Port upgrade question

[cruisinmom]

We are sailing on the Sept. 10 Mediterranean and then staying on for the WBTA cruise. I don't want to upgrade the Med. cruise but would love to for the TA cruise. Since we will be the first ones let back on the ship because of BTB, who would I talk to about the upgrade? As of right now, they show 4-1 bedroom suites and 1-2bedroom suite available. We are in a cat. 9C and would love to get a one bedroom suite (it's our 25th so would be a nice gift!). Currently the prices for 1 bedroom are $10, 172. We used our OBB discount and paid $2448 for our 9C. Can someone with experience guesstimate what we might expect to pay for an upgrade? Also, any help or recommendations would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank You.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Well the official place is when you re check in. As a back to back person you go off the Magic at 9 am, then wait in an area then when they turn over the cruises, after everyone is off you check in for cruise two that's the official time to do it.

I would recommend that you speak to guest services during your first cruise, see what thry say, speak to a senior person there, when we did B2B we were asked about the penultimate day, what rotation we wanted, do we want sane servers, and about our room having a deep clean the day before so we could use it on turnaround morning.

So I would say, ask at guest services, maybe a couple of days pre first cruise ending, it maybe it's only at check in, but DCL land operations close the cruise and upload information about three days pre cruise, and download that to the shop, so go to GS within 72 hours when that's occurred.

If you did it before they may expect you to pay full upgrade costs not port upgrade costs.

 

[ldo]

don't know if it helps, but for 9C to balcony for 7 day European sailings, I was told (by 2 persons who upgraded on 2 different sailings) that it would be $600 vs. $2K prior to cruise. If you try for port upgrade, would you mind also please asking what the upgrade from 9C to balcony is? I would like to know for EBTA sailing. thanks, Elaine

 

[clten]

For B2B in US ports, they require you to get off the ship to check back on. This is not always the case with B2B in Europe. But either way, you would have to wait until the ship closes out the first cruise and opens up the second. Anything before that will be as if you were doing it through DCL Reservations meaning -- full cost. (Although they close online bookings 3 days before the cruise, they continue to sell. So checking what is available 3 days prior may give you a great idea what will be available for your TA cruise, there can be changes in availability during those last few days.) So once they open up the second cruise and check you in, you can then ask about the upgrade and cost. You should have a great shot at the upgrade as you would be among the first ones able to do it. If they make you get off the ship, you would check in then ask to speak to a supervisor. If you don't get off the ship, go to Guest Services and do it there. (They may give you a time to be at Guest Services but I would be there pretty soon after all the other guests leave so you are there when the second cruise is open and they haven't started checking in new passengers.)

As far as cost, I can't help you there other than to say it doesn't matter what you paid for your current category. The upgrade costs are set and calculated between your current category and the one you want to upgrade to.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

B2B Cruises in Copenhagen had to get off and wait, we saw them through the glass in the terminal.

 

[clten]

Yes but as the OP is sailing from Barcelona, the practices in Copenhagen really don't apply. That's why I said it varies in Europe. In the past Barcelona B2B passengers could stay onboard. But I don't know that is what is going to happen this year so gave advice for either way.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

In the past Barcelona B2B passengers could stay onboard.

Not always. Our 2010 Med/WBTA B2B we had to get off the ship. But, there over 300 of us doing the B2B. Maybe too many for Guest Services to handle alone.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Yes but as the OP is sailing from Barcelona, the practices in Copenhagen really don't apply. That's why I said it varies in Europe. In the past Barcelona B2B passengers could stay onboard. But I don't know that is what is going to happen this year so gave advice for either way.

I would say currently, all B2B cruisers in Europe do have to get off, whether it's Copenhagen, Dover or Barcelona, yes it occurred in the past. Security and procedures have tightened up in the last couple of years.

Can I ask, when do you refer to? What year?

I like you have given an answer from experience, mine is in Europe, this year, on the Magic, yes There has been one cruise to/ from Barcelona this year on the 1st where someone could update us on B2Bs I know a few who did Dover > Barcelona / 12 night Italian tour.

I would add " even" if they allowed European B2Bs to " stay on, a Barcelona round trip, then WBTA B2B would not be allowed. They will have to get off. This would be to satisfy USA immigration rules. A TA ending in the USA will require advance notice of cruisers to be advised to USA immigration, IE API and for non USA guests a ESTA or a Visa check, and the USA can instruct the port of Barcelona and DCL to deny boarding, if they are not happy, IE prison record.

As the prior cruise is all in Europe is Not notified, but a TA that ends in the USA is notified, therefore anyone could be denied boarding, hence you have to get off, go through Checks and then get back on.

DCL can be fined if it doesn't co- operate or is lax. This has all been tightened in recent years.

 

[eva]

We upgraded at port for a 3 day cruise out of Port Canaveral back when the Wonder and Magice were there. We paid just under $800 for an upgrade from a verandah room to a 1 bedroom for the 3 days. So I would guesstimate $3-4,000.

 

[coloradocutie]

Have a great trip!

We upgraded at port for this year's EBTA from a 4A into a 1 bedroom suite and it was $2600, FWIW. We had used an OBB and it didn't matter- they just looked at where we were and where we wanted to go to.

I suspect that there were some B2B-ers who took advantage of what you would like to do. When we upgraded, we were the first ones in the terminal to arrive at the supervisors desk, but some of the available rooms had already been taken. There were two cast members there. When we arrived and mentioned that we would like to upgrade, the first cast member said "there are four suites available", then the other cast member said "no", marking off some staterooms off the list "these were just taken". We were the first ones there through the terminal, but anyone doing a B2B might have had earlier access and upgraded. The room we upgraded into did not show up as an available stateroom when I was following it prior to departure.

If you can upgrade into concierge, it would really make the crossing luxurious for you!!! We really enjoyed the extra space and amenities- especially for that long of a cruise. Hope that it works out for you!
Happy anniversary!