Do those of you who get a lot of UPGRADES book thru Princess??

[Dreamer333]

I was reading thru the thread about who gets upgrades...

It seems as tho there are several posters who consistantly get upgrades...

I've heard that those who book directly thru Princess are more likely to get upgrades that those who book thru a T.A.

Does anyone know if this is true?

[Host Caroline]

Have never booked through Princess and have gotten some sort of upgrade on all but 4 of our 14 Princess cruises but we just about always book a "guarantee" i.e. not an assigned cabin. Often that helps although have still not figured out exactly how they do it and I used to be a T.A.!

[Lynda90]

I have to agree with Caroline. We have been on enough Princess cruises to be Elite status and usually end up with some kind of an upgrade. It might just be a category upgrade, but sometimes it's more than that. We have booked both "gty" and specific rooms and it doesn't seem to matter. We have never booked directly with Princess. Can always do much, much better just about anywhere else than booking directly with Princess. Unless they are running some last minute specials to fill up space, their rates are very high compared to several large online agencies. Anyone who has been a member of CC for a year or more, pretty much knows not to book with Princess.

[Dreamer333]

So maybe the "secret" is to book a Guar. cabin... I'll have to try that next time!! :)

[Irishjayne]

Could you explain the difference between a guarantee and assigned cabin?

[Toto2Kansas]

A guarantee is when you book a specific category, but are not assigned a cabin number, sometime not until right before you cruise. You are GURANTEED to be assigned AT LEAST the category cabin you booked but sometimes you are upgraded if higher cabins do not sell. You don't have a choice of where they assign your cabin.

Just keep in mind that there are some staterooms where location is not very good and although you can get a great location, you are at the cruise lines mercy as to where you end up.

 

Sometimes it works out very well, while other times it does not. It depends on how much of a gambler you are.

 

We recently booked a guarantee mini suite category AE on the Golden and within a few weeks we were assigned a category AA mini suite. Not an actual upgrade as it is still in the mini suite category, but in a very desireable location. So we were very happy with where we ended up. Just today, I saw another AA cabin pop up as available and was able to switch locations since one opened up to an even better location within the AA category.

 

Hope that isn't too confusing??????????

[Irishjayne]

Our TA booked our cruise for May of 2006. We already have a cabin # and was told we were eligible for an upgrade. So does that mean we have an assigned cabin? We are with a group of 32.

[Toto2Kansas]

A guarantee can change several times even after they assign you a cabin number. Will keep my fingers crossed for you.

 

We booked a guarantee last summer and were assigned a cabin the very next day, that is where we ended up without any other upgrades though. Just a bit of fair warning. As long as you get at least the category you booked, you really can't look for anything more. And if you happen to get it, it is a gift from the old upgrade fairy. lol

[Lynda90]

Our TA booked our cruise for May of 2006. We already have a cabin # and was told we were eligible for an upgrade. So does that mean we have an assigned cabin? We are with a group of 32.

Even if your TA has booked an assigned cabin for you, you are just as much eligible for an upgrade as a the person who booked a "gty." The only time you would not be eligible for an upgrade would be if your TA specified "no upgrades." That would be for someone who has booked a specific cabin and they do not want to be moved. Last May we booked the least expensive mini-suite with a cabin number. A week or so after we booked we were upgraded to an AA mini-suite specific cabin number. A month or so prior to our cruise, we were upgraded to a full suite. So your upgrade chances can be both with a specific cabin asssignment or a "gty." It's really the luck of the draw. Hope this helps.

[cruiser2004]

Last year we were on our 12th Princess cruise and had booked an AA mini. Several people in AD's with only two or three Princess cruises were upgraded to full suites while we remained in AA. Out of curiosity I had a long discussion with the cruise line rep to try and understand just how these upgrades worked. He told me that upgrades were randomly picked by the computer with no other factors considered. So I also would agree with Host Caroline its just plain luck for major upgrades. While I can't say I agree with not giving some weight to loyal passengers at least Princess does give everyone a chance for a free upgrade.

[CruiseFever]

I was reading thru the thread about who gets upgrades...

It seems as tho there are several posters who consistantly get upgrades...

I've heard that those who book directly thru Princess are more likely to get upgrades that those who book thru a T.A.

Does anyone know if this is true?

 

Excellent, thoughtful question

 

I HAVE heard also that upgrades depend on how early they booked and number of previous sailings.

[LARGIN]

Remember that a true upgrade is inside to outside; outside to balcony; balcony to mini-suite; mini-suite to suite..

There is no formula for receiving an upgrade..

[tedjazz]

I have a different take on this subject. I have been told by T/A's and Princess Reps that Passenger Loyalty (# of Cruises), the earlier you book the cruise, where people are making cabin selections and if the cruise is sold out or not will all have a bearing on your chances for an upgrade.

BTW, an upgrade is considered an improved placement to a better cabin. That could be in the same basic category. I booked a BB "gyt" and was upgraded to a BA, that is considered an upgrade.

[Coral]

All of my upgrades (true upgrades) have been booked through a travel agent. I have often held a cabin with Princess but it is always transferred to my travel agent.

[palolake]

Does anyone think it makes a difference if you are assigned a cabin number or just booked gty.? Our TA believes that you have more of a chance if you just book gty. We are usually upgraded but the one time we booked an actual cabin and asked to be upgraded , we weren't.

[Coral]

Does anyone think it makes a difference if you are assigned a cabin number or just booked gty.? Our TA believes that you have more of a chance if you just book gty. We are usually upgraded but the one time we booked an actual cabin and asked to be upgraded , we weren't.

 

I don't know - though my two suite upgrades were from assigned cabins.

[spongerob]

Hang on, Dreamer, someone left a peanut butter jar on the doorstep last night.

[coiran]

Fifteen Princess cruises - one upgrade! Go figure!

 

Ron

[Dreamer333]

Hang on, Dreamer, someone left a peanut butter jar on the doorstep last night.

 

Uh oh... ;)

[WASUP]

We got an upgrade from interior to window, as we paid 300 more then the outside was going for now. So we had the TA call Princess and they upgraded us to an outside, window, we are now waiting to see if they will allow us to upgrade to a balcony. We didnot pay for this upgrade.

 

I have been watching three or four cabns on Aloha deck that are balconies that are still not taken, I check every day and see if they are still out there and with the prices of the one way Alaska cruises going down to 499 on the Sun for the date we are going, I am hoping they will upgrade us. We are willing to pay for the upgrade. Just not 250 a person right now.

 

anyone pay for an upgrade from a window to a balcony?

 

Thanks

[northwoods2]

I was just checking to see if we had any chance for an upgrade - and found out it is Not Possible.

 

We have a AB mini suite on the Coral and there doesn't appear to be anything high that can accomodate 4 people.

 

I'm surprised the suites sofa bed does not accomodate 2 people - so you could have 4 in a suite.

[Coral]

I was just checking to see if we had any chance for an upgrade - and found out it is Not Possible.

 

We have a AB mini suite on the Coral and there doesn't appear to be anything high that can accomodate 4 people.

 

I'm surprised the suites sofa bed does not accomodate 2 people - so you could have 4 in a suite.

 

I agree that this is a design flaw. All of the suites on the Coral and Island Princess only accomodate up to 3 people. I have a friend with 2 young children who prefer to book suites - they will not sail on these 2 ships because of this.

 

The sofa beds in the minisuites are really twin beds.

[Lynda90]

I have a different take on this subject. I have been told by T/A's and Princess Reps that Passenger Loyalty (# of Cruises), the earlier you book the cruise, where people are making cabin selections and if the cruise is sold out or not will all have a bearing on your chances for an upgrade.

It would be really nice if upgrades really worked this way. But, this is so not true. I have spoken to many first time cruisers who booked neither early nor late, and were upgraded to a full suite. On the other hand, I am Elite, always book early, and have only been upgraded to a full suite once. The random computer pick probably sounds closer to the way it's done.

[kryos]

Excellent, thoughtful question

 

I HAVE heard also that upgrades depend on how early they booked and number of previous sailings.

That's the same thing I was told. In fact, I was also told that whether or not you are assigned a cabinmate with a guaranteed share (like the program they have on HAL) also depends on how early you book. The earlier booked, the better the chance of getting the cabin to yourself and only paying half of the double occupancy rate.

 

That's why I booked my Hawaii/South Pacific cruise so far in advance. I couldn't afford to do that cruise without taking a guaranteed share. Now I'm just hoping I don't get a cabinmate so that I can smoke in the cabin. Of course, a smoking cabinmate would be fine too. :)

 

Blue skies ...

 

--rita

[cruiser2004]

I have been told almost erery explanation of how upgrades work, as posted above, by TA's and Princess sales reps. I have booked Princess cruises thru TA's and Princess, booked early and late and booked guarantee and assigned cabins. I agree with LARGIN and the Princess sales rep I spoke with, that "true" upgrades are random picks of the computer. I think only the computer staff knows for sure, but my experience over the years leads me to believe that "true" upgrades are just like the slots in the casino; luck is the only factor.