MDR seating for concierge... Question

[Dave2425]

We have been seated by ourselves during our three concierge cruises. On our first one, I had requested to be seated with another family. On the other two, I didn't request a preference.

We were seated with another family during our one non-concierge cruise. Again, I didn't request a preference.

 

[FLpixie]

I'm quite sure there are many people who take concierge cruises that are not "stuck up and snobby." However, there are plenty of people who are - concierge or not. The problem comes in with sweeping generalizations.

My DH and I are both introverts. However, we enjoy being able to meet new people. We are looking forward to being able to meet others on the cruise during our MDR. I'd actually love to have someone who is taking a concierge cruise at our table so we could talk about some of the differences so I could make a more informed choice for the next cruise.

Sitting at your own table - or sitting with a group - is a personal choice and no one should be made to feel bad about choosing one way or another. I happen to like vanilla ice cream better than chocolate. Does that make my choice wrong?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I'm quite sure there are many people who take concierge cruises that are not "stuck up and snobby." However, there are plenty of people who are - concierge or not. The problem comes in with sweeping generalizations.

My DH and I are both introverts. However, we enjoy being able to meet new people. We are looking forward to being able to meet others on the cruise during our MDR. I'd actually love to have someone who is taking a concierge cruise at our table so we could talk about some of the differences so I could make a more informed choice for the next cruise.

Sitting at your own table - or sitting with a group - is a personal choice and no one should be made to feel bad about choosing one way or another. I happen to like vanilla ice cream better than chocolate. Does that make my choice wrong?

Well said and sweeping generalisations hits the nail on the head.

 

[sager1969]

When we did concierge for a special Christmas cruise, we were not seated with anyone. From what I have seen/heard, that is usually the case. I am an extrovert married to and gave birth an introvert. My DH loved sitting without companions. I did not. I agree that it is a personal choice. My DS and I are going to do the DVC member cruise and will get to sit with some friends we made on our Alaskan cruise. I have found that if you have one child that it is nice to have someone to sit with so that the children get an opportunity to make a friend without the pressure of the clubs. In fact, my DS would have not ever gone to the Edge on our first cruise if the other kid his age at our table had not talked him into it. I would say that if you feel strongly about not being sat with strangers, you should call and request a table for just your family. It really is such a personal choice. We have been lucky and had some great table mates. My DH would still rather not sit with anyone if he can help it. We take turns to keep everyone happy.

 

[bumbershoot]

But I guess concierge is segregated in far many more ways.

Even though I already quoted you I didn't really see this.

In what ways do you thimk concierge is segregated in far many more ways?

The ridiculous gates are down (I think Disney thought they were doing a nice thing, but instead it looked like a forbidden zone to people not on that floor, and conversely made me think I had been locked away from the rest of the ship, and what happened if that darn gate got stuck in an emergency?). The ONLY separate thing is the lounge on Dream and Fantasy, and that's the same on any ship that has suites or a concierge level. Same in hotels; Club or Concierge level is going to have a separate lounge. All it takes to get in there is to pay for it. Sometimes it's not too expensive, other times it is (we don't book when the cost is too high, which is why 2/4 of our DCL cruises have been NOT concierge).

Anyone can request to have their own table. It's just automatically requested for you when you book concierge.

The time it went wrong We are prompt they were late held up service, we had a wine package they didn't, we offered and they took, no offer back.( an offer would be nice we may have said no it's ok).

Should you ever be seated with others, obviously there are different things you can do to make the negative experience better. Tell the servers flat out that you don't want to wait. We had multiple dinner delays on our first cruise, because we didn't actualy know things would be delayed. We were sat at an 8-top, and 4 people NEVER showed. First night we waited for them. Then another night the other couple didn't show, and although the staff wasn't waiting for the invisible 4, they DID wait for those 2. We still didn't quite realize why things were delayed until it was too late. But NOW we know better. I get that it messes with service, but in our case with that first cruise, it messed with our main server's tip because he was delaying OUR meal. (his assistant got more because he did NOT delay his part in our service)

And don't offer strangers wine, LOL. Some people just truly don't know what to do in such a situation, or perhaps *could not* offer it back due to money issues. Or they didn't know what a wine package was and thought you had an unlimited amount of wine and therefore an offer-back would be useless. Some people are just innocently clueless, not necessarily rude.

As for complaining...guess at that point I might have had an urgent thing to discuss with my husband, and tune them out. Sad your kids were embarrassed so they couldn't eat. Nothing gets in the way of me eating if I'm hungry, LOL.

 

[perditax]

I think concierge does get a private sundeck at least on Dream (maybe fantasy). But there's no real water feature, just a mister, and not much shade, so it looks like a nice way to just bake all day. No thanks.

I'm one of those socially inept folks who would have no idea what to do if tablemates offered me their wine. Since I don't know wine, I would be afraid of picking out something "bad" to share in return. So I would say that one shouldn't make that kind of offer to strangers if reciprocity is an unspoken expectation.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I think concierge does get a private sundeck at least on Dream (maybe fantasy). But there's no real water feature, just a mister, and not much shade, so it looks like a nice way to just bake all day. No thanks.

I'm one of those socially inept folks who would have no idea what to do if tablemates offered me their wine. Since I don't know wine, I would be afraid of picking out something "bad" to share in return. So I would say that one shouldn't make that kind of offer to strangers if reciprocity is an unspoken expectation.

Fantasy and Dream both have sun decks for concierge. Overall there twin ships with slight differences.

I am not a wine expert either, I buy a wine package to try new things. It's not about picking something bad in return? If you thought that you just may say I am new to this what would you suggest, I listed a number of reasons not just one, if you accept wine each night on a seven night cruise, I think most people would offer at some point and say it's my round.

 

[Eeyorebabies]

I would have to agree on the whole wine thing. If you are offering something as a gift, then don't expect a return. If you wanted a return, then you should have stated ahead of time that you would get tonight's wine if they would take care of tomorrow nights. Otherwise, be grateful for a simple thank you.

I don't feel at all that concierge is segregated from the rest of the cruise goers. We have to use the same stairs and elevators as everyone else. We have to use the same pools as everyone else. We don't get our own water features. We get a small lounge and a sun deck. We don't get our own dining room or private rooms anywhere. No priority seating at any of the shows. So unless someone refuses to leave the concierge lounge and deck, then it is in no way segregated from everyone else. Maybe back when they had those stupid gates up it seemed that way.

 

[endotoothdoc]

We have only sailed Concierge on the Fantasy for our two previous DCL cruises (both in Royals). Anyone can sail Concierge you just have to pay for it. It seems very silly to criticize those who choose to spend their money the way that they feel comfortable with. Perhaps we should be more accepting of others as opposed to putting others down.

 

[catflorida]

There are many, many reasons why some couples wish to dine alone. Some of us dress daily for work, have business dinners during the week, attend black tie charity events throughout the season. A vacation is to get away from all that. Some of the upscale cruise lines have done away with formal nights and restricted dining for precisely this reason. They know their guests are on VACATION and want choices. I have a one bedroom suite booked because I plan to spend a lot of time there. On a three night cruise, I intend to dine at Remy and Palo and the third night after spending the day at Castaway Cay, I intend to have dinner in my stateroom and go to the movie being shown. My big social day will be on our Nassau Bahamian Food Tour and I am really looking forward to meeting all in our group. Other than that sitting on my balcony and reading and going to the movies is all I want to do. I am not going to socialize at all this trip. It has absolutely nothing to do with being exclusive. Well actually, maybe it does...