Cruise Talk: Free Upgrade?

Cruise Talk

Cruise News

Welcome to Cruise Talk the Internet's most popular discussion forum dedicated to cruising. Stop by Cruise Talk anytime to post a message or find out what your fellow passengers and industry insiders are saying about a particular ship, cruise line or destination.

>>> Reader Reviews
>>> CruisePage.com Photo Gallery
>>> Join Our Cruise Club.

Latest News...Norwegian Cruise Line today celebrates the arrival of Norwegian Aqua to her new homeport of Miami, kicking off her winter season of Caribbean cruises with calls to the Company's quintessential private island, Great Stirrup Cay. Following her first season of Bermuda sailings from New York City, Norwegian Aqua will offer guests an opportunity to embark on a variety of fun-in-the-sun cruises to the Caribbean...

Latest News... Princess Cruises celebrates the maiden voyage of its newest Sphere-Class ship, Star Princess, which is departing Barcelona on an 11-day Inaugural Western Mediterranean voyage. Continuing the brand's tradition of innovation, elegance, and warm service that connects guests to the world and to one another, the gleaming Star Princess now sails as the 17th jewel of the Princess fleet...

Latest News...Royal Caribbean is introducing the family time of a lifetime on Legend of the Seas* with more adventure than ever before. The boldest vacation to visit the world's top destinations in Europe and the Southern Caribbean, Legend will deliver a lineup of unrivaled experiences, including thrills and chill, the most dining at sea with 28 options, all-new nightlife and entertainment,..

More Cruise News...

my profile | register | search | faq | forum home

»	Cruise Talk » Cruising 1.0 » Free Upgrade? (Page 1)

UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!

This topic is comprised of pages: 1 2

Author

Topic: Free Upgrade?

William
First Class Passenger
Member # 2036

posted 08-09-2001 12:39 PM

I'm just curious, how often and under what circumstances does Cruise lines give free upgrades to their passenger? If so, do they give free upgrade more often than airlines do?

Posts: 75 | From: Ottawa, ON | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

Beezo
First Class Passenger
Member # 1505

posted 08-09-2001 12:55 PM

Hey,
I believe that they do a lot. I have been on 3 cruises and have been upgraded 2 of the times....

Hope this helps

Brian

Posts: 865 | From: Massachusetts, USA | Registered: Aug 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 08-09-2001 02:02 PM

Of course you cannot guarantee that you will be upgraded when you book your cruise.

However, it does seem that if you were to book an inside cabin well in advance, maybe 6 to 12 months, you might just get upgraded to an outside cabin?

This way, the cruise line can re-sell the cheapest (inside) cabins again so they can boast in there publicity "cruise from only 699" or similar! I suppose it happens more often that on aeroplanes because a ship like Carnival Destiny, for example has 515 inside cabins!

The inside cabins and suites sell out quickest, it's the ones in the middle that sell slowly, hence insiders might just be upgraded to one?

Of course the other ploy to sell your cabins is to publish inflated fares in the brochure, then as the departure date get nearer, offer increasingly better discounts! The passenger is happy with there 30-40% discount, and the cruise line gets the fare they require to make a nice profit!

O.k., I know, I'm just a cynic!

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 08-09-2001 03:30 PM

In our experience out of 13 cruises we have been upgraded 11 times. We try never to take a room assignment prior to embarkation and usually book four months or less in advance.our way of booking a cruise is not for most people. Kevin

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

William
First Class Passenger
Member # 2036

posted 08-17-2001 01:50 PM

Thanks for the info. Another question that pops up in my mind in regards to free upgrade is do cruise lines upgrade your cabin automatically, or do you have to make a request/express interest for the cruise line to provide you one?

Staying with the theme for upgrade, I have heard that it is cheaper to upgade once you're onboard at the purser desk than to do it when you book for your cruise. Is that a myth or is that the truth?

Posts: 75 | From: Ottawa, ON | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 08-17-2001 06:53 PM

It's automatic - if your luck is in.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

K&K
First Class Passenger
Member # 1040

posted 08-18-2001 09:09 PM

William: I would suggest going to the costomer service desk proir to checking in. I do not know of any myths but have however upgraded 90% of the time and only four app. times did I request it. The problem with going to the pursers desk after check in everyone has had a chance to go to the costumer service desk. Also due to the knowledge alot of cruisers come with nowadays it is getting harder to be first in line. We have only paid for upgrades twice Kevin

Posts: 446 | From: Sandpoint,Idaho,USA | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 08-18-2001 10:02 PM

quote:
Originally posted by K&K:
In our experience out of 13 cruises we have been upgraded 11 times. We try never to take a room assignment prior to embarkation and usually book four months or less in advance.our way of booking a cruise is not for most people. Kevin

Which Line do you cruise? Maybe we should give it a try 20+ cruises - not one upgrade.

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 08-18-2001 10:53 PM

Green - I think the reason we never get an upgrade is that we book a specific cabin! I would rather know where my cabin is on a ship than take a chance. I will continue to book this way and not expect an upgrade.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 08-19-2001 01:57 PM

Hi sympatico - that could be - but - our Febrary cruise this year was a 'guaranteed outside' because of late booking - no upgrade!

Like you, we prefer to know where we'll be. Anyway, HAL cabins, regardless of deck, are all, give or take a couple of inches, the same size.

Cheers.

P.S. Malcolm's comment - "inside cabins and suites are the first to go". Don't think so - Suites maybe but not 'insides'.

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

tlmlb
First Class Passenger
Member # 1276

posted 08-19-2001 10:28 PM

This summer we booked a guaranteed outside (Cat 8) for the first time (Celebrity Galaxy). Upgraded 6 categories to a veranda (cat 2)...I have rolled the dice again for the NCL Sun in October to Canada, got my fingers crossed. Does anyone know, as a (it varies probably) percentage, how many cabins are booked as guarantees?

[ 08-19-2001: Message edited by: tlmlb ]

Posts: 21 | Registered: May 2000 | IP: Logged

gizmo
First Class Passenger
Member # 972

posted 08-20-2001 07:33 PM

I am not sure how all the upgrade stuff works. We were offered a free upgrade to a suite on one of the cruises we booked on the Norway. This may sound crazy but we turned it down, since we picked the cabin for location. We did not want to go to any upper decks and have to deal with the steps, or wait for an elevator forever.
Recently I just booked an outside guarantee on the Veendam Dec 1. My expections are getting the cabin next to where the anchor drops. I will be happy to get any cabin, since I am getting a good deal, and do not have to wait until our March 6 cruise.

Posts: 686 | From: Kennesaw Ga. (origianlly from Philly) | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Barryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 33

posted 08-20-2001 10:09 PM

Gizmo, you may be surprised at the cabin you receive. I have found that Category guarantees is an excellent way to get upgraded to a better category, but the only problem is that you cannot choose your cabin location. I personally like to know exactly where my cabin is before I get onboard.

On a ship like the Veendam, however, there's hardly a bad location though.

Posts: 1851 | From: Bloomington, Minnesota (Home to the Mall of America) | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

gizmo
First Class Passenger
Member # 972

posted 08-21-2001 06:45 AM

Thanks Barryboat. We have always choosen our cabin in the past also, except for our first cruise, which I won throwing a paper airplane. That cabin was next to the anchor, and was upper/low, but it hooked us both on cruises.
Trying a guarantee is a first for us. I have been driving my husband crazy with all the 'deals' I have found. Since we have a suite booked for March, it was not easy getting him to agree we could do this, but when I saw Hal's 5 day flash, I gave it another try. I guess turning on the 'good old charm' helped.

Posts: 686 | From: Kennesaw Ga. (origianlly from Philly) | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Nautical Nigel
First Class Passenger
Member # 2326

posted 08-21-2001 08:34 AM

I've only been on one cruise last month on HAL. Thought it was beginner's luck when I was upgraded on check-in from a standard outside to a deluxe one. This was despite the fact that my cabin number had been allocated when I booked back in Feb.

Posts: 81 | From: London, England | Registered: Aug 2001 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 08-21-2001 10:36 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Nigel Harvey:
Thought it was beginner's luck when I was upgraded on check-in from a standard outside to a deluxe one.

Welcome aboard, Harvey! Yet another Brit.

It was beginners luck, they might have left you where you were booked!

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Barryboat
First Class Passenger
Member # 33

posted 08-21-2001 10:50 AM

Gizmo, I remeber you mentioning one time that you won a cruise from throwing a paper airplane. Was that your first cruise?

Posts: 1851 | From: Bloomington, Minnesota (Home to the Mall of America) | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

gizmo
First Class Passenger
Member # 972

posted 08-21-2001 05:09 PM

Barryboat,

Yes that was my first cruise. I threw a paper airplane at a car on the ice, in between periods of a hockey game. The cruise was on the Norway.

Posts: 686 | From: Kennesaw Ga. (origianlly from Philly) | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

DianaD
First Class Passenger
Member # 1010

posted 08-21-2001 11:40 PM

Malcolm is defnitely right, the most expensibve followed by the cheapest inside cabins are the first to go. You can check most cruises on line and you will find that to be the case.

Posts: 308 | From: Whitby, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 08-25-2001 10:48 PM

We spend a lot of time researching itineraries, ships and their layouts etc. and then usually book early to get the cabin we've decided is probably the best for us.
So when they give us upgrades we turn them down and end up with a fight to keep the cabin we wanted to start with.
Mind you they haven't offered us the Owner's suite yet!!!!
...peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

CTrail
First Class Passenger
Member # 64

posted 08-25-2001 11:31 PM

I'm just echoing the feelings of many of you in that we booked early so that we could get the cabin that we wanted. It isn't even an outside cabin but it is on the verandah deck away from the higher traffic area.

Waitingforthewaves.

Peter

Posts: 332 | From: Kitchener, ON Canada | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

William
First Class Passenger
Member # 2036

posted 03-14-2002 10:37 AM

I will be doing the Sunbird Transalantic Cruise in April, Sunquest just called yesterday to inform me that I have been upgrade from a superior inside to a superior outside.

This upgrade finally justified my rationale for booking early.

Don't want to sound greedy, but is there a chance that I'll get another upgrade when I embark on the ship?

Really excited, can't wait.

[ 03-14-2002: Message edited by: William ]

Posts: 75 | From: Ottawa, ON | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 03-14-2002 04:37 PM

quote:
Originally posted by William:
Don't want to sound greedy, but is there a chance that I'll get another upgrade when I embark on the ship?

Unlikely! Anyway, at least you've got a seaview now.

Although I too would book an inside cabin for finantial reasons, it is nice to have a porthole or window and be in-touch with the Ocean!

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 03-14-2002 04:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Green:
P.S. Malcolm's comment - "inside cabins and suites are the first to go". Don't think so - Suites maybe but not 'insides'.

No..I'm right. There are more people cruising on a budget, than have money coming out of their ears!

The inside cabins are snapped up pretty quickly, but you can still by them nearer the departure date, because the lines upgrade the insiders so they can sell the cabins again and claim "cruise from £699", or whastever.

With the exception of probably the 5 star lines, cruises are very price sensetive. Many people want the lowest fares - i.e inside cabins.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

topgun
First Class Passenger
Member # 928

posted 03-14-2002 05:51 PM

William , about a month to go. I am tuning the pipes for Karaoke. My partner will be sitting on her suitcase by the front door very soon.

Posts: 759 | From: Burlington ont,canada Cruise center of North America | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

All times are ET (US)
This topic is comprised of pages: 1 2

Ultimate Bulletin Board^TM 6.1.0.3

VACATION & CRUISE SPECIALS

Check out these great deals from CruisePage.com

Royal Caribbean - Bahamas Getaway from $129 per person

Description: Experience the beautiful ports of Nassau and Royal Caribbean's private island - CocoCay on a 3-night Weekend Getaway to the Bahamas. Absorb everything island life has to offer as you snorkel with the stingrays, parasail above the serene blue waters and walk the endless white sand beaches. From Miami.

Carnival - 4-Day Bahamas from $229 per person

Description: Enjoy a wonderful 3 Day cruise to the fun-loving playground of Nassau, Bahamas. Discover Nassau, the capital city as well as the cultural, commercial and financial heart of the Bahamas. Meet the Atlantic Southern Stingrays, the guardians of Blackbeard's treasure.

NCL - Bermuda - 7 Day from $499 per person

Description: What a charming little chain of islands. Walk on pink sand beaches. Swim and snorkel in turquoise seas. Take in the historical sights. They're stoically British and very quaint. Or explore the coral reefs. You can get to them by boat or propelled by fins. You pick. Freestyle Cruising doesn't tell you where to go or what to do. Sure, you can plan ahead, or decide once onboard. After all, it's your vacation. There are no deadlines or must do's.

Holland America - Eastern Caribbean from From $599 per person

Description: White sand, black sand, talcum soft or shell strewn, the beaches of the Eastern Caribbean invite you to swim, snorkel or simply relax. For shoppers, there's duty-free St. Thomas, the Straw Market in Nassau, French perfume and Dutch chocolates on St. Maarten. For history buffs, the fascinating fusion of Caribbean, Latin and European cultures. For everyone, a day spent on HAL's award winning private island Half Moon Cay.

Celebrity - 7-Night Western Mediterranean from $549 per person

Description: For centuries people have traveled to Europe to see magnificent ruins, art treasures and natural wonders. And the best way to do so is by cruise ship. Think of it - you pack and unpack only once. No wasted time searching for hotels and negotiating train stations. Instead, you arrive at romantic ports of call relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on the world.

Holland America - Alaska from From $499 per person

Description: Sail between Vancouver and Seward, departing Sundays on the ms Statendam or ms Volendam and enjoy towering mountains, actively calving glaciers and pristine wildlife habitat. Glacier Bay and College Fjord offer two completely different glacier-viewing experiences.

More Vacation & Cruise Specials...