Confused about upgrades

[PinClubs]

I have read a lot of posts where people have stated that they got an upgrade usually for not a lot more money.

I have a family of four so a Cat 5 works well for us. I also like to book my next cruise while on the current cruise to receive the onboard credit and early booking discount.

Two questions:

1. Do upgrades only happen if you book through a TA?

2. Do you have to book a lower category room and hope you will get an upgrade?

I have to believe that some cruisers book the room they want or can afford and if they are offered an upgrade then it is a bonus. I can't imagine you would book a lower cost room and gamble on getting an upgrade so that you wind up a room you actually want.

Any help on this subject would be appreciated,

Jeff

 

[Karel]

Sometimes you are given a free upgrade. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to when these occur. Booking the category you'll be happy with is the way to go and then be thrilled if you are upgraded. It makes no difference when or who you book with.

Some people will wait for check in and pay to upgrade at the Port. I'm not sure if they get a discounted price for this. Guess it depends what Disney has empty that cruise. Once again, book what you can live with because the boat could be filled and you may not be able to upgrade.

 

[beattyfamily]

We are a family of 4 and we book what we want. We don't really think about a possible upgrade.

We are going on our 3rd cruise this Nov 4 and we got our FIRST upgrade from category 8 to category 5!!! I had guaranteed cabin of 7014 and now we are in cabin 7034.

We booked very early and paid it off last September. We found out about our upgrade a few month ago so we were told pretty early!

There is no set way they do it and you'd be taking a huge risk if you do not book what you really want/need.

 

[godisneyboat]

We were upgrade from inside to deluxe ocean view on the 4 day Wonder a couple of years ago. Upgrade was out of the blue, did not know anything about it until doucments arrived. Booked directly with Disney. I made final payment earlier this week for our 7 day Magic cruise on Sept. 25th. Booked deluxe inside cabin this time which is what we could afford for our family of four at time of booking last year. Since the vacation fund has been doing well I had TA check on upgrading to varanda room when I made final payment. I was quoted 1500 more dollars and some change, which for our family was not worth it. I will inquire at check in on availability and cost to see if upgrade there would be possible. But bottom line we booked what we could afford and regardless we will be on the ship and get the same service as every one else. We probably just won't have the view that others might.

Have a great time with what ever room you wind up with. We were assigned a connecting room this time which we did not ask for. I personally thought some one may need that before we cruise and they will bump us up to make that one available. Never hurts to dream.

 

[kcashner]

We have been upgraded on 3 of our 10 cruises on the Magic. It didn't matter if we booked thru TA or DCL. Sometimes they come before documents, sometimes after, sometimes at port.

There are free upgrades (as referred to above.) Sometimes, if the ship is not full, upgrades can be purchased at the port at a lower rate than it would have been to buy the nicer cabin originally. This doesn't happen often. Usually, even when the ship isn't full, they put up a "no upgrades" sign.

There seems to be no rhyme nor reason to when you are upgraded and when not. The current stats are that about 3-5% of cruisers get an upgrade. Your chances are best when you are travelling off season and have only one cabin (not adjoining, linked, etc.)

The best advise I can give is to book a cabin where you will be happy. If you are lucky enough to get an upgrade, enjoy it.

You can be upgraded from any category except a 1....however, the higher you are booked, the less likely you are to be upgraded. Most commonly, you go to the next "level" of cabin--inside goes to porthole, porthole goes to verandah.