Photos from Fantasy Eastern Concierge cruise

[reimero]

I was fairly disappointed in St. Maarten shopping as well. It was obviously set up for high-pressure, no-research purchasing. That's one thing I did do: I scoped out domestic price ranges for some stuff (MUCH harder to do with jewelry!) and came away fairly disappointed with what they were offering.

Also, the "Disney Recommended" shops are shops that pay Disney to get listed on the maps and mentioned in the onboard shopping sessions. I figure Disney would dump a company that was selling fake goods, but despite what the cruise lines tell you, there is no guarantee you're getting the best deals or best service. You're just buying from somebody who advertises through the cruise line.

There is one exception to the above, though (it's not the most cruise-friendly thing, but well worth the excursion if you have the time and money): Tijon Parfumerie in Grand Case (on the other side of the island) was absolutely wonderful. It took a rather pricey taxi to get there, but we really enjoyed it.

Sorry for the threadjack...

 

[jegsnakkernorsk]

I was fairly disappointed in St. Maarten shopping as well.
Sorry for the threadjack...

Very helpful! Thanks for posting! There is always something for me to learn.

 

[reimero]

Very helpful! Thanks for posting! There is always something for me to learn.

By the way, I'm sorry we missed you on the cruise, we were on the same sailing!!

 

[jegsnakkernorsk]

By the way, I'm sorry we missed you on the cruise, we were on the same sailing!!

cool! Wish we were still sailing!

 

[jegsnakkernorsk]

For the most part our cruise had what we call in Naples, Florida, "Chamber of Commerce Weather" where it only rains at night or before the tourists are out of bed. As we arrived in St. Thomas the rains lingered from the night before's thunderstorm. Even with the storm we had smooth waters - so no sea sickness for any of us.

loved the big weather sky. but dad was beginning to doubt he'd be golfing this morning.

 

[jegsnakkernorsk]

It was fun to sit on the verandah and watch us come into St. Thomas and the way the ship backed into the port.

Back in the stateroom - our roses from last night at Remy are looking great!

They lasted the whole cruise.

Our room had postcards and concierge stationery.

This is a folder each stateroom/family gets from the concierge with all your appointments and your itinerary in it. You get it the first day when you meet the concierge in the lounge and they help book you anything you didn't before you left.

 

[speedo]

Dad had golf first thing in the morning and was off with 4 other men from the Fantasy to the Mahogany Run Golf Course. This was a Disney arranged excursion. I did research it before I signed my dad up for it. It seemed like a great course for an avid golfer such as my dad. It also included a nearly impossible devils triangle challenge where you’d get a certificate if you didn’t lose any balls on three of the toughest holes. I knew this would add even more fun for my dad so signed him up for it through the concierge onshore team.

We three women met with the sisters from Buffalo for breakfast in the Royal Court. We got to point out our royal court table to mom who was in Palo the first night we ate there. Breakfast was really good and we had a nice table by a porthole. We watched a security boat go by us several times. It would seem Disney hires security to circle the ship while in port? It wasn’t coast guard – definitely private security.

We headed on shore for just a little bit and went to the port store that sold us the camera in St Maarten the day before. There is another store by the same name at the port in St Thomas. They are only linked by name and would not give us a refund. I really find those stores to be shady. The receipt says no exchanges or refunds. They are just enclosed street vendors as far as I am concerned. So definitely won’t step foot in one again.

We went to the US post office and mailed a couple postcards and letters off. They got home before we did!

Then it was back to the ship. My sister and I went to the Spa for the rainforest room while my mother found a quiet spot to read. The spa was nearly empty which was so nice! We tried out all of the different showers. I liked the tropical shower the best. Some of the settings in the showers were too cold for me - but definitely had fun trying all of them. We also sat in the steam room and the sauna. Neither was too comfortable. I remember the Magic had more comfortable seats that enticed you to sit longer. We also sat in the hot tub for a bit. Those were nice - looking out to St Thomas. But again, I had a difficult time relaxing so I tried out the warm stone loungers. These were not very comfortable and not very warm. On the Magic they were so comfortable that I fell asleep! When we went back to the locker room, I noticed another steam room so I sat in it for awhile. It was actually better than the one in the rainforest room. I would go there in the future and skip the cost of the rainforest room : ) In conclusion the rainforest room was nice and I am glad I tried it but I like the rainforest room on the Magic better.

My sister and I found our mom reading in the shaded area near satellite falls but we decided to spend some time on the concierge sun deck. I love the seats they have there! So comfortable. Finally got to relax a bit. Soon, our dad found us and he was sporting new Mahogany Bay Golf gear. Hat, shirt and a certificate for conquering the Devils Triangle! He was the only one from the group to get the certificate. So needless to say he was happy!

At some point later that afternoon we were in the concierge lounge when the concierge team presented another certificate to my dad for having the best golf score from the Fantasy! This certificate came from the Fantasy and had a magical moments button along with it. My dad said he had to represent the concierge floor. The concierge team seemed as happy as my dad about his good golf game!

Back in our room was a paper cutout of our private cabana along with 9 cabana wrist tags for Castaway Cay!

My sister and I skipped the show that night. I think it was a comedian but we couldn’t get ready in time. We met everyone at Ohh La La for drinks before dinner. It was the best bar for our group. Not ever being crowded, we could always stake out a corner with enough space for all of us. I brought the cabana cut out wrist tags to hand out to our friends. Well actually I forgot it at first and had to go all the way back to the room to get it : )

We were at Enchanted Gardens for Dinner and once again dinner was fantastic. It was the prince and princess menu that night and I ordered the Tom Turkey dinner. So good! We attempted to have leftover wedding cake for desert but it was dried out already.

I was too tired and was sick with a sore throat so I didn’t go out after dinner with the rest but went back early instead.

 

[Holly123]

Thank you so much for ALL of this information. You have been amazing and I feel like you have already made our trip so much more enjoyable due to all of the information I was able to gain. Thank you for this major effort on your part!We already made the decision to go concierge - mainly because my DH is high maintance - but you have really made me trust my decision.

 

[Alohagirl73]

Loving this trip report. Setting sail on Fantasy in a little over a month. This is making me even more excited than I already am. Thanks for sharing your report along with your awesome pictures.

 

[chris31997]

Ladies, you are doing a great job with your report. Making it very difficult not to book a cruise right now

On a side note, I am from Naples, FL originally also My family is still there. I am tickled pink to find someone else form Naples on the DIS Board who like DCL.

 

[luvslikepi]

I was fairly disappointed in St. Maarten shopping as well. It was obviously set up for high-pressure, no-research purchasing. That's one thing I did do: I scoped out domestic price ranges for some stuff (MUCH harder to do with jewelry!) and came away fairly disappointed with what they were offering.

Also, the "Disney Recommended" shops are shops that pay Disney to get listed on the maps and mentioned in the onboard shopping sessions. I figure Disney would dump a company that was selling fake goods, but despite what the cruise lines tell you, there is no guarantee you're getting the best deals or best service. You're just buying from somebody who advertises through the cruise line.

I feel the same way about most cruise shopping. I prefer shopping for items that are handmade/known to the island I'm visiting. For instance my mom bought a beautiful hand carved wooden box in Antigua straight from the young lady making them. I loved shopping for spices in Tortola and I'm excited to try the Guaveberry liquor from St. Maarten. For me the travel shopping experience should be about local items - not duty free gems and the like.

 

[reimero]

I feel the same way about most cruise shopping. I prefer shopping for items that are handmade/known to the island I'm visiting. For instance my mom bought a beautiful hand carved wooden box in Antigua straight from the young lady making them. I loved shopping for spices in Tortola and I'm excited to try the Guaveberry liquor from St. Maarten. For me the travel shopping experience should be about local items - not duty free gems and the like.

I agree completely. We were actively looking for hats to protect us from the sun, hoping for something with a Caribbean flair, and the only ones we came across were made in China.

(Then again, driving back from Florida to Indiana, we stopped in Georgia to get gas and freshen up a bit, and among all the pecans and peaches and stuff there were small-batch old-fashioned hard candies which LOOK like they're made locally, but we happen to know otherwise: they're a product of our hometown in Indiana! Same basic thing.)

 

[jegsnakkernorsk]

I'm excited to try the Guaveberry liquor from St. Maarten.

Straight, I thought it tasted like cough medicine. But we also had it blended and I think they called it a Guavaberry Colada. I would recommend that - very refreshing. Joyce took us to a woman well out of the way but think the folks by the port probably make that as well.

 

[jegsnakkernorsk]

Ladies, you are doing a great job with your report. Making it very difficult not to book a cruise right now

On a side note, I am from Naples, FL originally also My family is still there. I am tickled pink to find someone else form Naples on the DIS Board who like DCL.

Very cool! I'll try to private message you.

 

[jegsnakkernorsk]

Thank you so much for ALL of this information. You have been amazing and I feel like you have already made our trip so much more enjoyable due to all of the information I was able to gain. Thank you for this major effort on your part!We already made the decision to go concierge - mainly because my DH is high maintance - but you have really made me trust my decision.

That's awesome! I'm so glad that I could help a perfect stranger(s)! I found it hard to find details on the concierge rooms and experience when I was planning so I knew I wanted to take photos of everything.

I know you and your high maintance man will love it. This trip Sis and I traveled with our high maintance parents and that's why we went concierge and they went with the one bedroom and they were thrilled.

Sis and I liked the Magic too last year (not concierge) but the Fantasy is really something special, especially concierge. You'll be happy you splurged!

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[jegsnakkernorsk]

Loving this trip report. Setting sail on Fantasy in a little over a month. This is making me even more excited than I already am. Thanks for sharing your report along with your awesome pictures.

No problem! Working on the TR and going through all my photos is helping me relive it. It was a great vacation. You'll have so much fun!

 

[jegsnakkernorsk]

If you have a little more time one morning, I would recommend checking your Navigator to see when breakfast is served in the Royal Court (you don't need reservations but they only serve during a pretty limited window of time). It isn't buffet but a menu and table service.

I also enjoyed getting to see more of the room than I did at dinner (the center Royal Court table is amazing but you don't get to see the murals with all the diners).

In the center, there was our table.

the wallpaper

the ceiling

the drapes

everything is a combination of the classic princess films - mirrors, slippers, birds, roses, and carriages.

the view

at dinner I didn't even know there were windows!

Breakfast is more than one course, of course. So to start...

a yogurt dish

This is french toast and grilled pineapple with strawberry. Delicious. Mom ordered something else - eggs benedict maybe - but decided she wanted to come back tomorrow with Dad (who is out on a golf excursion right now). She had this the next day.

We had a nice breakfast, just us gals, with the sisters from Buffalo and then headed off to explore St. Thomas for the morning.

 

[JKSWonder]

Really enjoying the trip report. Such great pictures of everything. Glad to know about the drinks to stay away from in the bars before I charge $10 to my stateroom for one!

 

[CindyIsMyFave]

I am loving all of the restaurant decor! But those touches in the royal court dining room are amazing. At least I think so, since I'm still a little princess obsessed!

 

[jegsnakkernorsk]

Really enjoying the trip report. Such great pictures of everything. Glad to know about the drinks to stay away from in the bars before I charge $10 to my stateroom for one!

Finally, my drinking is helping people!

Thanks for posting!