do they fill up concierge with upgraded guests?

[mytripsandraces]

On a related note, would DCL upgrade the concierge CAT Vs to suites to open up the lower-priced veranda rooms?

 

[Bear3412]

IMHO no one gets free upgrades to concierge level, or from Cat V to Cat T, unless you pay prior to port. Or at port, if available. DCL will be happy to take your $.

On my Fantasy in Oct there is one cat V left. I have always read suites sell out. I have never followed it till recently. It's odd, the least and most expensive sell out first.

I can understand where "dis fam" is coming from concerning port upgrades @ port. You pay full price, then folks upgrade at port, for probably thousands less than you paid, then you feel ripped off. Personally I wouldn't, unless someone who did a port upgrade perpetually talked about it out loud on my sailing. My suggestion to those that do receive an upgrade at port; keep it a secret from your fellow passengers.

At some point if port upgrades in any cat. become abundant, they will, devalue the product and degrade the pricing structure, especially with all this social media now a days. Folks will stop paying full price and wait for VGT or port upgrades.

I'm ecstatic I don't have to sell 5000 cabins a week. If I did, I'm sure I would follow DCL strategy.

I learned from these boards, book what you are comfortable with, knowing you will not be upgraded. Yet always have hope.

Happy Cruising

 

[disneyholic family]

On a related note, would DCL upgrade the concierge CAT Vs to suites to open up the lower-priced veranda rooms?

ask when you get to the port - if there's a T available, you'll possibly be able to upgrade for a much reduced price..
It doesn't hurt to ask.

 

[disneyholic family]

IMHO no one gets free upgrades to concierge level, or from Cat V to Cat T, unless you pay prior to port. Or at port, if available. DCL will be happy to take your $.

On my Fantasy in Oct there is one cat V left. I have always read suites sell out. I have never followed it till recently. It's odd, the least and most expensive sell out first.

I can understand where "dis fam" is coming from concerning port upgrades @ port. You pay full price, then folks upgrade at port, for probably thousands less than you paid, then you feel ripped off. Personally I wouldn't, unless someone who did a port upgrade perpetually talked about it out loud on my sailing. My suggestion to those that do receive an upgrade at port; keep it a secret from your fellow passengers.

At some point if port upgrades in any cat. become abundant, they will, devalue the product and degrade the pricing structure, especially with all this social media now a days. Folks will stop paying full price and wait for VGT or port upgrades.

I'm ecstatic I don't have to sell 5000 cabins a week. If I did, I'm sure I would follow DCL strategy.

I learned from these boards, book what you are comfortable with, knowing you will not be upgraded. Yet always have hope.

Happy Cruising

it won't bother me so much since i know i'm going to use the advance services. But it will drive my mother insane to know they've filled it up.
As i said, it happens to her on delta all the time. She flies all over the world (she's diamond FF).
She checks the day before and sees business class is completely empty, then on the flight it's packed....every seat. When she asks the others, they tell her they were upgraded for free.
And then the service is atrocious and the seats are cramped and filled with non-payers. And the difference in fare is more than triple ($4500 vs $1000 for economy on her last delta flight).
It drives her so mad in fact, that on her last international flight she jumped ship and went with a different airline (that agreed to match her delta frequent flyer status).
She went with an airline that has completely separate suites, so that if the class is packed, you don't care. There's no one rubbing shoulders with you.

Anyway, it will most definitely bug her if she finds out. Hopefully she won't.

 

[justmestace]

A. To Beth.....I can't imagine how your Mom would know whether the other passengers in concierge paid or got upgraded for free, unless she asked, and personally, I think asking someone that is gauche.
For 9 of my 11 or 12 Disney cruises, I've been in concierge, and I would have been appalled if someone had asked me if I'd paid full price or upgraded.
Also....the airlines will sell First Class, or Business Class seats that are still open on flight day to anyone who wants to pay. On USAirways, I think it's only $100 to upgrade on the day of travel. I don't understand anyone who thinks they purchased the right to sit in First Class alone.....and I've been in First Class when a few passengers purchased upgrades at the airport, and never noticed the level of service drop. If that happened to your Mom, on more than one occasion, then she should get names of the flight attendants and complain.

B. I can say without a doubt, 100%....YES.....they DO have "free" upgrades to concierge. It may not happen very often, because those rooms do usually sell early.....but it HAS happened. It's happened to us twice....our first two DCL cruises.


Tossing in a side note that is totally irrelevant....DCL would have to pay ME to cruise concierge on the newer ships. I HATE the way they've changed the suites, and the outdoor concierge area is a joke, compared to what at least one other cruise line (NCL) offers.

 

[disneyholic family]

A. To Beth.....I can't imagine how your Mom would know whether the other passengers in concierge paid or got upgraded for free, unless she asked, and personally, I think asking someone that is gauche.
For 9 of my 11 or 12 Disney cruises, I've been in concierge, and I would have been appalled if someone had asked me if I'd paid full price or upgraded.
Also....the airlines will sell First Class, or Business Class seats that are still open on flight day to anyone who wants to pay. On USAirways, I think it's only $100 to upgrade on the day of travel. I don't understand anyone who thinks they purchased the right to sit in First Class alone.....and I've been in First Class when a few passengers purchased upgrades at the airport, and never noticed the level of service drop. If that happened to your Mom, on more than one occasion, then she should get names of the flight attendants and complain.

B. I can say without a doubt, 100%....YES.....they DO have "free" upgrades to concierge. It may not happen very often, because those rooms do usually sell early.....but it HAS happened. It's happened to us twice....our first two DCL cruises.


Tossing in a side note that is totally irrelevant....DCL would have to pay ME to cruise concierge on the newer ships. I HATE the way they've changed the suites, and the outdoor concierge area is a joke, compared to what at least one other cruise line (NCL) offers.

she would never ask on the cruise (on a flight is a different story - asking if someone has been upgraded for free is a standard question).
However, some people make a VERY big deal about the fact that they didn't have to pay for whatever it is they're getting.
Have you never seen anyone do that? i certainly have.

as for flying - i am NOT talking about domestic US travel.

Have you ever flown international? Delta and most of the US airlines don't have first class on international flights. Only business. And rest assured they do not upgrade for $100. You just raised my blood pressure by about 2,000.
I clearly said INTERNATIONAL flights.
I am talking about a business class seat that costs $4,500 vs an economy seat that costs $1,000. And YES Delta claims that they do not upgrade.
On domestic flights they of course upgrade. My mom, who is delta diamond is always upgraded domestically. She's never had to pay first class for the past who knows how many years. But internationally, they do not upgrade their FF to business (there is NO FIRST CLASS internationally on delta).
But then they upgrade regular economy passengers filling every seat.

 

[Bear3412]

Please, easy folks. Let's get back on topic, without the ........

 

[justmestace]

Sorry Beth....I didn't mean to get you worked up. I saw that you said International.....
But I still can't see asking someone if or what they paid. Anywhere. I've seen supposedly "poor" people behave MUCH better than those who have money. Sadly, money doesn't buy class.

I don't care how much someone paid for anything.....it doesn't impress me, it doesn't bother me, it doesn't make me jealous.....everyone deserves to be treated with respect, regardless.

Mentioning the cost of upgrade on USAirways domestic was just a side note. No harm meant.

 

[justmestace]

I see no difference with the airlines than what the cruise lines do. If the ship/plane isn't full, and they have people still willing to pay at least the minimum amount, money is money to the ships/planes. They'll move up the people who paid first, and add in the newcomers, therefore, making the most money they can.
They're all in business to make money. I just don't see why that's upsetting or a problem.
The easiest way to make it NOT be a problem would be to not PAY for Business Class, First Class, or Concierge. Then you wouldn't have to worry about who's getting what for "free".

 

[disneyholic family]

Sorry Beth....I didn't mean to get you worked up. I saw that you said International.....
But I still can't see asking someone if or what they paid. Anywhere. I've seen supposedly "poor" people behave MUCH better than those who have money. Sadly, money doesn't buy class.

I don't care how much someone paid for anything.....it doesn't impress me, it doesn't bother me, it doesn't make me jealous.....everyone deserves to be treated with respect, regardless.

Mentioning the cost of upgrade on USAirways domestic was just a side note. No harm meant.

the moral of the story is to never fly delta - the worst airline on the planet...

 

[disneyholic family]

I see no difference with the airlines than what the cruise lines do. If the ship/plane isn't full, and they have people still willing to pay at least the minimum amount, money is money to the ships/planes. They'll move up the people who paid first, and add in the newcomers, therefore, making the most money they can.
They're all in business to make money. I just don't see why that's upsetting or a problem.
The easiest way to make it NOT be a problem would be to not PAY for Business Class, First Class, or Concierge. Then you wouldn't have to worry about who's getting what for "free".

and the moral of this story is to sail silversea/seaborn rather than DCL.
unfortunately, DCL is all that's available out of PC for 4 days

 

[kimb96]

it won't bother me so much since i know i'm going to use the advance services. But it will drive my mother insane to know they've filled it up.
As i said, it happens to her on delta all the time. She flies all over the world (she's diamond FF).
She checks the day before and sees business class is completely empty, then on the flight it's packed....every seat. When she asks the others, they tell her they were upgraded for free.
And then the service is atrocious and the seats are cramped and filled with non-payers. And the difference in fare is more than triple ($4500 vs $1000 for economy on her last delta flight).
It drives her so mad in fact, that on her last international flight she jumped ship and went with a different airline (that agreed to match her delta frequent flyer status).
She went with an airline that has completely separate suites, so that if the class is packed, you don't care. There's no one rubbing shoulders with you.

Anyway, it will most definitely bug her if she finds out. Hopefully she won't.

I too am diamond on delta and my flights to and from bangkok thailand have almost always been full. I would never think to ask someone if they paid the full fare or got upgraded for free. Alot of flights I use miles to upgrade to business class. I've never had bad service on an international delta flight due to business class being full. Some crew are better than others.

 

[SnackyStacky]

They already are! These are the IGT/OGT/VGT rates that are available on MOST cruises in May and June! This is interesting because in December we were told that the Fantasy was 80% booked for the first season and the Dream was doing "very well."

We have an onboard booking for the Fantasy on August 11 of this year. The booking was made in 2009 and we kept pushing it, waiting for a summer, 7-night Caribbean sailing. I moved it to August 11 the day Fantasy bookings opened for the general public.

I watched the occupancy levels every now and again by checking availability.

In the fall/winter last year, there was almost NOTHING available for a family of 4. Only some 4As and 4Bs.

Over the past couple of months, EVERYTHING has been available. There are even inside and oceanview staterooms available. Every subcategory in the verandah offerings is available. Main dining also has availability. For a family of 4. Checking for a family of 3, the ship is WIDE open.

I really think they're pricing themselves out of the market. Whether or not they'll lower the base rates or offer more and more discounts, I have no idea. But they need to do something. It's just too expensive. I don't know anybody that will drop $9500 for a family of 4 to sail for 7 nights in a plain, old vernadah room.

 

[Tigger&Bubba]

Free upgrades would fill concierge with steerage rats/brats - not something that those of us in the suites would enjoy.

TROLL? As long as we are categorizing. Too weird.

 

[TinksDH]

I see no problem with upgrading at port for concierge and paying less than someone who booked concierge from the get go. When you booked concierge, you are not only paying for the room, but the guarantee that you GET that level of room. If you MUST have concierge, then that is the only way to do it, and it comes with a price. For those who think they will beat the system by booking a lower rate cabin and then getting an upgrade at port, that is a very poor strategy if you MUST have concierge! You can't just compare the rates that you paid, but the guarantee to sail in the cabin class you want to. Plus, when you book concierge from the get go, you also get the land concierge part of it to help you with your arrangements, in addition to the advance booking advantages for onboard services.

In the long run, buy allowing these port upgrades and permitting DCL to get every incremental dollar they can on each sailing, it ultimately keeps rates lower across the board. Every unsold cabin costs them money, which ultimately all cruisers will bear.

 

[postalchick71]

I too am diamond on delta and my flights to and from bangkok thailand have almost always been full. I would never think to ask someone if they paid the full fare or got upgraded for free. Alot of flights I use miles to upgrade to business class. I've never had bad service on an international delta flight due to business class being full. Some crew are better than others.

A co-worker works at Delta part time. She flies to Thailand business class and only pays the taxes on the ticket price. I asked her if anyone ever asked if she paid full price or not she laughed. And asked me was I serious. I would not think to ask someone if they upgraded for free.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

and the moral of this story is to sail silversea/seaborn rather than DCL.
unfortunately, DCL is all that's available out of PC for 4 days

I totally agree Beth, if this upgrade issue bothers you and/or your Mom, then sail on lines that dont do it or you consider upscale lines.


This is the main reason I feel DCL should discontinue conciege cabins..it creats the feeling of a upper and lower class guest...especailly those *Titanic gates* the dream had for awhile!

You want a specail cabin.......go ahead and pay for the better cabin, otherwise the entire public areas of the ship is for everyone!

AKK

 

[MissSlimskys]

If this makes you feel better about paying "full fare" for concierge, consider that people who upgrade at the port don't have the chance to use shoreside concierge to book all their services BEFORE everyone else. Getting Palo, Flounder's Reef, spa, etc. services at exactly the times I want is a HUGE plus and one of the reasons I pay "full fare" for DCL concierge.

As for the quality of guests in concierge, I have only sailed concierge on DCL and have only encountered the nicest people and the best service possible. I don't know if they paid full fare or were port upgrades because I would never think of asking such a question but I wouldn't worry about service levels declining or you having to rub elbows with "free loaders." It's never happened to me.

And just to second: I've been flying first class for 20 years (AA platinum) and I've *never* been asked by a fellow passenger if I paid full fare. Perhaps the passengers on American Airlines are more discrete and tactful on Delta. But then again, I flew Delta first class just last week and no one asked me there either...

I tend to agree with those who are recommending Silverseas or Seabourne for your mother.

 

[goofymama]

the moral of the story is to never fly delta - the worst airline on the planet...

Wow! You don't think ALL of the airlines do this? You don't think the one's that they are upgrading to business class on international flights are FF's? Of course they are! If your mom enjoy's free upgrades on domestic, how can she be upset that some people enjoy free upgrades on international?

Airlines, cruises, hotels or whatever the carrier .... They lose money on every seat that remains empty and cannot ever get it back. They are all for profit businesses that need to do whatever they can to fill seats/beds. Personally, as long as I am on the plane/ship in a seat that I'm happy with at the price I was willing to pay, why do I care what those around me paid.


But if it makes your mom feel any better, as a previous poster said, free upgrades to concierge are very, very rare.

 

[mdvlprof]

too bad i can't go for those....but i'll only do concierge, so i guess i'm stuck with full fare......

I'm still trying to get my head around the 'only do concierge'.

I'd rather spend the money on multiple cruises rather than a pricey room. Won't say no to free upgrade but HC cabins are even more scarce.