This forum has helped us immensely so I am posting our experience here. Hopefully this helps someone in the future.
We did a last minute booking on a 7 day alaska cruise on the wonder. Less than 2 months out from sailing date when we booked. There are 4 of us, 2 kids aged 10 and 8. Original price for outside porthole room was $86xx. That was the best we could get as everything better was sold out. The excursion bookings were a mess as well since we booked at around 55 days, and everybody had already signed up for excursions. It’s like one kid on one afternoon for princess gathering, one kid on another day, no character breakfast, 2 out of 4 spots available on the shore excursions, etc.
The in port upgrade to a one bedroom concierge was $5888. We didn’t go in the first check in group either. The original occupants of that suite upgraded to the royal suite in port and freed it up. If we had gone too early, this suite wouldn’t have opened up.
So the total cost for the one bedroom suite was around $14.4k. That’s $600 cheaper than a deluxe balcony room for the same sailing in 2019. I’d say we got tremendous value as we would have booked balcony if it were available.
Others have posted about concierge perks so there is no need to reiterate. I will just say that from our experience, concierge can help even on shore excursions that are sold out. I don’t know how they do it, but our shore excursions that only had 2 out of 4 spots were changed to the entire party. And they seem to be able to fix anything if it’s on the boat. On the first day the concierge looked at our scattered itinerary and I explained that it was a last minute booking. He said ok how would you like your two at sea days to be like? We told him what we wanted at around what time and by that first night we got a great logical itinerary. Prime time bookings for character breakfast so we can sleep in. Princess and frozen greetings after that. Then the princess make up and royal tea (all previously sold out in the online system) in the afternoon for my daughter. Spa bookings slotted in for my wife.
If you were on the fence about prices quoted by the in port upgrade, don’t be. Whatever price that quote you is going to be a great value.
We did a last minute booking on a 7 day alaska cruise on the wonder. Less than 2 months out from sailing date when we booked. There are 4 of us, 2 kids aged 10 and 8. Original price for outside porthole room was $86xx. That was the best we could get as everything better was sold out. The excursion bookings were a mess as well since we booked at around 55 days, and everybody had already signed up for excursions. It’s like one kid on one afternoon for princess gathering, one kid on another day, no character breakfast, 2 out of 4 spots available on the shore excursions, etc.
The in port upgrade to a one bedroom concierge was $5888. We didn’t go in the first check in group either. The original occupants of that suite upgraded to the royal suite in port and freed it up. If we had gone too early, this suite wouldn’t have opened up.
So the total cost for the one bedroom suite was around $14.4k. That’s $600 cheaper than a deluxe balcony room for the same sailing in 2019. I’d say we got tremendous value as we would have booked balcony if it were available.
Others have posted about concierge perks so there is no need to reiterate. I will just say that from our experience, concierge can help even on shore excursions that are sold out. I don’t know how they do it, but our shore excursions that only had 2 out of 4 spots were changed to the entire party. And they seem to be able to fix anything if it’s on the boat. On the first day the concierge looked at our scattered itinerary and I explained that it was a last minute booking. He said ok how would you like your two at sea days to be like? We told him what we wanted at around what time and by that first night we got a great logical itinerary. Prime time bookings for character breakfast so we can sleep in. Princess and frozen greetings after that. Then the princess make up and royal tea (all previously sold out in the online system) in the afternoon for my daughter. Spa bookings slotted in for my wife.
If you were on the fence about prices quoted by the in port upgrade, don’t be. Whatever price that quote you is going to be a great value.
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second time I didn’t compare, but it was a palatable cost 
