Are the chances of gettting an upgrade

[aprilwaters]

better or worse if the ship is completely booked?

[sail7seas]

If you have booked a guarantee, you might have a chance. If you picked a specific cabin and the ship is fully booked, the chances are slim.

The best advise, always.......book and pay for the lowest level cabin in which you will be happy.

If you book one you don't really want in hopes of an upgrade, you could be very disappointed.

HAL does not seem to give as many free upgrades as some other cruise lines.....which I think is a good thing!!! :)

[aprilwaters]

yes, I booked a guarantee VF for April 11th. The cruise is completely booked. They have even taken the date off of their website. That's why I was wondering if there was still a chance for an upgrade. Not that I'll mind if I don't. I'll just be happy to be there for real.

[DixieCaribe]

Twice we we're offered an upgrade on Prinsendam in 2002 after booking an A and getting an SS, and on the Zuiderdam 2005 after booking a VA and getting an S - but we didn't find out about either upgrade until we got to the ship. So the popular advice remains - book the cabin you will be happy with, because the chances are really slim of getting an upgrade on a sold out ship.

[LoveMyBoxer]

Quick question: We are 3 in our cabin and could not book guarantee. We had to specify a cabin SY. Could we possibly be upgraded even though we have an assigned cabin? Just curious, but happy with the one we have. Thanks

[jtl513]

Quick question: We are 3 in our cabin and could not book guarantee. We had to specify a cabin SY. Could we possibly be upgraded even though we have an assigned cabin? Just curious, but happy with the one we have. Thanks
Only if you told your TA that you would like to be considerered for an upgrade ... and even then the chances are considerably lower than for the guarantees. You may be contacted for an upsell though! :)

[LoveMyBoxer]

That would be OK too! However, any which cabin I can get I will take! Almost didn't get one for the New Year's cruise 2006/06, was on a wait list for two months. WILL NOT let that happend again!

[cruznon]

April,
Have your received a cabin asssignment yet? It seems that the longer your wait until sailing the better the odds of being upgraded. On our Oosterdam cruise, I got a call on Thursday morning before we sailed, offering us an upgrade at an excellent cost!
We've all tried to figure out how the Upgrade Fairy does her magic.

[aprilwaters]

cruznon, no I have not rec'd a cabin yet. I booked a guarantee for the 12th of April. still have 6 weeks to go, but the ship is fully booked.

[Robin7]

better or worse if the ship is completely booked?

I really don't know how it works, but I'll tell you my story. We were on the Zuiderdam in October 2004 right after several hurricanes so it was fully booked. When our travel agent talked us into booking an NN she said we would 'definitely' get an upgrade because 'there are only two of those cabins on the ship'! Well, we didn't get the upgrade. We got exactly what we booked.

We were in 4011 on the Upper Promenade Deck, right in the bow over the show lounge. It was a seriously teeny, tiny cabin. One of those sideways ones that only have a chair and no small sofa. It was an adventure, but we would never have booked that cabin on purpose. (Live and learn.) So follow everyone's advice and book the lowest category cabin you'll be happy with.

Robin (who found a different travel agent who tells the truth!)

[sasha666]

YES YES YES. Especially if you are Mariner status. Usually it is within a grade level. Example, inside to outside. If you book an outside you might get a veranda..... We have the reverse problem. There are 5 cabins we prefer (& w
earn them DO NOT move us on penalty of death at high sea)....still they try, but We cruise ALOT (nearly 100 cruises in ll years, plus I am a "Scorpio" soooo we usually get it straighten around).

Happy sailing