What has a Concierge ever done for you?

[SilkShirt]

I can't figure out how a Concierge is going to benefit us on the Equinox.

 

I'm familar wtih what they can do in Vegas. But We won't be looking for tickets to a sold out Celine concert.

 

Has a ship Concierge ever done something for you that you couldn't have

 

done yourself?

[retiredldo]

I am sure you are going to get tons of answers on this, we just did our first cruise with the Concierge level cabin. We did not use him once, again this is us. I am not quite sure especially being in a closed environment on a ship what you cant do your self. We got a call towards the end of the cruise asking if he could help with anything in Fort Lauderdale, hotel transporation etc. This was confusing to me, as if folks have done any traveling, all that stuff is locked on and ready to go. I do understand as you alluded to what he/she can be used for, I am just not sold on the value of it

So it goes

 

Pete

[CRUISENAV8R]

Not sure about how being in a Concierge Class cabin works, but...

 

I used our concierge (stationed near guest relations on the Infinity) to help me get around town on my own. He was actually really helpful. In Buenos Aires, he printed me a map of the city, but more importantly, got me the info I needed for the Hop on/Hop off bus. In Montivideo, gave advise on taking taxis: go outside the port area, they are a lot cheaper.

 

I guess the bottom line is he helped us do walking tours on our own, or at least got us started. From what I can tell, he is probably familiar with all the ports and can point you in the right direction. Never once did he suggest I take a Celebrity tour.

 

I do not know what other services he provides.

Hope this helps.

[MEcruzr]

I used this service for photocopying! I needed invitations copied for a Cruise Critic sail away party we hosted... the concierge was very helpful for this, asked if we needed anything provided for the party, etc. I also used the concierge when my luggage was lost... VERY valuable service that day. Oh... the time our airline was threatening to go on strike, he helped us rebook while still on the ship.

 

Yes, guest relations probably could have helped me, too... but the concierge is usually less busy and seems to make YOUR issue HIS issue.

[Project_gal]

Our first cruise was in concierge class and our subsequent cruises have been in suites. We have never had ay contact with the concierge on a Celebrity and they have never done anything for us. Now, on NCL, that is so different. The concierge on our one and only NCL cruise was incredible and worked so hard. She sorted out all sorts of problems for us and even tracked us down around the ship to ensure that we were kept updated. She was wonderful. Unfortunately about the only thing about NCL that was. Since that cruise, we have always thought that the Celebrity concierge could do so much more.

 

Sue

[AmberTeka]

We had booked a minisuite on the Norweigian Jewel about five years ago. We really had not reason to call the C until the day we disembarked.

 

We packed our travel documents in a suitcase that had been picked up the night before. We were new to cruising, but we knew we had to go through Immigration and we had NOTHING to identify us.

 

So I called, in tears. She answered promptly. Said not to worry. Arranged to have my husband go down to the area where baggage was...had folks help him search for our bag.......he found it..they sent him back on the ship..came with him.....

It ended well.

I will FOREVER be grateful to that woman.

[gskimmel]

I can't figure out how a Concierge is going to benefit us on the Equinox.

 

I'm familar wtih what they can do in Vegas. But We won't be looking for tickets to a sold out Celine concert.

 

Has a ship Concierge ever done something for you that you couldn't have

 

done yourself?

 

Concierge is basically not having to wait in line (or a smaller line) plus added amenities to your cabin. It also gives you an extra point for their Captain's Club program.

[librarylady19]

The Personal Concierge is not exclusive to those staying in Concierge Class. He/she is available to all passengers. On Summit, the lovely young lady (whose name escapes me now) helped our friends plan a party in their PH suite. She also helped me book a Celebrity Passages when I missed my appointment with the Future sales Mgr. I believe they also handle special events planning (i.e. birthday surprises, etc.). There is no charge for this service, other than what you might be purchasing such as hors d'ouevres for a party.

[J&R-Chicago]

Haven't had a conceirge on Celebrity yet, my upcoming cruise being my first with Celebrity.

 

But, had a suite on NCL, with the conceirge service and it was great.

 

At all ports we were personally escorted off the ship first, past those waiting in line. (Yes, made me feel a little uncomfortable. Until I recalled many many times standing in that line watching others pass us by. Revenge is suite!!) That was most useful getting off the ship on the last day. We met him early and we were out and gone ahead of everyone else.

 

Any reservations we wanted made, he did it for us. We didn't have to do it ourselves. He got us into a behind the scenes ship tour, that was already full by the time we read about it.

 

The NCL suite had a cordless phone that worked anywhere on the ship. We had his ext number. If we were sitting at the pool and wanted to change our dinner reservation, we just called him and it was done.

 

Somehow this guy seemed to pop up out of nowhere to ask how we were doing and if we needed anything. And he wasn't pushing or over the top. He had it down just right.

 

Yes, we could have done a lot of that ourselves. But it was sure cool to have somebody to do it for us.

 

So, I don't know how Celebrity conceirge service compares to NCL. But if it's the same, it's pretty cool.

[Project_gal]

So, I don't know how Celebrity conceirge service compares to NCL. But if it's the same, it's pretty cool.

 

Don't hold your breath - it's nothing like it.

 

Sue

[skippyy]

I've used them primarily on Holland for scheduling shore excurions, debarkation requests, special seating and oh, yes entertainment.

If you folded a fifty dollar bill to fit the palm of your hand and shake

hands with the Concierge...he will make it disappear faster than

Mandrake the Magician...odd that it never re-appears:confused: Have noticed

that Maitr'ds have this skill as well:)

[fleckle]

The concierge on the Summit was extremely helpful to us when we had a somewhat unusual situation upon disembarkation at Seward. We were catching the early morning train to Anchorage but first wanted to drop off our luggage at a hotel in town.

 

He arranged for us to be the first ones off that morning as soon as the ship was cleared and had a taxi reserved and waiting for us right outside the door to take us to the hotel and back in time to catch the early train.

 

Oh, on another cruise I was very surprised to receive a telephone call from the personal concierge asking how I want to celebrate my birthday because we never indicate that we are celebrating a special event in the place where they ask that question.

 

So I asked her please not to have the waiters sing Happy Birthday to me in the dining room. (It's just not my thing.) But for those who enjoy that sort of attention, if you are celebrating a birthday or anniversary or other special occasion, I am sure she will be more than happy to help you plan whatever type of celebration you like.

[tally10]

The concierge on the Independence of the Seas did two things for us. The first was getting us our tickets to the ice shows. The second was when we were in Chops for dinner. They make a ceasar salad tableside. When the waitress presented the salad, there was a large fly right on top. You would have to be blind to miss it. No appology from the server or the maitre'd and the salad was removed. My wife was a little sick to her stomach after seeing it and left the table. When we told the concierge in the Diamond lounge, he got us a complimentary meal in Chops. We skipped the salad course.

[bellybutton530]

The one on Connie this past November was basically useless. He never helped me sort out any of my issues at least.

 

Now, the Concierges on Norway back in the 90s, now SHE was wonderful. She was always around, inquiring about how she could assist us.

 

They need to send Connie's Con over to NCL for some training....

[Kellie Poodle]

Thanks for this thread, folks. We are booked on Century for an April 2012 cruise from San Diego to and around Hawaii and back to San Diego. We are Elite, though it's our first X cruise, having gotten to that status via Royal Caribbean. I opted to not go with the Concierge class because I wanted a particular cabin in a particular location.

 

From what I could see, the only benefits of concierge class cabins on Century was a fancy shower head, a butler we wouldn't use and some toiletries that neither of us were interested in. Y'all have reinforced my opinion and I thank you for it.

[kittyluvrnurse]

We found no use for the concierge class room, really. We've had it both ways on Celebrity. The ONLY perk we used was the priority tendering, but we had to wait in a special room before going down for our boat, making us feel that going down to the regular line could have taken as long.

[High Seas Texan]

I am doing my first Celebrity Cruise this May, to Alaska, so I do not have knowledge of the concierge on this cruise line. I can, however, relate the use and services of the concierge onboard Holland America. I found them invaluable! When we booked, and knew we would have access to a concierge, I could not imagine what they could possibly do for us on the ship. Now that I have had the benefit of a ship concierge, I cannot imagine how to get along without one! They were very helpful in arranging a couple of parties we had in our cabin, sending out the invitations and handling the RSVP list, arranging the food and service. They oversaw the floral arrangements for our cabin and saw to it they were freshened throught the cruise. We met some wonderful people one night at the specialty restaurant, and the concierge helped us remember their names and arrange future socalizing with them. We used the concierge to pre arrange wine for our table in the main dining room as a treat to our table mates. At the end of the cruise, the concierge assisted us with getting tips beyond the automatic gratuity to the crew who went above and beyond their duty for us.

Of course not everyone will have the needs we did, but know they are there to assist in anything. Talk to them, and you might be surprised what you will rely on them for. It is a wonderful perk. Enjoy!

[Curatokid]

Not worth the extra cost, I think it would be better to treat yourself to a night out in Ocean Liners, the so called cabin perks are not worth having and embarking and disembarking are no better than usual, you still have to wait in the same lines, I was on deck nine on Connie which is very very noisy with the public pool area above, chairs are pushed around late at night and early morning, I do not see any benefit to be enjoyed.

[Lois R]

The Concierge on the ship is not the Concierge Class of cabin.

One is a person, the other is a stateroom.

[marhun2430]

We selected a CC cabin on our upcoming cruise in March on The Summit. Make sure this is the cabin you really want, if you pay in full. After paying in full I thought, maybe it wasnt worth it and we called to change to a regular balcony and they would not let us. Oh well.. no biggy, we will have fun!

[Bobed1927]

We recently were on a cruise which ended in Barcelona. The ship was in Barcelona overnight and disembarkation was the following morning. Due to our air connections (booked ourselves) it was necessary for us to disembark the pre-disembarkment night. The concierge arranged for our luggage to be picked up and delivered to us at the pier, a taxi to take us to the airport and a porter to standby and make sure our taxi arrived as arranged and to handle our luggage on the pier.

[kittyluvrnurse]

We recently were on a cruise which ended in Barcelona. The ship was in Barcelona overnight and disembarkation was the following morning. Due to our air connections (booked ourselves) it was necessary for us to disembark the pre-disembarkment night. The concierge arranged for our luggage to be picked up and delivered to us at the pier, a taxi to take us to the airport and a porter to standby and make sure our taxi arrived as arranged and to handle our luggage on the pier.

 

Do you think that Celebrity would have left you out in the cold on that one even if you bought an inside room? I don't think so! I believe their front desk would assist you in that situation regardless!

[cruisinitaliano]

Dad had to be life flighted from Cabo. Concierge on Holland America Statendam arranged for free phone calls to San Diego to arrange necessary details for transport. She then allowed follow up calls after he had been evacuated to the hospital, so that we could find out how he was doing.

 

No, we did not get off ship with him. Plane could only carry crew and two people.

 

I feel her compassion was a God send.

[Redtravel]

In 2004 we lost our luggage and had a credit card stolen. The concierge contacted Delta to help locate our luggage, gave us free same day laundry service, gave us free Celebrity tee shirts, lent us formal attire, and helped us contact our credit card company to arrange a replacement credit card.

[We're The Groupnors]

Thanks for this thread, folks. We are booked on Century for an April 2012 cruise from San Diego to and around Hawaii and back to San Diego. We are Elite, though it's our first X cruise, having gotten to that status via Royal Caribbean. I opted to not go with the Concierge class because I wanted a particular cabin in a particular location.

 

From what I could see, the only benefits of concierge class cabins on Century was a fancy shower head, a butler we wouldn't use and some toiletries that neither of us were interested in. Y'all have reinforced my opinion and I thank you for it.

 

The concierge on board is available to all passengers, and has the same duties as a concierge would have at a land based hotel or resort.

 

Concierge Class is a level of cabin (well, actually 3 levels). We like Concierge Class mainly for two reasons:

The location of the cabins

The expanded room service breakfast menu

 

The flowers, sparkling wine, canapes, etc., are also nice but not a deal breaker for us.

 

There is no butler in Concierge Class cabins.