Ok, walk me through upgrades at the port.

[cruizincathi]

So we are booked for our 3rd Disney cruise. The first, we were part of a group and had rooms together, so we had no interest. Our 2nd, we were concierge, so there was no need. Now that concierge is priced more than a year of college for my kids, we are booked in a 4c stateroom. I would be interested in an upgrade, if available, but have no idea how this works. My questions:
1. Where do you go for the upgrade? Is there a desk, a line, etc?

2. Do you have to go through the regular check in line to the left in the terminal before you can try for an upgrade?

3. I forget, does everyone in the party need to be in the check in line or can 1 go wait wherever upgrades are going to be available?

4. When do they announce upgrade? If the port arrival time is 10:30(and I know some get there earlier), do they have the upgrade available soon after opening or does this process start later?

Again, I know this is not a guarantee and that upgrades are not always available, but just want to know how the process works in the event we do get the chance. Thanks!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

You check in then go to the supervisors desk.

As long as one has checked in you can do it.

The supervisors desk opens at 10.30 with check in.

You will often see a sign saying, captain Mickey says the ship is full and no upgrades available.

There is no announcement, just go to the supervisors desk after check in.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

In reference to the checking in and everyone being there, I can tell you that at Port Canaveral they do require that everyone be there to check in, meaning you can't check in someone else. They said it changed last May due to increased Customs security measures, which honestly makes sense. I can't speak to how this would impact then being able to proceed to the Supervisors Desk to check on upgrades. If anyone has tried checking in for others, then gone to the Supervisors desk, lately, perhaps they can also share their experience but I at least wanted to point out in December I could not check DH in while he was returning the car rental but she checked in myself and DS and then when he arrived, we got back in line (Platinum so it wasn't bad) and then checked him in and boarded since they were already on group 3 by then.

Heather

 

[cruizincathi]

Where is the supervisor's desk? Is it along the left side where the check in counter is or is it somewhere else?

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Where is the supervisor's desk? Is it along the left side where the check in counter is or is it somewhere else?

If you are referring to Port Canaveral, it's to the far right side of the regular check in desks.

Thanks,
Heather

 

[dcassetta]

I cannot speak to upgrades, but in my experiences last fall at Port Canaveral and Miami all adults had to check themselves in. I was not allowed to check in anyone else even though I had all the passports.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I think we're drifting off topic, the question is on upgrades not check in, and yes only the person can only check themselves in, they can't check in others, I have done that, but the question was about when you can upgrade.

 

[dcassetta]

Yes, I understand the original post was asking about upgrades. However, I'm not sure if you would be allowed to upgrade if all the adults in your stateroom have not yet checked in. I have not personally tried to upgrade. If anyone has been able to get an upgrade when only one person in the stateroom has checked in, I would be interested to hear about that experience.

 

[gwmort]

I have an Oceanview room on a 7 night cruise out of Barcelona in august. I am thinking of upgrading to a verandah room. is it better to do it now or take my chances at the port, looks like there are still a good number of verandah rooms available.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I think we're drifting off topic, the question is on upgrades not check in, and yes only the person can only check themselves in, they can't check in others, I have done that, but the question was about when you can upgrade.

Yes, I understand the original post was asking about upgrades. However, I'm not sure if you would be allowed to upgrade if all the adults in your stateroom have not yet checked in. I have not personally tried to upgrade. If anyone has been able to get an upgrade when only one person in the stateroom has checked in, I would be interested to hear about that experience.

Yes agreed - that's why I worded mine the way I did as well. Not sure if this impacts being able to proceed to the Supervisors desk if in theory, not everyone has checked in (if poster or others do it that way). I'd hate for someone to show up, have hopes of proceeding to the Supervisors desk if they haven't completely checked in and were advised they could not.

Hopefully others that have done it recently can chime in. I know I see posts where people don't realize that everyone must be present now for checking in now since it changed.

Thanks,
Heather

 

[melwill530]

Our experience with the upgrade was that everyone in the room had to be checked in and they all had to be present at the supervisor's desk as well. That included adults and children.

 

[cruizincathi]

I was hoping to be able to check in my 16 yo or 19 yo and send one of them to the upgrade line. If we are there early enough, check in should ge quickly and we may get to them before the upgrade line opens. (otherwise, didn't know if all 4 of us had to stand together while they checked us in. I know we need photos taken.) My last 2 cruises, I have literally been the first person into the terminal. I just wanted to know the layout and locations since I know the terminal well, but have never tried for an upgrade so didn't know where that line formed.

 

[Snowwhyt]

So we are booked for our 3rd Disney cruise.

I too am on my 3rd Disney cruise.


The first, we were part of a group and had rooms together, so we had no interest. Our 2nd, we were concierge, so there was no need. Now that concierge is priced more than a year of college for my kids, we are booked in a 4c stateroom.

Our first was inside 11C GTY. My husband, daughter and I. Husband didn't want to spend money on cruise.

Our 2nd, was 9C, I wanted a window for my parents. The extra space was wonderful. No husband, he felt last cruise was a waste of money & time.

The 3rd now is Alaska. We are again booked for a 9C. Silly me, would love the Navigator Veranda but there's still 4 of us. Since its Alaska a veranda would be nice. We have been sold out for 3 months prior to cruise. I assume I have little to no hope.

I would be interested in an upgrade, if available, but have no idea how this works. My questions:
1. Where do you go for the upgrade? Is there a desk, a line, etc?
Is it the same place for Alaska???

4. When do they announce upgrade? If the port arrival time is 10:30(and I know some get there earlier), do they have the upgrade available soon after opening or does this process start later?
Do you find out right away when you ask about upgrading? I'd like a veranda of course. I wish there was a larger window that I could choose from.
Again, I know this is not a guarantee and that upgrades are not always available, but just want to know how the process works in the event we do get the chance. Thanks!

I hope you get the room you hope for on your cruise. I wrote this earlier this morning to give you a bump.

 

[Misty V]

stupid question from a new cruiser- are these upgrades free or do we pay extra, if lucky enough to get one? Also, heard those who book earlier get first dibs?

 

[gismo1554]

stupid question from a new cruiser- are these upgrades free or do we pay extra, if lucky enough to get one? Also, heard those who book earlier get first dibs?

These are paid for upgrades. Free upgrades tend to appear magically before you sail.

I have an Oceanview room on a 7 night cruise out of Barcelona in august. I am thinking of upgrading to a verandah room. is it better to do it now or take my chances at the port, looks like there are still a good number of verandah rooms available.

I think it depends how much you want it. If you definitely want a verandah do it now. If it would be nice but not essential then I would wait it out and see

 

[twinsouvenirs]

Would love to hear how this went! Tossing around seeing if there are any concierge upgrades when we get to the port in July on the Fantasy...

 

[Trera]

We checked in today soon after the port opened and the boat was full so the sign was up stating no upgrades available.

In the past, you had to check in and have your room key in hand prior to checking for upgrades.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

In the past, you had to check in and have your room key in hand prior to checking for upgrades.

That's still what you have to do. Check in first, the head for the supervisor's desk to inquire about upgrades.

 

[Mikeb1892]

When upgrades are available, are they discounted and if so, approx how much?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

When upgrades are available, are they discounted and if so, approx how much?

At the supervisor's desk, if there are rooms available, they have a chart for how much it costs to upgrade from each category to some other category. It varies from cruise to cruise what the price differences are.

Basically, the difference is generally lower than the difference would have been between any two given categories on the day preceding the cruise.