Home from our 1st Disney Cruise, impressions and observations

[IMMkXLVI]

Concierge do have an assistant stateroom host. That person will help with stateroom cleaning and also cleaning the lounge.

Ah. That could be it, I did see crew members other than Concierge and the bar tenders in the lounge.

 

[holula]

I am going on a MDAS soon and there is debate that they will not have the pirate night menu. Did you have the pirate night menu on pirate night?

I was on the cruise prior to the OP and we also had the Pirate Night menu.

 

[IMMkXLVI]

I don't believe there is an assistant stateroom host/hostess... maybe the assistant server? That person took your beverage orders every night in the MDR.

Or maybe you mean the Head Server? That person tends to be behind the scenes -- if you never saw him/her then things must have been going smoothly. If anyone in your party has food allergies, you would likely have had a conversation with the Head Server at least the first night. We've always had the Head Server stop by the table on the first night, but rarely any other time.




You can do that to get the $250 back now. Or I believe you can use it for concierge to get the reduced deposit and the $250 will be applied; there just isn't a discount for concierge. Or if another party is traveling with you not in concierge it could be used for them.

It just occurred to me, we saw the Head Server nightly. She was great, came by the table every night to ensure things were okay, and for a little idle conversation but never stayed long. My wife does have a few food allergies which could be why. She was also frequently seen at the podium near the main entrance. Supergirl will likely see her as well on their cruise, our head Server was Salomie G.

 

[tink1970]

I don't believe there is an assistant stateroom host/hostess... maybe the assistant server? That person took your beverage orders every night in the MDR.

Or maybe you mean the Head Server? That person tends to be behind the scenes -- if you never saw him/her then things must have been going smoothly. If anyone in your party has food allergies, you would likely have had a conversation with the Head Server at least the first night. We've always had the Head Server stop by the table on the first night, but rarely any other time.




You can do that to get the $250 back now. Or I believe you can use it for concierge to get the reduced deposit and the $250 will be applied; there just isn't a discount for concierge. Or if another party is traveling with you not in concierge it could be used for them.

Concierge rooms have assistant stateroom host/hostesses and they help the room host/hostess keep the rooms clean and sparkling and lounge the same...they are VERY busy as you can imagine. On my last cruise their gratuity was $1/day/pp (I don't know if it was increased with the change?). Clearly it's an entry level position but yes, to answer your statement and avoid discussion and disagreements, it exists.

 

[lanejudy]

but yes, to answer your statement and avoid discussion and disagreements, it exists.

Yes, that was already clarified.

 

[RedHead0186]

It just occurred to me, we saw the Head Server nightly. She was great, came by the table every night to ensure things were okay, and for a little idle conversation but never stayed long. My wife does have a few food allergies which could be why. She was also frequently seen at the podium near the main entrance. Supergirl will likely see her as well on their cruise, our head Server was Salomie G.

I think the Head Servers make it a point to at least try to swing by each table every night. I just got off the Treasure and our head server stopped by our table each night, briefly, just to say hello and ask how we were doing. We didn't have any food allergies. I've had that same experience on other DCL cruises as well.

 

[IMMkXLVI]

Concierge rooms have assistant stateroom host/hostesses and they help the room host/hostess keep the rooms clean and sparkling and lounge the same...they are VERY busy as you can imagine. On my last cruise their gratuity was $1/day/pp (I don't know if it was increased with the change?). Clearly it's an entry level position but yes, to answer your statement and avoid discussion and disagreements, it exists.

The Disney prefilled gratuity for the Assistant Host/Hostess, for 4 stateroom occupants for a 5 night cruise amounted to $25 which comes to $1.25 per person per day.

Does Disney, a Union or any other entity siphon off from the gratuity paid by passengers or does 100% of it reach the crew?

 

[epcotrulz]

You will get a stateroom credit instead of 10% off. I like getting the credit so
I take them up on the offer.

 

[Dug720]

Does Disney, a Union or any other entity siphon off from the gratuity paid by passengers or does 100% of it reach the crew

100% for the crew.

 

[IMMkXLVI]

You will get a stateroom credit instead of 10% off. I like getting the credit so
I take them up on the offer.

I'm confused. How is it an offer? Other than the reduced deposit allowance which is of zero benefit to me.
The "credit" is your own money, no? The deposit we paid coming back as a credit isn't anything but us paying ourselves.

 

[tink1970]

The Disney prefilled gratuity for the Assistant Host/Hostess, for 4 stateroom occupants for a 5 night cruise amounted to $25 which comes to $1.25 per person per day.

Does Disney, a Union or any other entity siphon off from the gratuity paid by passengers or does 100% of it reach the crew?

While I was on our cruise, they raised the gratuites...so thanks for the correction. AFAIK 100% of the gratuities goes to the crew as stated above. They work so hard, I have no beef with it-I certainly couldn't perform the manual labor day in and day out.

I believe some people prefer the early deposit because it's 10% v. 20% and if you're not sailing concierge there is that 10% off, so a slight reduction in cruise fare-and in this economy, that's not nothing. So a win for initial out of pocket AND overall less overall. If you like to sail concierge, then no, there's really not an incentive. The concierge prices have just become so inflated, however, it's a good deal for those who do sail in the other categories.

 

[lanejudy]

You will get a stateroom credit instead of 10% off. I like getting the credit so
I take them up on the offer.

I'm confused. How is it an offer?

DCL used to include a stateroom credit with the OBB offer, and Concierge bookings didn't get the discount but did get the stateroom credit. I don't know if that's still true -- hopefully someone who has done it recently will chime in.

 

[princesscinderella]

DCL used to include a stateroom credit with the OBB offer, and Concierge bookings didn't get the discount but did get the stateroom credit. I don't know if that's still true -- hopefully someone who has done it recently will chime in.

The stateroom credit has been eliminated years ago unfortunately. You also used to get a small credit if you paid with a Disney visa too and that’s also no longer the case.

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

the saddest breakfast ever

Amen bro

 

[dad of 3 addicted to DCL]

The Disney prefilled gratuity for the Assistant Host/Hostess, for 4 stateroom occupants for a 5 night cruise amounted to $25 which comes to $1.25 per person per day.

Does Disney, a Union or any other entity siphon off from the gratuity paid by passengers or does 100% of it reach the crew?

The crew & cast is not unionized; Bahamian flagged ships and all. US unions can't organize that labor. The cast who gets the prepaid tips does get the entire amount (not taxed).

ETA: not sure why they don't organize with a Bahamian union. Are there Bahamian unions that would apply? I dunno

Small tip; if you either leave a comment in the end of cruise survey and/or give DCL an email follow up on a crew/cast who was particularly awesome, that shows up on the bottom line for that employee. A co-worker of mine used to be an imagineer who was very serious in elucidating the impact of direct, personized, feedback on the employees. I have done focused follow up emails on more than one occasion where I called out superior service/attitude and have, inevitably, received effusive responses.

 

[lanejudy]

The stateroom credit has been eliminated years ago unfortunately. You also used to get a small credit if you paid with a Disney visa too and that’s also no longer the case.

I know the stateroom credit was eliminated for regular staterooms but at least for a while it was still given for concierge bookings. That’s what I’m wondering if it’s still given for concierge.

 

[dcassetta]

There is a single pool area for concierge and it is adult only.

Thanks for your review. This was a bit confusing for me, as the Dream does not have a concierge pool.

I do understand what you mean about the family pools. You might look at the Wish or the Treasure. More pools for families and the adult pool is awful.

 

[dcassetta]

I know the stateroom credit was eliminated for regular staterooms but at least for a while it was still given for concierge bookings. That’s what I’m wondering if it’s still given for concierge.

Not on the Magic last summer.

 

[lanejudy]

Not on the Magic last summer.

Did you book with a placeholder? @epcotrulz posted the stateroom credit is given to concierge since those booking don’t qualify for the 10% placeholder discount? I know that was true for a while but haven’t seen any recent reports.

 

[IMMkXLVI]

Thanks for your review. This was a bit confusing for me, as the Dream does not have a concierge pool.

I do understand what you mean about the family pools. You might look at the Wish or the Treasure. More pools for families and the adult pool is awful.

The Dream has a pool that requires Concierge Worldkey/MB access, just fore of the Concierge Sundeck area. It is marked 18+ only.
We took the kids there on the first day to get a look around, not more than 5 minutes later and officer asked us to leave the area and said it was for 18+ only.

The pool is small, more like a wading pool. It was built under and around one of the satellite domes. If anything, it is perfect for kids given the diminutive size of it.