Mel

I've read several cruise posts where people discuss getting upgrades. How does one do this? I've booked two cabins for 5 family members on a WDW cruise/land package for November. Because there are so many of us, I booked the least expensive cabins. We bought entire packages--air, transfers, etc. I've paid the deposit and will pay the balance early September. I'd LOVE to go just one grade up and get a balcony/deck. When and how is this done? <BR>Thanks VERY much for suggestions.

Kendra

Mel, <BR> <BR>Call your travel agent ask if you might get one. He should be able to try but it is up to the ship. In November you should have a pretty good chance unless it is Thanksgiving week. If you are in the least expensive cabin one upgrade would not move you to a balcony. That would mean you are in inside cabins and the chances of moving up to an oceanview are VERY slim but maybe to a higher deck.

Paul Therault

<BR>Hi Mel, <BR> <BR>See if your travel agent can get you a "guarantee" rate at the same price you paid. This will almost guarantee you an upgrade. You must realize you have less of a chance since you have more than 2 in a cabin but it is worth a try. <BR> <BR>Good luck, <BR> <BR>Paul

Mel

Forgive me for being dense, but I'm stillnot sure I understand. I should call my travel agent and ask for a guarantee of what? Ask them to guarantee me an upgrade at the rate I paid? Does the fact that I'm using AAA make a difference? I called my agent last Wednesday when they were sponsoring a "Cruise Sale" day and asked if she could upgrade us and she said no because we'd already deposited on the cruise the previous month. I was a bit annoyed because the day we booked I asked her if they'd be having a cruise sale and if Disney would be included and she said she had no idea. 4 weeks later, there's a cruise sale day! <BR>By the way, I'm not naive when it comes to seeking deals when traveling, I've just never taken a cruise before... <BR>Thanks for your continued help.

aaa

If you just put a deposit on it, cancel the cruise and re-book with another agent in the same or different office. <BR>Any good travel agent would give you the sale rate and so would the cruise line---she just doesn't want to lose a small amount of commission--it is so negligible,that she ought to give you the discount.Good luck--and if AAA won't give you the discount rate, call another travel agency and give them your category booked,cabin # and old rate and tell them you know there is a sale on at x dollars and that you want it! Trust me, one of those agents will work for you.

Sal

If you booked the "least expensive cabins" the line has no incentive to do anything with you. At best, you'll get an upgrade to a cabin on a higher deck which can easily be worse than what you had if it's close to a noisy space. A good travel agent should be able to help you get the best you can with the fare you pay. Good luck!

eileen

I just sailed on RCL's Monarch of the Seas and was upgraded from the least expensive inside cabin to the least expensive outside cabin -- an upgrade of about 7 categories. Here's how I got it: At the recommendation of my travel agent, I booked the "Q Guarantee." She told me because the Q Category was already sold out (there are not that many Q cabins anyway) I would most likely be upgraded unless there was a cancellation. Four days before my cruise she was able to give me a cabin # and say it was 99% certain I would get this -- as it was an outside cabin I was pleased. Got to the ship and that's exactly what I got. I booked less than 60 days before cruise date and with Liberty Travel which gives RCL a lot of business. So I recommend the Q Guarantee as well as going with a major travel agent who has an "in" with the cruise line. FYI - I was glad to have an outside cabin but I never would have paid the extra $$ for it, I don't think the cost it worth it.

Mel

Thanks, everyone. I'm going to discuss this with my TA when I pay the balance in a few weeks. Wish me luck!

UPGRADES

I'd rather not fool around with upgrades....what if you want the mid-ship or forward part? And you get upgraded to a 'suite' that happens to be in the 'aft' of the ship? If you're prone to sea sickness it doesn't make any difference how nice the room is if it's not in the right area of the ship! <BR> <BR>But if you want an 'upgrade' I would imagine the best way to do it would be to book a half way decent room and hope the suites don't get booked for that particular trip.