What are the perks of booking a concierge stateroom?

[NOLA_Tink]

Just curious. We can't do it for this trip, but thinking about whether it would be worth booking concierge for cruise #2.

 

[dcassetta]

Just curious. We can't do it for this trip, but thinking about whether it would be worth booking concierge for cruise #2.

Here's a thread that may help. https://www.disboards.com/threads/benefits-of-concierge.3583843/

"Worth it" is very subjective...

 

[NOLA_Tink]

Thank you!! I was looking for that from my phone, but didn't have luck. I knew it must be out there somewhere!

 

[tink1970]

The above thread is very helpful (fairly sure I opined on it, too!).

This is how we break it down:
1) what is the itinerary? If we're on a port heavy/unfamiliar port cruise then concierge is less important to us
2) which ship? The Wonder and Magic are much less chaotic (to DH and me, anyway) so the relative quiet of the concierge cabins are less important on them than the Fantasy/Dream.
3) Are there things the Shoreside Concierge can do that are worth it ahead of time?

Two examples:
July 2018, Magic, 5 day Med--we chose to have a cat 7 (Nav Verandah) because we knew 3 of the 5 days were ports; we didn't need the extra time to schedule excursions (had private drivers); we are usually able to book Palo for brunch or dinner easily at 120 as plat cruisers.

Dec 2019, Dream, 4 day Bahamian-we chose the cat V (ocean view family stateroom) because it's the Dream, at NYE so full capacity; we're with extended family so we'll want a Cabana on Castaway Cay; we'll be spending every day except CC on the ship so more time in our cabin/the CL.

Obviously everyone makes their decisions differently but that's how I break it down. HTH!

 

[FSU Girl]

I love sailing in concierge, but I’ve only done it on the Dream and Fantasy. I believe on the Magic and Wonder the lounges were added after the fact and rooms are more spread out. It definitely will help you to get a cabana, but there’s still a possibility you won’t since there are more concierge rooms than cabanas.

I think if you’re planning to spend a lot of time on the ship it’s worth it. You’ll get to spend time in your room and the lounge. Also if there’s anything hard to get like an excursion or something they can help with that. So if you booked late and things are showing as sold out they can usually get you into things.

You’ll get your own table in MDR, which is big for us. You’ll also have a good location for your table (next to a window for example)

There’s a pillow menu. I love trying out a few different ones.

If you’re new to sailing Disney and can’t book things until late you get to skip this as concierge and book things the same time as platinum at 120 days. You’ll get priority embarking on the first day where they escort you on the ship past the long lines.

I’ve done one Disney Cruise normal and two concierge. I enjoyed all three so I don’t need to do concierge to have a good cruise, but I definitely enjoyed the perks.

 

[ScooterScott44]

The perk is you get to pay more $$$!

 

[Southern Pirate]

Just curious. We can't do it for this trip, but thinking about whether it would be worth booking concierge for cruise #2.

Only if you like having people taking care of you. From the minute for first book concierge you get the shore side team that you can call or email any question or request. On the day you can start booking, just send them an email anytime after midnight and your request is taken care of as if you booked it at that time. You do not have a port arrival time, it is when ever you get there. Once you avoid all the lines and check in, as soon as the port clears the ship you and get on. Don't worry about carrying your bags all over the ship, your room is ready and you can drop them off. Once you meet the onboard team, if anything you want to add, change or drop or any special requests let them know and then go and enjoy the ship. As others have said, there is a special lounge set up and free beverages and snacks so load up the mini fridge. Room service is handled a little different so ask about that so you know. If the ship will use tenders, you get priority boarding. Once your cruise is over, No standing in line to get off the ship. You are escorted off again a head of the rest and your luggage is very easy to find.

 

[bumbershoot]

You’ll also have a good location for your table (next to a window for example)

That was NOT true for us. We had awful busy chaotic tables on our first concierge cruise. And our staff was questionably trained, IMO.

Second concierge cruise we actually asked to sit with others (I’m an extrovert on a cruise), and it was better. But we weren’t in a concierge spot.

Don't worry about carrying your bags all over the ship, your room is ready and you can drop them off.

The only reason our room was ready after we boarded was because taking the dcl bus from the resort got us there so late. Otherwise we would have just been able to put our bags in the lounge.

Once your cruise is over, No standing in line to get off the ship. You are escorted off again a head of the rest

And the one time we took advantage of that we ended up being escorted off nearly an hour before we wanted. The lounge was closing so we were all herded out!


Concierge was fine for what we paid (we got great deals that likely won’t exist again), but the stuff many people go on about either didn’t happen for us or wasn’t something we valued.

 

[FSU Girl]

That was NOT true for us. We had awful busy chaotic tables on our first concierge cruise. And our staff was questionably trained, IMO.

Second concierge cruise we actually asked to sit with others (I’m an extrovert on a cruise), and it was better. But we weren’t in a concierge spot.

That unusual that you'd get a bad table location and bad servers. The servers for concierge are the ones who receive the highest comments and are the best in the restaurant, it takes them a lot of effort to get to the point where they are allowed to serve concierge. I've only done two concierges, but both of our tables were in excellent locations, near windows or the show. Even popping into the dining room for breakfast or lunch they would write VIP on a piece of paper before assigning us a table to ensure we were given the best one. If you like sitting with people they will of course accommodate that.

 

[NOLA_Tink]

Thanks for the feedback and link! It sounds like concierge is something that my hubby would love, but it's not something that would phase my mom. I appreciate the input!

 

[Trera]

We always enjoy it for the following reasons:
1. we love getting a family cabana and we have gotten one each time we were concierge.
2. The concierge hosts always remember our daughter and do something during the cruise extra special for her.
3. I enjoy a couple of cocktails in the lounge each night before dinner.
4. They take care of all the little things that I dont like spending time doing (i.e., they will book your next cruise, get your shutters photos, make/cancel reservations, book princess meet and greets, etc.)

 

[Dug720]

We did it once and for us the constant need to be doing something for us got to be too much. We are low maintenance and too much hovering drives us batty. The one time I asked for anything it was for TWO cans of Diet Coke so I could have it in the morning before we headed out. The host was so thrilled any of us asked for something he brought like a 12-pack to the cabin. OVERKILL.

I’m quite happy cruising “commoner status” for the rest of my life.

 

[ScooterScott44]

Circling back to this thread because on another forum category the dreams unlimited people posted a podcast that directly compares Celebrity, Royal and DCL concierge levels. It was not as direct and if you watch it you will understand why they didn’t post it under the DCL forum.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/d...ing-dcl-rccl-and-celebrity-concierge.3733111/

I gave a quick Hollywood Squares first answer earlier in the thread. (Yes, I am that old.)

But I’ll add this, doing a trip in DCL conceirge is very nice and Even if you don’t need all the services can be a great experience. In a direct comparison for what you are paying, I don’t think DCL gives you much bang for the buck in what it has to offer the concierge guest over a veranda type room. Especially when compared to that level on other lines. We have done DCL concierge twice out of thirteen and it is pretty nice. Our next cruise is on a Royal in a suite and the perks already surpass what DCL offers for a cheaper price. Since we have not sailed yet we cannot comment on the level of service.

So to the OP. If Disney is a must then I vote to give concierge a try. If a suite and the perks are what you are looking for DCL is still good but also look at the other lines, MSC yacht club level, Norwiegen haven, the Royal and the Royal Genie are all examples of great perks and it may be less.

 

[undertheradar]

Just remember that Cat V is not a suite. Cat V is a veranda stateroom with concierge benefits. Cat T,S, and R, are suites. Benefits/perks are different depending upon the concierge category booked.

 

[soundnew]

Exactly this what I do not get. Cat 5 is pretty much double the price of a family deluxe veranda. Same space, not to many perks. Not even unlimited internet.

 

[ScooterScott44]

We

Just remember that Cat V is not a suite. Cat V is a veranda stateroom with concierge benefits. Cat T,S, and R, are suites. Benefits/perks are different depending upon the concierge category booked.

We have only done the T and R so I just want to validate. Isn’t the decor in the V the same as the others just the layout is like the family veranda? Most of the conceirge perks are pretty similar - lounge, hosts, pillows, stocked fridge, etc.

Otherwise the key differences are the R is the only one with unlimited internet, all the others have the concierge package. The R ( and S only on the classic ships) have Palo and MDR in room dining option, while the T have the MDR as the in room dining option and V no in room dining other than the room service menu.