Escape to Concierge

[Magical_Suitcase]

Looks like I just came back to do my replies in time to see the link to your trip report! I am here and excited to read about your cruise! I had no idea that Ellen brought you to the DIS - I loved her DISmoms trip report! I remember that!

And it is great to finally see a face! Even if the stolen picture is so tiny.

I love that the concierge experience starts out so calm and out of the usual chaos of the terminal. I had to laugh at your boarding card though. Stateroom # 1, boarding group 11006?

Hi Magdalene, Yep, Ellen's and your reports were among the first I read. Wow, we have all been around for a long time.

Regarding the photos of me, I figured I would do a "Michael", first a knee, then a foot, then a two finger point, then an ear... just kidding. When looking at our photos I realized we have very, very few of either of us. I will have to dig through our photos from other trips/life and see if I can find some.

I wondered who would be the first to notice our boarding group number. I think someone must have been in a hurry.

Joining in, great report!

Thanks! Glad to have you aboard. We spent a lot of time eating and drinking. Next trip we plan to hike for a couple of days in the Ocala National Forest to offset the eating and drinking.

Following along. Your farm is picturesque and I hope I look as good as your mom if I make it to 92! It's so nice that your siblings jumped in so you could still make your trip. You hear so many stories about siblings who refuse to help care for aging parents that it's always nice to hear when families work together.

It looks like your first day on the ship is going well and I'm looking forward to hearing more.

Our first home was in a crack neighborhood in Memphis, TN during graduate school. After living with bars on the doors and windows, noisy neighbors and drive by shootings, we decided we wanted a farm where life would be (hopefully) more peaceful. It took us twenty years to find a farm we could afford but we are loving the country life! So much so that I want to retire NOW and not in a couple of years. We hope to be making a semi-living at it someday. Right now though we mostly grow enough garlic for our year-round needs and enough veggies for us to eat during the summer. Next year, if all goes according to plan, we will have enough garlic to start selling and enough veggies to eat, freeze and can.

Mom is surprisingly healthy and youthful for 92. She also can be a pain-in-the-rear when she decides to be stubborn about something. Also, no filter so "all my business" is shared with anyone who walks in the door or calls her, aides, post man, neighbors, relatives.... Love her to bits!

Joining in!

You can't be that cheap if you're cruising Concierge I believe you just make some good choices on how to spend your money

Can't wait to read more!

I have a "vacation fund" where a put a few dollars every paycheck. It has been awhile since we could travel so this time there was enough money to cover the splurge, next time we are back to reality, but hey, any stateroom is awesome as long as we are cruising.



I will try to be back later today to continue the report, first though I need to catch up on grading papers.

 

[Magical_Suitcase]

I'm back. Brutally cold here. Our campus closed Monday due to road conditions - after most staff, faculty and students had driven in and the campus will be closed again tomorrow due to weather conditions, wind-chill conditions, at least this time they gave us prior warning. Our campus never, ever closes so this is amazing. What is irritating about Monday's closure is that the "school" knew Sunday night that the road conditions were dangerous and that the city issued an announcement stating that all non-essential traffic was to stay off the roads. I think students are essential but they should not have been required to drive to school. Being far more logical than apparently those in charge of our campus, I posted an announcement for my students in our online site that "I" would be covering .... and if they could not make it to campus, no biggie, all the material would be posted in our online site... Vent over, now back to your regularly scheduled program.

Still in the Royal Place enjoying our Concierge lunch....

Sitting next to us was a fun couple and their twins who were celebrating their fifth birthday on the cruise (the twins, not the couple). The twins were so excited. I imagine Mom and Dad were also. Fun folks, we ran into them several times during the cruise.

After checking my notes, I realized we stopped by our stateroom before heading up to the C. Lounge. We saw our stateroom hosts (we had two) in the hallway and managed a hello before checking out our new digs for the next four days.

Entering our stateroom was a long hallway with doors on the right side leading into a small bathroom and a large closet. I will post those pictures later. Also, immediately inside the door was a light "box" in which you could insert your room key to activate the lights. We brought an old Disney gift card to use for that purpose. On the left of the hallway is a doorway to the bedroom, also a door to another smaller closet. I will post those photos later also.



At the end of the hallway, on the right is a desk area and Murphy bed. We never had the Murphy bed lowered since there was only the two of us.



Also a desk area that I used several times. Wave phones were sitting on the desk but we did not use them. Rob used his iPhone for reading the Navigator and contacting me, I used my iPad to read the Navigator and contact Rob. My cell phone is ancient and will only accept and send phone calls. I pay $16.9 a month so it will take a lot for me to give up my old, old phone. To make up for not having an iPhone I use my iPad to read, take photos, and pretty much everything else one would use an iPhone for except to talk.



This area also contained a small "entertainment/beverage" area with wine and water glasses, ice bucket, etc.



Moving a few feet further led into the dining area. We never did eat at this table but it was a great place to "pile stuff".



On the dining table was a welcome basket of fruit. We enjoyed it immensely. I am not sure if this is standard or not, we did not receive one on the Wonder when we were in a concierge room.



And then out onto the verandah. We are definitely verandah folks. We enjoy our alone time so for us, splurging on a verandah or a nice hotel room is worth it.



If you stand in the dining area and flip about, you will be facing the sitting room. It was rather small and tight in there but it was nice to have the space.




More later. I am at my photo limit.

 

[buzzrelly]

And then out onto the verandah. We are definitely verandah folks. We enjoy our alone time so for us, splurging on a verandah or a nice hotel room is worth it.

That verandaah looks glorious. Was it enclosed with glass? Or was the top part open? It kind of looks like windows.

 

[Magical_Suitcase]

That verandaah looks glorious. Was it enclosed with glass? Or was the top part open? It kind of looks like windows.

It was a nice verandah, larger than normal but that is because it is a HC room. I have Marfan's syndrome plus a fused spine so there are certain "activities" I have issues with, such as getting off the, ummmm, throne or out of a tub without assistance. Grab bars are a necessary friend in my life and sadly they are only available in the dedicated HC rooms.

The lower part is plexiglass, the middle part is open and the top part is again plexiglass.

 

[CarolynK]

Lovely, large stateroom, and balcony!!

We're in the Chicago suburbs (it hit -23 last night), both my kids' universities cancelled classes today.

 

[buzzrelly]

It was a nice verandah, larger than normal but that is because it is a HC room. I have Marfan's syndrome plus a fused spine

Ouch, sounds painful! That explains the huge balcony though.

The lower part is plexiglass, the middle part is open and the top part is again plexiglass.

I see that now. What an amazing space

 

[FSU Girl]

Joining in! It looks like a fabulous trip so far. I love sailing in Concierge. I've only done it on the Dream and the Fantasy, not on the Classics.

On the dining table was a welcome basket of fruit. We enjoyed it immensely. I am not sure if this is standard or not, we did not receive one on the Wonder when we were in a concierge room.

Maybe it's a difference between the classics and dream class? I've gotten one both times I sailed in Concierge, although i never opened it either time.

This room configuration is interesting. I've always had the table next to the bed area and the couch area on the opposite side. It seems like that's the only thing switched in this room than what I've had.

Having the extra large balconies is so nice! We requested to have the long loungers instead of the chairs put on ours.

 

[WildGinger]

Gorgeous room and balcony! Love all that space!

 

[Eeyore54 fred]

Maybe it's a difference between the classics and dream class? I've gotten one both times I sailed in Concierge, although i never opened it either time.

We sailed concierge on the Magic last September and got one.

 

[tink1970]

Following along and enjoying your report!

It took us twenty years to find a farm we could afford but we are loving the country life!

LOVE IT! So adorable, especially the red barn! Had I not remarried my dream was to retire to Iowa and live near my aunt/uncle's cattle ranch. Sadly DH is a city boy so we compromise on a small city near the beach. Still, your spread looks wonderful.

On the dining table was a welcome basket of fruit. We enjoyed it immensely. I am not sure if this is standard or not, we did not receive one on the Wonder when we were in a concierge room.

We have received a fruit basket on all concierge cruises, including the one on the Magic so maybe there was a supply issue for your Wonder cruise?

Brutally cold here.

Just hold on another 4 weeks, it's been "cold" here in Florida (30s/40s/50s) but warming up to 60s today (and warmer, I'm sure, elsewhere). You're almost here and can thaw out

 

[jimenyfan]

Enjoying your report, your room looks great.

 

[Magical_Suitcase]

The work week is over (not really, one of my work hats pertains to scheduling and staffing and I need to work on that this weekend), grading is done, student emails answered, etc. etc., so I can sit down with a glass of wine and play catchup on this report.

Lovely, large stateroom, and balcony!!

We're in the Chicago suburbs (it hit -23 last night), both my kids' universities cancelled classes today.

Our campus closed down for two and a half days last week and two of the shut downs were back to back. I have been at this same school for over twenty years. They never, ever close due to weather.

Ouch, sounds painful! That explains the huge balcony though.

It is not painful so much as limiting. Marfans affects the connective tissues so things can happen such as retinal detachment or aorta aneurysm. I am lucky though, so far my challenges have been with my skeletal system and not other areas. I can do most of the things I want to do except climb a mountain (or get up off a toilet without assistance ). Double whammy for me is I cracked a couple of vertebrae in my teens and they fused together so between the Marfans and the fused vertebrae...Neither are painful, just restrictive.

This room configuration is interesting. I've always had the table next to the bed area and the couch area on the opposite side. It seems like that's the only thing switched in this room than what I've had.

I actually think there would have been more space if the room furniture had been switched and the sitting area placed where the dining area was and vice-a-versa.

Gorgeous room and balcony! Love all that space!

Next time we are in a regular stateroom. I hope we do not miss the space too much. I doubt we will because we will be so excited to be cruising.

We sailed concierge on the Magic last September and got one.

Maybe whoever puts out the basket just forgot our room??? We did not know about them so we did not miss it.

LOVE IT! So adorable, especially the red barn! Had I not remarried my dream was to retire to Iowa and live near my aunt/uncle's cattle ranch. Sadly DH is a city boy so we compromise on a small city near the beach. Still, your spread looks wonderful.

My spouse was a big-city kid also but wanted a farm. It took us a long time to find one though. Living near the beach though sounds really nice. Especially if you are somewhere warm.

Enjoying your report, your room looks great.

It was really nice. I will be posting more room photos in the next posting and then we shall visit the Concierge Lounge. Finally...

 

[Magical_Suitcase]

Carrying on with our stateroom exploration, I left you in the sitting room.

I believe this makes into a sofa bed but since Sarah was not with us, we never had it open. Sarah did sleep on a similar sofa when we were on the Wonder and said it was quite comfortable. But what does she know, she is young.







And our mini-frig. (Three times now auto-correct has tried to change this to "mini-frog".) At about 125 days before your cruise you may send in an email to shore side Concierge with your requests. We had only a few, Palo, a couple of drink tastings and certain items in the frig. We were also able to find out ahead of time (at about 130 days) when the drink tastings, etc. would be. We asked that our refrigerator be stocked with regular coke, Dasani water (normally the water is Evian), and Gatorade or Powerade. Disney stocks Coke products so we ended up with Powerade. Rob has migraines, coconut water/gatorade/powerade helps him decrease the intensity of the migraine and sometimes even avoid it. His migraine triggers are the same triggers I have for asthma, cologne and residual cigarette smoke so we each have to be careful about who we stand/sit near.



On top of the frig was our "book".



And next to the frig was the TV, which was never turned on but it was there just in case we wanted to watch something. There were three TVs in the stateroom, one in the sitting room, one in the bedroom and one in the bathroom. I turned on the one in the bathroom just long enough to grab a photo. We are just not TV folks.



This door led from the hallway to the bedroom. There were actually a couple of doors on each side of the bedroom TV. We did not know to "latch" them so the first night the doors kept banging and waking us up.



The bed was super comfortable. Plenty of drawer and storage space under the beds in addition to what was available in the closets.







I am out of photo space. Will be back later to continue. It may be a couple of days. I have three full days of classes and meetings ahead of me.

Kate

 

[Magical_Suitcase]

A few more from the bedroom then off to the master bath.

I love the bedside lamps but I like the ones in the regular staterooms more.



The beautiful bedroom.



Drawers under the bed.


Another TV for us not to watch.



Castaway Club bag. This was our cruise that took us to gold so next time, hopefully, we will have something a bit different for the Castaway Club gift. We have received this same bag or something similar each time since we have been members of the Castaway Club. We are grateful for the gift but we are not "sling bag" folks.





We had an onboard credit from our travel agent whereby she supplied money to our shipboard account for us to "enjoy". So sweet. Now that I am a travel agent, I do the same for my clients. Just a way to say thank you.



I had also reserved Rainforest day passes for us and the passes were lying on the bed.



After checking out our awesome bedroom I took a peek at the bathroom - where there was "another TV". OH MY!

This one does not make sense to me since the only place you could watch it was from the shower and if you were in the shower - well, how could you watch???



Back soon. Need to focus on "real life" for a few days.

 

[CarolynK]

I am still amazed at the size of your stateroom! The decor is on the darker side.
I think refrigerator is abbreviated "fridge" so maybe that's why auto correct kept "fixing" it?

 

[TestingH2O]

This one does not make sense to me since the only place you could watch it was from the shower and if you were in the shower - well, how could you watch???

Well that's silly. In our suite on the Dream it was directly across from the tub. DD loved it.

 

[Magical_Suitcase]

I am still amazed at the size of your stateroom! The decor is on the darker side.
I think refrigerator is abbreviated "fridge" so maybe that's why auto correct kept "fixing" it?

Ahh, that explains the frogs. I never even though about it. You are correct. When I leave notes for the family I always put "in the frig" and have apparently forgotten the correct abbreviation.

Well that's silly. In our suite on the Dream it was directly across from the tub. DD loved it.

With a tub, the TV in the mirror makes sense but with a shower, no. Nor could you watch it if you were sitting on the throne since it was positioned next to the mirror. Oh well, it was fun knowing it was there. I guess you could watch TV while shaving or putting on makeup but since Rob has a beard and I take about a minute and a half to put on makeup ....

 

[FSU Girl]

This one does not make sense to me since the only place you could watch it was from the shower and if you were in the shower - well, how could you watch???

In our room there was a huge soaking tub in front of the mirror TV so you could watch it that way. What room number was this room again?

 

[Magical_Suitcase]

In our room there was a huge soaking tub in front of the mirror TV so you could watch it that way. What room number was this room again?

I think the HC rooms only have showers, but I could be wrong. I am not sure there is room enough for a tub also. Perhaps someone can post photos of the layout of shower and bath in a regular one-bedroom master bath on the Dream or Fantasy? TestingH2O has shared a photo of the tub and mirror. I assume there is a shower on the other side of the room. Our room number was 11006.

 

[Magical_Suitcase]

I have to head for work in a half hour. Let's see if I can get us out of the master bath and into the small bath. Then up to the C. lounge for more drinks, er, to meet the hosts.

From the bedroom door, looking into the bathroom.




Shelving on the left with all the nice smelling goodies. The stateroom host will substitute these with H20 products if you ask.



On the right side of the mirror.



Below the sinks are additional storage space. Neither Rob nor I managed to snap a photo of the space below the sinks.



Shower time. As you can see, there is a pull down bench, plus it is wheelchair/shower chair friendly.







The toilet with the most important grab bars.



All for now. I need to go be a "Working Class Hero". Till later my friends. By the way, when talking with "other people", do you say things like "One of my disboards friends..." did such-n-such or said such-n-such. In other words, I have facebook friends, disboards friends, family friends, local friends, etc.... and they are all important and all impact my life.

Kate