Ah the BUTLER.

Interestingly I have some people who "insist" on a butler and have had them on every RSSC voyage. I think it is a status thing. I think that the Butler is really an extra to the suite just like another amenitity might be. Pay the money for the suite and as Margo says above if there is a butler too then that is just part of the suite.

They handle a lot of suites. I think your expectations need to be set very low, it is really just having the same person deliver your breakfast and your little goodies each night. They cannot go outside of the normal guidelines of the ship for liquor, early debarkation or anything of that nature. Usually they will try to secure dinner reservations for you but I dont think they have any extra pull here they just call and see if there is space. I am surprised a butler said no to that and this I would put on my comment card. I would still do it personally and not wait for the Butler.

Yes they bring the tray of little goodies in the evening, they bring you your breakfast and in most cases they will make the reservations at the restaurants for you. If you have people in the suite they will also set up an area for food and ensure you have all the set ups etc that you need. They will not stay and act as bartender as they have too many suites to handle although they may pop in from time to time. This is the one service that you cannot really get unless you have a butler. They just go a step further. Room service will bring food but a butler will set up the table with lots of table cloths, make it look pretty.

I have had butlers on quite a few occassions. Only twice did I really see any great value. Once was on a Baltics trip on the Voyager. We had a butler named RAJ and also on the Diamond a Butler/Head Waiter named Daniel. These two were special.

Raj it turned out was the Head of all the Butlers. He knew service. Seemed to anticipate things before we could think of them. This was one of the trips we lost clothes and he helped by getting us all kinds of things and then the laundry. He was spot on all the time. The last day he knocked on the door and said "I am an expert at packing, why dont you go out and when you come back everything will be packed". I felt like I had stepped back into the times when "ladies" never packed but had their "staff" do it. Well I said NO somehow I cant have someone packing all my dirty clothes. Another butler somewhere offered that too.

Daniel, well he is just a class act. Handsome, courteous just a joy to be around. He has been on the Diamond for years. I think he is from Portugal. It wasnt that Daniel did all that much for us it was just that you enjoyed him so much. He would stay and visit because WE kept him and gave us insight into things in the ports. We had a few people in and the set ups were fantastic and he did hang around more and helped.

Sometimes the butler has been an irritant, wanting to stay and talk. The last one I was really busy on my lap top working and he would not leave. He desparately wanted to do something and kept asking, is there anything I can do, do you want any laundry done, do you want any reservations, are you hungry, can I straighten up your closet. I just wanted him to go away.

So if you luck into a Daniel or a Raj you may really enjoy having a butler. I have had some people come back and say the Butler was great. In most cases though it is just another person handling your suite who can do just a few things the regular steward cant do. (a) set up for parties and (b) get dinner reservations and spa appointments - pending availability. I still think you are better off doing your own spa and dinner appointments.