Sorry to hijack this forum but seemed like the best place. We currently have a 4 night HOTHS in September booked for 2021. It's myself, husband, and will be 3 year old daughter. The difference between the verandah we're in now and concierge is not outrageous but I'm having a hard time finding whole trip reports/blogs/vlogs of families staying concierge level. We really want to treat ourselves after this whole year of cancelled vacations, we've sailed
DCL previously but we're not the type who have ever had what seems like this level of "fancy vacation" (lol)
Any detailed info, tips, and tricks would be amazing! (if you want to relive your entire trip, please do, I love this kind of stuff, haha.)
Here’s reliving my first encounter of Concierge:
April 2010, Magic, 11-night Mediterranean, first of the season (and maybe ever).
We we’re on a B2B after the WBTA. (14 nights, inside cabin, ~$795 pp)
On arrival in Barcelona, we were doing the off-and-on check-in. Our friends were looking for better cabins, so we went along. One concierge cabin available, out of designated budget for my friend.
Our inside cabin for the Med was $1K pp. Upgrade for both of us was $2800. Total $4800. Handicapped one bedroom. Humongous verandah, Deck 8 aft.
The previous day that cabin was showing available for $15,000. I thought, what a deal.
Sadly, a woman was obviously planning on getting that cabin once checked in. When she found it was booked, she grabbed the sign for upgrades and threw it on the floor. She looked like she would probably have enjoyed the perks more, too - she was dressed way better than I ever have for boarding.
The cabin was large, especially the bathroomS And the walk-in closet.
I learned on that trip I am not a Concierge person. I don’t like being fawned over, given extra attention. I do better as part of the masses - but I want us to be treated well, too. I find the same in First Class on a plane. I don’t really want more coddling or better food - I just want more space, for which I would pay a certain amount more.
The little touches are wasted on me. Afternoon snacks, early booking (I am Platinum and don’t think I have missed getting a Palo reservation yet). My reaction was “leave me alone.” I am so glad it is available for those who like the special attention.
Probably my best story of being Concierge occurred in Palo. We sailed B2B on the Magic - 4 nights in a Navigator’s Verandah, then 3 in a one-bedroom Suite. While dining in a Palo on the first cruise, the Chef came to our table. As we were chatting, I mentioned that, in the past, I had enjoyed the lasagne offered. He was delighted to hear that, as he said that was his family recipe. He said he would make it when we returned on the next cruise. And there it was for us - with the Palo staff getting to eat the leftovers. Now, was that a perk of being Concierge or just an interactive chef? I don’t remember chatting with the chef on other cruises.
The other thing I appreciated was getting the table of my choice in Enchanted Garden (as in pre ious post).
Enjoy, everybody.