Can someone walk me through upgrading AT the port?

[Clojel]

Hey all, I'll be (theoretically) traveling concierge with DH and DD this December 2021 and my parents recently mentioned having an interest in coming along. I believe concierge rooms are currently sold out for our cruise, and they don't particularly want to pay the concierge rates anyway, but I was wondering what the odds might be of us upgrading my parents' room to a concierge stateroom at the Port. How does it work? I've heard that there is just a counter where you check to see what's available. Is that correct? Are the upgrades significantly discounted? Or is it basically the same price as if you had booked it? And, is there any chance that our already being concierge would give me any kind of advantage in upgrading my parents' room? Like, would they help me with the upgrade in the concierge lounge at PC rather than waiting in line? Anyone have any experiences with this?

 

[DCLCrazy64622]

Yes once you check in for your regular room you will go over to the supervisors desk and ask what’s available for upgrade. She will pull out a chart that shows you how much you would pay. At least that’s how it used to be. Not sure if it’s changed.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hey all, I'll be (theoretically) traveling concierge with DH and DD this December 2021 and my parents recently mentioned having an interest in coming along. I believe concierge rooms are currently sold out for our cruise, and they don't particularly want to pay the concierge rates anyway, but I was wondering what the odds might be of us upgrading my parents' room to a concierge stateroom at the Port. How does it work? I've heard that there is just a counter where you check to see what's available. Is that correct? Are the upgrades significantly discounted? Or is it basically the same price as if you had booked it? And, is there any chance that our already being concierge would give me any kind of advantage in upgrading my parents' room? Like, would they help me with the upgrade in the concierge lounge at PC rather than waiting in line? Anyone have any experiences with this?

IF (big IF) there are rooms available on embarkation day, it's possible to get an upgrade, at a significantly lower cost than upgrading beforehand.

Basically, once you've completed check in on the reservations you have, you head over to the supervisor's desk and ask if there are rooms available. If so, it's done there. Many times there's a little sign that says "no upgrades available".

 

[tvguy]

IF (big IF) there are rooms available on embarkation day, it's possible to get an upgrade, at a significantly lower cost than upgrading beforehand.

Basically, once you've completed check in on the reservations you have, you head over to the supervisor's desk and ask if there are rooms available. If so, it's done there. Many times there's a little sign that says "no upgrades available".

We got a call from our Travel Agent 10 days before our cruise saying Disney had upgraded us at no charge from an Oceanview to a Verandah. At catalog prices, that is an upgrade that would have cost me $1,000 more at time of booking. No idea exactly why. We loved the Veranda and used it, but we all agreed it wasn't worth $1,000 extra.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We got a call from our Travel Agent 10 days before our cruise saying Disney had upgraded us at no charge from an Oceanview to a Verandah. At catalog prices, that is an upgrade that would have cost me $1,000 more at time of booking. No idea exactly why. We loved the Veranda and used it, but we all agreed it wasn't worth $1,000 extra.

Yes, pixie dust upgrades do happen. But not often.

They probably needed your room for someone/thing else.

 

[tvguy]

Yes, pixie dust upgrades do happen. But not often.

They probably needed your room for someone/thing else.

We had spent weeks going over our Deck 2 cabin location and routes to dining rooms etc, had to adjust it all to a Deck 7 stateroom with our then 12 and 16 year old. They had cruised once before on HAL, and wanted to know the shortest routes from the stateroom to where they could get snacks and beverages.

 

[lanejudy]

Just to clarify-- your parents' stateroom will need to be checked in first before upgrading. They may be allowed to use concierge check-in with you if you arrive together.

 

[Clojel]

Just to clarify-- your parents' stateroom will need to be checked in first before upgrading. They may be allowed to use concierge check-in with you if you arrive together.

That's something I was wondering about...if they could check in with me to expedite the process. I'm not sure if that will be allowed or not? Hmm....

 

[Clojel]

IF (big IF) there are rooms available on embarkation day, it's possible to get an upgrade, at a significantly lower cost than upgrading beforehand.

Basically, once you've completed check in on the reservations you have, you head over to the supervisor's desk and ask if there are rooms available. If so, it's done there. Many times there's a little sign that says "no upgrades available".

Yeah, I know its a long shot but I'm just "thinking" ....b/c thinking of this is more pleasant than thinking about whether or not i'll cruise at all! haha!

 

[Marc D]

That's something I was wondering about...if they could check in with me to expedite the process. I'm not sure if that will be allowed or not? Hmm....

In our experience, Concierge check-in is not efficient enough to beat the regular line for the purpose of upgrading. At PC, there are two-three counters that handle the Concierge and Platinum members. There is often a long line there. Your best bet to have a chance to upgrade is to be the first in the terminal. That used to mean arriving on the first bus from MCO. I understand they left a bit later than they used to just before the shutdown. You would still be behind guests doing a B2B.

 

[DCLDVC1]

Port upgrades might not even be an option when cruising resumes.

 

[Clojel]

In our experience, Concierge check-in is not efficient enough to beat the regular line for the purpose of upgrading. At PC, there are two-three counters that handle the Concierge and Platinum members. There is often a long line there. Your best bet to have a chance to upgrade is to be the first in the terminal. That used to mean arriving on the first bus from MCO. I understand they left a bit later than they used to just before the shutdown. You would still be behind guests doing a B2B.

I could see that. We have cruised concierge twice before and both times we were actually really lucky with checking in...only took a few minutes....but I guess that was just luck! haha! We'll definitely try and get there first thing though!!

 

[Clojel]

Port upgrades might not even be an option when cruising resumes.

Yea, I know. But, its just more enjoyable to think about whether or not we could snag an upgrade than thinking about whether or not we'll even get to sail or what crazy restrictions will be in place!

 

[Marc D]

Coming back to this thread, I see that your question about cost has not been answered.

Cost of upgrade at port is based on starting stateroom and final stateroom, regardless of the number of occupants. They have a grid at the manager’s desk with the cost for each possibility. That grid is not publicly available. I’ve seen a few blurry pictures of it through the years. We don’t know if it changes from cruise to cruise.

Meanwhile, upgrading online involves a cost per person. Therefore, the “savings” of upgrading at port will mainly depend on how many guests are staying in the room. There will be little or no discount if only upgrading two guests, but the savings will be significant if upgrading four or five guests.

 

[Clojel]

Coming back to this thread, I see that your question about cost has not been answered.

Cost of upgrade at port is based on starting stateroom and final stateroom, regardless of the number of occupants. They have a grid at the manager’s desk with the cost for each possibility. That grid is not publicly available. I’ve seen a few blurry pictures of it through the years. We don’t know if it changes from cruise to cruise.

Meanwhile, upgrading online involves a cost per person. Therefore, the “savings” of upgrading at port will mainly depend on how many guests are staying in the room. There will be little or no discount if only upgrading two guests, but the savings will be significant if upgrading four or five guests.

Good to know! Thank you!

 

[coloradocutie]

Are the upgrades significantly discounted? Or is it basically the same price as if you had booked it? And, is there any chance that our already being concierge would give me any kind of advantage in upgrading my parents' room? Like, would they help me with the upgrade in the concierge lounge at PC rather than waiting in line? Anyone have any experiences with this?

5 years ago we upgraded from a 4A to a one bedroom concierge suite on the Magic for the EB transatlantic. We were on the first bus to Port Canaveral and one of the first people to the supervisor desk. There was only one suite available and it was an accessible suite. There were 4 of us. Comparing the cost difference between the 4A and the one bedroom suite, we saved 75% of the difference (the difference between our original fare the listed price 72 hours before sailing) with the upgrade at port. The upgrade cost is based on what category you were in in the first place, as was mentioned.
It was wonderful to have the space and I am glad we did it but I won't do it again. That was also 5 years ago and there are a lot more concierge rooms now that there were then as there is such an increased demand for concierge and Disney. The prices have gone up significantly in 5 years as well so I don't know if my pricing experience is what would occur today. I don't think I would do it again as it was a big gamble and we really had to rush to get on the bus and rush to port. I now just book what I want initially.

Since you are concierge, you could check with shoreside concierge and see if there is a waitlist.

Good luck!

 

[anjuan]

One thing I'd note for upgrades is that we upgraded a couple of years ago from an inside stateroom to an ocean view room but our luggage was delivered to our original room so we went and grabbed it from there. However, if you're upgrading to concierge I could imagine that they would probably take care of this for you.

 

[ajo]

We upgraded at port once. We were on a B2B and when we checked in on the second leg (we were the first people to check in), we asked if there were any upgrades. There was one Concierge room (OOV). It was pretty cheap because we were already in a verandah. Once we boarded we went to our old room and quickly packed up our bags. Our room attendant said he would deliver them to our new room. We later learned from the Concierge hosts that the room had become available because the family that had booked that room had a child come down with chicken pox right before the cruise. Concierge had been sold out otherwise.

I would suggest being the first at port if you want to have a chance at a Concierge upgrade.