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Three Generations Aboard Ship; fireworks; night
  • On Mar 15, 2009
    Kim Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    On a Disney cruise, does anyone ever get upgraded to another cabin level? Also, is there ever any time a cruise is not completely full? Thanks....

    Upgrades are a mystery. They do happen. But which cabins are likely to receive upgrades and when those upgrades are likely to occur is unpredictable. For instance, a guest may think that an upgrade is more likely when the ship is sailing at less than full capacity. However, if there are plenty of cabins available then there is no need to shift families around.

    Therefore, I never book a stateroom that would negatively impact the vacation that I envision for my family. When my husband and I were younger and just out of college, we would cruise in less expensive inside staterooms. All that mattered to us was that we were on a vacation at sea.

    As parents, we found that when our son was younger that we desired a stateroom with more amenities such as an outside view because we spent more time in the cabin.

    There are a few things that can increase your chances of an upgrade, but again it's unpredictable and not guaranteed.

    First, book well in advance of the sailing date in the lowest level category on a less than 7 night cruise. More guests tend to book verandah staterooms on the longer voyages.

    Book a guaranteed stateroom which means that your family is guaranteed that category (or higher) but that you'll allow DCL to choose your stateroom location. (I prefer not to go this route as I like our cabin to be midship.)

    So, if you are traveling on a budget and just want to experience the Disney Cruise Line, book the lowest category stateroom if you would not be disappointed to spend your entire voyage in that type of cabin.

    Cruises are less likely to be full when schools across the country are in session. I have sailed on cruises that were at less than maximum capacity. If you look at when rates are lowest, that indicates a time of year that is less popular with travelers. An example would be in late August and early September when children are heading back to school.


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Meet the Panelist: Kimberly, Tennessee

I am a stay-at-home mom with a 12 year old son. I thrive on planning vacations, especially to WDW. Inspiring families to vacation at Disney with a memorable itinerary and budget-saving tips is extremely rewarding for me. Learn More About Kimberly

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