Concierge service??

[Andrew DEREK UK]

well-it is less than a year beause we have never had the same person 2 cruises in a row-even when we went twice in a year. Maybe they do 6 month contracts and don't come back to that same job

I know the current standard for all roles is usually 6 months on, 2 months off, so it fits with that.

 

[BubblesNH]

Just off the 4/25 Magic. We booked at Cat.12 and were assigned at Cat.9. We asked upon arrival about veranda. Only Family Suites available. (cat. 4 I think) $1395 to upgrade. We passed. Our cat 9 was just wonderful.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Just off the 4/25 Magic. We booked at Cat.12 and were assigned at Cat.9. We asked upon arrival about veranda. Only Family Suites available. (cat. 4 I think) $1395 to upgrade. We passed. Our cat 9 was just wonderful.

Hope you had a great trip, Just for reference the Suites and concierge is for Cat 1>3, not 4, albeit on the same deck.

 

[outahere]

I know the current standard for all roles is usually 6 months on, 2 months off, so it fits with that.

When we were on the Magic two weeks ago, both our room hostess and our dining room server told us that they have started to shorten the contracts and add a couple of weeks to vacation time. Both of their contracts were for 4 months and 3 weeks, with an extra 2 weeks of vacation time (10 weeks total) in between contracts. They are hiring more people to help staff the ships when the Dream starts sailing, and need to get the new folks some experience. They are trying for a 50/50 mix of old and new CMs on all the ships. They have also started rotating people between the two current ships to get more CMs familiar with the longer and shorter cruises.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

When we were on the Magic two weeks ago, both our room hostess and our dining room server told us that they have started to shorten the contracts and add a couple of weeks to vacation time. Both of their contracts were for 4 months and 3 weeks, with an extra 2 weeks of vacation time (10 weeks total) in between contracts. They are hiring more people to help staff the ships when the Dream starts sailing, and need to get the new folks some experience. They are trying for a 50/50 mix of old and new CMs on all the ships. They have also started rotating people between the two current ships to get more CMs familiar with the longer and shorter cruises.

Yep, I agree, thats why I posted The current standard, as it will change!!

Thank you for the detail!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Just an update, I find they come back very quickly by email for any questions, they do not work weekends, maybe at PC, for departures, but they are in 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

 

[ppony]

I am SO jealous of you all (in a loving sort of way). From those that got upgrade to a Cat 1 - 3 to those that paid $900 to upgrade, etc.

I have always wondered who has so much money to cruise? I feel fortunate that we can cruise alongside you and get most of the same benefits as you do, but since you guys seem to cruise "in the upper echelon" please tell me about your fellow concierge-service folks?

1. Regular people who save up and possibly forgo a trip or two (or three or four) to make one extra special?
2. La creme de la creme in terms of household income?
3. Folks who may have experienced a personal setback and are throwing caution to the wind?
4. A combination of all?

We are usually in the bottom of the bottom of the boat when we cruise, and grateful to be there, but a girl can dream, can't she?

We are your number one. We are faaaaaar from upper crust. We love what others more fortunate get to enjoy but we just can't do it often. We can't afford to take trips more than every 3 or 4 years usually. We live paycheck to paycheck here. But when we go, we like to make it extra special. For some, the concierge service and perks just aren't important. And that is honestly FINE...for them. I always wonder why people ask if it's "worth it" because if you need to ask, it probably isn't. You either know you'll like that kind of experience, or you'll spend your time worrying about getting every dime's worth and not enjoy it. The experience is important to us. We enjoy them immensely. Though to be fair, I'm not sure if I would have ever splurged on a concierge room had we not have a complimentary upgrade at the GF some years ago. We didn't even KNOW it was an upgrade until we got to our room. I suppose I should have figured it out right away when they said we needed a special key to get off on that floor form the elevator. Just call me knocked over with a feather.

I want to thank everyone contributing to this thread! Alexander, it was one oF YOUR posts actually in another thread about your upgrade that set me thinking about investigating a cat 3. We had been booked in a cat 4 for mid Nov this year. After looking into it, we deicede that the $1300 more for the cat 3 on a 4 night cruise was VERY much worth it. I have a feeling, this being our first cruise ever, that we will LOVE cruising and want to do 7 night and more in the future and I'm betting we just plain won't be able to afford that no matter what. SO, we are going for the gusto this time. Who knows what the ftuture will hold as I know going back to a regular room, be it on land or on sea is VERY difficult. It is for us anyway. Now that we know what we are missing, we hate missing it.


So for anyone wondering right now what the rates are... we have a 4 night cruise, mid Novemeber for two adults, one 9 year old and one 2 year old for $3686 or there-abouts. I plan on making use of everything I can and w/ a 2 year old, I'll be in the room w/ him as he naps and my other boys play. AHHHH! Relaxation!

This thread has been the BEST read!!! THANK YOU to AD of the UK for starting it and the others for contributing!!!



Jumping on the Wii Fit! Must, must, must decrease my bust!... in time for the cruise!

P.S.
Any ideas for something special for a golden birthday for my 2 year old? Obviously, he'll not remember it, but WE will and we'll take lost of pix so we can remember. I'd like to see what we can get the concierge to do for us. I'd LOVE to see if a private group photo w/ a character or 2 might do the job.

 

[Alexander]

ppony,

You are going to love the Cat. 3 with the kids! My boys were just 10 and 2.5 when we sailed in April. The little guy took naps in the bed and we could sit in the living room area or on the balcony and didn't have to worry about disturbing him. The two bathrooms are awesome for getting ready. We pretty much divided them into the kids bathroom and the master bathroom.

I think your cruise price is great for the Cat. 3--4 nights! We originally were going to pay $2600 for a Cat. 12 on the 4 night in April, but rearranged things when the kids sale free deal came out. So to go from a Cat. 12 (our booking) to a Cat. 3 (your booking) for $1,000 is sooooo worth it!

The concierge team we had (Gavin and Mike) were awesome! They were soooo good to my boys (and that's really what it's all about for me). They brought the little guy a huge stuffed Mickey Mouse. They said they usually give the kids a small Donald, but he had told them that Mickey was his favorite and they brought him a huge one! They gave my older son an arcade card on the first day too. The next day when they stopped by, they asked where he was and when I told them he was in the arcade, they gave me a $10 arcade card to give him. They were just awesome!

Gavin got our dining time switched one night from the 8:15 to the 5:45 seating because he knew my little guy had taken an early nap and figured he would be hungry earlier! We didn't ask, he just called us to see if we wanted to switch for the night.

Have a great trip!

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

We are your number one. We are faaaaaar from upper crust. We love what others more fortunate get to enjoy but we just can't do it often. We can't afford to take trips more than every 3 or 4 years usually. We live paycheck to paycheck here. But when we go, we like to make it extra special. For some, the concierge service and perks just aren't important. And that is honestly FINE...for them. I always wonder why people ask if it's "worth it" because if you need to ask, it probably isn't. You either know you'll like that kind of experience, or you'll spend your time worrying about getting every dime's worth and not enjoy it. The experience is important to us. We enjoy them immensely. Though to be fair, I'm not sure if I would have ever splurged on a concierge room had we not have a complimentary upgrade at the GF some years ago. We didn't even KNOW it was an upgrade until we got to our room. I suppose I should have figured it out right away when they said we needed a special key to get off on that floor form the elevator. Just call me knocked over with a feather.

I want to thank everyone contributing to this thread! Alexander, it was one oF YOUR posts actually in another thread about your upgrade that set me thinking about investigating a cat 3. We had been booked in a cat 4 for mid Nov this year. After looking into it, we deicede that the $1300 more for the cat 3 on a 4 night cruise was VERY much worth it. I have a feeling, this being our first cruise ever, that we will LOVE cruising and want to do 7 night and more in the future and I'm betting we just plain won't be able to afford that no matter what. SO, we are going for the gusto this time. Who knows what the ftuture will hold as I know going back to a regular room, be it on land or on sea is VERY difficult. It is for us anyway. Now that we know what we are missing, we hate missing it.


So for anyone wondering right now what the rates are... we have a 4 night cruise, mid Novemeber for two adults, one 9 year old and one 2 year old for $3686 or there-abouts. I plan on making use of everything I can and w/ a 2 year old, I'll be in the room w/ him as he naps and my other boys play. AHHHH! Relaxation!

This thread has been the BEST read!!! THANK YOU to AD of the UK for starting it and the others for contributing!!!



Jumping on the Wii Fit! Must, must, must decrease my bust!... in time for the cruise!

P.S.
Any ideas for something special for a golden birthday for my 2 year old? Obviously, he'll not remember it, but WE will and we'll take lost of pix so we can remember. I'd like to see what we can get the concierge to do for us. I'd LOVE to see if a private group photo w/ a character or 2 might do the job.

Thanks, a lot of people have contributed to a great thread, just one point, I didnt start it!!!!its Barbosa's 1st Mate So theres others to thank!

 

[ppony]

Alexander, that sounds PHENOMINAL!!!!! Wow. I don't think it's possible for me to look more forward to this trip. And I'm with you, it IS about the kids! Nothing makes us happier than seeing them happy!!!! thank you for sending out the "viibe" that I picked up on and made da mooove! I wish we were on the same cruise, I'd give you a huge hug!

Oh and AD of the UK, EGG on my face! OMG! I'm SO sorry to you and the OP!!! It took me about 3 days to get through the thread (toddler tugging on my leg all the time) and by the time I got to the end, I had seen your name so much it stuck in my brain! My brain is QUITE sticky at times! Others, it's just cobwebs.

SOOO grateful for everyone on the trhead with all the great contributions!

 

[AlexandNessa]

We had Mike and Gavin too. Never met Mike at all on the cruise. Only met Gavin once. We had Russell help us at the reception, though he was not part of the team.

If you do not go to them, trust me, they will come to you. Gavin called us at 9:30 one morning after we'd been out till 2 with the gang in Diversions. The phone rang and my husband and I fought over who was going to answer the phone!

DCL really does need a dedicated concierge lounge. I find that much more convenient and useful. And I note it in my comment card every time.

This was my favorite lithograph. This was a Cinderella and Friends print. Quite simple and pretty. I missed the tube they usually give it to you in. Now they just give it to you in an envelope, and it didn't travel as well.

We tipped our cabin steward more than double as we usually do, and we got a very big thanks, especially for the "extra" as they like to say.

DCL is crazy. They should really take into account that suite stewards have at least twice the real estate to clean when considering tipping amounts. I like that it's at my discretion, but I am betting that a lot of suite guests throw in the standard amount or an extra $20, and the suite stewards get gypped. Just the impression I get.

 

[Olga]

We had Mike and Gavin too. Never met Mike at all on the cruise. Only met Gavin once. We had Russell help us at the reception, though he was not part of the team.

If you do not go to them, trust me, they will come to you. Gavin called us at 9:30 one morning after we'd been out till 2 with the gang in Diversions. The phone rang and my husband and I fought over who was going to answer the phone!

DCL really does need a dedicated concierge lounge. I find that much more convenient and useful. And I note it in my comment card every time.

This was my favorite lithograph. This was a Cinderella and Friends print. Quite simple and pretty. I missed the tube they usually give it to you in. Now they just give it to you in an envelope, and it didn't travel as well.

We tipped our cabin steward more than double as we usually do, and we got a very big thanks, especially for the "extra" as they like to say.

DCL is crazy. They should really take into account that suite stewards have at least twice the real estate to clean when considering tipping amounts. I like that it's at my discretion, but I am betting that a lot of suite guests throw in the standard amount or an extra $20, and the suite stewards get gypped. Just the impression I get.

Actually there are usually more people in a suite and the cabin steward will receive a larger tip since it's calculated per person. If there are only 2 adults in the suite the mess is less than a room with 4 people. It all balances out in the end. I suspect room stewards for suites make a bit more in salary than others, they should, we sure paid enough that DCL can use what they already collected to pass on a little extra to them.
Thanks for the tip about the lithograph, I'll request a tube at the welcome reception so that there is enough time to find one before the last night.

 

[BethA]

we find that even with less people they have to spend more time-with 2 bathrooms-we always tip way more for the suite-and I try to never leave a mess.

 

[outahere]

I missed the tube they usually give it to you in. Now they just give it to you in an envelope, and it didn't travel as well.

DCL is crazy. They should really take into account that suite stewards have at least twice the real estate to clean when considering tipping amounts. I like that it's at my discretion, but I am betting that a lot of suite guests throw in the standard amount or an extra $20, and the suite stewards get gypped. Just the impression I get.

The tube did travel better, but took up quite a bit of space in the suitcase. Our lithograph was in a stiff cardboard envelope two weeks ago. We put it in between a couple of layers of clothes and it made it home with no problem.

Even though there are only three of us, we always tip our cabin attendant as though there were at least four in the cabin, and usually a few dollars more than that. They do spend quite a bit more time in a suite than in a smaller cabin.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

We had Mike and Gavin too. Never met Mike at all on the cruise. Only met Gavin once. We had Russell help us at the reception, though he was not part of the team.

If you do not go to them, trust me, they will come to you. Gavin called us at 9:30 one morning after we'd been out till 2 with the gang in Diversions. The phone rang and my husband and I fought over who was going to answer the phone!

DCL really does need a dedicated concierge lounge. I find that much more convenient and useful. And I note it in my comment card every time.

This was my favorite lithograph. This was a Cinderella and Friends print. Quite simple and pretty. I missed the tube they usually give it to you in. Now they just give it to you in an envelope, and it didn't travel as well.

We tipped our cabin steward more than double as we usually do, and we got a very big thanks, especially for the "extra" as they like to say.

DCL is crazy. They should really take into account that suite stewards have at least twice the real estate to clean when considering tipping amounts. I like that it's at my discretion, but I am betting that a lot of suite guests throw in the standard amount or an extra $20, and the suite stewards get gypped. Just the impression I get.

My plan on tips will be to pre charge the tips now for the normal amount then top these up on the cruise, and for the stateroom host with everyones advice, I have a contigency plan to maybe ''double' it if a good job is done.

 

[Doingitagain]

DCL makes it easy to tip room stewards. Tipping the concierge team is trickier. Sometimes they do a lot of special things and you want to acknowledge that financially. Concierge cannot accept cash. What have others done?

 

[AlexandNessa]

On our 4 day, like I said, we never met one out of the two concierges, so we only gave Gavin a Walmart Gift Card. I left it in the room on top of a bag of candy. He took the card. Not the candy. Don't know if he didn't think it was for him or if he didn't want it. Never saw him after that.

 

[3mmm]

Interesting...

Our concierge team last month took our cash - no hesitation - said thank you very much

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

DCL makes it easy to tip room stewards. Tipping the concierge team is trickier. Sometimes they do a lot of special things and you want to acknowledge that financially. Concierge cannot accept cash. What have others done?

Interesting...

Our concierge team last month took our cash - no hesitation - said thank you very much

The difference in accepting or not is rather interesting, more views?

 

[samily]

DCL is crazy. They should really take into account that suite stewards have at least twice the real estate to clean when considering tipping amounts. I like that it's at my discretion, but I am betting that a lot of suite guests throw in the standard amount or an extra $20, and the suite stewards get gypped. Just the impression I get.

I agree - the recommended amount for room stewards should be higher for those staying in the suites. Those cruising who have not stayed in lower categories (and/or don't know about the DIS!) would have no idea that the recommended amounts are so low and may not go over and above as deserved.