Upgrade Fairy

[ladytaekwondo]

Does the Upgrade Fairy visit Celebrity?

[cle-guy]

Seems quite rare it just is a free out of blue upgrade. I've read where they even auction off or raffle off or use as a prize in casino or bingo and such after sailing meaning it left port empty rather than upgrade anyone else.

 

Often after finally payment, you can change to a higher cabin category for a small increase in fare - which many consider "upgrading" here - to fill final cabins.

 

Sometimes they may need a particular cabin for another guest (maybe family with children need adjoining/adjacent cabin, accessible cabin, VVVIP guest it's been rumored) and an upgrade appears just so they don't have to hear some complain about a changed canon they picked special. Usually a suite will stop that conversation 99% of the time.

[Duanerice1]

Never happened to me. But, I do know first hand that it used to happen. Sailing with a group on the Summit back 6 years ago and they were upgraded from a CC to a Royal Suite. No one else that we knew was upgraded. They enjoyed it.

Duane

[robtulipe]

Best chance for upgrade is to do guarantee booking. We've been upgraded on every one of the 13 we've done. Granted most were within same class of cabins but 4 times went to next class of cabins or higher.

[Kathie44]

The upgrade fairy is VERY rare on X. BUT at the final payment for a 12-night Classical Med cruise on Summit sailing June 3rd 2009 out of Barcelona my friend and I got upgraded to concierge class. Not only was it no extra charge, the prices had been falling regularly since DH and I had booked it at $2299 in March of '08 and we got it for $1490, down from the previous price of $1799.

I ended up doing this cruise with a new friend from my bereavement group. My DH had passed away in Aug. '08 and hers 2 mos later. Both of us had cruised with our DHs. When she said she'd go with me, I was elated because the original friend who was going with me had to cancel out. The cruise had been booked 15 mos ahead of time, but I don't know if that had anything to do with the upgrade.

I would never look for a free upgrade. Mine was probably a once-in-a-lifetime thing.

I wish Celebrity would repeat our itinerary. Barcelona to Nice, Florence/Pisa, Rome, Naples/Capri, Santorini, Athens, Dubrovnik and Venice. DH was leery of going to Turkey. I didn't care about Turkey, but really wanted to see Italy and some of Greece. Since then all the itineraries always include Turkey and not always Santorini, which is not to be missed.

Book your cruise and hope for the best, but free upgrades are almost unheard of on X.

[20pluscruises]

Does the Upgrade Fairy visit Celebrity?

 

I have only heard of first time cruisers getting an upgrade...just don't be fooled....they make it sound like there will be an upgrade....rarely happens.

[PartyAllDaTyme]

First cruise on Solstice, I booked through a TA and didn't know you could select your own cabin, just thought you could pick what class. We thought we had a 2D and were pleasantly surprised when it became a 2B. In retrospect, I think the TA booked us a GTY which would have been at least a 2D and let the chips fall where they may. Then I found Cruise Critic and found out how things work:o:).

 

The next cruise, however, we booked a C1 aft cabin on Summit. I specifically asked for that cabin and had the booking marked "No upgrades." Three days before we left, we were in a Sky Suite. Thank goodness I noticed it right away before they assigned someone else to "our" cabin. We got our C1 back, and will be back in the same cabin in four days:cool::):cool:, so it's time for me to check my reservation again. So, yes, the Upgrade Fairy can show up on X, even when you don't want her to!

[junetraveler2014]

Have been sailing with Celebrity since they purchased the Galaleo. Never got an upgrade. Now booked in Royal Suite and there are only two above that and they are taken....so our june cruise to Bermuda won't have the upgrade fairy visit:mad: but who cares...We are going on our long awaited cruise. Happy Sailing to All!:D:D:D

[dgartin]

We just returned from the Jan. 20th Constellation 5 day cruise. We booked a guarantee C1 stateroom. We ended up in a C3 handicapped accessible in an aft cabin. THE biggest room I've ever seen along with THE biggest balcony, all on the back of the ship in the middle. Probably the very best room we will ever have. People next door to us booked an ocean view gty---ended up with CC1. Their room was regular size but their balcony was very large, but only half the size of ours.

[robtulipe]

We just returned from the Jan. 20th Constellation 5 day cruise. We booked a guarantee C1 stateroom. We ended up in a C3 handicapped accessible in an aft cabin. THE biggest room I've ever seen along with THE biggest balcony, all on the back of the ship in the middle. Probably the very best room we will ever have. People next door to us booked an ocean view gty---ended up with CC1. Their room was regular size but their balcony was very large, but only half the size of ours.

Actually those aft handicap accessible concierge on Connie are C1 cabins, the highest concierge category. A C3 would have been a downgrade for a C1 gty.

[miched]

Celbrity is Modern Luxury.

 

They now use modern technology to put up a cloak shield to keep her away.

 

 

 

🌅🌴🍸🍻

[hulamoon]

That must have been a very special c1 paryalldatyme.

[4774Papa]

If prices drop (from what you paid) after final payment, and a higher category cabin is lower than what you have paid already, call and ask for an upgrade. No OBC, just an upgrade. We got that on a cruise going from Veranda to Aqua.

[LarissaRose]

Any insight if you may be more likely to get an upgrade if you have a "special occasion" listed?

[dgartin]

Actually those aft handicap accessible concierge on Connie are C1 cabins, the highest concierge category. A C3 would have been a downgrade for a C1 gty.

 

 

 

 

Oh, thanks for the corrections. I get my C's mixed up.

[dgartin]

Actually those aft handicap accessible concierge on Connie are C1 cabins, the highest concierge category. A C3 would have been a downgrade for a C1 gty.

 

 

 

 

Oh, thanks for the corrections. I get my C's mixed up. We booked a C3 gty.

[rayandbelle]

For what is worth,on our last cruise which was our 6th with Celebrity we got a small upgrade from 2B to a 1A on the hump on board solstice

 

Ray

[riredsox]

On the Canada New England cruise in Sept on the Summit we booked a guaranteed inside a week before sailing and when I went to check what room we had it was a Verandah! I was afraid to say anything for fear it was a mistake but it wasn't! If it is my only upgrade that's OK it was a good one!

[wf083145]

I must be doing something wrong. I think we got a fairly good price on Reflection 1 AQ on 3/29 but I've been hoping for an upgrade offer or price drop. So far, just. $100 pp drop.

 

When we did The Med on RCCL in 2009 we got 3 price drops and 1 upgrade.

 

In fairness, we're pleased with our stateroom and cost and don't feel we're entitled to anything else. On the other hand, I don't think we would turn down a significant price drop or an upgrade to a suite.

[Texed]

In my case, it is upgrade "FANTASY". :cool:

[Viva_la_Vida]

Have been sailing with Celebrity since they purchased the Galaleo. Never got an upgrade. Now booked in Royal Suite and there are only two above that and they are taken....so our june cruise to Bermuda won't have the upgrade fairy visit:mad: but who cares...We are going on our long awaited cruise. Happy Sailing to All!:D:D:D

 

I hope our RC can get a cabin crawl together. We would love to see the famed Royal Suite in person!

[CruisersTimesThree]

Any insight if you may be more likely to get an upgrade if you have a "special occasion" listed?

 

So many people sailing are celebrating some sort of special occasion, so I don't believe birthdays, anniversaries etc gives anyone an advantage in gaining the very rare upgrade on X. (how many times during your cruise have you heard happy birthday sung in the dining room?!)

Sometimes you will be given a small cake in the dining room if it is noted on your reservation that you are celebrating something during the sailing, other times not.

We sailed two years ago for our 30th anniversary and after dinner we stopped into our RS for something and was very surprised to find a bouquet of flowers and a cake from the hotel director. A very lovely gesture, especially since we had a cake during dinner that evening.

Last year we once again cruised for our anniversary, same ship (the Summit), same RS and didnt receive anything, which was fine. Just being on the Summit was enough for us!

[LarissaRose]

So many people sailing are celebrating some sort of special occasion, so I don't believe birthdays, anniversaries etc gives anyone an advantage in gaining the very rare upgrade on X. (how many times during your cruise have you heard happy birthday sung in the dining room?!)

Sometimes you will be given a small cake in the dining room if it is noted on your reservation that you are celebrating something during the sailing, other times not.

We sailed two years ago for our 30th anniversary and after dinner we stopped into our RS for something and was very surprised to find a bouquet of flowers and a cake from the hotel director. A very lovely gesture, especially since we had a cake during dinner that evening.

Last year we once again cruised for our anniversary, same ship (the Summit), same RS and didnt receive anything, which was fine. Just being on the Summit was enough for us!

 

Ah, I just asked because I'm going on my honeymoon on a sailing I doubt there will be many other honeymooners on (12 night baltics). I'm fine with my AQ just curious if anyone has had experience getting upgraded for a special reason :)

Edited February 5, 2014 by LarissaRose

[Kathie44]

20pluscruises-I'm not sure who you are referring to with.."They make it sound like there will be an upgrade." As you can see in my post I said, "...very rare....almost unheard of on X". It is VERY rare, but occasionally there is a surprise and we hadn't done a guaranteed booking. We had booked a Deck 3 OV, no special occasion, but 15 mos ahead of time. I think free upgrades are rare because most Celebrity cruises sell out well before sailing. I can't remember the last time I saw a notice, upon boarding, saying upgrades (not free) are available.

I prefer an OV lower deck cabin toward the center of the ship to reduce the possibility of sea sickness, but I've been on OV deck 5 once and deck 8 twice, once with OV and once with the CC. The verandah on the CC upgrade was OK, but in the Med. the sun was so hot most of the time, it was not comfortable to sit out there. I'm not prone to sea sickness, but have had two queasy days out of 16 crusises and don't want to tempt fate. I do get sick on smaller excursion boats--go figure!

Bottom line--don't ever expect a free upgrade.

[Kathie44]

Texed, glad to see you again. Last week on Silhouette I had waffles in your honor! :D

When is your next cruise?