Cabin Upgrade / Upsell on Costa Diadema

Ahoy Cruisers,

I have just booked Costa Diadema for Western Med in April with my wife and two kids. First time on Costa. I feel cabin was a great price, but was hoping for a better category cabin. We are in an inside premium and there were no balcony cabins left that accommodate four. Apparently four in a cabin really limits your options.

I would like to upgrade to a balcony premium or possibly a mini suite. I am willing to pay extra, but of course do not want to pay more than I have to. Can anyone advise as to the best / most economical way to get a better cabin? I reserved online with cruise specialist website that also has agents on the phone, then did the final booking through an agent from the webiste. She said there was absolutely nothing available now, but she could put me on a waitlist for a better cabin. Is it better to go through the agent, or to call Costa directly, or both? It seems to me that communications from Costa to agents in the US might not be very direct or clear, so I might do better dealing directly with Costa.

Can anyone advise?

KatapultMike

Go directly to Costa, TA's often have to say all cabins are sold, which just depends on which port you are sailing from. This is because every cabin initially is given to starting port.

For instant, Luminosa from Copenhagen only insides when we looked on line, Costa agent booked a premium balcony picking ship up from Dover UK. at same price.

Tell them what you required and ask them what they can offer you there are cabins with connecting doors as well as two bunk beds either which would be suitable for your needs,

(Mini-suites not really suitable for 4 on Diadema )

Thanks, tenpin, I will try calling Costa directly.

I would appreciate hearing from anyone who successfully moved up to a different category on the same sailing after booking, and the costs involved. I understand that people often get free upgrades, but that depends on the luck of the draw and you don't know what you've got until you get there. I would be willing to pay for the next category up in order to have the certainty, just don't want to overpay.

Thanks everyone,

KatapultMike

I spoke to Costa USA today. They told me that I needed to go through my travel agent in order to upgrade cabin, and that they did not have access to any cabins that the travel agents did not have access to. Nothing available at this time. I mentioned that there are a lot of better cabins available at the port before mine (we are getting on at Savona, and there a lots of good cabins available for Civitavecchio embarkation). I asked if these would be released for Savona embarkation at some point. He said there was no way to tell.

He told me that the cabins are allocated to different countries or regions and there was no way to tell in the US what was available in other countries. He said the moment of truth was when you were boarding. Any cabins not booked by the regions they were allocated to would be available then at dockside. I am thinking that maybe I should show up early on departure day if I have not been able to upgrade prior.

Has anyone ever paid the difference and gotten upgraded at the dock upon departure?