Here is a fun article about butlers, including those on Regent, fromt the Orlando Sentinel

CRUISE REPORT
Oh, Jeeves: Grab your lifejacket
A personal butler on a cruise can be costly yet effective for discerning travelers.


Arline and Sam Bleecker | Special to the Sentinel
Posted February 11, 2007


To many cruisers, the notion of having a personal butler on board is like sprouting an extra thumb -- a mostly unnecessary appendage. After all, isn't a cabin steward's attention service enough?

On occasion, our stateroom accommodations have included butler service and, frankly, we had no idea what to do. Beyond asking the tuxedoed young man to make certain our cabin was stocked with bottled water, we could think of little else to request. The butler would have gladly unpacked our suitcases or done our laundry, he said, but we declined.

Our curiosity, however, was piqued. How do passengers pamper themselves with butler services, private concierges and even excursion-desk personnel? We asked cruise lines to reveal some requests and discovered that they range from the ridiculous to the sublime.

A Regent Seven Seas passenger, for example, asked a concierge to have the ship turned around because, he said, "The view from my window is not very good." Others have asked if butlers could accompany them ashore to cater to their needs in port. Obviously, there are limits to which whims can be fulfilled.

Some Regent passengers have requested a private dinner table, set up in the ship's galley, for a ringside seat at mealtimes. And in fact, Regent does extend this privilege sometimes, a spokeswoman said, depending on the number of requests, itinerary and an evening's theme.

Many lines seamlessly handle passengers' hankerings. On Oceania Cruises, for instance, a suite passenger with a ravenous sweet tooth insisted that at precisely 2 a.m. each day of the cruise, the butler deliver to his cabin a 16-inch, chocolate-chip cookie-dough cheesecake and a pot of hot cocoa.

Holland America's team met this challenge: A passenger on a three-month sailing carried aboard a suitcase brimming with greenbacks because, for personal reasons, he preferred paying for everything in cash. His peccadillo was drinking Remy Martin Louis XIII cognac and his wife's was Cristal Champagne. The couple frequently hosted lavish parties for 80 or more, arranged by the concierge. At one gathering, they gave each guest a bottle of costly vino, a gesture that obligated the concierge to obtain several cases of wine in ports the ship visited. By midcruise, the couple's lavish lifestyle depleted their cache but, according to the line, the gentleman "sent for his son while the ship was in Hong Kong to deliver [another] suitcase full of money to [him]."

Another HAL passenger, in a penthouse suite on the Amsterdam's world cruise, was eager to catch the views from Sugarloaf Mountain while the ship was docked in Rio de Janeiro. Unfortunately, the mountain's cable car was not working. Quick-thinking personnel at the ship's excursions desk chartered a chopper to fly her to the pinnacle.

For that passenger's flight home, the ship's staff arranged for a limo, a police escort and a crew member to accompany her (and her million-dollar jewels) to the airport -- a story that even has a Cinderella ending. According to a HAL representative, "Somehow, there were some sparks flying in that limo," and the passenger is now married to the crew member who escorted her.

Some passengers' wishes require the services of normally unseen personnel. A Windstar passenger with a penchant for frogs was smitten by the frog-shaped bread the chefs had baked for the ship's barbecue night. She asked to take the bread home, which required that it first be varnished to preserve it. Mission accomplished, courtesy of the ship's carpenter.

On super-luxury lines, you would expect pampering to come with the territory. But even well-heeled passengers can push the envelope. A Silversea passenger on a sailing in the Mediterranean was an avid skier. When he learned that the Austrian Alps had received an overnight blanket of snow, he wanted desperately to tackle the slopes. Thing is, the ship was heading to Venice.

"He asked our concierge if he could make arrangements for a private jet to fly him to Innsbruck when the ship arrived in Venice," a spokesman told us.

A private jet made the flight and, after an afternoon of skiing, whisked the passenger back to the ship just in time for dinner. The cost of his afternoon of skiing: $50,000 -- plus a tip for the resourceful concierge.

Cruising is synonymous with romance, and Norwegian Cruise Lines burnished that reputation during a Hawaii cruise, when a penthouse passenger decided to propose to his significant other but sought to do it with flair. He consulted the ship's concierge, who suggested arranging for a charter plane to take the couple on an aerial tour of a nearby island. Meanwhile, at the beach near the ship, the concierge would gather branches, leafy vines and large stones to spell out "Marry me" in the sand.

And one more extravagant indulgence ended happily ever after.

Amazing what some people will ask -- turn around the ship so my view is better? I don't think so! Like the writers, I probably wouldn't know what to ask of a butler. I wouldn't want to put him to any trouble!

On the other hand, someone to do laundry .... hmmmmm ....

I don't quite know what to do with him, either. Last year on Navigator, he arranged a cocktail party in our suite. On Voyager, he made sure Mark had an unending supply of Pellegrino water, and the bowl of mixed nuts never ran dry. The first one we ever had was on Mariner, and we disappointed that one badly; we didn't even take dressy clothes and had room service snacks for dinner.

On O they list the tasks the butler is expected to do, like unpack for you. We've never had a butler, let alone help unpacking. That to me would be uncomfortable because I wouldn't know where my things were. I might try it so we have the time in Istanbul. The worst I can see happening is that Frank will have my underwear in his drawers or something like it. I use the pack it bags anyway.

I know what you mean Kathy. I would be worried that the butler wouldn't sort my undies right either. They would need to be placed in the proper order. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.... :D

Don, you crack me up!!!

Nancy

Well, you know us accountant types, everything in the little spreadsheet boxes. No margin for error!

Don,

You know, the stores carry undies with the days of the week printed or embroidered on them. Then, it's a no brainer for the butler!

When we've had a butler, I panic that our luggage is going to arrive at our suite and we will be somewhere else on the ship and he will try to unpack for us while we are gone. Sorry, but I don't want some guy I don't know stowing away my underwear.

The only things I like about having a butler are, the same person brings you your breakfast each day (and therefore knows your preferences), and maybe having him arrange a cocktail party.

But these things certainly aren't a necessity! We'd never book a suite just because it had butler service, that's for sure.

I like that $50,000 skiing trip story...geez! Makes you wonder how these people were raised...

I agree Kristin - might be nice to have if you had larger suite and could have a cocktail party - we would not do well with a "butler" just the word annoys me - I have to leave the house when my cleaning woman comes as it bothers me to realize she has to do this type of work - I know I am paying her but I still feel guilty -

We had a butler last year on the Navigator and he was sweet but we were clueless on how to really "use" his services - eventually he'd bring the makings for my cosmo every evening with a cocktail shaker (we had the vodka on the bar) so he brought the limes and cran juice etc. when he brought the canapes. He also delivered breakfast everyday which was nice.

When we both got sick and stayed in our suite for a week he'd bring extra boxes of kleenex - top drawer service LOL! He always wanted to deliver dinner but we were not interested in eating anything at that point - even chicken soup was over the top for us. :(

Joanna - the only butler I want to see (and would see often) is our pal Juan Pablo from Buenos Aires. He's got a way with an ice bag, and is ever so easy on the eyes.

Michele has dibs on Juan Pablo, though.


Cheers, Anne

Now you're talking butlers!!! I might twist my ankle if I had eye candy helping it to heal!!! "He's got a way with an ice bag" - did Billy Joel write similar song??

Oh yea, Joanna, oh yea!

Just back from New Orleans. The whole town looked like Mr. T wannabes with all the mardi gras beads dripping from their necks.

We had a pretty successful time - three parades, 75 necklaces, seven of the Krewe beer glasses & lots of other toys. Yep, if you can't catch 'em, grab 'em out of the gutter. Now was that beads or the opposite sex? Most of the Mr. T wannabes can't remember the next morning.

Cheers, Anne

This is the kind of cruiser I'd rather not be on the same ship with...

My first Voyager cruise, i was upgraded due to a major screw up on their part, so i had a butler and 2 cabin attendants (those were the days). I thought about having the butler unpack for me, but I too felt funny about a man unpacking my undies, so I had 3 people waiting on me, and the only thing I ever asked was that they make sure the regrigerator was stocked at all time with TAB!
Lynn

Lynn: Now that's my idea of service TAB TAB and more TAB - Joanna

Well, if I have to trade a few hours touring in Istanbul and unpacking, I think I will pack my unmentionables in a suitcase that I tell the butler to leave for me. But if he can hang our clothes up, that would be terrific and one less thing I will need to do.

I used to feel I had to clean up for the cleaning lady. But one wise cleaning lady told me if I did it, she would not have work. And we all need to feel that we have skills to be useful.

Yeh, or just have all the undies in one corner of one suitcase, so you can open it, scoop them out, and leave the rest for him! Too bad butlers are usually men, a female butler might be nice in this circumstance. Have I told you how jealous I am, Kathy?

Well, you will just have to know that when we take the cruise on the Bhosphorus, I will hear David's voice saying it was his best travel experience ever. You, of course, are welcome to join us on any cruise we have planned or welcome to plan one with us for the future.

Oh gee Kathy, yes it was a highlight for both of us, but especially for David because of some triggers from his childhood dreams. This is one I would love to be going on with you guys, for sure. Just let me hold on for the 2008 scheds so I can start dreaming!

I am sure the butlers have many interesting stories. I was actually a ship's physician on the old NCL Starward and Norway (ex-SS France)on a few occasions when Bert and I first moved to Miami years ago. That was an interesting experience, though it might have been more fun if I had done that while still single...

Kathy,
A nice thing for your Oceania butler to do is "draw you a bath"..bubbles please..and bring you a glass of Champagne ..
:app: :app:

That would be nice, Claudia. Thanks for sharing that!

We have the best butler ever, this trip. There is something new, a "butler menu" with a list of possible canapes for him to bring. And he will bring as many as we ask for, I guess; yesterday was big prawns and cocktail sauce, and a plate of crudites with ranch dressing. We've asked for a repeat of that for today.

Last night after dinner, we found a mousse cake with "Happy Anniversary", and a bottle of Heidsieck Brut on ice. We were stuffed, so I took a picture of the cake and then put it over on a smaller plate and into the fridge.

The captain's welcome party was very well attended; my hair simply wouldn't behave, so we were there only long enough to shake hands with him, then went on to Compass Rose. The pool deck was packed again today at lunch time; the grilled fish was great.

The linens are lush! Our stewardess is very experienced and efficient. It's just overall a great cruise so far.

Pam
I'm so glad that your cruise is so good!! Thanks for taking the time to report for us!!!!
Enjoy!!!!!!!

LOL Pam, just what was your hair doing?

Curling in front of Capt??? Pam he'd never chase me away due to the "doo" :D

LOL! I have to admit that I hate the keyboard on this laptop when I am constantly getting the stupid little pop-up reminding me that I might need to log off now. The comment with the hair was probably that I didn't want to have a picture made but I guess the popup cut off part of my post. I don't even remember now, so it was totally inane.

Pam, sounds like a great time. You are making me really, really wish to be on board a ship again. Oh, and I almost always do my best to avoid the photographer if I can!