Andi - Thanks for posting. This is a good topic for discussion.

We haven't chosen a butler as part of our RSSC trips (saving $$ to pay for more cruises). We have gotten to know a number of folks on trips who have opted for the butlers. A few are thrilled with the extra attention. On one recent cruise I learned that room service breakfast is brought by the butler each day rather than a different waiter from the room service staff. One other couple loved setting up dinner parties and had the butler help them with reservations at Signatures and Latitudes and arrange for tables. Most of the comments have been neutral - ie, the appetizers are a nice touch but they can't figure out what else to ask the butlers to do. For some, they could just as easily call room service for the appetizers and get exactly what they want. Some have been pretty negative - ie, the butlers are asked to handle certain things (don't know exactly what's on that list) and because they are helping other passengers in their assigned areas, service is actually slower for the passengers than if they called directly and were served by the regular staff.

Just my two cents. Cheers, Anne