Originally Posted by
Randyk47
You’re right and what I was trying to say, maybe unsuccessfully, that it can look a bit over the top to somebody who is just seeing the ads and has not actually been on a cruise with Seabourn or Silversea. Indeed Silversea has butler service for every cabin on every cruise and I didn’t mean to imply they don’t. What I was saying is at least one of Silversea’s ads has a line up of white gloved butlers greeting you dockside as you board. OK that happens but in 72 days on Silversea in the last four years it’s happened once. Personally we’ve had six diffferent butlers and without exception they’ve been excellent. They don’t hover though and I think adjust to their passengers and provide assistance and service they sense the passengers want or need. Within reason they’ll do as much or as little as a passenger asks or expects. It’s also not a one cabin one butler relationship. While I’m not sure of the exact number I’d say the ratio of cabins per butler is around 10 to 1.
You're exactly right. I saw (from our balcony) aboard Silversea the white gloved butlers greeting those who went to the evening convert at Ephesus a few weeks ago. Also, I think you're spot on describing the suite "butler". It's rare they just come by with snacks (for example), but when called, they answer. On our first Silversea cruise, we did have a wonderful butler who came by upon leaving port in some rocky seas asking if we would like some tea. "Oh yes, please." It was perfect timing and was the perfect elixer.
Back to the OP's question, we have always (except our very first sailing) booked with our travel agent who was Virtuoso related and is now Signature. She has always gotten us some OBCs. I'm still trying to figure out how to maximize our OBC credits.