Wish Cruise

[Southern Pirate]

I was also on this 3-night sailing and agree with you! Given it being our first ever cruise and the negative reviews, I was a little nervous, but we absolutely loved it. We went in knowing that there may be some issues/kinks that needed to be worked out and didn't notice anything other than the 3 p.m. show of The Little Mermaid as OP mentioned.

The only minor disappointing thing was that I was told the Pirate-night would not be on our 3-night Wish sailing via email, but they did have it on the second night. No biggie, but I like to be prepared and now know to bring the kids' pirate gear just in case for future sailings.

Most people relate "Pirate night" with dressing up as pirates and on the shorter cruises they don't promote that but they still have the fireworks and celebration. If you want to dress up it is ok.

 

[Southern Pirate]

So glad to hear a positive review. You also sound as though you are a rather positive person, which is refreshing.

I understand pools being uncovered - aren’t most DCL pools? But did you think there was enough shade on the upper decks? the videos make it look like shaded areas are lacking - or is it just more sunny areas available than the other ships?

Waiting for MDR - DCL told us a long time ago not to get their early and line up, as you have an assigned table. I don’t think I have ever waited more than a minute to be escorted to my table on the first night In each venue. After that, I just walk myself to the table.

I am guessing the Dole Whip you mentioned on deck was in the Concierge area? That would be the one aspect I would certainly appreciate. (Although deconstructed Caesar salad in the CL on the Dream was so good I ate it everyday).

Have a great time in the Haven.

The pools were uncovered but around them was plenty of shade. I know I sat on the pool deck of the concierge lounge in the shade and it was very pleasant. The Dole whip was on the concierge pool deck at the bar.

 

[revdon64]

I'm not sure that it's fair to compare your concierge experience with the experiences of others who were not concierge. As a concierge passenger, you get to avoid all the little annoyances that add up and lead to people complaining on a message board like this. Your experience is your experience and comparing it to what others went through/saw is disingenuous at best.

 

[Kwami]

I'm not sure that it's fair to compare your concierge experience with the experiences of others who were not concierge. As a concierge passenger, you get to avoid all the little annoyances that add up and lead to people complaining on a message board like this. Your experience is your experience and comparing it to what others went through/saw is disingenuous at best.

There are plenty of other concierge guests here that surely appreciate reviews of concierge rooms and experiences.

Besides, most of the ship is the same for everyone. It's not like concierge has a secret running track or some sort of teleportation powers to avoid dead-end hallways.

 

[lcarter0922]

We cruise concierge in 2 weeks and I appreciate you review. Thank you

 

[John VN]

We cruise concierge in 2 weeks and I appreciate you review. Thank you

ENJOY YOUR CRUISE!!! DSIL and family are on WISH Concierge heading back to PC now. 1st time DCL and 1st Concierge level cruise so it will be interesting to hear her review.

DW and I no longer cruise DCL Concierge since we prefer Concierge and feel that MSC Yacht Club is far better at much less $$$. On past MSC cruises we have even met past Haven cruisers and they felt YC was above Haven. We've also RCI at SKY Level and also not at YC experience.

But as has been noted, it's different strokes for different folks.

 

[CastawayCayLover]

You obviously have to much invested in blaming someone. I just want to let others know, I enjoyed my cruise and the ship was beautiful.

As with every other response to me in this thread, you’re wrong. This started with my response agreeing with another poster’s opinion about concierge status being a factor in the experience on DCL and my general observation on the direction of Disney’s business strategy and model. You’ve offered nothing that is relevant to that discussion.

I didn’t say anything about blaming anybody for anything in particular, just that was what Disney is doing intentionally.

I’m glad you had a good time on your concierge cruise. Don’t assume anyone that wasn’t concierge had the same experience. As you said in the first post in this thread “For those who would say that being concierge gets you special treatment, I would like to say you are right. But I pay for that special treatment just as you can. If you want to be treated like a VIP then it will cost you.”

 

[Southern Pirate]

I'm not sure that it's fair to compare your concierge experience with the experiences of others who were not concierge. As a concierge passenger, you get to avoid all the little annoyances that add up and lead to people complaining on a message board like this. Your experience is your experience and comparing it to what others went through/saw is disingenuous at best.

I am not trying to compare, I am just relating that we had a good time.

 

[Southern Pirate]

There are plenty of other concierge guests here that surely appreciate reviews of concierge rooms and experiences.

Besides, most of the ship is the same for everyone. It's not like concierge has a secret running track or some sort of teleportation powers to avoid dead-end hallways.

I didn't think we were suppose to talk about that.

 

[Southern Pirate]

ENJOY YOUR CRUISE!!! DSIL and family are on WISH Concierge heading back to PC now. 1st time DCL and 1st Concierge level cruise so it will be interesting to hear her review.

DW and I no longer cruise DCL Concierge since we prefer Concierge and feel that MSC Yacht Club is far better at much less $$$. On past MSC cruises we have even met past Haven cruisers and they felt YC was above Haven. We've also RCI at SKY Level and also not at YC experience.

But as has been noted, it's different strokes for different folks.

Thank you for the recommendation we will have to try them. I screwed up early in my marriage and booked DCL concierge, now my wife does not want to sail any other way.

 

[John VN]

Thank you for the recommendation we will have to try them. I screwed up early in my marriage and booked DCL concierge, now my wife does not want to sail any other way.

DW surprised me by upgrading our 2015 DREAM Marathon Weekend Inaugural CC 5K Race to a 1 BR Concierge and that end all non-C cruising. When I saw YC being offered and the cost difference it was a *no brainer* to try it with the result being never NOT YC EVER. DCL will have to way amp their offering for us to return which is unlikely. Ocean Cay is nothing but relaxing, no hype or energy which is how we like it but most definitely NOT for the masses.

 

[dcassetta]

Look at it this way, there are perks that yo PAY FOR when you travel concierge. These perks are available to everyone who travels concierge. They are not a secret. If these perks are what you want, then pay to travel concierge. If it is something you don't want then don't travel concierge. It is a choice. There is no need to argue over it.

Not an argument, just an observation. In our cruise group for the Wish in October, on platinum booking day no one could book Palo brunch, Enchante brunch, or Enchante dessert. Obviously, there are platinum guests that are not a part of our cruise group, but a number of us had the same experience despite logging in as soon as onboard booking was available. I am not sure that access to reservations in one of the adult restaurants should be a concierge perk, but I guess it will be going forward.

 

[DCLDVC1]

Not an argument, just an observation. In our cruise group for the Wish in October, on platinum booking day no one could book Palo brunch, Enchante brunch, or Enchante dessert. Obviously, there are platinum guests that are not a part of our cruise group, but a number of us had the same experience despite logging in as soon as onboard booking was available. I am not sure that access to reservations in one of the adult restaurants should be a concierge perk, but I guess it will be going forward.

76 Concierge staterooms + 3 & 4 night cruises = a lot of people with no chance to get a reservation. I'd love to read all of the comment cards DCL is receiving. I'm sure there are a lot of unhappy Gold & Platinum cruisers.

 

[Kwami]

76 Concierge staterooms + 3 & 4 night cruises = a lot of people with no chance to get a reservation. I'd love to read all of the comment cards DCL is receiving. I'm sure there are a lot of unhappy Gold & Platinum cruisers.

I think that will calm down, though. I booked a 4-night cruise on the Dream three days before sailing earlier this year and I was able to get Palo brunch. They had multiple time slots open. I've had similar experiences on other 4-night Dream cruises before and after the restart.

So, once everyone gets over the newness of the Wish, I bet that you'll see more availability for the adult dining options.

Besides that, based on some posts here, it sounds like they're currently limiting the number of guests at Enchante, at least, because they don't have enough staff. I wouldn't be surprised if they're doing that at Palo, too.

 

[Karin1984]

Not an argument, just an observation. In our cruise group for the Wish in October, on platinum booking day no one could book Palo brunch, Enchante brunch, or Enchante dessert. Obviously, there are platinum guests that are not a part of our cruise group, but a number of us had the same experience despite logging in as soon as onboard booking was available. I am not sure that access to reservations in one of the adult restaurants should be a concierge perk, but I guess it will be going forward.

That is why there are cruiselines with a dedicated restaurant for their concierge guests. That is better than pretending everyone on the ship can book a reservation for that restaurant.

 

[brentm77]

Not an argument, just an observation. In our cruise group for the Wish in October, on platinum booking day no one could book Palo brunch, Enchante brunch, or Enchante dessert. Obviously, there are platinum guests that are not a part of our cruise group, but a number of us had the same experience despite logging in as soon as onboard booking was available. I am not sure that access to reservations in one of the adult restaurants should be a concierge perk, but I guess it will be going forward.

We are only silver (hitting gold next year), but on our med cruise this summer, we were in boarding group 3, whereas many platinum's were far behind us. It didn't seem right. Now that testing at port is gone, Disney really should bring back the early boarding time privilege. The perks of their loyalty program are already so weak, in our opinion, as to not really create loyalty to the brand. But if they continue to weaken them more, they will be utterly pointless.

We have zero interest in booking concierge. The cost to experience ratio just doesn't appeal to us in the slightest, even though we splurge for other expensive upgrades when traveling. If it is true that concierge is becoming the new base fare, and everything else is essentially becoming basic-economy, we will quickly lose any reason to pay DCL's premium. I really hope Disney doesn't believe it will have success pushing people into concierge just to get what they got on other ships at the regular fares. Because if their message is the same as OP's ("if you want this stuff, pay for it!"), and the stuff is just the old concierge perks plus what we could already get on other ships at the regular fare, we'll just move along.

I am glad to be reading a few positive reviews. Mostly it gives me hope that they can take the good stuff from the Wish, and learn from the mistakes, and do better on the next ship. I'm trying to be optimistic about the direction my favorite cruise line is going in, but it isn't easy. Clearly some people like a lot of what the Wish is offering.

 

[Southern Pirate]

Not an argument, just an observation. In our cruise group for the Wish in October, on platinum booking day no one could book Palo brunch, Enchante brunch, or Enchante dessert. Obviously, there are platinum guests that are not a part of our cruise group, but a number of us had the same experience despite logging in as soon as onboard booking was available. I am not sure that access to reservations in one of the adult restaurants should be a concierge perk, but I guess it will be going forward.

Not sure how the platinum booking works, even-thou we are platinum, but for concierge at 130 days we can submit an email for advanced booking and when it opens at 120 days it is booked. On a different note, while looking at Port Canaveral, I did notice that the old concierge waiting area was not being used and was just thinking that it would be a nice place for platinum. But that is not my call.

 

[Southern Pirate]

I think that will calm down, though. I booked a 4-night cruise on the Dream three days before sailing earlier this year and I was able to get Palo brunch. They had multiple time slots open. I've had similar experiences on other 4-night Dream cruises before and after the restart.

So, once everyone gets over the newness of the Wish, I bet that you'll see more availability for the adult dining options.

Besides that, based on some posts here, it sounds like they're currently limiting the number of guests at Enchante, at least, because they don't have enough staff. I wouldn't be surprised if they're doing that at Palo, too.

When we were on the Dream in June, we had dinner at Palo. I think I saw 6 other couples at our 6pm dinner. I had the dry aged steak and was really disappointed in the flavor. We have a steak house here, Hall's Chop House, where the dry age is excellent.

 

[Cheburashka]

Now that testing at port is gone, Disney really should bring back the early boarding time privilege.

Definitely. I hope they do so soon.

 

[John VN]

That is why there are cruiselines with a dedicated restaurant for their concierge guests. That is better than pretending everyone on the ship can book a reservation for that restaurant.

r.e. bold --- That is one reason we enjoy YC. Only YC guests can dine in the restaurant or have access to any of the designated areas. Very quiet dining often with live dining music.