Our family was recently aboard the Disney Magic for a 5-night Halloween on the High Seas cruise to Bermuda from New York City. We selected this sailing as we had recently attended Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World. We loved everything about the Halloween decor at the party, so wanted to experience Halloween on the High Seas.
During the initial booking process, we chose a verandah stateroom. Upon arrival to the port in New York, we inquired about upgrading our stateroom. If space is available, upgrades are made on a first come first serve basis for a fee based on the type of upgrade you are making. Fees will also vary based on the stateroom type and the length of the sailing.
Our family lucked out as we were able to upgrade to a one bedroom suite! This not only gave us a significantly larger stateroom, but also allowed us access to the Magic’s Concierge team.
The benefits of an upgrade begin as soon as you arrive! We were seated in a separate room at the cruise terminal with multiple cast members to answer questions and assist us while we waited to board the ship. Prior to general boarding, concierge guests are escorted onboard. Upon entering the ship, we were taken to Lumiere’s for a special lunch. The menu included items such as salmon, tenderloin, and a lobster salad in addition to a selection of wines. During lunch, the 3 concierges onboard came from table to table to introduce themselves and provide details of what we could expect for the week. It was wonderful to settle in on board and feel at ease.
After lunch, our suites were ready which was wonderful as we could put our carry on bags away to explore the ship with more flexibility. When entering the suite, we were met by our suite attendant who gave us a tour of our room and asked about our preferred times for morning and evening service. We had a mini fridge stocked with water and soda that was refilled by the concierge team upon our request. Talk about top notch service!
For our family, having a second full bathroom as well as separate spaces for everyone was amazing! Our younger child slept in the bedroom on a roll away bed, and in the evenings after he went to sleep, we were able to spend time with our older daughter in the living room area.
Since the weather was cooler in New York, we did not head to the pool on embarkation day. Instead, we explored the ship. This included the concierge lounge, where we would come to spend a lot of time during the week. The lounge was available daily from 7 am – 10 am with a continental breakfast following with snacks and treats throughout the reaminder of the day. As an avid coffee drinker, I loved having access to an expresso machine with flavored syrups as well as dairy and non-dairy options. Each evening, an extended cocktail hour was held from 5-10 PM to accommodate all dinner and show times. Cocktail hour included a variety of appetizers and desserts. Adjacent to the lounge was a suite sundeck with extra comfortable lounge chairs and a basket full of sun products.
The concierge team consisted of 3 concierges: a bartender, a lounge attendant, and a food and beverage manager. They share responsibility for the 33 concierge staterooms on board. By the end of the first day, they knew our names and paid attention to so many small details about our family making it a very personalized experience. In addition to an endless supply of snacks and beverages, the concierge is your own personal Guest Services. From replacing a lost Key to the World card, to making a spa or dinner reservations, to addressing any concerns, they were ready and willing to make your vacation as magical as possible.
Each night before the entertainment shows, the concierge team would meet our family at a designated location. They provided popcorn and beverages and escorted us to the theater allowing us to pick our seats. My daughter, who participates in theater at home, loved being front row center for all of the shows.
While visiting one of our ports of call, I was waiting outside a shop for my family. I saw David, one of our concierges, and he stopped to check in and see how things were going for us. He genuinely wanted to make sure that everything was practically perfect.
After 5 amazing days and nights, we unfortunately had to say goodbye and head home. Our family met in the lounge for a light breakfast before we were escorted off the ship by the concierge. It was so fast! In under 10 minutes from leaving the lounge, we had cleared customs and were on our way to the airport.
Our concierge experience was absolutely amazing. Although we have loved all of our previous Disney Cruises (8 others), the experience was just that much more magical. Talk with your PPV agent about concierge options for your next cruise.
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