We, 2 adults and 3 teens, are booked in an oceanview on the Dream but I am considering upgrading to 1 BR concierge for the extra space. Can anyone tell me if the oceanview is big enough for 3 teenagers? Is the upper bunk big enough for a 14 y/o boy? I would appreciate any recommendations...thanks
I've tried concierge (V, T) and non-concierge (4A). It is very difficult to give advice since each family has different needs and different budgets. If we ignore the latter, I think compelling reasons to use concierge include:
* Someone in your party having difficulty dealing with noise and crowds (e.g. autism, PTSD, anxiety, ...)
* Someone in your party having mobility issues
* A large party (the lounge and a suite can be extremely valuable for socializing)
* The vacation is bringing people together, who normally don't see each other, and the ability to sit quietly and talk is important to you.
* Traveling with grandparents and grandchildren.
I paid for concierge for our most recent cruise because the last 4 points applied to our party. For my next one, only the 4th bullet will apply, but I will still pay for concierge for that reason alone.
Based on the information, you provided, I would honestly have difficulty thinking of a scenario where I would be less likely to pay for concierge, unless there are special circumstances. I would avoid having all 5 of you stay in one stateroom unless it was necessary, but, rather than concierge, I would book two staterooms with a door between them. If you book 4A staterooms on deck 10 of the Dream, note that not all connected staterooms allow you to walk between the verandas for structural reasons.
I'd also note that a cruise on concierge is a different experience in the sense that you almost certainly will be spending more time to yourselves and less in the shared areas. That is not necessarily always a blessing when traveling with teenagers. I admit to being irritated watching one of my nephews lying on the sofa of our 1-bedrooms for hours playing a bowling game on his iPhone. But, again, people and families are entirely different.