DVC on first DCL Feb 2012 upgrade Q

[mom3girls2000]

Ok, so we have booked our first cruise using DVC points and we are getting very excited, but I have some reservations about our ... reservation .

We are booked into an inside stateroom and I am getting edgy just thinking about it. Because it's a 7-night cruise, we will be spending more time in our room than just sleeping/showering, and I don't want to feel claustrophobic.

When our new allocation of points becomes effective in December, can I use some of them to upgrade our stateroom to an outside stateroom? I would love a balcony/verandah room, but if that's too many points I will settle for just a porthole window. Anyone have any experience with this or have an opinion?

TIA.

 

[erionm]

When you booked the cruise on points, the points from the next UY after the UY the cruise occurs in were already available to be borrowed to make the reservation.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Are you on the Dream with it's virtual porthole? That may help how you feel inside the room.

DCL's inside cabins are larger than most other cruise lines. The set up is usually to seem as if there is a window behind a curtain. I dont feel as if I'm in a box, but you know your own reaction best.

You would have to cancel and then rebook for another fee. Those points are now reservation points and can't be used for DVC stays. Maybe you can look at numbers and pay for one person and use the points to pay for the upgraded room for the other person. That would be an expensive solution but if you really need an outside cabin it would be could be worth it.

Bobbi

 

[DonDon]

Every time you make a change, DVC will charge you $95, doesn't matter if you're upgrading or not.

If you're on the Magic or Wonder, you can try to upgrade at the port. Since everybody's flocking to the newer ships, Magic and Wonder are usually not sailing full right now. Of course you're taking a chance, but if available, DCL will only charge about 50% of the normal amount to upgrade.

 

[mom3girls2000]

We're on the Magic, no virtual portholes there (yet) ... Idk if they will add them at some future date, or if the Magic is an older ship, the DCL might deem it too old and not bother? Idk ... but I've also never been on any other cruise so I have no base with which to compare the stateroom size.

The only comparison I have is to the studio at OKW and AKL-JH. I did find the square footage of the DCL rooms on here, but they didn't include the DCL staterooms ...

 

[disneypoor]

I would just try to upgrade at the port. I don't have any experience with DVC because we just bought on our recent cruise, but I have done several DCL cruises, and sometimes we're able to upgrade at the port (for a minimal fee compared to what it would be if you tried to do it ahead of time) and sometimes we're not able to. If you are among the first at the port, I think you'd have a pretty good chance. Out of 7 cruises, we've upgraded four times at the port. Good luck!

Susan

 

[mom3girls2000]

Dh phoned the DVC and found out that we can do it but it will take more points than I am willing to use. I think I probably said ok to the inside stateroom because it used the least amonut of points.

I will encourage him to ask about it at port check-in, maybe they will take less points, or maybe they will let us pay $$ instead of points for it, one can only hope .

Thanks for all the feedback, we are getting seriously excited now

 

[DenLo]

Per the DCL website the inside staterooms are:

Inside Deluxe stateroom, 3 categories: 10A, 10B, 10C
Size: 214 sq. ft.

Standard Inside Stateroom, 3 categories: 11A, 11B, 11C
Size: 184 sq. ft.

And from what I've read here the Disboards when booking an inside cabin with points you are booking the cheapest cabin. Therefore, I think you'll be in the standard inside cabin.

I wouldn't worry about being in the cabin a lot even on a 7 day cruise, because between Ports of Call and ship's activities you will be out of the cabin except for when dressing and sleeping (including naps).

We have friends that prefer inside cabins because the room is really dark and makes great sleeping. If you have a child that doesn't like the dark bring a night light.

 

[mom3girls2000]

Wow, that's really small! Even the tiny AKL-JH studio is 316 sq. ft.! I'm going to have to so some serious multi-purpose packing.

Dh has trouble sleeping so he appreciates a pitch-dark room, but I ALWAYS bring a night-light, if for nothing else but the bathroom. And in a room this small, one night-light in the bathroom should be plenty.

 

[iloveokw]

Almost every DCL cruise we've been on (8) have been sold out. They won't take less points for an upgrade...not sure about cash. You don't spend much time in your room....