GTY?? for Upgrade

[schrei]

I just called to ask to change my booking to GTY and they said they couldn't do it unless the catagory was sold out.

Does anyone have any tips or ideas how to get this changed? I understand when you book with the category and a GTY status your chances of an upgrade are better.

We booked with Cat 9.

Thanks!

 

[westjones]

That is strange. Someone going with us got one of these types of reservations through Travelocity for a September cruise, and I know it is not full (or even close yet). I was surprised this is what she got, but she was told it would be a lot more likely for her to get an 'upgrade' if she took this kind of room.

I was a bit disappointed because I had hoped they would get a room close to us, but I understand that they would like an upgrade (so would we, been on 4 cruises and have never gotten one yet, so don't expect to in the future).

I didn't realize that these are the rooms that get upgraded, so maybe we will try for one of them next time also. Especially if my friend gets an upgrade on her very first cruise and this will be our 5th one! I have 4 (maybe 5) families coming with us all for the first time on this next cruise and I told DH that I have a feeling that all of them will be upgraded and 'we' the loyal annual DCL passengers will be the ONLY ones in our group not to get one. It would just figure.

DJ

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

I really don't think a GTY increases your chances of upgrade. There is no rhyme or reason to the upgrade. We had a selected room on our last cruise and got an upgrade.

 

[Lloyd Dobler]

I agree with MO Disney, booking a GTY doesn't necessarily give you a better chance at getting an upgrade. Just based on anecdotal evidence on this and other boards, I've heard just as many cases of people having specific rooms booked being upgraded as GTY. If DCL thought that people were figuring out how to get an upgrade, they would certainly change their procedures. Upgrades are kept as random as possible.

The best advice I've heard is to book the category you'll be happy with, because that's the category you're overwhelmingly likely to be in.

 

[kcashner]

GTY does not guarantee an upgrade by any means, but it does seen to increase the chances of an upgrade. We've been upgraded when we did not have the gty status.

As to when GTY is available, it seems to vary. We currently have GTY status for a September cruise, Since that is the slow (hurricane) season, I'm not at all convinced that the category is sold out. However, what does happen sometimes is that large travel agencies can book blocks of rooms at a discount, which they then re-sell to their customers. They have a certain time frame where they control these cabins (rather than DCL controlling them), so that might be why DCL lists a category as "sold out." GTY status does vary--it might not be available now in a certian category, then show up again in a few days or weeks. I was told that this reflects many things. If a TA calls DCL to book for a customer, they are allowed to hold a cabin for 48 hours (in order to get back with their customer, secure the deposit, etc.) During this time, the cabin is listed as "sold" even though it might open up if the client doesn't take it....If someone fails to make the final payment by 60 days, their cabin opens up again. People do cancel, thus opening cabins....

 

[Michelemouse]

We had a GTY cabin on our first cruise and did not receive an upgrade.