Cat 3 v. REAS?

[MamaCrush]

We have booked a Cat 4 room, but would love to upgrade to Cat 3. We are also debating on whether or not to purchase the REAS. Quite honestly, the compelling reason for the REAS packages is so we can get the Palo and massage ressies taken care of before we board. Of course, Cat 3 comes with the concierege service and the only reason we aren't booking Cat. 3 is the price difference!

So-- now for the question(s). I know it's potentially possible to upgrade at the port, given category availability. If we were able to get a Cat 3 at that time, would it be significantly less expensive? Do you think it's likely a Cat 3 would be available or are they so popular they're usually booked up?

 

[lookingforward]

I had the same decision to make. We had a Cat 3 booked for the four night cruise in September. I booked it mostly for the ease of boarding, reservations, etc. THEN, the florida resident rates came out. All rooms (except suites) were discounted heavily. We rebooked two cat 5 rooms with connecting doors for a total of $2500, as opposed to the Cat 3 rate of $4300 + for five people. It was too good a deal to pass up. Anyway, I booked the REAS package for $299 and Debbie helped me plan dining rotation, brunch and palo dinner reservations and our couples massage. It was very easy and she was very helpful. The only thing I don't get, now, is pre-boarding and in room full meal dining (which I can live without). I still get one morning of breakfast in bed.

Its a tough decision but I plan on taking the 1300 I saved and using it to book a seven night cruise while on board. I think upgrades at the port are much cheaper. The suites usually sell out but it won't stop me from asking about it when we arrive at the port in September. You never know!

 

[TammiMcMan]

There are only 17 category 3's on the ship, so you're going to need a lot of pixie dust to have one available on your embarking day. Other posts that I've read say that there is a pricing tier they use at port to determine the cost of your upgrade. For instance if you have a category 5 booked, you would pay $300 to upgrade to a category 4, then from a 4 to a 3 is $600. So you're final cost to upgrade from a 5 to a 3 is $900. Those amounts are not actual, just to give you an idea of the math. I don't know if it works out to be less expensive to wait until port.

By waiting until you get to port for an upgrade, you would lose out on the pre-planning services such as a dining rotation request and Palo's reservations. But you should still receive the concierge services once you get on board and therefore wouldn't have to do the ressie rush.

REAS is going to be less expensive than a port upgrade, but the category 3's are very nice. I loved ours and have booked one again for our January cruise.

Tammi