As with so many things, expectation levels are the key variable. While competence is bound to vary among any group of service providers, the range of customer expectations is much wider. We have had butlers on every RSSC cruise we have taken since they have been introduced. Our expectations have been low, we saw them more as a marketing device than an added service. We didn't choose to have a butler - they just came with the suite. Anyone who expects that the butler is stationed outside their door to satisfy every whim will surely be disappointed. At best, they are intended to add a more pesonal level of service - sometimes this irritates people - "every time we call for something, we get the butler"

We have always found the butler willing to help with reservations, tours, and always punctual with breakfast (we expect that)! We do not expect him to help with in-suite gatherings - he has other people to attend to.

Have we been irritated? Yes. We were in the furthest forward suite on the ship and were continually reminded by that butler what a long walk it was from the galley!

But the little surprises count too. When one butler noticed that I was using a different sweetener than those available on the ship, he brought a box from the galley for our use without being asked. Another noticed, from our food orders that I was a low-carb type - he made sure that I was supplied with mixed nuts at snack time. That exceeded my expectation level!