thoughts on upgrades?

[BSDolk]

In the Magical Cruise Guide it gives the strategy of booking early in a low category and maybe you'll get an upgrade. I would like a Cat 6 room for the week of Feb. 22, 2003. I'm trying to decide between just going ahead and booking the Cat 6 room or booking a lower catetory and hoping for an upgrade. Couple of questions:

1. If I did that, what category would I have the best chance of being upgraded to a Cat 6 from? I'm thinking probably a Cat 8?

2. Does anyone have any idea how often upgrades occur? And do they often occur to the Cat 6 level (in other words from a non-verandah room to one with a verandah)?

Thanks!

[albiats]

The strategy is still a good one to try.

Upgrades have not been happening very often lately, and when they do, they are almost always for the benefit of DCL to clear space in a lower category that is more popular for booking.

I received an upgrade in early March of 2000 on my first cruise. I was booked in a Category 8 Guaranty (outside cabin) and was upgraded to a category 6. I found out when I read the cruise docs package and saw my stateroom assignment.

I have read about other people being upgraded when they arrived at the port at checkin even though they had a cabin assignment on their docs all along.

My personal recommendation for the situation you described, which is exactly the same as my own, is to ask if the lower category is in a guaranty status. If it isn't, I would just book the category 6 cabin and know that I would have the one that I wanted.

If you have a Category 'Guaranty', it means that you are assured of that category, or higher. If there are 20 cabins left and they have 23 gty reservations, 3 out of the 23 will be upgraded. It also means that the remaining 20 will get cabin assignments in the original category.

[Michelle]

I always recommend booking a cabin category with which you will be happy.

Upgrades are definitely the exception and NOT the norm, and if you will be disappointed with the category you get if you get what you book and are not upgraded, then you should most definitely book the higher cabin category in the first place. It is impossible to predict how or when any possible upgrades would be given.

Enjoy your cruise! :)

[TnRobin]

If you want Cat 6 - Book Cat 6.

Upgrades do not happen very often. when they do happen, there seem to be no rhyme or reason as to who gets them.

[TnRobin]

If you want Cat 6 - Book Cat 6.

Upgrades do not happen very often. when they do happen, there seem to be no rhyme or reason as to who gets them. My one and only upgrade was from an assigned cabin - not a guarenteed.