I Had A Butler On A Cruise… (What I Wish I Knew)

Having a butler on your cruise sounds very fancy – and it is not something I had ever wished for, or dreamt about!

When I had the opportunity to stay in the Yacht Club onboard MSC Euribia (on a press trip), I jumped at the chance.

I knew some cruisers love having a butler and rely on them heavily for making bookings, escorting them around the ship, and bringing drinks and snacks.

I thought that having a butler would be a waste of time for me, but some things about the whole experience really surprised me. It definitely isn’t something I’ll be looking for in future, but I will miss a few of the benefits.

I only ever used my butler when I needed to. I don’t really want someone else unpacking my suitcase and putting my things away for me. I prefer to do that myself.

#1. Embarkation, Disembarkation & Skipping Queues

This is the most frequently mentioned benefit from people who have stayed at the Yacht Club. It is also the one I enjoyed most on MSC Euribia.

Your Butler will escort you to your cabin, and you won’t have to stand around in check-in queues like everyone else. You will also get priority disembarkation at the end of your cruise.

My butler escorted me off the ship and into my taxi at the end of my cruise.

I think this is one of the things guests like best about the Yacht Club experience. It is a really nice perk to have.

#2. Bringing Things To Your Room (Snacks, Drinks, Small Requests)

You can request that the butler brings things to your cabin. I, of course, asked for some cookies, and they arrived pretty quickly.

There was also a daily delivery of canapés, and items in the mini fridge were restocked daily. I just helped myself whenever I wanted to.

Other guests asked for tea, coffee and warm pastries – nothing was too much trouble for the butlers, it seems.

One of the perks of my Yacht Club suite was that I could choose a free bottle of spirits for my cabin. I chose a bottle of Jack Daniels.

I am not a big spirit drinker, so I managed to prize the bottle away from Captain Hudson and take it home for my pet sitters. It is your bottle of spirits, there is no problem with you taking it home.

#3. My Suite & My First Interactions With My Butler

We were escorted from the terminal by our butler and taken to our cabin.

The butler asked about our drink preferences and helped us set up free Wi-Fi on our devices.

WiFi for two devices each was included, which was very handy for me, as I was working onboard.

Although I am very capable of following instructions and connecting my devices to the WiFi, I am sure the extra help is appreciated for those not as tech-savvy as me.

When we arrived in our suite, there was champagne, fruit and chocolate strawberries waiting for us.

We were made to feel very welcome, like nothing was too much trouble.

The butler offered to unpack for us, but i declined, as I prefer to do that myself.

4. Booking Entertainment & Handling Logistics (Used More By Some Guests Than Others)

Some guests rely on their butlers heavily for planning.

They can make dinner reservations, book excursions, spa appointments and escort guests to the theatre.

Of course, Yacht Club guests have their own dedicated seating area in the theatre, so there is no need for you to get there early to secure a good spot.

I did get our butler to book some speciality meals for us while onboard, but we didn’t use him for much else.

#5. Problem Solving

In the unlikely event of you having any issues whilst onboard, the butler is on hand to sort things out for you.

This means the cruise is extra relaxing, knowing everything is taken care of.

I didn’t have any issues at all when I stayed in the MSC Yacht Club, everything was well organised and enjoyable.

6. The “Full Butler Experience” (Is Less Common Than You’d Think)

Some guests do use everything on offer.

Some of the services butlers regularly provide are:

• They escort guests on and off the ship, ensuring they avoid any queues or delays.
• They can organise excursions and make sure you have priority tendering for tender ports.
  • They escort you to the gangway or tender boats, often using lifts/elevators not available to non-Yacht Club guests to avoid long queues.

• They will unpack your luggage and repack it at the end of the cruise.
• They provide a personal tour of the ship, including showing you around the Yacht Club areas and the key facilities you might need.
• Butlers can escort you to speciality restaurants, the theatre and to spa appointments.
• They will help you to navigate around the ship and avoid crowds.

#7. The Reality Check

Not everyone finds having a butler as enjoyable as they expected.

Others have said that Yacht Club is very nice but overrated.

I really enjoyed my Yacht Club experience. Having all the facilities of a big ship within easy reach, but still having your own, exclusive, quieter area to retreat back to works very well for me.

Others might prefer to spend their money on a luxury experience such as the ones offered by the likes of Scenic or Emerald.

A small, luxury ship might suit you better, but you won’t have theatre shows, spa access – or the butler you would find on an MSC Ship.

It really is down to personal preference.

Have a look at my experience on Emerald Azzurra below.

She is a small ship, without many of the amenities found on larger vessels (including butlers) – but she provides a totally luxurious experience.

#8. My Experiences

I never thought I needed a butler when cruising, and was nervous and a little uncomfortable about having one.

In practice, our butler was wonderful, but we really didn’t use him very much.

I mainly used my butler for:

• Boarding and getting off the ship, which avoided any queues or delays.
• Bringing snacks (e.g. cookies) to my suite.
• Keeping the mini bar well stocked.

I did NOT use my butler for:

• Unpacking or packing
• Planning my days onboard or on excursions.
• Constant service – I preferred to go off on the ship alone and find what I needed.

The butler isn’t something most people use constantly, but it is nice to have him there if you need any extra assistance.

The Awkward Question of Tipping…

I know that when I talk to many (particularly British) people about having a butler they express concerns about tipping, and how much would be appropriate.

I suppose it really depends on how much personal service he provides, and how much cash you have available.

I didn’t feel pressure to tip and I didn’t tip as the cruise went along.

When I was onboard MSC Euribia, I gave him around €70/£60/$80 at the end of the cruise.

That was within the normal range, as I understand it – although I am aware that crew on small, luxury ships often receive far more in the way of tips.

Before You Go

The Haven is Norwegian’s equivalent of MSC Yacht Club. Have a look at what I thought of The Haven below:

I Stayed in The Luxury Area of a Cruise Ship That Most Guests Never Get to See

I waited for years to take my parents on a Viking cruise. I had done a short press trip on a Viking ship, and had been totally wowed by the whole experience. See if Viking was as good as I remembered below:

I Took a Luxury Cruise After Years on Mainstream Lines: Here’s What Surprised Me