If you have ever rec'd a complimentary upgrade

[FredS]

Please post some specifics, such as:

-Your original stateroom category
-Your upgraded category
-Month/year of cruise
-Did you initially select a stateroom or just guarantee a category?
-If you recall, approximately how far in advance you made your reservation

I read and hear so many different theories of when and how upgrades are given, and am just curious about any sort of pattern which may be there.

Nope, not expecting an upgrade, but am wondering a little about odds for our upcoming two cruises. Will be thrilled to be there, regardless!!

 

[martinez03]

Fred, I made our reservation about two weeks ago for the 08/02/2003 7 day western cruise. I was guaranteed two cat 11 inside staterooms. I checked my reservation today and was upgraded to 2 category 10 rooms that are next to each other which worked out great. I don' t know how that worked out but I am thrilled about it. Good Luck!

 

[justmestace]

We were booked in a Cat 3 on the May 30, 2002, 3 day Wonder. We had a Land & Sea package that we had added days at DW onto the beginning.
We booked 9 months in advance and paid in full up-front.
We received a call at the Poly the night before the cruise that we had a complimentary upgrade to a Cat 2. What a treat that was. Now we are spoiled. Apparently, the people who were to be in our Cat 2 were moved up to the Roy. I figured we were just next in line as far as Catagory, and booking ahead...but now I see that a lot of people book 2 years ahead, so I don't know how we got so lucky. Couldn't book a 2 this time, as we aren't Land & Sea, but got upgraded to it last week!

 

[Wishing on a star]

I am wondering about one theory.....

From what I have been hearing here on the DIS, does it not seem that people who have booked directly thru DCL seem to be getting first consideration for those few coveted upgrades? It seems that people are being called by DCL (not their TA) or are checking their reservations on the DCL site...

I have read elsewhere that who you book thru can make a difference. Also, just a note, it seems that Barb and Tony do not book directly thru DCL, and they have never been offered an upgrade in 32+ cruises??? I know that they book their favorite rooms... but still.

Anybody here been upgraded that did NOT book directly thru DCL, or did NOT book a gty category (which seems to mean possible upgrade)?

 

[Bronco Joe]

Originally posted by Wishing on a star
I am wondering about one theory.....

From what I have been hearing here on the DIS, does it not seem that people who have booked directly thru DCL seem to be getting first consideration for those few coveted upgrades...

I was thinking this also.

Anybody here been upgraded that did NOT book directly thru DCL, or did NOT book a gty category (which seems to mean possible upgrade)?

Our cruise is a guaranteed category, but we have not heard anything. I guess it is not a big deal - we are of the opinion to get the lowest price room possible since we don't plan on spending too much time there... If we really wanted a different cabin, we'd pay for a different one.

I could never figure out the allure of a port hole - doesn't the water just always look the same? And I LOVE that it is pitch in the room at night - finally a decent night's sleep!

 

[Pugdog007]

Originally posted by FredS

-Your original stateroom category
-Your upgraded category
-Month/year of cruise
-Did you initially select a stateroom or just guarantee a category?
-If you recall, approximately how far in advance you made your reservation

I booked via DU but received the upgrade call directly from DCL.

1. Booked Cat 7
2. Upgraded to Cat 4
3. May-03
4. Selected specific stateroom 5632.
5. Booked approx 6 mos in advance

I believe my experience may dispel some assumptions posted here! I honestly think they select at random.

 

[rsholtis]

I booked a Cat 11 on July 1st for the Aug 2nd cruise, and Disney actually gave me a call aroung July 10th letting me know that they upgraded us to a Cat 9. This is our second cruise booked through Disney - and we got a military discount this time....I do think that the fact that we booked through Disney helped with the upgrade.

 

[Wishing on a star]

So, the mystery continues!!!!

 

[moinab]

We booked a cat 11 on June 26 for the July 17 cruise. We went through a local TA, using the FL resident offer. When we received our docs, we noticed we had been upgraded to a cat 9, stateroom 2012.

DS-almost 3 was absolutely enthralled with the porthole, and spent all of his time in the stateroom sitting at it. I think he would have slept there, if we let him. He loved looking at the other ships while we were in port, and enjoyed watching the water while we were at sea. Because we were travelling with a toddler and an infant, we spent more time in the stateroom than most people would, so we really appreciated the free view.

I do believe it is a random process, but gty makes it more likely, as DCL will be placing you in whatever is left. One final thought just occured to me. After our bags were delivered to our stateroom, another set of luggage appeared. We checked the tags and noticed they had our stateroom number, but someone else's name, so they must have been upgraded after receiving their docs. I think it might be easier for DCL to upgrade on gty to avoid little snags such as this one.

 

[clori]

We were booked on a 4day land/3 day sea package thru a traditional travel agency for category 12 starting Aug 24 cruise part started Aug 28, 1998 I think. We booked about a year in advance but this was before the ship had even started sailing. It kept getting postponed so we weren't sure until it started sailing in July what we were doing for our honeymoon. We went to our category 12 room using the room number we had been assigned. While the door was still open a housekeeper came by and mentioned that this was not our room. We were escorted to another room which was category 9 and received some gifts such as champagne/wine glasses and a mickey mouse shaped cutting board and cheese/fruit. Our luggage actually made it to our room before we did. The land portion stayed what we had booked Dixie Landings which we loved.

 

[TnRobin]

In my 4 years here, I have been trying to figure out the pattern. I have come to the conclusion, there is no pattern.

I have seen people booked with DCL get upgrades. I have seen people booked with TAs get upgrades. I have even seen people who booked with DVC get an upgrade.

I have seen people with assigned room and with guarenteed rooms get an upgrade.

I have seen people who pay off thier balance early get an upgrade. I have seen people who paid at the last minute get upgrades.

I have seen Castaway Cay Club members get upgrades. I have seen first time cruisers get upgrades.

I have seen upgrades happen in most every month.

Having said that, I have once been blessed with an upgrade before I became a moderator here.

It was in Sept 2000, from Cat 4 to Cat 3. We had a room assigned. Paid my balance on the 60 day mark. Booked with Dreams Unlimited Travel.

 

[Marshmelo]

I booked a category 11 on 7/6 for the 9/14 Cruise. I did not request a specific room, but did request deck # 6. It will be my first time cruising. I paid the balance upfront and booked directly through Disney. Up until yesterday, when I checked my reservation online, the cabin # said GTY. Yesterday, it said #6018, which is a category 8. I'm not sure if booking fairly close to cruise time helped, paying up front, or requesting a certain deck #. I tend to think it's all luck and chance.

 

[AnnMorin]

My first cruise we paid for a Cat.3 and got no upgrade-Go figure?
Cruise number two we smartend up and booked a cat12 and were immediately bounced up to Cat.2.. Ahhh now I had it figured out!
Last year we paid to only sleep in a life boat and they gave us the Roy Disney suite!
( I am only kidding by the way- never had an upgrade, can't figure out the logic behind them, gave up trying long ago and just book what I want ahead of time)

 

[Grumbo]

Booked Category 11
Upgraded to Category 9
Early March Cruise
Just a category and were given papers with a Category 11 room on them.
Booked approximately 6 - 7 months in advance through a travel agent locally.

The TA was called and they in turn contacted us to let us know about the upgrade. We found out about 5 days before the cruise. We had another couple with us that had their own room/cabin that were booked with the same TA etc and they did NOT get an upgrade.

I think there is a dartboard with room numbers at DCL and we were lucky enough to have received the upgrade.
Don't know if we'll ever get another, and if we don't I'm happy we at least got one that showed us how nice the view and split bathrooms are. We went for a verandah for our next cruise and don't know if we would have, had we not seen how great having the porthole and seeing the "outside world" from our cabin was.

Cheers,
Grumbo

 

[Kaslee]

We booked a cat 11 originally through Transolar, a UK company approx 9 months before travelling. We phoned to ask how much it would cost to alter cabin to a porthole cabin and the prices had gone down so we altered to a Cat 9, cabin no 2004 for about the same price. We had all our docs arrive with this number on them. On arrival at checkin the CM on the desk said " You have been moved to room 7628". This was a cat 7, navigators verandah.
We were totally thrilled. The CM also said "your TA must have some clout". When we got home I emailed Transolar and thanked them for any help they had given, but the reply they sent didn't take any credit for the upgrade.

I really believe that it was totally random, although another theory of mine is that it could be that as we were "foreigners", travelling to the US at a time when the tourist industry is suffering a bit, they may have decided to reward us. I also wonder if they read these boards and pick people who will have good things to say about them after their trip. ( I know that on our cruise another DIS board user was upgraded)

Good luck in finding a pattern,

Kay

 

[married@wdw]

Originally posted by Kaslee
I also wonder if they read these boards and pick people who will have good things to say about them after their trip. ( I know that on our cruise another DIS board user was upgraded)

Well, then, just in case, we'll be sailing January 8th on the 3-day Wonder and I'll say all sorts of nice things about the cruise if I can get an upgrade! Currently booked in room #7567!

We've only sailed one other time on DCL, January 4, 1998, Category 8. I didn't meet one person along the way that had been upgraded, but I don't think you could have fit one more person on the boat if you tried. It seemed mobbed. I called to move us to a better room about 2 months before the cruise and there was nothing to be had -- the boat was basically full.

So how does that effect upgrades? If the cruise fills up, obviously, there can't be many upgrades. But how frequently does the ship actually fill up without people who get last minute "deals" and Florida resident rates?

 

[kcatoir]

Very Excited....
We booked 3 day cruise on wonder for 9/18 back in May...
Did book thru local travel agent that DH uses for business,
We purchased a guaranteed cat 11...called TA today to ck cabin assignment.......UPGRADED to cat 9 ocean view YEAH!!!!!!!
SOO EXCITED!!!
Have heard that if you book cat 11 during time when they are having great deals ($1200 for 4) sometimes will get upgrade so they can open up more of the "deal rooms" to get more bookings and fill up the ship...

Don't know but good luck to all you hoping for an upgrade.
Its a great feeling

 

[Favorite Auntie]

kcatoir,
My parents travel agent told us the same thing. We have a cat 11 gty booked for our Nov 2003 sailing with 4 people. We have not been assigned a room yet. The TA said that since we have 4 people she would not be surprised if we got upgraded, since there are a limited number of cat 11 rooms with room for 4.

Interesting note: While on our last sailing in January during the Castaway Club reception my mother was talking to the head of hotel service and my mom told her that she loves DCL BUT - she has never been upgraded. And they sailed on two different cruise lines, each only once, and they were upgraded on both cruises. She took our room number and the date of our November sailing......I am wondering if she did something to our reservation???? One can only hope!

 

[Wishing on a star]

About those having good things to say about DCL being favored for upgrades.... I think Barb and Tony would disagree!

So, we are back to the random 'dart-board' theory!


Perhaps this will increase our chances :

PLEASE, give me an upgrade!!!!
PUH-LEASE!!!
Pick ME!!! Pick ME!!!
C'mon!!! I really DESERVE it!!!


Well, who knows, it's worth a shot!

 

[jan lyn]

We just returned from the 7/12/03 7 day Eastern cruise, which was our second cruise. We booked the 7/12/03 one year prior with DCL, booking a category 8.. requesting a specific room.

We paid in full, 60 days out.

In late May, we were informed of our upgrade.. to a category 5. It was better than winning the lottery! The verandah rooms are fabulous.

We're scheduled for the 12/04 Christmas cruise.. and book a verandah room.. we're spoiled now!