Concierge - Platinum Benefit

[NMLady]

Maybe it's time to look at this thread again.

I've found the "concierge" benefit of NCL Platinum useless.

Any help?

 

I agree that it's useless. NCL needs to take it off the list of Platinum perks since being able to use it is very inconsistent and too often non-existent.

[Sand and Seas]

We just got off the Dawn and this was our first cruise after the change. We are both Platinum Plus. After asking the Latitudes representative how many other Platinum Plus were on board (total of 18 or so), I asked him for the Concierge number to see if I could get it. The question seemed to make him nervous but he did give me an extension to call. I never called it, but I could see that it's not something they want to give out.

[poona1]

Lets say in the rare case I do get the concierge as a platinum member, what are the usual requests that one can ask for?Just wondering..thanks

[Markanddonna]

The only concierge benefit I have seen for Platinum is priority tendering with the suite guests. I was just in a Penthouse suite and all the vast majority of concierge services were for suites only.

[NMLady]

The only concierge benefit I have seen for Platinum is priority tendering with the suite guests. I was just in a Penthouse suite and all the vast majority of concierge services were for suites only.

 

Priority tendering perk is NOT with the suite guests. It simply means you do not need to get a tender ticket but just join whichever tender you are ready for. You do not get the escort that suite guests get.

[don't-use-real-name]

If the Concierge is in attendance at a Meet & Greet event - would be interesting to "Pop the Question" of just what is included

expected in being a Platinum guest ?

[BostonGal35]

in a way, i feel bad for the concierge. if they truly offered this benefit, given the current level of Platinum members in existence, this potentially adds ALOT of extra people/rooms to have to take care of. and you know they wont add another concierge position to help (although there should be a way to do this as they can tell how many Plats or Plats+ on booked on a sailing). but again, i have yet to figure out what the concierge really does, having never really used the service the two times ive been in a suite.

[UPNYGuy]

in a way, i feel bad for the concierge. if they truly offered this benefit, given the current level of Platinum members in existence, this potentially adds ALOT of extra people/rooms to have to take care of. and you know they wont add another concierge position to help (although there should be a way to do this as they can tell how many Plats or Plats+ on booked on a sailing). but again, i have yet to figure out what the concierge really does, having never really used the service the two times ive been in a suite.

 

 

That is why it is extremely difficult to get Concierge service unless you already have a relationship with that particular Concierge on the ship. If you do, that it is actually quite easy as they will remember you. If they do not know you already, they will prioritize the concierge service to the haven guests. My wife and I have sailed on breakaway with a Concierge that we have already had a relationship with, and have had no issues receiving benefits. On the other hand, we have been on the getaway and have not received benefits because the Concierge did not know who we were.

 

 

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[UPNYGuy]

Furthermore, it also helps if you have sailed with that one particular Concierge several times. They see so many guests week after week, that it is hard for them to keep track of who is who. If you have established a relationship with them by multiple sailings with that same one, you should not have an issue

 

 

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[Maraprince]

in a way, i feel bad for the concierge. if they truly offered this benefit, given the current level of Platinum members in existence, this potentially adds ALOT of extra people/rooms to have to take care of. and you know they wont add another concierge position to help (although there should be a way to do this as they can tell how many Plats or Plats+ on booked on a sailing). but again, i have yet to figure out what the concierge really does, having never really used the service the two times ive been in a suite.

 

Why show it as a Platinum perk if the Concierge has no way to accommodate anyone else than Haven guests? IMO, instead, it should be noted that if may be available only on the smallest ships in the fleet and not the mega ships depending on the number of Platinums/Platinum + on board any sailing. Less disappointments and feeling shut out.

 

MARAPRINCE

[spanishguy1970]

Yes, it is listed as a Platinum perk but not every concierge seems to realize that. Evidently some Platitude members have gotten the Concierge info but in four cruise as Platinum members we never have. And some concierges will only help suites even when you remind them that platinum members are also entitled to concierge service.

 

Only time we have used concierge, he was very helpful , made our dinner reservations, called us to see what we needed etc, however it was only ONCE, the rest of our cruises concierge has been completely negligible. We were told it was only for Haven people :mad:. NCL should not post that as a perk for platinum if they are not willing to let their staff know of the change.

[luvcruzing]

Two or three cruises ago, can't remember which ship, I couldn't get reservations at one of the pay restaurants, so I called the concierge number that was listed in the letter that was in my cabin when we arrived. I asked him to make reservations at the restaurant we wanted to have dinner and the time. He called back to confirm the reservation, and then asked me where I got his number.

[Samstress]

I personally don't think it has anything to do with the ship size. It's more about the person behind the position.

We recently sailed the Med on the Spirit & since we are 'Platinum' I (wrongly) assumed that I could ask the Concierge a simple question about disembarking on the last day. I knew who she was because we had become friendly with two fellow cruisers who were in a suite; and she was with them when they stopped us to say hello. She was very dismissive & arrogant and never did answer my question.

I would have thought that part of her job was to encourage people to want to travel in a suite by being helpful and friendly to every passenger. And that's exactly what I mentioned to the person who sold me my Cruise Next certificates.

I have experienced mainly good concierges and butlers so her attitude surprised me.

Cheers,

Sandy

[BostonGal35]

i had Karen on the Star last year and Patrick on the Gem this year for concierges.

 

Karen was quite nice but was frazzled the entire time and the one thing we asked for she could not accomodate. and on day one, when we were being "escorted" to cagneys we got left behind at the point where you scan your key card to board the ship as there was a problem with my mother's card. she did not wait nor assist, and we were left on our own to find cagney's. granted, i knew that was where i was to go, but had i been a first time cruiser i would have missed out on this first day lunch.

 

patrick was there for escorts off of the ship in port. the one issue we needed help with (sub par dining experience in lacucina) he gave us attitude. he also left half the group behind at boarding as the couple in front of us had problems with their key cards. so again, no escort to cagneys. we helped some newbies find their way because again we knew the drill of where to go.

[$hip$hape]

Yes.

When WE called, were told, "Sir, the concierge is busy with request from the Haven".

We were told to direct our issues to the main desk.:cool: since we were havens-not .

First they ask for your cabin number.

When they found we were in a mere Platinum "Balcony". the mumbo-jumbo started.

 

Two or three cruises ago, can't remember which ship, I couldn't get reservations at one of the pay restaurants, so I called the concierge number that was listed in the letter that was in my cabin when we arrived.

I asked him to make reservations at the restaurant we wanted to have dinner and the time.

He called back to confirm the reservation, and then asked me where I got his number.

On the NCL Breakaway WE were told, the concierge is busy.

"It would be faster to just go to the dinner reservations desk." :cool:

Of course, there were no openings.

"Sir, you have to understand, the Le Bistro restaurant is small".

Edited April 7, 2017 by $hip$hape

[xenagurl]

We used it once on the Epic TA last fall. We were trying to switch around reservations and had trouble doing it on the TV and reaching anyone at the reservations desk. So hubby called the concierge (the number must've been around somewhere) and asked them to do it for us. The assistant handled it then and there no problem. Other than that I don't use them.

 

Wait there was one other time on the Jade a few years ago. He reached out to me, and we chatted but I don't remember asking for anything, if so, it was minimal.

 

(For reference DH has Plat and I have Plat +.)

Edited April 7, 2017 by xenagurl

[NMLady]

i had Karen on the Star last year and Patrick on the Gem this year for concierges.

 

Karen was quite nice but was frazzled the entire time and the one thing we asked for she could not accomodate. and on day one, when we were being "escorted" to cagneys we got left behind at the point where you scan your key card to board the ship as there was a problem with my mother's card. she did not wait nor assist, and we were left on our own to find cagney's. granted, i knew that was where i was to go, but had i been a first time cruiser i would have missed out on this first day lunch.

 

patrick was there for escorts off of the ship in port. the one issue we needed help with (sub par dining experience in lacucina) he gave us attitude. he also left half the group behind at boarding as the couple in front of us had problems with their key cards. so again, no escort to cagneys. we helped some newbies find their way because again we knew the drill of where to go.

 

Sounds as if you were in a suite. Concierge benefits for suite are much different than for Platinum.

[UPNYGuy]

On the NCL Breakaway WE were told, the concierge is busy.

"It would be faster to just go to the dinner reservations desk." :cool:

Of course, there were no openings.

"Sir, you have to understand, the Le Bistro restaurant is small".

 

 

As I (and others) have stated, you will not be able to reach the concierge on the mega ships unless you are in The Haven, or have a preexisting relationship with them.

 

 

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[BirdTravels]

As I (and others) have stated, you will not be able to reach the concierge on the mega ships unless you are in The Haven, or have a preexisting relationship with them. /quote]

 

On mega ships, the concierge does very little of the day to day dining and shore ex reservations. It is the team at the concierge desk. Even when you are in the Havens, asking the concierge to personally book Le Bistro has a low probability of success. They will pass it off to the team at the desk. If you just talk to the desk, they will help you.

[UPNYGuy]

As I (and others) have stated, you will not be able to reach the concierge on the mega ships unless you are in The Haven, or have a preexisting relationship with them. /quote]

 

On mega ships, the concierge does very little of the day to day dining and shore ex reservations. It is the team at the concierge desk. Even when you are in the Havens, asking the concierge to personally book Le Bistro has a low probability of success. They will pass it off to the team at the desk. If you just talk to the desk, they will help you.

 

 

I have asked the concierge for reservations in restaurants when in The Haven on BA. I have bumped non-Haven guests. So I will disputed this one.

 

 

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[BirdTravels]

 

 

I have asked the concierge for reservations in restaurants when in The Haven on BA. I have bumped non-Haven guests. So I will disputed this one.

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No one gets bumped. The concierge has limited ability to overbook a restaurant (like an airplane). Once a restaurant is fully overbooked, even the concierge won't get you a table.

 

It's when everyone shows up (I.e., no no-shows) that everyone ends up waiting for a table.

[don't-use-real-name]

A party with PAID (Specialty Dining) reservations should never be BUMPED unless some sort of consolation is worked out

substituting another restaurant with complimentary service charge waived and perhaps a bottle of wine !

If the airlines bump their passengers usually it means an upgrade to higher class or payment of Denied Boarding Fees

depending on time and distance factors that are negotiable.

In Europe a different set of carriage rules apply (EU261) with EU600 ($) payments required immediately - no negotiating !

 

In review the Concierge and or the Restaurant (NCL) should not place themselves in a position to oversell reservations without

consequences. If a restaurant is sold out to accommodate your party - move on and be flexible.

Untimely reservations should never bump previously booked dining times !

 

As BirdTravels noted:

 

No one gets bumped. The concierge has limited ability to overbook a restaurant (like an airplane). Once a restaurant is fully overbooked, even the concierge won't get you a table.

 

It is unfair to the NCL staff and the Concierge to be pressured in such as situation !

[leekel619]

A party with PAID (Specialty Dining) reservations should never be BUMPED unless some sort of consolation is worked out

 

substituting another restaurant with complimentary service charge waived and perhaps a bottle of wine !

 

If the airlines bump their passengers usually it means an upgrade to higher class or payment of Denied Boarding Fees

 

depending on time and distance factors that are negotiable.

 

In Europe a different set of carriage rules apply (EU261) with EU600 ($) payments required immediately - no negotiating !

 

 

 

In review the Concierge and or the Restaurant (NCL) should not place themselves in a position to oversell reservations without

 

consequences. If a restaurant is sold out to accommodate your party - move on and be flexible.

 

Untimely reservations should never bump previously booked dining times !

 

 

 

As BirdTravels noted:

 

 

 

No one gets bumped. The concierge has limited ability to overbook a restaurant (like an airplane). Once a restaurant is fully overbooked' date=' even the concierge won't get you a table.[/i']

 

 

 

It is unfair to the NCL staff and the Concierge to be pressured in such as situation !

 

 

 

Some of the demands and requests put on Concierge and staff must be funny. Most likely hundreds per week. They probably take bets.

[$hip$hape]

It is unfair to the NCL staff and the Concierge to be pressured in such as situation !

I don't feel sorry for them.

 

Some of the demands and requests put on Concierge and staff must be funny.

Most likely hundreds per week. They probably take bets.

Yes; They must get a good laugh from all the "Platinum Benefit" pax they don't even respond to.:rolleyes:

[UPNYGuy]

 

 

 

No one gets bumped. The concierge has limited ability to overbook a restaurant (like an airplane). Once a restaurant is fully overbooked, even the concierge won't get you a table.

 

 

 

It's when everyone shows up (I.e., no no-shows) that everyone ends up waiting for a table.

 

 

Considering my wife and I went to the concierge and asked for reservations at Cagney's on a sold out night, and proceeded to listen to a couple behind us argue with the maitre d about having the reservations they had being lost, yes the concierge can do this. They deleted them and placed mine in there. It pays to sail in The Haven ,and give the Concierge a good tip. Adrian has done this for me a few times. Granted it was a couple years ago.

 

 

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