How do you get upgraded? Shipboard credit?

[pklein09]

We're going on our first cruise Nov 2006 and I have connecting cabins booked for a Cat 9 Deck 2. I've been reading about being upgraded. How does this happen?

Also, we booked with All Seasons Travel. How do I find out if we have any shipboard credits? Do ask them?

Thanks!!!

 

[ambushangel]

Who are the credits given out by? It it the TA's that arrange them?

 

[crisi]

Shipboard credits are usually given as part of promotions. If you book using a Disney Visa or book onboard. You can ask your TA if you qualify, but most have to be arranged at time of booking.

Upgrades - who knows how upgrades are gotten? They are rare (someone here ran a survey and got 3% of people get upgraded) and "luck of the draw." Book the cabin you will be happy with. I suspect its harder to get upgraded with connecting cabins.

 

[mmouse37]

Crisi is correct....don't ever "expect" to get an upgrade....they are rare and happen with no real rhyme or reason. There is nothing you can do to acquire a comp upgrade...if it is in the cards, it is, if not then you should book with whatever cabin you will be satisfied with.

Since there are limited connecting cabins onboard...it is unlikely they would upgrade connecting cabins....but it has happened before....just don't expect it.

MJ

 

[pklein09]

Thanks for the info!

--Michelle

 

[disneyfan551]

Just keep the faith & know that Disney does make dreams come true! Our group of 4 families have all booked GTD cabins & we'll be happy with whatever we get. However, it doesn't keep me from wishing that some of that Disney Magic will come our way!

 

[wdwoldtimer]

So what you are saying is that the DCL chooses whether or not to give you an upgrade, completely without any input from the guest? There's no way to request it or let them know you are willing to be moved to a different cabin?

I thought maybe if you let them know when checking in at the port that might be the way to do it. That seems a bit odd. What if for some strange reason a guest WANTED an inside room, got blessed with an upgrade to a Verandah room, and was then unhappy? I would think they would want to know ahead of time, guests who were willing to get moved...

 

[mmouse37]

People who get upgraded are sometimes notified in advance.....sometimes not and yes, it has happened that people were not happy with their upgrades (maybe they had a fondness for a certain cabin or certain deck or location). I have found out about our upgrades (never unhappy with them!!) via the online ressie system and by contacting DCL for other matters and just inquiring if we had the same cabin as originally booked. Also, TA's notify their clients when they are notified about their clients' upgrades. You can deny an upgrade if you want to and know in advance.

And yes, DCL does decide who gets upgraded or not...it usually is based on room inventory and how many people want to book a cabin category that is already at capacity...then they would upgrade people to higher cats to free up more cabins for new people to book. You will never be downgraded. They do not not take input from the guests to determine upgrades....they would be inundated with requests for different reasons to be upgraded.

You can PURCHASE upgrades at the port if they are available...they are usually a lot less money than if you purchased upgrades before the sailing. For this you would have to get to the port very early upon opening....many people do like to purchase upgrades once at the port.

MJ

 

[wdwoldtimer]

They do not not take input from the guests to determine upgrades....they would be inundated with requests for different reasons to be upgraded.

You can PURCHASE upgrades at the port if they are available...they are usually a lot less money than if you purchased upgrades before the sailing. For this you would have to get to the port very early upon opening....many people do like to purchase upgrades once at the port.

MJ

LOL, yeah I can imagine the number of upgrade requests they'd get!

Thanks for the very informative response! I didn't know you could do the "last minute" upgrades at the port for less.

 

[AspiringCindy]

We were upgraded from a cat. 9 to a cat. 6 on a four night cruise... after we asked at the port! They did charge us $200 flat fee for our family of 4! Not Bad!

 

[crisi]

I think so few people are unhappy with their upgrades that its a safe bet for DCL. Generally, people are very happy to stay in a room that would have sold for hundreds more than they paid.

 

[dizneykids]

You can ask to be put on a wait list for a (paid) upgrade to a higher cat. Most often, it happens around the 60-day out mark when people have to make their final payment. People's plans change a lot in the time from making a ressie to having to make final payment. There's never a guarantee that you'll get a better cabin, but it's worth a try. We've had success with it.