Advise on Paying for Upgrade

[PShew]

This is our first cruise (family of 3 DD,DM and DK age 5 to turn 6 on the cruise!). Right now we are booked for category 11 standard inside deck 6. Our disney cruise professional suggested that if we wanted, we could upgrade at the port. Okay, how much more do you think we should pay to upgrade to a room with a port hole? or veranda? We don't plan on spending a ton of time in our room. I should also point out we are sailing on the 3 day cruise on March 10.
Thanks for your thoughts in advance!

 

[diznefan76]

If I were you, I would keep your cat 11 since you said that you didn't plan to spend too much time in your room...and if you want to see the ocean then you can just go up on deck 9 or visit the secret deck 7! This way you can spend that extra $ on fun stuff on board!!!

 

[alexandrew]

I agree...for a 3 day, upgrading from cat 11 to cat 9 gould cost $600 or more....I would enjoy the cat 11 and save your $

 

[aprilgail2]

I agree...for a 3 day, upgrading from cat 11 to cat 9 gould cost $600 or more....I would enjoy the cat 11 and save your $

I recently asked my agent the cost of uprading from a 11 to a 9 for the 7 day eastern and they came back with a price of around 250.00. The only thing I didn't like was moving from the deck I was on, I like deck 6 so I didn't do it.

 

[jrabbit]

Upgrading at the port is less expensive than upgrading BEFORE you leave. There is a large however (I wanted to say "but", but saying "a large but" might be misconstrued as offensive ) ... there has to be something available to upgrade to when you get to the port.

If you want to "risk" being "stuck" in your current room (cat 11 for ANY cruise is a fine room - been there done that) you can wait until you get to the port. I would plan on arriving early at the port so that you are one of the first to check in and have a better chance of getting a room upgrade if one's available because the ship sail at near capacity most of the time.

 

[AspiringCindy]

I upgraded at port from cat 9 to a cat 5 or 6(don't remember) for a 4 night cruise(4 people)...and they only charged us $200! Of course this was in 2000 though! Book what you are willing to live with(both financially and view), and then inquire at the port for any upgrades!

 

[disboo]

Cat. 11's are very peaceful and VERY easy to sleep/nap in since they get very dark. Unless you plan on spending a lot of time in it, I say save the $$. We have cruised in cat. 6 and cat 11 and the 11 is fine (even after doing cat 6 first)

 

[thegales]

I am assuming you were satisfied with Category 11 when you originally booked. So if you can't upgrade at the port, don't be disappointed; you still have what you originally wanted. You also probably looked at the other categories, so you have an idea of what they cost (if not, compare categories on the same cruise in 2006).

Get to the port early and check in at the regular desk. Then go to the desk at the far (your) right. Let them know your current state room, and ask if any upgrades are available. They will let you know if available and the cost. Set some arbitrary limit on how much you would be willing to spend to upgrade. If they have a room in a category within your price, then go for it.

We did this on our last cruise. We were in category 4, and inquired what the cost would be to upgrade to category 3. The cost was about $800 (7 night cruise). We didn't feel like we needed to spend over $100 a night for the bigger room. Others would probably jump at the opportunity (originally the Category 3 was more than twice that amount more). It all is a personal decision.

A final thought, if only category 4 or 5 is available when you first check in, and the amount is too much, check back later. Someone in a category 7 may have upgraded to the 4 or 5, then the 7 would be available.

Good luck in what ever you choose!