Don't expect your concierge embarkation lunch.

[swjumbo]

Huh. Done the Concierge Class luncheon and thought it was ok, nothing more.

Only reason we booked the cabin was that it was all that was left.

Wouldn’t rush back.

 

Edited June 7, 2023 by swjumbo

[DesertRat46]

That perk means different things to different people.

On our April TA out of Miami, we didn't bother. While it was a "paid for" lunch, we simply dropped our bags and had a much better, seafood-focused lunch ashore.

That said, If something is promised it should be available to those who enjoy it.

[Bruin Steve]

20 hours ago, DesertRat46 said:

That perk means different things to different people.

On our April TA out of Miami, we didn't bother. While it was a "paid for" lunch, we simply dropped our bags and had a much better, seafood-focused lunch ashore.

That said, If something is promised it should be available to those who enjoy it.

It's not that I don't think I can't get a better lunch off the ship....It's just that, for some of us, it's not that simple.  We are cruising out of Yokohama, Japan--24 nights, B2B.  We are flying into Haneda FIVE days prior to the first cruise and staying in Shinjuku--so we will have PLENTY of opportunity to enjoy local restaurants.  BUT on embarkation day, we will have breakfast at our hotel, then gather our things together, check out of the hotel and get transportation from our hotel in Shinjuku (Tokyo) to the port in Yokohama...At that point, we don't want to leave the bags at the port and find transportation back into town and back.  We want to start the CRUISE PHASE of our trip.  We want to settle onto the ship and have a nice, simple lunch, hit the bar to start our drink package benefits, unpack our luggage in the cabin...and relax.  At THAT point, our wandering around the embarkation port and dealing with ground transportation is OVER.  We don't need a great lunch, we need a relaxing lunch.  Which is why I don't want to deal with a crowded hectic buffet. 

 

I'm paying MORE in the way of cruise fare to upgrade to "Concierge" and there should be some benefits that go with that.  Access to a "Personalized Concierge service" means nothing to me...I am Elite Plus and have access to people.  A free bottle of cheap "Sparkling Wine upon request" means nothing to me--I have a drink package.  "Daily delectable delights" means nothing to me, I get plenty to eat onboard.  "Complimentary shoeshine service" means nothing to me, I don't pack shoes that need shining.  Basically, there is VERY LITTLE you get for the extra price of a Concierge cabin.  Except the ability to avoid that crazy embarkation day buffet lunch.

[Mauidiver]

IMO it seems that the embarkation day concierge lunch is continuing to happen. Changes to that practice appear to be the exception, and linked to later departures. At least that’s what it seems from this discussion.

[cublet]

On 6/8/2023 at 5:29 PM, Mauidiver said:

IMO it seems that the embarkation day concierge lunch is continuing to happen. Changes to that practice appear to be the exception, and linked to later departures. At least that’s what it seems from this discussion.

Hello,

 

There are procedural issues. Keycards, and Concierge lunch invitations, are not handed-out at check-in but they’re placed outside you cabin door. Being informed there will be no access to your cabins until later, you arrive and find the time for the lunch has all but passed. Left hand and right hand not joined-up?

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

[cublet]

Hello,

 

Being an open space, The Spa Cafe was ‘open’ on embarkation day but not serving any food. Moreover there were no beakers or mugs to see if either the chilled drinks or coffee machines were working.

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

[Mark_T]

On 6/7/2023 at 10:39 PM, Bruin Steve said:

I'm paying MORE in the way of cruise fare to upgrade to "Concierge" and there should be some benefits that go with that.

I tend to agree, shifting the lunch to a sea day when the MDR is open anyway is a completely pointless exercise.

 

There is little enough provided with that class of cabin now that it feels like it is just an up-sell for the points.

 

Good recovery by the ship for the OP, but I wonder how many other guests were similarly upset but didn't bother to complain and hence got nothing...

 

We are booked in Concierge for Japan in 2025, reading threads like this just make it even more likely we will cancel as Celebrity whittle away at the little things that individually may not seem important, but collectively damage the experience...

[Treasure Hunter]

Just got off the Constellation ( Athens to Venice) . No problem getting the lunch ( enjoyed it) If not for cruise critic, I wouldn’t have known about it! Food very good in the MDR especially unlimited shrimp cocktails and last night Prime Roast beef ( absolutely delicious! ) Production shows were outstanding. Casino great ( hit Buffalo tower) . Ports wonderful except for tour in Zadar from ship ( panorama of Dalmatia which was the worst ships tour in 50 cruises). Service excellent but cabin so shabby. Sofa broken , bed lumpy. Lots of rust. Anything broken like shower head drooping fixed ASAP. Gorgeous weather, had a great time. Other passengers were friendly and fun. 

[drakes2]

6 hours ago, cublet said:

Hello,

 

There are procedural issues. Keycards, and Concierge lunch invitations, are not handed-out at check-in but they’re placed outside you cabin door. Being informed there will be no access to your cabins until later, you arrive and find the time for the lunch has all but passed. Left hand and right hand not joined-up?

 

Regards,

 

Cublet

I've only booked concierge if same price as regular veranda or slightly more in order to gain extra points per night. I am now Elite +.  Call me an opportunist!  😆 

[GottaKnowWhen]

On Infinity now from Ravenna. Got aboard early, room cleaning/setup still in progress. So, no notice of the Concierge lunch. Nothing on the app. Went down to the MDR, told to come back at 12:30 for our Concierge lunch. Communication gaps, but no real issues.

 

Once our room was set up we found a special bottle of wine and a note to come to the CC Officers greeting party next day at 4:45pm where we would be honored as the Top Cruisers. Wow, that was a surprise! A bigger surprise was that we later saw that gathering scheduled for 11:30am that day, not 4:45pm. No big deal, but a reminder to double check details.

[mpk]

On 6/2/2023 at 10:34 PM, NMTraveller said:

Maybe we need a list of ships and what they are currently offering and not offering.  From food quality to you name it, it seems to be all over the place.  Perhaps a sticky on the top of the board for each ship.

 

I dunno....  mauidiver on Millenium got it, but Tricia28 on Millenium did not get it.   So it is not a ship/crew thing.  Possibly an itinerary thing.

 

 

My theory is a lot of stuff is a 'shrug' now after the pandemic.  Sometimes you get something, sometimes you don't.  Why?   Shrug.

[webecruzin2]

Back in April we were given a check in time of 1:30 on the Equinox so we were concerned about missing the concierge lunch.  Called Captains Club, no one would change it so we just checked in early and we’re able to get to the lunch on time.

Afterwards we both agreed that was the worst meal we’ve ever had on X. 
The service was slow.  The meat was unidentifiable, the potatoes tasted like instant, even the desert was awful.  Are they trying to discourage us from going to these lunches?   Not only that but they jammed us all in those 2 tops that are inches away from each other.  Just an awful experience. 
I don’t like buffets either, especially on embarkation day but we went up to the buffet afterwards since we barely touched our concierge lunch.

Maybe you’re not missing much.  If they canceled and rescheduled ours we’d probably just have lunch either in a nice shoreside restaurant or one of the specialties on board rather than the concierge lunch and avoid disappointment. 
 

[Fly and Sail]

I don’t get the allure of this “perk” . You have to embark super early to get it in the first place, then you sit in whatever dining venue they assign while the buffet is already open. You’re on the ship for 7+ days with plenty of food. 

[Bruin Steve]

19 minutes ago, Fly and Sail said:

I don’t get the allure of this “perk” . You have to embark super early to get it in the first place, then you sit in whatever dining venue they assign while the buffet is already open. You’re on the ship for 7+ days with plenty of food. 

Some of us like to get on the ship as early as possible to maximize our cruise time...and we absolutely abhor the buffet.  Do not want to stand on line to amass food from large trays that have been picked over by 500 others before you.  The perk is AVOIDING THE BUFFET.

[BEAV]

1 hour ago, Fly and Sail said:

I don’t get the allure of this “perk” . You have to embark super early to get it in the first place, then you sit in whatever dining venue they assign while the buffet is already open. You’re on the ship for 7+ days with plenty of food. 

 

I didn’t get the allure, either. Until I was upgraded to CC class, thanks to the MoveUp program. Went to the CC lunch in Tuscan on Edge and thoroughly enjoyed the quiet, unhurried, relaxed lunch. A nice respite from the hustle/bustle of embarkation day. 

[bigAWL]

5 hours ago, BEAV said:

 

I didn’t get the allure, either. Until I was upgraded to CC class, thanks to the MoveUp program. Went to the CC lunch in Tuscan on Edge and thoroughly enjoyed the quiet, unhurried, relaxed lunch. A nice respite from the hustle/bustle of embarkation day. 

I assumed it was always held in the MDR.  But being held in Tuscan... is that just an E-class thing? Is it a different menu from the MDR version? Does it happen often?

[Treasure Hunter]

Yes, we avoid the Buffet at all costs. everyone handling the same spoons. Always happy not to start off a cruise sick. And we also like to get on the ship early. The cruise we got off this past Tuesday, we checked in at 10:30 were on the ship at 11:15 eating in MDR by 11:30 received luggage at 1:00 unpacked by 1:30. Could be the Connie is a smaller ship but the dining room experience was one of the best ever. And we had sailed in March in a RS on the Edge ( cold and impersonal). This was far better, including the enjoyment of the food. And our waiter Michael was fabulous.

[Cruise a holic]

That really wasn’t fair to you.  They should have opened up a specialty restaurant as compensation.  That surely should also be for suite guests if luminae was closed for embarkation lunch

[drakes2]

9 hours ago, Bruin Steve said:

The perk is AVOIDING THE BUFFET.

Totally agree with you.  I've only gone to the buffet to pick up cheese and crackers to enjoy later in the day on my balcony. 

[RichYak]

4 hours ago, bigAWL said:

I assumed it was always held in the MDR.  But being held in Tuscan... is that just an E-class thing? Is it a different menu from the MDR version? Does it happen often?

Tuscan is one of the MDRs on E-class ships.

[love to cruz]

11 hours ago, Bruin Steve said:

Some of us like to get on the ship as early as possible to maximize our cruise time...and we absolutely abhor the buffet.  Do not want to stand on line to amass food from large trays that have been picked over by 500 others before you.  The perk is AVOIDING THE BUFFET.

The way some people maul the food in the buffet plus standing in long lines, the buffet is NOT for us. I do the serving at home & like to sit down & be served.

[bigAWL]

55 minutes ago, RichYak said:

Tuscan is one of the MDRs on E-class ships.

Ah, of course.  I was thinking Tuscan Grill specialty restaurant.  Thanks.

[itchtocruz]

Our Vancouver flight arrives at 1:00 p.m. Celebrity website says that the lunch, which was one of the perks in choosing CC, is usually served until 2:00 p.m.  Anyone think it's worth rushing from airport to cruise terminal in the hopes of making it in time?  

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

2 minutes ago, itchtocruz said:

Our Vancouver flight arrives at 1:00 p.m. Celebrity website says that the lunch, which was one of the perks in choosing CC, is usually served until 2:00 p.m.  Anyone think it's worth rushing from airport to cruise terminal in the hopes of making it in time?  

 

I'd frankly be more worried about just making it to the terminal in time for boarding period. That does not give you much wiggle room at all for any kind of flight delay!

[cruisestitch]

21 minutes ago, itchtocruz said:

Our Vancouver flight arrives at 1:00 p.m. Celebrity website says that the lunch, which was one of the perks in choosing CC, is usually served until 2:00 p.m.  Anyone think it's worth rushing from airport to cruise terminal in the hopes of making it in time?  

Wow, what time does the ship depart? What is your all-aboard time?  Seems like you are cutting it close.  Good luck!