Upgrades on DCL when using DVC points

[tlynk]

I have a crazy question: I recently booked a cruise using my DVC points and I asked to be put mid-ship. After I got off the phone I looked up the cabin I will be staying in and it is as far forward as possible. The CM did ask me if a certain stateroom was ok, but I didn't verify it by asking more questions (my fault). The CM was actually a delight and helpful.

We stayed forward during our last cruise and we were fine. However, I don't like the fact that we have a connecting stateroom now. During our first Disney cruise- we had a connecting room and heard almost everything our neighbors were saying, plus my DH is loud- so I'm sure they heard us.

In order for us to move our stateroom I will have to pay another $95. Is it possible for a DVC member to try to upgrade at the port like non-member can, or have any DVC members been lucky enough to receive a free upgrade??? Either way I'll be happy, but I'll be happier if I don't have a connecting stateroom.

Thank you in advance.

 

[Jenngoofys]

I was just wondering the same thing. If we could get free upgrades with DVC bookings or if we have to stay where we were booked.

 

[mickeys girl 52]

I haven't personally had this happen to me.On the Cruise board I have read people have had upgrades and it was with cash and points.You can also pay for an upgrade at the port,just try to get there early if you can.I would post your question on the Cruise board.

 

[tlynk]

Great idea! I will re-post this on the cruise boards!

 

[jlewisinsyr]

Port upgrades are pretty uncommon on all cruise ships.

Cruiselines do not like to leave port with open, unpaid rooms, so if they see rooms are still unsold for a set cruise they start to place incentives or discounts on the rooms to get them sold, including offering discounts to employees.

Upgrades do happen now and then, but they are not all that common. Usually most rooms are occupied by the date of the cruise with the exceptions of last minute cancellations, etc.

 

[eva]

We've paid at port for upgrades before. It's actually more common than you would think. A lot depends on what you are trying to upgrade to. Certain categories are easier to find available than others. We were lucky to upgrade to a cat 3 a little over a year ago at port. It was pretty reasonable to upgrade from a 6 to a 3. This past year I have read about many people upgrading at port. Free upgrades are a completely different animal. They do happen, but not too often. We received a free upgrade in August this year. We were booked on points in a cat. 6 and were upgraded to a cat. 4. But this rarely happens. We were just on a Med cruise that was having a tough time selling. So they bumped a bunch of people up to open the cheaper rooms for sell. We had people at our dinner table that booked a cat. 11 just a few weeks before the cruise and only paid $950 per person. Can't beat that for an 11 night cruise!

 

[tlynk]

Thank you for all your input. We were lucky enough to receive free upgrades (2 cabins) on our first Disney cruise and on second we paid a little extra to upgrade at the port. I know that is not always possible, but I was wondering if people who booked using DVC points are able to do the same if cabins are available?

I called member services today and unfortunately there are no more cabins available in my Category and if I change categories I will have to pay the $95 again. I'm going to keep checking back on occasion for cancellations within my same category, so I can change to a non-connecting room. I'm just happy to be sailing.

 

[Dizneyholic]

We used points to book at Cat 12 on the WBTA this past Sept and were upgraded to a Cat 9 for free! So...yes, it is possible to be upgraded using your points!!!

Good luck!!!

 

[Alexander]

When you booked through Member Services, they called the Cruise Line and made the reservation while you were on the line. You should have gotten a DVC confirmation number and a DCL confirmation number. Call DCL with their confirmation number and ask if you can move your stateroom. If you aren't changing categories, there should be no problem.