Concierge Lunch with Family not in Concierge Cabin

I am afraid I may already know the answer to this question but hope I am wrong. We are traveling with my DS and her DH. They were unable to get a concierge cabin, which we booked earlier. We are traveling together and will arrive on the ship together in Venice. Our reservations are “linked.” Is there any chance we can have lunch together in the dining room on embarkation day?

It is typically not permitted. I suppose you could ask, but, if they say no, I am sure you will be gracious to respect their response.

You can ask the MDR maître d' when you arrive, but don't be disappointed if they say no, so I would have alternate plans ready.

I am sure there are others in your situation, so

if they let everyone who had family or friends not in a CC class cabin in for the embarkation lunch with passengers who are, it would certainly defeat the purpose of the perk.

It’s a perk you paid for and they didn’t, so I would not expect that they can join you.

My one experience with the Concierge lunch was in December when we were able go to it because we were on a B2B on Reflection. They gave us little tickets to show the maitre d'. But honestly they barely looked at it and certainly didn't look for each of the 4 of us. And it looked like people were just walking in and immediately being escorted to a table without being checked if they should be there. I'm not saying you should do something you shouldn't but I left there thinking that anyone can really just walk in with the crowd and be seated. And if 2 of the 4 of you in the party flash your concierge cards, I'm pretty confident no one would notice or care that the other 2 just walk in with them.

Never really understood why people feel like it's such an amazing perk. Especially when many others can go even if they aren't in Concierge (B2B, zenith, etc.). It's just lunch!

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We have attended the concierge embarkation luncheon as B2B passengers when in an Aqua class stateroom. Not only were we asked for the little tickets/vouchers we were also asked for our stateroom number on one occasion.

There will be people with tickets not going, we’ve never turned up.

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Thank you everyone. That is what I thought. On our Princess cruise in January they had a list of cabins/suites allowed in. I am a rule follower. We will go to the buffet!:halo:

If you are starting in Venice, I would vote for having lunch off the ship (if you can swing the logistics)!

If you are starting in Venice, I would vote for having lunch off the ship (if you can swing the logistics)!

Z

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If you are starting in Venice, I would vote for having lunch off the ship (if you can swing the logistics)!

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Taking that starting in Venice and having lunch off the ship one step farther, there is a really nice little restaurant/bar right off the P. Roma--just one bridge to cross and a one block walk and after lunch, there is a great gelato place right across from it. Figure 30 minutes travel time after lunch to walk back across the P. Roma, take the people mover and walk to the ship...We would have done last year but we had already had dinner, and gelato there twice in our 3 days in Venice.

In January of this year, four out of the six of us were in concierge class. We all went to the main dinning room. We were asked to show our key cards. The two who were not concierge were turned away. So, we all left the line and were subjected to rude comments from a gentleman (?) in the line regarding our gate crashing. It was a little embarrassing. But, in reality it wasn’t us who should have been embarrassed, but the clod who made the remarks.

It seems to vary so much depending who happens to be on duty at the door at the time you arrive.

Just a guess here, but I think how flexible they are may also vary depending on whether you arrive at a time when they have a long line or when they are practically empty, with wait staff standing around by the entrance just waiting for someone to show up.

When we were B2B passengers, they just smiled and greeted us and did not ask us to show anything.

I was thinking maybe they just recognized us from the previous cruise.

B2B may be invited to the lunch.

Extra guests who are not Concierge Class are not invited.

Menu is limited so other options should be fine..it's only lunch, or you can meet up later.

Back to back passengers are generally given Invitations to join the concierge lunch. They do not need to be traveling in a concierge class cabin.

Taking that starting in Venice and having lunch off the ship one step farther, there is a really nice little restaurant/bar right off the P. Roma--just one bridge to cross and a one block walk and after lunch, there is a great gelato place right across from it. Figure 30 minutes travel time after lunch to walk back across the P. Roma, take the people mover and walk to the ship...We would have done last year but we had already had dinner, and gelato there twice in our 3 days in Venice.

Do you recall the name ?

Nothing special about the Concierge class embarkation lunch, don't over anticipate it.

Everyone is in their travel outfits, people walking in and out constantly and to keep things efficient for the staff they use a very small portion of the MDR for the lunch. Menu is limited and staff seems to make an effort to seat every party as compact as possible.

Would take a buffet table with a view, not too crowded over the embarkation lunch!