Any Disney Dream Upgrades? At the Port or earlier? - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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Any Disney Dream Upgrades? At the Port or earlier?
I'm traveling on the Eastern Caribbean cruise in May 2012. I know it's a long shot, but hoping to try and upgrade from a 9B. Has anyone had any luck with the Dream cruise at upgrading at the Port or been upgraded prior to departure.
I'm sure there have been some who were able to do it, but the odds are kind of long. The Dream has been sailing very close to full capacity on every sailing. Well, actually, it's been sailing at more like 150% capacity ("full" capacity is each stateroom filled, double occupancy - 2,500 guests). 150% capacity works out to 3,750 guests, out of a legal maximum of 4,000. Or in other words, every stateroom averages 3 passengers per sailing.
We don't know yet whether summer 2012 demand for the Fantasy (which you'll be sailing) will run at those levels, but it seems pretty likely. All I can do is report on where things stand right now and take what wisdom as is possible. Demand is always high in summer season, and with the new ship as an added draw...
Another data point is that Disney's CFO, Jay Rasulo (formerly head of Disney Parks and Resorts) told financial analysts in May that, at that time, the April-June quarter for the Dream was 95% booked, and July-September was 86% booked. That wasn't a lot of staterooms remaining to be "liquidated."
Under circumstances like this, the cruise line has very little need to hand out free upgrades - just about any category stateroom available is selling very well. If you'd like to pay for an upgrade, chances are, it won't be very cheap if you do it at the port. You have plenty of time now to shop for a paid upgrade, and chances are, the rates will only go up between now and next year.
For the Dream I have not seen any upgrades come through ahead of time so far. In port there is a slim chance. On the several sailings I have done on the Dream this year each cruise had the sign up that the ship was full - no upgrades available. I arrived early each time.
The Fantasy is selling well especially for spring and summer sailings. I know on some sailings they are already limiting bookings for 4 and 5 passengers in one stateroom.
I just booked 2 cabins on the Fantasy about an hour ago for Sept 8th Eastern Caribbean. I had been checking for the past 2 days because I want specific cabins - ALL of the sailings in Sept and Oct 2012 are almost completely sold out for the cabins I want. The CM I talked to said things are already full. Crazy! But I just was particular with what I chose, because I know there is virtually no chance of upgrade once I'm on the ship.
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But I just was particular with what I chose, because I know there is virtually no chance of upgrade once I'm on the ship. 
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