We are concierge....my other family is not...

[Expatriat]

It has nothing to do with class. I don't begrudge those in Concierge when I sail in a regular cabin and I do NOT expect Concierge privileges. But when I PAY for Concierge and its amenities (and I am not that wealthy that money is no object), I do not expect to share those amenities with those who did NOT pay for them.

 

[Stephen Burch]

Assuming that their usage does not negatively impact yours*, you have made the determination that it is worth the cost to pay for those benefits. How is your enjoyment diminished?

Does your day suddenly start sucking when a person 20 feet ahead of you finds a $20 bill on the ground?

The "I paid for it, so everybody else must also pay for it or not get it" argument is 100% about class and about haves vs. have nots.

*The argument that the lounge will get more crowded, or the sun deck may be full are valid arguments. And, if that occurred as the result of letting in a few extended family members then the complaint is valid. Like I said, just the fact that others get to enjoy the same benefits without paying is not a problem. Its when the benefits you paid for start diminishing that a reasonable complaint can be raised.

 

[Skiton]

The only time we were unable to find a seat in the concierge lounge was on embarkation day, for the first hour of the welcome reception. The rest of the time there was plenty of space available. As I said, I never invited other family members to join us there (I'm a rule follower and would have been embarrassed to ask) but it wouldn't have bothered me if other people did. It would only affect me if we were unable to find seating because of it. If someone wants to ask their elderly mother to join them for a glass of wine and canapes before dinner, and there's room to spare and the hosts OK it, what is there to get worked up about?

 

[Im_A_Princess]

Gee if I could book my husband and I in Concierge and then book all our family (6-8 people) in much lower priced cabins we would save a TON of money. If they get all the perks of Concierge without paying the premium price. Would could easily book 2 more non-Concierge rooms just for the price of adding on 2 more guests into our Concierge room. Hmmm... being sacastic.

It would impact the guests who pay for Concierge!

WHY should someone who did not pay for Concierge be entitled to Concierge amenities?????? Really? Is this even a discussion? It is wrong. THEY DID NOT PAY FOR IT! So what if "someone" they know did pay for it for themselves. That does not entitle them to partake in the Concierge amenities I payed a fortune for.

 

[Stephen Burch]

"entitled" to it? No, they shouldn't, and aren't entitled to it. But, if the Disney Cruise Corporation decides to give away those amenities to certain people for free, they are allowed to. And, subject to the same caveat I outlined above, if they do so it doesn't diminish my enjoyment. It shouldn't diminish anyone's enjoyment.

 

[Expatriat]

WHY should someone who did not pay for Concierge be entitled to Concierge amenities?????? Really? Is this even a discussion? It is wrong. THEY DID NOT PAY FOR IT! So what if "someone" they know did pay for it for themselves. That does not entitle them to partake in the Concierge amenities I payed a fortune for.

THIS. YES. But it's probably pointless to debate the issue further because some are determined to get (or share) what they refuse to pay for, which is like self-entitlement with the freedom to spread those unpaid for "extended" benefits to one or more non-Concierge friends or family members.

None of this would even be being discussed if people really DID follow the "rules." This is more about "What I can get for my friends or family for nothing" that it is about fully paid Concierge occupants needing to justify why NON-Concierge should not be welcome in the lounge and sun deck. No further comment from me on this, as there will always be rule followers and rule breakers. If a host gives in, it's in hope of a tremendous tip!

 

[Stephen Burch]

If I ask "Can I do X" and Disney Cruise Corporation says "Yes you can" then I'm not breaking any rules by doing X. This has absolutely nothing to do with following rules. Nobody is talking about how to sneak people who don't have permission in.

 

[tinkerone]

the best argument against that i have read here was from DCLDVC1 and the comments were bang on. having said that, no one is talking about stealing. if the host says it can be done then take it up with the host, don't blame the person who asks.

ETA---stephen burch, looks like we posted mostly the same comment at the same time.

 

[Notso]

If the OP is still here, we sailed in connecting rooms on the Wonder where one connecting room was a 1 BR concierge, and the other was steerage (i.e., deluxe verandah). We had to book that way as there were no other connecting concierge options at booking and no more royals or 2brs. On the classics, there are no class V rooms, so no options but to split the party. This was our first time with anyone sailing non concierge.

To answer the original question, when we contacted shoreside to book our excursions, we asked if we should book a few backups as we wanted to do all of our excursions with our whole family. The thought was if we had a few options in each port, the odds of the whole crew being able to book the same excursion would be greater. Shoreside said that would not be necessary and they booked our whole party for each excursion. They did the same for Palo reservations. No lounge on the classics, and we didn't try to crash any of the special events like the character meet. However, we had sailed with our concierge host before and he did, without any provocation, invite the whole group to attend the cocktail hours (which none of us ever made it to) and send things to the children in our party like treats, popcorn, and such.

 

[Tasmen]

THIS. YES. But it's probably pointless to debate the issue further because some are determined to get (or share) what they refuse to pay for, which is like self-entitlement with the freedom to spread those unpaid for "extended" benefits to one or more non-Concierge friends or family members.

None of this would even be being discussed if people really DID follow the "rules." This is more about "What I can get for my friends or family for nothing" that it is about fully paid Concierge occupants needing to justify why NON-Concierge should not be welcome in the lounge and sun deck. No further comment from me on this, as there will always be rule followers and rule breakers. If a host gives in, it's in hope of a tremendous tip!

Or maybe they were attempting to spread some Pixie dust people always in search of. Each situation is individual and I try not to judge.

So I do ask this, what about someone given concierge as a surprise upgrade? Are they less deserving because they didn't pay?

I absolutely agree that sneaking people in is wrong. However if the staff gives the thumbs up, no one is being sneaky. We can all still pet our phantom hairless cats and talk about sharks with lasers on their head while eating canapés with ease.

 

[Uncleromulus]

And as I said--I can do nothing about it myself--but DCL will certainly hear about it if I see folks being let in the lounge who don't belong.

 

[Uncleromulus]

The only time we were unable to find a seat in the concierge lounge was on embarkation day, for the first hour of the welcome reception. The rest of the time there was plenty of space available. As I said, I never invited other family members to join us there (I'm a rule follower and would have been embarrassed to ask) but it wouldn't have bothered me if other people did. It would only affect me if we were unable to find seating because of it. If someone wants to ask their elderly mother to join them for a glass of wine and canapes before dinner, and there's room to spare and the hosts OK it, what is there to get worked up about?

Elderly mother or Uncle Fester-they did not pay for Concierge perks.

 

[Uncleromulus]

It is true. Seeing the lesser class get perks that I paid for makes those perks worthless to me. How am I supposed to enjoy my success if I can't lord it over the lesser people?

Seriously, that is what you are sounding like.

So the guy up the street driving a Cadillac is lording over me who drives a Hyundai??

Don't think so--

 

[Skiton]

Elderly mother or Uncle Fester-they did not pay for Concierge perks.

Yes, but so what? Snacks in the concierge lounge are the least of the perks. People don't pay thousands extra so that they can get complimentary pastries and Evian. Grandma and Uncle Fester aren't staying in a concierge room, they don't get shoreside concierge, they don't get to reserve their stuff at 120 days, they don't get priority embarkation or any of the other things that make concierge a special experience. You would really kick up a stink about the concierge host inviting someone's friend or family member to have a finger sandwich and a glass of mediocre chardonnay, just because "it's the principle of the thing?" Even if it didn't negatively impact your experience in any other way?

 

[Stephen Burch]

So the guy up the street driving a Cadillac is lording over me who drives a Hyundai??

Don't think so--

No, but if you, who paid for and drives a Cadillac, got incensed when somebody else gets to drive one without paying for it, that *is* lording it over them.

 

[Uncleromulus]

The other fellows Cadillac--bought, found or stolen--does not impact me--so I wouldn't care.

But non-concierge folks in the lounge might impact me--so I do care.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Yes, but so what? Snacks in the concierge lounge are the least of the perks. People don't pay thousands extra so that they can get complimentary pastries and Evian. Grandma and Uncle Fester aren't staying in a concierge room, they don't get shoreside concierge, they don't get to reserve their stuff at 120 days, they don't get priority embarkation or any of the other things that make concierge a special experience. You would really kick up a stink about the concierge host inviting someone's friend or family member to have a finger sandwich and a glass of mediocre chardonnay, just because "it's the principle of the thing?" Even if it didn't negatively impact your experience in any other way?

Most certainly!!!

 

[aidtrismommy]

Thank you for sharing your experience Notso. If Disney invites my family into the lounge or allows them to dine in my stateroom with me it is nobody's business and will in no way adversely affect anyone despite the rationale of "it's wrong, I follow the rules, they didn't pay for it". Nobody is deceiving, sneaking, or stealing if Disney is inviting.

 

[jmpurdy]

And as I said--I can do nothing about it myself--but DCL will certainly hear about it if I see folks being let in the lounge who don't belong.

Seriously, you are really very angry about something that does not affect you in any way. Does your rationale also include not allowing a family member into a concierge cabin because they 'don't belong' (your words in quotes). My daughter and son in-law will most certainly spend a great deal of time in my concierge cabin.

 

[Skiton]

Most certainly!!!

Well, at least you own it, I guess.