Strategy for an upgrade at the pier

[Hundredacre]

I think the kids have to be there to check in. Our youngest ran off to sit on a chair and the person checking us in said he had to come back for us to fi n ish checking in so she could get his photo. They had one from last year but they needed a new one.

 

[VbChristy]

I think we decided the 3 of us will just trek to the port in the morning.

 

[RedM94]

What are the discounts, if you will, for upgrading at the pier? In other words, when I book my cruise, I believe the price for my room was around $3800.00 and the price for the conceierge ocean view stateroom was around $7600. These are not exact amounts, but at booking the conceierge room was say an additional $3800.

Upgrading, if available, at the pier, how much would they discount the additional $3,800? Does the fact that my original booking was done onboard our last DCL cruise allow for a larger discount?

TIA

 

[ladypiph]

What are the discounts, if you will, for upgrading at the pier? In other words, when I book my cruise, I believe the price for my room was around $3800.00 and the price for the conceierge ocean view stateroom was around $7600. These are not exact amounts, but at booking the conceierge room was say an additional $3800.

Upgrading, if available, at the pier, how much would they discount the additional $3,800? Does the fact that my original booking was done onboard our last DCL cruise allow for a larger discount?

TIA

I would like to know this as well...

 

[lanejudy]

What are the discounts, if you will, for upgrading at the pier?

It varies by cruise and I don't think anyone has figured out an exact formula that DCL uses. It is based on your booked category vs the new (upgrade) category; I do not believe OBB or any other discount is considered. I've read some reports that an upgrade at port could be half the cost of doing it in advance. That's not a specific "half" though and will vary by cruise.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[RedM94]

It varies by cruise and I don't think anyone has figured out an exact formula that DCL uses. It is based on your booked category vs the new (upgrade) category; I do not believe OBB or any other discount is considered. I've read some reports that an upgrade at port could be half the cost of doing it in advance. That's not a specific "half" though and will vary by cruise.

Enjoy your cruise!

@lanejudy

Thank you for your reply and information.

 

[zymurgy1999]

There used to be a very active thread on these boards that tracked port upgrades. It was pretty detailed and listed what category room was booked, what time you arrived at the port, what upgrades were available, how many in the party and what the cost was.

 

[professorandmom]

This one might help:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/lets-use-this-thread-to-track-port-upgrades.3009010/

Good luck!!!

 

[iambrink]

As other posters have said no one has figured it out. I can say the cabin I previously posted about cost me $6000 total when i upgraded at the port, but would have cost me $16000 if I booked it ahead of time. I can't speak to whether all savings are like that...There were many concierge cabins available online prior to our sailing...at least 8-10. I kept watching them for weeks ahead of time to see what may likely be available at the port.

 

[VbChristy]

What are the discounts, if you will, for upgrading at the pier? In other words, when I book my cruise, I believe the price for my room was around $3800.00 and the price for the conceierge ocean view stateroom was around $7600. These are not exact amounts, but at booking the conceierge room was say an additional $3800.

Upgrading, if available, at the pier, how much would they discount the additional $3,800? Does the fact that my original booking was done onboard our last DCL cruise allow for a larger discount?

TIA

So a recent Cruise in the Fantasy showed someone going from a family verandah to a 1 bedroom for about $1,300 total. Right now I would pay like $7000 more for that same cabin. Sadly the numbers available in my cruise are dwindling- it's down to 2. But If they are there the days before the cruise, I will still try for 1.

 

[coloradocutie]

Are you coming up close to your cruise date? Keep us posted! It seems like you have done an amazing job of compiling all of the information needed for a port upgrade... hope it all works out for you in a great way!!!

 

[Birdie dog]

Just as an FYI, when I'm trying to upgrade, I plan to be there as early as possible. I beat the busses. (But I drive from SC). I know on my last cruise (which was Norway) my husband and I started checking in and I was in a hurry to get him to the supervisor's desk! However, it seemed like the agent wanted pretty much all of our paperwork settled before she let him leave to get in the upgrade line. We got what we wanted though.

 

[coloradocutie]

Just as an FYI, when I'm trying to upgrade, I plan to be there as early as possible. I beat the busses. (But I drive from SC). I know on my last cruise (which was Norway) my husband and I started checking in and I was in a hurry to get him to the supervisor's desk! However, it seemed like the agent wanted pretty much all of our paperwork settled before she let him leave to get in the upgrade line. We got what we wanted though.

When you beat the buses, do they let you in to the Port early? Or do you enter with some of the early MCO buses
Is there any paperwork that can be done in advance to expedite getting to the supervisors desk?
(I bet Norway was amazing!!)

 

[PrincessShmoo]

When you beat the buses, do they let you in to the Port early? Or do you enter with some of the early MCO buses
Is there any paperwork that can be done in advance to expedite getting to the supervisors desk?
(I bet Norway was amazing!!)

The port opens at 10:30. I've read that sometimes they will allow cars in about 10 minutes early to park, but it's not guaranteed. If your PAT is not 10:30, you might be asked to wait until your actual PAT.

 

[mmouse37]

Yes, you have to complete your regular check in first, then proceed to the supervisor's desk to inquire about an upgrade.

MJ

 

[PackYourPixieDust]

Hi all!! im resurrecting this thread to update what we did (and btw, I changed my account name to this one!)

So our plan was to get in the 8:15 bus from the Marriott but we had just missed it and ended up on the 8:30 bus. There was a decent line already forming for magical express check in by the time we arrived. I took my son and got in line to check in for the bus while my husband waited for the items to off load from the truck & get checked in for magical express. We we're on the 2nd bus to the pier and were about 6-10 rows back on the bus. Upon arriving at the pier around 10 and them doing their schpeal we were somehow the first from that bus to the security line. (My husband even caught up after getting our car seat and stroller from the bottom of the bus items). So then we wentstrsight to check in at the CC line and were a handful of desks away from the port upgrades line at the end. They speedily checked us in and got us to that line. There were family verandah concierge rooms available as well one 1 bedroom- cabin 12000. But the price had just doubled from earlier reports. The family verandah (category v) went for $1500 and the 1 br for $3,000 based on our booked category of deck 6 family verandah. That $3000 made me sooo bummed but ultimately we did it and we are LOVING everything about it. Btw- they were able to move my husband into the suite officially at the port (because he was booked into his own cabin. (The mgr desk/ upgrade desk did it.). Yay!

Next item of business was securing a cabana at castaway cay. We positioned ourselves to not be pushy but to be 1st in the concierge area to get onboard once it was time. Then we went straight to the lounge once onboard and were first to talk to a converge host. We explained that we just upgraded and were wondering if there were any cabanas available and if not we'd like to be wait listed. We were first on the wait list and Tuesday morning we were told that they were able to secure us a cabana on the family beach. (Apparently the wait list was pages and pages long.)

So that's my update. We did learn that ultimately at least for now while we spend a lot of time in the room, we will just book into this category from the start.

 

[coloradocutie]

Congrats! Sounds like it all worked out and that you had a great time!Thanks for the update!

Curious, was the availability at the port the same as what the availability showing online prior to the cruise?