Is Concierge level on a standard room worth it? (Alaska)

[NataliyainCR]

Has anyone had experience with the concierge level in Alaska? Is this upgrade worth the doubling of price for a regular verandah room? What does it actually give you? Thanks in advance.

 

[Shanti]

Has anyone had experience with the concierge level in Alaska? Is this upgrade worth the doubling of price for a regular verandah room? What does it actually give you? Thanks in advance.

I didn't want to spend the $20,000 it would have cost to upgrade to a concierge stateroom on our Alaska cruise, but I did have a little deck 5 Navigator's verandah. I will tell you that the verandah was wonderful to have, to see the beautiful natural wonders from, etc. We had a perfect view of the glacier from it (as I imagine everyone else did: the ship stays there for a long time, and turns around halfway through so that all verandah passengers get a good look at it from their staterooms). And the views from the open decks were even more magnificent.

So any advantage of concierge has nothing to do with the view from your stateroom. I know they have access to a lounge that offers views, but as I said, that's a bonus & not a necessity to get amazing views. No view from a glassed-in lounge could top what we saw from on deck. We got extraordinary views from our own little verandah and from wandering decks 4 and 10.

 

[jetskigrl]

Has anyone had experience with the concierge level in Alaska? Is this upgrade worth the doubling of price for a regular verandah room? What does it actually give you? Thanks in advance.

I don't have the kind of money that they are charging for concierge in Alaska so it would not be worth it for us. But I have done concierge on the Wonder for a different itinerary and we have done Alaska twice non-concierge.

The biggest bonus that I could think of would be the private sundeck. It is the highest (guest) spot of the ship and the views are great. It was amazing to be up on that deck when going under the Golden Gate Bridge. It is about the same level as the white Mickeys on the funnel so that gives you an idea of the height and it has almost a 360 degree view. But since it is shared with quite a few concierge rooms, the more popular viewing days will probably still be crowded up there. Also the lounge (one floor below) will provide a nice warm viewing area but depending how how many people are along the rails on deck 10, your view from there might be blocked anyway.

Concierge will make sure that you have the Palo reservations that you want and any popular excursions that might otherwise be sold out by the time your regular booking windows would open. I can't think of anything else specific to Alaska so I will leave that to those that have actually done that itinerary as Concierge.

Other concierge benefits:
5-10pm Happy Hour
First to board the ship
Concierge Lunch the first day
Special meet and greet in the lounge (we had Pluto)
Lithograph at end of cruise
Snacks/drinks/great coffee machine in lounge
3 concierge hosts to take care of all your needs (anything that would normally be done at guest services, they take care of).

For me, I feel like money is better spent on excursions in Alaska rather than on the ship. So I wouldn't give up excursions in order to book concierge.
But if the price is not an issue for you, I'm sure the Concierge experience would be wonderful. There are obviously enough people that feel it is worth it because I think it sells out every sailing.