Concierge Perks?

[kaseyC]

IMO, it comes down to what kind of cruiser you are. Some people are just Disney cruisers, period. So they will always be happy to just be on a Disney ship. So, of course there are those who will always be Disney Concierge cruisers and are very happy with the concierge product offered by Disney.

There are also those like me who thought when my girls were younger we were a Disney concierge family only. But over time as we realized we are a concierge cruising family. We enjoy the extra services and less crowded spaces of most ships' concierge areas. We've experienced and enjoyed suites on most of the mass market cruise lines, though, the majority have been on DCL and in NCL's Haven. I think they all offer an excellent experience for different reasons with some offering more exclusive perks than others. I booked B2B in concierge on the Wish. Got to keep my streak of sailing concierge on every Disney ship!! But I also have cruises booked in a Sweet Aft Suite on Virgin's Valiant Lady EBTA and a Haven suite on NCL's Prima WBTA.

Bottom line, we all do what works best for our family.

 

[JWG]

IMO, it comes down to what kind of cruiser you are. Some people are just Disney cruisers, period. So they will always be happy to just be on a Disney ship. So, of course there are those who will always be Disney Concierge cruisers and are very happy with the concierge product offered by Disney.

There are also those like me who thought when my girls were younger we were a Disney concierge family only. But over time as we realized we are a concierge cruising family. We enjoy the extra services and less crowded spaces of most ships' concierge areas. We've experienced and enjoyed suites on most of the mass market cruise lines, though, the majority have been on DCL and in NCL's Haven. I think they all offer an excellent experience for different reasons with some offering more exclusive perks than others. I booked B2B in concierge on the Wish. Got to keep my streak of sailing concierge on every Disney ship!! But I also have cruises booked in a Sweet Aft Suite on Virgin's Valiant Lady EBTA and a Haven suite on NCL's Prima WBTA.

Bottom line, we all do what works best for our family.

Not to get off topic, but I guess to get off topic, what is your preferred cruise line if not Disney? We're a family of 3 with a high schooler and I'm curious what line would be best to try if we switched. We were thinking RCL. We love the Disney service, cleanliness and upkeep of the ship, and the fact they offer diverse experiences (kids, tweens, teens, family). We spend a decent amount of time in the adult only space (Cove Bar) and aren't interested in a party ship.

 

[disneywonderfun]

Not to get off topic, but I guess to get off topic, what is your preferred cruise line if not Disney? We're a family of 3 with a high schooler and I'm curious what line would be best to try if we switched. We were thinking RCL. We love the Disney service, cleanliness and upkeep of the ship, and the fact they offer diverse experiences (kids, tweens, teens, family). We spend a decent amount of time in the adult only space (Cove Bar) and aren't interested in a party ship.

For some background, I am mostly a nondrinker, like the novelty of a casino on board, put a premium on both cabin size and food quality, do not have high priority on the cruise destination, and have two kids who grew up on DCL (one is 14 yo, the other 20). NCL has a strong product at their pricepoint for Haven. Maybe the best "bang for the buck". Royal Caribbean on their megaships does it well. We are looking at Celebrity's relatively new product, the Retreat, in lieu of the cancelled Disney cruises. The have something called the Iconic Suite which is maybe 25% higher cost than DCL's Royal, but it has all the perks I really want. They also have pushed their food offerings to be more refined in recent years. Michelin starred chefs basically design most of their menus at this point. So, you probably get an "average" meal on Celebrity that is somewhere between DCL's main dining room and Remy (likely much closer to Remy than the DCL main dining room). Definitely a step up from most cruiselines.

There are other cruiselines that simply offer a higher standard for everyone, Seabourn and Regent come to mind quickly. Ultimately, for us, it just comes down to how much value we find in a cruiseline. I am willing to accept lesser quality food on NCL when the 7 night cruise in their Haven in a large 800 square foot cabin is still less than $10K. The Iconic Suite is going to cost us $80K for a week but has an outdoor terrace with hot tub, two bedrooms, etc, etc. Strange, but I find value in that!

DWF

P.S. Oh, almost forgot. I love Celebrity's policy where basically everything is included in the fare. At least for the Retreat, tips are included. Drinks are included. On board credit for $1200 is included for spa service, for example. So, again, although 25% higher than a Disney Royal, I think the more inclusive pricing is simply better for us.

 

[kaseyC]

Not to get off topic, but I guess to get off topic, what is your preferred cruise line if not Disney? We're a family of 3 with a high schooler and I'm curious what line would be best to try if we switched. We were thinking RCL. We love the Disney service, cleanliness and upkeep of the ship, and the fact they offer diverse experiences (kids, tweens, teens, family). We spend a decent amount of time in the adult only space (Cove Bar) and aren't interested in a party ship.

We are a family of 5. My daughters are now 25, 20 and 18 and we have been cruising as a family since the oldest was 18mos. We are not interested in party ships either. I would have to say our favorite next to Disney would be NCL's Haven. Their 2 bedroom suites are perfect for us. After that it would be a tie between RCCL Royal Suite Class and MSC Yacht Club. I haven't sailed Celebrity since they've upgraded their suite product with the Retreat so I can't comment on that one, yet. Hoping to try it next summer in Europe if we can get everyone's schedule to line up. Another thing I have to point out is these cruise lines at times can be less expensive than Disney but not always. So, it's not always about getting the lower price which many people on this board seem to insinuate...that if you don't choose Disney it's because you can't afford it. In the past few years concierge prices have increased across the board on all lines.

 

[disneywonderfun]

We are a family of 5. My daughters are now 25, 20 and 18 and we have been cruising as a family since the oldest was 18mos. We are not interested in party ships either. I would have to say our favorite next to Disney would be NCL's Haven. Their 2 bedroom suites are perfect for us. After that it would be a tie between RCCL Royal Suite Class and MSC Yacht Club. I haven't sailed Celebrity since they've upgraded their suite product with the Retreat so I can't comment on that one, yet. Hoping to try it next summer in Europe if we can get everyone's schedule to line up. Another thing I have to point out is these cruise lines at times can be less expensive than Disney but not always. So, it's not always about getting the lower price which many people on this board seem to insinuate...that if you don't choose Disney it's because you can't afford it. In the past few years concierge prices have increased across the board on all lines.

I admit, I was not really trying to be snooty, but simply transparent when I mentioned the cost of the Iconic Suite. Even though it is more than a Disney Royal, I think it provides a better overall experience for OUR FAMILY at this point of our lives. Our youngest is now out of the children clubs and only can go to the teen scene. He is not terribly interested in that. So, having more "perks" that we actually use would be nice. We have always enjoyed breakfast together on trips in a relaxed environment. That is why we put such a high premium in the "concierge" or "suite" or "Haven" or "Retreat" having a private restaurant. If Disney had put that on the Wish, that would have likely changed our decision and we would have opted for the 4 night (even if it were another $10k). Oh well.

 

[karen4546]

We have only cruised once and that was on the Disney Dream in 2017. We booked concierge family room but a 1bedroom opened up and then a couple of days later, the coveted 12000 with its amazing deck opened up and so I booked it!

We stayed at the YC prior to our cruise and so we took the ME back to the airport and went to the Cruise area to check in @ MCO. They seat my husband and I on the bus first even though there were many families already there. I guess we were the only ones in concierge. When we got to the Port, we were escorted off the bus and to a side entrance and whisked to the concierge area past the long lines. When it came to boarding, we were some of the first on and our room was ready (the concierge hostess let us know) but we were taken to the concierge lounge and checked in and given our itinerary folder and my husband a couple of beers in the can to take back to the room. We had a large fruit basket waiting for us and all the extras that I had ordered were already set up (champagne, DCL robes (i bought these there were robes and slippers in the closet), chocolates -everything that I had preordered.

Before the cruise, we requested our dining time, meet & greet tickets, and Coke Zero. You can request which beverages you would like in your mini fridge. They also picked up a bourbon my husband drinks and it was available for him later that evening. Don't ask me what it was because I have no idea.

Our fridge was always stocked with waters, soda, and I think gatorade?

We didn't have to wait in line to get our photos, because concierge got them for us. We enjoyed the lounge every day. They gave us a large Cruise print maybe 11 x 17 or bigger on our last evening. It was very nicely presented.

I enjoyed that cruise. If we ever cruise again, it will be concierge and in a 1br or suite.

 

[kaseyC]

I admit, I was not really trying to be snooty, but simply transparent when I mentioned the cost of the Iconic Suite. Even though it is more than a Disney Royal, I think it provides a better overall experience for OUR FAMILY at this point of our lives. Our youngest is now out of the children clubs and only can go to the teen scene. He is not terribly interested in that. So, having more "perks" that we actually use would be nice. We have always enjoyed breakfast together on trips in a relaxed environment. That is why we put such a high premium in the "concierge" or "suite" or "Haven" or "Retreat" having a private restaurant. If Disney had put that on the Wish, that would have likely changed our decision and we would have opted for the 4 night (even if it were another $10k). Oh well.

I don't think you came off snooty at all. I think you made a valid point. That making the choice to cruise outside Disney isn't always about price. It can be about better perks, service and experience that meets the needs of our families. I've been on these boards for way too long and many folks seem assume or imply at times that if you don't choose Disney it's because you can't afford it.

 

[PezRuth]

We travel with my parents. So we have two concierge rooms. My parents and then our family of 4. We have been on the Fantasy and Magic. (Supposed to have been on the Fantasy last spring and now scheduled for Magic out of Rome next summer). For us it is absolutely worth it because of traveling with my parents. It takes a lot of the worry away. Being able to send in your requests 125 days ahead of your cruise is a huge advantage (actual requests go in 120 days by shoreside). Knowing that there is a place to go to get away is great. These are very small things but knowing that on my last cruise my daughter got a cut and I went to concierge and they got me a band aid right away. Husband had dry eye issues, they got him drops instead of going to the medical center. As said earlier, we go down before dinner get a drink and take it to dinner and then go back and get one for the show. Getting a cabana has been huge (granted may now be harder). Having a relationship with the concierge hosts and the bartender is wonderful. Other small things that may or not be mentioned - get to get on the ship early; first availability for tenders for tender island; and first to get off (which is important to my parents). Other little things sunscreen is always available. Sodas/water always available in the lounge when the lounge is open. Fridge is stocked in your room. For us it makes the whole experience better.

 

[MsFrumble]

I have sailed both balcony cabins and concierge on Disney. Both were fantastic! I think it was the little things that made concierge so great! As soon as we boarded, we were whisked away to the Concierge Lunch at Rapunzel's Royal Table. You are offered complimentary beer or wine with lunch. My family still makes fun of me for asking, "Do you have anything with bubbles?!" Sure enough our amazing waiters showed up with a bottle of Prosecco! My 82-year-old Mom also go sick on the ship (kidney issues) and the concierge sent extra drinks and water to us as well as calling to check up on her. That was very appreciated. We had an amazing brunch at Palo and I had read up that a mimosa or Bellini would be included with your meal but we had endless mimosas with our meal and weren't charged for them so I wasn't sure if this was another concierge perk? Full disclosure - I'm not a big drinker but I do like to relax and indulge on vacation with champagne and sparkling wines!

 

[Cheburashka]

Agree that the "perk" of being able to spend even more money through easier to schedule reservations (i.e. Remy, a cabana, etc) is not really a perk!

You can quibble about what to call it, but it's certainly an advantage. If having a cabana for your family on Castaway Cay is important to you, and the only way to have a decent chance of getting one is to book concierge, then having a realistic chance to book one is a big advantage.

 

[brentm77]

I hate being doted on too much. It makes me feel uncomfortable. Even at a restaurant, good service to me means taking my order accurately, delivering the food, keeping my drink full, and maybe checking on me once. It does not mean constantly checking on me or asking me how everything is. I have never used concierge service at a hotel, because I like to just do things for myself. The thought of having to meet with people ahead of time via phone, on the first day, or constantly having them ask if they can do anything for me, is a negative, not a bonus. Because of that, I am not sure we will ever do concierge on DCL.

We are perfectly happy with the size of the verandah room too, and will do mostly private excursions going forward (when allowed). We don't do tastings or other hard-to-book ship activities. The only bonus that we would use, that I can think of, is the reserved concierge spaces and a shot at cabanas. We don't love crowded spaces. Getting on and off the ship easier is a small bonus, but not that important to us.

Do any of you (who repeatedly sailed concierge) have similar preferences about not being dotted on, but still find it worth it?

 

[ahain]

I hate being doted on too much. It makes me feel uncomfortable. Even at a restaurant, good service to me means taking my order accurately, delivering the food, keeping my drink full, and maybe checking on me once. It does not mean constantly checking on me or asking me how everything is. I have never used concierge service at a hotel, because I like to just do things for myself. The thought of having to meet with people ahead of time via phone, on the first day, or constantly having them ask if they can do anything for me, is a negative, not a bonus. Because of that, I am not sure we will ever do concierge on DCL.

We are perfectly happy with the size of the verandah room too, and will do mostly private excursions going forward (when allowed). We don't do tastings or other hard-to-book ship activities. The only bonus that we would use, that I can think of, is the reserved concierge spaces and a shot at cabanas. We don't love crowded spaces. Getting on and off the ship easier is a small bonus, but not that important to us.

Sounds like we are very much like you! All of the comments you made reflect us to a T. We enjoy verandah cabins, but Concierge really doesn't offer anything appealing to us besides besides the concierge lounge and concierge pool area. We don't care about tastings or a cabana. We don't like the idea of a butler. So we don't feel we would get enough benefit to make it "worth it" to our family

 

[DisneyMusicMan]

I always felt that there were three camps. One group of people who always sail concierge, and swear by it. Another group that never does it because they can’t justify the price upper for the product they get.

We fall in the middle. I wouldn’t pay double for concierge over a Cat 4A. That room is more than adequate for us. I’m perfectly happy buying drinks at Skyline, Cadillac, or Keys. And we eat too much on cruises everywhere. We still eat at Palo regardless, and we still hang out in the spa either way. Sure, the customer service is great, the lounge is nice, and we like the coffee maker and stocked fridge. But we’re okay without it. It all comes down to the premium over what we would normally book. If it’s small, we’ll consider it. If not, we’re happy with the non-concierge. The DCL product is great in so many ways with or without the concierge benefits.

That being said, I was surprised at how low the premium was to go from a Cat 4A to a Cat 3A on the Wish. So we booked a B2B 3A.

 

[Trera]

I really love that we can pick out our photos, pick up our photos, review our bill, return the kids klub band, get a replacement KTTW card, etc. without having to go to customer service or shutters and wait in line. We use the lounge quite a bit and being able to handle those things with a host saves time and inconvenience.

 

[JWG]

I always felt that there were three camps. One group of people who always sail concierge, and swear by it. Another group that never does it because they can’t justify the price upper for the product they get.

We fall in the middle. I wouldn’t pay double for concierge over a Cat 4A. That room is more than adequate for us. I’m perfectly happy buying drinks at Skyline, Cadillac, or Keys. And we eat too much on cruises everywhere. We still eat at Palo regardless, and we still hand out in the spa either way. Sure, the customer service is great, the lounge is nice, and we like the coffee maker and stocked fridge. But we’re okay without it. It all comes down to the premium over what we would normally book. If it’s small, we’ll consider it. If not, we’re happy with the non-concierge. The DCL product is great in so many ways with or without the concierge benefits.

That being said, I was surprised at how low the premium was to go from a Cat 4A to a Cat 3A on the Wish. So we booked a B2B 3A.

I think this would define me, but my wife is more of the "never" for the price vs. what you get. So, we've yet to do it. I think if the Wish maintains its pricing structure and concierge isn't so ridiculously high compared to Cat 4, I can get us there. We've slowly moved up from Cat 8 to Cat 4, so the price variance is shrinking.

 

[Marthasor]

Not to get off topic, but I guess to get off topic, what is your preferred cruise line if not Disney? We're a family of 3 with a high schooler and I'm curious what line would be best to try if we switched. We were thinking RCL. We love the Disney service, cleanliness and upkeep of the ship, and the fact they offer diverse experiences (kids, tweens, teens, family). We spend a decent amount of time in the adult only space (Cove Bar) and aren't interested in a party ship.

In addition to DCL, we have sailed NCL and Celebrity (and Lindblad and Paul Gauguin, but they are very different types of cruises). We really like Celebrity. It's very low-key and the service is always outstanding. They also have much more interesting Caribbean itineraries than DCL, IMHO.

I hate being doted on too much. It makes me feel uncomfortable. Even at a restaurant, good service to me means taking my order accurately, delivering the food, keeping my drink full, and maybe checking on me once. It does not mean constantly checking on me or asking me how everything is. I have never used concierge service at a hotel, because I like to just do things for myself. The thought of having to meet with people ahead of time via phone, on the first day, or constantly having them ask if they can do anything for me, is a negative, not a bonus. Because of that, I am not sure we will ever do concierge on DCL.

We are perfectly happy with the size of the verandah room too, and will do mostly private excursions going forward (when allowed). We don't do tastings or other hard-to-book ship activities. The only bonus that we would use, that I can think of, is the reserved concierge spaces and a shot at cabanas. We don't love crowded spaces. Getting on and off the ship easier is a small bonus, but not that important to us.

Do any of you (who repeatedly sailed concierge) have similar preferences about not being dotted on, but still find it worth it?

We've sailed concierge on DCL on all but one of our DCL cruises. I've never felt doted on except for the time my son felt sick on a Magic cruise and the concierge staff checked on us in our stateroom and brought him a plush, which was incredibly sweet. Otherwise, our typical experience has been - they are there to help if you need it and leave you alone if you don't. They truly make sailing on DCL so easy - easy to change dining rotations, get reservations and cabanas, easy peasy getting on and off the ship, never having to stand in the guest services line, and, in Europe in particular, when you are dealing with things like having to turn in your passport to local authorities and then retrieving it, they save you a ton of time. They will chat with you in the lounge if you happen to sit down, but you can always take your snacks and beverages elsewhere. It is definitely worth the up charge for us.

 

[DisneyMusicMan]

I think this would define me, but my wife is more of the "never" for the price vs. what you get. So, we've yet to do it. I think if the Wish maintains its pricing structure and concierge isn't so ridiculously high compared to Cat 4, I can get us there. We've slowly moved up from Cat 8 to Cat 4, so the price variance is shrinking.

My wife is the same way. So I didn’t tell her about the Cat 3 on the Wish next year. Lol. She’ll find out on embarkation day.

 

[Dug720]

I hate being doted on too much. It makes me feel uncomfortable. Even at a restaurant, good service to me means taking my order accurately, delivering the food, keeping my drink full, and maybe checking on me once. It does not mean constantly checking on me or asking me how everything is. I have never used concierge service at a hotel, because I like to just do things for myself. The thought of having to meet with people ahead of time via phone, on the first day, or constantly having them ask if they can do anything for me, is a negative, not a bonus. Because of that, I am not sure we will ever do concierge on DCL.

This is actually my family and myself (all adults). When we did our first DCL it was part of a family trip (mom, dad, sis, and me) to celebrate my parents' 45th anniversary. We started by going to Key West, then did a 3-night on the Dream. My dad for some reason booked us Concierge even though we are NOT "Concierge people". We were so low maintenance and not asking for anything that when I did go ask simply for 2 more cans of diet Coke, the host brought an entire 12-pack because "We are so happy you're asking for something!" We're that low-maintenance.

We are the weird ones who have no problem sailing plain veranda, ocean view, or even inside after having done Concierge once. Most people say you can never go back - but we definitely could...and do.

 

[dizneykids5]

Regarding the alcohol during happy hour, if you have a preferred brand of something, ask if they can get it for you. If it’s on the ship, they generally will. For instance, I like La Fin du Monde (beer), and they stock some in the lounge for me. Same for Moët Ice. My son asked for a more expensive bourbon (can’t remember the name), and they got it for him.

In addition to perks others had already posted...on a cruise last year, just before the world shut down, my husband got a migraine, and we couldn’t do our Tortola excursion. Concierge had it removed from our account and credited us back the cost without question. You can pay your tips with the concierge as well (as not all of us pre-pay). Anything you would normally go to Guest Services for, go to the Concierge. Last we were on (Feb 2020), Concierge guests just had to show their stateroom card to receive free popcorn at the carts outside the shows (I’ve not ever been impressed with the pre-packaged popcorn they used to hand out). They’ve been able to get us into “sold out” tastings. And, aside from free sunscreen, there are cans of Evian facial spray, which is wonderful on a hot day. I’ll take a can on excursions as well—so wonderful in the Caribbean heat.

 

[lopo1974]

My family loves DCL. We have been hooked since 2015. Our last 2 cruises on DCL were Concierge. Since Aug. '18 we have done the MSC Yacht Club on the Seaside. We loved that too! LOTS of amenities for the price. A true ship within a ship experience. For 2022 we have another MSC YC cruise booked as well as a Concierge Wish B2B booked. We love both of these experiences for different reasons. Disney is Disney. We love the magic you feel from the Disney ships. It is undeniable. People cringe at the prices but I am willing to pay as well as many others. Disney isn't perfect but no cruise experience is (IMHO).