-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
What perks should I know aboutconcierge
- Thread starter hansel1
- Start date
Disneyfalcon
Well-Known Member
@sweetpee_1993 just got back from a concierge room and has started a trip report in the forum. You should definitely check it out!
In general, you don't have to pick an arrival time, you will get priority boarding, and you can book excursions earlier than everyone else!
In general, you don't have to pick an arrival time, you will get priority boarding, and you can book excursions earlier than everyone else!
sweetpee_1993
Well-Known Member
sweetpee_1993
Well-Known Member
Let's see...for boarding...don't worry about the port arrival time, etc. in your online check-in. As a concierge guest you will have priority boarding. This means once boarding begins it will be 'Family of the Day' then you followed by the numbered boarding groups. When you get to the terminal to check-in there is a separate check-in desk you go to as a concierge guest. There will be a much smaller line. Go there. After you check-in you'll be seated in a separate area from the rest of the guests in the terminal to wait for your boarding to begin. Like I said, after the 'Family of the Day' boards a CM will come to this area and invite you all to board before boarding of the rest of the groups begins.
Excursion preference. I'll assume you want to know if you have a booking advantage. You DO! Your booking window for everything will open at 120 days prior to sailing along with Platinum level Castaway Club members. You get first choice! Shoreside concierge can take care of everything for you or you can do things yourself. Word of warning, if you're looking to book a private cabana on Castaway Cay you need to be on your toes especially if you are on a busier sailing. Even with the 120 day advantage the cabanas can go FAST! For instance, I read where the cabanas for the cruise we're going on in late May all booked up within MINUTES of the window opening at 12:01 a.m. at the 120 day mark. MINUTES! You have to know what you're doing! The shoreside concierge works regular office hours. If anyone was relying on them to get the cabana for them, they were out of luck. It's wait-list time same as everyone else. So if it's a cabana you are after, be ready to login at exactly midnight on your 120 day mark, zip thru online check-in, race into the itinerary planning pages, and snag a cabana quick! You can do it!!!
Wait time. I'm not sure what you are referring to. Wait time for what? Boarding? Well, that depends on when you arrive at the port. Unlike non-concierge guests, you don't need to worry yourself with having an early port arrival time, getting to the terminal early, and scoring a low boarding group number. You have priority boarding as previously mentioned. So if boarding doesn't begin until around 11:30-11:45, if you arrived at the terminal at 11:10 you'd have veeeery little time to wait for boarding. If you arrived at the terminal at 10:00, well, you're sitting there waiting for over an hour until boarding begins. If you happen to arrive after boarding has begun but they're still calling the group numbers you'll be escorted from the check-in desk onto the ship. No wait at all.
Take advantage of the free cocktails in the concierge lounge. Show love to your concierge staff and be sure to leave them a nice gratuity if deserved. In the 1-bedroom suites you have the option of ordering dinner from the main dining rooms in your stateroom. No dressing up required. Remember your stateroom is pretty much twice the size as the usual staterooms so it may be a nice gesture to show a little extra appreciation to your stateroom host if deserved. Ya know?
Most importantly, ENJOY! I miss that 1-bedroom on the Dream so badly! My favorite faaaaavorite thing was laying in bed at night with the glowing blue light in the cove ceiling above the bed on. It was like being in a Dream...while you're on the Dream!!!!!!!
Excursion preference. I'll assume you want to know if you have a booking advantage. You DO! Your booking window for everything will open at 120 days prior to sailing along with Platinum level Castaway Club members. You get first choice! Shoreside concierge can take care of everything for you or you can do things yourself. Word of warning, if you're looking to book a private cabana on Castaway Cay you need to be on your toes especially if you are on a busier sailing. Even with the 120 day advantage the cabanas can go FAST! For instance, I read where the cabanas for the cruise we're going on in late May all booked up within MINUTES of the window opening at 12:01 a.m. at the 120 day mark. MINUTES! You have to know what you're doing! The shoreside concierge works regular office hours. If anyone was relying on them to get the cabana for them, they were out of luck. It's wait-list time same as everyone else. So if it's a cabana you are after, be ready to login at exactly midnight on your 120 day mark, zip thru online check-in, race into the itinerary planning pages, and snag a cabana quick! You can do it!!!
Wait time. I'm not sure what you are referring to. Wait time for what? Boarding? Well, that depends on when you arrive at the port. Unlike non-concierge guests, you don't need to worry yourself with having an early port arrival time, getting to the terminal early, and scoring a low boarding group number. You have priority boarding as previously mentioned. So if boarding doesn't begin until around 11:30-11:45, if you arrived at the terminal at 11:10 you'd have veeeery little time to wait for boarding. If you arrived at the terminal at 10:00, well, you're sitting there waiting for over an hour until boarding begins. If you happen to arrive after boarding has begun but they're still calling the group numbers you'll be escorted from the check-in desk onto the ship. No wait at all.
Take advantage of the free cocktails in the concierge lounge. Show love to your concierge staff and be sure to leave them a nice gratuity if deserved. In the 1-bedroom suites you have the option of ordering dinner from the main dining rooms in your stateroom. No dressing up required. Remember your stateroom is pretty much twice the size as the usual staterooms so it may be a nice gesture to show a little extra appreciation to your stateroom host if deserved. Ya know?
Most importantly, ENJOY! I miss that 1-bedroom on the Dream so badly! My favorite faaaaavorite thing was laying in bed at night with the glowing blue light in the cove ceiling above the bed on. It was like being in a Dream...while you're on the Dream!!!!!!!
Disneyfalcon
Well-Known Member
sweetpee_1993
Well-Known Member
We need a smoochy emoticon.I knew you were perfect for this question!
Disneyfalcon
Well-Known Member
Lol!
DISNEY FANTASY
Well-Known Member
I spent 14 nights on the Fantasy last summer in a Cat T, concierge, more detail here. Lots of photos.
http://fantasyfantasyholiday2012.blogspot.co.uk/
http://fantasyfantasyholiday2012.blogspot.co.uk/
Thanks for everyone's help, especially sweatpee_1993.
We are sailing to nassau and I really want to experience atlantis. My earlier question about wait time is for excursions. specifically, do concierge guests get preference for getting to their excursion or is there a free for all trying to get off the boat at nassau? I've only ever been on one cruise and that was in 1996 on the Princess SUN. If i recall correctly we had to wait quite a bit for our turn to leave the ship.
As I mentioned, I'm very interested in seeing and enjoying Atlantis during an excursion. Does anyone know the costs,etc.?
We are sailing to nassau and I really want to experience atlantis. My earlier question about wait time is for excursions. specifically, do concierge guests get preference for getting to their excursion or is there a free for all trying to get off the boat at nassau? I've only ever been on one cruise and that was in 1996 on the Princess SUN. If i recall correctly we had to wait quite a bit for our turn to leave the ship.
As I mentioned, I'm very interested in seeing and enjoying Atlantis during an excursion. Does anyone know the costs,etc.?
5thGenTexan
Well-Known Member
Further concierge benefits include....
Using other guests as place holders in the buffet line.
Using other guests to fetch fresh towels by the pool.
You may choose your table in the dining rooms, even it means the former occupants have to go eat outside.
Perhaps most importantly, you may pick another guest to carry your carry on luggage until they allow you to enter your gigantic suite with personal servants.
Using other guests as place holders in the buffet line.
Using other guests to fetch fresh towels by the pool.
You may choose your table in the dining rooms, even it means the former occupants have to go eat outside.
Perhaps most importantly, you may pick another guest to carry your carry on luggage until they allow you to enter your gigantic suite with personal servants.
sweetpee_1993
Well-Known Member
There's no time perk for going on excursions regardless of where they are going when you're concierge. The only advantage you might get is, again, the booking window time to book the preferred excursion times ahead of other guests because they won't be able to start booking their excursions before you do. So basically you're getting first dibs on the better times. You still have to go to the same spot as the rest of the guests (concierge or not) in your group and shuffle along with the rest of them. Not a concierge perk but if you've been to Atlantis before and know where you're going, once your bus gets over to the resort you don't have to stick with the herd and do the slow tour. On our September 2012 trip hubby and I walked right past the "guide" waiting by the buses and went where we wanted to. We stopped for some pics and saw some things, got our locker, changed, and hit our favorite spot. We didn't see the group we scooted out of for at least 25 minutes.
Atlantis is awesome. I love it. It's beautiful. Definitely something to see, IMO. The Aquaventure (water park) thru the cruiseline is $169 per adult if I remember correctly. If you went over by yourself you could do a day pass if they're available (they won't offer them if it's a busy day) for like $125 per adult. So add in the bus or cab to/from (we estimated $20 each way to be safe) and the food because with the cruiseline tour you get a lunch voucher for a meal and non-alcoholic drink (we estimated $20 each for what you got after seeing their crazy menu prices) and didn't feel like the cruiseship price was all that terrible. It's convenient. You can go over and walk around without seeing the aquariums or doing the water park for nothing. You just have to pay for your cab to/from. You can also do a tour without the water park for a lot less thru the cruiseline. Then, you can also do add-on things that include the water park like snorkeling in the aquariums or doing a dolphin interaction at Atlantis. There's so many ways to see the place. Go to the port adventures section on DCL's website, do a search, and read about the options. That's the best way to figure out what's what. Lemme know if you have any other questions. I detailed our Aquaventure fun in my 9/12 Dream trip report down there in my signature if you're interested in seeing more. Also look at YouTube and Trip Advisor. Both are great resources for seeing what's what.
sweetpee_1993
Well-Known Member
Further concierge benefits include....
Using other guests as place holders in the buffet line.
Using other guests to fetch fresh towels by the pool.
You may choose your table in the dining rooms, even it means the former occupants have to go eat outside.
Perhaps most importantly, you may pick another guest to carry your carry on luggage until they allow you to enter your gigantic suite with personal servants.
I want to sail with you so I can watch the cracking of the whip show. LOL!
There's no time perk for going on excursions regardless of where they are going when you're concierge. The only advantage you might get is, again, the booking window time to book the preferred excursion times ahead of other guests because they won't be able to start booking their excursions before you do. So basically you're getting first dibs on the better times. You still have to go to the same spot as the rest of the guests (concierge or not) in your group and shuffle along with the rest of them. Not a concierge perk but if you've been to Atlantis before and know where you're going, once your bus gets over to the resort you don't have to stick with the herd and do the slow tour. On our September 2012 trip hubby and I walked right past the "guide" waiting by the buses and went where we wanted to. We stopped for some pics and saw some things, got our locker, changed, and hit our favorite spot. We didn't see the group we scooted out of for at least 25 minutes.
Atlantis is awesome. I love it. It's beautiful. Definitely something to see, IMO. The Aquaventure (water park) thru the cruiseline is $169 per adult if I remember correctly. If you went over by yourself you could do a day pass if they're available (they won't offer them if it's a busy day) for like $125 per adult. So add in the bus or cab to/from (we estimated $20 each way to be safe) and the food because with the cruiseline tour you get a lunch voucher for a meal and non-alcoholic drink (we estimated $20 each for what you got after seeing their crazy menu prices) and didn't feel like the cruiseship price was all that terrible. It's convenient. You can go over and walk around without seeing the aquariums or doing the water park for nothing. You just have to pay for your cab to/from. You can also do a tour without the water park for a lot less thru the cruiseline. Then, you can also do add-on things that include the water park like snorkeling in the aquariums or doing a dolphin interaction at Atlantis. There's so many ways to see the place. Go to the port adventures section on DCL's website, do a search, and read about the options. That's the best way to figure out what's what. Lemme know if you have any other questions. I detailed our Aquaventure fun in my 9/12 Dream trip report down there in my signature if you're interested in seeing more. Also look at YouTube and Trip Advisor. Both are great resources for seeing what's what.
Thank you! I am currently half way through your 9/2012 trip report. The pictures are amazing.