Rare hmorrow Posted October 20, 2013 #1 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Normally we pick a specific stateroom, but this time we are trying to "go on the cheap(like that will happen-lol), so we did a VH balcony guaranty. Is there any rhyme or reason to how they pick the upgrades? Like- if the last time we cruised on HAL, we had an SA, would they be more likely to give us an SA this time? Or would we just get the next balcony in line? Helaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puppycanducruise Posted October 20, 2013 #2 Share Posted October 20, 2013 No one knows the sure-fire way to get an upgrade. We've sailed 3 times with a inside guarantee on got upgraded twice. Who knows what will happen the next time. Good luck - maybe you'll get a great upgrade. But I hope you'll enjoy your cruise regardless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hpeabody Posted October 20, 2013 #3 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Hi, This summer I did the Westerdam in Alaska on a VH balcony Guaranty. I was given a VB balcony cabin and this to me was a nice upgrade. I have heard that VH guaranty are "almost always" upgraded. Good luck to you :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted October 20, 2013 #4 Share Posted October 20, 2013 As has been discussed here many times, there is no publically known reason or plan for upgrades. It has most to do with what cabins need to be filled. It rarely appears to have anything to do with elite status, or the type of cabin you usually book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KirkNC Posted October 20, 2013 #5 Share Posted October 20, 2013 It's one of the great mysteries of cruising :p. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda&Vern Posted October 20, 2013 #6 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Normally we pick a specific stateroom, but this time we are trying to "go on the cheap(like that will happen-lol), so we did a VH balcony guaranty. Is there any rhyme or reason to how they pick the upgrades? Like- if the last time we cruised on HAL, we had an SA, would they be more likely to give us an SA this time? Or would we just get the next balcony in line? Helaine More than likely you will be assigned a balcony at a higher "balcony" category (next in line or higher). You may be offered an upsell to SA, but I would guess there is only a very slim chance of being assigned an SA from a VH. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare hmorrow Posted October 20, 2013 Author #7 Share Posted October 20, 2013 We're going in 3 weeks, so as soon as I get an assignment, I'll report back! It WILL be great, regardless( well- unless we get a steel balcony, instead of plexiglass) I've never been on a bad cruise!!! helaine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cle1 Posted October 20, 2013 #8 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Personally, I believe it is a group of people blindfolded in a room with darts and where the darts go so go the upgrades. :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted October 20, 2013 #9 Share Posted October 20, 2013 If only I could tell fortunes -- then I would be able to tell you if you will get an upgrade. But -- none of us have figured out how the upgrade fairy works. One thing is certain -- to make it all the way to an SA from VH -- that would be an upsell and even that may not be offered. It would most likely be offered to people in the SZ, SY or SX cabins first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR NW GUY Posted October 20, 2013 #10 Share Posted October 20, 2013 I have had three upgrades / upsells with HAL. The common factors... all booked close to sailing date. All book directly with HAL. All booked without insurance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puppycanducruise Posted October 20, 2013 #11 Share Posted October 20, 2013 I have had three upgrades / upsells with HAL. The common factors... all booked close to sailing date. All book directly with HAL. All booked without insurance. We've had 2 upgrades, 1 upsell. Always booked at least 6 months before sailing, never booked directly with HAL (always with our local TA) and we always get insurance. You never know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR NW GUY Posted October 20, 2013 #12 Share Posted October 20, 2013 We've had 2 upgrades, 1 upsell. Always booked at least 6 months before sailing, never booked directly with HAL (always with our local TA) and we always get insurance. You never know. It is interesting that we have all had different experiences. I wonder if HAL gives travel agents some special treatment so they remain their cruise line of choice? Your right there are so many factors, but I think since HAL controls the inventory, my chances are better booking directly with HAL. So far it has worked well for me 3 of 6 bookings have been upgraded. How many eligible sailings with HAL have you been on to receive the 2-upgrades? Nice chatting with you... BTW - I am not saying you are a Travel Agent, I just know there are a lot of TA's who read these postings often have a different point of view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted October 20, 2013 #13 Share Posted October 20, 2013 We've had 2 upgrades, 1 upsell. Always booked at least 6 months before sailing, never booked directly with HAL (always with our local TA) and we always get insurance. You never know. Same here - always with out TA (not local) and usually book more than one year out although we have done one 'last minute' cruise. We've had several upsell offers and one upgrade when we booked a guarantee. :D I honestly don't think it makes a difference if you book directly with HAL or not. Not sure how the fairy determines where to sprinkle the dust, but I'm always happy if it lands on us:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 20, 2013 #14 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Normally we pick a specific stateroom, but this time we are trying to "go on the cheap(like that will happen-lol), so we did a VH balcony guaranty. Is there any rhyme or reason to how they pick the upgrades? Like- if the last time we cruised on HAL, we had an SA, would they be more likely to give us an SA this time? Or would we just get the next balcony in line? Helaine If we knew, why would any of us pay the price for an "SA"? :D Of course, we'd use our magic secret to book a lower price cabin and take the free upgrade or low cost upsell. ;) My theory is the upgrade fairy has a dartboard and where the dart lands is who gets the upgrade. :D Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 20, 2013 #15 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Same here - always with out TA (not local) and usually book more than one year out although we have done one 'last minute' cruise. We've had several upsell offers and one upgrade when we booked a guarantee. :D I honestly don't think it makes a difference if you book directly with HAL or not. Not sure how the fairy determines where to sprinkle the dust, but I'm always happy if it lands on us:) What would not having insurance have to do with being offered an upgrade/upsell? :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR NW GUY Posted October 20, 2013 #16 Share Posted October 20, 2013 What would not having insurance have to do with being offered an upgrade/upsell? :confused: Maybe this: Booked passenger revenue = $1,500. (example without insurance) Booked passenger revenue = $1,800. (example same room with insurance) Now, you are counting the beans in the Seattle back office... Who would you offer the upsell to first? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 20, 2013 #17 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Many of us refuse HAL cancellation coverage. Their best policy only provide $10,000 in medical. Most of us would consider that inadequate. There are many other sources of real medical/travel insurance with or without cancellation/interruption coverage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puppycanducruise Posted October 20, 2013 #18 Share Posted October 20, 2013 It is interesting how different people's experiences are. We've sailed with HAL 4 times - got 2 upgrades (as mentioned above). I live in a small town (pop. 6000) so I doubt whether HAL would give my TA any special treatment. I think I booked on the first sunny day after a full moon - maybe that's the ticket. Nothing else seems to fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted October 20, 2013 #19 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Many of us refuse HAL cancellation coverage.Their best policy only provide $10,000 in medical. Most of us would consider that inadequate. There are many other sources of real medical/travel insurance with or without cancellation/interruption coverage. ditto here Sail - we don't use HAL's coverage - we get better coverage elsewhere. Sorry, when I quoted the poster, I didn't mean to throw insurance into the discussion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sail7seas Posted October 20, 2013 #20 Share Posted October 20, 2013 ditto here Sail - we don't use HAL's coverage - we get better coverage elsewhere. Sorry, when I quoted the poster, I didn't mean to throw insurance into the discussion. You didn't mention the insurance. :) The other poster you quoted did. I suppose I more accurately should have quoted both? Sorry. :o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
startwin Posted October 20, 2013 #21 Share Posted October 20, 2013 I don't think who does and who doesn't have insurance has any bearing on who gets offered an upgrade. They have enough problems doing their job in Seattle and the left hand knowing what the right hand is doing without checking into every passenger's insurance info - and how the heck would they know anyway?;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare kazu Posted October 20, 2013 #22 Share Posted October 20, 2013 You didn't mention the insurance. :) The other poster you quoted did. I suppose I more accurately should have quoted both? Sorry. :o no worries at all:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare richwmn Posted October 20, 2013 #23 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Just my experience -- I have completed 14 cruises on HAL, 13 of which I booked. The first cruise was booked by my sister as basically anywhere on the ship. I ended up with an outside obstructed. 11 of the remaining cruises were booked as outside guarantees, all of which were (by HAL's designations) upgraded some. I have not had another obstructed view. The other two were booked as a specific cabin but marked to allow an upgrade, both were. The first and three others had a travel agent involved, the rest were exclusively with a HAL PCC. One thing you have to look at when talking about upgrades is what HAL considers an upgrade - and what others might think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nana51 Posted October 20, 2013 #24 Share Posted October 20, 2013 For the first time we have purchased a gty. There are 8 of us and four cabins. We all booked outside. Will it be less likely because we are a "group" that we get upgrades? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MR NW GUY Posted October 20, 2013 #25 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Just my experience --I have completed 14 cruises on HAL, 13 of which I booked. The first cruise was booked by my sister as basically anywhere on the ship. I ended up with an outside obstructed. 11 of the remaining cruises were booked as outside guarantees, all of which were (by HAL's designations) upgraded some. I have not had another obstructed view. The other two were booked as a specific cabin but marked to allow an upgrade, both were. The first and three others had a travel agent involved, the rest were exclusively with a HAL PCC. One thing you have to look at when talking about upgrades is what HAL considers an upgrade - and what others might think. Valid point... HAL does control the upgrade and they would need to benefit the Company too. to further support the passenger profitability theory (which is why HAL is in business, yes to make U.S. Corporate profit $$$ - and that is not a bad thing...) Maybe my 50% upgrade success is also based on keeping a repeat passenger happy who spends money on board in the gift shop, shore excursions, on-board wine purchases, cocktails in the theater (full price)? Their goal is to fill up the ship in excess of 100% with the most profitable passengers. I think it would be naive to think it would be totally random, but the dart board concept made me laugh out loud. (**** THANKS for the laugh***) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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