Diamond 4/10 Overbooked!!!

[DVC Calif]

I received a call from my TA this afternoon. It seems that the 4/10 sailing of the Diamond is overbooked and Princess is looking for volunteers to be "bumped".

 

TA said Princess was willing to upgrade us from our inside cabin to an oceanview if we switch to a later cruise sailing within two weeks after (4/17 or 4/24).

 

To sweeten the deal even further, they were offering $1200.00 shipboard credit for each of the two cabins we had reserved! That would be $2,400.00!

 

Unfortunately, we are locked into the week following Easter due to our children's spring break. But it was tempting.

 

Has anyone else heard of cruiselines overbooking like this? I know it's common on airlines but they can usually accomodate a passenger with another flight within a few hours.

 

Steve

[ocean.queen]

Yes, it happens all the time. We were scheduled for the March 8 Tahitian Princess sailing. I got a call about 2 weeks before with about the same offer to switch. We were locked in also with traveling companions and had to pass.

 

The girl I spoke to said they try to estimate cancellations and sometimes they miss.

[hls74]

$1200 onboard credit per room, plus an upgrade? I'd take it if offered. I know on-board credits aren't usable in the casino, what about towards a future cruise? Seems like you could afford a second cruise with that $2400 with money to spare.

 

Harry

 

Diamond Princess 3/20/04

Grand Princess 3/23/03

Voyager Of The Seas 3/02

Ocean Princess 4/01

Grand Princess 4/00

[Coral]

I got an offer for a Thanksgiving cruise 3 or 4 years ago for an upgrade (inside to outside) and $200 credit. I didn't take it because I had arranged my own air - they offered to switch my air also but I turned them down. We then were upgraded to an outside cabin anyway.

[starsjohn]

A 1200. room credit is like a free cruise if you had booked early on the TP. I would sure bite on that one.

[GloriaF]

I'll bet there is a restriction prohibiting usage of shipboard credit toward a future cruise. But you could sure have a great time at the spa and in the boutique shops!!

 

Gloria

 

Grand Princess, Eastern, April 2001

Grand Princess, Western,April 2002

ALMOST THERE!! Regal to Hawaii, April 5, 2004

[starsjohn]

Its also a lot of margaritas and nice wines.

 

John

[Coral]

Gloria - you are right. If you put a deposit down on a future cruise on the ship, it goes directly on your credit card as opposed to your shipboard account. You can not use shipboard credits to book a cruise.

[Rosieo]

DVC Calif-

I'd take the switch. I would take my kids out of school in a second for that amount of credit. I wouldn't even hesitate. I am a teacher and if a parent came to me and explained the situation I would say go for it!

 

Caribbean Princess 4-10

[obe1]

The Golden was overbooked as well for March 20-27, 2004. I received an offer from my TA 2 days prior to sailing, was offered an upgrade for my teens' inside cabin to a balcony. DH and I originally booked a balcony for ourselves and an inside for the kids, Princess also offered a $500 shipboard credit for each cabin. I had to pass on the offer, but would have taken it if I was given more notice.

 

Time left 'til we sail on Caribbean Princess!

[stepg]

$2,400 seems like an unusually high offer as an "onboard credit" -- no chance this was offered as a "future cruise credit?"?

[DVC Calif]

If it were just my wife and I, we would accept their offer in a haertbeat. But not only would our kids be missing a week of school, those weeks are also scheduled for the state's competency testing (California STAR).

 

I guess our school really depends on that performance data for funding.

 

It's a shame too because this is the first cruise we've taken where we don't have any air involved. We were driving down from San Jose to San Pedro and it would have been so easy to switch vacation weeks...

[jhannah]

How would you ever spend $2400 during a cruise? Guess you could buy 8 hours of treatments in the spa on a sea day. You'd be mudded, zucchinied, peeled, loofahed, hot rocked, and massaged to a pulp! (Could be fun! )

 

'Vegas Jim

[starsjohn]

A short visit to the art auction would wipe out that 2400 pretty fast. At least you would have something pretty to look at. The casino would also like to see your smiling face in attendance.

 

John

[cactusrose]

Don’t forget Facets. I think I might be able to find a little bobble to spend that shipboard credit on.

 

1972 - Song of Norway, Caribbean

1980 - Hawaii American Curise line, Tahiti

09/01/2002 - Veendam, Alaska

05/29/2003 - Pacific Princess, Alaska

11/26/2003 - Star Princess, Australia/New Zealand

 

5/28/2004 - Star Princess, Venice to Barcelona

 

11/06/2004 - Diamond Princess, Mexican Riviera

 

 

[Mona Lisa]

Last month I got a call from Princess to volunteer to bump--they had overbooked the Golden March 13th sailing. We agreed and were moved from an obstructed view to a balcony now sailing the Carribean Princess. We got to pick our week. I wish we would have held out for more shipboard credit. We got a total of $500. If they call again to bump...forget it. I can't wait!

 

5/1 Carribean Princess

[DVC Calif]

***UPDATE***

 

My TA called me again this afternoon with yet another offer from Princess. If we agreed to give up one of our two inside cabins and move to an inside quad, they would give us $600.00/person shipboard credit. We already had a $50.00/person credit from an earlier promotion. This would give us $2600.00 credit for the entire cruise!!!

 

After a short call to wife to confirm, we took the offer. It will be a little cramped, 2 adults, plus two pre-teen girls, but what the heck!

 

My TA sent me a fax from Princess showing the OB Credit of $1300.00 per reservation. She also confirmed that we could use the credit for shore excursions, bars, giftshops, spa/salon, ...even the gratuities.

 

Better yet, she also checked and confirmed that we could use the credit towards a deposit on another cruise if we book on board! (Maybe we'll get more shipboard credit for booking onboard!)

 

Woohoo!!!

 

Steve

[cnmiranda]

Congrats on the great deal Steve! Now do you think there's a chance my ship will be overbooked so badly that we will be upgraded to a Penthouse Suite? LOL Hope you get to book that next cruise

 

Majesty of the Seas (2)

Norwegian Dawn

Monarch of the Seas

Diamond Princess (5/04)

[zurmolly]

Holy cow, that is great! Aren't they giving you than they are making on that inside cabin?

[csk]

we are booked on the Diamond on May 22nd, sure hope it is overbooked, would give my cabin away in a heartbeat, and rebook later,retired and have nothing but time

[NASH99]

What a great deal. It appears that getting your cabins were essential and urgent for Princess. Maybe that's where the power grid and the leaking pipe intertwined.

Have a terrific cruise.

Steve

 

Golden 2/04

Grand 11/03

The three most exciting sounds in the world: Anchor chains, plane motors, and train whistles....George Bailey

[tapdancer_pm]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DVC Calif:

_***UPDATE***_

 

My TA called me again this afternoon with yet another offer from Princess. If we agreed to give up one of our two inside cabins and move to an inside quad, they would give us $600.00/person shipboard credit. We already had a $50.00/person credit from an earlier promotion. This would give us _$2600.00_ credit for the entire cruise!!!

 

After a short call to wife to confirm, we took the offer. It will be a little cramped, 2 adults, plus two pre-teen girls, but what the heck!

 

My TA sent me a fax from Princess showing the OB Credit of $1300.00 per reservation. She also confirmed that we could use the credit for shore excursions, bars, giftshops, spa/salon, ...even the gratuities.

 

Better yet, she also checked and confirmed that we could use the credit towards a deposit on another cruise if we book on board! (Maybe we'll get more shipboard credit for booking onboard!)

 

Woohoo!!!

 

Steve<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>We Just spent a week in an inside quad cabin, our kids are 8 and 12, and it was not nearly as crowded as I had anticipated!! Im glad I didnot spend the extra on a balcony room, because I was too busy enjoying the ship to be in the room. I would have gladly taken the credit to move.

[chicgotgame]

That inside quad cabin wouldn't be A246l? Thats the cabin we gave up today when we moved into a BA Quad cabin. We got the onboard credit and were told that whatever we did not use would be credited back to the credit card that was used to purchase the cruise. Just thought you might want to know that.