Cabin Upgrades
 

We are trying to determine if we should book an inside or outside cabin for a January cruise on the Grand Princess. We have sailed with Princess once before and are members of their Captains Club. What are our chances of getting an upgrade if we book an inside cabin?

Janelle: <BR> <BR>I am planning to go on Princess 12/02. I was told upgrading would be no problem if it was far enough in advance. I have a travel agent and I think it is a good idea to talk w/him/her about it. It should be OK since it is 5 mo. away. I want to get a outside room w/balcony. I am taking the Golden Princess. Too bad I can't keep in touch w/you to get your feedback. The Crown and Golden are supposed to be sister ships. <BR> <BR>

Janelle: Be careful, all "upgrades" are not an improvement. On one cruise I was offered an upgrade and got it.....three decks higher and directly under the main showroom. We could not get to sleep until after the late show was over due to all the noise. Tom

We've traveled with Princess 7 times and only were upgraded once. And that was because all the cheaper cabins were booked. So as a circle member that's the only reason they upgraded. We originally reserved an inside and got an outside but I agree that you do take a chance on the kind of upgrade you get.

Janelle: We have sailed 12 times on five different lines. Out of those 12 we have gotten upgraded on 5 cruises, all great upgrades I might add. We have never booked an inside cabin because we knew that we wouldn't be happy with it. <BR>We were upgraded to a suite the very first time we sailed with Princess and we weren't even a past passenger. <BR>The way we have always done it is to book only the cabin that you know you will be happy with. If you are upgraded then it is a plus, but don't ever count on an upgrade. They are really the luck of the draw and there is no way to request or predict one. <BR>Pick the lowest category that you know you can live with and hope for the best. <BR>Toto

Janelle- we've been cruising for 20 years and never been upgraded at all until last month on Celebrity- and that was an outside cabin w/balcony to an outside cabin w/balcony 1 deck higher. <BR>The chances of going from an inside to outside is slim to none no matter how early you book.Upgrades generally go inside to inside and outside to outside. <BR>The only time this may change is if you book a gtd.cabin and get your cabin assignment on day of sailing-and even then you are NOT gtd any upgrades.Definitely book an outside cabin unless you want to sleep late- cabin sizes don't differ that much but the lack of porthole or window gives some people a claustrophobic feeling.