Empty cabins sale empty?

Just curious if an upper cabin type will sail empty, or if Celebrity upgrades so that maybe 1A upgrades to, the upper S2, CS, RS? Will they get cabins filled for a cruise, or would they rather them sail empty, with less of a burden on their staff?

We have been on cruises where the RS was empty and they made it a Bingo prize. Don't know if they do this now.

Prior to sailing Celebrity will try to upsell passengers to higher category cabins that are empty. I have never heard of a regular balcony cabin getting a free upgrade to a suite. In fact free upgrades are very rare. If cabins are available on the day of sailing, in all likelihood you would pay for a higher category cabin.

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We have been on cruises where the RS was empty and they made it a Bingo prize. Don't know if they do this now.

This is very much a viable option for the cruise line in the unlikely event that an upper suite is still available once the ship sails. This happened on one cruise we were took on an Azamara ship. Despite it being a 24 night cruise, a friend who attended the bingo session calculated the entry fees taken. It far exceeded what we had paid for the same category of suite. They only had to sell less than 150 tickets and easily achieved that even on a much smaller ship.. To add to that, the winners were not given the same perks as those who had paid for their suite.

Prior to sailing Celebrity will try to upsell passengers to higher category cabins that are empty. I have never heard of a regular balcony cabin getting a free upgrade to a suite. In fact free upgrades are very rare. If cabins are available on the day of sailing, in all likelihood you would pay for a higher category cabin.

On another cruise, on a Celebrity ship, there was a PH still available at embarkation. Prior to that, Celebrity had tried to sell it by offering a RS guarantee, at the price the RS had last been on sale for - a high price because it was the only room still available. One couple who had booked a RS did a very good deal at embarkation and snagged the PH. In this case, the RS & PH official perks were the same BUT the crew all knew what they had paid and did not consider it to be fair. One would hope that they remained professional and that it did not colour the service they received but human nature being what it is ...

Not sure I understand what was not fair if the perks were the same?

One RC cruise we were on did a ‘raffle’ for the RS (the top room on that ship). There was a lot of moaning from loyal Owners Suite guests who felt that the one with the highest loyalty points should have been given the room or at least the option to upgrade for a nominal cost....The Concierge in the lounge received some forcefull opinions about the company ‘not valuing’ customers!

We continue to await that phone call from the upgrade fairy.....

These last minute upgrades at a reduced price do not come with the perks of the upgraded cabin but one retains the perks from the original cabin

 

Why would the crew care what someone paid for their cabin and how would you know that the crew didn't think it was fair? Did other passengers complain to the crew?

Why would the crew care what someone paid for their cabin and how would you know that the crew didn't think it was fair? Did other passengers complain to the crew?

I did not think it politic to question them but they told us too early for other guests to have complained to them about it. I am purely stating what happened. However, the implication is that it does not happen very often.

I did not think it politic to question them but they told us too early for other guests to have complained to them about it. I am purely stating what happened. However, the implication is that it does not happen very often.

You are saying, then, that the crew was complaining to you about another passenger?? By stating 'they' you also imply it was multiple crew members complaining to you?? Hard to imagine as it is drilled into them from day 1 never to complain to passengers about anything - they can get into a lot of trouble if they are found doing that. Not saying it didn't happen, but would be a rare event indeed.

To the OP - dream on if you would ever think you would get a free upgrade just because a higher level cabin were empty - I wish:). Generally they would potentially offer the cabins - for a price - to those in lower level cabins. Perhaps at a price lower than what could be found online. Based on comments on these boards over the years it appears they generally would only do that for people booking directly with Celebrity. Or perhaps for Zenith customers - they certainly have never offered any upgrades to me in over 40 cruises on Celebrity at a (now) Elite Plus level - that is one of the perks I think they could (but don't) offer at that level as the difference between that and Elite are pretty minimal. They also may upgrade someone who booked a GTY category - but even in that case the likelihood of being upgraded more than one category is slim, slimmer, and slimmest.

We were upgraded at no charge from AQ to a SS 2 years ago and we were booked with a TA not direct with Celebrity. We also took a upsell offer to move from a AQ to a SS last year, again booked with a TA. We are Elite Plus so that kinda of blows the Zenith theory.

You are saying, then, that the crew was complaining to you about another passenger?? By stating 'they' you also imply it was multiple crew members complaining to you?? Hard to imagine as it is drilled into them from day 1 never to complain to passengers about anything - they can get into a lot of trouble if they are found doing that. Not saying it didn't happen, but would be a rare event indeed.

"Commented" rather than "complained". It is simply Cruise Critic members who have changed this to "complaint". It did not affect the crew members. I never said that they did not consider it to be "fair" to them. Again Cruise Critic members have made incorrect assumption. As far as I am concerned. I purely mentioned it because it was clear that it was very unusual for someone to snag a real bargain at embarkation as I would hate others to have their hopes built too high.

They also may upgrade someone who booked a GTY category - but even in that case the likelihood of being upgraded more than one category is slim, slimmer, and slimmest.

Well, I guess our friends got the slimmest. They booked an S2 guarantee, and they received a Royal Suite. That is sweet. :cool:

We've seen upsells, offering the suite to a high roller in the casino, suites raffled off, etc. We've also seen them take names up at guest services for those wanting upgrades. They usually ask if you are willing to pay for the upgrade. Suites are usually booked ahead of time, though. It would be very rare to receive a free upgrade to a suite, unless, like mentioned, you have some pull in the casino or if a higher captain's club tier status. I suppose it could happen but chances are it won't.

In January of 2017 we took a cruise on Solstice to Australia and New Zealand. We booked a Sky Suite (S2) and waited until Celebrity suites were sold out and then upgraded to a Guarantee, later getting a pretty good location. Then we got on the wait list for a Royal suite and less than two weeks from sailing we got an offer for a Royal that we couldn't refuse (1239, I think). IF the ship has the support people to take care of all the cabins they want as many people as possible on the ship and they will do what it takes to fill every cabin. Bottom line. This time we upgraded to a Royal for our Ireland cruise in late May, but it cost more. Life is good.

Last July shortly before sailing received free upgrade on Xpedition from oceanview cabin (XD) to suite with balcony (XLS). First upgrade from X in 25 years. Unexpected but very much appreciated.

Well, I guess our friends got the slimmest. They booked an S2 guarantee, and they received a Royal Suite. That is sweet. :cool:

It depends on what they paid for the S2 guarantee

I have seen cruises that would list a veranda guarantee for $2199 and AQ cabins for $2199. I would guess that those booking the veranda for $2199 got “upgraded” to the AQ

I have also followed a cruise that I booked and was looking for any price reductions. They had a S2 guarantee for $8999 and then listed the Royal suite for $8999. I would think that the passenger that booked the S2 ended up in the Royal. That $8999 was over 3 times more than what I paid for a S2. It was close to sailing time and prices always kept increasing on that cruise and there weren’t many cabins left.

Happy cruising 🌊🚢🇺🇸🌅

These last minute upgrades at a reduced price do not come with the perks of the upgraded cabin but one retains the perks from the original cabin

If you are referencing the perks that are included with the suite category (Like Luminae/Michael’s Club) or the perks included with the RS (Like free speciality dining, Internet, bottles of booze), you are not correct based on our experience.

True related to Captain Club points based on our experience.

If you are referencing the perks that are included with the suite category (Like Luminae/Michael’s Club) or the perks included with the RS (Like free speciality dining, Internet, bottles of booze), you are not correct based on our experience.

 

True related to Captain Club points based on our experience.

Accepted

They seem to be changing their upsells or upgrades. Received an email asking if I wanted to do a "Move Up" bid. The only thing wrong with it is they set a fairly high minimum to bid & you may not find out until very close to your cruise.