Cruise Newbie Question about Concierge Level

[AquamarineSteph]

Hi! I have tried reading through trip reports to find the answer to my question, but it finally occurred to me to simply ask.

We have never been on a cruise. I have looked at the DCL website, but other than the fact that concierge rooms are larger, I don't understand what you're receiving in exchange for the higher price of those rooms. Since food is already provided on the ship, what does the concierge level of the cruise line do for you as a passenger?

Could someone please help out a newbie here so that I can better understand if a concierge suite is something I'd wish to splurge and go for? Thank you very much in advance!!!

 

[TestingH2O]

Well, on Dream & Fantasy, there is a lounge and sun deck only available to concierge. Included in the lounge are cocktail hours, bottled water, different food options, and a coffee machine that is better than the usual stuff at the beverage stations. They are working on comparable services for Magic and Wonder, but right now there's no actual lounge.

On all ships, You also have the concierges themselves who can help you make reservations, provide special snacks in your room, etc. Before you cruise, you can also make requests to shoreside. Since you are a first time cruiser, you wouldn't have access to online booking until the last time slot. Concierge gets the first slot, and the earlier timeline gets you access to excursions, cabanas, adult dining and all that good stuff.

Is it worth it? I can't say as I haven't gone yet. I assume, like everything, it's worth it for some but not others.

 

[bumbershoot]

Since food is already provided on the ship, what does the concierge level of the cruise line do for you as a passenger?

I can only speak about Dream, and we've stayed in category V which isn't an actual suite.

Very very pretty room. Prettier to my eyes than the regular rooms.

The private lounge space. Gives you a place to go and be with fewer people. Nice for us hermits.

People who know you. (questionable benefit for us hermits!)

Snacks that aren't made for others on the ship.

Free cans of soda (otherwise not free...fountain drinks are free but not cans of soda onboard). Free bottles of water. Not everyone wants bottled water, but for those of us who do need it, it's a fabulous benefit. Otherwise you're bringing it onboard OR buying it on the ship and the water packages are pretty high in price compared to buying at the store. (and it's Evian, which means the store price is already pretty high)

A big lithograph at the end of the cruise. We have two. They are still in the cardboard sleeves. Obviously this isn't a huge benefit for my family.

A bit easier to get onboard. A bit easier to leave post-cruise.

If you want a cabana, the pre-cruise concierge people will help you with that, and it's just about the only way you'll get one. If you want palo, remy, etc etc, they'll help with that. Nearly anything you would otherwise need to spend your time doing, they can do it for you.

Sun deck. A character meet/greet with other concierge guests.

That's all i can think of right now.

For us, it's the small lounge space and just having a bit of extra fanciness. We aren't fancy at home and DH travels a LOT for work on a relative budget, so he yearns for the extra service when on leisure trips.

But next time I'm asking them to leave fruit, NOT cookies, in our room each day. I don't need cookies coming TO me!


Oh, actually, the best thing *for me* is the after-sun product from H2O that's in the concierge bathrooms but not the normal ones. That stuff is fabulous. DH keeps reminding me that I can actually buy it from H2O and it would be cheaper than a cruise plus extra tip for extra bottles of it....

 

[Peggytc]

I can only speak about Dream, and we've stayed in category V which isn't an actual suite.

Very very pretty room. Prettier to my eyes than the regular rooms.

The private lounge space. Gives you a place to go and be with fewer people. Nice for us hermits.

People who know you. (questionable benefit for us hermits!)

Snacks that aren't made for others on the ship.

Free cans of soda (otherwise not free...fountain drinks are free but not cans of soda onboard). Free bottles of water. Not everyone wants bottled water, but for those of us who do need it, it's a fabulous benefit. Otherwise you're bringing it onboard OR buying it on the ship and the water packages are pretty high in price compared to buying at the store. (and it's Evian, which means the store price is already pretty high)

A big lithograph at the end of the cruise. We have two. They are still in the cardboard sleeves. Obviously this isn't a huge benefit for my family.

A bit easier to get onboard. A bit easier to leave post-cruise.

If you want a cabana, the pre-cruise concierge people will help you with that, and it's just about the only way you'll get one. If you want palo, remy, etc etc, they'll help with that. Nearly anything you would otherwise need to spend your time doing, they can do it for you.

Sun deck. A character meet/greet with other concierge guests.

That's all i can think of right now.

For us, it's the small lounge space and just having a bit of extra fanciness. We aren't fancy at home and DH travels a LOT for work on a relative budget, so he yearns for the extra service when on leisure trips.

But next time I'm asking them to leave fruit, NOT cookies, in our room each day. I don't need cookies coming TO me!


Oh, actually, the best thing *for me* is the after-sun product from H2O that's in the concierge bathrooms but not the normal ones. That stuff is fabulous. DH keeps reminding me that I can actually buy it from H2O and it would be cheaper than a cruise plus extra tip for extra bottles of it....

Actually, I've gotten the lithograph without staying in concierge, and the awesome after-sun products, after seeing that I bought a big tube our stateroom host let us know that if we only asked him he would have given us some (it's Not placed in the bathrooms but they would give it to us no problem).

 

[undertheradar]

In the Cat "T" and above, you have a dining table and chairs. This allows you to have hot breakfast via room service. You can also have MDR dinner in your suite. The 2 bedroom and Cat "R" suites are able to have Palo in suite.

The added space in a T and above, includes the additional bathroom.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

We took our 5th- 1st at concierge level this April (CAT V). This was our 30th anniversary trip- so a splurge. And our first cruise on the Dream-previously only been on the Magic and Wonder, which are smaller ships. Our family (2 adults, 2 teens) really enjoyed having a smaller, quiet space to land (lounge) as the Dream has many more passengers than what we had cruised with in the past. The food and individual attention was very, very nice. All the benefits the poster above here listed. The room, a step above the regular cabin, which are also very roomy and nice. I think it is up to each to place a value for the $ on the experience. For us, this trip, worth every penny. If I didn't want the expense or feel as though it was worth it for the next trip, it would be no big deal for us and would not prevent us from booking our next vacation on DCL

 

[Uncleromulus]

Getting on the ship with no designated Port Arrival Time (and a "private" entrance bypassing the mob waiting to board) along with getting to the head of the line when getting off the ship!!

 

[Wenawen]

You get on the ship first!!!!

 

[AquamarineSteph]

Thank you everyone for all your answers and help! I really appreciate it!

 

[Uncleromulus]

A cruise ago we wanted to take the Galley Tour but waited a bit too late--was already at capacity.

But not to worry--a concierge host made a "private" friend to friend" call and we were able to take the tour.

A call from concierge seems to work a lot of magic--as does the Gold KTTW card which is different color than the regular cards.

We sailed 2x and both concierge--it's the only way we will sail from now on.

 

[Uncleromulus]

And last cruise we had a private chat (albeit brief chat) with the ships Captain. Turns out he comes down to the Concierge Lounge many mornings for the special coffees they have there!!

 

[OhThePain]

Yes, it's true that most of the perks for staying Concierge are not necessary since so much is included for everyone as it is.

What sets Concierge apart is the next level service you get. It was great having a place to go that was quiet and away from the crowds, whether it was the lounge or sun-deck (which, as of now, are only on the Fantasy and Dream) and having the hosts always greeting you with a smile by name, making sure you are having as good of a time as possible. I also understand that Concierge also are assigned to the prime tables and top rated MDR service teams (our team was the best I had on a cruise in a while). You also get access to shoreside concierge who will take care of any requests you may have long before you embark. In other words, it relieves that feeling like you are just part of the masses (which I personally feel quite often on cruises). Then, once you start adding in some of the other things like nicer décor in the rooms, the ability to get a cabana if you want, the coffee machine in the lounge (as someone who drinks my coffee black with none of those latte bells and whistles, it was the only place on board I could get a good cup), being able to stock your fridge with water and soda, etc. for us it was worth it (not sure it would have been worth it on Magic or Wonder).

 

[jlemieu1]

For us

.

Very well said. We do concierge for these exact reasons. I would say the budget would be a key issue. First budget to get on the ship than can your budget handle concierge? Warning: If you do concierge as your first cruise on the newer ship....It is habit forming

 

[GreyStr0ke]

I returned last month from my first DCL cruise on the Dream and we stayed Concierge. I hate to admit it but I don't think I could go again without staying concierge. The level of service that I experienced was second to none. The experience starts as soon as you get to the port and get to bypass the regular check-in line. From there, you're escorted onto the ship through a back door. This alone made my day. The staff was excellent in every aspect of customer service. It was nice having the private sun deck which was never busy. It was also nice to have a place to just chill and get away from the other areas of the ship that were packed. The cocktail hours were also great and the bartender was the best. So much so, that I regretted even bringing booze on because we really didn't need it with concierge. As if priority boarding wasn't enough, we also took advantage of the priority disembarkation.

 

[JLMDisneyCruise]

I love the fact I gave them what I wanted to do....they made all my reservations! Including getting me the cabana I wanted! Worth the money for less the hassle, also no boarding time

 

[diznymom]

Are there robes in the concierge rooms? We are booked in a Cat V.

Thank you for all of the good info.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Are there robes in the concierge rooms? We are booked in a Cat V.

Thank you for all of the good info.

I know all the other suites do.

 

[Lizzards]

We just stayed on the Fantasy Cat V and had robes and slippers in our closet.

 

[TestingH2O]

Did they have robes for kids too?

 

[MaleficentRN]

I also understand that Concierge also are assigned to the prime tables and top rated MDR service teams (our team was the best I had on a cruise in a while.

Not necessarily true. First night out of two in Enchanted Garden, we were sat in a far corner table, behind a wall.


I asked our server if we did something bad. She asked why I would ask that and I told her because we were sat at the "naughty table". I was kidding of course, but I thought it was an odd table assignment because I assumed what you posted. However, the next time we dined there we were sat in one of the teacup seats and it was most likely because of what I said and where our cabin was.