concierge deck on Dream

[disneyholic family]

as far as the luxury lines, Regent Seven Seas is the MOST child friendly. Look at Seabourn or Silversea.

have you been on all 3?

 

[two-foxes]

So, I'll sound like the Clampett's...the Feb 27th Dream is the first time we are doing ANYTHING concierge, so my frame of reference is, well, non existent.

Since the size of the lounge is such a discussion, is it a no-no to take food / drinks from the lounge back to your room (thinking from the perspective of a mom to a 1 yr old and 3 yr old to be polite to others)? Not sure how much I will even worry about that since the ease of any room service seems much more desirable.

 

[ppony]

Since the size of the lounge is such a discussion, is it a no-no to take food / drinks from the lounge back to your room (thinking from the perspective of a mom to a 1 yr old and 3 yr old to be polite to others)? Not sure how much I will even worry about that since the ease of any room service seems much more desirable.

You might find differing opinions on this but I think it's perfectly fine. I personally, like enjoying my suite. Sometimes it's more comfortable than the lounge, ESPECIALLY w/ young children. My youngest is very funny about being around strangers so it's best for everyone if we take it back to the room. If it's quiet and not crowded tho, I might consider staying. My only frame of reference though on a concierge lounge would be the various ones at WDW. Not on a ship. Quite often, the lounges are just plain crowded and since the one on the ship is even more of close-quarters, I can't exactly see it being much different, if not possibly worse.
I think the big reason people might get bent out of shape is taking masses of plates back, but a few plates I doubt anyone would care. And if they do, they need to stop worrying about what others are doing.

Enjoy your cuirse and be sure to report back!!!

 

[disneyholic family]

So, I'll sound like the Clampett's...the Feb 27th Dream is the first time we are doing ANYTHING concierge, so my frame of reference is, well, non existent.

Since the size of the lounge is such a discussion, is it a no-no to take food / drinks from the lounge back to your room (thinking from the perspective of a mom to a 1 yr old and 3 yr old to be polite to others)? Not sure how much I will even worry about that since the ease of any room service seems much more desirable.

my guess is many people will take food back to their rooms, and i can't see why there's anything wrong with that...

but i wouldn't feel if i were you that you HAVE to go back to your room...
there are lots of tables in the lounge, so it's probably easier to just eat in the concierge lounge rather than take it back to your room.....
especially if you have a family stateroom - where there isn't a real dining table.....so unless the lounge is packed with people, it would probably be much easier for you to stay in the lounge to eat....

also, there's a big screen tv in the concierge lounge, so your 3 year old might like that...unless of course there's something terribly boring on...(e.g. sports )

 

[kaseyC]

Honestly, I don't really see myself using the lounge much except maybe for a quick drink. There are so many food choices available on board that unless the C lounge has unique items... such as food from Palo or Remy, I probably won't bother.

 

[ppiew]

does the lounge have latte or cappucino machines?

 

[KingRichard]

does the lounge have latte or cappucino machines?

Not sure, but it looks like the machine grinds the beans?

 

[disneyholic family]

Honestly, I don't really see myself using the lounge much except maybe for a quick drink. There are so many food choices available on board that unless the C lounge has unique items... such as food from Palo or Remy, I probably won't bother.

unless you want to avoid the unwashed masses.....just kidding...it's a joke (if you ever listen to the podcast, you know where this is from)...

 

[katey]

Is there going to be beer and wine or any other alcohol in the concierge lounge. Last time I called they did not know..anyone with first hand experience on the Dream...

 

[FJS961]

In this photo, upper/central area, it looks like the shelves with alcohol is closed. There was a photo I saw before with staff in there with it open and it looked like wine bottle(s) and liquor bottles on shelves there. Perhaps like the resort concierge lounges there may be certain times when alcohol is accessible. At the Poly, I remember there was access to beer, wine and cordials at certain times and it was self-serve or you asked attendant for something specific and they got it for you. I imagine they would be trying to safeguard from underage drinking as well.

 

[FJS961]

there are a lot of questions floating out there that can't be answered until the first reports come in from the first official sailings ... waiting semi-patiently

 

[katey]

Good point w/underage drinkers. I too stayed at the Poly- nice concierge experience. Yes waiting for reports ! Super excited!

 

[ededmd]

have you been on all 3?

Not yet - by choice.

Have 2 kids (8 and 5) so my perspective is what is most child friendly and conversely you may be more comfortable with what is least. No judgement here; I understand different people want different things at different times.

Have been on Regent which offers discounted child pricing (<18) as 3rd/4th passengers (from $799 - 1499 pp depending on itinerary)) and dedicated meeting space / counselors for children's activities on holiday / summer sailings. All reports I've read however convey the opportunity for a child-free (or nearly) experience on the longer itineraries (14+ days especially) and when school is typically in session.

I would consider Silversea for a port intensive itinerary especially on their larger ship(s) understanding it is very unlikely there would be children's activities (though there have been reports of them bringing on counselors on child heavy sailings - summer, etc in the past). Silversea in the past 2 yrs? considered doing child fare promos but withdrew pretty quickly with negative feedback from their regulars / cruise critic folk.

Seabourn is just not set up for children and provides no accommodations at all. Would we still cruise them, maybe, but understanding we may be pretty isolated (shunned) by the other passengers. Again, would do it for the right itinerary and price but overall it isn't one of the more attractive options for families with children.

Cruise critic has threads upon threads regarding children on luxury cruises on each of these line's boards and the general luxury board.

Still looking forward to our March Dream with great anticipation; I hope the Cat T and associated experience is great! Like many here, I can't wait for more info from the "regular" cruises to start filtering back her to the DIS.

 

[disneyholic family]

Not yet - by choice.

Have 2 kids (8 and 5) so my perspective is what is most child friendly and conversely you may be more comfortable with what is least. No judgement here; I understand different people want different things at different times.

Have been on Regent which offers discounted child pricing (<18) as 3rd/4th passengers (from $799 - 1499 pp depending on itinerary)) and dedicated meeting space / counselors for children's activities on holiday / summer sailings. All reports I've read however convey the opportunity for a child-free (or nearly) experience on the longer itineraries (14+ days especially) and when school is typically in session.

I would consider Silversea for a port intensive itinerary especially on their larger ship(s) understanding it is very unlikely there would be children's activities (though there have been reports of them bringing on counselors on child heavy sailings - summer, etc in the past). Silversea in the past 2 yrs? considered doing child fare promos but withdrew pretty quickly with negative feedback from their regulars / cruise critic folk.

Seabourn is just not set up for children and provides no accommodations at all. Would we still cruise them, maybe, but understanding we may be pretty isolated (shunned) by the other passengers. Again, would do it for the right itinerary and price but overall it isn't one of the more attractive options for families with children.

Cruise critic has threads upon threads regarding children on luxury cruises on each of these line's boards and the general luxury board.

Still looking forward to our March Dream with great anticipation; I hope the Cat T and associated experience is great! Like many here, I can't wait for more info from the "regular" cruises to start filtering back her to the DIS.

which is cat T? going to check...ahh..the 1 bedroom.....i have us reserved in the cat V, but it's just for the two of us, so should be ok..
on our first cruise we were in one of the midship 1 bedrooms, and on our second cruise, we were in the walt disney suite....
but we had our two 'kids' with us on those cruises.....they were 15 and 18 years old on the first cruise and then 17 and 20 years old on the second cruise..

which by the way, is an age group ignored by DCL....that 18-21 year old group....they don't do anything organized for them...and my daugther really felt isolated....my son had a grand time on both cruises in the teen club, but my daughter had to hang out with us all day.....she enjoyed it, but it wasn't the same as hanging out with kids your own age....

but i digress...

i'm looking forward to reports from 'real' cruises (not the christening etc)..
right now i have us (DH and me) booked on the podcast cruise in 2012, but maybe i'll add on a cruise for 2011....the ship does sound pretty cool.....
we'll be at WDW either in august or sept - depending on the kids' schedules...
but this time there'll be 6 of us.....the two kids now have husband/wife....so it gets more complex....
and it's a bit annoying that the walt disney suite is now only 1 bedroom, rather than 2 bedrooms like on the wonder/magic...(since the logical thing to do would be to take one of the royal suites and the 1 BR next to it - but that doesn't work if the royal suite only has 1 bedroom)...

as for the luxury cruise lines.....that will have to wait until i have more time....
my dream is to go on an around the world cruise, but it will be a long time before i have 100 days 'spare'....probably never....
but if i do go on a luxury ship, i think i'd like one of the ships with only a few hundred passengers, but a very high space/passenger ratio.....but again, that will probably never happen.....just no time to go on the length of cruises that those ships usually have....

 

[MCourtney]

my guess is many people will take food back to their rooms, and i can't see why there's anything wrong with that...

but i wouldn't feel if i were you that you HAVE to go back to your room...
there are lots of tables in the lounge, so it's probably easier to just eat in the concierge lounge rather than take it back to your room.....
especially if you have a family stateroom - where there isn't a real dining table.....so unless the lounge is packed with people, it would probably be much easier for you to stay in the lounge to eat....

also, there's a big screen tv in the concierge lounge, so your 3 year old might like that...unless of course there's something terribly boring on...(e.g. sports )

I tend to take much longer than my DH or DD to get ready, so I'm sure in the interest of getting me out the door quicker they will bring me back goodies to eat in the room! Just like we do at WDW.

 

[BethA]

they do not have as much alcohol as the WDW lounges from what I saw. They also had a much smaller selection-in my opinion hardly worth taking back to the room. At WDW we often get a plate and enjoy it in our room-at some of the hotels for lack of room, but here with all the food on the cruise there was nothing all that appealing. My son enjoyed hot chocolate from the machine, but the coffee was too strong for me.
Hoping someone on recently can give an update.

 

[megswdw]

We enjoyed the afternoon retreats. My hubby couldn't get enough of the cookies on a stick! They also had yummy sandwiches that took the edge off hunger! The dinner treats were okay....shrimp, cheeses, spreads, etc. Breakfast had some pastries, cereal, etc. We only came in for alcohol once, but we were thrilled when Gaga sent us back with Pina Co"lava"s after she'd seen us drinking them on the beach all day! What a great treat for the verandah at sunset!

 

[KimmySue]

I just wanted to make one quick comment regarding who can use the lounge & sundeck. We just returned on 3/10 and had several cabins in our group. One of the rooms was Concierge (myself and two kids) and one room on Deck 10 (my mom and my oldest daughter age 14). Even though my daughter was booked with my mom, they allowed her to use the concierge services as long as she was with me or her younger siblings. I guess they make allowances on a case by case basis. Otherwise, no one else in our group of 11 were allowed in the lounge or sundeck. I complete understood the rules and didn't push at it at all.

 

[FJS961]

The only time the lounge was ever really crowded from what I saw was on embarkation when several concierge families all boarded together about 1145 and went up there at same time. The hosts introduced themselves and took our names/suite # while we got refreshments and sat at tables. They then went to talk to you and go over itineraries in the order you came in.

The sun deck was quiet and we went up there to relax for a little while one day, very comfy