Upgrade question

[wehavesix]

We have booked a cruise for next January but are thinking about upgrading it to concierge. If we decide to upgrade later (assuming availability), which price difference would we pay? The difference on the day we originally booked or the difference on the day we upgrade? I'm trying to decide if we should hurry up and decide just in case the prices rise or if we have some time to think it over safe in the knowledge that we are locked in on the price difference. Again, I do realize availability could be a problem but that's a whole other issue.

 

[lanejudy]

Prices are locked in the day you book. If you only change categories, not cruise dates, the rates will be based on the date when you first booked the cruise.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[wehavesix]

That's what I thought. Thanks!

 

[hbg4]

This is not what happened to me in March 2013. I was in a category 8 and wanted to upgrade to a T. I was quoted a rate $7,000 more than the original rate was for T concierge when I booked.
These are the responses that I got from DCL
"Whether it be a Travel Agent, Guest, or an Agent at Disney Cruise Line,
when a category is changed on a reservation it is always at the
prevailing rate. This has always been the way our reservation system
works. The reservation system (availability and pricing) is the same
whether you call us or go online at www.disneycruise.com.
With that being said, it could be that when the category change is being
made the price is still the same as when originally reserved. However,
we always tell our Guests pricing and availability is subject to change
without notice. It is possible to reserve or price a cruise in the
morning and call back later that day and the cost be higher."

" Please allow me to explain, when stateroom categories are waitlisted it
means that staterooms in the category you are requesting are not
available and therefore pricing for the staterooms is also not
available.
The reservation is booked at the prevailing rate, since all pricing and
availability are subject to change until a reservation has been booked."

"For example, if you reserve a cruise in March, 2013, and are given
prices for different categories, those prices are valid for that point
in time. If you reserve that cruise for a particular category and
receive a confirmation number, that is the only category that has the
price 'locked-in'. If you contact us a few months later and choose to
change the stateroom category, you will be provided the price of the
category on that date, not the date in March, 2013, when you originally
booked the cruise.
That is the reason we encourage our Guests to select the stateroom
desired (if possible) at the time of reserving the cruise since pricing
does change and in most cases will increase as the saildate gets closer."
So basically my understanding is, if the category you want to upgrade to was sold out, once it becomes available you will be paying the current rate.

 

[flinkerfrosch]

If you change staterooms, but remain in the same Category then you will pay the same price as when you booked, but if you try to upgrade to another category then you will pay the price of that stateroom from now, not when you booked days, weeks or months ago. I've done this multiple times in the last year, so I've learned the drill!
I would also mention, don't wait to book Concierge if you really want it because it can go very fast!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

If you change staterooms, but remain in the same Category then you will pay the same price as when you booked, but if you try to upgrade to another category then you will pay the price of that stateroom from now, not when you booked days, weeks or months ago. I've done this multiple times in the last year, so I've learned the drill!
I would also mention, don't wait to book Concierge if you really want it because it can go very fast!

It's often been reported here that if you change categories ON THE SAME CRUISE/SAME DATE you will only be charged what that category cost on the day the original booking was made.

If you call and ask a CM on the phone what the policy is, chances are you will receive an incorrect answer. Unfortunately, that happens a lot.

If they've changed this, it's a recent change.

 

[flinkerfrosch]

It's often been reported here that if you change categories ON THE SAME CRUISE/SAME DATE you will only be charged what that category cost on the day the original booking was made.

If you call and ask a CM on the phone what the policy is, chances are you will receive an incorrect answer. Unfortunately, that happens a lot.

If they've changed this, it's a recent change.

Now that I think of it, I may have had both scenarios happen. I'm going to find out and report back!

 

[wehavesix]

Hm. A controversy! We aren't prepared to upgrade right now no matter what the policy actually is in this situation. I guess we will see once we decide to upgrade, if there is any availability by then. If not, we are happy with what we already have.

 

[mmouse37]

I am with Schmoo....if they changed the policy then it is recent.

MJ

 

[ILovePixieDust]

I have done this for two cruises (back to back) that I had booked for summer 2015. (Dover to Barcelona and then the 5 day mediterranean) I changed my mind in May (originally booked in March on opening day) and decided to move to ocean view instead of inside staterooms. I kept the same tier pricing for both cruises and did not pay prevailing rates. Prevailing rates were a lot more by that time already. I remember being very relieved at having booked opening day and being able to still keep opening day price points.

 

[Flossbolna]

I downgraded my stateroom for a cruise in June about two weeks ago. Prevailing prices would have meant that I would have had to pay more for the lower category stateroom. However, I got a refund. Even after PIF. So, for me even for downgrading it was not the prevailing rate, but the rate applicable at the time of my original booking.

I am amazed that @hbg4 got a written answer stating that it would be prevailing rates if Disney actually does not apply this policy. However, maybe it is only true for upgrades to concierge that the old pricing structure is not grandfathered in?