Cabin Upgrades

[CruiseBuddies]

:smiley: Has anyone every gotten a complimentary cabin upgrade? Does a balcony room cost the same if you ask to upgrade if the ship is not full? We are sailing on HAL Zuiderdam the end of June and have booked 2 Oceanview rooms. We have sailed on RCL and Princess and have never asked to be upgraded. Thanks.

[CruiseBuddies]

:smiley: Has anyone every gotten a complimentary cabin upgrade? Does a balcony room cost the same if you ask to upgrade if the ship is not full? We are sailing on HAL Zuiderdam the end of June and have booked 2 Oceanview rooms. We have sailed on RCL and Princess and have never asked to be upgraded. Thanks.

[GottaCruz]

CruiseBuddies,

Welcome to our CruiseCrazies family. We're glad to have you aboard. We have gotten upgrades many times. We were only upgraded from interiors to ocean views, never more than that. Please feel free to post your upcoming cruise to our CruiseCrazies calendar.

[GottaCruz]

CruiseBuddies,

Welcome to our CruiseCrazies family. We're glad to have you aboard. We have gotten upgrades many times. We were only upgraded from interiors to ocean views, never more than that. Please feel free to post your upcoming cruise to our CruiseCrazies calendar.

[DaCruzNut]

CruiseBuddies-

Welcome to our CruiseCrazies family!

The subject of "upgrades" is one that, you will find, draws a lot of different views. Here's mine....

When a cruise line finds itself with a nymber of empty cabins, less than 30 days prior to sailing, they will often upgrade passengers who have already booked. This leaves the lower priced cabins available for sale. At this point the lines send out e-mails to "local" travel/cruise agents with bargain fares.

The questions that draw various opinions surround how the cuise line chooses who gets an upgrade, and who doesn't.

The reason for the confusion surrounding how the choice is made is due to the fact that it is not always done the same way.

Often, the line will go into their databanks and check for passengers who have sailed on the line before. The more times the better. I once received a call from Carnival, three days prior to sailing. The Carnival agent asked if, in fact, their records were correct and this was my 9th Carnival cruise, and the second in 12 months. I told him it was, and he asked if I'd like to be upgraded to a mini-suite.....like he had to ask!

Sometimes, the cruise line will use an "agent's list," to see what particular trave/cruise agent has given them volume bookings, and use that as a guide.

Sometimes, it's on a whim. The person who checks you in has a list of available cabins, and 'awards' upgrades at the dock. I was checking in with Celebrity, once, for a cruise on the Century. Being a member of their Latitudes Club, I was at the Latitudes check-in. Again, the computer showed that I had sailed Celebrity a number of times. I happened to mention it was my birthday, and was upgraded, roight there at check-in, to a suite.

Getting an upgrade is, basically, the "luck of the draw." It's nice to get, but don't count on it.

By the way, I began with the way the cruise lines free-up lower-priced cabins. That's how I get to cruise so often! Living in Miami, I wait until 3-4 weeks before a cruise to book it. That way, if an upgrade is available, I get it at booking.

[DaCruzNut]

CruiseBuddies-

Welcome to our CruiseCrazies family!

The subject of "upgrades" is one that, you will find, draws a lot of different views. Here's mine....

When a cruise line finds itself with a nymber of empty cabins, less than 30 days prior to sailing, they will often upgrade passengers who have already booked. This leaves the lower priced cabins available for sale. At this point the lines send out e-mails to "local" travel/cruise agents with bargain fares.

The questions that draw various opinions surround how the cuise line chooses who gets an upgrade, and who doesn't.

The reason for the confusion surrounding how the choice is made is due to the fact that it is not always done the same way.

Often, the line will go into their databanks and check for passengers who have sailed on the line before. The more times the better. I once received a call from Carnival, three days prior to sailing. The Carnival agent asked if, in fact, their records were correct and this was my 9th Carnival cruise, and the second in 12 months. I told him it was, and he asked if I'd like to be upgraded to a mini-suite.....like he had to ask!

Sometimes, the cruise line will use an "agent's list," to see what particular trave/cruise agent has given them volume bookings, and use that as a guide.

Sometimes, it's on a whim. The person who checks you in has a list of available cabins, and 'awards' upgrades at the dock. I was checking in with Celebrity, once, for a cruise on the Century. Being a member of their Latitudes Club, I was at the Latitudes check-in. Again, the computer showed that I had sailed Celebrity a number of times. I happened to mention it was my birthday, and was upgraded, roight there at check-in, to a suite.

Getting an upgrade is, basically, the "luck of the draw." It's nice to get, but don't count on it.

By the way, I began with the way the cruise lines free-up lower-priced cabins. That's how I get to cruise so often! Living in Miami, I wait until 3-4 weeks before a cruise to book it. That way, if an upgrade is available, I get it at booking.