Just back from 7-night Eastern on the Fantasy (Concierge)! Ask me whatevs.

[artnerds]

Just back from a fantastic 7-night voyage on the Fantasy...Eastern Caribbean itinerary C (St Maarten, San Juan, Castaway Cay).

Captain was Cpt. Thord Haugen (Commodore Tom had just left for the Magic ).

Cruise Director was Darren.

Concierge Hosts were Julia, Kemisha, and PJ. Julia left for her vacation at the end of our cruise, with Amanda replacing her. Kemisha is leaving on vacation next Saturday; not sure who will be replacing her.

Weather was perfect (mid to upper 70s for the most part) and seas were good.

Happy to answer any questions.

 

[VbChristy]

Which cabin were you in? I wondered about doing concierge in a family veranda and how that would be vs a 1 bedroom. We did a 1 bedroom on the Magic but I feel I would be priced out of the 1 br on the fantasy with as much as I travel...

Also, Did you try for and were you for and were you able to get a canaba at CC?

 

[gssmks]

I have two....1. Is internet free in either the concierge cabins or the lounge? I have seen mixed reports. 2. On the top deck, are there tables with chairs where you can sit and still see the big screen they show all the movies on? It has been several years since I cruised Disney and I've only been on the Magic. One of my favorite things to do was to sit up there and watch the movies. I liked being at a table so I had a place to sit my snacks and drinks, etc. I am considering a cruise on the Fantasy and from all the pics and videos I have watched, it appears that there are no tables in that area and no true lounge chairs. All I see are regular chairs lined up side by side in rows.

 

[artnerds]

Which cabin were you in? I wondered about doing concierge in a family veranda and how that would be vs a 1 bedroom. We did a 1 bedroom on the Magic but I feel I would be priced out of the 1 br on the fantasy with as much as I travel...

Also, Did you try for and were you for and were you able to get a canaba at CC?

We stayed in 12006 (1 bedroom, port side) and have previously stayed in 12506 (1 bedroom on starboard side). I haven't been in a Concierge Family Verandah for comparison, but will be finding out as we have one booked on the Dream (12516) for later this year.

We got a Serenity Bay cabana with no problem. From what I was told by the Concierge Hosts, if you are Concierge guest and want a cabana (including the ones on Family Beach), it is pretty much a certainty that you will get one if you put in your request with Shoreside Concierge 5 days before the booking window opens.

 

[artnerds]

I have two....1. Is internet free in either the concierge cabins or the lounge? I have seen mixed reports. 2. On the top deck, are there tables with chairs where you can sit and still see the big screen they show all the movies on? It has been several years since I cruised Disney and I've only been on the Magic. One of my favorite things to do was to sit up there and watch the movies. I liked being at a table so I had a place to sit my snacks and drinks, etc. I am considering a cruise on the Fantasy and from all the pics and videos I have watched, it appears that there are no tables in that area and no true lounge chairs. All I see are regular chairs lined up side by side in rows.

1. All guests get a 50 MB free package of internet and concierge guests get an additional 100 MB free package. For many people, this is plenty to get them through the cruise if they are just going to check email or post on social media every once in a while. Beyond the free 150 MB, the cost is the same as for everyone else. The internet in the Concierge Lounge is the same as everywhere else on the ship, pay-per-use.

2. Down on deck 11, there are just deck chairs lined up for watching Funnel Vision, but there are some tables and chairs along the sides of deck 12 that look down onto deck 11 and you can watch the movie from there.

 

[gssmks]

1. All guests get a 50 MB free package of internet and concierge guests get an additional 100 MB free package. For many people, this is plenty to get them through the cruise if they are just going to check email or post on social media every once in a while. Beyond the free 150 MB, the cost is the same as for everyone else. The internet in the Concierge Lounge is the same as everywhere else on the ship, pay-per-use.

2. Down on deck 11, there are just deck chairs lined up for watching Funnel Vision, but there are some tables and chairs along the sides of deck 12 that look down onto deck 11 and you can watch the movie from there.

Great! Thank you so much. I looked for tables and chairs up on deck 12 also, but the view in the pics and videos I found were not clear enough to tell. Thank you for your response. I hope you do a trip report.

 

[B&CFox]

Hi, what was the schedule for dining attire & parties? I have read that formal night is Sunday, Prince/Princess is Tuesday, Pirate is Wednesday.

 

[gssmks]

If you did Cabana's for lunch, did the offerings change each day, or was it basically the same? When I was last on the Magic, it changed with one day being Italian, the next American fair, and so one. I can not find a schedule of the themes, so I am thinking this is no longer done.

 

[TestingH2O]

Did you do meet and greets? Which tickets could you get from concierge? I'm hearing they can't get them all.

 

[artnerds]

Hi, what was the schedule for dining attire & parties? I have read that formal night is Sunday, Prince/Princess is Tuesday, Pirate is Wednesday.

Well, it was kind of weird. When we first booked, we were told it would be:

Sunday - Formal
Tuesday - Pirate
Wednesday - Prince/Princess
Thursday - Semi-Formal

Then, about a week before sailing, we got an email letting us know that Tuesday and Wednesday were being switched, so that Pirate Night would now be on Wednesday, which sent people into a frenzy of changing plans (especially for Remy and Palo).

All appointments for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique for Tuesday and Wednesday were automatically switched to accommodate the change.

 

[artnerds]

If you did Cabana's for lunch, did the offerings change each day, or was it basically the same? When I was last on the Magic, it changed with one day being Italian, the next American fair, and so one. I can not find a schedule of the themes, so I am thinking this is no longer done.

Cabanas had individual dishes switch in and out from day to day, but I didn't notice any theming. I think this is because it is a much larger buffet than the ones on the classic ships. Pretty routinely, they had 3 different kinds of pizza, the usual kids' fare (mac n cheese, etc), a couple kinds of pasta, a carved meat, a sushi plate, and an assortment of American and ethnic dishes (one day, I remember bratwurst and sauerkraut next to lamb tagine and couscous...both were delicious, by the way), in addition to the salad bar and seafood bar.

 

[artnerds]

Did you do meet and greets? Which tickets could you get from concierge? I'm hearing they can't get them all.

The Concierge Hosts were for sure able to get tickets for the Anna and Elsa and the Princess Gathering. Not sure about any others.

 

[gomagic]

No questions just want to say I enjoyed the UNO games

 

[ScottFamily2005]

I will be interested to see if this schedule change continues for the Eastern. It actually makes more sense to have Pirate night before a sea day, rather than a port day. We are booked on the June 6th and I have reservations about having an 8:15 excursion on St. Thomas the morning after the pirate party. But it's such a short stop I don't have a lot of choice!

 

[lmhall2000]

I don't think I've ever heard of Cruise Director Darren, is he the full time one, I thought it was another guy...how was Darren and will he and Captain Thord be the ones for the May cruises on Fantasy? Not sure we've ever said with either of these, will be cool to have new experiences

 

[HookedonMagic]

We were onboard with you, also sailing concierge. While we're experienced DCL cruisers, we were DCL concierge newbies. We enjoyed the experience, but not sure it's a "must do" for us on future sailings. How did our concierge team compare to your past experiences? Parties, amenities and gifts typical or comparable? Thanks for your input!

 

[cwby22]

What was your dining rotation? Thanks

 

[artnerds]

What was your dining rotation? Thanks

Ours was ERAEERA.

 

[artnerds]

We were onboard with you, also sailing concierge. While we're experienced DCL cruisers, we were DCL concierge newbies. We enjoyed the experience, but not sure it's a "must do" for us on future sailings. How did our concierge team compare to your past experiences? Parties, amenities and gifts typical or comparable? Thanks for your input!

This was our second concierge trip on the Fantasy. Two years ago, we had Julia, Kemisha, and Alice, and we were super excited to find out that Julia and Kemisha were there again. They are, in my opinion, what Concierge service is all about. They make a huge effore to learn everyone's preferences early on and will go to the ends of the earth to make things happen. We don't have kids, but I love the way they engage the kids in Concierge and make sure they have a magical experience.

As far as the parties and amenities, it was about the same as on our other cruise on the Fantasy. The only difference I noticed is that we had two sundeck parties on this cruise and I only remember one last time. We also did not have the priority walk-off the morning of debarkation (either they weren't doing it then or we didn't know about it). Not having to spend the end of our vacation standing in line was a nice way to finish the cruise.

We have also done concierge on the classic ships and, while it's very nice, not having the lounge is a real downer. For us, the lounge is kind of the social center of our trip. (Those pre-show and pre-dinner cocktail hours certainly help.)

 

[Take-the-cards]

Hello, thanks for posting all of your info... if I may ask, what did you do on St. Maarten ? We are trying to figure out what to do on land days... thanks !! Also, girls and I are trying to figure out best cabana on CC. they want to be close to the water hub and I'd like a little more privacy... we are excited about our room 12506 thanks!!