Help me plan a Concierge level cruise for as little $$ as possible

[KVH]

This strategy will not work as concierge rooms do not get the 10% OBB discount.

Here is a link to info about OBB, if interested.

http://disneycruiselineblog.com/201...ooking-policy-now-to-include-block-out-dates/

[/QUOTE]

Oops, you are correct. Sorry for the misinformation, totally spaced on the concierge requirement there.

 

[Bear3412]

You can take the Costco Cash Card to the service desk and redeem it for cash.

Just an FYI for all.

According to some reports, this may not be true in all states. Ask your local store manager if this is your goal prior to booking with Costco.

It applies here in VA. As we have cashed out the card on two different occasions.

 

[Dug720]

You can take the Costco Cash Card to the service desk and redeem it for cash.

There is not even one around where I am.

Not everyone feels that giving up control of the reservation is worth any amount of money.

 

[KalamityJane]

There is not even one around where I am.

Not everyone feels that giving up control of the reservation is worth any amount of money.

That's totally valid. I did have a good experience with Costco using leverage to get my room back after Disney dropped it, but I can see how in some cases having a middle man would be annoying. I'm a little surprised there's no Costco near you, they seem to be everywhere Maybe not in the middle of Montana

 

[Billinaz]

So you work for Costco or something?? Seriously. Not everyone shops at Costco. We get that YOU do, but not everyone does.

Nope, but quite a lot of people do. And having the best return on your cruise by a large amount (especially if you pay for higher cat rooms) makes it a great way to go. I only wish I found out about it earlier.

Im not stating that everyone has to go this route, but it is a serious benefit.

 

[Billinaz]

There is not even one around where I am.

Not everyone feels that giving up control of the reservation is worth any amount of money.

I am the biggest planner ever. I make sure that every detail of the trip is planned, and I book everything myself. But in the long run what do you give up?

I start the reservation with DCL, and they give me the reservation number. I fill out a form and transfer it to Costco and then make my payments online until it is paid off.

If I wanted to change my room (thats about the only change you would make unless you want to change dates) then I would call Costco who would call DCL and set it up. No big deal.

You book excursions yourself no the DCL website.

 

[Billinaz]

the royal suite on the new ships isn't big enough for 6 people.....and totally not worth it either..
i can't stand the royal suite on the new ships...
on the old ships ("classic"), the royal suite does fit 6 people, but i think you'll still be more comfortable in two smaller concierge suites even on the smaller ships..

in other words, i agree with everyone else - book one 1 bedroom concierge suite and the adjoining concierge family suite....
you'll have lots of room that way and it will be lovely for everyone..

That was a strange development. The Cat V and T cabins hold 5. I would think they would make the Royal Suites hold more people than 5.

 

[Billinaz]

There is not even one around where I am.

Where in NYC are you? It looks like there are several Costco locations in the city.

https://www.costco.com/warehouse-lo...&catalogId=10701&COSTID=Header_Locations_MAIN

 

[Dug720]

Where in NYC are you? It looks like there are several Costco locations in the city.

https://www.costco.com/warehouse-lo...&catalogId=10701&COSTID=Header_Locations_MAIN

View attachment 218841

Not accessible to public transportation. Plus i live by myself. I have no need for tons of TP or food or any of the crap that they sell.

You are enamored with them. That's fine.

I despise them. And that's fine too.

 

[hypnotoad]

Wow, I wasn't expecting so much response after one day! You've all give me a lot to think about. I think what I like about the concierge is having two people dedicated to you and maybe getting a cabana on CC (haven't decided if that is worth it - we'll be with the kids but my parents might enjoy time away from the crowds.

 

[Billinaz]

Not accessible to public transportation. Plus i live by myself. I have no need for tons of TP or food or any of the crap that they sell.

You are enamored with them. That's fine.

I despise them. And that's fine too.

I am not enamored, I just shop there when the need arises, and getting more than a grand back is much better than a couple hundred onboard. You can also use the card online for electronics, etc..... not just TP.

 

[GingerPilot]

the royal suite on the new ships isn't big enough for 6 people.....and totally not worth it either..
i can't stand the royal suite on the new ships...
on the old ships ("classic"), the royal suite does fit 6 people, but i think you'll still be more comfortable in two smaller concierge suites even on the smaller ships..

in other words, i agree with everyone else - book one 1 bedroom concierge suite and the adjoining concierge family suite....
you'll have lots of room that way and it will be lovely for everyone..

And the configuration of the Royal is odd if there will be more than one couple. We stayed in the Roy on the Magic last year and although the room was fantastic in terms of space some things were just odd. You have the master bed/bath and then the den area is connected to that. There is a murphy bed that pulls down and you utilize that by moving the desk. It is connected to the master though so if you're two couples it's a little too close. The other real bedroom is a good size with a great closet but they are two twin beds that cannot be combined - fine for kids but again not good for multiple couples. Dining room is nice because you can enjoy dinner away from the chaos and order from Palo or a MDR. They should have made the dining area smaller in favor of making the second bedroom larger/different configuration. I would not want to put 6 people in that room.

And there were almost no outlets in the place, though I hear they have remedied that situation. Seriously I was doing my hair in the room off the living area because it had a mirror and we all shared 2 plug-ins for phones/ipads etc. It was fun to do once but the one bedrooms are a lot better value IMO and better utilized space.

 

[hypnotoad]

And just to add, I had wanted a Royal so we have a "living room" situation to hang out in privately, but it sounds like there are connecting room configurations that can serve the same purpose.

Still trying to wrap my head around all the advice above.

Thanks again!

 

[Billinaz]

Wow, I wasn't expecting so much response after one day! You've all give me a lot to think about. I think what I like about the concierge is having two people dedicated to you and maybe getting a cabana on CC (haven't decided if that is worth it - we'll be with the kids but my parents might enjoy time away from the crowds.

We have only sailed in Concierge. It is really nice having the concierge team take care of any issues you have, or help you get something booked. The lounge is always stocked with drinks and has snacks out frequently.

We like the cabana and have had one every trip to Castaway Cay since they were built. Its a nice retreat from the crowds and a nice chade spot when it gets hot. To us, they are worth it.

I would pre book it with the shoreside concierge as soon as 125 days out. Then if you decide not to use it you can always cancel later.

 

[coloradocutie]

What a wonderful idea for a family trip! I so hope it works out!
Another way to save money on concierge is to go during a slow time. We went on the Fantasy 2 years ago the first week in May, and when we were looking to rebook our cat T room for the following year, we could have gotten the Royal for $1000 more (opening day was a few weeks prior). What we paid that week was less than a non-concierge room during spring break. Understandably, prices change, but the idea of traveling low season means your money can go further...

 

[cheapster316]

I recommend the cabana. We just had one for our family of 4, dh, dd20, DS 8. It was so nice to have the shade, cold drinks, cool towel but most of all the privacy and almost private beach. I have pictures whee no one else is on the beach and my kids are playing in the water. We were on the beach from9:30-2:30.
Worth every penny

 

[bumbershoot]

Wanted to note this - Costco's price is more expensive on the website until you get to the end, it is the same price as Disney direct, and then 7you get the cash back. I don't know why their website shows a more expensive price initially.

It doesn't always do that. I've never experienced it. It seems to be that if you don't log in it will show the wrong price but once you're fully logged in it will.

I have no need for tons of TP or food or any of the crap that they sell.

That's how I felt when single, though I had never actually been there lol. Got married and joined (not sure why 2 people made it more worth it than one) and discovered that it's not a bad place. Though I haven't been there in 100 years lol. I keep it for the travel, apparently. And dh goes there for his (single) mom who does like to have the huge quantities of TP (no lie...she's a it if a hoarder so TP for 3 months makes her happy). They have a lot of decent stuff.

And they treat their employees ridiculously well. I would get a job there any time. Not a bad company. In case you didn't know that.

Wow, I wasn't expecting so much response after one day! You've all give me a lot to think about. I think what I like about the concierge is having two people dedicated to you and maybe getting a cabana on CC (haven't decided if that is worth it - we'll be with the kids but my parents might enjoy time away from the crowds.

What two people are dedicated to you?

I wanted to ask when I first read the post and now I will. What is it that makes you feel you have to have concierge? The phrase "having two people dedicated to you" makes me worry that there has been a misunderstanding of what concierge level in dcl means.

I would hate for you to spend 20grand (we haven't even spent that total on our 9 cruises since 2013 so the number makes me gasp) on something you thought you were getting but weren't.

 

[ThatCOprep]

What two people are dedicated to you?

I wanted to ask when I first read the post and now I will. What is it that makes you feel you have to have concierge? The phrase "having two people dedicated to you" makes me worry that there has been a misunderstanding of what concierge level in dcl means.

I would hate for you to spend 20grand (we haven't even spent that total on our 9 cruises since 2013 so the number makes me gasp) on something you thought you were getting but weren't.

Didn't the Classics before getting lounges have 2 hosts that would go room to room doing whatever you needed? I thought I read that when I was doing research on concierge. I haven't seen anything about that now that the classics both have a dedicated lounge though.

 

[bumbershoot]

Didn't the Classics before getting lounges have 2 hosts that would go room to room doing whatever you needed? I thought I read that when I was doing research on concierge. I haven't seen anything about that now that the classics both have a dedicated lounge though.

But they weren't dedicated *to one cabin*. They worked for all the people with concierge level.

IMO there's Concierge and there's Disney concierge. DCL's version is arguably better than their resorts, but it's still not rock star level of service. A lounge with some extra food you've paid for and a (bad IMO) espresso machine and some Evian and waiting in line for the couple of concierges at the desk vs waiting in line for the 7 guest services people isn't THAT big of a deal. IMO.

But then we felt that the concierge that everyone loves was condescending and overly cheesy, and I didn't like the experience of the cabana at all (DH and DS disagree on the cabana), so that's where I'm coming from. I do like a nice club level if it's at a decent value.

Oh and our first concierge stateroom on DCL was a whopping $300ish more total than the room we had booked already, and the second time concierge on Dream wasn't that much higher than that, so paying through the nose for concierge just isn't my style.

 

[hypnotoad]

But they weren't dedicated *to one cabin*. They worked for all the people with concierge level.

IMO there's Concierge and there's Disney concierge. DCL's version is arguably better than their resorts, but it's still not rock star level of service. A lounge with some extra food you've paid for and a (bad IMO) espresso machine and some Evian and waiting in line for the couple of concierges at the desk vs waiting in line for the 7 guest services people isn't THAT big of a deal. IMO.

But then we felt that the concierge that everyone loves was condescending and overly cheesy, and I didn't like the experience of the cabana at all (DH and DS disagree on the cabana), so that's where I'm coming from. I do like a nice club level if it's at a decent value.

Oh and our first concierge stateroom on DCL was a whopping $300ish more total than the room we had booked already, and the second time concierge on Dream wasn't that much higher than that, so paying through the nose for concierge just isn't my style.

I got it from reading reviews from people who sailed Concierge who kept referring to "our two hosts". I also don't want to spend any time standing in lines (if at all possible) and it seemed (to me, at least) being concierge level will either allow you to skip lines by booking early or you could just ask your host to do it for you. I forget the exact examples, but stuff about standing in line at guest service and stuff around excursions.