Any UK cc who can help

[Nolongerworking]

Hi, I was wondering is there are any UK cc who knows an answer to this post, I was after changing from an inside to a balcony cabin on a Hawaii cruise I have booked, I have seen good prices for balconies and have approached my travel agent who can offer an upgrade but the price is £2360 each on top on what we have already paid for the cruise. I contacted Princess to see if they were able to assist us with a lower price considering the new bargain prices, however they referred us back to our TA, contacted them again they confirmed they could not do anything else for us only what they stipulated. Contacted Princess again and reiterated what had been said and they advised us to contact TA as they sold cruise and they would not be able to assist in this regard. My final punt was to ask any experienced CC on here would there be any chance of getting an upgrade on embarkment if we were to ask at customer services I am not sure if they do this sort of thing once on board but last cruise we were on there was a lot of people at customer services when first boarding and I am sure they weren't complaining. I know there are differences with the way Princess works in the UK and USA regarding pricing etc., any help would be appreciated.

 

By the way I know there are roughly 50 balconies cabins left at the end of last week. Also someone has posted on our roll call that they had a guaranteed balcony and was offered a more superior cabin which they took. They were then contacted by Princess and were offered 900 $ each so 1800 $ if they ave up their new upgrade and go back to guaranteed balcony which they did, makes me question their workings.

[cherylandtk]

Well, I am not from the UK, but I think at least part of your question applies to any passenger, regardless of where they are located and how cruise lines (and in this case Princess) handle bookings, self upgrades and upsells. So let me give it a shot and others can chime in.

1. Princess won't talk to you about your specific booking if you booked through a TA, so don't waste your time trying to make any booking change without involving your TA. That works on both sides of the pond.

2. If you want to self upgrade, your cost will be the difference between what you paid and what that new level of cabin is selling for now BUT it does not include pricing that is 'for new bookings only' which is probably what you ran into in looking online. (And this does not include the US $ price vs the UK £ price differences, which is a whole different issue). Self upgrading pricing cannot be at restricted prices (flash fares, new bookings, special rates, etc), it must be done at the non-restricted rate.

3. Princess rarely (never??) does purchased upgrades at embarkation. They will do upsells, sometimes at a great rate, sometimes not, about 4-6 weeks prior to sailing. These offers would be conveyed to your TA first, who would need to contact you about the offer. I know these happen in the US, not so sure if they also happen in the UK market.

 

Hope that helps to explain what is going on.

 

Eta-I checked your roll call for the upgrade/downgrade situation you described. The key here is that is a US booking and it is before final payment. In the US, you can make just about any change for a new price prior to final payment, including completely canceling without incurring any penalty. The poster erroneously called it a flash sale, which is a misnomer. But they booked a guarantee, were assigned upgrade cabins, saw a new lower price (not restricted) for a guarantee balcony and opted to take the lower price in lieu of the upgraded cabins. They still have another week before final payment is due.

Edited July 30, 2016 by cherylandtk

[Ron the Rev]

We no longer use a TA and book direct with Princess. If you see that Princess is offering a much better deal than the one you booked with your TA then see what the penalty is for cancelling with them and factor that in with the possibly better price direct. If you come up trumps then cancel and book direct.:)

[HomelessBear]

There are quite a few differences between UK and US booking in terms and conditions.

 

They will be quoting you the extra for the balcony price when you booked your current cabin and not what the balcony ones are going for now.

 

I doubt you will get anywhere with Princess or your TA and I think that your only option will be to cancel your current booking - and lose your deposit - and rebook a balcony cabin as a new booking. It depends on the costs involved whether this would be an option for you and if you think it's worth it.

 

If you book through a TA the cruise company won't generally speak to you but refer you back to your TA to do the talking to them. Happened to me a few times. I know that when such good offers come up and you've paid far more,

then it can leave a bad taste, especially when our US cousins get a far better deal. This is what we have to adhere to if we want to cruise and the U.K. terms do give us more protection if things go wrong.

 

I hope you get a good outcome and enjoy your cruise.

 

 

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[aquilegia]

As to upgrading on board, most if not all of the Princess ships I've sailed on in the past few years have had a sign up on the Customer Services desk to say that the ship was sailing full. I doubt the people you saw queueing were being upgraded. There are all sorts of reasons to go to the desk. I go soon after I board to request an extra copy of the ship's map. If you want a different class of cabin, you need to pay for it now.

[skynight]

"My final punt was to ask any experienced CC on here would there be any chance of getting an upgrade on embarkment if we were to ask at customer services I am not sure if they do this sort of thing once on board but last cruise we were on there was a lot of people at customer services when first boarding and I am sure they weren't complaining."

 

The passengers at the customer service desk on boarding day are not there upgrading their cabins. They are mostly taking care of on board expense accounts, for example making cash deposits so their credit card does not get charged, and other issues. Every Princess cruise I have been on over many years is pretty much sold out before boarding day.

[caribill]

I go soon after I board to request an extra copy of the ship's map.

 

We ask for that extra copy at check-in and thus skip a visit to the Purser's desk to get it.

[Nolongerworking]

There are quite a few differences between UK and US booking in terms and conditions.

 

They will be quoting you the extra for the balcony price when you booked your current cabin and not what the balcony ones are going for now.

 

I doubt you will get anywhere with Princess or your TA and I think that your only option will be to cancel your current booking - and lose your deposit - and rebook a balcony cabin as a new booking. It depends on the costs involved whether this would be an option for you and if you think it's worth it.

 

If you book through a TA the cruise company won't generally speak to you but refer you back to your TA to do the talking to them. Happened to me a few times. I know that when such good offers come up and you've paid far more,

then it can leave a bad taste, especially when our US cousins get a far better deal. This is what we have to adhere to if we want to cruise and the U.K. terms do give us more protection if things go wrong.

 

I hope you get a good outcome and enjoy your cruise.

 

 

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Hi Homelessbear, thank you for your input, unfortunately we gave already paid our final payment so cancelling won't be an option really. Seems a bit unfair on differences between US rules and UK rules but hey life is unfair so will just grin and bear it. Maybe I'll send a request to the universe it may just well work. Looking forward to the cruise whatever's happens less than 90 days and counting.

[Nolongerworking]

As to upgrading on board, most if not all of the Princess ships I've sailed on in the past few years have had a sign up on the Customer Services desk to say that the ship was sailing full. I doubt the people you saw queueing were being upgraded. There are all sorts of reasons to go to the desk. I go soon after I board to request an extra copy of the ship's map. If you want a different class of cabin, you need to pay for it now.

 

 

Thank you think we will stay in our inside and spend the money on other things and learn for next time lol

[Nolongerworking]

We no longer use a TA and book direct with Princess. If you see that Princess is offering a much better deal than the one you booked with your TA then see what the penalty is for cancelling with them and factor that in with the possibly better price direct. If you come up trumps then cancel and book direct.:)

 

Hi Ron, interesting that you no longer use TA, I will look into booking with Princess directly via Southampton I think? Do they lower the price of your booked cruise with them if they release newer prices like they do with the US bookings. Also do they offer competitive flights or do you get your own flights independently.

 

We have always booked our own holidays independently but never thought of doing this with cruises. Doh!!

[Nolongerworking]

Well, I am not from the UK, but I think at least part of your question applies to any passenger, regardless of where they are located and how cruise lines (and in this case Princess) handle bookings, self upgrades and upsells. So let me give it a shot and others can chime in.

1. Princess won't talk to you about your specific booking if you booked through a TA, so don't waste your time trying to make any booking change without involving your TA. That works on both sides of the pond.

2. If you want to self upgrade, your cost will be the difference between what you paid and what that new level of cabin is selling for now BUT it does not include pricing that is 'for new bookings only' which is probably what you ran into in looking online. (And this does not include the US $ price vs the UK £ price differences, which is a whole different issue). Self upgrading pricing cannot be at restricted prices (flash fares, new bookings, special rates, etc), it must be done at the non-restricted rate.

3. Princess rarely (never??) does purchased upgrades at embarkation. They will do upsells, sometimes at a great rate, sometimes not, about 4-6 weeks prior to sailing. These offers would be conveyed to your TA first, who would need to contact you about the offer. I know these happen in the US, not so sure if they also happen in the UK market.

 

Hope that helps to explain what is going on.

 

Eta-I checked your roll call for the upgrade/downgrade situation you described. The key here is that is a US booking and it is before final payment. In the US, you can make just about any change for a new price prior to final payment, including completely canceling without incurring any penalty. The poster erroneously called it a flash sale, which is a misnomer. But they booked a guarantee, were assigned upgrade cabins, saw a new lower price (not restricted) for a guarantee balcony and opted to take the lower price in lieu of the upgraded cabins. They still have another week before final payment is due.

 

Hi, thanks for your explanation on the upgrading / downgrading situation before final payment date in the US, even cancelling without penalty before final payment date, pity we Brits cannot have the same restrictions lol on our bookings.

[livinforcruisin]

Hi Ron, interesting that you no longer use TA, I will look into booking with Princess directly via Southampton I think? Do they lower the price of your booked cruise with them if they release newer prices like they do with the US bookings. Also do they offer competitive flights or do you get your own flights independently.

 

We have always booked our own holidays independently but never thought of doing this with cruises. Doh!!

 

Hi there Nolongerworking (isn't it great to be retired :D)

A few years ago now, like you, we learnt the hard way. We wanted to pay for an upgrade but Princess would not give us the then offer price but the much higher price as it stood on the day we had booked the cruise. Anyway, we now book directly with Princess, that way they will deal with us directly if we have an queries. In the past year or so they will now reduce your cruise price if you see it on sale, you just have to give them a call. They have always been helpful and pretty clear about what they can and can't do. But it is always advisable to check out what the 'sale price' is on. If it is on new bookings only then you are stuck. Regardless of all that, have a wonderful cruise.

[jackieo]

For our UK and Med cruises I always book direct with princess UK.

 

We have managed to call and get suites at a great price about 4 weeks out. I just see what suites they still have available and ring direct and ask them how much to upgrade. Both times it only cost is £100pp to upgrade from a mini to full suite - we just love the suite breakfasts. We are elite so the other benefits are not so necessary. Although when we are traveling with others. It's much easier for a suite passenger to get a table at a desired time for freedom dining.

 

 

 

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[Nolongerworking]

Hi there Nolongerworking (isn't it great to be retired :D)

A few years ago now, like you, we learnt the hard way. We wanted to pay for an upgrade but Princess would not give us the then offer price but the much higher price as it stood on the day we had booked the cruise. Anyway, we now book directly with Princess, that way they will deal with us directly if we have an queries. In the past year or so they will now reduce your cruise price if you see it on sale, you just have to give them a call. They have always been helpful and pretty clear about what they can and can't do. But it is always advisable to check out what the 'sale price' is on. If it is on new bookings only then you are stuck. Regardless of all that, have a wonderful cruise.

 

Hi, it's great to have finished work, we got the opportunity to finish early so still in our 50s, eighteen months on and still can't believe every day is our own to do as we please. Think we will definitely look at booking direct now, we have a future cruise deposit to use by December 2017 so will have a good look at the intinaries, by the way do you book your own flights? Or through Princess? Really looking forward to our Hawaiian cruise now.

[Rubynic]

Hi Ron, interesting that you no longer use TA, I will look into booking with Princess directly via Southampton I think? Do they lower the price of your booked cruise with them if they release newer prices like they do with the US bookings. Also do they offer competitive flights or do you get your own flights independently.

 

We have always booked our own holidays independently but never thought of doing this with cruises. Doh!!

 

 

The rules have recently changed for Princess bookings in the UK. This is relating to direct bookings - we have never used a TA. Before December if there was a better deal or a price-drop then you could ring up Princess in Southampton & have your booking amended to this new deal. Now - you can take advantage of a better deal but it costs £100 Admin fee which you have to pay out at the time - cannot be added to your balance. And you can only do this once per booking - so you have to take a gamble on whether a better deal will come along later.

[Ron the Rev]

Hi Ron, interesting that you no longer use TA, I will look into booking with Princess directly via Southampton I think? Do they lower the price of your booked cruise with them if they release newer prices like they do with the US bookings. Also do they offer competitive flights or do you get your own flights independently.

 

We have always booked our own holidays independently but never thought of doing this with cruises. Doh!!

 

No there's no automatic reductions so you have to keep looking at their web site then give them a call to chase the price down. Yes there is now a fee to do so.

[livinforcruisin]

Hi, it's great to have finished work, we got the opportunity to finish early so still in our 50s, eighteen months on and still can't believe every day is our own to do as we please. Think we will definitely look at booking direct now, we have a future cruise deposit to use by December 2017 so will have a good look at the intinaries, by the way do you book your own flights? Or through Princess? Really looking forward to our Hawaiian cruise now.

 

Snap. Both DH and I finished 2 years and 18 months respectively. Got the chance to go at 55 so took it. Yes we always book our flights independently. There is a risk doing this incase there are any flight delays etc that may mean you missing the ship. If that was happens you are on your own, apart from your airline. So now we head out a day or so earlier, especially on long haul flights. This enusres we get there on time. We have looked into flights through Princess but they are always more expensive, plus they send you all around the houses and never direct. These journey's are long enough without going via Europe or mid America.

 

We really enjoyed our Hawaiin cruise a few year back. Which ship are you sailing on? Enjoy

[Nolongerworking]

Snap. Both DH and I finished 2 years and 18 months respectively. Got the chance to go at 55 so took it. Yes we always book our flights independently. There is a risk doing this incase there are any flight delays etc that may mean you missing the ship. If that was happens you are on your own, apart from your airline. So now we head out a day or so earlier, especially on long haul flights. This enusres we get there on time. We have looked into flights through Princess but they are always more expensive, plus they send you all around the houses and never direct. These journey's are long enough without going via Europe or mid America.

 

We really enjoyed our Hawaiin cruise a few year back. Which ship are you sailing on? Enjoy

 

Hi, same as hubby finished 2 years last June and I 18 months ago February 2015, same neck of the woods as well Manchester lol.

 

We are going on the Crown in October and really looking forward to it. We went on the Star Princess last year around South America and really enjoyed it so bought 4 lots of future cruise deposits for further cruises. Going to make sure I do my homework for next cruise lol. Independant air travel sounds good as normally we have to fly to Heathrow or Gatwick to get onward flight to cruise ship to LA and flights are long enough.

[livinforcruisin]

Hi, same as hubby finished 2 years last June and I 18 months ago February 2015, same neck of the woods as well Manchester lol.

 

We are going on the Crown in October and really looking forward to it. We went on the Star Princess last year around South America and really enjoyed it so bought 4 lots of future cruise deposits for further cruises. Going to make sure I do my homework for next cruise lol. Independant air travel sounds good as normally we have to fly to Heathrow or Gatwick to get onward flight to cruise ship to LA and flights are long enough.

 

Hi, Those retirement dates are almost identical. Our long haul flights are always out of Heathrow. Now that we are retired we have much more time as we don't have to book holidays from work etc so we fly down to Heathrow the day before our long haul flight. Stay overnight in one of the many hotels which we can normally get great rates on so not too expensive. Then back to the airport the next morning for the long haul. In fact we have found booking our flights as multi-stop from Manchester via Heathrow to Miami and return is cheaper than just booking the single return flight Heathrow Miami Heathrow, how crazy is that.

 

We have had 2 occasions where snow in Manchester and in London has almost caused us to miss our flights but we got there in the end.

 

We used to fly out of Manchester for Miami but it was never direct from there. They either took us to Chicago or Atlanta. As we fly out every January Chicago became too big a risk with snow hence the move to Heathrow the day before.