Question about UPSELLS

[larsen]

Would one of you HAL experts please explain HAL’s “upsell” procedure/policy/offering to me? As an experienced Princess cruiser I’m familiar with free upgrades and rooms booked as a guaranteed category where an upgraded category is assigned but since Princess does not do “upsells” I haven’t a clue as to how they work. :confused:

Thanks in advance! :D

[CruiserBruce]

An upsell is when HAL offers to promote you (don't want to use the "u" word to keep it simple) to a better cabin for some, usually reduced (over the normal fare difference) fare.

For example, you are in a VA cabin. They call and offer you to move to a SS level for $99 per person. That is an upsell.

In further summary, upgrades are free, upsells cost money.

[larsen]

Since we are sailing with another couple booked in the stateroom next to ours we have had our bookings marked "No UpGrade" for fear of being separated. That, plus thanks to great information deemed from this board, we have VD category with the larger balconies. BUT, if HAL wants to offer us suites for a ridiculously small amount of money...... well we sure would be interested. Does the "No UpGrade" take us out of the pool for being offered an "upsell"? Additionally since our booking is held by our brick & mortar TA if HAL should offer one to us will they call our TA or us directly?

Thanks again. :D

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Would one of you HAL experts please explain HAL’s “upsell” procedure/policy/offering to me? As an experienced Princess cruiser I’m familiar with free upgrades and rooms booked as a guaranteed category where an upgraded category is assigned but since Princess does not do “upsells” I haven’t a clue as to how they work. :confused:

Thanks in advance! :D
Bruce pretty much answered it but I will add that Princess does in fact do upsells just not as frequently as Holland America. Just my opinion is that they do not have nearly as many Suites and there is a big jump between a Princess Mini Suite in price to a Princess full suite. Where with HAL the Superior Verandah Suite is actually much larger and nicer than a Princess Mini Suite but is often a bit more expensive in comparision to a PCL Mini Suite if that makes any sense. Princess tends to sell out of the categories below the Suites and because they do have less suites they too sell out. But They will sometimes offer upsells for those higher ranking Captain's Circle members or let the upgrade fairy wave her magic wand ;)

[tcook052]

Does the "No UpGrade" take us out of the pool for being offered an "upsell"?

No, not as far as I've ever experienced.

Additionally since our booking is held by our brick & mortar TA if HAL should offer one to us will they call our TA or us directly?

They will call or more likely fax you TA with an upsell offer.

Upsell can also mean the passenger calling closer to departure and opting to puchase a higher category cabin without it being offered by HAL. This, of course, is wholly dependent upon availability.

[sail7seas]

Have a specific number in mind as the amount you would be willing to spend to buy an upsell. If offered, you need to accept quickly or they go onto someone else and you would miss out.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Since we are sailing with another couple booked in the stateroom next to ours we have had our bookings marked "No UpGrade" for fear of being separated. That, plus thanks to great information deemed from this board, we have VD category with the larger balconies. BUT, if HAL wants to offer us suites for a ridiculously small amount of money...... well we sure would be interested. Does the "No UpGrade" take us out of the pool for being offered an "upsell"? Additionally since our booking is held by our brick & mortar TA if HAL should offer one to us will they call our TA or us directly?

Thanks again. :D

Since you are working directly with a TA -- your TA will get the call -- not you -- if HAL wants to offer you an upsell. Had friends who were gone for the day and they got home there was a message on their answering machine concerning an upsell. By the time they called their TA -- the offer was gone.

Also remember that only one of you may be offered an upsell -- so since you have cabins next to each other -- if one of you are offered the upsell -- you will have to decide if you really want your cabins to be in different locations.

[tangerinebunny]

You can also explain to your TA that you're interested in an upsell. Ours checks with HAL close to departure to see if there's anything we might want.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Since we are sailing with another couple booked in the stateroom next to ours we have had our bookings marked "No UpGrade" for fear of being separated. That, plus thanks to great information deemed from this board, we have VD category with the larger balconies. BUT, if HAL wants to offer us suites for a ridiculously small amount of money...... well we sure would be interested. Does the "No UpGrade" take us out of the pool for being offered an "upsell"? Additionally since our booking is held by our brick & mortar TA if HAL should offer one to us will they call our TA or us directly?

Thanks again. :D
Sorry I missed your question.... if you are linked with another couple even if they are the same category neither of you will receive from HAL or your TA an upgrade offer. It has nothing to do with the No UpGrade but rather that you are linked with another party. Don't ask me why it is one of HAL's silly rules but there is no reason if your TA wants to contact the department that handles the upsells to see if they are offering anything. It is actually a timing issue and knowing when these offers are going to happen ;)

[3rdGenCunarder]

On the subject of timing, how late can upsells be offered? My upcoming cruise still has lots of availability. I keep doing dummy bookings, and the changes are interested. Once in a while, it shows "sold out" and then later it shows availability. I asked my TA about a possible upsell from an OV to a Lanai, but they wanted the full difference, and it didn't seem worth it. (We would be fine in our OV, but the thought of all that availability above is is soooo tempting)

She said she requested an upgrade. Then she said that it could come as late as at the pier and that they might request a small amount of money. Also said that I should ask about an upsell at the pier if I didn't get an upgrade. But I thought someone said they don't negotiates upsells at the pier.

Second question. I noticed last night that one category of verandah has a "special price" and it's $100 cheaper than a lanai. Will they do an upsell for me for the difference between my OV and this verandah guarantee? Or is "special price" new bookings only? It didn't say new bookings only, just that it was a nonrefundable price to be paid at time of booking. Since I'm past final payment, that's no issue.

[1cruiselvr]

Sorry I missed your question.... if you are linked with another couple even if they are the same category neither of you will receive from HAL or your TA an upgrade offer. It has nothing to do with the No UpGrade but rather that you are linked with another party. Don't ask me why it is one of HAL's silly rules but there is no reason if your TA wants to contact the department that handles the upsells to see if they are offering anything. It is actually a timing issue and knowing when these offers are going to happen ;)

I didn't know this. We are traveling with another couple and we linked our bookings for dining assignment purpose only. Both of us had gty bookings, we got assigned cabins next door to each other. We didn't care about that just wanted to make sure our dining was the same. Now it appears we have ruined our opportunities to get an upsell offer. Is there any way we can fix this? Our sail date is 10/24. We bought a VF gty and got a VA. I don't even know if they are upselling to SZ/SY/SS's for our cruise or not. Now I'm bummed. I thought we had the same chance as everyone else for an upsell offer. :confused: I learn something new every day on this board.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I didn't know this. We are traveling with another couple and we linked our bookings for dining assignment purpose only. Both of us had gty bookings, we got assigned cabins next door to each other. We didn't care about that just wanted to make sure our dining was the same. Now it appears we have ruined our opportunities to get an upsell offer. Is there any way we can fix this? Our sail date is 10/24. We bought a VF gty and got a VA. I don't even know if they are upselling to SZ/SY/SS's for our cruise or not. Now I'm bummed. I thought we had the same chance as everyone else for an upsell offer. :confused: I learn something new every day on this board.
It is extremely rare to be offered upsells to the Superior Verandah Suites from a Balcony, normally the upsells are from OV to Bal or Superior Verandah to Deluxe Verandah. If they were offering them the offer would be happening about right now maybe next week at the latest. I have seen it happen but like I said it is very rare. If you have a TA have them call the appropriate dept or if you booked with HAL call them. You actually were quite fortunate that you got cabins next to each other that does not happen that often.

[1cruiselvr]

Thanks for the prompt answer. We booked with an online TA that doesn't do much but book the cruise for their customer. I knew we wouldn't be getting any 'customer service' from them but didn't realize a better TA situation would be helpful for something like this. I asked them once before to do something for me and the email response I got back was like I was asking for a free cruise from them. Guess I'll give up dreaming of a Superior Suite and enjoy my balcony cabin. :o

[fivechip]

We had an SY guarantee on the 11/04/2011 Zuiderdam sailing and were offered an upsell to a SB corner ,which we jumped at

[KansasKat]

We're on the Eurodam Oct 22 Eastern Caribbean and also had a SY and were offered an upsell to a corner SB. We took it too!

[cruisingxpert]

Would either of you mind telling me how much you had to pay for the upsell?
CJ

[slabeaume]

We're on the Nov. 5 Eurodam cruise and got an email for an upsell 2 days ago. Odd thing, though, it didn't say what the offer was. So I called HAL and they gave me the number for ship inventory. I originally had a superior suite reservation and the upsell was for an SA deluxe suite for $199@ for the first 2 people (our 3rd passenger in the room wasn't charged). I took it. This is my 3rd HAL cruise, 8th cruise total, and the first time I've been offered an upsell. I could have easily missed it since it was in my junk email. It'll be our first suite and I'm really excited!

[sail7seas]

That was a GREAT offer.
Congratulations.

[cruisingxpert]

Congratulations Sue on your upsell and letting me know the Offer! We had a deluxe suite on our cruise to Bermuda and it was wonderful. I'm on the Westerdam on the 20th and hope I get that lucky.

Catherine

[glutenhab]

Can anyone offer advice on this?
We are doing B2B cruises (28 + 30 days) with outside guarantees in both.
How should we stay on top of upsell offers for our second leg, since well be on the ship at the time & 10,000 miles from home & our T/A?

[Aruba]

We have never been offered an upsell. We use a different TA each time (whoever has the best price) so have never established a relationship with a single agent. Perhaps that is the reason?

[eh2zed]

Nor have we ever been offered one

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Can anyone offer advice on this?
We are doing B2B cruises (28 + 30 days) with outside guarantees in both.
How should we stay on top of upsell offers for our second leg, since well be on the ship at the time & 10,000 miles from home & our T/A?
Do you have the same cabin for both legs of the cruise? If you do you will NOT be offered any kind of Upsell offer. The chance of finding a cabin in a higher category that is available for both voyages is nill to slim. If you are willing to move cabins between sailings then you can contact HAL to see if they are offering anything or contact your TA to call HAL.

[cruisemama5]

How far before a cruise do they offer upsells? We booked directly with HAL so don't have a "TA" we are working with to call. Just wondering when a good time to call about it would be. We have got a bit better cabin upgrade, because we called when we noticed the price had gone down.

[slabeaume]

Our upsell was offered 3 1/2 weeks before our cruise. We booked directly with HAL this time. Our offer came by email.

[Randyk47]

We have never been offered an upsell. We use a different TA each time (whoever has the best price) so have never established a relationship with a single agent. Perhaps that is the reason?

I really don't think that has anything to do with it. We've only gotten one upsell offer in all of our cruises, most with the same TA. The one we got was no bargain and actually was the full fare difference between our B category and an S category. For that cruise the difference was $1,999 per person so taking the offer would have cost us nearly $4,000. I'll have to admit after hearing here all the wonderful offers I actually asked the TA to check to see if it was a mistake. It wasn't and I counter offered $999 per person. It was a 14-day cruise and that was my level of tolerance. HAL didn't accept and we sailed in our original B category cabin. I shared this offer here once before and was asked since it was so high did I or my TA initiate the contact with HAL for an upsell. The answer is HAL initiated the offer, neither my TA or I had asked.

The other thing to consider is what category are you in to start with. We book S category cabins so there's really only the PS to be offered but used to book B or SS categories. The higher up you are in category the fewer category cabins above you so the offers are going to be fewer.

[1cruiselvr]

How far before a cruise do they offer upsells? We booked directly with HAL so don't have a "TA" we are working with to call. Just wondering when a good time to call about it would be. We have got a bit better cabin upgrade, because we called when we noticed the price had gone down.

I see no reason to call. If an upsell is available, they will contact you. If you contact them you are likely to be quoted the difference between your category and the one you want at brochure rate which often happens, then folks post here that the upsell was outrageously high when in reality it was not an official upsell, but a price quote for moving from one category to another. The key in a true upsell is that either HAL or your TA contact you about changing for a price. You cannot trigger an upsell with a call. You can find out if one is available but seems to me that if there was one for your category, they would contact you first. It's important to be clear on this, calling HAL and asking how $$ to move from let's say and inside to an outside and getting that price is not an upsell. That's a paid move paying the different from full brochure rate. If you are going to call HAL, make sure to ask if there are any upsell deals being offered currently for your sailing. Then the conversation with HAL is clear to the person on the other end. But back to my original statement, I think there is no need to call, if they want to make an offer, they will contact you.

[anghared]

TA called yesterday said HAL had offered an upsell - 1299 pp DA to A. Had to decline. That was 14 days before sailing.

[adrift@sea]

I see no reason to call. If an upsell is available, they will contact you. The key in a true upsell is that either HAL or your TA contact you about changing for a price. You cannot trigger an upsell with a call. You can find out if one is available but seems to me that if there was one for your category, they would contact you first. But back to my original statement, I think there is no need to call, if they want to make an offer, they will contact you.

I concur with 1cruiselvr in their statement. Upsells are offered at various times prior to sailings and when offered, blanket emails are sent out to anyone that may qualify for it. Check your email on a regular basis as that is where you are going to get the offer--and it is on a first come, first serve basis. Timing is everything with these offers.

[adrift@sea]

How far before a cruise do they offer upsells? We booked directly with HAL so don't have a "TA" we are working with to call. .

We have received offers several weeks out and one offer two days before the second half of a back to back while we were aboard the ship. There is no way to predict timing on these offers as there are many factors involved.

[glutenhab]

Do you have the same cabin for both legs of the cruise? If you do you will NOT be offered any kind of Upsell offer. The chance of finding a cabin in a higher category that is available for both voyages is nill to slim. If you are willing to move cabins between sailings then you can contact HAL to see if they are offering anything or contact your TA to call HAL.

Thanks, I do understand this & my T/A has my booking tagged accordingly.
Right now we have a G Guarantee for the first 28 days & a HH Guarantee for the second 30 day.
My question was not on our chances of being offered an upsell but rather on how we would be contacted if one was coming for our second 30 day leg, since we will already be aboard & far far from home.
I know it is usually done by e-mail & we will have a netbook. However, as you know, wi-fi access is expensive while aboard & port days are often 2-3 days apart so access while ashore will be sporadic.
I am looking for advice/suggestions on how to not miss a possible upsell offer for our second leg if it comes.

[glutenhab]

We have received offers several weeks out and one offer two days before the second half of a back to back while we were aboard the ship. There is no way to predict timing on these offers as there are many factors involved.

How did you receive the offer while aboard?

[adrift@sea]

How did you receive the offer while aboard?


In an email. We checked our email and there it was.

[lorekauf]

blanket emails are sent out to anyone that may qualify for it. Check your email on a regular basis as that is where you are going to get the offer--and it is on a first come, first serve basis. Timing is everything with these offers.


I have to say I don't think that is true. I think they get sent out to a limited amount of people not everyone in a certain catagory. I've been on cruises were I was booked in the same category as others and they received an upsell offer and I didn't. I'm wondering if these go out to people that HAL is trying to court ie people that go on fewer cruises with some/no loyalty. This is just a guess on my part. I think for the higher star mariners they might think they already have us in the bag.

[adrift@sea]

Thanks, I do understand this & my T/A has my booking tagged accordingly.
Right now we have a G Guarantee for the first 28 days & a HH Guarantee for the second 30 day.
My question was not on our chances of being offered an upsell but rather on how we would be contacted if one was coming for our second 30 day leg, since we will already be aboard & far far from home.
I know it is usually done by e-mail & we will have a netbook. However, as you know, wi-fi access is expensive while aboard & port days are often 2-3 days apart so access while ashore will be sporadic.
I am looking for advice/suggestions on how to not miss a possible upsell offer for our second leg if it comes.

I believe your travel agent will receive any emails from HAL regarding upsells, why not authorize them to either accept on your behalf or contact you on board? I have found that dealing with HAL directly works best for us. We have used any number of travel agents from a number of agencies and there has always been some time delay. So we have decided to bypass the 'middle man' and book thru HAL.

[adrift@sea]

I have to say I don't think that is true. I think they get sent out to a limited amount of people not everyone in a certain catagory. I've been on cruises were I was booked in the same category as others and they received an upsell offer and I didn't.

Perhaps, you are correct. What I have discovered is that when we started booking directly with HAL, the emails regarding upsells increased. Perhaps they were not offered on prior voyages, perhaps that were not offered to us or perhaps, by the time the travel agent read them, it did not make sense to forward---I really don't know! I have not really paid attention to this as we are not looking for upsells/upgrades.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I have to say I don't think that is true. I think they get sent out to a limited amount of people not everyone in a certain catagory. I've been on cruises were I was booked in the same category as others and they received an upsell offer and I didn't. I'm wondering if these go out to people that HAL is trying to court ie people that go on fewer cruises with some/no loyalty. This is just a guess on my part. I think for the higher star mariners they might think they already have us in the bag.

Perhaps, you are correct. What I have discovered is that when we started booking directly with HAL, the emails regarding upsells increased. Perhaps they were not offered on prior voyages, perhaps that were not offered to us or perhaps, by the time the travel agent read them, it did not make sense to forward---I really don't know! I have not really paid attention to this as we are not looking for upsells/upgrades.
OK first off it makes absolutely NO difference if you are booked with HAL or if you are booked with a TA. HAL does NOT send out the email based on if they want to "Court" them. It really is based on availability and what YOU have placed for requests on your booking. Example if you are in any Guarantee category you will be automatically sent the mass email that is sent out if there is going to be an upgrade to the next level of cabins. Inside to Ocean View, Ocean View to Balcony, Balcony to Superior Verandah Suites, and Superior Verandah Suites to Deluxe Verandah Suites. If you have a cabin assignment and you are linked with others cruising, they call this having a TWID I.D. which links you together for dining none of you will receive this mass upgrade offer even if some have a guarantee or at least with the first offers;) Also if you have you cabin marked Do Not Upgrade you also will not receive the first offer unless you or your TA has contacted the Revenue department that you want to be offered Up Sell offers. Then sometimes and this does happen frequently they just cannot get enough passengers to move and they need to get the higher cabins filled they then will send out a MASS email even if you have do not upgrade and are linked with others. But this happens in the seccond wave of offers.

No one is treated special or courted it is all about knowing the system and either having a TA that knows how it works or dealing with someone at HAL that also knows how it works. Your best bet to always get an offer is to book a guarantee. Also most all the offers happen on Vista Class and Signature Class. They do not happen as often on S and R class ships and if they do it is more often Inside going to Ocean View and not nearly as often as Verandah Suites going to Deluxe Verandah Suites. So if you book the S and R Class ships do NOT being expecting the Up Sell offers because they just plain do not happen nearlty as often.

[Wehwalt]

I have to say I don't think that is true. I think they get sent out to a limited amount of people not everyone in a certain catagory. I've been on cruises were I was booked in the same category as others and they received an upsell offer and I didn't. I'm wondering if these go out to people that HAL is trying to court ie people that go on fewer cruises with some/no loyalty. This is just a guess on my part. I think for the higher star mariners they might think they already have us in the bag.

:It is possible. This is my fifth cruise but my first with HAL I had a VH guarantee for my cruise coming up and they upgraded me to a VB. I am feeling well disposed towards HAL, I'm 48, my guess is they are hoping to get me as a regular. As my real interest in cruising is using it as a hotel/transport to get to places I haven't been (I am NOT nostalgic for the days of Titanic) they may be in for a disappointment, but they may be content to be the first place I look.

[glutenhab]

I believe your travel agent will receive any emails from HAL regarding upsells, why not authorize them to either accept on your behalf or contact you on board? I have found that dealing with HAL directly works best for us. We have used any number of travel agents from a number of agencies and there has always been some time delay. So we have decided to bypass the 'middle man' and book thru HAL.

That is what I am setting up right now.
I spoke to my T/A & she suggested I leave instructions with her on exactly how much I am willing to spend to move to particular categories if they are offered as an upsell.
This is not ideal, but as I see it right now the only option I have.
I will check my e-mails as much as possible but I do not want to miss out on an offer. From what I have heard, HAL wants an answer ASAP or they will move on to next in line.

[glutenhab]

OK first off it makes absolutely NO difference if you are booked with HAL or if you are booked with a TA. HAL does NOT send out the email based on if they want to "Court" them. It really is based on availability and what YOU have placed for requests on your booking. Example if you are in any Guarantee category you will be automatically sent the mass email that is sent out if there is going to be an upgrade to the next level of cabins. Inside to Ocean View, Ocean View to Balcony, Balcony to Superior Verandah Suites, and Superior Verandah Suites to Deluxe Verandah Suites. If you have a cabin assignment and you are linked with others cruising, they call this having a TWID I.D. which links you together for dining none of you will receive this mass upgrade offer even if some have a guarantee or at least with the first offers;) Also if you have you cabin marked Do Not Upgrade you also will not receive the first offer unless you or your TA has contacted the Revenue department that you want to be offered Up Sell offers. Then sometimes and this does happen frequently they just cannot get enough passengers to move and they need to get the higher cabins filled they then will send out a MASS email even if you have do not upgrade and are linked with others. But this happens in the seccond wave of offers.

No one is treated special or courted it is all about knowing the system and either having a TA that knows how it works or dealing with someone at HAL that also knows how it works. Your best bet to always get an offer is to book a guarantee. Also most all the offers happen on Vista Class and Signature Class. They do not happen as often on S and R class ships and if they do it is more often Inside going to Ocean View and not nearly as often as Verandah Suites going to Deluxe Verandah Suites. So if you book the S and R Class ships do NOT being expecting the Up Sell offers because they just plain do not happen nearlty as often.

Excellent info!

[lorekauf]

OK first off it makes absolutely NO difference if you are booked with HAL or if you are booked with a TA. HAL does NOT send out the email based on if they want to "Court" them. It really is based on availability and what YOU have placed for requests on your booking. Example if you are in any Guarantee category you will be automatically sent the mass email that is sent out if there is going to be an upgrade to the next level of cabins. Inside to Ocean View, Ocean View to Balcony, Balcony to Superior Verandah Suites, and Superior Verandah Suites to Deluxe Verandah Suites. If you have a cabin assignment and you are linked with others cruising, they call this having a TWID I.D. which links you together for dining none of you will receive this mass upgrade offer even if some have a guarantee or at least with the first offers;) Also if you have you cabin marked Do Not Upgrade you also will not receive the first offer unless you or your TA has contacted the Revenue department that you want to be offered Up Sell offers. Then sometimes and this does happen frequently they just cannot get enough passengers to move and they need to get the higher cabins filled they then will send out a MASS email even if you have do not upgrade and are linked with others. But this happens in the seccond wave of offers.

No one is treated special or courted it is all about knowing the system and either having a TA that knows how it works or dealing with someone at HAL that also knows how it works. Your best bet to always get an offer is to book a guarantee. Also most all the offers happen on Vista Class and Signature Class. They do not happen as often on S and R class ships and if they do it is more often Inside going to Ocean View and not nearly as often as Verandah Suites going to Deluxe Verandah Suites. So if you book the S and R Class ships do NOT being expecting the Up Sell offers because they just plain do not happen nearlty as often.
Lisa, I book guarantees 99.9% of the time and generally I'm not linked to others. I'm just speaking of what has happened to me persoanally. This is my perspective. Clearly you see a larger cross section then I do so I'm just speaking of my experience.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

Lisa, I book guarantees 99.9% of the time and generally I'm not linked to others. I'm just speaking of what has happened to me persoanally. This is my perspective. Clearly you see a larger cross section then I do so I'm just speaking of my experience.
Chances are that when you did book a guarantee and were not linked with someone else that means that there just plain were not any upgrade offers at all. Not every sailing offers upsells. It may very well be the category above you over sold which does happen and there would be no way to make you an offer.

For some reason here on the HAL board many have come to the conclusion that Upsells are something that happens for every cruise and they definitely do not. There are some sailings that are just plain sold out prior to the cruise. It really depends on how many guarantees are sold in the category above you.

[sail7seas]

I see no reason to call. If an upsell is available, they will contact you. If you contact them you are likely to be quoted the difference between your category and the one you want at brochure rate which often happens, then folks post here that the upsell was outrageously high when in reality it was not an official upsell, but a price quote for moving from one category to another. The key in a true upsell is that either HAL or your TA contact you about changing for a price. You cannot trigger an upsell with a call. You can find out if one is available but seems to me that if there was one for your category, they would contact you first. It's important to be clear on this, calling HAL and asking how $$ to move from let's say and inside to an outside and getting that price is not an upsell. That's a paid move paying the different from full brochure rate. If you are going to call HAL, make sure to ask if there are any upsell deals being offered currently for your sailing. Then the conversation with HAL is clear to the person on the other end. But back to my original statement, I think there is no need to call, if they want to make an offer, they will contact you.



Outrageously High?
It's easy to forget in the scramble for free upgrades and low cost upsells that there are actually people who book and pay for every category cabin on the ship. Many of us pay what is asked so...... to turn it around, it might sometimes seem outrageous that HAL offers an upsell to a "S" cabin for $199.

Yes, I get it. No one makes anyone book any cabin at any price they don't want but every now and then, it doesn't hurt to remember it's a marketing game and the goal is fill the ship for the highest revenue possible. Some of us pay 'full boat'. :rolleyes: ....by personal choice for all the 'known' reasons.

[ScottishMaid]

OK first off it makes absolutely NO difference if you are booked with HAL or if you are booked with a TA. HAL does NOT send out the email based on if they want to "Court" them. It really is based on availability and what YOU have placed for requests on your booking. Example if you are in any Guarantee category you will be automatically sent the mass email that is sent out if there is going to be an upgrade to the next level of cabins. Inside to Ocean View, Ocean View to Balcony, Balcony to Superior Verandah Suites, and Superior Verandah Suites to Deluxe Verandah Suites. offers. Then sometimes and this does happen frequently they just cannot get enough passengers to move and they need to get the higher cabins filled they then will send out a MASS email even if you have do not upgrade and are linked with others. But this happens in the second wave of offers.

No one is treated special or courted it is all about knowing the system and either having a TA that knows how it works or dealing with someone at HAL that also knows how it works. Your best bet to always get an offer is to book a guarantee. Also most all the offers happen on Vista Class and Signature Class. They do not happen as often on S and R class ships and if they do it is more often Inside going to Ocean View and not nearly as often as Verandah Suites going to Deluxe Verandah Suites. So if you book the S and R Class ships do NOT being expecting the Up Sell offers because they just plain do not happen nearly as often.

On my last Alaska trip on a S class ship I booked directly with HAL at the lowest rate, guarantee. Ten days before sailing I received an email "Limited Upgrade offer notification" . Luckily I opened the attachment which contained a "preferred limited upgrade special" which contained a great offer.
Lisa and anyone else, do you know if these offers are passed on quickly if you have booked through a TA? The Alaska offer said first come, first served, so I called HAL immediately.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

On my last Alaska trip on a S class ship I booked directly with HAL at the lowest rate, guarantee. Ten days before sailing I received an email "Limited Upgrade offer notification" . Luckily I opened the attachment which contained a "preferred limited upgrade special" which contained a great offer.
Lisa and anyone else, do you know if these offers are passed on quickly if you have booked through a TA? The Alaska offer said first come, first served, so I called HAL immediately.
The answer to that question varies sailing to sailing. I have seen where the Alaska North Bound and South Bound voyages get far more offers for up sells and often the offer comes out several times and are not always cheaper ;) mostly because there tends to be two different types of cruisers on these ( not to say this is the way for everyone but it is more of a trend) The majority are either those on cruise tours or are those that booked because this cruise was far cheaper than a round trip Alaska. Those looking for a cheaper Alaska cruise are not always the ones that will even pay $49 PP to upgrade from a Inside to an Ocean View. I have seen many turn down the offer. But for the most part the sailings that are North and South Bound Alaska do not always sell out especially those in May and those in September so for those sailing the offers to upsell are plentiful. Which is the only time you frequently see S and R class with upsells. The other sailings that tended to get a few more offers this past year was the Veendam for Burmuda because HAL was having a bit of trouble filling that ship. I saw many turn down the offer for this as well only to get a free upgrade at the pier :rolleyes:

[KansasKat]

Sure - $199 each

[sail7seas]

Yes, $199

[1cruiselvr]

Outrageously High?
It's easy to forget in the scramble for free upgrades and low cost upsells that there are actually people who book and pay for every category cabin on the ship. Many of us pay what is asked so...... to turn it around, it might sometimes seem outrageous that HAL offers an upsell to a "S" cabin for $199.

Yes, I get it. No one makes anyone book any cabin at any price they don't want but every now and then, it doesn't hurt to remember it's a marketing game and the goal is fill the ship for the highest revenue possible. Some of us pay 'full boat'. :rolleyes: ....by personal choice for all the 'known' reasons.

I understand your point. When I said outrageously high, I meant the person that called and got brochure rate pricing, thought it was outrageously high in comparison to a figure they had in their head as to what the upsell would be (of course, it would vary depending on what a person considers a great upsell price).
If I didn't make my point clear, I was trying to say that some people use the word upsell when really what they got was a price difference for the category change at full fare. There was no upsell offered made. You can call the cruise and ask how much to go from category X to category Z and they will quote you a price. That's not an upsell.
I think people get a false sense of how often upsells are offered on a cruise. They think every cruise has them and every pax (except them of course, darn how did they miss that opportunity) gets an offer.

[startwin]

Sorry I missed your question.... if you are linked with another couple even if they are the same category neither of you will receive from HAL or your TA an upgrade offer. It has nothing to do with the No UpGrade but rather that you are linked with another party. Don't ask me why it is one of HAL's silly rules but there is no reason if your TA wants to contact the department that handles the upsells to see if they are offering anything. It is actually a timing issue and knowing when these offers are going to happen ;)

That not correct. We were linked with a friends booking last year, and we both got upgrade offers, from an oceanview on main deck to a Superior verandah on the Verandah deck. for $140 pp. Me and DH took it, the friends did not.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

That not correct. We were linked with a friends booking last year, and we both got upgrade offers, from an oceanview on main deck to a Superior verandah on the Verandah deck. for $140 pp. Me and DH took it, the friends did not.
You most likely were in the second or third round of offers, it is only in the first round of offers that those linked do not get the email. I am sorry if I did not make that clear. I have seen sailings that they badly wanted people to move that I received 4 email offers then a 5th email offer because because the category they were in was oversold and not enough passengers took the up sell so the next offerr was a move over to another sailing offer.

[Hflors]

You most likely were in the second or third round of offers, it is only in the first round of offers that those linked do not get the email. I am sorry if I did not make that clear. I have seen sailings that they badly wanted people to move that I received 4 email offers then a 5th email offer because because the category they were in was oversold and not enough passengers took the up sell so the next offerr was a move over to another sailing offer.

I have been following this thread and it has been interesting. I do have a question. I know HAL sells cabins and guarantees, but how do they "oversell" if the coast guard only allows so many passengers to begin with once that number is reached/cabins sold how is it possible that you could have more than is allowed?

Also on my last cruise I did (what I called an upsell) from an ocean view to a balcony. I had our TA contact Hal about three days before sailing and Hal's price was more than I wanted to pay. I did the same thing the next day, same thing. On the last afternoon, again contacted HAL and HAL came back with a much lower number. We agreed and got the balcony. Is this not an UPSELL? If not what would you call it? Thanks

[startwin]

You most likely were in the second or third round of offers, it is only in the first round of offers that those linked do not get the email. I am sorry if I did not make that clear. I have seen sailings that they badly wanted people to move that I received 4 email offers then a 5th email offer because because the category they were in was oversold and not enough passengers took the up sell so the next offerr was a move over to another sailing offer.

However it came about it was a beautiful deal. For less than $300 total we went up several categories from an oceanview on main deck to a balcony suite, mid-ship on the verandah deck. I cannot imagine it was turned down in several rounds of offers, but it was our gain.

[tcook052]

I have been following this thread and it has been interesting. I do have a question. I know HAL sells cabins and guarantees, but how do they "oversell" if the coast guard only allows so many passengers to begin with once that number is reached/cabins sold how is it possible that you could have more than is allowed?

They don't oversell the maximum ship capacity, they merely sell more of a particular category. For example they may choose to sell 40 inside cat. L cabins when there are only 10 of that category. The assignments are set after final payment up to a few weeks before embarkation and some magically get a category upgrade to cat. K. Those in ocean view may get an upsell offer to go into a verandah or those in a verandah may get an offer to move to a suite and in this way the cruise line adjusts it's cabin assigment.

If they only accepted reservations based upon exactly how many cabins were in a particular category there would be no need for cabin guarantee and those booking closer to sailing would not get the best cabins as they would've already been spoken for by early bookers. This way the cruise line gets much more flexibility in how it sells the cabins and for how much.

[Globaliser]

They don't oversell the maximum ship capacity, they merely sell more of a particular category.I don't know if HAL does this, but some cruise lines definitely seem to overbook the maximum ship capacity. If the cancellation rate in the last couple of weeks is too low and they might be in danger of having an oversold ship, they start making offers to some passengers to change to a different cruise. As the sailing date approaches, the offers get more generous until eventually they no longer have more passengers than space.

If there was no risk of overselling, they'd just be doing the cabin shuffle rather than asking some people to change to a different cruise.

[Caribbean Chris]

They have to oversell, just like an airline, because they know there will be cancellations...and there is often fallout at final payment time.

Then there may be groups that start by holding a block of staterooms in various categories months in advance. Maybe the groups sell all the rooms in their room blocks, or maybe none, and have to turn unsold rooms back in to the cruise line at various dates per their group contract.

When I worked as a cruise line sales rep (long ago), we introduced cruises to China soon after it opened up as a destination again. Every group sold every stateroom in their block and their travel agents begged for more. Meanwhile individuals were booking fast. Almost no one cancelled closer to departure. We ended up having to "buy off" entire groups by offering to move their sailing date to the next year plus give each passenger a free Med cruise.

These days, I assume the lines have sophisticated computer inventory programs to predict and guide their decisions to offer sales, up sells, and free upgrades. Supply and demand drives offers. All depends on the sailing date, itinerary, which categories are oversold and which have empty rooms. Luck of
the draw for passengers.

Chris

[tcook052]

I don't know if HAL does this, but some cruise lines definitely seem to overbook the maximum ship capacity. If the cancellation rate in the last couple of weeks is too low and they might be in danger of having an oversold ship, they start making offers to some passengers to change to a different cruise. As the sailing date approaches, the offers get more generous until eventually they no longer have more passengers than space.

If there was no risk of overselling, they'd just be doing the cabin shuffle rather than asking some people to change to a different cruise.

I've seen & heard of it happening on some cruise lines but thought it was pretty rare for HAL. I'm willing to be corrected if that's a misperception on my part.

[sail7seas]

Most ships on most cruises have most of their cabins sold again and again and again in the time leading up to cruise date. the same cabin gets booked, gets cancelled and gets rebooked sometimes more than once.

When it comes final payment time and they now have a number for which cabins actulaly made final payment,, they start assigning guarantees and moving everyone around. This is when they know they have sold too many of a particular category and upgrades and upsells begin. They usually find cabins they need in the necessary categories.

When they still have to make assignments and cannot because of over population of one or more categories, that is when the 'dealing' begins.

I have never read of anyone who did not want to cancel not being able to go on their cruise but I certainly have read of folks who got better, better, better offers to rebook and reschedule. They keep making the offers as good as necessary to get people to switch.

It's worked this way for years. We once were the happy recipients of a great offer to 'sell our "S" suite back to HAL' for a cruise we had really wanted to take. They made an offer we couldn't refuse. :) ...... and we never regretted it. ;)