Conceirge or Not?

[katmigordon]

The original plan was to do concierge, but then there was a death in the family and a lot of things kind of got switched up and cost us a great bit of money we hadn't planned on having to spend. (Long story short stepdad dead, had to move to get a bigger place so my mom could move in with us.) now I find myself in a position where I can still pull it off, but it will take more of a sacrifice than originally planned. What it comes down to for me is whether we will be able to book the brunch and dinner at Palo, and the two shore excursions we want to take without a concierge. We're silver - it's a seven-day cruise to Mexico. Thoughts?

 

[Marc D]

As someone who now mainly sail Concierge, the two reasons you mention are not sufficient to justify the upcharge. Palo dinner is certainly not hard to book. Except for very specific ones, most shore excursions do not sell out before Silver day. Palo brunch will be hit or miss online, but they hold back a lot of tables to be booked onboard, and you have a pretty good chance on a 7-nights since it will be offered on at least two sea days. IMHO, a 40$ meal is not worth spending 2-3 times the cruise cost.

 

[katmigordon]

Those meals are actually quite worth it to me though - Palo brunch and dinner is actually at the top of my list of important things.

 

[Karin1984]

Those meals are actually quite worth it to me though - Palo brunch and dinner is actually at the top of my list of important things.

Then it is easy. If it's worth it to you to pay for concierge to get the two Palo meals you want, then book concierge now to increase your chances to get the days/times you want.

 

[clten]

I think what Marc D was saying was that it was still possible to get the Palo bookings (as well as excursions) you were looking for without paying the upcharges for concierge - not that these weren't important for you. You indicated that there were sacrifices that would have to be made if you were to go concierge, and I think the point was that there are some things you can do - be among the first on line for Palo bookings if you don't get them before embarkation - that wouldn't be a financial sacrifice. You can still have a very nice cruise and get what is important to you without being in concierge but you may have to sacrifice in other ways - time/stress (being online right at midnight Silver day to try to snag what you want; maybe having to stalk the bookings if you don't get it immediately and maybe boarding as early as possible and waiting for Palo bookings to open onboard). So those are my thoughts but only you can decide which trade-off is better/easier for you to handle.

 

[KennesawNemo]

I was silver for my past cruise, which was during Thanksgiving week so the ship was quite full.

Palo brunch was not available on 60 days mark, but I got an early port arrival time, was in group 5 to get on the ship at about 11:55am, went immediately to wait in line for dinning changes and was 4th in line for Palo. They had lots openings at that time for both sea days. I did wait about 30 mins in line because the service did not start until 12:30pm.

Palo dinner reservation was available all the way till the day before embarkation. Also, we were asked if we would like to come back for dinner on our brunch day so dinner should really be a none issue.

 

[Adventurelawyer]

Those meals are actually quite worth it to me though - Palo brunch and dinner is actually at the top of my list of important things.

But you’re going to be able, in all likelihood, to book both of those things without paying double for your stateroom. You may have to be flexible and you may have to wait until you are on ship, or you may have to stalk the website for your check in window to open early, but you will probably get them. Your two meals would effectively cost well over $1K before you add drinks and a cover charge.

This applies to a CC cabana as well. Thousands of extra dollars for the opportunity to pay a $500 cabana fee and some daily snacks that I can get elsewhere? Thats a no for me.

You are already stressed out and going to have to double time and “sacrifice” for the concierge booking. You want something nice on the back end of a rough year. I get it. I’m going through something similar and I keep having to check my self before I wreck myself because burning money will only compound my stress, especially if I can get the things I want without paying what amounts to a several thousand dollar convenience fee, because thats all concierge is.

 

[Marc D]

I think what Marc D was saying was that it was still possible to get the Palo bookings (as well as excursions) you were looking for without paying the upcharges for concierge

That was exactly my point. For a 7-nights Mexico cruise, for a family of 4, you would need to pay at least between 3k$ and 6k$ more to go from the lowest verandah room to the lowest concierge room. That‘s a lot of money to guarantee having access to things that are rarely sold out. The hardest thing to book is the brunch, but, as others have mentioned, if it is sold out online, it rarely is once onboard.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The 7-night Mexico cruise doesn't require Concierge to get what you want. You will be fine as Silver. Skip it.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I don't think you'll find support here for concierge simply on the basis you've stated, which is to secure Palo dinner/brunch and two excursions. However, it does seem from this post and I think others, if my memory serves, that you have other reasons for wanting to sail concierge. In the end we all have to make our own financial decisions. I am the type of person who would rather give up Palo Brunch than spend double for the cruise, even though I *love* Palo Brunch. But I am also the sort of person who has a little to-do list when I get on board that includes getting Palo Brunch, sorting out a private table for dining, getting liquor tastings etc. I would rather DIY and take my chances than spend double - that's just me. For you, you may feel the opposite. And that's okay too! Concierge sounds wonderful.

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

It sounds like Concierge wouldn't really have much value for you. I think you'll have no problem getting shore excursions and a brunch at Palo as a silver cruiser!

 

[3 Hobbits 2 Disney]

So I will say this in favor of concierge — if you are feeling raw and overwhelmed, the comfort and care of the concierge staff can be a balm for your soul. I just got off a Fantasy 7-day where I was mobility limited (recovering from major surgery). We had booked concierge before the accident and it was a huge deciding factor in cruising as planned (had no-fault cruise insurance) to know that we would be taken care of. If you need some TLC, don’t discount that service component. Enjoy.

 

[mostlytraveling4food]

I wouldn’t do Concierge for the reasons you listed.

 

[bcwife76]

I'm torn lol
For the reasons you have listed, no I would not book concierge.
But if you are doing the 7 night Mexican cruise out of San Diego that means you are on the Wonder and the Wonder has the best concierge lounge and sundeck hands down which makes it the best ship to on for concierge (IMHO).

 

[mevelandry]

Those meals are actually quite worth it to me though - Palo brunch and dinner is actually at the top of my list of important things.

It's nothing that I haven't been able to book in advance or (worst case scenario) on embarkation day. And I believe they have a waiting list as well so your chances of missing out on Palo brunch and dinner are slim to none.