what does "concierge" actually get you?

[mouseears1]

Do you have any suggestions for preferred seating on the Magic?

We didn't request any type of seating for both our trips on the Magic, though we had great seating in every MDR. The seats were always the ones that were situated in the main aisle where the shows were performed. For example, in Animators, when your wait staff claps and marches down the aisles waving flags of their country, everyone passed right next to our table. For both trips on the Magic, our seats were the same, in the middle of the action so to speak.

We had booked the same suite both times on the Magic and we had the same tables on both trips (though we didn't ask for a specific seating at all) and I did noticed to the left of me and several tables down from where my family sat, all guests were in concierge. Maybe, they have set seats for us? That, I am not sure of but it is just a guess.

The only request I made on the ship was to have Oliver Garcia from the Phillipines as our server. He is amazing and my shy husband and my son who is a picky eater, love him as well. Oliver always brought out fried mozarella sticks for my son as an appetizer every night and Oliver, from day one, knew how to connect with my painfully shy husband and make him feel at home.

 

[Golden Rose]

We'll be on DCL in the Walt Suite on our upcoming trip, and we decided to sail in it for a variety of reasons (non of which have anything to do with impressing anyone,) all of which make perfect sense to us. For us, the perks and extra touches actually made the decision easy for us.

It's our first disney cruise. We wanted to be able to book Palo brunch, particular spa treatments, and particular nursery hours. We wanted to be able to have Palo delivered to our room, since we are cruising with a toddler and a 7 year old. We wanted the fridge to have food for the kids close at hand at all times. We needed the extra space because we thought we were cruising with my mother and step-father, although my step-father has since backed out. With several introverts in the family (not me! ), we spend a lot of time in our room.

I have motion sickness issues sometimes if I can't see the horizon, so we have always had to have an exterior cabin at the very least when we cruise, and we have cruised so often with small children over the years who nap that we have always gotten balconies so we have a place to relax during naptime. For our upcoming trip, we determined that getting a two bedroom suite or a royal suite was cheaper than getting two concierge cabins, and we decided a royal suite was a better deal for us because of the extra space.

We have been getting suites on RCCL for many years, and its definitely for the perks and cabin size. We like being able to do embarkation and disembarkation in shorter lines. We like the reserved seating at shows, and are very sorry that DCL doesn't do it. Actually, finding out that they don't sort of surprised and disappointed us. We like being able to get the extended menu room service at many meals, and eating on our balcony. We like having the option not to sit with strangers at dinner. We cruise a fair amount, and over the years, I've had great tablemates, and pretty dreadful tablemates, and right now we're in a phase where we really just want to spend time together as a family at mealtimes. We like being able to put 5 or 6 in the room, so that our family stays together.

We aren't super rich. We aren't snobs. But we don't have a huge amount of vacation time each year, and we do want to spend as much of it as we can enjoying ourselves and feeling pampered. People say, "oh, I could take two cruises for what you're paying for concierge," but that's sort of irrelevant to us since my husband doesn't have the vacation time to do the additional trips.

 

[disneywonderfun]

We'll be on DCL in the Walt Suite on our upcoming trip, and we decided to sail in it for a variety of reasons (non of which have anything to do with impressing anyone,) all of which make perfect sense to us. For us, the perks and extra touches actually made the decision easy for us.

It's our first disney cruise. We wanted to be able to book Palo brunch, particular spa treatments, and particular nursery hours. We wanted to be able to have Palo delivered to our room, since we are cruising with a toddler and a 7 year old. We wanted the fridge to have food for the kids close at hand at all times. We needed the extra space because we thought we were cruising with my mother and step-father, although my step-father has since backed out. With several introverts in the family (not me! ), we spend a lot of time in our room.

I have motion sickness issues sometimes if I can't see the horizon, so we have always had to have an exterior cabin at the very least when we cruise, and we have cruised so often with small children over the years who nap that we have always gotten balconies so we have a place to relax during naptime. For our upcoming trip, we determined that getting a two bedroom suite or a royal suite was cheaper than getting two concierge cabins, and we decided a royal suite was a better deal for us because of the extra space.

We have been getting suites on RCCL for many years, and its definitely for the perks and cabin size. We like being able to do embarkation and disembarkation in shorter lines. We like the reserved seating at shows, and are very sorry that DCL doesn't do it. Actually, finding out that they don't sort of surprised and disappointed us. We like being able to get the extended menu room service at many meals, and eating on our balcony. We like having the option not to sit with strangers at dinner. We cruise a fair amount, and over the years, I've had great tablemates, and pretty dreadful tablemates, and right now we're in a phase where we really just want to spend time together as a family at mealtimes. We like being able to put 5 or 6 in the room, so that our family stays together.

We aren't super rich. We aren't snobs. But we don't have a huge amount of vacation time each year, and we do want to spend as much of it as we can enjoying ourselves and feeling pampered. People say, "oh, I could take two cruises for what you're paying for concierge," but that's sort of irrelevant to us since my husband doesn't have the vacation time to do the additional trips.

I understand exactly what you mean. We used to be able to pull our kids out of school and do anything. Now, our daughter started 6th grade and does not want to miss out on anything at school. So, our vacation days are rather limited. I can schedule two weeks during the summer with the remainder spread throughout the year. So, from a practical standpoint, I really have to take maximum advantage of what we do for those two weeks in the summer. We scheduled the Fantasy next year immediately following the conclusion of school. I did not hesitate much about the cost since it is simply something we really want to do as a family and those weeks together are much more important than cost for us at this point of out lives. Still trying to figure out what to do with week #2 for the Summer of 2013 (must be noncruise related, considering Paws Up in Montana).

Best,

DWF

 

[Bonniec]

We like the reserved seating at shows, and are very sorry that DCL doesn't do it.

Do they or don't they? I'm confused by this. I think someone earlier mentioned there is box seating or something?

 

[CoolHandsGirl]

Do they or don't they? I'm confused by this. I think someone earlier mentioned there is box seating or something?

No reserved seating for concierge. There are box seats though in the Walt Disney Theatre that are open for anyone to sit in. Here is a discussion about them: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2710337

 

[Wendy&Grumpy]

No reserved seating for concierge. There are box seats though in the Walt Disney Theatre that are open for anyone to sit in. Here is a discussion about them: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2710337

Interesting. On a ship tour of the Dream this past spring, we were told they were for concierge only.

 

[CoolHandsGirl]

Interesting. On a ship tour of the Dream this past spring, we were told they were for concierge only.

That's interesting to hear too! Nothing was mentioned about this by the Fantasy concierge team in April and I didn't recognise folks sitting there in the box from the Concierge Lounge or Sundeck. Now I'm as well! Maybe a new thing they're trying or rolling out?

 

[FJS961]

Interesting to hear. On fantasy couple weeks ago as this was not mentioned to us.

 

[FJS961]

DWF,

We get only 2 weeks in the summer and here and there can get a school vacation week (December, February, April break). I like the make the most of 1 or sometimes 2 special trips a year. I guess I could be putting more away for retirement, etc but I like making my financial planner cringe.

 

[CoolHandsGirl]

I like making my financial planner cringe.

 

[kaseyC]

Interesting to hear. On fantasy couple weeks ago as this was not mentioned to us.

Very interesting, we were just on the Fantasy in Concierge last week and it was not mentioned to us. I even mentioned it to Julia and Kemisha, that it was a perk I wished DCL would adopt.

 

[jahber]

That's interesting to hear too! Nothing was mentioned about this by the Fantasy concierge team in April and I didn't recognise folks sitting there in the box from the Concierge Lounge or Sundeck. Now I'm as well! Maybe a new thing they're trying or rolling out?

They definitely aren't reserved on the Fantasy. My family sat in a box last week. The kids loved it.

Our cruise wasn't crowded, so we walked in about 10 minutes before the show and there were only two people sitting there. They certainly never said anything and neither did the officer who came by to say hi to one of people, whom he knew.

 

[cjnix29]

Oh concierge gets you the awesome shower gel and after burn care!!!!!

 

[Wendy&Grumpy]

Oh concierge gets you the awesome shower gel and after burn care!!!!!

Oh yea! I love the shower gel!

 

[EPCOTatNight]

or maybe get their meds checked?

Really, 30K?

well, whatever floats their boat, so to speak.

I'm the OP here and was really just looking for the added benefits, didn't mean for this to turn into any us vs them thread. As I've stated before, it's not for me or my family, but I'm happy for anyone else that uses it and enjoys it, no matter their reasons.

I'll still go on my cruise and enjoy my family and make happy memories, no matters! Just wishin' it would come sooner!

edit: Wow, Ok, I really had NO idea anyone was paying this kind of money for a cruise. Just went online and saw prices for the Royal Suite at 27K, might've been for Thanksgiving. That's a lotta turkey! I hope everyone gets their perceived/reality money's worth!