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

[tinkerone]

I read everything in this topic, and generally I would agree with the point of view that it's not good idea to bring other people into concierge areas if they are not booked concierge and so on.

But I just want to bring something here, which probably is not so obvious.

I'm planning a Christmas cruise, and we are party of 4 adults (me and my husband, 71 yo lady, and 18 yo girl). I already booked one-bedroom for us. But the sleeping places in 1-bedroom are not that great for 4 adults really. So I priced out booking 2 people in one-bedroom, and 2 people in an oceanview. The price for two rooms is a little higher then booking all four into one-bedroom. So appears to be, that all four of us staying in concierge would pay even less money, then if only 2 of us would stay there. And really we are not adding more people into concierge lounge compared to all of us staying in one-bedroom - if say the concierge stuff would offer us to bring other two people with us - like some people mentioned here.

I think probably that is not rare situation to happen. And that is probably why the concierge stuff uses their judgement, and allows some concierge benefits to be used by family members staying non-concierge. As everything is paid off by this family anyways - one way or the other?

Technically one-bedroom can fit 5 people. So when the concierge room is not booked to a full capacity, it allows more space in concierge lounge and other areas. And the amount of money our family would pay for example - would not be any smaller then other party of 4 adults staying in one-bedroom pays. We would certainly have more comfortable beds for our party - with two rooms. But it doesn't really take anything away from other people.

I'm going to disagree with your premise and I will explain why. Your example is that your paying more for a suite plus an ocean view than you would if you just put everyone in the suite. Disney is making more money from this. Is that correct?
In fact, if you all booked into the suite and paid less DCL would be able to still book the ocean view cabin to others and they would make the money from your suite and the money from the ocean view as well so they would be much farther ahead. You are not doing them any favors because you paid more.
As to your comments about your not drinking soda so your daughter drinking yours, well, if you were on RCL and had a drink package sharing is not allowed. Why would this be different?
Personally, I don't have an interest in this and I could not care less if you did what your suggesting. If the concerige allows it then it is not for me or others to question IMO. I just want to show how I feel your thoughts are off a bit.
Just go have a happy cruise and enjoy! I will take it the 71 year old lady may be someones mother and these trips are special. Again, enjoy.

 

[Hundredacre]

I'm going to disagree with your premise and I will explain why. Your example is that your paying more for a suite plus an ocean view than you would if you just put everyone in the suite. Disney is making more money from this. Is that correct?
In fact, if you all booked into the suite and paid less DCL would be able to still book the ocean view cabin to others and they would make the money from your suite and the money from the ocean view as well so they would be much farther ahead. You are not doing them any favors because you paid more.
As to your comments about your not drinking soda so your daughter drinking yours, well, if you were on RCL and had a drink package sharing is not allowed. Why would this be different?
Personally, I don't have an interest in this and I could not care less if you did what your suggesting. If the concerige allows it then it is not for me or others to question IMO. I just want to show how I feel your thoughts are off a bit.
Just go have a happy cruise and enjoy! I will take it the 71 year old lady may be someones mother and these trips are special. Again, enjoy.

I really like this post and completely agree.

 

[Club Disney Chandler]

I really can't believe this thread was brought to life again, uggh!

 

[tobikaye]

I could not believe it was back in use either, but I seem to be very talkative today and cannot help myself from answering.

I have no problem with non-concierge guests visiting those in concierge staterooms in their stateroom. I have no problem with concierge guests in one-bedroom having non-concierge guests for dinner via room service, since food is included for everyone and unless you are in the Suites you are not getting any special menu than if you went to the MDR.

I understand that 4 adults could be tight in a 1-Bedroom, though I think it is doable. This is why when I took a trip with my parents and sister, we did decide the 1-Bedroom might be tight and we just booked a Cat V to go with the Cat T for basically the same price as all of us in the Cat T. This way we were all concierge and could make use of any concierge services, which we used for all of us to board with concierge and have concierge guide us down on debarkation. We used the lounge for snacks and drinks and having the hosts available to answer any questions or help with the 1 or 2 requests for needed items no matter which of us went to ask.

So, I figure if people want to use the full services, including the lounge and deck, then they all need to be concierge. What they do in their own stateroom, I have not problem.

 

[Expatriat]

If you ask for or expect something and receive it, that doesn't sound like "pixie dust" to me. I consider that to be favors granted or special privileges. We have stayed Concierge Cat. T suite many times. Although it's just the two of us, we could never in good conscience even contemplate so much as hinting to the Concierge team that we'd like even one non-Concierge family member aboard to be granted access to the Concierge lounge or sundeck. To us it is wrong on so many levels, and the debate has been rehashed on this board over and over.

However, the Concierge team aims to please and finds it hard to say no even when going against policy, so they often give in to guests. I don't see how not using all of the services or not spending an excess amount of time in the lounge or on the sundeck or not consuming much of the lounge food and beverages would entitle anyone to pass on any of that content or access to anyone who, on DCL's records, did not pay for it. Just explaining my personal opinion. No flames please.

Happy sailing to all!

 

[JoieNsk]

del

 

[JoieNsk]

I'm going to disagree with your premise and I will explain why. Your example is that your paying more for a suite plus an ocean view than you would if you just put everyone in the suite. Disney is making more money from this. Is that correct?

No, I didn't mean "Disney". They are the business, they have their management - to make their decisions and policies.

I meant the opinions of people "we are paying, and other people are not, and they are taking our benefits from us".

 

[JoieNsk]

Just go have a happy cruise and enjoy! I will take it the 71 year old lady may be someones mother and these trips are special. Again, enjoy.

Thank you very much!

We sure will enjoy - no matter what ))

I didn't mean to start an argument.

I'm just new to cruising, and to this board too. Never did concierge on the cruise. Did it once in park resort, and didn't get it. I guess the "lounge etc" is just not for me

But unfortunately concierge rooms are the only ones that are big enough for us to hang out by ourselves - without other people around.

So I searched for the subjects like this, - trying to understand how all this works, and what I'm getting myself into.

 

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

This reminds a lot of the time I flew from Jacksonville to Detroit on a relocation flight. There were 7 passengers total and first class had 12 seats total. The Captain gave permission for the stewards to allow all the passengers to sit in 1st class because, why not? The sole person who had a first class ticket got in a huff and objected, and asked if we were going to be charge more. We all sat in the back, and the captain had the stewards give us all the first class perks (except the seat) anyway.

All things considered, I do Disney cruises as a Concierge room (doing my second one in 11 days) and as long as it doesn't negatively impact my ability to utilize the concierge amenities, I could care less if they allow a few extended family members into the concierge lounge.

What you are referring to is an upgrade (albeit an unofficial one). I have been upgraded to first class on an airplane as well. The equivalent in the case of DCL would be to receive an upgrade to concierge at check-in. I'm sure that occasionally happens to some lucky people. But for the airline equivalent, this is more of a "I'm sitting in first class and I order free food and drinks and then give them to my friends sitting in coach." That would not be allowed on an airplane.

 

[JoieNsk]

What you are referring to is an upgrade (albeit an unofficial one). I have been upgraded to first class on an airplane as well. The equivalent in the case of DCL would be to receive an upgrade to concierge at check-in. I'm sure that occasionally happens to some lucky people. But for the airline equivalent, this is more of a "I'm sitting in first class and I order free food and drinks and then give them to my friends sitting in coach." That would not be allowed on an airplane.

I get what you are saying ) But just made me laugh. We get to fly in business and first for long flights, as my husband works for an airline, and we don't pay for it as much as other people. But the food on domestic flights is not that great really, and we often skip it, which always seem to make flight attendants amazed, and kind of upset )) Especially when I refuse to have alcohol (simply because I would get headache 100% (unless it is cognac). But if we are on the way home, I sometimes get the food, eat the salad, and put the chicken away into the plastic bag - for my dog, to bring her something nice, when we get back home. Very classy, I know

Your post made me feel guilty

 

[hanscarlet]

"Taco Bell was the only restaurant to survive the franchise war, so, now all restaurants are Taco Bell."

Deja Vu, is this one of your favorite quotes? I love it and feel like I've read it before...

Anyways just my two cents on this zombie thread

Concierge is ridiculously expensive. And I understand "expensive" is subjective for people but I think that's a semi PC way to look at it because concierge is expensive AF, it just is

I am willing to pay it, try it once for the following reasons:
- early access to cabana, not waiting in lines for things, including character meet and greets, being away from crowds, and maybe partaking in the free booze.... so for all the victims that are crying class warfare, my question to you is:
- if I have to wait in line behind non concierge guests at a meet and greet - what am I paying extra expensive AF $ prices for?
- if I have to be surrounded by extra guests on a quiet deck because their concierge friends let them in, thus causing a crowding feeling - what I am paying the extra AF $ prices for?
- if I have wait on a booze refill because the non concierge guests drank it all - then what am I paying the expensive AF prices for?

And don't get me started on how bringing in non concierge guests to concierge areas is the height of tackiness...

I don't understand why anyone would feel entitled or play the class victim route especially when your whole argument is based on the premise that you should be entitled to higher perks that you don't want to pay for - the perks' very existence depends on people paying the expensive AF $ prices

Anyways sorry, not trying to start the argument up again but this thread is interesting

 

[The Sasquatch]

you sir are right

 

[phinz]

Deja Vu, is this one of your favorite quotes? I love it and feel like I've read it before...

Huh?

 

[phinz]

I don't understand why anyone would feel entitled or play the class victim route especially when your whole argument is based on the premise that you should be entitled to higher perks that you don't want to pay for - the perks' very existence depends on people paying the expensive AF $ prices

I concur. Along those lines, we just did an Alaska cruise on Princess. We paid the expensive AF price for the 14-passenger luxury car on the White Pass & Yukon Railroad excursion. Beer, champagne, wine and food included. If somebody had said, "Hey! My friends are in the regular, 50-passenger car behind us. Do you mind if they come into this car and eat and drink with us, then hang out on the oversized deck out back?" I'd have bluntly told them exactly what I thought. I paid stupid prices for comfortable leather easy chairs, free drinks and food and plenty of room to move about while taking pictures and hanging out. By no means should anybody else have taken advantage of it if they didn't pay the price.

 

[hanscarlet]

Huh?

The Taco Bell quote franchise thing, I love that quote, I feel like I've seen it before but perhaps not

 

[JoieNsk]

I guess people are already discussing their own thing. As I explained - higher on this post - that we are going to be paying the same price as other people, or possibly even higher - no matter if we book 4 people into concierge, or 2 into concierge, and 2 into additional non-concierge room.

I also get that we can get 2-bedroom, and 8 more thousands dollars for my daughter to be able to get her cokes herself )) And I understand that too, that this would the most noble way to handle the situation of getting two normal extra beds.

I guess for that money we probably would just let her drink whatever they would put into our refrigerator (if they still do it on Magic?), as she is the only one in the family who drinks soda anyways ))

But it doesn't matter. I can make my own decisions, and I got the info I was looking for.

Thank you to everybody.

 

[phinz]

The Taco Bell quote franchise thing, I love that quote, I feel like I've seen it before but perhaps not

Ah. It's from Demolition Man. And yes, it is one of my favorite quotes.

 

[Donna M]

I've read the whole thread and have a question for our upcoming cruise with friends staying in concierge. I have no plans to take advantage of cl perks, but on the first day can we go with them to their room and look around the lounge and sundeck, in the same way anyone can check out the kids' club?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I've read the whole thread and have a question for our upcoming cruise with friends staying in concierge. I have no plans to take advantage of cl perks, but on the first day can we go with them to their room and look around the lounge and sundeck, in the same way anyone can check out the kids' club?

I don't think so. The Concierge spaces are for those who've book Concierge.

You can go to their room (not just on embarkation day) to "check that out" at any time.

 

[ASchwa]

I guess people are already discussing their own thing. As I explained - higher on this post - that we are going to be paying the same price as other people, or possibly even higher - no matter if we book 4 people into concierge, or 2 into concierge, and 2 into additional non-concierge room.

I also get that we can get 2-bedroom, and 8 more thousands dollars for my daughter to be able to get her cokes herself )) And I understand that too, that this would the most noble way to handle the situation of getting two normal extra beds.

I guess for that money we probably would just let her drink whatever they would put into our refrigerator (if they still do it on Magic?), as she is the only one in the family who drinks soda anyways ))

But it doesn't matter. I can make my own decisions, and I got the info I was looking for.

Thank you to everybody.

You keep saying that we pay a higher price for concierge or concierge + oceanview. Then you say well, I will let my daughter drink as much soda that is put in the refrigerator like it wasn't worth the money since if she isn't in concierge and not allowed in the lounge. Well, I travel solo, I pay what two would have paid for my room. Most of the time, I pay double for being solo, so what. I chose the place I go, I pay for what perks I get with my room and I agree to those terms. You are trying to explain that because you don't drink that your daughter, if she isn't in concierge should have your drinks in the lounge. Well, I hate to break it to you but your daughter if she isn't concierge can get free coke from the 24 hour beverage station just like the other cruisers, but apparently that's not good enough for you. If you want concierge perks for your family you have to pay for it like I pay for the non existent passenger in my room.