Concierge service??

[Davids-Coco]

I am in a planning mood... so can anyone answer the following questions...


Can you get into room prior to 1:30?
Can you order food to room on first day? - would be easier with napping kid.
Can you buy shutters packages through them? Or do you have to go to shutters?
Has anyone had given them their pillowcase/photo mat to get signatures (like you can at guest services)?

 

[bigbootee]

I am in a planning mood... so can anyone answer the following questions...


Can you get into room prior to 1:30?
Can you order food to room on first day? - would be easier with napping kid.
Can you buy shutters packages through them? Or do you have to go to shutters?
Has anyone had given them their pillowcase/photo mat to get signatures (like you can at guest services)?

We were in our room by noon. The took several pillow cases to be signed for us. Didn't try for room service on first day.

You need to go to shutters to look at pictures anyway. You can pick up the package then. They give you a card you need to have. I'm not sure if the concierge has them.

One other thing. If you need to deposit disney $, or gift cards with the purser, the consierge will come to your cabin, pick them up from you and make the deposit for you. They didn't want me to do it myself.

 

[mindelmouse]

We were in our room by noon. The took several pillow cases to be signed for us. Didn't try for room service on first day.

You need to go to shutters to look at pictures anyway. You can pick up the package then. They give you a card you need to have. I'm not sure if the concierge has them.

One other thing. If you need to deposit disney $, or gift cards with the purser, the consierge will come to your cabin, pick them up from you and make the deposit for you. They didn't want me to do it myself.

You were dreaming...we got to our room at 1:30, it may have felt like 12 but we didn't board until after then. They released the ropes about 1:20.

 

[Davids-Coco]

Ah, so that is how that works... they have up ropes. Interesting. I was wondering if there was an automatic time your key turned on or something

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

You were dreaming...we got to our room at 1:30, it may have felt like 12 but we didn't board until after then. They released the ropes about 1:20.

Ah, so that is how that works... they have up ropes. Interesting. I was wondering if there was an automatic time your key turned on or something

Rope drop is usually 1.30pm for all, the Concierge meet will last until that time, Ihave stayed in Cat 4s same deck and havent seen anyone access any room before rope drop.

 

[outahere]

We've stayed in a suite on 5 of our 6 DCL cruises, and have never had access to our cabin prior to them dropping the ropes. I would plan on not being in your room prior to 1:30 or so.

 

[Doingitagain]

We went to the concierge meet and we were able to leave our carryon bags there while we roamed around the ship until the "rope drop". It was really nice not having to carry everything with us.

 

[brendalee59]

We will be arriving in WDW Saturday for the first leg of our land/sea pkg. From my understanding won't get to the ship till 1:00 or 1:30 It looks as if we will not make the concierge meet I have already made our ressies for excursions and Palo. We have a set of 16 yr old boy/girl twins, so don't need to sign them up for anything.
Is it safe to assume we won't really need to go to the meeting? I would love to go, but just don't see it happening,unless we get to the port alot earlier.

 

[kaseyC]

Is it safe to assume we won't really need to go to the meeting? I would love to go, but just don't see it happening,unless we get to the port alot earlier.

No, the meeting is not something you "need" to attend. It's a nice relaxing way to meet the concierge team, take care of any last minute arrangements, sign the kids up for the clubs and take care of any spa appointments without running around. As a matter of fact, I usually drop by the meet by myself after lunch to take care of things while DH and the girls explore the ship. If I am remembering correctly, the Concierge meet is open later than 1:30, I'm thinking 2:00 or 3:00. I always go after we have lunch in Parrot Cay. So you probably will be able to make it.

The concierge team will come by your suite to introduce themselves, bring your personalized itinerary and excursion/event tickets. If you have a good team, you will see and hear from them often. Unfortunately, it can be hit or miss with concierge service. From recent reports it seems to be more consistently positive. If not good, just enjoy the wonderful space.

 

[DutchsMommy]

We sailed a Cat 3 in '06 and the concierge was great. They did take pillow cases for DS as well as a MAW child our DIS Group 'Fairy Godmothered' for the trip. We all brought little surprise gifts for the MAW child and I kept them in our cabin. The concierge delivered them every day (and reported back to us on the child's reaction LOL). We also got the lithograph, snacks, water/pop etc. We really enjoyed our stay and would consider it again if we can scrape up the $.

 

[brendalee59]

No, the meeting is not something you "need" to attend. It's a nice relaxing way to meet the concierge team, take care of any last minute arrangements, sign the kids up for the clubs and take care of any spa appointments without running around. As a matter of fact, I usually drop by the meet by myself after lunch to take care of things while DH and the girls explore the ship. If I am remembering correctly, the Concierge meet is open later than 1:30, I'm thinking 2:00 or 3:00. I always go after we have lunch in Parrot Cay. So you probably will be able to make it.

The concierge team will come by your suite to introduce themselves, bring your personalized itinerary and excursion/event tickets. If you have a good team, you will see and hear from them often. Unfortunately, it can be hit or miss with concierge service. From recent reports it seems to be more consistently positive. If not good, just enjoy the wonderful space.

Thank you for the info. To be honest, we booked the cat 3 for the space not the concierge service. I already booked all our excursions, Palo and spa treatments at the 105 day mark. Anything the team does for us will be a wonderful perk. If not so good, That'll be ok too
Thanks again. Now, back to the packing, we leave tomorrow

 

[kaseyC]

Thank you for the info. To be honest, we booked the cat 3 for the space not the concierge service. I already booked all our excursions, Palo and spa treatments at the 105 day mark. Anything the team does for us will be a wonderful perk. If not so good, That'll be ok too
Thanks again. Now, back to the packing, we leave tomorrow

Have a great trip!!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

I keep reading this thread and looking forward to August 09.

 

[TravelinGal]

The only thing we did do for tipping was double our room steward's tip and then some. It is ridiculous that the recommended tip for room attendants is the same whether you're in a suite or a Cat 12. On RCI, tips for suite attendants are higher than for non-suite attendants, due primarily to having more real estate to care for. DCL does not do this, but I would encourage them to consider it. I'm sure the inequity in the current set up doesn't faze some suite cruisers, and that some suite cruisers feel good about tipping the recommended amount. Don't get me wrong, I would not blame them for feeling good about that because "them's the rules." This is my opinion only, but I personally don't see how DCL can justify the same tip for an attendant whether he's cleaning 184 square feet (Cat 11/12) or 614 sq feet (Cat 3)? There could be more people in a Cat 1 or Cat 2 to make up the difference, but still. With the extra bathroom(s), the suites are at least twice the work to clean. Again, MHO only, and those who do not choose to tip extra for this are within their rights to do so, given DCL's current guidelines.

Thank you for this. I probably wouldn't have even given it a second thought and tipped them the suggested amount. It truly wouldn't have been "because them's the rules"... I would have just been to wrapped up in our vacation to think about it!

I'm looking forward to our first suite cruise! It's only a 4 night, but a good way to get DH hooked! (Cat 3 / Jan 24 2010 / Wonder)
Here's hoping he won't ever want to go back to "JUST" a veranda! LOL

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thank you for this. I probably wouldn't have even given it a second thought and tipped them the suggested amount. It truly wouldn't have been "because them's the rules"... I would have just been to wrapped up in our vacation to think about it!

I'm looking forward to our first suite cruise! It's only a 4 night, but a good way to get DH hooked! (Cat 3 / Jan 24 2010 / Wonder)
Here's hoping he won't ever want to go back to "JUST" a veranda! LOL

This is something I have read here, and I understand the logic and will cosider upping our tips for the stateroom host for his/her extra work.

 

[Stepht5]

The only thing we did do for tipping was double our room steward's tip and then some. It is ridiculous that the recommended tip for room attendants is the same whether you're in a suite or a Cat 12. On RCI, tips for suite attendants are higher than for non-suite attendants, due primarily to having more real estate to care for. DCL does not do this, but I would encourage them to consider it. I'm sure the inequity in the current set up doesn't faze some suite cruisers, and that some suite cruisers feel good about tipping the recommended amount. Don't get me wrong, I would not blame them for feeling good about that because "them's the rules." This is my opinion only, but I personally don't see how DCL can justify the same tip for an attendant whether he's cleaning 184 square feet (Cat 11/12) or 614 sq feet (Cat 3)? There could be more people in a Cat 1 or Cat 2 to make up the difference, but still. With the extra bathroom(s), the suites are at least twice the work to clean. Again, MHO only, and those who do not choose to tip extra for this are within their rights to do so, given DCL's current guidelines.

When we stay in a Cat 3 (3 of our 4 trips) we at least double the tip. When we stayed in a Cat 1 I think we tripled the tip..... that was back in 9/06 so, it's been a while! LOL!
We had the same amount of people in the room each time (5 - 2 adults 3 children).

I agree that i just could NOT tip the reccomended amount when the space was so much larger.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

When we stay in a Cat 3 (3 of our 4 trips) we at least double the tip. When we stayed in a Cat 1 I think we tripled the tip..... that was back in 9/06 so, it's been a while! LOL!
We had the same amount of people in the room each time (5 - 2 adults 3 children).

I agree that i just could NOT tip the reccomended amount when the space was so much larger.

 

[PCH]

I haven't read all the replies to this thread so I don't know if anyone's addressed it yet, but my family prefers NOT to have the concierge team come by on a regular basis. We just want to be left alone during our vacations. In fact, for many requests, we found it easier to just call the guest services desk. The concierge team can always be reached by phone when, and if, we need anything.

 

[Davids-Coco]

Odd question... in a Cat 3, can a pack n' play fit in the master closet? I am thinking about the possibilities if my 18 mo kiddo won't sleep in the same room as us (we had this problem at 17 mo with my DS at Disneyland).

 

[kaseyC]

Odd question... in a Cat 3, can a pack n' play fit in the master closet? I am thinking about the possibilities if my 18 mo kiddo won't sleep in the same room as us (we had this problem at 17 mo with my DS at Disneyland).

I would think the master walk in closet in the Midship Cat.3s (8034,8032,8532 & 8534) would fit a pack in play but probably not much else. I'm not sure of the closet size in the the other Cat. 3s. We've only stayed in Midship Cat. 3s.