Cabin upgrades?

[Jseven]

Hello all!

I booked the repositioning cruise from LA to Vancouver for May '12 and requested a specific cabin based on the deck plan and having no neighbors on one side. Have I shot myself in the foot with regards to a possible free upgrade as opposed to booking a GTY category? Category 11c appears to be sold out now (its not available on any websites anymore....) so not sure how that will affect upgrades. I am fine with my current setup but my other thought was to pay for the next category up and see if they can book me as a GTY booking in that one.

Any advice? Thanks!

 

[Jseven]

Reading back, I'm not really sure what I was asking and I apologize for the double post. I think my main question was 'are specific cabin reservations available to upgrade or only GTY?'

Thanks! :wave:

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Yes! Specific cabins are definitely open to upgrade. Some people think that GTY gives you a better chance, but I've definitely seen people with specific cabins get upgrades.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

I've been doing some reading on the whole upgrade thing. Fascinating stuff. Apparently asking if upgrades are available (for a price) can be a productive thing. I never would've thought to ask after boarding but when I read about it, it made sense. Even on full ships they hold out some extra rooms just in case they're needed. Has anyone here ever received a free upgrade or paid for one?

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I've received one free one, that one was GTY, and I've paid for one once.

You only pay a fraction of the price for an upgrade at the port.

Don't wait until you board though! The secret is to get to the port early and go right to the supervisor's desk after checking in. They'll tell you all options, if any, that are available.

We've been on several cruises where there was nothing available.

The other secret, of course, is to be on a ship that is not full.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Tammy, I read recently where a person was onboard & still purchased an upgrade even with the full ship sign out. Then there was another person who moved to an upgraded room (paid) after the ship had left their first port. That one was something about the no-shows, they have to wait until after the first port to see if they would be joining the cruise. I didn't quite get that one because those people could still rejoin at the next port. I guess it would make sense for DCL to be in contact with any no-shows to find out what's up and release those rooms if the people weren't coming. Still, I don't think I'd like changing rooms after I've settled in. Well, okay, maybe for the Roy or Walt suites but I don't forsee me paying those kinds of prices even if they're heavily discounted onboard. I really don't believe a CM would randomly knock on our door to announce our free move to those accommodations. :lol:

I agree, tho. The best place to ask for an upgrade would logically be when checking in and early! I think the others would be more the exception than the rule. May even be a fluke. :shrug:

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Tammy, I read recently where a person was onboard & still purchased an upgrade even with the full ship sign out. Then there was another person who moved to an upgraded room (paid) after the ship had left their first port. That one was something about the no-shows, they have to wait until after the first port to see if they would be joining the cruise. I didn't quite get that one because those people could still rejoin at the next port. I guess it would make sense for DCL to be in contact with any no-shows to find out what's up and release those rooms if the people weren't coming. Still, I don't think I'd like changing rooms after I've settled in. Well, okay, maybe for the Roy or Walt suites but I don't forsee me paying those kinds of prices even if they're heavily discounted onboard. I really don't believe a CM would randomly knock on our door to announce our free move to those accommodations. :lol:

I agree, tho. The best place to ask for an upgrade would logically be when checking in and early! I think the others would be more the exception than the rule. May even be a fluke. :shrug:

Ooh, wow! I've never tried asking when the full ship sign was out! I do know there are empty rooms though so maybe it makes sense in some way.

One person in our group had a room problem on our last cruise. There were no upgrades available when we asked, but they had a room to mover her too, and it was an upgrade! She didn't do it for the same reason as you. She didn't want to go through the hassle of moving after she'd settled in.

Have they never asked you to move to the Roy Suite for free?:lol:

 

[Jseven]

Thanks Falcon. I think I may end up paying for the next higher category but that would put me on deck 5 or 6......kids clubs and theater or 1 level above them.....could get noisy me thinks.

Last year on our Med cruise, we were auto-upgraded one category up but our cabin ended up right underneath Evolution :hammer:

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Thanks Falcon. I think I may end up paying for the next higher category but that would put me on deck 5 or 6......kids clubs and theater or 1 level above them.....could get noisy me thinks.

Last year on our Med cruise, we were auto-upgraded one category up but our cabin ended up right underneath Evolution :hammer:

Oh snap!:lol:

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Ooh, wow! I've never tried asking when the full ship sign was out! I do know there are empty rooms though so maybe it makes sense in some way.

One person in our group had a room problem on our last cruise. There were no upgrades available when we asked, but they had a room to mover her too, and it was an upgrade! She didn't do it for the same reason as you. She didn't want to go through the hassle of moving after she'd settled in.

Have they never asked you to move to the Roy Suite for free?:lol:

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Even on a sold-out ship I'm sure they'd hold back a handful of staterooms for use if there's a problem with a stateroom and someone needs to move. When I worked for a satellite phone dealer for a short time back in 2006 we did the exact same thing. We had a rental program and only had so many units that were rentals. When we had to tell people we were out of phones for the time period they were asking for we still had no less than 3 of each model in reserve in case a problem arose and we needed to replace one. Plus, what if there's no-shows or last-second cancellations (like the folks we've heard of whose flights were cancelled and they were SOL last minute)? There's more rooms on what otherwise appears to be a sold-out ship the morning of sailing. Still yet, if I can't ask for and get a good deal on an upgrade either at check-in or at boarding then I don't think I'd want to do it just for the inconvenience. When we get settled into a room we essentially "move-in". We had to do a room switch a couple days into a WDW trip last November and it was a pretty big PITA. Wouldn't want to do it again unless it was a situation like we had then where we had to. :wave:

Thanks Falcon. I think I may end up paying for the next higher category but that would put me on deck 5 or 6......kids clubs and theater or 1 level above them.....could get noisy me thinks.

Last year on our Med cruise, we were auto-upgraded one category up but our cabin ended up right underneath Evolution :hammer:

I'm crazy about knowing where my rooms are on the deck plans and what's above or below me. I've read some pretty bad stories about all night noise from clubs, galleys, etc. When we first booked our Eastern next September the category we booked was GTY. Thank goodness my brother opted to join us and pay the difference so we could move up to a bigger stateroom with a room number. Not knowing and not being able to reassure myself what's above and below us was bothersome to me. I hope you can score a good upgrade. I booked our 2013 Western Fantasy on the itinerary release day last week and scored us an oversized aft balcony. I swear I'm gonna drag my blankets with me and sleep out there! And I'll finally know where my aft is!!! :sohappy::sohappy:

 

[Phonedave]

I've been doing some reading on the whole upgrade thing. Fascinating stuff. Apparently asking if upgrades are available (for a price) can be a productive thing. I never would've thought to ask after boarding but when I read about it, it made sense. Even on full ships they hold out some extra rooms just in case they're needed. Has anyone here ever received a free upgrade or paid for one?

We have been on 3 cruises with DCL

The first two we had the state room number well before the cruise date. Both were verandah rooms on the Magic. No upgrades happend on those cruises.

This last cruise were were booked GTY for a Porthole stateroom on the Dream. When we got the room assignment about a month before the cruise we were upgraded to a verandah.

I said this before, this was not a good upgrade. First off I live in fear of my 9 y/o taking a header off the balcony. That kid has no sense of self preservation and will hang over things and climb on things. Don't get me wrong, she is a good kid and I trust her, but I just liked the idea of NOT having a way to fall off the ship this time.

The main reason this "upgrade" was not an upgrade is we were placed right over the clubs. I could hear them in my stateroom every night till 2 AM. Not fun at all.


-dave

 

[sweetpee_1993]

We have been on 3 cruises with DCL

The first two we had the state room number well before the cruise date. Both were verandah rooms on the Magic. No upgrades happend on those cruises.

This last cruise were were booked GTY for a Porthole stateroom on the Dream. When we got the room assignment about a month before the cruise we were upgraded to a verandah.

I said this before, this was not a good upgrade. First off I live in fear of my 9 y/o taking a header off the balcony. That kid has no sense of self preservation and will hang over things and climb on things. Don't get me wrong, she is a good kid and I trust her, but I just liked the idea of NOT having a way to fall off the ship this time.

The main reason this "upgrade" was not an upgrade is we were placed right over the clubs. I could hear them in my stateroom every night till 2 AM. Not fun at all.


-dave

Did you happen to ask to be moved? I'm curious if you did and they couldn't in reference to the theory that they hold rooms in reserve even on sold-out ships for just this sort of thing. You know? Yeah, yours is one of those experiences that made an impression on me. Now when I book a room I'm looking at deck plans for what's around me on all sides including above & below. I wonder what would've happened if you were checking in, got your room assigned, but then asked for no upgrade because of the location or, like you said, you aren't comfortable with that accommodation with your kids. I guess with a GTY you wouldn't have as much leverage because those are different from regular bookings where you pick a room in a specific category. Very interesting stuff to think about....

 

[Jseven]

My experience was similar to Dave's. My one GTY was upgraded. My one specific cabin was also a verandah, but during my honeymoon on the Dream, and was not upgraded. What might verandahs be upgraded to?

I have a feeling that the one-way repo cruise will have a decent amount of unsold rooms. Gonna keep my fingers crossed! :wave:

And I agree with you SweetPee....after getting moved to underneath the dancefloor on my first DCL cruise, I def need to map out where I am going to be. Also I would agree either forward or aft cabins are the best. Midship elevators always seem to be full.

 

[ChuckElias]

I know I've asked before, so I apologize, but what's GTY?

 

[Disneyfalcon]

What might verandahs be upgraded to?

There are several levels of verandahs, so you could be upgraded to a different kind of verandah. Maybe a more preferred location on the ship, or a verandah room that sleeps 5, or an oversized verandah.

Rarely, but it does happen, they can move you up to a suite.

I know I've asked before, so I apologize, but what's GTY?

GTY is a guarantee room. It means you are guaranteed a room in that category or higher. For instance, if you have an 8A GTY, you are guaranteed to be in an 8A or higher.

When one category gets close to full, Disney won't let you pick a room number for the last few rooms available in that category and they give you a GTY room. It just gives them a little more flexibility. If they are having a hard time selling more expensive categories, they may move some people up to free up the less expensive categories. If the ship ends up filling up just like they want it to, then you will get the exact category you booked. Things like that.

 

[ChuckElias]

GTY is a guarantee room. It means you are guaranteed a room in that category or higher. For instance, if you have an 8A GTY, you are guaranteed to be in an 8A or higher.

This never happens to me. I always get a room number with my reservation. Do you request a GTY?

 

[sweetpee_1993]

This never happens to me. I always get a room number with my reservation. Do you request a GTY?

When I quoted a specific category in the Fantasy for next September and went to the screen where you select your stateroom the GTY thing popped up. It was a less-expensive, standard size verandah room but can't remember the category itself. Anywhoo, it said I couldn't select a stateroom number, that the rate was GTY. I hurried up & booked it with Tammy because in all my reading scoring a GTY always came off as a good thing. Then, the more I thought about it, the more nervous I got about not knowing my stateroom number. Seriously. I was scared I'd get stuck with a crappy location (even tho logic says with the recent recategorizing of some rooms the chances of this are considerably less). I had read a few not-so-happy results on GTY assignments. I had talked to my brother some about joining us on that cruise as a 5th person in our stateroom but he hadn't fully committed. With me being nervous and all I talked to him some more and got him to give me the green-light. I had Tammy move us to a higher category stateroom on a higher deck I believe, one of the deluxe family staterooms with verandah that sleeps 5 (has the Murphy bed) for an additional $1200. Moving to the higher category put us in position to choose our stateroom number which I'm more comfortable with for now. The not knowing is still sorta scary for me. :hammer: Plus, my brother scored a 7-day Eastern cruise for $1200. It was a win/win!

 

[Disneyfalcon]

This never happens to me. I always get a room number with my reservation. Do you request a GTY?

Nope! You can't request it. They only show up when a category is almost full. Some people like them, others don't. Like Sweetpee said, sometimes not knowing what you are going to get isn't worth the risk, so they upgrade to a category that's not as full so they can select a specific room.

 

[Phonedave]

Did you happen to ask to be moved? I'm curious if you did and they couldn't in reference to the theory that they hold rooms in reserve even on sold-out ships for just this sort of thing. You know? Yeah, yours is one of those experiences that made an impression on me. Now when I book a room I'm looking at deck plans for what's around me on all sides including above & below. I wonder what would've happened if you were checking in, got your room assigned, but then asked for no upgrade because of the location or, like you said, you aren't comfortable with that accommodation with your kids. I guess with a GTY you wouldn't have as much leverage because those are different from regular bookings where you pick a room in a specific category. Very interesting stuff to think about....

I never asked to be moved, but I do think they mentioned that it was a full ship. I complained a lot, but was always nice about it. Maybe if I raised a stink they would have offered me something like a suite

For what it's worth they were very nice about the noise. They apologized a number of times, they gave me all sorts of gifts, and tried to make it right. The Guest Relations Manager stopped by our room a number of times just to check up on us. So they really did try, it is just a bad spot to put a room.

Oh, and we were GTY because we had booked on an earlier cruise and got the stateroom we wanted (one of the foward facing porthole ones) but then had to change cruise dates and when we shifted dates, all that was left was GTY.

The room was assigned about two weeks before the cruise, not upon checking in. About two weeks before the on-line reservation changed from GTY to the room number.

-dave

 

[Disneyfalcon]

I never asked to be moved, but I do think they mentioned that it was a full ship. I complained a lot, but was always nice about it. Maybe if I raised a stink they would have offered me something like a suite

For what it's worth they were very nice about the noise. They apologized a number of times, they gave me all sorts of gifts, and tried to make it right. The Guest Relations Manager stopped by our room a number of times just to check up on us. So they really did try, it is just a bad spot to put a room.

Oh, and we were GTY because we had booked on an earlier cruise and got the stateroom we wanted (one of the foward facing porthole ones) but then had to change cruise dates and when we shifted dates, all that was left was GTY.

The room was assigned about two weeks before the cruise, not upon checking in. About two weeks before the on-line reservation changed from GTY to the room number.

-dave

This was our friends experience also. She didn't want to move because of the hassle, but Disney sure was nice. They constantly checked on her and sent her little gifts.

You're right, a GTY usually changes to an actual stateroom number about 2-4 weeks before.