is the provenance of its butlers, not the food and beverage department. “At least 30 percent of our guests have breakfast in their suites,” Vanden Abeele says. “You wake up, you don’t need to get dressed and your breakfast arrives.” 

Some guests take a day or two to adjust to having such service at their fingertips. And guests can pick and choose some aspects of having a butler, including packing and unpacking. Some travelers find that uncomfortable, and if that’s so, it’s their decision. If you do take advantage of unpacking, remember to leave your luggage key in plain sight.

Having Rosie draw a bath for me, part of Silversea’s Otium Wellness experience , was a first for me. Every task she executed was done with professionalism and courtesy. As Vanden Abeele notes, “Butlers are here to free up time for our guests to enjoy their vacations.”

Your butler’s attention to detail is extraordinary

The delight is in the details. Your ice bucket is filled. Each hanger in your closet faces the same direction. Your eyeglasses and sunglasses are cleaned, and your digital devices are tidied up. Your books are carefully arranged. Your shoes are polished. After one particularly muddy shore excursion, my trainers (Americans call them sneakers) were scrupulously cleaned without my even asking.  

“We always say you don’t need to see the butler, but you need to feel the butler,” Vanden Abeele says. “And you can feel it when you come into your suite.

“Now your trousers are hanging in the wardrobe or folded on your chair. It’s technique, passion, an eye for detail, anticipation and planning. That’s our definition of butler service.

“When we train, we train standards. There are standards we need to follow, Silversea standards for luxurious hotel butler service.”

One more thing…

On Silversea, butlers are known as ladies and gentlemen looking after ladies and gentlemen. Your butler is in charge of your complete satisfaction throughout your voyage and even after it.

Indeed, when I arrived home, my suitcase had been beautifully packed. The rustle of Silversea tissue had the unmistakable hallmark of the silent partner in the extraordinary service at sea from my butler, Rosie, whose work topped anything PBS portrayed.

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Cruising The Haven & Suites: Perks and Details (Part 2)

If you’ve cruised with Norwegian , you know the cruise line offers plenty of opportunities to vacation your way. Part of that service comes with even more perks if you sail in The Haven and Suites. In my previous article , I told you what it’s like before you cruise, when you check in, and what you can expect in your stateroom. Now, let’s take a look at what it’s like to enjoy Butler and Concierge Service onboard Norwegian Cruise Line ships.

Butler & Concierge Service

Before you set sail, every cruiser is required to attend a muster drill led by the Norwegian Cruise Line ship crew. But if you’re cruising The Haven , you’re in for a special treat. By the time the muster drill is over, your Butler has paid a visit and you’ll return to the suite to find your first delivery of daily treats . 

Perhaps today it's some sandwiches, or a plate of cheese and crackers and fruits.  Tomorrow could be a plate of hand-made chocolates or a canapé assortment.  Every day you'll enjoy a delivery of specially selected treats, but if there's something you prefer feel free to let your Butler know so they can bring what you enjoy!

As you’re sailing out of port, sipping on a glass of bubbly and snacking on today’s treat you start thinking about what lies ahead for the evening.  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?  Perhaps you’ll 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 ?  Whatever you decide, your first evening onboard is just the beginning!

Wherever you are on the ship your Butler and Concierge are just the touch of a button away.  Your suite's portable phone is pre-programmed to dial directly to either of them, or to your Cabin Steward.  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. 

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.  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!  The standard phone in your suite has these same numbers pre-programmed as well.

Express Exits

On port days your Concierge will arrange for you to be escorted to the gangway for an express exit , bypassing all the lines of guests waiting to disembark.  This applies even at Tender ports.  You’ll also discover that sometimes there will be a separate line for Suite or Haven guests to board the tenders when returning to the ship.  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.  This service is generally at specific times, so be sure to inquire with your Concierge if your sailing has any tender ports. 

Additional Amenities

There are select categories of Suite which come with specific additional amenities, too!  Guests booked into any Owner’s Suite or Deluxe Owner’s Suite receive three bottles of liquor from a special menu, along with unlimited mixers, sodas and bottled still and sparkling water. 

Guests booked in a Garden Villa receive six bottles of liquor along with unlimited mixers, garnishes, sodas and bottled still and sparkling waters.  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.

Guests who are booked into Haven accommodations enjoy additional perks beyond those already mentioned!  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.  Upstairs is an outdoor sundeck with padded loungers and clamshell seating.

While it may seem pretty incredible even with just these perks, stay tuned for my next article to read all about Norwegian's Haven-only areas. They're pretty spectacular!

12 Ideas For What To Ask Your Cruise Butler – and How to Tip

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If you’re planning a cruise in a suite, you might want to consider taking advantage of their butler service. Cruise butlers will pamper you like no other. But you may be wondering what to ask your cruise butler to do for you.

Let me tell you, they can do a whole lot! We’ve been on many cruises and stayed in suites, and we’ve truly appreciated what our butlers have done for us.

Our butlers have worked with our concierge team to decorate our cabin for birthdays and anniversaries. They have brought breakfast and dinner to our cabin, setting up a beautiful table for us. They have delivered champagne every day, plus orange juice to make mimosas. Sometimes they will bring fresh flowers to your cabin, especially on occasions like Valentine’s Day.

If you let them know your preferences, your cruise butler will make sure that you want for nothing on your cruise. It’s true bliss!

Your Suite Team

Rather than just your cruise butler to help you, you’ll have a team when you stay in a suite, each with different responsibilities. So, let’s go over that first.

1 | Your butler : In conjunction with your stateroom steward, your butler sets up your suite on embarkation day. On an ongoing basis, the butler:

• stocks your minibar
• brings you trays of afternoon canapés each day
• takes away your empty dishes or glasses
• brings you sparkling wine
• restocks your coffee and tea needs
• delivers your room service and sets your table for dining
• facilitates laundry, dry cleaning, garment pressing, or shoe-shine needs
• delivers your daily newsletter and other mail, such as invitations to cocktail parties or reminders of dinner reservations

2 | Your stateroom steward : Basically, anything to do with your cabin, your stateroom steward will handle for you. Your stateroom steward:

• makes your bed
• does your turn-down service each night
• tidies your cabin and bathroom
• brings you towels
• brings you extra clothes hangers or towels if needed
• provides a mattress topper if needed
• switches out your pillows if needed
• provides an extension cord for your CPAP machine if needed

Pro Tip: Remember, your butler and stateroom attendant have other passengers to help as well. Be patient, and be sure to tip according to how much extra service you’ve requested. They will truly appreciate it.

3 | Your concierges : This team of two or three crew members is responsible for helping with reservations such as for dinners or excursions. They’ll also escort you for priority embarkation and disembarkation, tendering, or priority seating at a show. If there’s a problem with your bill, go to your concierge and they’ll help you with it. If you need a new key card, ask them for help. If you have questions about a destination, your concierges are experts.

What Can Your Cruise Butler Do For You?

Your butler is there to cater to your every need. Either call them or leave them notes for when you need something special.

Pro Tip: Write out ahead of time any preferences or special requests you might have for your butler, and include your name and suite number. Give this to your butler on embarkation day.

Some examples of things that a cruise butler might be asked to do:

• Bring a throw to keep you warm on your balcony
• Empty the mini fridge of any items for sale
• Assist with unpacking
• Serve you breakfast in bed
• Arrange a special in-room dinner for your anniversary or birthday
• Provide orange juice to go with your sparkling wine
• Bring a treat like shrimp cocktails to your cabin every afternoon
• Deliver soup or hot tea if you’re not feeling well
• Bring you something to help with seasickness
• Help you plan a movie night in your suite
• Arrange a party in your suite
• Deliver a late-night snack if you know you’ll be out until the wee hours

Ultimate Cruise Planner

Need a little assistance organizing and planning your cruise? Our Ultimate Cruise Planner can help!

But perhaps the best thing about having a butler at your service is the level of personalized service they provide. Your butler will get to know your preferences and will be there to anticipate your needs and make sure you have the best possible experience onboard. If you have a request that’s outside their purview, they’ll know who to ask for you.

Pro Tip: Be sure to tell your butler if you have a special celebration like an anniversary or birthday while onboard. They will make it extra special for you.

How Much to Tip Your Cruise Butler

Tipping is at your discretion, especially if room gratuities are included in your cruise cost or have already been paid separately. However, based on the information I’ve gleaned from online cruise forums and my own personal experience, most cruisers will tip their butler extra, depending on the level of service provided.

When to tip is always the next question. Some cruisers will give their butler an incentive tip at the beginning of the cruise, then base on actual service as to how much to tip at the end of the cruise. Others only tip at the end of the cruise.

How much extra to tip depends on your financial circumstances, how much you used your butler’s services, and how efficient and professional your butler was. An average range might be between $10.00 to $20.00 per day of the cruise.

What If Having A Butler Makes You Feel Uncomfortable?

We’ve been in your shoes. Having a butler is an extravagance that most of us will never experience…except possibly on a cruise ship. But to be honest, it doesn’t take long to get used to having a butler attend to your every need. And you’ll probably miss your butler terribly when you go home.

Final Thoughts On What To Ask Your Cruise butler

Of course, all of this luxury doesn’t come cheap—cruise butlers are available exclusively to guests staying in the ship’s exclusive upscale area. But if you’re looking to indulge a little on your vacation, a suite with a butler is worth considering.

So, there you have it, everything you need to know about cruise butlers. If you’re planning a cruise and want to add a little extra pampering to your trip, be sure to look into staying in a suite. The included butler service will surely enhance your experience.

Happy cruising!

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Cruise Etiquette: Is There Any Request Too Over-the-Top for a Personal Butler on My Ship?

By Scott Laird

Butlers are a welcome amenity on many luxury cruise lines , and in top-tier suites on many others. Sort of like a stateroom attendant-meets-concierge, butlers are trained to offer polished, immensely personalized service to their guests for the duration of their voyage.

There's no request too big or small for these crew members, who are also sometimes called a concierge or suite host. Whatever their moniker, they provide fairy godmother–like service. Generally speaking, they’ll arrange reservations in onboard restaurants, book spa appointments , and deliver amenities. Other common services include packing and unpacking and arranging for clothes cleaning onboard, drawing baths, or arranging and serving meals on a guest’s balcony.

I’ve mentioned butler service to several friends over the years, and their reactions to the notion were evenly split—some appreciated that over-the-top level of service, while others seemed uncomfortable by it, particularly the packing and unpacking service. (“I don’t want somebody touching my dirty laundry!” they say.)

Shameer Ampopilakkil, the head butler onboard the Regent Seven Seas ship Seven Seas Mariner, is well-aware of many first-time passengers’ hesitations to such personalized service—particularly those hailing from countries where domestic service is uncommon in most households. He advises first-timers to take the plunge. “By outsourcing packing and unpacking tasks to a butler, guests can free up more time and energy to focus on other kinds of leisure activities, such as exploring the ship.”

For the still-squeamish, he offers advice—keep belongings guests wish to keep private in a separate suitcase, and let the butler handle the rest. Aside from packing, there are plenty of other services and perks that passengers new to butler service often overlook: The biggest one is underestimating what butlers can do.

Hubert Buelacher, hotel director onboard Crystal’s Crystal Serenity , says the ship’s butlers have gone to such lengths as disembarking at a port call to buy a specific brand of coffee a guest had requested in their suite.

In fact, these types of special requests are encouraged, according to Buelacher. Once, a guest on a Crystal World Cruise who was an avid golfer expressed a wish to tee off on the Great Wall of China. The butler was able to liaise with the shore excursion team to make that happen, and then got the ship’s carpenter to create a custom wooden case for the golf clubs with a commemorative placard to present as a gift from the captain.

On the ship, if the meals of the day don’t suit your fancy, your butler can step in there, too. “The butlers can coordinate special off-menu dishes with the chefs, as long as there is enough notice,” Buelacher says. “For example, if the guest wants the pastry chef to make their grandmother’s cookie recipe,” their butler will arrange it.

Sometimes butlers even personalize journeys proactively, according to Mark Kansley, senior vice president of hotel operations for Norwegian Cruise Line. For instance, a concierge in the line’s luxury enclave The Haven found out the couple staying in one of the suites was celebrating their 50 th wedding anniversary. So the concierge collected photos of the couple from social media and gathered them into a printed photo album to place in the stateroom along with other amenities to enhance their celebration.

While butlers are good at anticipating needs, communication is also a key part of ensuring your voyage is comfortable, says Heidi Wenger, senior director, fleet HR and crewing for Silversea. “Our butlers get to know our guests and their preferences to make them feel comfortable, paying close attention to the small details to make travelers feel at home while traveling in the world’s most remote destinations,” she says. “Speak with your butler and get to know them—this should make you feel more relaxed in enjoying their service.”

One of her favorite memories was when a guest mentioned she wanted to meet the opera singer Andrea Bocelli—an introduction the Silversea butler was able to arrange.

Generally speaking, butlers are available on cruise lines and in suite categories where guests already have exacting demands and high expectations—and the cruise lines ensure that their butlers are well-equipped to provide exceptional service at that level. A primary competency for a butler is the ability to read their guests. If they sense they’re being perceived as intrusive, they’ll adjust. If a guest proves particularly dependent on their services, they’ll provide extra attention.

Well-trained butlers are masters of understanding and anticipating all the ordinary and extraordinary quirks of travelers, and they’ll most certainly enhance any oceangoing voyage for those fortunate enough to enjoy their service.

• 5 Reasons To Love...

5 Reasons To Love Your Suite Butler on a Silversea Cruise

If you've never sailed on Silversea Cruises before, you might not realize something very special you will come to love: your Silversea Butler.

This is the only cruise line that provides its famous Butler service in every suite on the ship, where the staff-to-guest ratio is nearly one to one.  If you're trying to picture how that level of service – and butlers! - translate to your experience, here are 5 reasons the BestTrip.TV team loved our Suite Butlers when we sailed recently on the Silver Muse.

By Lynn Elmhirst, Producer and Host, BestTrip.TV

In-Suite Dining and Entertaining

Nothing is too complex or too tiny a detail for your Silversea butler.  A simple cup of tea in the early morning hours so I could enjoy the unique pleasure of inhaling sea air and watching the waves pass by was a perfect Silversea moment thanks to my butler. (All photos BestTrip.TV)

Dining and entertaining in-suite is such a pleasure on the Silver Muse.  Spacious suites have living areas that open out onto your balcony. Perfect for pre-dinner cocktails and canapés with friends. 

Our butler made that happen.  He ensured our in-suite bars were stocked to our individual preferences of wine, champagne, spirits and mix.  He delivered canapés for pre-dinner aperitifs and extra cocktail, wine, and champagne glasses. Which magically had disappeared by our return after dinner.

One of our group had brought a certain snack on board when we arrived.  He finished the package but didn't mention it.  His butler not only noticed… but replaced it with a fresh package from the ship's stores. Observation meets the service of anticipation.

Polished Sunglasses…

Returning on board the ship a bit worse for wear after a day in port called for a freshen up in my suite's full marble bath before dressing for dinner.  When I returned to my suite after dinner and the evening's entertainment, what did I find? 

The sunglasses smudged with the day's sunscreen had received the butler treatment.  My butler had polished my sunglasses and left them wrapped in a polishing cloth I took with me on the next port of call.

… And shoes

Then formal evening arrived.  Ladies and gentlemen took the opportunity to celebrate life, Silversea-style, by dressing for the evening.  That morning, my butler brought my tea and reminded me it was formal evening.  Would I need anything pressed to wear for dinner?  No, thank you, my dress traveled well.   Perhaps he could polish my formal shoes?  Well that was a splendid idea. 

I returned to my suite to dress for dinner to find them polished and presented in tissue in my closet.  A perfect kick-off to the evening!

White-Gloved Service

The white-gloved service didn't end there.  Particularly on formal evening.  Butlers stood poised in hallways outside suites ready for service, wishing guests a fine evening and even offering an escort to dinner.  The hospitality is not limited to the ladies! 

When you cruise on Silversea, don't be surprised to find yourself forming quite a bond with your suite butler. The best of them bring a genuine personal kindness and deep caring to their work as butler.  It is the person you will have the most contact with, and often a wonderful personal connection.

Suitcases and Packing

In a lovely gesture on the day before our cruise came to a close,  my butler offered to help me pack.  I'm pretty independent and couldn't bring myself to accept that assistance.  I was delighted to return to my suite to find my suitcase set out  for me with this note.  My butler had cleaned my suitcase, freshening it up in anticipation of packing and sending me on my way.

Those are just 5 ways we realized we couldn't live without our Silversea Suite Butler.  You'll have your own butler moments, too.

We all have our special memories of our cruise on the Silver Muse, where the hardest part... was saying goodbye to our butlers.

Start your Trip!

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TravelingGiGi

We’ve cruised with Oceania and it’s our go-to.

My questions (since obviously we haven’t cruised for a couple of years) are:  this is our first time  with butler service (ahhh that pricey cancelled cruise and future cruise credit)…. What does butler service mean?  Or what will they do for us?  And please offer any insight about your recent travels.

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You can use your butler for many things, especially for extra specialty restaurants if you want them. When we couldn't get extra reservations pre-cruise, the butler almost always could.  A few times when we boarded we discovered that our butler had already booked us for specialty reservations just about every evening ... many of which we cancelled.

If you want to dine in your suite the butler will bring you your dinner course by course if you wish, or more often we got the first two courses when he arrived, then called him to bring dessert.

Do you want to spring for a cocktail party in your suite? The butler will take care of it.

When in doubt, ask him if he can take care of a problem for you.

• 1 yr Host Kat changed the title to What does butler service mean?

You will be assigned a specific butler that will take care of you during your cruise.  If you order breakfast, they will be the one to bring it to your room and set up your table.  If you want/need anything during the day or evening and pick up the phone to request something, the butler will (normally) be the one to answer the phone and handle the request.  They will bring your afternoon drinks and canapes.  If you desire dinner in suite, they will handle the order and serve you course by course (or all at once if you prefer).   They do have "back ups" so if it their time off, the back up butler will handle anything you need.  They greet you with a smile and make your cruise very special.

We'll probably have a PH on the next cruise, so will have a butler. I really can't think of anything, in practice, that we'll need him for, over and above the services of the steward in the cheaper cabins.

I think once you have one, you never want to go back! There is nothing like him setting up breakfast for you every day or showing up at 4 PM or whatever time you wish with champagne or your drink of choice, snacks, etc. 

janecambridge

Different way through to tender, passing the queue! I was a bit uncomfortable for  with that. 

My friend I travel with is not fond of Red Ginger so I often get the butler to bring me my favorite soup to eat in the cabin before we go to the Main Dining Room or the Terrace. Julia

On 6/14/2022 at 11:59 AM, janecambridge said: Different way through to tender, passing the queue! I was a bit uncomfortable for  with that. 

Really? This was not reveled to us. We were in an Oceania Suite last October and didn't know there was a tender fast-track... is this for PH and up? We are in a PH in October. I too would feel a bit uncomfortable but it would be good to know if we were faced with a time crunch!

I can't say we were wowed by our butler's performance. We barely asked for anything except a standing order of tea and pot de crème every night. We even only ordered breakfast in the suite once. Whenever we asked about specialty restaurants we were told to call ourselves. We did get a very detailed unnecessary tutorial on the smart TV. Admittedly, it was Riviera's first trip back...  and it probably depends on the luck of the draw.

Yep Clairol. When we were OC we were taken down by the butler via the hospital entrance.  We were also fast tracked by the butler with our passport handover/stamping.  But let me warn you …..We were anchored at Easter Island awaiting a tender.Our butler took us straight down and we were first on the tender. Big mistake….. the seas were extremely rough and it was uncertain we would be able to leave the ship. This caused a slow pass from ship to tender. We felt very sick watching everyone trying to get in tender.We will ask to be last next time!!  Moral of the story…. Don’t get on first if rough weather!!!! 

19 hours ago, clairol said: Really? This was not reveled to us. We were in an Oceania Suite last October and didn't know there was a tender fast-track... is this for PH and up? We are in a PH in October. I too would feel a bit uncomfortable but it would be good to know if we were faced with a time crunch!   I can't say we were wowed by our butler's performance. We barely asked for anything except a standing order of tea and pot de crème every night. We even only ordered breakfast in the suite once. Whenever we asked about specialty restaurants we were told to call ourselves. We did get a very detailed unnecessary tutorial on the smart TV. Admittedly, it was Riviera's first trip back...  and it probably depends on the luck of the draw.

Nope...  Had them 2 x...     same experience   seemed both silly to demand all sorts of stuff easily done by us.... A hold over from Victorian and feudal times.... Telling some one what  to do just because you could?????    I have been in  high level  positions in the past  and don't need to have subordinates to pander and   serve me.    That is not a need  is have.

I sail O because of its non class ambiance   A butler is not  in that keeping to me.

 In truth it seemed intrusive to cabing life...having this stranger stopping by with out warning..  No thank you  and rather disingenuous to  say the leasr.

Last two times it has just felt kinda awkward. Him standing in the room and us just wanting him to leave. Different strokes etc but we found no use whatsoever over the 20+ nights that we couldn’t live without. 

roberts2005

Never had a butler get me extra specialty dining reservations.  Always did it my self by going to the desk as soon as it opened in the morning.

We get a Penthouse suite but we do it for the larger space, not the butler. They are very gracious and will always ask us if there is anything they can do for us or get us.  We'll usually get breakfast served in the cabin once per cruise but that's about it. We've never asked him for any extra speciality restaurant reservations.  If there was such a thing as the Penthouse without a butler, we'd be good with that. 

1 hour ago, Fredrik said: Last two times it has just felt kinda awkward. Him standing in the room and us just wanting him to leave. Different strokes etc but we found no use whatsoever over the 20+ nights that we couldn’t live without. 

Why was he standing in the room ??

1 hour ago, roberts2005 said: Never had a butler get me extra specialty dining reservations.  Always did it my self by going to the desk as soon as it opened in the morning.

Have you ever asked them to?

1 minute ago, ORV said: Have you ever asked them to?

Yes. Most times with no success.  That has been why I go do it my self.

‘’is there a trick in how and when to ask?

1 minute ago, roberts2005 said: Yes. Most times with no success.  That has been why I go do it my self.   ‘’is there a trick in how and when to ask?

Perhaps it's just the luck of the draw as to what Butler you get. I believe some might have more pull than others. 

1 hour ago, ORV said: Perhaps it's just the luck of the draw as to what Butler you get. I believe some might have more pull than others. 

Hopefully I luck out next month

8 hours ago, LHT28 said: Why was he standing in the room ??

Lingering making awkward conversation. It felt kind of strange, it would have been better if he made any kind of suggestions of what service he would provide but to us I was just really confusing. Maybe it was the restart I don’t know. I would rather just have my stateroom attendant. 

First sailing with O in April in a PH mini.  We found our butler useful, especially good for room service breakfast, aside from that meal we really don't prefer to eat in the room so can't say about served meals from the dining room.

We did ask for help getting an additional reservation in Toscana.  He did so, but choose a time I'd never have requested (8:30 or 9PM) and a sharing table, which again I'd never have requested given the level of Covid on the ship.  What was odd is he didn't asked our preferences for either, just booked it, my impression was the minimum of effort was expended.  For example, he could have asked our preference, or to offer more seamless service he might have checked our other existing reservations and noticed the clear pattern (7:00, dining alone).  Still we appreciated the effort.  BTW, what happens if you skip a specialty booking and go to the GDR - they graciously call you out - 'you have a booking in Toscana tonight don't you, shall we cancel that for you'?

Our butler proved his value when our shower door closure broke on night 1.  He coordinated (repeated) efforts to get it properly repaired and shared my frustration at the first 2 halfhearted attempts.

Not having ever had a butler before we could surely muddle through without, but the extra service was appreciated, understanding how it works and what is possible, we will make fuller use on our September sailings. 

2 hours ago, jondfk said:  BTW, what happens if you skip a specialty booking and go to the GDR - they graciously call you out - 'you have a booking in Toscana tonight don't you, shall we cancel that for you'?    

So they should 🙄

Only so many reservations are booked at specific times so if you change your mind please cancel & let others on the wait list dine in the specialties

21 hours ago, ORV said: Have you ever asked them to?

Why when it takes the same effort to  call the butler to have him call for reservations that you could have done already abd then call you back,,,     Saves 3 phone calls.........  Come on is that not silly ??? 

2 minutes ago, Hawaiidan said: Why when it takes the same effort to  call the butler to have him call for reservations that you could have done already abd then call you back,,,     Saves 3 phone calls.........  Come on is that not silly ??? 

Not at all, you might be told no, but a Butler with clout could make it happen for you. 

Our Butler was GOLDEN! On a 46 day cruise October 16 to December 3, we only ate in the TC or GDR when we wanted to, otherwise about 40 nights in Specialties.  Granted the passenger count was 300 to 1100 but our Butler was booking tables for 6 for us.  They can make things happen and if you do not exactly like the reservation time, just stop in at the restaurant and ask the Maitre d if they can accommodate you.  Don’t sell your Butler short and just ask.  Be a little flexible on which restaurant because some nights they are just jammed.   Ciao,

2 hours ago, ORV said: Not at all, you might be told no, but a Butler with clout could make it happen for you. 

I guess, amigo, I have never had that problem.; always been able to get something, its not that important to me on a ship with 5-6 placed to feed each night...........I ain't that picky or wound that tight that not getting everything I want is going to change my life.......

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See inside a new ultra-luxury river cruise line that's charging up to $59,520 per person

• Newcomer Riverside Luxury Cruises wants to break into the growing river cruise market.
• The ultra-luxury cruise line  operates former Crystal ships in popular European rivers like the Danube.
• Riverside's 2024 cruises start at $1,055 per person for four days.

A new ultra-luxury cruise line wants to be the swankiest travel-by-river vacation option.

To do so, it's enticing cruisers with truffle-infused butter, $320-per-person dinners, and butlers that can be beckoned with a simple WhatsApp message.

Affluent travelers , meet Riverside Luxury Cruises.

The budding company first set sail in March 2023. With a year of service under its belt, its three ships are now sailing some of Europe's most popular rivers — starting at more than $260 per person per day.

Riverside is operated by Seaside Collection, a European hotelier.

The firm had its sights set on a river cruise venture since 2018, Jen Halboth, CEO of Riverside Luxury Cruises, told Business Insider.

Ironically, COVID-19 was the reason it got into the business.

Crystal Cruises declared bankruptcy in early 2022 amid the pandemic. Shortly after, Seaside purchased and updated five of the then-defunct cruise line's ships.

Three of these vessels now make up Riverside's fleet. The other two are being leased to competitor Uniworld River Cruises.

River cruising has become increasingly popular as wealthy travelers gravitate to ultra-luxury small-ship vacations.

River cruise ships are much smaller than their behemoth ocean-based counterparts, allowing Riverside to sail in waterways like Europe's Rhine, Rhone, Danube, Main, Moselle, and Saône rivers.

Along the way, guests can explore destinations many giant ships can't easily access — like Budapest, Hungary; Frankfurt, Germany; and Amsterdam — sometimes visiting more than one port in a day.

One of Riverside's shortest and cheapest 2024 voyages starts at $1,055 per person for a four-day Danube River cruise from Passau, Germany, to Vienna.

Alcohol and excursion packages can tack on an extra $75 to $175 per person per night.

Looking to ball out? The most expensive and longest itinerary is $59,521 per person for a three-river, 22-day cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest, Hungary, in the most expensive suite with the most inclusive package.

To compare, the cheapest 2024 voyage with all-inclusive luxury competitor Uniworld River Cruises starts at $2,000 per person for an eight-day Danube River sailing.

River cruisers tend to be over the age of 55.

But the new company is targeting guests 45 years old and older, specifically those who frequent luxury vacations but have yet to try a river cruise.

"New luxury travelers want to be pampered, get off and have an adventure, and come back and be taken care of," the cruise line's CEO said.

"Pampering” they will get.

Of Riverside's three ships, the 394-foot-long, 74-foot-wide Mozart can accommodate the most guests — up to 162, not including the 82 crew.

Yes, it's larger than Uniworld's ships, which range from 32 to 159 guests. But it's also significantly smaller than Royal Caribbean's new 9,950-person Icon of the Seas ocean vessel.

Like most cruise liners, Riverside's three ships have spas, buffets, and plush lounges and bars.

During the day, travelers can enjoy lunch at the open-air grill and relax to live music courtesy of Steinway and Bösendorfer pianos, no less.

At night, they can dine on a seven-course meal at the 295 euros ($320) per-person Vintage Room.

Riverside’s ships have up to 5 restaurants. Vintage Room is the only specialty option.

The cost to dine includes a wine pairing and plates like veal with truffle and chanterelle mushrooms and "surf and turf" with beef sirloin and scallops.

But don't expect a lackluster, rushed meal at the other complimentary options: "This is not a churn-and-burn," the company's CEO said of the ships' Waterside restaurants. "You come in for fine dining."

Infused, whipped butter is apparently one of Riverside's hottest commodities.

Sometimes, it has chiles. Other times, it's infused with citrus. If you're lucky, you'll get one with truffles.

"People were raving about our butter," Halboth said. "Everyone's waiting to see what butter they'll get at dinner each night."

Need to sleep off all that dairy? You're in luck. Every cabin has a king bed.

Riverside's suites range from 194 to 883 square-feet. These high-end cabins include butler service, stocked mini-bars, and espresso machines.

Some suites also have double-sink vanities and walk-in closets, a hallmark of an ultra-luxury cruise vessel .

Does Riverside’s more than $260 per person, per day fare seem reasonable now?

If yes, book soon. It'll only get more expensive from here.

These fares don't offset the amount Riverside is spending on amenities like the upscale food, according to Halboth. To make up for these expenditures, the cruise line plans to raise its prices gradually over the next two years.

The company's CEO said bookings have been 'a little lighter' since the start of 2024.

But the back half of the year is "filling up" thanks to Americans: About 70 to 80% of its guests are from North America, the company said.

Riverside will operate its Mozart, Ravel, and Debussy ships for three years as it 'hones the brand,' Halboth said.

The cruise line's two additional vessels would join its fleet in the next few years.

Given the growing popularity of river cruises , it's a good time for companies like Riverside to start expanding.

However, it could face plenty of incoming competition.

Jamie Loizou, the UK managing director of luxury river cruise line AmaWaterways, is forecasting 2024 as a "pivotal" year for the river cruise industry, noting that 15 new river-based vessels are expected to launch this year, Cruise Critic reported .

• Main content

10 Luxury Cruise Lines That Will Make You Want to Ditch Plane Travel Forever

Posted: April 10, 2024 | Last updated: April 10, 2024

Thinking about booking your next dream vacation? As stunning as land-locked adventures and beautiful hotels can be, there’s something to be said about sailing the seas. Fortunately for us, nowadays, there are cruise ships that far exceed the family-fun agenda of the classic companies so often advertised on TV. While there’s absolutely nothing wrong with those cruise liners, there’s something special about not only traversing the ocean but doing so decked out to the nines. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up the best luxury cruise lines of 2023. Ahead, uncover the company that best aligns with your idea of the ultimate water-bound getaway.

Silversea is the “jewel in the crown” of the Royal Caribbean Group, not to mention the original luxury cruise line, first entering the space in 1994. The company touts 12 all-inclusive ships with destinations all over the world. Whether you want to explore the American West Coast, South America, Northern Europe and the British Isles, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, or even Antarctica, Silversea has a cruise to fit your fancy.

Speaking of fancy, the most luxurious cruise that Silversea offers is its 125-Day Chile to Norway sail, which rings up at $94,700. You don’t have to invest that much to enjoy a Silversea cruise, though. No matter which type of suite you book, you can expect butler service, optional 24/7 in-suite dining, endless access to premium beverages and craft cocktails, and complimentary caviar around the clock.

Explore Silversea Cruises

Paul Gauguin

Paul Gaugin stands out for its single-ship escapade into the luxury cruise space. With a variety of cruises that explore French Polynesia and the South Pacific, Paul Gauguin is a small-ship cruise line with 7-, 10-, 11-, and 14-night itineraries that focus on intimate experiences, delectable cuisine, stunning stateroom balcony views, butler service, and more. With a 1:1.5 crew-to-guest ratio, you can rest assured knowing that all of your needs will be met aboard the m/s Paul Gauguin.

Explore Paul Gauguin Cruises

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

Scenic is unique in that it not only offers luxury ocean cruises but river cruises, too. The brand prides itself on operating and innovating with guest experience in mind. As such, all of its cruises have so much to offer voyagers, from extensive dining, leisure, and wellness options to striking design elements that will make you want to stay aboard for much longer than your itinerary.

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has nine ships with oceanic destinations spanning from the Arctic and Europe to the Caribbean and Australia. Meanwhile, if you find yourself in France, you may want to check out Scenic’s beloved river cruises, in which you can tour the Seine in the utmost style.

Explore Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

Ponant has a fleet of 13 luxury cruise ships with destinations dotting the globe. The award-winning French cruise line is beloved for its tailor-made voyages, in which guests have access to myriad bespoke experiences both on and off board, from in-room dining to once-in-a-lifetime immersive excursions.

Since Ponant ships offer smaller capacity—more akin to a private yacht experience—they’re able to navigate private ports and preserved locations that large-scale cruise ships are unable to access. While aboard Ponant’s all-inclusive ships, you can anticipate exceptional French cuisine, delicious fine wines, complimentary Champagne and spirits, room service, and more.

Of course, if you need further inspiration to look into the cruise line, perhaps the fact that three-mast yacht, Le Ponant, is part of the Relais & Châteaux portfolio will do the trick.

Explore Ponant Cruises

Crystal is renowned for its personalized voyages all over the world, not to mention its palatial suites that will leave you picking your jaw up off the floor. In addition to well-appointed design, the cruise line offers an impressive dining experience, with authentic cuisines from all over the world. So whether you’re in the mood for American, Italian, Peruvian, or Japanese food, you’ll have ample options to choose from.

It’s also worth mentioning that the luxury cruise line took it to the next level with its spa, Aurora Spa. The gorgeous, sea-view spa offers a variety of face, body, salon, and healing treatments, including massages, facials, acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and even IV drip therapy—so you won’t have to worry about feeling hung over at sea (especially considering the cruise line offers complimentary Champagne, fine wines, and premium spirits).

Explore Crystal

Windstar Cruises

Windstar Cruises operates a six-ship fleet dedicated to extraordinary sailing experiences. With small ships that carry less than 350 passengers, Windstar prides itself on offering guests intimate, aesthetic, unforgettable voyages spanning from Asia and Australia to Italy and Iceland.

While the staterooms and suites are stunning and the shore excursions are aplenty, it’s the food that really stands out aboard Windstar. As the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation, Windstar offers a number of themed culinary cruises with food and bev from some of the most notable chefs of today, including Maxime Bilet (The Cooking Lab) and Jose Mendin (Pubbelly Noodle Bar, Habitat, Baja Bao).

Explore Windstar Cruises

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

The Ritz-Carlton is synonymous with luxury, so it’s no surprise that the company extended into oceanic adventures with a fleet of three superyachts. Where the Evrima was built in 2021, the Ilma and Luminara yachts are forthcoming in 2024 and 2025.

While classic cruise lines have a capacity in the thousands, often edging upward of 4,000, the Ritz-Carlton superyachts offer a more curated experience to 500 passengers or less. From the outside, the yachts are sleek and serene, fitting in beautifully with the sea. Within Evrima’s walls, though, moody modern interiors with magnificent ocean views await.

Guests can look forward to soaking tubs, expansive private balconies complete with sun beds and a whirlpool, walk-in wardrobes, and more. As far as destinations are concerned, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection embarks on oceanic adventures in the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

Explore The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection Cruises

Seabourn is a luxury cruise line that speaks to our soul—and for more reasons than the simple fact that it touts a “Veranda Suite Upgrade.” The luxury cruise line sets sail in the Arctic, Canada and New England, the Amazon, Arabia, Africa, and India, and more.

Each of the fleet’s yachts, which carry between 458 and 600 guests, is outfitted with ocean-view suites only, so no matter what excursion you book, you can anticipate traveling in luxury style with a picturesque backdrop. You can also look forward to mouth-watering cuisine courtesy of renowned chef Thomas Keller.

Explore Seabourn Cruises

Cunard is known for its iconic black funnels, yes, but more so for its unparalleled large-scale onboard experiences. Although each of the cruise line’s ships carries upwards of 1,500 passengers, the four-ship fleet is adored for its luxury itineraries, stylish design, tranquil spa offerings, delectable cuisine, and unmatched comfort at sea.

Truly, if your goal is to book an unforgettable, Instagram-worthy cruise, Cunard is the way to go. From the stunning suites (decked out in pops of rich color, sumptuous textiles, and spectacular lighting) to the picturesque destinations, Cunard has it all.

Explore Cunard Cruises

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

If you want to get the most bang for your buck when booking a luxury cruise, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is a prime pick. The all-inclusive cruise line crafts a new definition of the category with complimentary roundtrip airfare, free unlimited shore excursions, include 2- to 3-night land programs, on-the-house bar and lounge experiences, and more.

The six-fleet cruise line is also known for its gorgeous interiors, complete with modern aesthetics, Art Deco embellishments, stunning chandeliers, and more. When traveling with Regent Seven Seas Cruises, guests can traverse the seven seas, with destinations in Africa and Arabia, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the Caribbean and more. And if you don’t want to pick a single destination, there’s always the option to book a grand voyage or world cruise, which can last up to 168 days and cost upwards of $100,000.

Explore Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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