scorecardI spent $10,000 on my family's 5-night Disney Cruise. From a 614-square-foot suite with 2 bathrooms to on-call concierges, here's what it was like.
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I spent $10,000 on my family's 5-night Disney Cruise. From a 614-square-foot suite with 2 bathrooms to on-call concierges, here's what it was like.

Jill Robbins   

I spent $10,000 on my family's 5-night Disney Cruise. From a 614-square-foot suite with 2 bathrooms to on-call concierges, here's what it was like.
I spent $10,000 for my family of four to have the cruising experience of a lifetime on the Disney Dream.Jill Robbins
  • My family of four spent $10,000 to stay in a concierge room on a five-night Disney Dream cruise.
  • We received free food and drinks, priority booking status, exclusive lounge access, and more.

I've always wanted to sail concierge and decided to take the plunge on our fall 2022 cruise on the Disney Dream.

I
All concierge staterooms are in a particular area and not dotted all over the ship.      Jill Robbins

On past Disney cruises, we've stayed in verandah (balcony) staterooms. Our last cruise was an inside stateroom, one of the cheapest cabins Disney offers.

But on our recent five-night sailing on the Disney Dream, my family of four booked a one-bedroom concierge stateroom for $10,000.

We sailed in late September, which is generally a less expensive time of year to cruise to the Bahamas or the Caribbean. The lower price is likely also because a lot of kids are in school at this time and it's in the middle of hurricane season.

The long list of things we loved about concierge started with our port arrival.

The long list of things we loved about concierge started with our port arrival.
The hallmark of Disney's concierge class is these golden keys that you'll find on napkins and literature.      Jill Robbins

All other passengers are assigned a port arrival time based on their Castaway Club level, how quickly they checked in online once their check-in window opened, or a combination of both.

As concierge guests, our arrival window was any time between 11:00 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. We opted for earlier to maximize our time on the ship. We even had a separate concierge waiting area at the port.

Once on board, we were escorted to a special welcome luncheon that included free alcohol and other beverages we'd normally incur an extra charge for, like smoothies, mocktails, and specialty coffees.

During the luncheon, one of the concierge hosts visited our table to ask if had questions or if we wanted to make any changes to our schedule.

I booked a 614-square-foot one-bedroom concierge stateroom that sleeps five.

I booked a 614-square-foot one-bedroom concierge stateroom that sleeps five.
Our room had multiple chairs and two bathrooms.      Jill Robbins

We had a bedroom, full bathroom with a jetted tub, an additional three-quarters bath, a dining table with four chairs, a living room with a sofa and two wing chairs, a desk, and an extended verandah with seating for four.

There were also three closets and tons of storage space in the bathroom and bed (drawers were built into the frame).

Our larger, more luxurious stateroom was a fun splurge.

Our larger, more luxurious stateroom was a fun splurge.
Our bed's sheets were so soft.      Jill Robbins

You're definitely experiencing some luxury in concierge.

Our bed linens were Frette and felt fantastic. I loved the sheets so much that I looked them up online and found a set of queen sheets from the brand can cost over $500.

The sofa folded out into a bed and there was also a Murphy bed.

The sofa folded out into a bed and there was also a Murphy bed.
The pocket doors didn't help buffer sound.      Jill Robbins

There were also three pocket doors around the queen bed. I loved that my husband and I had our own space and that we had an extra three-quarters bath for our boys.

The doors gave my husband and me some privacy but there was little-to-no noise buffer. My kids were on the sleeper sofa talking very quietly and I could hear them clearly.

Still, the space was incredible. We even had plenty of room to move around while the sofa bed and the Murphy bed were down.

I also loved the decor, which seemed like an upgrade from the usual nautical style in Disney staterooms.

I also loved the decor, which seemed like an upgrade from the usual nautical style in Disney staterooms.
I loved that our stateroom was more than a regular stateroom with a little more space.      Jill Robbins

Concierge staterooms have a palette of cream, turquoise, and brown. The artwork seemed nautically themed with a European flair.

As an experienced Disney cruiser, I appreciated the elevated vibe all the way around.

The bathrooms had some enhanced amenities.

The bathrooms had some enhanced amenities.
The bathroom was pretty huge.      Jill Robbins

The master bathroom had a double sink and regular power outlets that support a hair dryer and whatever else you'd want to plug in.

In my experience, many other Disney Cruise Line staterooms have a bathroom power outlet that will only support a shaver.

Upgraded Elemis toiletries were provided in both bathrooms.

Upgraded Elemis toiletries were provided in both bathrooms.
I appreciated the complimentary toiletries.      Jill Robbins

We received shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and body wash. We also had bar soap and gel hand sanitizer in the master bath as well as a flower-shaped sponge with soap already added to it.

Our room also had cotton swabs, hand sanitizer, and even a pad to set a hot hairstyling appliance on.

There were even real bath mats in the master bathroom instead of just the standard bath sheet that most hotels and staterooms provide for you to step on after you get out of the tub or shower.

Although no one goes on a Disney Cruise to watch TV, our stateroom had three screens.

Although no one goes on a Disney Cruise to watch TV, our stateroom had three screens.
There are so many things to do on a Disney Cruise besides sitting in front of your television.      Jill Robbins

The 24/7 availability of Disney cartoons and animated classics on the televisions was really fun. We could also watch the ship's position and broadcasts with helpful information from the cruise director each day.

There were flat-screen TVs larger than what you'll find in a regular stateroom in the bedroom and living room. There was also a screen built into the mirror of the master bathroom.

At one point, I watched "The Aristocats" while drying my hair.

For me, one of the best perks of concierge was access to the lounge just steps from our stateroom.

For me, one of the best perks of concierge was access to the lounge just steps from our stateroom.
The concierge lounge felt luxurious.      Jill Robbins

The lounge was an exclusive haven where we could hang out and grab refreshments throughout the day.

It's open from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. every day and there was always at least one host present who could answer questions and make or cancel reservations.

The concierge station had a fancy coffee machine, too.

The concierge station had a fancy coffee machine, too.
This coffee machine was probably my favorite perk of being concierge.      Jill Robbins

Some of the complimentary drinks included bottled water, sodas, juices, and the best coffee on the ship.

I think Disney's free cruise coffee is usually pretty bad so I appreciated being able to have the good stuff whenever I wanted it.

The concierge area also had an open bar from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. each night.

The concierge area also had an open bar from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. each night.
The bartender made me the perfect raspberry martini garnished with a fig      Jill Robbins

The bar had high-quality wines and liquors, and bartenders could make just about any drink you wanted, except frozen ones.

Food offerings ranged from sweets (cookies, small dessert bites) to savory eats (chilled shrimp, sandwiches). The buffet changed every three hours.

We loved having a dedicated concierge team, which felt like having our own personal assistants.

We loved having a dedicated concierge team, which felt like having our own personal assistants.
We could get food delivered to us just about whenever we wanted.      Jill Robbins

The concierge team can take care of anything you'd ordinarily stand in line for or go looking for. For example, our itinerary changed due to weather and our concierge hosts helped make sure our adjusted schedules were what we wanted.

When it came time to leave the ship, we even had the option of being escorted off by the concierge staff, bypassing long lines to disembark.

They could also sometimes secure us hard-to-get reservations, such as cabanas on Disney's Castaway Cay port or adult dining at Palo or Remy.

Concierge guests also receive early access to the shows in the Walt Disney Theater.

Concierge guests also receive early access to the shows in the Walt Disney Theater.
We didn't have to worry about waiting in line to see shows.      Jill Robbins

We were escorted into the theater via backstage elevator before showtime to get the first pick of seats. We also didn't even have to stand in line for popcorn — it was handed to us when we arrived.

The popular Broadway-quality shows fill up fast on full cruises, especially seats in the first few rows. The early access not only ensured we'd sit where we wanted but also enhanced that white-glove experience concierge brings.

There's also a private sundeck for concierge guests.

There
There were a few different types of seating on the concierge deck.      Jill Robbins

I spent part of one morning relaxing on the sun deck with a book and I had the space mostly to myself. An attendant came by and offered an ice-cold towel at one point, which I loved.

The private deck has hot tubs and amenities for concierge guests only.

The private deck has hot tubs and amenities for concierge guests only.
Usually, the hot tubs on the ship are crowded.      Jill Robbins

We had lots of comfortable, shaded seating, a hot tub, nicer towels than you'll find on the main pool deck, a selection of cold drinks, and sunscreen.

I loved that we mostly had this hot tub all to ourselves. The hot tubs on other Disney Cruise decks are usually crowded, especially on sea days.

Honestly, I feel like there were way too many perks to mention.

Honestly, I feel like there were way too many perks to mention.
We didn't have to go get our own breakfast.      Jill Robbins

We also received access to shoe-shine service and Wi-Fi.

Continental breakfast room service is included in the price of all Disney Cruises but, as concierge guests, we could order a hot breakfast with omelets and pancakes from the room-service menu.

Concierge guests also get priority booking before the ship sets sail.

Concierge guests also get priority booking before the ship sets sail.
Concierge guests get priority booking on activities that often sell out before the ship sails.      Jill Robbins

Certain onboard activities (alcohol-tasting seminars, spa appointments, adult dining) and port excursions open up for booking prior to the cruise.

The booking window for concierge guests opens before the other passengers get to look at availability, which means you're at the top of the list for hard-to-book activities.

Priority booking came in handy for securing a cabana at one of the stops.

Priority booking came in handy for securing a cabana at one of the stops.
We paid extra for a cabana, but being concierge helped us get one.      Jill Robbins

Cabanas at Castaway Cay, Disney's private island in the Bahamas, are notoriously difficult to snag. I requested one as soon as our booking window opened and I was put on a waiting list.

Our number eventually came up and we were able to book a cabana for an additional fee.

I noticed most of the people on the beach where the cabanas are located were other concierge passengers so it made me think it would've been more difficult — maybe even impossible — to book a cabana if we'd not been concierge.

Overall, we have zero regrets and we were happy with our choice to book concierge.

Overall, we have zero regrets and we were happy with our choice to book concierge.
If you're thinking of trying concierge and are comfortable spending the money, consider if you'll be taking advantage of the perks.      Jill Robbins

Did our experience with concierge spoil us forever? Yes and no.

I can't afford to book concierge on every future cruise and part of me wishes I didn't know what I was missing. I was perfectly happy in an inside stateroom and I'm sure I would be again.

Still, our family's enjoyment made the high cost worth it.

If you tally up every drink, smoothie, and bucket of popcorn and expect it to come close to the difference between non-concierge and concierge, it won't. That said, we certainly did enjoy the open bar.

It wasn't one single thing that stood out to make concierge on the Disney Cruise exceptional but rather the combination of everything working together to elevate our experience. We felt truly special.

We'd consider splurging again, though it's worth noting concierge prices vary by itinerary and cruise length. If you want to spring for the experience, it's worth it to do some research and make sure you'll actually be taking advantage of the perks.

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