Upgrades

[rogue]

I saw this article on another board, and thought it might be of interest here:

Automatic Complimentary Upgrade Program

CONTENTS

Overview

Automatic Upgrade Decline Box

OVERVIEW

Princess offers complimentary automatic upgrades. Occasionally, a voyage is set for automatic upgrade, and bookings are selected to be upgraded to higher categories at no additional cost to the passengers. These upgrades are automatic and based on availability. Since we are not able to upgrade every booking, you should book your clients in a category in which they will be happy to sail.

There are two factors that increase the likelihood of an upgrade (if one becomes available):

Date of booking

Membership in the Princess Captain’s Circle

If an upgrade occurs, it will be automatically added to the booking some time prior to sailing, and a confirmation will be sent to the agency.

We do not guarantee the following:

That cross-referenced bookings will all be upgraded, or that they will be upgraded to cabins near each other.

That an upgrade will occur.

AUTOMATIC UPGRADE DECLINE BOX

We recommend declining the automatic upgrade if the passengers are cross-referenced and would like their cabins near each other or if the passengers have very specific requests regarding their cabin (side of the ship, near the elevators, etc.) In order to decline the upgrade, click the “AUTOMATIC UPGRADE DECLINE” box.

Declining an Upgrade That Has Been Assigned

When the complimentary upgrade is given, a confirmation is automatically sent. If your clients are not happy with the new cabin and category, you may call Princess to have the booking changed. The Reservations Agent will advise the correct department, who will address the issue. In most cases, the booking will be moved back to the original cabin if we are notified promptly. However, if the booking was originally a guarantee, the passengers must accept the upgrade, since there is no cabin to which the booking can be returned.

Howard

[TheSkipper]

Rogue,

Thanks for the post. Very interesting.

In our experience most of the upgrades are simply moving up one deck and sometimes can IMHO we a downgrade. If you are midships for example and move up one Cat. you will either be in the Bow or Stern area of the ship. Not any upgrade to me.

Also, moving up a deck my put you under something you would rather not be under!!

So, unless you upgrade is from inside to outside, or from an obstructed view to and unobstructed one, or into a suite, I'd decline.

After over 40 cruises, I always select EXACTLY the stateroom we desire after studying the deck plans and do not accept these so called upgrades. :wink:

[nursemate]

I agree with Rogue- my husband and I were upgraded from an inside to an outside room with a window. It was awful we were at the end of the boat and all night long we keep hearing something hiting the side of the boat. We should have just keeped the room we booked, Inside mid ship exactly were we wanted to be. :rolleyes:

[Sunni]

I agree also, "upgrade" ain't always so :wink: ! We booked a guarantee and were "upgraded" to the top category but all it meant was moving from a lower deck (which I prefer) to the highest, cabin was the exactly the same. The good side was we moved to the area of the world's best room steward. Daniella set the standard we haven't seen matched yet! Cheers!