Category 1 and 2 - waitlist? NEW INFORMATION!!!

[Boardwalk III]

Hi all,

After our cruise last year, I thought next time I'd do a shorter cruise but stay in one of the premier suites ( although expensive, with 7 people it doesn't work out too badly since you are only paying full price for 1st two people). In any case I called to make a reservation for Feb 2005 and was surprised to find out that all Cat 1's and 2's are taken (Presidents day week of course!). I have made a reservation with two Cat 4's but am going to waitlist for the others. Does anyone know the likelihood of me getting one of these suites off a waitlist, or am I dreaming?!

(And if anyone has stayed in a Cat 1 or 2 I'd love to know how you liked them!)

Thanks everyone!

 

[rundogrun]

We were wait-listed for a Category 1 on the Wonder in January 2002. We made the reservations in the early fall and cleared the waitlist about one month after we originally booked.

We were a group of 6...my wife, 2 kids and inlaws. It worked out great since everyone had their own "space" including the kids who took over the library portion of the room. We had a similar attitude about the price that you did, and just split the final total.

It was definitely worth it for the space. But the horrendous concierge service (apparantly, we're in the minority feeling this way) and the lack of extras that proved deficient vs. other lines made us reconsider suites for future DCL cruises. Since then, we've booked adjoining staterooms (four of us).

However, if the six of us were to cruise again together on DCL, we would definitely consider Category1 for the space and comfort.

 

[RagamuffinMom]

Hi Boardwalk III,

We were in the Walt Disney suite for a 3 day cruise last October. It was simply magnificent! I will admit that I spent most of my time in the room - or rather, on the huge verandah, in my pj's, lounging on the deck chair, sipping drinks!

If you do get the rooms (I hope you do!) then just enjoy them for what they are. We really had no expectations of the concierge crew and I suspect that is the best way to go. I've heard mixed reviews on them. Our experience was so-so. We didn't get much from them but we didn't expect much.

Interestingly enough our concierge experience differed even among our family. For some reason my husband was treated like royalty by the concierge staff. The rest of us didn't get the same level of treatment - but it was still good!

Again - the best advice I can give is to get the suite for the space and the luxury of the room. Don't expect much from the concierge staff.

Do let us know if you get off the waitlist!

 

[Boardwalk III]

Thanks everyone!

Any other experiences with Cat 1 and 2 out there? would love to hear your opinions!

 

[howardk613]

We have been on 3 cruises with DCL and all three were in a category 1 suite (Roy once and the Walt twice). We have had mixed experiences with the concierge team, once being just OK, once being very good and once being wonderful. As has been stated on numerous occaisions, if you are booking this suite or any category 1 - 3 suite for the concierge service, then don't waste your money BUT in our family's opinion, the suite itself is
worth every extra dollar that you pay. It is beyond description and will make your vacation even more special than a Disney Cruise is already. Only 2 warnings if you get a category 1 or 2 suite are:
You will be spending a lot of time in that amazing room
You will be spoiled forever and will never be totally happy in another category.
Good luck on the wait list.

 

[mom_rules]

What are your opinions on cat 3?

 

[TootyJane]

Originally posted by Boardwalk III
Thanks everyone!

Any other experiences with Cat 1 and 2 out there? would love to hear your opinions!

Here is what I posted previously about our Category 2/Concierge Services experience:

We had the Cat. 2 for our May 18, 2002 7-day Eastern cruise. As far as amenities, you do get priority boarding, your concierge team (our team was Christine and Thierry) will make any reservations you desire: Palo, spa, etc. We found out from our prior cruise that Concierge only receives a select number of reservations. They may not have the date and/or time you desire. We found it easier to book our own reservations. There is a "meet and greet" with your concierge team during the first afternoon. We did not attend because, as I mentioned, we made our own reservations. When Christina called us later in the afternoon she actually sounded disappointed that we didn't have them do it. You are invited to a "concierge only" Sail-away party when you leave St. Thomas with complimentary drinks and appetizers. If you are in Cat. 1 or 2 you receive complimentary sodas and bottled water -- no need to purchase those refillable mugs. You receive a different treat each day: the famous cheese and crackers, chocolate chip cookies, strawberries dipped in chocolate and petit fours, fruit tray, etc. You are able to order room service from any of the four restaurants and are able to order full breakfast with the exception of the last day. Regular staterooms may only order Continental Breakfasts. We also got a couple of sheets of personalized stationery. Our 3 boys each received arcade cards ($10 each) two times during the cruise. Our oldest ds had access to many in Common Ground so he gave a couple to his cousin. There is a video player and you are given a list of CDs and videos that are available to watch if you choose. Concierge team will stop by daily to inquire whether you need or want anything. You get daily phone messages as well. We received a booked entitled "DISNEY MAGIC - The Launching of a Dream." Great book!! I can't think of anything else at the moment. The Cat. 2 suite itself is reason enough to book. Concierge is just an added treat.

HTH

 

[mom_rules]

I was under the impression that Cat 3 also qualified for all the above-not true?

 

[Boardwalk III]

I just found out from Dreams Unlimited Travel that Disney apparently reserves ALL of the the Category 1 and 2 rooms on 4-day cruises for their land/sea guests! This is why there are none available for my Feb '05 sailing. On top of that, they hold them til 30 days prior to the cruise and only release unused ones then. This seems absolutley incredible to me if it's true (and a bit unfair to say the least - I'm a DVC member so don't need to book the land portion!)

Has anyone else ever heard this and/or can confirm it?

Would love to know - thanks!!

 

[TootyJane]

Yes, Cat. 3 staterooms get the above. We arrived to find a couple of 6-packs of soda and bottled water. After that it was delivered daily (or just a phone call away) and we were never charged. However, after I posted the above several people who stayed in Cat. 3 that they did not receive complimentary soda and bottled water after the initial setup. HTH.

 

[RagamuffinMom]

Disney apparently reserves ALL of the the Category 1 and 2 rooms on 4-day cruises for their land/sea guests!

Yes - I believe this is true for both the three and four day cruises.

At least this was the case when we sailed in cat 1 last year. We booked a land/sea package and only booked about 6 months in advance.

 

[rundogrun]

FWIW - we were also land/sea vacationers when we cleared the waiting list. We booked directly with DCL...no idea if this made a difference or not.

 

[Boardwalk III]

It sounds like the information I got was correct - boy , now I'll have to decide whether to go for a 7-day or book the land/sea package if I really want those rooms!

Thanks everyone for the great info

 

[DisneyGator01]

Did you want to use DVC points for your cruise?

 

[Boardwalk III]

I was not planning to use DVC points (don't think you can on Cat 1-3 right?)

 

[floridafam]

Just an FYI

I was told several times this year that you can use DVC pts for a Cat 3-I was even told exactly how many pts it would take for the cruise I was looking at.

You just have to call DVC and ask.

I don't know about Cat.1 and Cat. 2.

For the cruise I was looking at, it was about twice the pts require for a Cat. 4 (for the particular cruise I was looking at)

 

[MickeyB426]

As a happy and satisfied user of the Category 1 and 3, I can't find one thing I would change about the service.

(OK, the sodas should be free)

The pictures of the suites do not do them justice.

Yes it is pricey, but in my eyes, well worth it.

It was nice to say, "I don't feel like going to dinner tonight" and order room service off of any of the restaurant menus that night.

Also, I was able to book a Palo's reservation even when the people at the restaurant said it was full.

I was told by DVC people once that you could not use DVC points to book higher than Cat 3. Maybe he meant you wouldn't have ENOUGH points, but it was the primary reason I never entered the DVC.

In Feb '05, we booked a Cat 3 attached to a Cat 4. It should be a blast!

 

[The Land and Sea Guy]

I faxed inventory control for cat1 over a year ago for the 7 day christmas cruise 2004 before booking was avalible for this date. This is now the famous 10 day cruise and about 3 weeks ago, they called and offered it to me. I accepted and was very happy with fare offered!

 

[justmestace]

It is 100% true that the Cat 1 and 2 suites are held for Land and Sea packages. I have not felt that this was fair either....it should be first come, first served.
We had booked a Cat 3 on both of our previous cruises, one was a land/sea, the other cruise only. Both times we were upgraded to the Cat 2. It was beautiful, the extra room is marvelous, and you do get spoiled. But even a Cat 4 is about the same as a standard hotel room, which we stay in all the time, so for the money, I wouldn't pay for the 1 or 2.
The concierge service seems to waiver from experience to experience. On our first cruise, the team checked on us all the time, and we received more water and sodas each time the fridge started to look empty. The 2nd cruise, we NEVER saw the concierge team, and after we finished our sodas, they never delivered more, so I called and they told me that I would have to pay for them! I went and bought them at Preludes, which turned out to be great, as they are ice cold when purchased, and stay colder in the mini-fridge.
We, too, had already pre-booked our excursions, so the concierge service (or lack thereof) was definitely not a reason to book a suite.

 

[Boardwalk III]

justmestace,

You said you were upgraded to a CAT2 - was this because you waitlisted for it or they just gave you a feee upgrade? Also, were these 4-day cruises, and when did you find out about the upgrade (in advance?)

Thanks!