Q&A with a Butler

Whether you’ve stayed in a Suite or not, you’ve seen them aboard a Uniworld ship: the Butlers. A highly regarded position amongst our crew, butlers serve as personal assistants to our Suite guests, elevating your trip with thoughtful service. Keep reading for an interview with one of our most tenured butlers below!

What are some examples of services the butlers perform?
In addition to packing and unpacking, shoe shining, and sabering, butlers also take care of room service for Suite guests, including a full selection of delightful offerings always available in their rooms (such as the coffee and tea selection, spirits, wine, and snacks). Moreover, the butler will liaise with relevant parties across departments to arrange any requests, reservations, or special events for their guests.

What is sabering?
Sabering is the art of opening a bottle of champagne with a special sword that has two blunt sides. The tradition of sabering dates to Napoleon times, where legend says that his officers celebrated their victories by using their sabers to open bottles of champagne. While the exact origin of the tradition is debated, it has since become associated with celebrations and special occasions.

What hints or information do you look for to personalize the guest experience?
The communication between guests and butler is always imperative. When we learn more about you, we can add special flourishes to our services. Food and beverage preferences, even dietary requests, help us select the in-room amenities and deliver the proper treats—for example, if you enjoy a nightcap, we might stock your Suite with a decanter of your favorite whisky. Or if we know you are partial to macarons, we may surprise you with a plate of them to snack on while you are getting ready for dinner.

Special occasions are also good to know about, so we can arrange little celebrations. As are any interests related to the itinerary. 

Is there anything your team would like to do more of, but guests don’t know to ask?
Suite guests love our high tea service, but they often do not realize it’s something we can arrange for them. It’s a lovely way to pass an afternoon of sailing in the privacy of your own room.

How does one become a Uniworld butler?
You might be surprised to learn that the process to becoming a butler at Uniworld begins with an open call. Everyone is welcome to apply. In fact, it’s a highly aspirational position for the crew, so many are excited for the opportunity. In addition to a resume, applicants are asked to write a motivational letter describing their desire to serve our guests. The candidates with the highest level of experience and most inspiring letters are then selected for an intensive training process.

I won’t go into too much detail (we must protect some industry secrets, after all). What I will say, however, is that training the sort of butler that upholds the Uniworld standards and leaves a lasting impression on our guests goes far beyond the simple teaching of skills. It’s about honing values and passion, and the little details such as body language and attention to detail. How to walk, talk, and stand just right.

What would you say is the benefit of having a personal butler when the service onboard is already so thoughtful?
The butler is a higher-class addition to our already high-class service. Because we are dedicated entirely to the Suite guests, we come with an extra degree of attentiveness. In other words, you have a personal assistant.

Do you have any stories you’d be able to share? Perhaps about special moments you were able to create for guests?
Well, normally I would not share guest stories, as discretion is of the utmost importance for butlers. I do, however, have a couple stories that my guests have shared publicly already, so I am comfortable passing them along here.

The first is of a time I arranged to pick up a guest from a train station (not a typical Uniworld service, but something I was able to arrange as their butler). I arrived in full butler uniform—white gloves, tail jacket, a fresh white rose at my lapel—and I could tell the warmth of my welcome and attention to detail was important to them. It was a magnificent start to their trip and something they will not soon forget.

This second story is just one example of how we can personalize a trip for returning guests. One year, I had a guest whom I knew had stayed in a Suite before, so I reached out to the butler network to learn her preferences and find ways to cater to her before she even arrived. I discovered that she always liked to drink using half-cut straws. So when she came aboard, before she even had to ask, I made sure to stock her mini bar with the straws cut just the way she liked them. I was touched by her reaction when I escorted her and her spouse to her room. As she noticed them and said “Look, honey, they remembered,” I could tell I had managed to make her feel taken care of.

Why did you become a butler? What does the role mean to you?
I believe I choose this path just because of the desire of bringing the service to another dimension. I love working with people, and I especially love to make them feel at ease and appreciated without asking anything in return. It is an amazing feeling to find out that your guests are content and sharing their experience while you are part of it.

You are essential in training our next generation of butlers at Uniworld, but could you tell us about how you learned the tricks of the trade?
I enrolled in the world's premier butler service training institute, The International Butler Academy, which offers an unparalleled and exclusive professional education in butler service, house management, and hospitality.

This unique training program provides innovative and comprehensive instruction that prepares the graduates to excel in the world's most prestigious households, five-star hotels, resorts, private clubs, and cruise lines.

It was a10-week training program, and a real roller coaster of emotions and experiences as I participated in hundreds of hours of trainings. It all took place on an amazing property: a real castle.

I graduated from The International Butler Academy second in my class with a score of 930 points out of 1000.

Note: The contents of this article are accurate as of the publication date. Uniworld itineraries and inclusions are subject to change at any time.