Upgrading stateroom category after paying deposit

[luv2sleep]

I am thinking of booking the Pacific Coast cruise for September 2012 because the timing is right and I wanted to be able to take this cruise some day. I am concerned that it won't be available anymore so I may take it next year. Since I am not sure if I want to take it I was thinking of booking the least expensive cabin so that I can pay a lower deposit and then upgrading the cabin category if I decide to cruise. I want to actually try to book this on board my April cruise but want to secure a booking now in case the prices are a lot higher. So, if I book an inside stateroom and end up changing to a higher category will DCL ask me for a full final payment at that time or just more of a deposit?

 

[KCDISGUY]

I recently did the same thing and only had to pay the difference in deposit amount.

John

 

[luv2sleep]

I recently did the same thing and only had to pay the difference in deposit amount.

John

Great! Thank you!

 

[SnackyStacky]

I recently did the same thing and only had to pay the difference in deposit amount.

John

True and correct. Just be aware, however, that upgrades will always be subject to availability. Additionally - I'm not sure how many you're cruising with, but they may have staterooms available but they may not have triple or quad occupancy space in the stateroom category you want. If it's just you, or two adults - I don't think that would really be a problem.

 

[taaren]

Just be aware that if you move your room you will pay the price for the room at that time, even if the room price has gone up since you first booked ... you're not locking in a price tier by booking now, just that you will have the room you paid at the time. So if they sell out of the category you want or if the category you really want goes up to over what you want to pay, you're out of luck ... that being said, it often seems like the lowest categories (10 & 11) sell out first anyways and when I rebooked our 11A to an 8C on board it wasn't much more because the 11As were in demand (on the Dream for that cruise). I think our deposit difference on the upgrade was $40, though we did it in part to add a 4th person.

Here's hoping they keep the Pacific Coast cruises! We'd love to go on those in 2013 or 14 ... though a Panama Canal crossing would be tempting the Pacific is probably much more affordable for West Coasters and more realistic for us to keep cruising.

 

[luv2sleep]

Oh I fully understand that if I choose to upgrade what I want won't be available and may cost more. I just wanted to make sure that I wouldn't have to pay the final balance if I upgraded. Money is tight right now though so I will try this. If it doesn't work out I can always cancel.

 

[insureman]

Just be aware that if you move your room you will pay the price for the room at that time, even if the room price has gone up since you first booked ... you're not locking in a price tier by booking now, just that you will have the room you paid at the time. .

I thought I read somewhere on the DIS that if you upgrade you upgrade at what the price would have been on your original booking date.

 

[luv2sleep]

I thought I read somewhere on the DIS that if you upgrade you upgrade at what the price would have been on your original booking date.

I think DCL has the right to change the price whenever they want until it's paid in full.

 

[lbgraves]

I thought I read somewhere on the DIS that if you upgrade you upgrade at what the price would have been on your original booking date.

That is correct. When you gook a cruise, you lock into the prices on that date. For example, if I go into my 3/2013 cruise that I booked on the first day and go to switch my room to a different category, it shows the prices those rooms were on the day that I origianally booked the reservation on that cruise. The current pricing for a new reservation on that cruise is now MUCH higher, especially since it is one of the cruises that was thought to have a glitch in the opening pricing. I have been told this a few times over the years by two different TAs, including DU, and a CM when I called in to change a reservation. I actually did upgrade that 2013 cruise later in the day from a porthole to a verandah and only paid the difference of what the price had been for the verandah at the time that I booked the cruise earlier that day. The prices had already doubled by that point online and there is no way I would have moved if we had been charged like it was a new reservation. A few other people on the cruise did the same thing after I posted how this works.

 

[taaren]

That is correct. When you gook a cruise, you lock into the prices on that date. For example, if I go into my 3/2013 cruise that I booked on the first day and go to switch my room to a different category, it shows the prices those rooms were on the day that I origianally booked the reservation on that cruise. The current pricing for a new reservation on that cruise is now MUCH higher, especially since it is one of the cruises that was thought to have a glitch in the opening pricing. I have been told this a few times over the years by two different TAs, including DU, and a CM when I called in to change a reservation. I actually did upgrade that 2013 cruise later in the day from a porthole to a verandah and only paid the difference of what the price had been for the verandah at the time that I booked the cruise earlier that day. The prices had already doubled by that point online and there is no way I would have moved if we had been charged like it was a new reservation. A few other people on the cruise did the same thing after I posted how this works.

Wow that's really cool! Had no idea, when we upgraded categories (once to rebook on board, then once to add a potential 4th person to the room) the price didn't seem to change a whole lot but I just figured it was due to the nature of the inside staterooms being in higher demand on the Dream. Great to know!

 

[lbgraves]

Considering how other things are handled, this really surprised me when I was first told about it and I have to admit that I doubted it. Who knows how long it will be this way.

 

[modisneychick]

I upgraded a stateroom earlier this year, and our price was protected. I upgraded an 11A to a 6A and paid less than $70 difference!

 

[luv2sleep]

I upgraded a stateroom earlier this year, and our price was protected. I upgraded an 11A to a 6A and paid less than $70 difference!

How long after the initial booking did you make the upgrade change?

 

[lbgraves]

I booked in January for the MV and it still shows the difference when I look for the price to upgrade to the one category left from what a new reservation for that same room would be. It's considerable!!!