First Time Concierge

[Alicatt]

I sitting in my car waiting for to warm up. It's snowing and all I can think about is enjoying a drink on the Concierge deck in the sunshine.....

 

[JulieBeeRN]

Only problem with concierge is once you do it; it's REALLY hard to ever go back.

1. You can email your requests to the shoreside concierge team 130 days before your sailing. This can include: Port adventures, dining requests (Palo, Remy), Rainforest passes, other onboard activities (ie beer tastings, Bippity Boppity Boutique ), drinks to stock in the fridge, lounge chair (if you have bump out verandah). This is earlier access than Pearl.

2. Don't have to worry about online checkin and your PAT because you can get on the ship anytime you want to (just before it leaves, lol).

3. There is a separate line for concierge checkin at Port Everglades and a separate "lounge" area. Other than B2B; you are one of the first people on the ship which is kinda cool. You can either go to the special concierge luncheon (free drinks); wait up in the concierge lounge (free drinks early embarkation day); hit the pool early or explore the ship. Our rooms are typically ready earlier than the rest of the ship. We usually get there early enough that we are waiting in the "lounge" area before boarding the ship. We go have lunch right away and our rooms are ready around 1230pm. You order from the pillow menu once you get in your room or google it and send it with your requests.

4. The lounge: During dry dock, the lounge was expanded and it is beautiful! We don't drink, but I think they had drinks available earlier on embarkation (maybe all day?) otherwise 5-10p. Two coffee machines that make the best coffee on the planet. I dream of that coffee. Two refrigerators that have pop, water, juice, milk that you can grab anytime. And some type of food there all day long. There will be information on the hours of each "course" in your room. I think it's open from 630a-10p.

5. The sundeck: There is a private sundeck that you can access from the lounge or the main deck. Lots of chairs, hot tub, sunscreen, another fridge with beverages. There is a bar that is open during at sea days that has a dole whip smoothie machine.

6. Dining In: You can order hot food from the main dining room (that others have to go sit down at) for breakfast and lunch. There is a door hanging menu that you fill out and leave on your door before 3am for breakfast. We didn't order lunch (just snacked in the lounge) so I don't know about that process. If you want to order dinner, you will just give your requests to the concierge hosts. Just check with them to see what time they need that information bc you do have to order it around the time of your scheduled dining time. We were late seating, so we usually got ours at 9pm. You cannot order from Palo or Remy.

7. Random: You can meet 40 minutes before a show and the hosts will take you down to pick your seat before everyone else. When you present your KTWC, you get free popcorn at Preludes. There is usually a scheduled time that a character will come to the lounge to visit and take pictures with everyone. It was Chip & Dale for us last month. The hosts are happy to help with any questions or problems that you might have or just to chat! Finally, you can do an express walkout (they will let you know the time) that they will take you down the elevator and to the front of the line to walk off the ship.

 

[mollygirl13]

We did Concierge upgrade at the Port on our Treasure Halloween Cruise a few months ago and guess who is booked Concierge again in 4 weeks? Yep-it's true. Once you go Concierge, it's hard to go back. We loved it so much!

 

[mrkyyyle]

We did Concierge upgrade at the Port on our Treasure Halloween Cruise a few months ago and guess who is booked Concierge again in 4 weeks? Yep-it's true. Once you go Concierge, it's hard to go back. We loved it so much!

Too true unfortunately! Got hooked on it when I went with the family 15 years ago and I haven't went on a non-concierge one yet! We are heading out on a cruise in just about 4 weeks as well!

 

[ladyofthetramp]

We have bounced back and forth. It is hard, but once you are on board it is absolutely fine going back. You still enjoy. That being said I just upgraded the March trip to concierge... oh boy

 

[princesscinderella]

We have sailed concierge twice out of 14 Disney cruises and it’s not a must for us, especially on the short sailings. We didn’t go to as many areas on the ship when we were concierge staying in the lounge for drinks etc, which we found we missed. We have two inside staterooms for our next sailing on the Destiny because we really enjoyed our deck two overview on the treasure. It’s 6 of us so we should be fine between connecting inside cabins we hardly hang in the room.

 

[shb5007]

Cruising on the Dream next week... 6th DCL cruise... 1st concierge (just wife and myself, no kids this time).

Have been pretty excited... And further excitement growing after reading through this thread... But one thing on my mind.

How has DCL's communication been with you PRIOR to boarding? We booked a few months ago (via phone). Not once has anyone from DCL reached out to us. We DID share some requests (based on things we found online, like this forum) a few days after booking, and they were quick to reply. We asked a few other questions ~1 month ago, and they were pretty quick to reply again. But not once have they reached out... Reminding about checking in (nope), reminding about Royal Gathering (nope), checking in about anything (nope), any specific information about concierge boarding procedures (nope)... Is this normal?

I am not really upset or anything, but I am a little surprised they haven't reached out just once to "check in" or anything. Anyone have a different or similar experience?

 

[Alicatt]

I only received the introductory email from the shoreside team but nothing else unless prompted.

New question: Do you still get the same Castaway gifts? Does anyone know what Silver is right now?

 

[mrkyyyle]

Cruising on the Dream next week... 6th DCL cruise... 1st concierge (just wife and myself, no kids this time).

Have been pretty excited... And further excitement growing after reading through this thread... But one thing on my mind.

How has DCL's communication been with you PRIOR to boarding? We booked a few months ago (via phone). Not once has anyone from DCL reached out to us. We DID share some requests (based on things we found online, like this forum) a few days after booking, and they were quick to reply. We asked a few other questions ~1 month ago, and they were pretty quick to reply again. But not once have they reached out... Reminding about checking in (nope), reminding about Royal Gathering (nope), checking in about anything (nope), any specific information about concierge boarding procedures (nope)... Is this normal?

I am not really upset or anything, but I am a little surprised they haven't reached out just once to "check in" or anything. Anyone have a different or similar experience?

I don't think they've checked in with us outside of initial email on any of the cruises we've done. They are very responsive via phone or email if you have questions or need something though.

You'll have a great time! My wife and I did our honeymoon on the Fantasy and another the year after with just us. Now we are getting back into cruising but kids now. Different experience but still lots of fun!