Choose cabin now or hold out for upgrade?

[Emmie]

My DH and I got a great deal thanks to our lovely TA. We are already set for an "E" cabin on the Rotterdam in October. However, since we haven't chosen our cabin yet, we were told we would be eligible for an upgrade if it's availible.

On the one hand that sounds intriguing. What is there is a verandah availible? :D However, it could also be stressful. What if the room we get is one of those on the front that makes everyone get seasick? :eek: A part of me wants to accept what we have, a part of me wants to take a risk. Could you please give me your opinions?

Thank you,
Emmie

[JDee]

The would depend on the price differential. If the difference is a piddly amount, less then $100.00 or so, I would rather pay the going rate and select my own cabin.

Upgrades are very iffy. Have heard of many happy campers and of course some not so happy....

Good luck on whatever choice you make.....

[sail7seas]

IMO, it is always best to book at the least a category cabin in which you will be happy. What is the point if you technically get an upgrade but it is in a location on the ship that you don't think is desirable. It can have a negative impact on your enjoyment. The odds of getting an upgrade are iffy. It simply is not something you should count on IMO

Good luck either way.

[KAKcruiser]

I have been on many cruises, first Princess, Carnival, NCL, and at least 10 on HAL. Never have I received an upgrade. Pretty much you get what you pay for. Book a cabin you can be happy with. If an upgrade happens, enjoy. But, don't count on it. By the way, you have a long way to go for an upgrade to a veranda on the Rotterdam, E to D to C to B (mini-suite). I don't think it will happen.

[jhannah]

I, too, would go with the cabin you select. That way you know what you have and where it is. You could still be upgraded. HAL would notify your TA who would in turn notify you. You then could accept or decline. We always like to choose our cabin. We have received upgrades before, and I've always taken them. But in most cases a guarantee is just to iffy for me.

[General Max]

"Awaiting Upgrades" is not in my vocabulary. I do research and then book the cabin I want.

General Max

[Randyk47]

Pick the specific cabin you want now. If an upgrade is offered then you can see if it really is better. Not all upgrades are created equally.

[CDRMark]

There was a post here recently of someone who received a technical upgrade to a less desireable cabin. Do not remember the particulars, sorry. How risk averse are you? This is a tough question to answer. You may meet people onboard who received 5 upgrades, after you were advised to book a specific cabin, and vice versa. We booked the exact cabin we wanted and were happy.
Cheers
MarkB

[doone]

I always pick the cabin I like as well. Sometimes an upgrade from an inside mid-ship cabin to an outside forward or aft cabin isn't an upgrade for me.

[scluvsrain]

Choose your cabin now and you'll be happy with what you've got. You can still have the upgrade request in. If an upgrade comes along, your TA will be able to tell you what it is, specifically, and then you can make a decision to accept it or pass. The best of both worlds. Upgrade likelihood is a very small percentage compared to getting assigned a cabin in a guarantee situation that you may or may not like.

[Aussie Gal]

We always choose our cabin and the grade we would be happy with. If you happen to get an upgrade, that is terrific, but I wouldn't rely on that at all. Very few people seem to get upgrades.

We always book early so that we can have the "run of the ship" in selecting our cabin.

Jennie

[bepsf]

Upgrades are rarer than you think...


Book the stateroom in the location that you want.

[nita19482003]

Since this is your first with HAL, book the cabin only Marineers receive upgrades, and it definetely won't be to a verandah suite. I have been on 21 HAL cruises, and always book the cheapest cabin,( but look closely, sometimes the cheapest cabins have been put to the outside instead of the inside). I have alwaysbeen upgraded, except for my first; and it is only about 2-3 catagories. I hope this helps. nita19482003

[bluewatersahead]

I have only taken an upgrade when I booked if they would say something like if you book by an 8A you will be in an 8C. (that is on Carnival). I would want them to tell me at the time of booking what room I would be upgraded to. Other wise I want take the chance. But do what you feel best with... you need to be happy.

[Bill S]

Book the minimum category you will be pleased with! While upgrades can and do occur, banking on getting one will most likely lead to major disappointment, IMO.

In 9 cruises with HAL, we have received only one free upgrade: at check-in, from a Cat C to a Cat B. I tend to think it was because we had a very assertive TA at the time. Whatever the reason, it was great! We have also paid discounted rates for upgrades for two cruises at the last minute, again, due to the same assertive TA.

We have learned to always tell our TA to inform HAL that we wish to be considered for an upgrade, whether for free or for a fee (we can always decline), but we ALWAYS select a cabin that will meet our minimum desires/requirements in the event no upgrades or upgrade opportunities materialize.

[lidorose]

You do not have to be a Mariner to receive an upgrade; we got one on our first cruise. We booked only about six months out and the ship ended up being completely full. We are hoping (not expecting) one for our next cruise, as well. We cannot afford to book the room we would like so we get what we can afford and hope for the best! If we don't get an upgrade, we can't complain - we got what we paid for.:o
'rose

[belldebb]

I have been on many cruises; most waiting on an upgrade. It has happen ONCE that I know of to my Aunt and Uncle; it was their 65th cruise and happened to be the (20th) with that particular cruise line. I think that they paid for it. Book and be happy. Nothing is FREE not even upgrades!

[jhannah]

Certainly don't hold your breath. But some upgrades ARE free. We've sailed three times with Princess and were upgraded twice. Once from a regular balcony cabin to a mini-suite and once from a mini (which we booked after enjoying the extra room so much) to a vista suite with separate bedroom. Don't know why. Just the luck of the draw, I guess.

We've been upgraded once on HAL, on the Zuiderdam, at the pier from an A cabin to an SS. That was for maintenance reasons. We learned later that some temporary repair had been made to our cabin earlier and now engineering wanted to take it down and make a permanent fix. It just so happened that the former SS occupant had cancelled at the last minute. So we got moved down the hall, same side of ship. It was nice.
So continue breathing ... but don't stop dreaming. It could happen.

[Oceanwench]

You have to think that with some exceptions, most people would like a free upgrade!
We upgraded ourselves this cruise, from a verandah to an SS. Maybe I can convince DH to upgrade next time to an S sutie!

[A. C. Moore]

Never was offered this until I booked with Princess for our trip this 2/17.
Ended up with the same cabin but different end of the ship. Nothing ventured nothing gained.