Lets use this thread to track Port Upgrades

[jxd]

Port upgrade report.

#1. Was upgrade available? Yes
#2. What category did you pay for? 10c. 2A / 2C 12,10
#3. Which Ship? Wonder
#4. Number of Nights? 5
#5. Month/day/year of Sailing 11/23/14 Miami Thanksgiving
#6. What time did you check-in? 12:00
#7. What category were you offered for upgrade? 1 Bd Concierge
#8. How much was the upgrade? $1,750. Pricey but considering total cost of cruise was $5,000 inc'l upgrade, we thought is was the only way we could ever sail in this category.

Roy suite had been available for $3,000 but was already taken when we got there.

Loved the room and will do it again if available!

 

[joecatz]

#1. Was upgrade available? Yes
#2. What category did you pay for? VGT
#3. Which Ship? Fantasy
#4. Number of Nights? 7
#5. Month/day/year of Sailing 12/6/14
#6. What time did you check-in? 10:30
#7. What category were you offered for upgrade? 1 Bd Concierge or concierge veranda
#8. How much was the upgrade? $1,925 1BR 1225 family. Went with the 1BR

We sailed on dream last year this time and also got the upgrade! There were actually four concierge options available. Went in downstairs got to terminal around 10:00 am. It was smooth as silk!! So excited!! Wife a little stressed about the cost but I know it will be worth it.

 

[disneymommy1979]

#1. Was upgrade available? Yes #2. What category did you pay for? VGT #3. Which Ship? Fantasy #4. Number of Nights? 7 #5. Month/day/year of Sailing 12/6/14 #6. What time did you check-in? 10:30 #7. What category were you offered for upgrade? 1 Bd Concierge or concierge veranda #8. How much was the upgrade? $1,925 1BR 1225 family. Went with the 1BR We sailed on dream last year this time and also got the upgrade! There were actually four concierge options available. Went in downstairs got to terminal around 10:00 am. It was smooth as silk!! So excited!! Wife a little stressed about the cost but I know it will be worth it.

Thanks for the information! Have a wonderful cruise!

 

[lotofheart]

I am confused - how do you get to the port before your port arrival time? Well I understand how one does that but do they process you before your time?

Also, I have no clue what all the letters mean for rooms -9c, 4a, etc. I booked a VGT. IF I am offered an upgrade will I have time to figure out what the heck the letters mean? Is there a simple code breaker for this? Lol. Who knew planning a vacation could be so complicated?

TIA

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I am confused - how do you get to the port before your port arrival time? Well I understand how one does that but do they process you before your time? Also, I have no clue what all the letters mean for rooms -9c, 4a, etc. I booked a VGT. IF I am offered an upgrade will I have time to figure out what the heck the letters mean? Is there a simple code breaker for this? Lol. Who knew planning a vacation could be so complicated? TIA

You can arrive to the terminal before your port arrival time. That time is more of a suggestion. The only way they'd not let you in and check you in is if the building is at capacity (according to fire code). I can't recall ever hearing of that happening.

The letters (9c, 4a, etc.) are stateroom categories. If you booked a verandah guarantee (VGT) about a week to 2 weeks prior to sailing you'll receive your assigned room number. It'll just show up one day in your online cruise info so be checking. When your stateroom number gets assigned you'll be able to know which verandah category you got.

For the purpose of calculating a port upgrade they use a chart with set prices. The numbers are based in what category you paid for to what category you are going to. So in your case they'd go to the line for VGT since that's what you paid for then cross it to whatever category you want to go to. Doesn't matter how many people in your stateroom. Its category to category.

I guess maybe it's changed for guarantee rates. I seem to remember it being from what category we were assigned to the upgraded category when we did a port upgrade on a FLR discount. Interesting.

 

[1Winston]

Wondering when port opens and best time to be there for upgrade. Also wondering if anyone upgraded from V to T? There is currently only one T available for our fantasy cruise in Jan and we would love this, what are the chances? Any insight would be appreciated.
Thank you!!

 

[VbChristy]

If arriving around 2 do I have a chance to get a port upgrade??? What about 12:30 ish

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Wondering when port opens and best time to be there for upgrade. Also wondering if anyone upgraded from V to T? There is currently only one T available for our fantasy cruise in Jan and we would love this, what are the chances? Any insight would be appreciated. Thank you!!

Opens around 10:30 or shortly after. Best to be there at opening or earlier. The sooner you can get to the supervisor's desk the better.

If arriving around 2 do I have a chance to get a port upgrade??? What about 12:30 ish

I won't say no chance but certainly much slimmer to get to concierge rooms. If you're an inside stateroom hoping to get to a verandah that's more likely. It also depends on time of year, how sold out your ship is, etc.

 

[hbg4]

We checked in early and got to the supervisor's desk around 10.15am. There were a few families in front of us. There was already a sign stating ship full, no upgrades, but people were getting upgraded. The guy in front of us had sent his family to check him in while he waited on line. Guess what he got the cat T. By the time I got seen 20 mins later since only one person was taking care of passengers at this desk, there were only cat 5 and lower available.

 

[ptcbass]

Here is a thought and I think I know the answer but thought I'd ask....

Would the price of the upgrades drop as the day goes on? Example at 10:30 (when everyone wants a upgrade) the prices be set and then as the day goes on and the ship has most passengers already checked in would they drop the price of a upgrade?

 

[Wendy&Grumpy]

Here is a thought and I think I know the answer but thought I'd ask....

Would the price of the upgrades drop as the day goes on? Example at 10:30 (when everyone wants a upgrade) the prices be set and then as the day goes on and the ship has most passengers already checked in would they drop the price of a upgrade?

I doubt they ever last long enough to drop!

 

[ptcbass]

I doubt they ever last long enough to drop!

Your probably right

 

[lotofheart]

Perhaps this is a naive question. Is it worth an extra $2000.00 to stay in concierge (I think that seemed to be the average for the 1 bedroom concierge). We stayed in concierge at Animal Kingdom a number of years ago but there were distinct advantages (access to safari tours that weren't open to anyone else, free alcohol in lounge (and you could take it from the lounge to the pool area,), the extra snacks etc in the lounge (on cruise its all free anyway).

I just think I must be missing something (I am sure I am as I a brand new to the whole Disney cruise thing).

Thanks!

 

[ptcbass]

Well you will have your own area of the ship and sun deck that no one else will be able to have access to. There is also a lounge for only concierge level passengers with snacks and bottled water (regular passengers have to pay for bottled water). You would also be able to board in the first group but they call the numbers so close together that this one almost doesn't count.

You also have the concierge staff ready to help you with anything you might need.

I think that is about it. Hopefully someone else will chime in.

 

[wallskm]

I'm unsure of the best time to arrive for a possible chance at an upgrade. I want to balance getting there in time with not standing in line outside the port forever with 3 kids including a baby. Does 10:15 seem reasonable for arrival time?

 

[jcjen519]

Well you will have your own area of the ship and sun deck that no one else will be able to have access to. There is also a lounge for only concierge level passengers with snacks and bottled water (regular passengers have to pay for bottled water). You would also be able to board in the first group but they call the numbers so close together that this one almost doesn't count. You also have the concierge staff ready to help you with anything you might need. I think that is about it. Hopefully someone else will chime in.

You don't just board in the first group. They take you ahead of everyone whenever you arrive. There are a lot of perks; we love concierge.

 

[ptcbass]

You don't just board in the first group. They take you ahead of everyone whenever you arrive. There are a lot of perks; we love concierge.

What other perks? We were thinking about upgrading on our next Fantasy cruise but didn't think it would be worth it for us.

 

[MouseFan88]

Just got off the Dream!

#1. What catagory did you pay for? 11A
#2. Which Ship? Disney Dream
#3. Number of Nights? 4 nights
#4. Month/Year of Sailing - December 2014
#5. What was your Port of Arrival time assignment? 10:45
#6. What time did you check-in? 10:40-ish
#7. What category were you offered for upgrade? 9B
#8. How much was the upgrade? $0 - free upgrade due to emergency maintenance issue in assigned room

 

[wl1117]

#1. What category did you pay for? VGT
#2. Which Ship? Fantasy
#3. Number of Nights? 7 nights
#4. Month/Year of Sailing - December 2014
#5. What was your Port of Arrival time assignment? 1st bus from MCO, 3rd group of guests in the terminal
#6. What time did you check-in? 10ish
#7. What category were you offered for upgrade? Cat V
#8. How much was the upgrade? $1225

 

[Silly Little Pixie]

If we are arriving by rental car, is it best for DH to drop us off and then he returns the car, taking the shuttle back? Can we check in and get in line for upgrades without him?

Or best for us all to take the shuttle together from the rental car company? If so, how soon can we get back to the port to check in?

Thanks! The last time we upgraded was in L.A. Haven't upgraded at Port Canaveral in several years.