How do people get upgraded?
 

We're 2 time cruisers and traveling on HAL in Nov. I keep hearing about people getting upgraded..how is this managed?

From what we have learned on our cruises, it has nothing to do with what you do. Also, sometimes upgrades are not that great. Look at your layout of the ship. You could be upgraded to the very back, next to the kids playroom from a nice cabin midship. <BR>Some of it has to do with how many times you have cruised with that line before, and if there are better cabins available. <BR>If you book a higher category cabin, we have found that your chances of being upgraded are slimmer than if you book, say and upper category inside cabin. Then you might get bumped up a notch or two to an outside if one is available. <BR>We have booked an outside cabin twice and have ended up in mini suites. But we have also booked outside cabins and never been upgraded. <BR>I guess it is the luck of the draw. What we have found is that we book the cabin category that we can afford and be comfortable in, then if you are upgraded, great. But never book a cabin that you won't be happy in hopeing for an upgrade, it doesn't happen that frequently. <BR>Out of 9 cruises we have been upgraded 3 times, I guess thats not bad, 1/3 of the time. Good Luck!

Kathy, my husband and I booked for cruise for category CC on Princess. Because those rooms have already been reserved we have been added to a wait list. Our agent explained that if we are next in line for that category and someone cancels then we get the room. However, if the rooms dont open up, we will be upgraded - or moved within the ship to a better room that is available. I was concerned that we'd end up losing any room because there were so many others added to the wait list, however, they said that the lines always hold out some rooms to take care of the waitees. So, as Sue said, we don't do anything for the upgrades, they're owed us as waitees. It's unnerving for me not to have a room assignment now, but she said we'd have a room assignment 2 weeks before the cruise. Have a great cruise!

Laurel, <BR> <BR>How far in advance did you book for your cruise and what was the iternary? Am wondering how far in advance we need to book to get our desired cabin. <BR>Thanks. <BR> <BR>Michelle

We've cruised RCI 6 times and have never been upgraded. When you book a specific cabin, the chances drop. I'd rather have a great cabin location rather an upgrade. <BR> <BR>To Michelle, <BR>While onboard our ship 2/99 we wanted to book the same cabin for 2/00...it was already booked! Book as early as possible to get the best cabin selection and 'early booking' discount.

We booked on a Holland America cruise which had a holiday during the trip (Thanksgiving I think). It was a very popular trip so they asked if we would consider taking the cruise on an earlier date with considerable savings off the fare. They agreed to our counter-offer of an upgrade to a mini suite and less of a discount. <BR>

Hi Michelle. Our cruise is 12/12 and I booked 8/9. <BR>What Elaine says is true. On previous cruises we've booked well in advance and been assigned a specific room. Due to our late reservations we've been put on a waitlist because the specific room we wanted was already booked. I agree with Elaine as well, that I'd rather be assured of getting that room and not look forward to an upgrade...unless of course as the rooms are divied out the only one left is a suite -- I'll be very pleased then. <BR> <BR>

Michelle, to answer your question <BR>about how far in advance to <BR>book....asap. I've usually <BR>booked 6 months to a year in <BR>advance....once I booked 3 months <BR>beforehand and got the room we <BR>wanted. You may want to talk to <BR>a travel agent to see what is <BR>available etc. Good luck. <BR> <BR>

Flexibility is the key. We had booked Renaissance's R1 at an incredibly affordable rate for their lowest cost cabin on the August Mediterranean sailing. Some time later, on e-mail, they offered passengers an upgrade to change their cruise dates to October. We were able to change our vacation dates and now have a balcony room, with an extra night in Athens and Istanbul. We are estatic, especially because the weather will be much more tolerable that time of year. We have had great luck with upgrades on the airlines as well, as long were willing to be flexible. Once we were upgraded to first class flying overseas, in exchange for them putting us up in a hotel for one night. Another time, we got $400 vouchers just for hopping in a cab (their expense) and driving to another airport in San Francisco. We were detained two hours.

Last month I was on my first Celebrity Cruise. I was listed "run of ship" until 2 weeks before I sailed. I had previously asked for inside cabin, for 1 passenger, cheapest available. They gave me a confirmed cabin in category 12. When I checked in at the pier, they said I had a cabin change---I didn't worry too much because I expected lowest category. Much to my surprise when they escorted me to my cabin it was an outside category 5 with 3 picture windows, queen size bed, etc. It was wonderful, the best of my 28 cruises (none with them on Celebrity). I never found out the reason for upgrade---don't ask-- they might find a reason I shouldn't have been there. <BR> The Celebrity (Century ship) was WONDERFUL. Great food, polite, friendly staff and crew. We cruised the Baltic and Russia in July.(it was a 14 day cruise out of Amsterdam). Had a wonderful time and can't wait for my next cruise. <BR> So I don't know the rhyme or reason for upgrades. Just book a cabin you'll be happy with and hope for an upgrade. <BR> Happy Cruising!

Debbie, how exciting. What a wonderful surprise. I hope we have the same luck. I know one thing, since we booked an outside with a window, the next up is a room with a balcony. The only issue is which deck and/or whether we'll get upgraded further...to maybe a mini suite... <BR>Just thinking about it, I'm getting excited. Don't think I can wait till December. <BR>

<BR>Dear Kathy, <BR>I am a travel agent and I can give you the cruise line policy in steps: <BR> <BR>1st: The best price is offered when you book in advance. You also choose the best cabin location in your category. <BR> <BR>2nd: As you get closer to the sailing date, the price goes up. Now the cruise line can offer you an upgrade. Here's the secret. YOU ARE REALLY PAYING FOR YOUR UPGRADE. <BR>You see....all the lower priced cabins are sold out. <BR> <BR>3rd: When the line can not sell their cabins, they will offer you an upgrade but the upgrade may not be to a cabin that is very nice....such as one that is below the disco or to an ouside cabin that has a lifeboat ouside the window. <BR> <BR>4th: You have a 10% chance of receiving a true upgrade to a larger <BR>or better cabin. In my experience this happens very seldom. <BR> <BR>5th: I have NEVER had a passenger upgraded to a suite. 99% of upgrades are inside to inside, outside to outside. If someone brags they were upgraded to a suite, they paid for a suite. <BR> <BR>6th: A true upgrade is offfered if you have a coupon, such as is offered past passengers. <BR> <BR>So Kathy, you just may get lucky. <BR> <BR>You will have a wonderful vacation no matter what the outcome. <BR> <BR>Paul

Sorry Paul but you are not quite right in all points. We have been on 9 cruises and have been upgraded from an outside (lower catagory outside) cabin to a mini suite on two of the cruises. The first was on the Fantasy, upgraded from an outside cabin to a mini suite (first time ever on Carnival). The second time was on Princess from Hawaii to Papette, Tahiti. Upgraded from an outside to a mini suite again. (Also first time on Princess). Maybe we are just lucky, but it happened, and we didn't pay for anything but an outside cabin each time. <BR>On Carnival we were informed by our TA a few weeks before sailing and on Princess we didn't find out until we went to check in on the ship in Honolulu. <BR>So it does happen sometimes. I don't think 2 out of 9 is a bad precentage for upgrades from outside to a mini suite. Sue

Kathy - I sailed on Celebrity and paid for an outside stateroom and was upgraded to a suite without asking. Sometimes people are lucky. The truth is that Travel Agents have nothing to do with upgrades, therefore in their eyes they usely don't exist. Sue is correct, it is the luck of the draw. It is possible that you may receive an "upgrade" to a cabin that in your opion is not as good as the one you had booked originally, but it is unlikely. <BR>The problem with being upgraded is that the next time you sail you may not be as lucky and need to be happy with the cabin you had planned on. Enjoy your cruise!

We are booked on an inside cabin in Nov on Celebrity. I don't see the low price that we booked at in January still being offered. Could that mean that the cruise is getting full and it is more likely that we will be upgraded. When do we find out-is it when we get our tickets, will we receive cabin assignments?

Thanks everyone for filling me in, but it looks like getting an upgrade is simply the luck of the draw. From your repsonses, I don't see anything one can do to affect an upgrade. Maybe my alumni status will have some weight. I'll let you know the outcome.

My husband and I have cruised twice on celebrity.Since we spend little time in our cabin anyway we want the cheapest cabin there is.Uor travel agent told us to book cat.12 inside and sain uor chances of being upgraded were good.She was right. we were upgraded both times. The first time from an inside to an outside and much bigger cabin.The second time to a bgger ,nicer cabi. We have been told the lower you book your cabin the more likely to be upgraded.

Interesting, Donna. We booked one of the cheapest inside cabins and wound up with an outside minisuite just because, as I said, we were willing to change cruise dates. Since we also got the discount, we actually paid less for the suite than the cabin we'd originally booked. <BR> <BR>Maybe there's method to their madness. After having an outside suite, I'll want one next time!

I disagree with Paul completely. We have been on 7 cruises & have been upgraded ALL 7 times. We always book a guarantee room , & go in the off season. Also, I write the line in advance & ask for an upgrade saying my husband is very tall & has a height problem with low corriders or fixtures. It's worked every time!! It's also true!!!We've gone with HAL, Regency, Regal, & Crown.

Many people are unaware of this, but Holland America Line does many upgrades based on the agency you are booked with. If it is an agency that does lots of business with Holland America they tend to give better or more upgrades to them.