Everything you can ask your cruise ship butler to do, from the sublime to the ridiculous
My husband and I were on board a luxury river ship in Europe trying to open a fancy bottle of French wine we had purchased on shore — we were struggling with the corkscrew.
I’d had this issue once before in a hotel, and the result was red wine splashed around the room. Fearing a repeat, I called for our butler, who arrived promptly, opened the bottle with ease and then went off to find a cheese he said would pair perfectly with the wine.
Cruise ship butlers are trained to pamper, after all, and that means no request is too ridiculous.
If you book a suite with butler service, this person can be a trusted adviser. He or she will serve up surprises, offer tips to make your cruise even more enjoyable and handle requests with aplomb.
What does it take to be a butler?
First, get the “Downton Abbey” image out of your head. Butlers are not necessarily British or male. They come from around the world, including India, the Philippines, Indonesia, Eastern Europe and Italy. That said, some are trained in the English style of butler service.
For instance, on Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises ships, butlers are trained by the Guild of Professional English Butlers.
Your butler will likely have studied wine presentation (right down to where to place the Champagne bucket) and learned how to interact with guests. The training includes both classroom instruction and role-playing.
A cruise ship butler once told me the necessary skills are humor, being super organized, having enough confidence to offer advice and being able to intuit guest needs. Your butler will study your habits and think ahead on ways to please.
Which cruise ships have butler service?
At ultra-luxury line Silversea Cruises, every guest stays in a suite with butler service. Other lines with butlers for top suites include Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Azamara Cruises, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, as well as river line Uniworld Boutique River Cruises.
For those staying in Star Class suites on select Royal Caribbean ships, the butler role is fulfilled by a Royal Genie, as in, “Your wish is my command.”
Whether you have a butler or a genie, the idea is the same.
Related: 7 reasons you should splurge for a suite on your next cruise
What can my butler do for me?
If you’re wondering what your butler can do for you, you’re not alone. After all, very few guests in cruise ship suites have a butler at home. Here are a few ways to take advantage of butler service on your next cruise.
Unpack luggage
Your butler won’t force any services on you. But if you want your clothes neatly tucked away, your shoes shined, wrinkles removed from your ballgown, your laundry whisked away or even a button replaced, these are some of the services your butler is available to perform.
If you forgot to pack your dress shoes, your zipper breaks (or you can’t reach the zipper on the back of your dress), your mascara is too gooey or you just need advice on what to wear on a particular night on the ship, call your butler.
Your butler will also be available to help you pack up at the end of your cruise.
Serve breakfast in bed
Want your butler to bring you breakfast in bed? All you need to do is ask. You can also order other meals in your cabin.
If you do dinner in your suite, your butler will likely bring you the dining room menu so you can make your meal choices, and your selections will be delivered course by course, so nothing is tepid (unless it’s supposed to be).
Once, after a long day ashore, my husband and I just wanted a hamburger and fries for a quiet in-room movie date night. Our butler arranged everything and suggested we order brownies for dessert. He delivered our burgers on a silver tray.
Your butler can also bring you afternoon canapes to go with your cocktails, which he or she can prepare — in addition to keeping your minibar stocked with your favorite beverages. You can also request afternoon tea or a cappuccino whenever you like.
Want popcorn while you watch a movie, have a caviar craving or need a midnight snack? Call the butler.
You can also ask your butler for service outside your suite. For instance, on a cruise on Silver Origin in the Galapagos, a pal and I watched the sunset in a hot tub while our butler served us chilled sparkling wine.
Related: Cruise ship room service: A line-by-line guide to in-cabin dining
Book reservations and shore excursions
Your butler’s focus is great service, and he or she may enlist other crew members to help fulfill your requests. Depending on the ship, your butler might help you arrange dinner times, spa treatments and even shore excursions — or refer you to a concierge who can help make reservations.
It’s my experience that butlers really know the best things on the ships and often in the ports as well. For instance, if you have questions about whether the seafood lunch buffet is worth attending, ask your butler. If you want to dine in port and aren’t sure where, ask your butler that question, too.
Rearrange your cabin furniture
You might have heard your butler can have your furniture rearranged — and it’s true.
For instance, if you’re not a fan of decorative pillows, you can ask the butler to have them removed. You could also request a chair or have lamps added to your cabin.
One regular guest in Cunard’s Queens Grill suites asks for an extra dresser for storage, has the couch moved and the chairs turned around, and, since she prefers showers, has a wall-to-wall rod hung above the tub so she has extra space for hanging clothes.
Host a party
Want to throw a little party? Butlers can help you entertain guests. For example, on my Silver Origin cruise, one guest wanted to have friends over to her suite before dinner. Her butler removed furniture to make space, added extra chairs and supplied several bottles of sparkling wine and four kinds of empanadas.
When my husband and I decided to throw a cocktail party on our Asia honeymoon cruise, the butler went all-out arranging nibbles, from nuts and cheese to cold shrimp and crab.
If your suite has a large enough dining table, you can also have your butler arrange a dinner party.
On all-inclusive ships, there is typically no extra charge for these extravagances, and that might be the case on other ships as well, as cruise lines often want to pamper their big-spending passengers in the fanciest suites.
Your butler can also help you celebrate a special occasion. Butlers will have experience preparing celebrations ranging from birthdays and anniversaries to marriage proposals. They can help you come up with over-the-top ideas, whether that means filling a room with roses or balloons or arranging a secret spot for you to get down on one knee.
Be ship guides (but not dance partners)
Your butler might offer you a tour to help familiarize you with the ship. Some lines, such as Celebrity Cruises, have the butler meet you at the pier and escort you on board.
The butler will also be available to lend an arm as you head to dinner, an activity, a cocktail hour or a show but will not stay and sit with you. If you want a dance partner, you’ll need to rely on your ship’s dance hosts.
What won’t a butler do?
Your butler won’t make your bed or clean your cabin. Your room steward will do that.
Butlers also don’t babysit or provide any nursing services. If you need that, you’ll have to bring your own assistant.
Can I call my butler at any hour?
Cruise ship butler service is available every hour of every day. That said, when your butler is on a break, his or her colleagues will handle your requests.
Your butler will carry either a telephone or pager. However, it’s important to remember when making requests that your butler is not yours alone. Cruise ship butlers typically cover the needs of 12 to 16 suites, meaning 24 or more guests per cruise.
Should I tip my butler?
The decision to tip your butler is very personal. I tend to leave a cash tip at the end of the cruise, along with a thank you note.
It's important to note that not all daily service charges include butler gratuities. Check with your cruise line for information on whether they will receive a portion of the daily tips which will be added automatically to your onboard bill.
On all-inclusive ships with gratuities included in the cruise fare, I still leave a thank-you tip.
Related: 13 best all-inclusive cruise lines
Bottom line
When you’re on a cruise and have access to a butler, the opportunities for moments of surprise and delight are boundless — and butlers will tell you that’s what makes their job truly enjoyable. One Uniworld butler, for example, had a particular trick up his sleeve: He’d surprise guests by sabering a Champagne bottle.
My favorite surprise was on a Silversea ship when my husband and I returned from a desert excursion in Wadi Rum, Jordan. Our butler, with assistance from our cabin steward, had prepared a bubble bath complete with floating flowers. There must have been some radioing ahead as the water was perfectly hot and the bubbles perfectly frothy when we entered our cabin.
Also, on a Regent Seven Seas sailing, one butler went all-out for a couple celebrating their golden anniversary by shooting a video with family members on board and having friends send in clips online, too. The couple’s favorite songs were added as background music. When they returned to their suite on their anniversary, they found balloons and a banner, a cake, Champagne and the video ready to play on their TV.
According to the butler, the guests responded with happy tears.
Whether you want help with something as simple as getting acquainted with the ship or as elaborate as throwing an unforgettable soiree, butler service on a cruise ship can be a sublime experience. In fact, the most frequent request butlers say they hear from guests is, “Can you come home with me?”
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- 15 ways cruisers waste money
- 15 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
- The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.