Cabin upgrade question

[Craiger]

I'm saling on FOS Western Caribbean in September. I have an inside cabin, and noticed that balcony rooms are only a little bit more than what I paid. I was told that in order to do the upgrade, they would have to cancel my room and charge me the 50% cancellation fee because the cut-off date has passed (early July apparently).

 

Is there anything I can do? Anyone I can escalate to at RC?

[Colorado Babe]

Talk to the resolution desk. They shouldn't have to cancel your reservation. We just upgraded on the Allure a couple weeks ago and are leaving on our cruise on Sept 1st. If you have a TA then they will have to call RC but if you booked directly with them call back and tell them you would like to upgrade and pay the difference for the upgrade.

[Clarea]

I'm saling on FOS Western Caribbean in September. I have an inside cabin, and noticed that balcony rooms are only a little bit more than what I paid. I was told that in order to do the upgrade, they would have to cancel my room and charge me the 50% cancellation fee because the cut-off date has passed (early July apparently).

 

Is there anything I can do? Anyone I can escalate to at RC?

You should not have to cancel. Upgrades are allowed anytime. The only issue is that sometimes the price of a stateroom might be restricted to new bookings, so you might not be able to get the current price if it's a restricted sale. Call whoever booked your cruise and ask to upgrade.

[Craiger]

I spoke with someone in the Resolution Dept. I was told that the room rate shown online right now is for new bookings only, and that I would have to cancel my booking and incur the 50% penalty.

[Clarea]

I spoke with someone in the Resolution Dept. I was told that the room rate shown online right now is for new bookings only, and that I would have to cancel my booking and incur the 50% penalty.

I would wait a day or two and try again. The sale is supposed to be over today, but maybe something else is going on.

[TNIris]

We encountered a similar situation a couple of weeks ago....our travel agent called several times to RCI, and no dice. The thing is, we weren't even trying to get any money back, we were actually going to be paying MORE, what we were trying to take the 3 of us in our current balcony room, and switch it to 2 people in a guarantee inside room and put 2 people in a guarantee balcony room and they wouldn't budge, even though it meant more money for RCI.

 

They would allow us to take 2 people out of the balcony we currently had and put them in a guarantee inside room, but then the other two would have to stay in the current balcony room.

[Craiger]

The sale is still on for the D1 balcony, $699, which is $70 more than I paid for the interior room. They did offer to upgrade me for the regular price of over $900 but I don't want to spend that much.

 

The rep suggested that I try to upgrade when I board the ship.

 

What's interesting is that the interior rooms are selling for $719, and ocean view for I think $829. I guess they have a lot of balcony rooms still vacant.

[Starry Eyes]

The sale is still on for the D1 balcony, $699, which is $70 more than I paid for the interior room. They did offer to upgrade me for the regular price of over $900 but I don't want to spend that much.

 

The rep suggested that I try to upgrade when I board the ship.

 

What's interesting is that the interior rooms are selling for $719, and ocean view for I think $829. I guess they have a lot of balcony rooms still vacant.

 

Did you book directly? if so, I'd call back and hope a different rep might help you. if not, ask of you may speak to resolutions. here is a contract, and they are within their rights to hold you to it....But often resolutions will try to work it out with you if you are paying more money. Be pleasant and patient; I hope it works out.

 

if you booked though a travel agent, you have to work through that travel agent. hopefully your agent will make the calls and go to bat for you. if not, you may not wish to use the agent again.

[ShipRiders]

I'm saling on FOS Western Caribbean in September. I have an inside cabin, and noticed that balcony rooms are only a little bit more than what I paid. I was told that in order to do the upgrade, they would have to cancel my room and charge me the 50% cancellation fee because the cut-off date has passed (early July apparently).

 

Is there anything I can do? Anyone I can escalate to at RC?

 

Are you in the US or UK?.......that makes a difference with the penalties.

 

If in the US we do not cancel bookings, we transfer them to another booking maintaining what ever perks we received.

 

In the UK you have much stricter rules.

[Starry Eyes]

We encountered a similar situation a couple of weeks ago....our travel agent called several times to RCI, and no dice. The thing is, we weren't even trying to get any money back, we were actually going to be paying MORE, what we were trying to take the 3 of us in our current balcony room, and switch it to 2 people in a guarantee inside room and put 2 people in a guarantee balcony room and they wouldn't budge, even though it meant more money for RCI.

 

They would allow us to take 2 people out of the balcony we currently had and put them in a guarantee inside room, but then the other two would have to stay in the current balcony room.

Your's sounds like acomplicated situation.

So there are currently three of you in a balcony cabin? then after final payment you wanted to add a fourth and at the same time change rooms? the cruise line was fine with putting your new person and current third into a new inside room. so far, that sounds accomodating. but the sticking point is that you want to also downgrade the balcony cabin to a gty after final payment? Downgrading to a lower priced cabin after final is not apt to fly , as you learned. frustrating maybe, but many of us have watched prices drop on our cabin (or similar ones) and have been unable to take advantage.

[Craiger]

First off, let me say that I appreciate the feedback.

 

We booked direct through RC, not a TA. We booked a group of 9 rooms. I'm the only one who wants to upgrade, as far as I know.

 

I'm in the US. I did speak to the resolutions department today, and they informed me that I can't get the balcony for $699 unless I cancel my current booking and incur the 50% penalty.

 

There are two of us in the cabin, my g/f and myself.

[Craiger]

What are the odds of upgrading to a better room after boarding, without paying a lot? How willing are they to deal?

[LovesCruising]

What are the odds of upgrading to a better room after boarding, without paying a lot? How willing are they to deal?

 

Your odds are probably not very good - ships usually sale full - Id ask anyway tho

[Colorado Babe]

Call tomorrow and try again. I think it is the roll of the dice and just who you get on the phone. What do you have to lose? I am determined and never give up!

[flyawayca]

I'm so confused with this upgrading thing.

 

I'm trying to do the same thing. I'm on the Allure next month. I'm well past final payment. I booked during a WOW sale and have $100 in OBC.

 

I bought an inside cabin almost a year ago for $749pp.

 

Today inside cabins are $649pp. Ocean view windows are $699pp. And balconies start at $749pp.

 

I wanted to move to a balcony because they cost what I paid a year ago.

 

I contacted my TA and asked about moving. He told me the sale I am seeing is for new bookings only.

 

He then told me that I could not move to the balcony (a neighborhood balcony) because the price is the same as what I paid. He said RCCL would only allow it if I had an increase in price. So he told me he could get me an ocean view balcony for $50pp more and I would be able to keep my $100 in OBC.

 

So how is it I can get an upgrade during a new booking only sale without any penalties, but the OP cannot? Is it something my TA is just able to do? Or is my TA wrong and I'm going to find out tomorrow I'm not going to get anything? And why doesn't Royal let us transfer to rooms priced equal to what we pay (I can guess the answer to this...).

[Clarea]

I'm so confused with this upgrading thing.

 

I'm trying to do the same thing. I'm on the Allure next month. I'm well past final payment. I booked during a WOW sale and have $100 in OBC.

 

I bought an inside cabin almost a year ago for $749pp.

 

Today inside cabins are $649pp. Ocean view windows are $699pp. And balconies start at $749pp.

 

I wanted to move to a balcony because they cost what I paid a year ago.

 

I contacted my TA and asked about moving. He told me the sale I am seeing is for new bookings only.

 

He then told me that I could not move to the balcony (a neighborhood balcony) because the price is the same as what I paid. He said RCCL would only allow it if I had an increase in price. So he told me he could get me an ocean view balcony for $50pp more and I would be able to keep my $100 in OBC.

 

So how is it I can get an upgrade during a new booking only sale without any penalties, but the OP cannot? Is it something my TA is just able to do? Or is my TA wrong and I'm going to find out tomorrow I'm not going to get anything? And why doesn't Royal let us transfer to rooms priced equal to what we pay (I can guess the answer to this...).

What your TA is describing is how others have reported upgrades working. Several people have reported being able to upgrade to staterooms whose prices were restricted to new bookings, as long as they are paying more money.

 

You can also transfer to staterooms of equal or lower price than you paid, as long as thse prices are not restricted to new bookings.

 

I can't explain why the OP is getting a different story.

[flyawayca]

What your TA is describing is how others have reported upgrades working. Several people have reported being able to upgrade to staterooms whose prices were restricted to new bookings, as long as they are paying more money.

 

You can also transfer to staterooms of equal or lower price than you paid, as long as thse prices are not restricted to new bookings.

 

I can't explain why the OP is getting a different story.

 

Thank you for your response.

 

I like how you worded what I put in bold. So, upgrades possible if you pay more during a new booking sale. Upgrades possible without having to pay more if it's an open sale.

 

Makes more sense to me. I sure hope OP if I can get the upgrade you can find someone to give it to you!

[Beth C]

Thank you for your response.

 

I like how you worded what I put in bold. So, upgrades possible if you pay more during a new booking sale. Upgrades possible without having to pay more if it's an open sale.

 

Makes more sense to me. I sure hope OP if I can get the upgrade you can find someone to give it to you!

 

I had no luck calling the main Royal # in doing exactly this... was a $50pp difference to upgrade. Called back through Crown & Anchor and they did it without a hassle. Sometimes I think the C&A are better informed... or just easier to get along with :confused:

[molly361]

Are group rules different? Maybe because the OP has a group of 9 rooms? I don't know:rolleyes:

[crookedhalo]

Molly361 may be on to something. Group perks start at 8 cabins and are based on the majority cabin type. Now OP is talking about downgrading cabins and adding insides. It may change the group perk amounts and result in others in his group loosing benefits. Could be the problem right there:).

 

OP, are there any free berths or group perks associated with your group (cocktail parties, OBC etc.)?

[Craiger]

Molly361 may be on to something. Group perks start at 8 cabins and are based on the majority cabin type. Now OP is talking about downgrading cabins and adding insides. It may change the group perk amounts and result in others in his group loosing benefits. Could be the problem right there:).

 

OP, are there any free berths or group perks associated with your group (cocktail parties, OBC etc.)?

 

Actually, I'm looking to upgrade just my one inside cabin to a balcony cabin. The other eight cabins are not involved in this.

 

I asked them about the group vs. individual booking. They said it wasn't an issue, for two reasons. First, we have 9 rooms, so even if I were to completely cancel, the other eight parties would not lose their OBC. Second, I would be adding a room back into the group anyway.

 

The reason they gave me was that the $699 rate for the D1 balcony was for new bookings only, so I would have to cancel my existing booking and incur a 50% cancellation fee. Apparently the cutoff date for cancelling with a fee was July 8th.

 

They did offer to upgrade me if I paid something like $929 pp for a D1. The issue was that the $699 rate was only for new bookings, not for upgrades.

 

Is there a Crown & Anchor department that I can call? I'm not a member yet though.

[crookedhalo]

You are eligible for C&A membership after you complete your first cruise. You could try asking for resolutions, but RCCL has been holding pretty firm lately on 'new booking' designations.

[Starry Eyes]

Actually, I'm looking to upgrade just my one inside cabin to a balcony cabin. The other eight cabins are not involved in this.

 

I asked them about the group vs. individual booking. They said it wasn't an issue, for two reasons. First, we have 9 rooms, so even if I were to completely cancel, the other eight parties would not lose their OBC. Second, I would be adding a room back into the group anyway.

 

The reason they gave me was that the $699 rate for the D1 balcony was for new bookings only, so I would have to cancel my existing booking and incur a 50% cancellation fee. Apparently the cutoff date for cancelling with a fee was July 8th.

 

They did offer to upgrade me if I paid something like $929 pp for a D1. The issue was that the $699 rate was only for new bookings, not for upgrades.

 

Is there a Crown & Anchor department that I can call? I'm not a member yet though.

Did you pay less than $699 for your inside? Is the $699 balcony price still on the website? I ask because many of the most restrictive "new bookings only " deals are Tuesday sales. So, if the great price is still showing on a Thursday or Friday, I'd try calling again. Maybe you will get a more helpful person. All it will cost you is a phone call. Hope for the best, but be prepared to hear no.