To concierge or not to concierge

[Jason Martin]

I know this is a loaded question, but I'm really torn...do we pay the price for a concierge room? All we rally want it for is to secure a cabana at Castaway...other than that, is it worth the cost?

So I have never booked Concierge. I am booked on my 14th cruise on the Fantasy in January 2019 with my DW and 2 DD's (8/10). Debating on whether to book a short Dream cruise with just my DW when the kids are away next summer, however I am concerned about being able to go back without. I already get some of the benefits being a platinum member (check in with concierge, no lounge but Boarding group 1 and check in anytime). Also the three times that I have attempted to get a Cabana I have been successful (this is assuming final payment is made and that you go online at 12:01 AM ET 120 days before your cruise - yes I did that). In each case we have split the cabana with another family to defray the cost and its been a great experience.

 

[Minnie & Daisy]

This is the first post justifying concierge that has actually made sense to me because instead of trying to say the upcharge is "worth it" because of specific benefits or services you get, it acknowledges that it would never make sense if you crunching the numbers, but would make sense if it really just made you happy. And touche for getting me where I can't argue because I am one of those fools that paid for a new overpriced car because I just needed the piece of mind of knowing it is totally accident-free, in perfect condition, and built to last, even though that is so not at all a good value if I were really crunching the numbers compared to a comparable used car. So I hear you, and that makes sense.

That brand new car is definitely offering you more piece of mind while you are transporting your precious cargo, i.e., your children. It comes with a warranty and is something that you use on a day-to-day basis. I consider it a worthwhile investment.

 

[cruiser21]

That brand new car is definitely offering you more piece of mind while you are transporting your precious cargo, i.e., your children. It comes with a warranty and is something that you use on a day-to-day basis. I consider it a worthwhile investment.

Agreed. I just got a new car with a ten year warranty. Since your more likely to die in a car accident then any other type accident. I never skimp on cars, maintenance or good tires.

 

[YohoAPiratesLife4Me]

Quick story, Last cruise we were in Palo dining and the Captain was dining a few tables over with his executive staff, all in dress whites.
I had chatted with him briefly on a few occasions in the hallways.
I walked over and asked him, Captain, What do you think Walt Disney would think of this Disney Cruise Line?
He turned to me and said, This is exactly how Walt and his family cruised.
I, (the captain) was Walt's captain on his yacht and the level of service is very similar to the level of service on his yacht.
I explained that it was our 8th cruise on the DCL and we had only cruised with DCL.
He said, Why would you cruise anywhere else?
He is right.
The concierge staff is the best in the business

Fascinating story! What captain was it?

 

[k3chantal]

I definitely do NOT want the new Disney ships to have a whole separate restaurant and swimming pool for concierge. I wouldn't sail on them if the guest experience was that stratified. DCL is so expensive that a premium experience should be offered to all guests, not just a few guests.

Oh....I so agree with this. (a whole separate restaurant and a swimming pool? when real estate aboard is so valued) At this price point the concierge folks could afford their own ship; why take needed space from the rest of us who have "just" paid a mere $20,000 for the ship, excursions, flights, etc...........

This mirrors my concern about the parks. Just because Disney CAN charge premium prices for their parks; doesn't mean they should. I think Walt Disney would shake in his boots........

 

[serenitynow]

Oh....I so agree with this. (a whole separate restaurant and a swimming pool? when real estate aboard is so valued) At this price point the concierge folks could afford their own ship; why take needed space from the rest of us who have "just" paid a mere $20,000 for the ship, excursions, flights, etc...........

This mirrors my concern about the parks. Just because Disney CAN charge premium prices for their parks; doesn't mean they should. I think Walt Disney would shake in his boots........

Walt Disney? The guy who sold tickets to each individual ride in his theme parks, with some rides costing more to ride than others? Only one time ride per ticket? Remember E tickets?

 

[ScooterScott44]

Oh....I so agree with this. (a whole separate restaurant and a swimming pool? when real estate aboard is so valued) At this price point the concierge folks could afford their own ship; why take needed space from the rest of us who have "just" paid a mere $20,000 for the ship, excursions, flights, etc...........

This mirrors my concern about the parks. Just because Disney CAN charge premium prices for their parks; doesn't mean they should. I think Walt Disney would shake in his boots........

It seems that this is a little too much of a NIMBY attitude. There are huge amounts of space on cruise ships that are not available or limited to certain guests. So by your argument there are many areas that could be reclaimed for all guest uses. Some examples from the current DCL ships that can “reclaimed” are the crew fitness center, also why do they need a crew bar and an officer’s bar can’t they share or do they need one at all, and the same for crew mess and officer mess why do they need two separate areas. Also all those separate kids clubs could be down sized and consolidated so all guest could enjoy, not only the kids. That argument of the limited space seems a little short sighted.

Also the cruise lines are trying to make a profit. Differentiating their product helps put heads in beds and sometimes for higher dollar amounts. Having multiple DCL and done a cruise on an Oasis class ship it seems like the lines have done a pretty good job of not making special areas too intrusive on the average guest. Many lounges and special areas are off to the side or at the top or ends of the ship. I am not trying to be argumentative, I just am trying to set expectations that some or all of these things may be on the new ships. Compared to other lines DCL is starting to lag behind other lines for their concierge especially when you compare the cost of Disney.

 

[monkeydawn]

-not having to pack sunscreen, slippers, or a robe.

The sunscreen perk is legit. Not having to pack bottle after bottle for the trip is an awesome convenience.

Just curious what kind of sunscreen...lotion or spray, brand, SPF?

 

[DCLCrazy64622]

I would rather take the money you would spend on concierge and do a back to back cruise. Say for example transatlantic and then the Mediterranean as many people did this year. That’s 20 days at sea in a normal room vs 7 in concierge. The level of service you get even in a regular verandah far surpasses any service you get on NCL, RCCL, or CCL.

 

[MomOTwins]

I would rather take the money you would spend on concierge and do a back to back cruise. Say for example transatlantic and then the Mediterranean as many people did this year. That’s 20 days at sea in a normal room vs 7 in concierge. The level of service you get even in a regular verandah far surpasses any service you get on NCL, RCCL, or CCL.

I can’t even imagine getting 20 days off work! The longest vacay we have ever taken is 10 days.

But just to chime in a random thought as I reread this. If someone is a first time cruiser on the fence about concierge, I would say do it because the placeholder 10% discounts on subsequent cruises do not work on concierge. So since you have to pay full price for the first cruise anyway, I wish I had done concierge then rather than waste an opportunity to use a placeholder on a subsequent cruise.

Also a side note, my DH today was asking about boarding process since we are getting to the terminal early on our next cruise for the first time, and when I said concierge board first he asked “what’s concierge” and I explained. He didn’t even notice it existed on our prior cruises and didn’t know what a CC cabana was, so DCL must do a good job of not making us regular cruisers feel left out! Of course, he also said “why aren’t we doing that, we should do that” so now it looks like we may be sucking up the cost on a future cruise--oogh there goes my pre-cruise disney world stay budget.

 

[DCLDVC1]

Just curious what kind of sunscreen...lotion or spray, brand, SPF?

Coppertone SPF 30, both spray and lotion and Waterbabies SPF 50

 

[monkeydawn]

Coppertone SPF 30, both spray and lotion and Waterbabies SPF 50

Thanks, not that I expect I will sail concierge but that is a good assortment, both physical and chemical blocks. Very good to know.

 

[DCLCrazy64622]

I can’t even imagine getting 20 days off work! The longest vacay we have ever taken is 10 days.

But just to chime in a random thought as I reread this. If someone is a first time cruiser on the fence about concierge, I would say do it because the placeholder 10% discounts on subsequent cruises do not work on concierge. So since you have to pay full price for the first cruise anyway, I wish I had done concierge then rather than waste an opportunity to use a placeholder on a subsequent cruise.

Also a side note, my DH today was asking about boarding process since we are getting to the terminal early on our next cruise for the first time, and when I said concierge board first he asked “what’s concierge” and I explained. He didn’t even notice it existed on our prior cruises and didn’t know what a CC cabana was, so DCL must do a good job of not making us regular cruisers feel left out! Of course, he also said “why aren’t we doing that, we should do that” so now it looks like we may be sucking up the cost on a future cruise--oogh there goes my pre-cruise disney world stay budget.

We are a homeschool family so school approval wasn’t an issue. My husband has worked for the same sheriff’s office for 19 years. He had to get the sheriffs written approval for the three weeks.

 

[Flying Fish]

I can't say that the sunscreen is the reason to sail concierge, but it is nice to have access to it. The access to the lounge is also nice. If you can afford it, it is definitely worth it to me, but I would say it is less worthwhile on a shorter cruise. DCL does such a good job of taking care of everyone and there is so much to do one might not take full advantage of the concierge amenities on a short cruise.

That being said, if one could go on b2b cruises in a nice, veranda room or a single cruise in concierge...is there really any question here?

 

[skippybosco]

We are a homeschool family so school approval wasn’t an issue. My husband has worked for the same sheriff’s office for 19 years. He had to get the sheriffs written approval for the three weeks.

Unrelated to your original question, but will you continue to do your full home school curriculum on the cruise, an abbreviated version or 3 weeks of break?

 

[DCLCrazy64622]

Unrelated to your original question, but will you continue to do your full home school curriculum on the cruise, an abbreviated version or 3 weeks of break?

We plan our schooling around the cruises we take. So for example we have a cruise to Hawaii in December so in November we do a unit study on Hawaii and then the trip itself counts as school days because it’s a field trip to the actual place we studied the month prior. Then we also have a cruise through the Panama Canal in Feb so we will do a unit study when we come back from break in January and then take the field trip to see the real thing in Feb. So technically we still do school, but not bookwork. We start in July after the holiday so we can take off Thanksgiving through the New Year for bookwork. There’s just too many fun things to do and people to visit during the holidays. That’s why we love homeschool because it’s so flexible. We don’t have to adhere to anyone else’s schedule. Thanks for asking!!

 

[Flying Fish]

Unrelated to any of the questions, but I don't really feel too bad hijacking a threat this old anyway. All of us homeschool families on here should consider getting together on a cruise or cruises sometime. It might be a nice diversion on a cruise or a way for the studies to be more interesting by doing it with other kids once. Just an idea.

 

[DCLCrazy64622]

Unrelated to any of the questions, but I don't really feel too bad hijacking a threat this old anyway. All of us homeschool families on here should consider getting together on a cruise or cruises sometime. It might be a nice diversion on a cruise or a way for the studies to be more interesting by doing it with other kids once. Just an idea.

We had a very large group of homeschool kids on this year’s EBTA. I organized a white elephant get together and we met in the promenade lounge at a certain time and exchanged gifts. It was fun and the kids met others that were in the same lifestyle.

 

[Flying Fish]

I wish I had known that. We were on that cruise, but we canceled it and moved the deposit to something else.

 

[DCLCrazy64622]

I didn’t join the cruise until March and the first thing I always ask the group after introducing ourselves is if there are any other homeschool families on board. There was a large response. Probably 20 families. 10 of which came to the exchange.