“Concierge” became a profession in the Middle Ages,
when these trusted attendants worked to ensure the comfort
of the French royal family. By the late 1800s,
concierges were at work in the
finest European hotels, helping guests with restaurant
reservations, shopping recommendations, theater tickets, and
much more.
Today, many cruise ships sail
with concierges who assist guests with onboard restaurant
and spa reservations, shore excursion arrangements,
and other requests. These highly trained crew members often work
in a comfortable “concierge lounge.” However, these lounges –
and the services of the concierge staff – are available
only to certain passengers. How can you be one of them?
It varies by cruise line, but concierge lounges are
usually accessible to a cruise
line’s most loyal repeat guests and to passengers in
top-tier suites. So, it is worth it to show that type
of loyalty to a cruise line, or to reserve a suite that
comes with concierge lounge access?
The answer depends on how much you value
the services provided by the concierge staff, the amenities
of the concierge lounge, and any additional perks
that come with that level of access. These perks vary by
cruise line, but may include anything from priority
check-in to exclusive shore excursions, continental breakfasts
and afternoon cocktails, private sun decks and restaurants, and even
complimentary spa treatments.
Concierge lounge amenities vary a bit by cruise
line, but they all offer convenient, fun, and luxurious
extras. Here are a few examples:
·
Celebrity Cruises’
Retreat Lounge has complimentary gourmet bites and
drinks all day, as well as a private restaurant, sundeck, pool
and hot tub.
·
Norwegian Cruise
Line’s Haven Lounge is located in the “ship-within-a-ship” Haven
complex. The lounge offers refreshments all day, access to the Haven
restaurant, and a private courtyard with a pool, sauna and sun deck.
·
The Concierge
Club on Royal Caribbean ships features a self-service bar during
happy hour, plus hors d’oeuvres and petit fours. There’s also a huge
collection of CDs and DVDs to borrow.
·
In addition to snacks
and a private sun deck, Disney Cruises’ Concierge Lounge offers a major perk: a
private meet-and-greet session with Disney characters.
It’s important to note that some very
high-end cruise lines don’t offer concierge lounges because all
passengers receive a high level of personal service (essentially, the
entire ship is a concierge lounge).
To select a cruise line, ship, and/or suite that comes
with access to concierge services and amenities, talk with Anita,
your professional travel advisor.
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