Concierge level on Dream- Boarding the ship

[saraheli]

Can someone who has previously sailed on the Dream tell me what your experience was like boarding the ship? Did you have to wait in line to check in? Were you able to get into your room right away? Was there food available right away in the lounge? Last time we sailed (not concierge), when we boarded the ship we could not check into our room for a while. So we had to lug our carryons around the boat, getting lunch was mayhem, so many people, limited tables. I just felt so unsettled. Not the way I want to start a vacation! Wonder what its like for concierge guests.

 

[1Winston]

We sailed most recently this Jan no the dream. When we got there there were a few couples checking in before us so we waited on the couch for a few minutes and then were checked in and were taken directly onto the ship in front of all the people waiting in line to board. When we got onboard we were taken to the concierge lounge where there was food and beverages waiting. The rooms were ready around 12/12:30. It was very relaxing and it was nice sitting in the lounge enjoying a mimosa while waiting for the rooms.
You will love it.

 

[jlemieu1]

Last time, I showed up to port @ 10:30 on DCL from MCO. I had a Cat V. and was hoping in the remote chance to get an upgrade. No luck.
I had no wait at the Concierge/Platinum check-in. Was told that they expect to start boarding @ 11:30. Then sat in concierge lounge with 1 other couple(B2B) and the Buckets and Boards guys. They open access to B2B first and the B&B guys. They took us past the #1 boarders to access the ship. Then we walked up to the lounge on our own, 2nd ones up there. We were told rooms would be ready @ 1:00. Talked to CCM about our plans took about 10 minutes since we already knew about all the services. Grabbed a can of soda and headed over to Cabanans to eat lunch even though they had some small plate items in the lounge.

 

[darkwing818]

Pretty much as the PPs described, except with one small addition, after catching up with the lounge staff & grabbing a glass of champagne, we'll leave our carry on luggage with the CMs in the lounge. We then go for lunch, & then head for quiet cove & a BBC . They make sure our carry on luggage makes to our cabin.

 

[lulucornbread]

We were concierge on the Dream 4-night (july 13-17). We arrived at the port at 10:30, went right to the concierge check-in desk which took about 10 mins to get through. We had a few hiccups with the kids club bracelets or it wouldn't have taken so long. Spent time enjoying the terminal (Donald Duck was out for a character meeting), seeing the model ship, etc. We finally made our way to the Concierge private wait area inside terminal and we started boarding at approximately 11:30. Once we were on the ship, we were taken in groups up to the Concierge Lounge. There were snacks & drinks available and we met with the 3 concierge hosts to go over your planned itinerary. Our rooms were already ready at 12 so we went & dropped bags off.

 

[Dug720]

Do they now walk you around outside of the lounge? When we went concierge last July we entered through a door directly to the gangway from the lounge - no walking around an in front of people. Just curious...I have no plans to ever go concierge again, but I'm just wondering.

 

[jlemieu1]

Do they now walk you around outside of the lounge? When we went concierge last July we entered through a door directly to the gangway from the lounge - no walking around an in front of people. Just curious...I have no plans to ever go concierge again, but I'm just wondering.

As of my last cruise Nov. 2013 and all the others times, they always walked us through the doors in the lounge. If there is a line inside the gangway they will walk you around the line. We never cut the line waiting for the name annoucements.

 

[Dug720]

As of my last cruise Nov. 2013 and all the others times, they always walked us through the doors in the lounge. If there is a line inside the gangway they will walk you around the line. We never cut the line waiting for the name annoucements.

We didn't cut that line either. When I go solo, I give the photographer a polite smile and no thank you and move on through (really, why would I want a picture of just me in front of a simple background??), but I don't "cut" the line.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

We arrived at the Port in a Town Car at approximately 12pm. A porter took our bags before we headed past the gate security and into the terminal (pausing to take a few photos on the way inside) Everyone lines up in the same security line but when we arrived, it was really short and within a few minutes we were inside the terminal.

We took a photo with Pluto (reasonably short line) and did some pressed pennys. By this time, Goofy came out so we jumped in line to meet him before we headed back to the Concierge Desk to check in. There was one family in front of us but they already gave us a form to fill out while we were waiting. From the time we got into the line, it took about 10 minutes before someone was walking us onto the ship.

Someone walked us straight to the front of the line to take the boarding photo. They then walked us onto the ship and to the elevator and told us how to get to the concierge lounge. When we got to the lounge it was approximately 1pm.

Food was already set up in the lounge. For us, we are light eaters and we had no trouble making it our lunch for the day. We were told our room was ready for us and they offered to take our carrys on to our room for us. Generally the concierge rooms are ready earlier than the rest of the rooms. We spent sometime in the lounge, getting to know our concierge team, having lunch and coffee. It was very nice and relaxing in there, not overly busy which is exactly what we wanted. Once we were finished lunch, we checked out our room. This wouldn't have been before 2pm. However speaking to other concierge guests, one family said they had been able to enter their room by 11:45am

If you want to avoid some of the crowds, concierge is wonderful for that.

Can someone who has previously sailed on the Dream tell me what your experience was like boarding the ship? Did you have to wait in line to check in? Were you able to get into your room right away? Was there food available right away in the lounge? Last time we sailed (not concierge), when we boarded the ship we could not check into our room for a while. So we had to lug our carryons around the boat, getting lunch was mayhem, so many people, limited tables. I just felt so unsettled. Not the way I want to start a vacation! Wonder what its like for concierge guests.

 

[saraheli]

We arrived at the Port in a Town Car at approximately 12pm. A porter took our bags before we headed past the gate security and into the terminal (pausing to take a few photos on the way inside) Everyone lines up in the same security line but when we arrived, it was really short and within a few minutes we were inside the terminal.

We took a photo with Pluto (reasonably short line) and did some pressed pennys. By this time, Goofy came out so we jumped in line to meet him before we headed back to the Concierge Desk to check in. There was one family in front of us but they already gave us a form to fill out while we were waiting. From the time we got into the line, it took about 10 minutes before someone was walking us onto the ship.

Someone walked us straight to the front of the line to take the boarding photo. They then walked us onto the ship and to the elevator and told us how to get to the concierge lounge. When we got to the lounge it was approximately 1pm.

Food was already set up in the lounge. For us, we are light eaters and we had no trouble making it our lunch for the day. We were told our room was ready for us and they offered to take our carrys on to our room for us. Generally the concierge rooms are ready earlier than the rest of the rooms. We spent sometime in the lounge, getting to know our concierge team, having lunch and coffee. It was very nice and relaxing in there, not overly busy which is exactly what we wanted. Once we were finished lunch, we checked out our room. This wouldn't have been before 2pm. However speaking to other concierge guests, one family said they had been able to enter their room by 11:45am

If you want to avoid some of the crowds, concierge is wonderful for that.

Thank you, this is what I was hoping to hear! We plan on a big breakfast before getting to the port and then a light lunch away from the crowds in the concierge lounge. Much more our speed!

 

[jlemieu1]

Thank you, this is what I was hoping to hear! We plan on a big breakfast before getting to the port and then a light lunch away from the crowds in the concierge lounge. Much more our speed!

Just to warn you that the lounge get quite crowded before the rooms are opened up. We usally show up early to get our meeting done than we give up our seats to someone standing.
We prefer to go to Cabanas because it is less crowded. By the time we are done with lunch the rooms are usally open. Also the non-dock side of Cabanas, or outside on the same side, is usally less busy at this time.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Just to warn you that the lounge get quite crowded before the rooms are opened up. We usally show up early to get our meeting done than we give up our seats to someone standing.
We prefer to go to Cabanas because it is less crowded. By the time we are done with lunch the rooms are usally open. Also the non-dock side of Cabanas, or outside on the same side, is usally less busy at this time.

It depends on what time you board the ship. When we arrive at the lounge at 1pm, honestly, it was almost empty except for one other family.

If you want to avoid crowds, arrive at Port a little later.

 

[bumbershoot]

Do they now walk you around outside of the lounge? When we went concierge last July we entered through a door directly to the gangway from the lounge - no walking around an in front of people. Just curious...I have no plans to ever go concierge again, but I'm just wondering.

We didn't cut that line either. When I go solo, I give the photographer a polite smile and no thank you and move on through (really, why would I want a picture of just me in front of a simple background??), but I don't "cut" the line.

Feb 2013 we went through the lounge, which automatically took us past the long line of people who had come through the Mickey head. We ended up ahead of all the people we had just gone past, to get our pictures taken. Even if we had said "no", we still would have been ahead of everyone we had just passed.

i don't remember what the deal was with actually getting onboard. But obviously since we had just passed all those people, we were in front of them.

We had taken Disney transportation from WDW and were onboard maybe 5 minutes (talking to family who had driven in and had been onboard over an hour at least) when they announced that all rooms were ready. If we had been there earlier perhaps we wouldn't have had so many people to go in front of, by following the concierge CMs through the lounge door.

 

[Dug720]

Feb 2013 we went through the lounge, which automatically took us past the long line of people who had come through the Mickey head. We ended up ahead of all the people we had just gone past, to get our pictures taken. Even if we had said "no", we still would have been ahead of everyone we had just passed.

i don't remember what the deal was with actually getting onboard. But obviously since we had just passed all those people, we were in front of them.

We had taken Disney transportation from WDW and were onboard maybe 5 minutes (talking to family who had driven in and had been onboard over an hour at least) when they announced that all rooms were ready. If we had been there earlier perhaps we wouldn't have had so many people to go in front of, by following the concierge CMs through the lounge door.

Oh, see we were there when port opened. No line of people who had gone through Mickey's head yet.

We went straight to Cabanas and ate, then went to the lounge for our meeting and while we were there, they announced that our cabins were ready.