One thing that first time Disney cruisers (or any cruisers, for that matter) might not know is that sometimes you can try and upgrade your room while checking in for your cruise at the port. Notice I said “try”. Upgrades are not always available. Disney Cruise Line does a pretty good job of filling up those ships. On the majority of my cruises, there have been signs at the check-in desks saying “Mickey is sailing with a full ship. No upgrades available.” However, if you don’t see that sign when checking in and want to try and upgrade, here is what you need to know:
Port upgrades are not free. There is a secret formula that Disney uses to determine what to charge each party, depending on room category booked, the upgraded room category, and number of nights/itinerary. To my knowledge no one had managed to crack this formula. Thus, you cannot find out the cost ahead of time.
To try for an upgrade, you must first check in at the counter like normal. After you are done, you should go straight to the Supervisor’s counter. At Port Canaveral, this counter is all the way down at the right end of the line of check-in agents. If you are not sure where to find it, just ask the agent checking you in and they will point you in the right direction.
Once at the counter, ask if there are any upgrades available. If there are, the supervisor will look at a chart to determine what it will cost you. If you accept the upgrade, the cost will be charged to your onboard account and you will be issued new room keys.
DCL should take care of redirecting your checked luggage to your new room. I have heard reports of this happening correctly and also not happening at all. If your luggage hasn’t arrived at your new room after a while, I suggest going to your old room to see if it is sitting outside of it.
It would make sense that you should get to the port as early as possible as that is when most upgrades would be available. However, if you can’t be there right when it opens, don’t lose hope. People that might be upgrading before you may be opening up rooms that are still a higher category than yours.
Good luck!
For more information about freebies and upgrades, click here.
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Thanks for all the help! Every question I had was answered!
You’re welcome!
Have you tried upgrading from a regular room to a concierge level? Just curious if that’s possible and the prices are less than booking concierge in the first place.
Hi Eunice! Yes, you can upgrade from regular to concierge if there are any available, and prices tend to be about half-2/3 what it would have cost to book concierge in the first place.
Thank you! Your blog is so helpful! Thanks for writing all this info!!