Concierge service if you have connecting staterooms where one is concierge?

[pouncingpluto]

We currently have two cat 4s for two families, and I'm considering upgrading to connecting one-bedroom + cat 4 (8080 and 8082 on the Wonder), so that we can have the living room to share, hang out in when the three toddlers are sleeping, etc.

My question is -- does it get weird in this situation with the various perks and concierge service? Like, would we get the priority boarding, while our friends have to stay in the terminal and wait? Would they give us a hard time if we wanted to order room service from a rotation restaurant for all of us?

 

[disneywonderfun]

We currently have two cat 4s for two families, and I'm considering upgrading to connecting one-bedroom + cat 4 (8080 and 8082 on the Wonder), so that we can have the living room to share, hang out in when the three toddlers are sleeping, etc.

My question is -- does it get weird in this situation with the various perks and concierge service? Like, would we get the priority boarding, while our friends have to stay in the terminal and wait? Would they give us a hard time if we wanted to order room service from a rotation restaurant for all of us?

Not sure I would describe it as "weird" but, certainly, there will be perks not available to the occupants of the other cabin. For example, you will be in Group 1 for boarding, but your friends would be in a later group. They could not go to the concierge greeting when you get on the ship, etc. As far as ordering MDR to the room, I do not think there are any issues with that.

DWF

 

[pouncingpluto]

I just don't want to make them feel bad if there is obvious different treatment despite the fact that we are (as far as we are concerned) one party in connecting rooms. Like -- if there is a concierge meet and greet with a character, our 3-year-old will get to meet Mickey and my friend's won't?

This trip is a big deal because my friend lost her husband at the beginning of the month, and this is her thing to look forward to. Something special to do with her little girls and her mother in a really tough year.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I just don't want to make them feel bad if there is obvious different treatment despite the fact that we are (as far as we are concerned) one party in connecting rooms. Like -- if there is a concierge meet and greet with a character, our 3-year-old will get to meet Mickey and my friend's won't?

This trip is a big deal because my friend lost her husband at the beginning of the month, and this is her thing to look forward to. Something special to do with her little girls and her mother in a really tough year.

I would think that anything set up for "Concierge guests" would not include anyone who wasn't one.

The extra perks are what you pay for as Concierge. It's not really fair to expect others (non- concierge groups) to be able to participate just because "they're with you".

 

[pouncingpluto]

I get what you're saying. I just think it's weird to have the set up they do on the classic ships where you have concierge and non-concierge rooms connecting, such that if you want to essentially build a two-bedroom suite, you still have half the party entitled to different perks than the other half. But then again, if it were different, they'd probably charge more for the connecting 4B.

 

[lanejudy]

I just don't want to make them feel bad if there is obvious different treatment despite the fact that we are (as far as we are concerned) one party in connecting rooms. ...

Personally, I would feel awkward on either side of this situation. Yes, your family will be eligible for "perks" that the other family will not. Some may be more obvious than others, but none-the-less you will be concierge and they are not so I'm sure you'd both recognize the difference.

You say this is an important cruise for the other family due to unfortunate circumstances. As a friend, I would not want to cause any further "injury" (for lack of better word) to be perceived at this time. Since you are already both in cat4 rooms, is it possible to get connecting -- that way the little ones could rest in 1 room while adults hang out in the other. Or you have the balconies. Or if you really feel it's necessary for you family to upgrade to concierge, I wouldn't make the other family be in a connecting room. Allow yourselves to be 2 separate parties so differences won't feel as much like a "missing out" situation for the other family.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[gigi1313]

I would do the connecting, but only take advantage of the shared perks. Wait to board together, but plan to have a nice room service meal together, etc.

 

[G'sMaman]

The other thing to consider is that your concierge host will be the one that you interact with if you want to order room service. I would feel a bit awkward ordering dining for 6 (or whatever the total number is in your group) if you are only a party of 2 adults and a toddler, but that's just me. I will say the extra room is wonderful! Good luck with your decision!

 

[LittleMissMagic]

I think if I were in your situation, I would first decide if I really wanted the concierge stateroom for location and the larger size. And if location and size were worth the cost of upgrading to concierge by itself, I would consider it a room upgrade only (like from an ocean view to a verandah) and politely decline from concierge "perks" such as priority boarding and concierge events which my friend was not invited to.

From what you're telling us, it sounds like this is very much a joint cruise and that you want to spend time together and that's the very reason you'd like connecting rooms. So yes, I do think things would become "weird" if you went to concierge events and took advantage of "special treatment" which excluded your friend. If you want to upgrade to concierge because you want to take full advantage of the concierge experience, I think that you should probably wait to do that on another cruise so that your friend does not feel left out.

 

[pouncingpluto]

Thanks, you guys, for your very thoughtful responses. I'm still pondering this. It's a lot of money (though seems to me to be actually in line with the prices people on here have stated they got for last-minute upgrades at the terminal)!

 

[mytripsandraces]

Are there any 2-bedroom suites available or a royal? I think they hold 7.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Are there any 2-bedroom suites available or a royal? I think they hold 7.

Magic and Wonder Royals sleep seven.

 

[pouncingpluto]

No 2-bedrooms available. I haven't called about the royals -- I just figured we wouldn't be able to swing it.

Also, I'd have to look again, but I think the one-bedroom plus cat 4 layout works better for our party bc it's the only way we can manage not having anyone sleep in the living room. One toddler and two adults in the master and then four people (friend, her mother, and two toddlers) in the cat 4B. I think the deal with the other suites is that most of the individual rooms only sleep two people, so you end up needing people to sleep on pullout couches in the living room, which we'd rather keep as a "public" space.

 

[Runnergal]

When we cruised with my parents, sister and niece, they were in concierge while we had a regular room. It kind of stunk because our rooms were not close(and we never mastered the wave phone- it was a pain to text on it and we could never hear it when it rang or vibrated or whatever.) so we spent a lot of time going back and forth between rooms looking for each other. Also, we didn't see them at breakfast because they would eat in the concierge lounge. Their room was lovely and it was nice being able to go for drinks in their living room, but if they wanted to have drinks in the lounge we couldn't join them. One good thing was that they were able to book a cabana for all of us!!! But if I am paying for concierge(and it was pricey!!) you bet I am going to enjoy everything that is offered. But it may not be worth it if you are planning on spending tons of time with your friends.

 

[Meghatron]

When we cruised with my parents, sister and niece, they were in concierge while we had a regular room. It kind of stunk because our rooms were not close(and we never mastered the wave phone- it was a pain to text on it and we could never hear it when it rang or vibrated or whatever.) so we spent a lot of time going back and forth between rooms looking for each other. Also, we didn't see them at breakfast because they would eat in the concierge lounge. Their room was lovely and it was nice being able to go for drinks in their living room, but if they wanted to have drinks in the lounge we couldn't join them. One good thing was that they were able to book a cabana for all of us!!! But if I am paying for concierge(and it was pricey!!) you bet I am going to enjoy everything that is offered. But it may not be worth it if you are planning on spending tons of time with your friends.

The concierge rooms and set up are very different on the ship you were on as opposed to the ship the OP is sailing on. They will not have a concierge lounge, and concierge rooms are their ship are spread out amongst non-concierge rooms. The OP clearly stated they would book connecting rooms, and their ship does not have a concierge lounge, so ship separation is not an issue.

 

[mytripsandraces]

No 2-bedrooms available. I haven't called about the royals -- I just figured we wouldn't be able to swing it.

Also, I'd have to look again, but I think the one-bedroom plus cat 4 layout works better for our party bc it's the only way we can manage not having anyone sleep in the living room. One toddler and two adults in the master and then four people (friend, her mother, and two toddlers) in the cat 4B. I think the deal with the other suites is that most of the individual rooms only sleep two people, so you end up needing people to sleep on pullout couches in the living room, which we'd rather keep as a "public" space.

I think the classic Royals have a murphy bed in the library, which is separate from the living room. I don't know when you're going, but I did a random price check and the difference between a 1-bedroom and a royal was about $3000. I don't know how much the connecting non-concierge cabin costs, but if it's not too far from $3000, you should consider it. The royal suites have 5 rooms - 2 bedrooms (each with its own bathroom, including jacuzzi tubs), a library, a living room and a dining room. The two bedrooms are separated by the entry hall (which leads into the living room), butler's pantry and a powder room (toilet and sink, no shower or bath). You can order from the MDRs and from Palo in the Royal.

 

[pouncingpluto]

Interesting -- I'm on hold with DCL now to check.

The only thing is that with all of the kids too young to sleep on top bunks, at least one adult would have to. I probably wouldn't mind, though my husband might think it was weird to have him and DD in twins and me in a top bunk.

 

[MareLaude]

We will be in those two rooms in April. My family in 8080 and my mom and grandmother in the connecting room. We are also traveling with toddlers and thought if it as a two bedroom situation with extra space between. I don't really anticipate the concierge stuff being an issue bc we don't plan to make it one. We booked the room for the space, not necessarily the perks. I'm not saying we won't take advantage if any perks....just not thinking what we'll use it for will cause any issues. So far we booked a cabana for all if us to use...so they are getting the perks to an extent too.

 

[pouncingpluto]

Got off the phone -- royal suites and 2 bedrooms are all booked. They did give me a quote so I could see if I wanted to be on the wait list, and the Royal for 7 is about $2K more than a 4B + one-bedroom. Not worth it to me, especially since with the 4B + one-bedroom none of the adults gets relegated to a top bunk.

 

[wallawallakids]

We have a 1 bedroom concierge connecting to a veranda non-concierge room booked for our next cruise. I asked specifically about a lot of the questions you are asking because in our case it is just our family (we have 4 kids, so we need two rooms or a 2 bedroom/ royal). What I was told was that we can not board together (unless we all want to board when the non-concierge room is called). Also the family members I have booked in the veranda room can not go to the reception. There are SOME benefits to the concierge though. Our reservations are linked as we are one family. So I can book a CC cabana at the concierge mark for our family, the same with excursions, Palo, spa treatments…etc. We also are still linked together to sit together. It isn't perfect, but we wanted the extra space that the 1 bedroom had over just two connecting rooms and the 2 bedrooms were sold out. I feel like out of the perks we got on concierge last time in a 2 bedroom, this isn't that different. My husband is booked with 2 kids in the non-concierge room and he has already told me he doesn't mind one bit hanging with the kids while I attend the reception just to meet our host and schedule a few things. I am sure your friend will understand and I really doubt the differences will be that obvious if your reservations are linked. Also, the extra space is/will be really nice. Good luck.