Is Disney Cruise Line concierge level worth it?

Whenever you sail on a Disney cruise, everybody will get entry to included meals, good service and nice leisure. However there’s a category of cabins that provides company a bit of additional pixie mud: Disney Cruise Line concierge degree.

Disney Cruise Line sits towards the pricier finish of the cruising spectrum, even in essentially the most primary of lodging. However let’s assume you’ve already determined that the fee to cruise with Disney — with the Disney characters, entry to an included rotating eating room schedule and night Broadway-caliber Disney exhibits — is price it for you.

As you have a look at the cabin and amenity choices accessible on Disney cruise ships, you may surprise if Disney Cruise Line’s concierge-level rooms and repair are well worth the further premium.

To reply this query and see what precisely all that further money will get you, we sailed in concierge-level rooms on Disney Wonder and Disney Wish. Right here’s what we came upon about Disney Cruise Line’s concierge-level rooms, advantages, service and lounge — and whether or not the perks are well worth the further value.

What’s Disney Cruise Line’s concierge degree?

Disney Cruise Line’s concierge degree is analogous in some methods to a club-level room at a Disney World or Disneyland resort hotel.

You pay extra for any such lodging in alternate for entry to a lounge, extra attentive service and extra advantages. However the extras for concierge service on a Disney cruise ship truly go a lot additional than the added advantages of a membership room on the Disney parks.

Those that determine to spend the additional money for a concierge-level room can be spoiled with earlier reserving dates for excursions and actions, particular onboard meals and choices, the flexibility to e-book cabanas at Disney’s private island earlier than others, early entry to the theater within the night to nab the perfect seats, and use of a non-public lounge on the ship.

To entry the concierge degree on a Disney cruise, it’s a must to e-book a concierge room kind, and the advantages and upgraded service then convey with that cabin kind. It’s not an add-on you’ll be able to tack onto an in any other case nonconcierge cabin.

Cabin types within that concierge class of rooms typically begin with verandah cabins (i.e., a room with a non-public balcony) and go up in value and dimension to incorporate quite a lot of suites. In case you’re already pondering you need to e-book a set, you don’t additionally should determine concerning the concierge degree; you’ll routinely get Disney Cruise Line’s concierge service included together with your premium lodging.

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Nevertheless, if you happen to plan to e-book a cabin with a balcony, you’ll need to determine whether or not you desire a room with the usual inclusions or to improve to a concierge room with a balcony and all the additional Disney Cruise Line concierge advantages. The distinction will be 1000’s of {dollars} and entry to a slew of further perks whereas on the ship.

After I lately priced out Disney Cruise Line concierge rooms, cruise fares for ships departing from the U.S. began at slightly underneath $4,000 for a brief crusing for 2 folks throughout the much less busy cruising occasions. On brief sailings from locations like Singapore on Disney Adventure and when one of many Disney ships is working brief sailings out of Australia, the beginning value for the concierge degree can drop a bit decrease than that.

On the flip aspect, costs go as much as tens of 1000’s of {dollars} per crusing for concierge degree for the bigger suites or on longer sailings, comparable to for a weeklong crusing on the brand new Disney Treasure or the favored Disney sailings to Alaska.

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Disney Cruise Line concierge advantages

Reserving a concierge-level room on a Disney cruise brings many perks past entry to the concierge lounge. Right here’s a fast abstract of among the Disney Cruise Line concierge advantages:

• Precedence reserving of actions and excursions 130 days earlier than crusing through the Shoreside Concierge Affiliate crew (123 days out if you want to e-book your self on-line)
• Precedence boarding — be among the many first on the ship
• Entry to the concierge lounge with included meals and drinks
• Complimentary wine, beer and spirits within the concierge lounge within the evenings
• Free popcorn within the film theaters
• Precedence seating for the night exhibits
• Precedence walk-off on debarkation day
• Room service ordering of scorching breakfast or dinner from the principle eating places in suites
• Entry to educated and useful concierge hosts

To understand the worth of those perks, it’s a must to perceive how exercise bookings work on a Disney cruise. Most cruise strains, together with Disney, have an elite standing pecking order by way of when you’ll be able to board, e-book premium onboard eating places, make spa appointments, safe shore excursions and schedule onboard actions.

On Disney Cruise Line, first-time cruisers could make these bookings beginning 75 days earlier than crusing. That feels like loads of time, however those that have sailed with Disney earlier than could make the bookings 90 to 123 days earlier than setting sail, relying on their Castaway Club status.

Nevertheless, if you happen to e-book on the concierge degree, the concierge crew asks on your exercise preferences through electronic mail earlier than your sail date. They put in your requests exactly when the 130-day reserving window opens, so basically, nobody can e-book something earlier than you. This jump-start will increase the percentages that you’re going to get your most well-liked spa occasions, onboard tastings, adults-only restaurant reservations, excursions and even hard-to-get cabanas while at Disney’s islands in the Bahamas.

Nevertheless, even this is not a assure, particularly on ships comparable to Disney Want and Disney Treasure, due to a bigger variety of concierge rooms on these ships. If everybody else in that degree is vying for the chance to e-book a cabana, you continue to might miss out, so consider the concierge degree as growing the percentages of hard-to-get bookings, not a slam dunk.

These in a concierge-level suite can order from an expanded room service menu and have menu gadgets from the ship’s major eating rooms delivered to their cabins. To do that, you’ll be able to place an order with the concierge hosts, and the meals can be delivered to you. Actually, being in a concierge suite is the one option to get a scorching breakfast delivered to your cabin.

Disney Cruise Line concierge company additionally get precedence tendering to ports, when required. Because of precedence boarding occasions on embarkation day once we had been crusing within the concierge degree throughout a Disney Surprise crusing, we had been the third household to return aboard. This meant we acquired a number of extra hours on the ship than we did on our first cruise, once we didn’t have concierge-level entry. Boarding first additionally meant we had the swimming pools and slides to ourselves for a very long time, which was a terrific deal with.

Port Canaveral, a departure port in Florida used for a number of Disney cruise ships, presents a complete lounge with a stocked fridge the place concierge company can wait earlier than boarding begins for that group. Which means your particular therapy begins earlier than you even stroll on board.

As soon as on board, plan on stopping by the unique embarkation day lunch for concierge-level company so you’ll be able to keep away from the lunchtime crowds and get to know your concierge host crew. Whereas it’s not necessary to attend, the lunch is an effective option to kick off your cruise (earlier than or after you’ve gotten in any early swimming you need to do).

Professional tip: Get the Welcome Aboard Sundae and revel in a drink; alcohol and premium nonalcoholic drinks, comparable to smoothies, are included throughout this unique lunch.

For me, the perfect a part of the concierge magic, exterior of the lounge itself, is the way in which the concierge employees handles disembarkation.

On our first cruise, getting off the ship took hours. We burned off our “trip excessive” in a rush. However once you cruise within the concierge degree, you’ll be able to take pleasure in a lightweight breakfast within the lounge, after which the employees can take you and your baggage down a non-public elevator and straight to the walkway off the ship. Debarkation takes mere minutes.

This may not sound spectacular till you’ve executed it the opposite means, battling 1000’s of cruisers additionally able to disembark. I’m right here to let you know that experiencing no strains, no stress and no regrets because the concierge employees escorted us off the ship made for a better transition again into the actual world.

Contained in the Disney concierge lounge

The concierge lounge is the tangible hallmark of Disney Cruise Line’s concierge-level service.

On Disney Wonder and Disney Magic, the lounge is midship on Deck 10, which is sort of as excessive as you’ll be able to go on the ship. On Disney Want and Disney Treasure, the concierge lounge is on decks 12 and 13, that are additionally two of the topmost decks on these ships. On Disney Fantasy and Disney Dream, the lounge is discovered on Deck 12.

You could use your keycard to get into the lounge. Close to the doorway, concierge employees members are sometimes ready to help you. They may rapidly get to know you over the course of the cruise and mainly act as your cruise fairy godparents. (On the flip aspect, they’d completely know if you happen to tried to herald a non-concierge-level visitor, so don’t try this.)

The lounges themselves every have a food-and-beverage space (with a terrific espresso machine!), together with varied seating areas. On Disney Want and Disney Treasure, the lounge had a strong bar, plus scorching tubs and a small pool deck only for concierge company.

Besides on debarkation day and through any personal Disney character meet-and-greets, the lounge was not often crowded once we visited. Nevertheless, it does get busier throughout the included glad hour occasions within the early night.

Within the concierge lounge, you’ll discover mild snacks and small plates that rotate all through the day. You will additionally discover some treats which are solely accessible on this lounge, such because the lunchtime sushi rolls we loved on Disney Want.

On Disney Want, we beloved to pop into the lounge for a snack or dessert for the children. Because the lounge was so near the concierge rooms on that ship, it was logistically easier to seize a fast breakfast or snack there quite than heading over to the principle onboard eating places. However what I really beloved about Disney’s concierge lounge was the help-yourself drinks fridge. We stocked the minifridge in our cabin from this major fridge and loaded up our backpacks earlier than shore excursions.

Every night, complimentary beer, wine and spirits had been served within the lounge by bartenders who appeared to know everybody’s names by the second night. Don’t fear if you happen to don’t drink or if you’d like one thing on your youngsters; mocktails and alcohol-free daiquiris had been accessible upon request.

Disney Cruise Line concierge rooms

Disney Cruise Line concierge rooms historically begin on the Oceanview Stateroom with Verandah degree, and they are going to be clearly labeled as concierge rooms when reserving. Nevertheless, some rooms with out verandahs, such because the Oceanview Staterooms on Disney Want and Disney Treasure, can fall inside the concierge class, too.

In case you’re searching for more room, the ships have one- and two-bedroom layouts and specialty suites just like the humongous 1,966-square-foot Tower Suites on Disney Want and Disney Treasure. As beforehand talked about, all Disney Cruise Line suites include included concierge entry and companies.

In case you’re curious, this is a glance contained in the two-story suite on Disney Want.

On Disney Want, we weren’t in that suite however did qualify for concierge entry by crusing in a 608-square-foot, one-bedroom suite just some doorways down from the concierge lounge.

It had a main bedroom with a king-size mattress, a stunning toilet with a “Tangled”-inspired mosaic over the bath, a front room with a sofa that transformed to a mattress, and a eating space with a desk for 4. The divider between the residing and eating areas contained a Murphy mattress that pulled down into a further single mattress. The suite greater than comfortably slept my two youngsters, my mother and myself.

Just a few years earlier, we had a barely bigger 614-square-foot one-bedroom suite on Disney Surprise that additionally conveyed concierge advantages. This suite felt extra spacious than the one on Disney Want, although it clearly had a extra conventional look. In each circumstances, we had been royally spoiled with more room and repair in comparison with staying in a typical cruise cabin.

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How a lot do Disney Cruise Line concierge rooms value?

Cruise costs fluctuate dramatically, and that’s very true once you add concierge advantages with Disney Cruise Line.

At present, costs for a three-night Disney cruise from Florida to the Bahamas (together with a cease at Disney’s newest island destination, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point) can begin round $1,690 for double occupancy or $2,937 for a household of 4 in a windowless inside cabin. On the identical cruise, a nonconcierge balcony cabin begins at $1,960 for 2 or $3,237 for 4.

The bottom-level concierge room (with a verandah) begins at $3,934 for 2 or $5,757 for a household of 4.

For that further $2,000-ish, you get slightly extra time on the ship, the flexibility to e-book actions early with no stress, complimentary night drinks within the lounge, snacks on the prepared and free popcorn on the films. Spend much more on a set, and you may take pleasure in further perks, comparable to scorching room service breakfasts.

For vacationers who actually take pleasure in lounges, streamlining all of the processes, getting access to free-flowing drinks and having the very best degree of service, I’d argue {that a} concierge-level cabin will be price it for an important day or once-in-a-lifetime splurge.

However, for a seven-night Alaska cruise for a household of 4, costs begin round $7,000 for an inside cabin; a verandah room is greater than $11,000, and a concierge room at the moment begins at a staggering $20,000-plus. In that case, you’ll most likely by no means discover me in a concierge room merely as a result of value.

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Is Disney Cruise Line concierge degree price it?

You don’t have to spend the additional cash on a concierge room to have a terrific cruise with Disney … and belief me on that; I’ve sailed on all of the ships and in cabin sorts starting from an interior windowless cabin to a concierge suite.

It’s already a premium cruise expertise. However in case you are debating whether or not the concierge degree is price it, I’ll attempt to provide help to determine.

For us, the largest perks had been the advance reserving for meals and actions that wouldn’t have been simple for a daily Disney cruiser to safe. The night lounge drinks, free popcorn on the films, further touches like sunscreen available and assist from the concierge employees once we had last-minute plan adjustments (which occurred a number of occasions) had been additionally fairly nice.

The personal out of doors deck for concierge company on Disney Want and Disney Treasure can be a welcome addition.

I’d 100% e-book Disney concierge degree once more if my finances permitted and would say it can be price it — totally on the shorter cruises the place each minute issues greater than it will on a seven- to 10-night cruise. Moreover, on these shorter cruises, you usually tend to prioritize the night lounge glad hours and drop in a number of occasions to reap the benefits of the snacks.

These shorter cruises additionally supply fewer alternatives to slot in the adults-only eating places, spa remedies, drink tastings and onshore actions, making the booking-window benefit extra essential. If the finances permits, I’d severely take into account shopping for as much as Disney’s concierge degree on a three- or four-night crusing the place I care about accessing particular eating places and actions.

Nevertheless, until cash actually isn’t any object, I would not often advocate the concierge degree on your first crusing on one of many bigger Disney ships, comparable to Disney Want, Disney Treasure or the upcoming Disney Future. That’s since you may really feel compelled to spend your leisure and premeal occasions within the concierge lounge when you need to be out exploring all of the superb issues the ship has to supply, together with the meals and leisure at Disney’s no-fee eating places and bars.

It is not price reserving a concierge cabin or suite if you happen to aren’t more likely to spend time within the lounge, do not need assistance or a head begin with bookings for the adults-only eating places or personal island cabanas, and are not within the particular snacks or included drinks within the lounge within the evenings.

Nevertheless, if these advantages will improve your trip and you may finances for a Disney cruise with all of the concierge perks, you’re in for a deal with. Begin packing your cruise bag and planning those excursions, and don’t look again.

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