Upgrading at port

[iankh]

Is it possible to upgrade one's cabin when one is checking in? How do you go about this? Is there any price break for a last minute upgrade?

 

[tamamom]

Yes, you can upgrade at the port and it is usually cheaper but you have to get there early. Also, based on how crowded the ship is they might not have anything but its always worth a try. On the Oct 7 we could have upgraded from a 10 to an 8 for about $300 and to a 5 for about $800.

 

[meagan9848]

Just to let everyone know, we just returned from the 1/4/07 Wonder sailing, and we upgraded at port. We went from a category 10 (booked a GTY 12) to a 6 for $636.

 

[Marypoppinsiam]

We also had a chance to upgrade at port on our August sailing. But on our Easter sailing last year we were one of the first people there and the ship was booked solid. On the August cruise we could have upgrade from a cat 11 (orginally book GTY 12) to a cat 8 for about $450.

 

[akdaisy]

It that the total cost for all passengers, or for each person?

Right now, the 2/24 Magic still has about 50 empty staterooms, so I am thinking our chances are pretty good. We do have a Cat 10 in a great location, so I am not sure I want to upgrade. I'm going to bring a list of stateroom #s that get bad reviews, so that I don't upgrade into something that I will end up hating!!!!

I will be perfectly happy staying where we are, and I think that is the most important thing.

 

[meagan9848]

The $636 was the total cost for three of us. This was a 3 day sailing.

 

[kcashner]

As a general rule, it is about 1/2 - 2/3 of what the cost difference between the categories if you had purchased it originally--thus, there is a savings over what you would have paid. Upgrading at the port generally involves being at the right place at the right time as much as getting there early. For instance, DCL might be notified of an emergency or plane not able to get in, resulting in an open cabin. A person might upgrade from an 8 to a 6--leaving an open 8 for someone who wants to go from an inside to an outside cabin.

Do ask, even if the "Captain Mickey says" sign is up--all they can do is to say no. If there is space, DCL will be happy to take a few hundred dollars from as many of us as possible.

 

[mmouse37]

It that the total cost for all passengers, or for each person?

Right now, the 2/24 Magic still has about 50 empty staterooms, so I am thinking our chances are pretty good. We do have a Cat 10 in a great location, so I am not sure I want to upgrade. I'm going to bring a list of stateroom #s that get bad reviews, so that I don't upgrade into something that I will end up hating!!!!

I will be perfectly happy staying where we are, and I think that is the most important thing.

Don't count on it....February is a prime sailing time and if they have some open cabins they will start releasing them to Walt Disney Company employees at a discounted rate.....happens all the time. They would rather be sure to have sold a cabin at a discounted rate than to take the chance of sailing with empty cabins. Upgrades at the port do happen but not that many on each cruise and some have no paid upgrades available. A month before our Nov sailing there were about 50 cabins open and we got to the port the ship was full (we were one of the first in the terminal).

Good luck though....you never know! Happy cruising.

 

[kcashner]

Mmouse is exactly right--DCL tries to fill the ship. When it has more cabins open than it likes, specials become available to FL residents, TA, CMs, etc. Still, there is always a chance for some pixie dust!

 

[akdaisy]

Don't count on it....

I'm not counting on it...that is why I said I would be perfectly happy staying where we are.

 

[Hypermommy]

A month before our Nov sailing there were about 50 cabins open and we got to the port the ship was full (we were one of the first in the terminal).

How do you find out how many cabins are left open for a particular sailing, please?

 

[CraftyMouse]

How do you find out how many cabins are left open for a particular sailing, please?

There is no way to do this. Your best bet is to plug your date into the DCL website and see what is available for each cabin category. That will, at least, let you know if there is still a lot of availability for your sailing.

Keep in mind, however, that DCL usually offers unsold space to Florida residents and WDW castmembers at a discount, rather than have that space go unfilled. DCL ships (particularly the Magic) tend to sail full year round these days.

 

[stingmom]

we had a Fl resident rate when we went in Dec. Had 2 Cat 9's and it would have been an additional $326 more per room to upgrade to a Navigator w/ blocked verandah.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Don't count on it....February is a prime sailing time and if they have some open cabins they will start releasing them to Walt Disney Company employees at a discounted rate.....happens all the time.

That's what I'm hoping for... I'm very much thinking about that very cruise.

 

[jeast]

Is there some kind of special window you need to go to before you check in to ask about an upgrade? Or do you just ask at the regular check in counter?

 

[bigbootee]

Is there some kind of special window you need to go to before you check in to ask about an upgrade? Or do you just ask at the regular check in counter?

Ask at your regular counter. If you are upgrading to cat 1-3 they will hold the cabin and send you to a supervisor.

 

[DutchsMommy]

Does anyone know if on the DCL site, when you use 'select your cabin' to see how many are in a particular category if the website shows you a maximum of 8 cabins? I have been going through the categories and I find it strange that 8 show up for almost all. The site says something like 'we have picked the best stateroom locations available' or something like that so I am wondering if there is a different way to get a better idea of how many total are available in each Category?

 

[Pansy]

Does anyone know if on the DCL site, when you use 'select your cabin' to see how many are in a particular category if the website shows you a maximum of 8 cabins? I have been going through the categories and I find it strange that 8 show up for almost all. The site says something like 'we have picked the best stateroom locations available' or something like that so I am wondering if there is a different way to get a better idea of how many total are available in each Category?

Sometimes I check through Priceline since they list cabins as well.

 

[ibouncetoo]

Does anyone know if on the DCL site, when you use 'select your cabin' to see how many are in a particular category if the website shows you a maximum of 8 cabins? I have been going through the categories and I find it strange that 8 show up for almost all. The site says something like 'we have picked the best stateroom locations available' or something like that so I am wondering if there is a different way to get a better idea of how many total are available in each Category?

Yes, about 8 is the most they will show, even if there are 20 available. The only way you'd know how many more is to plug in individual cabin numbers...an exercise I'm not willing to do It's if you see fewer than 8 or a comment that only GTY are available that will give you an idea that a particular catagory is nearly booked up.

Ian, you hoping to upgrade for Tortola or the EBTA? The EBTA might have a shot I'd guess.

.

 

[KerriL]

Anybody know how early they will allow you to check-in? And try for an upgrade? If I remember correctly, they won't let anybody into the terminal, for parking and drop-offs, until around 10 am. Just wondering if this is still true.