What Butlers Will Do

What Cruise Ship Butlers Will Do for You

By Janice Wald Henderson
Cruise Critic Contributor


Cruise ship butlers remind me of fairy godmothers (or godfathers); they magically transform pleasant cruises into extraordinary ones. No longer reserved for luxury lines, butlers now pamper passengers booking suites on many mainstream and premium ships, too.


While most butlers offer similar services, they might perform duties differently. Some act more like attentive cabin stewards, keeping ice buckets full and delivering laundry; others coddle you, for instance, setting an elaborate in-suite breakfast table befitting royalty. And despite the "Downton Abbey"-style British butler image, these ship professionals can hail from numerous countries, including India and the Philippines. Many are women.

Not all luxury lines employ butlers; Seabourn does not. And only Silversea and Crystal Esprit (the 62-passenger all-suite Crystal Cruises yacht) provide butlers to all passengers, not just for those in the costliest accommodations.

Here's the skinny on what butlers do and don't do, and who's got them.

What Cruise Ship Butlers Will Do For You

Most cruise ship butlers provide these 20 services:

1. Pack and unpack luggage.
2. Offer pillow menus.
3. Make specialty restaurant reservations.
4. Work with the chef to expedite passengers' special dietary requests, such as paleo or gluten-free meals.
5. Book all appointments, such as spa, beauty and private fitness training.
6. Arrange shore-side dining and entertainment, and private shore excursions.
7. Deliver fancy canapes, like foie gras terrine and crab legs, and present in-room tea service.
8. Serve dinner course-by-course, in-suite or on your balcony.
9. Handle laundry, dry-cleaning and pressing requests.
10. Stock and refill a personalized in-suite bar.
11. Bring CDs, books, board games and DVDs to rooms.
12. Mix cocktails, and deliver cappuccinos and espresso.
13. Draw a bubble bath.
14. Deliver upgraded turn-down amenities, such as a chocolate box, rather than a sole morsel.
15. Give advice. Butlers know their ships inside-out, and are often familiar with ports. They might advise on everything from the finest shopping street to best hours to hit the onboard fitness center.
16. Decorate accommodations and present bubbly and celebratory cakes on birthdays and anniversaries.
17. Organize in-suite cocktail or dinner parties.
18. Shine shoes, place bookmarks in books, wrap eyeglasses in cleaning cloths.
19. Problem solve, like finding an appropriate crew member to fix broken eyeglasses or stuck luggage locks.
20. Provide 24/7 service, with substitute butlers during breaks.

On ships where gratuities are not included in the fare, expect to pay a higher daily gratuity for butler service. If gratuities are included, butlers don't expect them but nearly always accept tips. Do tip extra for special, more elaborate, services, such as coordinating and serving a cocktail party in-suite or any other activities above-and-beyond the typical daily services.

What Cruise Ship Butlers Won't Do For You

While butlers will try their best to fulfill all your requests, they don't do everything you might wish. Here are five things your butler won't do:

1. They won't work exclusively for you. Most butlers juggle several suites; for the best service, plan ahead. Make requests, such as for dining reservations, private shore excursions and beauty appointments, well in advance so butlers can manage their time to make your wishes reality. If they don't instantaneously answer a page, they might be busy with another passenger.
2. They won't babysit -- although they might assist in hiring a sitter and often play with children, time permitting.
3. They won't act as aides, although always assist in an emergency. If physically challenged, travel with a companion.
4. While some butlers can be chatty -- particularly with solo passengers seeking company -- they aren't personal companions. They can escort you to a restaurant or show, but they won't sit with you.
5. They cannot always fulfill challenging requests, such as asking 15 minutes ahead for dinner reservations in the ship's hottest restaurant. That said, butlers try to make magic -- perhaps serving dinner from that restaurant en-suite, or securing a table at a later hour, instead.