Concierge clarification

[Ivylie1234]

I apologize if I'm being very redundant, but I have a question regarding booking windows if you are sailing concierge. I've seen reference to 150 days, 125 days, 120 days, etc. If PIF, when can I book excursions, ressies, cabanas, etc.? Do I email shoreside at 125 days? Is there any need to do anything at midnight at 120 days? I also read that shoreside calls around 130 days. What is the purpose of that call? If they take preferences then is there any need to email? Also, I believe you can pick dining rotation preferences much earlier. How far out can you do that? Sorry for the million questions. TIA!!!

 

[TestingH2O]

At 125 days, you can contact shoreside regarding reservations and requests. The 130 day contact is to inform people who were not previously aware of the perk.

I opted to email them my requests on my 125 day mark. The system sent an automated response because the office was closed when I sent that initial message, and later that day, I received a personalized response. I happened to be up at 12:00 on the 120 point so I checked, and everything went very smoothly. I have only seen 1 report of requests not being processed correctly. If you don't get the response emails though, I would follow up for sure.

Dining rotation is a request and not 100% guaranteed. You or your TA can actually put a request in your reservation now and then you can confirm it with shoreside.

 

[savage1117]

Shoreside will email you around 130 and you can send requests at 12:00 midnight at 125. I would stress that you make sure they have your requsts before 120. Our first cruise they didn't have our requsts, but i was up at midnight and booked everything myself. This time I verified they had my request and at 120 out all of my items were booked at midnight. Also you have to have your cruise paid in full before shoreside will assist you.

 

[Ivylie1234]

At 125 days, you can contact shoreside regarding reservations and requests. The 130 day contact is to inform people who were not previously aware of the perk.

I opted to email them my requests on my 125 day mark. The system sent an automated response because the office was closed when I sent that initial message, and later that day, I received a personalized response. I happened to be up at 12:00 on the 120 point so I checked, and everything went very smoothly. I have only seen 1 report of requests not being processed correctly. If you don't get the response emails though, I would follow up for sure.

Dining rotation is a request and not 100% guaranteed. You or your TA can actually put a request in your reservation now and then you can confirm it with shoreside.

Thanks for responding and providing this clarification. I had set up ticklers on my calendar to reach out to shoreside concierge but still wasn't exactly sure what I needed to be asking/requesting. This information helps a great deal.

 

[Ivylie1234]

Shoreside will email you around 130 and you can send requests at 12:00 midnight at 125. I would stress that you make sure they have your requsts before 120. Our first cruise they didn't have our requsts, but i was up at midnight and booked everything myself. This time I verified they had my request and at 120 out all of my items were booked at midnight. Also you have to have your cruise paid in full before shoreside will assist you.

So I am going to make sure I am PIF well advance and that shoreside has my requests before the 120 mark. I still have quite some time before my August 2016 sailing but with work and kids being what they are things can easily be lost in the shuffle. Our other cruises have been shorter non-concierge trips; therefore, this one I believe will require more of my attention from beginning to the happy end!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Thanks for responding and providing this clarification. I had set up ticklers on my calendar to reach out to shoreside concierge but still wasn't exactly sure what I needed to be asking/requesting. This information helps a great deal.

Ask at 125 days.
Cabana if want one and going to Castaway.
Palo, Remy. Spa, shore trip bookings.
A table size preference but normally concierge is in the centre of MDRs and dotted on their own.
Preferred rotation.
Request to be put on file, any meet and greet ticketed evens you wish to have and if they have a ticketed character breakfast. Ask them to note if you want a second Palo brunch. All the latter re confirm at the embarkation meeting.

 

[Ivylie1234]

Ask at 125 days.
Cabana if want one and going to Castaway.
Palo, Remy. Spa, shore trip bookings.
A table size preference but normally concierge is in the centre of MDRs and dotted on their own.
Preferred rotation.
Request to be put on file, any meet and greet ticketed evens you wish to have and if they have a ticketed character breakfast. Ask them to note if you want a second Palo brunch. All the latter re confirm at the embarkation meeting.

Can you tell me more about the table seating in MDRs? What if we would like to be near a screen in AP, is it possible to make a request that specific?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Can you tell me more about the table seating in MDRs? What if we would like to be near a screen in AP, is it possible to make a request that specific?

Yes you can and they did it for us, near a Crush on a AP screen and in the Enchanted garden booths, ( do not do they not worth it).

 

[daneenm]

Can you tell me more about the table seating in MDRs? What if we would like to be near a screen in AP, is it possible to make a request that specific?

We did and we got a table near the screen at AP, a booth at EG and a table near one of the lovely murals in RC. Some folks do not like the EG booths...we had a party of 4 adults and adult sized teens and we liked the booth.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We did and we got a table near the screen at AP, a booth at EG and a table near one of the lovely murals in RC. Some folks do not like the EG booths...we had a party of 4 adults and adult sized teens and we liked the booth.

Hated the booths, tight, small, have to slide out and like eating next to Broadway where everyone walks.

 

[daneenm]

Hated the booths, tight, small, have to slide out and like eating next to Broadway where everyone walks.

Right, which is why I said WE liked them, SOME FOLKS DO NOT. You have to slide out of ANY booth, given the nature of a booth. We prefer booth seating at any restaurant. We find it easier to hear one another as well. YMMV.

 

[bumbershoot]

I have only seen 1 report of requests not being processed correctly.

And thank goodness, because it was annoying! But now I know to tell everyone that you'll get an auto-reply. If you do not get that auto-reply (as I did not), something has gone awry! I'm ever so thankful that I'm on the west coast and it was easy for me to be up and take care of my stuff on my own, and that I had a funny feeling something had gone wrong.

Enchanted garden booths, ( do not do they not worth it).

I agree with you on that! The booths are soooo pretty, and soooo uncomfortable (even for just us 3). And then you have to remember that step down. I far prefer to SEE the booths from afar rather than be in them. (then again I feel the same about the screens at AP...I'd rather be more central in the room to, for instance, watch Bruce the shark go swimming around the room, rather than be right there for Crush to talk to me for a minute.)


OP it'll be obvious as you get closer. They'll email you with the info, then you email back on that day. Assuming you get the autoreply, it'll all be OK. The only things we wanted were a cabana and a Palo reservation. Oh and we like to sit with others, so that's a request to go *against* normal concierge standards. (cabana and palo were obtained on my own since I didn't get that autoreply which meant they hadn't gotten my email)

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Right, which is why I said WE liked them, SOME FOLKS DO NOT. You have to slide out of ANY booth, given the nature of a booth. We prefer booth seating at any restaurant. We find it easier to hear one another as well. YMMV.

Oh I agree booth sitting in a standard restaurant is often nice, and on ship Palo nice, but these IMHO are tight, poor and not for us.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

And thank goodness, because it was annoying! But now I know to tell everyone that you'll get an auto-reply. If you do not get that auto-reply (as I did not), something has gone awry! I'm ever so thankful that I'm on the west coast and it was easy for me to be up and take care of my stuff on my own, and that I had a funny feeling something had gone wrong.



I agree with you on that! The booths are soooo pretty, and soooo uncomfortable (even for just us 3). And then you have to remember that step down. I far prefer to SEE the booths from afar rather than be in them. (then again I feel the same about the screens at AP...I'd rather be more central in the room to, for instance, watch Bruce the shark go swimming around the room, rather than be right there for Crush to talk to me for a minute.)


OP it'll be obvious as you get closer. They'll email you with the info, then you email back on that day. Assuming you get the autoreply, it'll all be OK. The only things we wanted were a cabana and a Palo reservation. Oh and we like to sit with others, so that's a request to go *against* normal concierge standards. (cabana and palo were obtained on my own since I didn't get that autoreply which meant they hadn't gotten my email)

Fully agree, forgot the step down as well, ( forgot it too often there as well).