Concierege on Dream

[Sam'sMom0126]

Hi All!

We are planning our first cruise and are considering doing a 1 bedroom concierege for a 4 night cruise. Can anyone tell me some of the perks? Is it worth it? TIA !

[N365PA]

We did a regular concierge veranda on our last cruise. We upgraded at the port. There is the lounge which was very nice. The lounge had free drinks and snacks before both the dinner / shows in the evenings. They also had a small breakfast foods area as well as snacks throughout the day. It also has a self serve espresso/coffee machine that was wonderful. There are 3 Concierge "Hosts" who will get you pretty much anything you want. There was a Platinum level Galley Tour, being gold I wouldn't have had access. Asked the concierge if there were any good tours for the cruise, voila! Tickets to the galley tour. They also do a lot more if you want but that was my only big request. I really enjoyed using the lounge area between the shows and dinner (Early Show, Late Dinner). The rooms were very nice and slightly larger from what I could remember. That was only our second Dream cruise, first being the maiden voyage so it was hectic and I don't remember much of our room. You will also receive a concierge-only gift.

Do I think it was worth it to buy the concierge level? Nope. Would I pay the severely reduced rate to upgrade at the port, you bet!

Clint

[bumbershoot]

We had a category 00V room, which is basically just a verandah stateroom but on the concierge level, on the Dream last month. Our room wasn't that much more than the normal veranda room we had booked before, so our level of "worth it" is probably easier to attain than going for the 1 bedroom!

You book things 120 days out (of course you have to be paid in full that far out). If you're interested in a cabana, you have a much better chance at getting one because of this. You'll be in contact with the shoreside concierge staff around then. Some get phone calls, but we didn't. Then again, we upgraded after the 120 mark had already passed, and I emailed them based on info I got from my TA.

There's a special checkin area at the port. We were escorted directly into the first-photograph area without waiting in a line, then escorted to the ship. We were then escorted (after we greeted our extended family that was already onboard) to the concierge lounge, where we relaxed and were met by one of the staff. We were given a folder with ALL the info about what to expect written out for us. 100 minutes free internet, ipad rental, when the pre-dinner gatherings were (at those times, alcohol is free), when to expect food offerings, etc etc etc. All laid out for us. VERY nice.

We didn't didn't have any special requests, but we definitely got the feeling we could have asked for anything on our minds and they would have at least tried to make it happen.

The stateroom was *beautiful*. Laid out almost the same as the stateroom our extended family was in on deck 6, but glossy gorgeous wood and perhaps a bit more storage. The bedding was a bit different in appearance; don't know about if it was actually different because I didn't take a nap in my cousins' room.


We have opted to stay at that level for a future cruise; no need for the 3 of us to be in a 1 bedroom, so 00V category is good for us. Can't quite imagine doing the Dream in a different level. I knew that would happen, and it did. So beware.

[darkwing818]

Last October DW & I upgraded at the port to the standard 00V Concierge stateroom on the Dream for $680. We loved it so much we went again with our 2 DDs in January & have already booked New Years Eve Concierge cruises on the Dream for the next 2 years.
Is it worth the extra $$s? For most probably not, it basically the same family stateroom etc.. But for us, we just loved the whole experience, the lounge, the private sun area etc.. As a PP noted, it's hard not to get hooked on Concierge Level of Service; provided by DCL on the Dream (suspect the Fantasy is the same).

[Namsupak]

We have done the 1-bedrom suite on the dream. For us it is worth it. At the time we had just our DD and it is nice for a few reasons. Space is the most important thing. We liked being able to have a bedroom for us and then a separate space to put a crib or to make up another bed. Also there is the lounge and sundeck. The concierge make the lounge a great place for the little ones. There is obviously the 120 day booking and since we like a cabana that is a nice perk. Concierge even holds back a cabana or two for onboard booking. The best thing about a Category T versus a category V is the option to order hot meals and hot breakfast. Everyday we would have breakfast in the room. And then we would have hot dinner in the room for our daughter and then take her to the nursery to play. We would then have a nice adult dinner which is a big treat since we don't get to do that at home.

It is worth it for us but if the meals ensuite and the space are not important for you then a V is just fine. For 2 adults I think a V is good, but for traveling with kids we like a T or up. The price difference for a Category 4 (highest non concierge room) to a V isn't so much, but from a cat 4 to a T there is a greater difference. Don't count on a port upgrade, in 12 cruises we have never had a port upgrade available so just be sure you book a room you will be happy with.

[jlemieu1]

Been on the Dream twice we have; Cat T and Cat R. The Cat T - 1 bedroom, is a great cabin. I loved that it had tons of room and fairly long but narrow varandah. My wife loved the whirlpool tube and watching the TV in the mirror from the tube.

The lounge was a great perk to grab a snack or soda during the day. The CCM were very helpful with any issues we had. Great amenities, love H2O stuff.
They have a free alcohol at pre-dinner happy hour. You can make last minute reservations on ship because they sometimes hold back spots. Plus so many other things if you search for other Concierege.

It is on the expensive side if you can swing the cost, DO IT!!!

[Sam'sMom0126]

Thank you everyone! There will be 2 adults and a 3 and 7 year old. Space is one of the reasons we are considering. We currently have a stateroom category of 4B?!?!?!?!!? I am open to any and all advice!!

[Mom2Finn]

Can I ask a couple if questions? We are currently in a deluxe verandah stateroom for our 4 day Bahamas cruise and are hoping to upgrade at port to concierge. Does anyone have any idea what it might cost? Also can we order room service from the mdrs? We have a toddler and would love to have that option. Thanks!!

[ktb2002]

Originally Posted by Mom2Finn

Can I ask a couple if questions? We are currently in a deluxe verandah stateroom for our 4 day Bahamas cruise and are hoping to upgrade at port to concierge. Does anyone have any idea what it might cost? Also can we order room service from the mdrs? We have a toddler and would love to have that option. Thanks!!

Just as a guideline when we did the 4 night Dream in October I upgraded at the port from a 4C to a T for $780.00 (1A1C). You can only order from the MDRs if you are in a T or R.

[Mom2Finn]

Thank you to the two previous posters! That was super helpful!

[RDP]

All this talk is putting me in the mood to book a cruise!

[Namsupak]

Originally Posted by Sam'sMom0126

I am confused.....is category T concierege? Am I missing something? Is there a category between 4 and concierge that is worthwhile??

Lettered Categories are concierge. V (deluxe verandah family room), T (1-bedroom suite), R (Royal Suite), S (2 bedroom Suite).

On the classic ships you only have T, R, S. All are Suites

On the new ships you only have V, T, R. V is not a Suite

You could look at the V as a kind of between category 4 and concierge. You get most of the concierge perks with a V but you do not get en-suite dining, because you are not in a suite. You can still get room service but no room service from the main dining room menu nor from the hot breakfast menu. The V room is like a category 4 room, it has some upgraded amenities but otherwise the space is approximately the same. Also the cost difference between a 4 and a V are not that great.

Originally Posted by Mom2Finn

Can I ask a couple if questions? We are currently in a deluxe verandah stateroom for our 4 day Bahamas cruise and are hoping to upgrade at port to concierge. Does anyone have any idea what it might cost? Also can we order room service from the mdrs? We have a toddler and would love to have that option. Thanks!!

So an estimation is to take a look at the cost to upgrade about a month from the cruise and then to estimate the port upgrade cost to be approximately 50%. This is just a guideline. One good thing is the cost is set, it is not per person or anything like that. As a PP said you can order if you are in a Suite but if it a Concierge category V then you can not get MDR room service. Also a downside to port upgrade is then you didn't have that 120 day booking window to use.

One thing to note is that the V's we have been in had a pullout sofa, so it is a much larger sleeping area. The 4's we have had use the flip down sofa that just turns into a single bed.