DVC Disney Cruise Upgrade

[dolfan343]

Has anyone had success with an upgrade when booking through DVC?

 

[lah3hh]

18 cruises all booked through DVC using points...0 upgrades!! Not a good track record, huh?

 

[com_op_2000]

One upgrade using points from inside to ocean view, completed 7 cruises.

 

[darkwing818]

Has anyone had success with an upgrade when booking through DVC?

Free upgrades are very rare. (we've completed 10 cruises )

 

[SuperRob]

If you want to get upgraded, your best bet is to book as early as possible, book the lowest category you're willing to tolerate, and then hope that category is the one in the most demand. DCL will assess the demand and start upgrading people in those categories to free up inventory that they can then sell again. They do this in a first in, first out basis, so the earlier you book, the better your chances.

 

[ain0004]

We were upgraded only because we had a guarantee room and they sold out our class. We went from from two inside rooms to connecting ocean view it was nice. But now we only want oven views!

 

[MouseMomx2]

They do this in a first in, first out basis, so the earlier you book, the better your chances.

This is not true. We have booked on the day booking opened and were not upgraded, while friends in the same category who waited about six months were upgraded. We have also been upgraded with a relatively last minute reservation. Neither of these were with DVC points, however.

As to the OPs question, now that DCL is selling guaranty cabins in each of the levels (verandah, ocean view, inside) there are no longer many free upgrades. They do occasionally happen and in these instances the upgrades are completely random. We have been upgraded on points once and on cash three times, but all were before they began selling the VGT, OGT and IGT categories.

 

[cwdefouw]

We got an upgrade on a cruise we booked on points, way back in 2001. From a 7A to a 4A.

That being said, the cruise line doesn't really care that you booked with points, because to them your cruise was not actually booked with points, DVC functions as your TA and pays DCL with cash, just like you would if you booked directly or through another TA. So it really doesn't matter if you booked with points or not, you have as much or as least chance of an upgrade as any other guest.

IMHO I would think that a better option to increase your chances of a complementary upgrade would be to book a cabin in a category where there are very few rooms available, such as a cat 7 or a cat 6. But even then it is all just a craps shoot, if DCL wants the room you are in for a guest willing to pay more, or they need to do maintenance etc, you might get an upgrade, regardless of the time or category that you booked.

Based on personal experience and the experiences posted on the boards here...

Free upgrades on DCL cannot be planned for, and cannot be anticipated...

If you would not be happy in the room booked, then plan on just paying to upgrade yourself.

 

[rmcildw2m]

We were upgraded last year on our 7 night eastern cruise from a cat 8 c to a cat 5 d balcony room , maybe because we are DVC or more likely cause cruise was not sold out .
Still happy about it either way .

 

[acourtwdw]

We booked 3 11c cabins for 10/12/13 sailing out of Gavelston on points. All three cabins were upgraded to 10B. Not an outside but still a larger cabin with the spilt bath.